New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-03
WOrl0 Needs u. S. Prod
uCtS and Will Get Them,
lie Says at Topeka.
DEFENCE PLEA
CHlLLS KANSAS
Farmers Willing to Fight, but
Think Honor Is Con-
tinental.

son met Ms HVSt lIanhIN HoStlI' hNui
ence to-day. when he spoke TO 1000
Kansas farmers and as many moro
citizens Of Topeka. Put on his mettle,
he made the most vigorous speech OF
the trip. but the farmers sat almost
unmoved. He appealed to honor. pa
,riotism and the need OF protecting
American interests abroad without re-
suit. II was only when he spoke OF
the fighting spirit OF Kansas that he
got a hand. Again. little applause
followed his references 10 the with
drawal from Cuba as proving the ma
tons disinterested spirit.
Yet his speech was not without It's
effect. even on the farmers. The rest
Of the audience was far more re-
sponsive. but of far less Importance 70
him. since the farmer rules Kansas
The farmers did not cheer. but they
thought They have been thinking
hard. and the President put his case
in way they had not heard before.
Farmers viii Think 1t Over.
A few announced their conversion
and when one hannel-shirted. booted
and mittencd graybeard declared that
"he said a heap worth thinkin' over
the circle around him nodded approval
! The President's speech Will be thought
over for weeks, and time must be al
/ lowed for the seeds he planted TO
terminate before the result of his
WISH, to Kansas can be judged.
The Presidents warnings TO Ger
many and Great Britain were far more
direct to-day than before. IN Keeping
with his efforts to make the lnterna-
tional situation clear and TO snow why
national honor is involved IN H. p,
For one thing, II may be necessary,
tho President said with al emphatic
gesture. ito use the forces OF the
United states 10 vindicate the rights OF
American citizens everywhere to ENJOY
The rights of international law. Amer
lea is not going TO abide the habitual
or continual neglect Of those rights.
I've must also insist on the rights
Of Americans 70 trade with the world.
We shall respect any blockade, but the
world needs the products of the United
States and we will insist that the world
gets them
Americans do not travel to disturb
the world" he added. "and their travel
ought not 20 be impeded by reckless
disregard Of international obligations.
There IS another right we ought TO
safeguard, and that Is our right TO sell
what we produce In the open neutral
market Of the world" He named wheat
and cotton as two things which shoul d
be allowed TO go anywhere. Then ne
appealed 10 the audience 10 BRING
pressure on Congress in behalf OF the
/ ship purchase bill. There was little
applause for any OF these statements.
Nor was there a ripple when he spoke
Of the obligation of the United states
70 protect rights higher than those of
trade and commerce the rights o.
mankind
President Wilson declared that the
American flag would come down IN
! the Philippines as il had done in Cuba
| "Uhen We feel that the Philippines
can take over their own affairs and
no longer require our protection; ana
" will be more honOred IN the lower
ing than in the raising.
Thrusts at Roosevelt.
There was another very direct thrust
at Roosevelt. whose demand that the
United States interfere on behalf OF
Belgium has been referred 70 indirectly
in almost every speech.
"Some men of American birth have
tried 70 stir up trouble in America, he
4 declared. $50 carried away with the
sweep Of their sympathies are they that
/ they have ceased TO think in the terms
/ Of American tradition and American
poUcies." And, a little later:
"Of course, there are some men go
| ing about proposing great military
armament for America, but you have
/ not heard anybody connected with the
Administration that did. You nave not
hoard ANYBODY in any responsible posi-
ZION that could carry his plan out that
did The singular thing about this SIT
nation Is that the loudest voices have
been the irresponsible voices. II is
easy 10 talk and TO say what ought to
be done when you know you do not
/ have TO do il"
In spite Of Roosevelts one-tlme pop
ularity. that thrust brought vigorous
applause. But the audience liked the
, President best when he dropped his
impersonal tone and struck out Directly
al the Kansas attitude. This was the
one thing that did get response from
the farmers.
II was told before ! came here, ne
said. land ! read in one OF your papers
I that belonging to Governor Capper,
who entertained and introduced the
/ President that Kansas was not in sym
pathy with any policy for national de-
fence. do not believe a word OF IT,
/ | long ago learned TO distinguish be
tween editorial opinion and popular
/ opinion. happened TO have read the
F history of Kansas, and if there IS any
place fuller of fight than Kansas
place fuller of fight on the right lines
/ ! would like to hear of 1t. Kansas IS
not looking for trouble. but Kansas
! has made trouble for everybody that
/ interfered with her liberties or her
rights. If Kansas is opposed or has
been opposed to the policy of prepare
ton for national defence 1t has been
because somebody has misrepresented
that policy and they do not know what
| IL is"
Cheers Favored Mrs. Wilson.
| Men had come from all over the state
/ for to-day's speech. and nearly 1000 OF
( the farmers were holding a state con
-