The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-02-03

New York, Jan. 27.-President
Wilson tonight opened his personal
appeal to the country for national de.
tense. He gave warning that plans
Cor the REIMBURSEMENT of the army
must be formulated and solemnly
carried out without delay and sol
emnly declared he could not predict
that the outlook for the United States
would be as bright tomorrow as to-
day. Speaking at banquets of the
Railway Business Association and the
Motion Picture Board of Trade, he
sounded the keynote of addresses
that he will deliver during the next
ten days in the middle west.
Mr.. Wilson was in fighting mood
throughout his address. In a speech
delivered early in the day, he declar-
ed he always accepted an invitation
to fight. Tonight, he told the rail
way men he was an advocate of
peace and had struggled to keep the
United States at peace, but he con-
sidered the liberty and honor of the
nation even more important than
Eeace.
Woe to any man who plays mar
plot or who seeks to make party
politics or personal ambition take
precedence over candor, honor and
unselfish, bipartisan service!" said
the president in speaking of his de-
Tense plan before the railroad men.
He declared that the country expects
action; this is a year Of accounting,
and the accounting must be definite
on the part of the parties and on the
part of every individual who wishes
to enjoy the public confidence.
For my part, l hope every man
in public life will get what's coming
tc him." said Mr.. Wilson amid laugh
ter and applause.
The president at both banquets
and all during his days visit to New
York was greeted with enthusiasm.
On his ride between the hotels, where
the banQuets were held tonight, he
was escorted by band and the 9th
command of coast artillery of the
New York national guard. Thousands
of persons packed the streets and
Cheered him as he went by.
During his speech before nearly
$500 business men at the railway
banquet. where he cast aside almost
entirely the text of the address that
he had previously prepared for deliv-
cry there, he was frequently inter-
rupted by applause.
The president admitted that in a
message to the last congress he had
said the need for preparedness was
not pressing. He declared that he
had learned in the meantime. He
cites his recent support of a tariff
commission as another instance of a
change on his part, but declared that
previously there was no need for
such commission. The business
men enthusiastically cheered him.
Opponents Are Provincial.
Wr. Wilson spoke of men of high
character who were clogging the pre-
paredness issue. He declared they
were provincial and that the United
States could no longer cut itself off
from the rest of the world.
The president vigorously discussed
his Mexican policy. He asserted that
to invade Mexico would mean the los
ing of confidence of the rest of the
western hemisphere. He cited the
freeing of Cuba as an instance of
good done by the United States.
If we are drawn into the mael-
strom which now surges in Europe"
the president declared, 1--WE shall not
be permitted to do the high things
we would prefer"
The president defended the CONT
mental army plan drawn up by Secre-
tary Garrison, and said that he did
not care about the details of any
plan as long as 100000 trained men
were provided as reserves under the
federal government. He advocated
strengthening the national guard,
but said the constitution itself would
put the guard under the state. He
added that the United States will not
turn in the direction of militarism.
Why America Should Prepare.
Outlining why the United States
should prepare, Mr.. Wilson said we
must prepare out rights as nation
and the rights of our citizens in
America and outside of it as the con-
census of civilized peoples has defin-
ed them; must ensure the unembar-
raised realization of our political de-
,elopment within our own borders,
and must protect the peace and poiti-
cal autonomy of the Americas. He
6UUOO LudL AdIAoA0A NOASA0O AAS~Ao
the protection of the country from
invasion and also the prevention of
a flank assault upon things We be-
lieve to underlie our life.
Industrial preparedness, with the
military training of students in in
dustrial schools, was proposed by the
president. He left navy plans for
later addresses.
Business men who formerly relied
on protective measures in their deal
ings with foreign powers were criti-
cised by Mr.. Wilson. He said Ameri-
can business men should be able to
hold their own against the world.
Address to Railroad Men.
In his address at the Railway Asso-
citation banquet, President Wilson
said in part:
st is great pleasure to come and
be greeted in such generous fashion
BY men so thoughtful as yourselves,
and so deeply engaged in some of
the most important undertakings of
the nation, and consider it is a
privilege to be permitted to lay be-
fore you some of the things to which
we ought to give our most careful