New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-20
Note Writing Not an
AntidOte to Murder,
He Declares.
10000 BRAVE RAIN
TO APPLAUD T. r.
"Fve Two Sons to Go!w
Mothers Cry After Pre-
paredneSS Plea.

From star Correspondent o' he Tribunel
Detroit, May 19.-Henry Ford's
own city, popularly supposed to be
Peace-at-Any-P -Priceville, braved tor
rents of rain, inadequate seating ac-
commodations and impossible train
schedules, to take Theodore Roose-
welt to its corporate bosom to-day.
Detroiters forgot ther pacifist
teachings, their German leanings
and their aversion TO big armaments
in their enthusiasm for the Colonel.
They cheered all the things their
own Henry has so vigorously and so
plcturesquely opposed. They went
so far as to cheer when they heard
their popular Idol classified by COL
onel Roosevelt as a near-copperhead.
But the most dramatic moment Of
the day came when, in the course OF
/ his afternoon address Colonel Roose-
,tlt announced hat he stood for uni
'ersal service, based on universal
training. The audience was begin
ming to cheer when the thin voice Of
little woman in the balcony of the
theatre was heard above the sp-
rlause.
"I've got two sors TO 60" she sid.
Madam" replied Colonel Goose
welt, "if all the mothers look your
oint of view none Of the sons Of
eny of them would ever have TO go.
If all the mothers will raise their
sons to see that the country will
Lever act unjustly, but that if she
ever is attacked unjustly all her
cons will be prepared to come TO her
ccfence, they WI! never have to
do it,
Then the cheering really began.
flags were waved, hats were thrown
INTO the air and the house rocked.
It was only short time later, when
Roosevelt called on Detroit's other
popular hero, "Hughie" Jennings, for
simile, that he won his audience to
such an exhibition of enthusiasm as
recalled former Roosevelt campaigns
here. He had been talking of the
necessity of preparedness.
Suppose Jennings told the Tigers
that there was no need TO prepare.
that thousands of Detroiters would
spring 10 the bat when the need
came"
But he had no chance TO finish ths
remark. For FIVE minutes his voice
could net be heard When he finally
could raise his voice above those OF
the cheering men and women in the
theatre he found II unnecessary 70
complete that particular paragraph.
And yet they talk of improvIsing
an army" ne said.
Wins His Audience.
But the winning of Detroit was not
an easy task. It was plain that many
residents Of the city. which feels such
a debt of gratitude TO the man who has
done most for its automobile industry.
were not going to be wesned away
from him without q struggle. The first
half hour Of Roosevelt's morning
speech was received coldly. Before he
had finished the audience was on its
feet yelling its approval. IL was only
after he got into his speech and his
points were driven home, one after the
other, that the audience began TO warm
up 10 him. IL was friendly from the
start. At the finish IL was warm with
enthusiasm and the old affection for
Roosevelt.
Detroit always used TO like Roose-
Welt it gave him solid plurality over
Taft and Wilson four wears ago-but
many of its people have been doubtful
about preparedness, its big German ele-
ment very hostile 20 his attitude on
the German question. and all very anx-
! ious 20 avoid war. Moreover. IL did
not like the idea OF his coming here
20 tear limb from limb its most famous
son.
Yet il heard him plead for pre-
| psredness, attack divided loyalty, in
] sist on Americanism without any quail
| ifcations and call Ford neo-eopper-
/ head. and IL cheered him TO the echo.
! And IL was iust after the evening pa
pers with the full text OF his speech
began 70 circulate that the change in
the spirit Of the city became evident.
Enthusiasm at Top Pitch.
Before the day was over I, was eu.
dent that the Colonel had reached every
II 80
speech was made before an audience
composed OF chose that got there FIRST.