The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-02-04
THOUSANDS CHEER
PRESIDENT WILSON
Demands Backing Defending
American Lives and
Commerce.
PRESIDENT is HEARD
BY LARGE CROWD
Sixteen Thousand in Hall, 10000
Turned Away and Another
10000 Watch For Him.

the present month to back him
up in defending American lives
and commerce abroad His de-
mand met with shouts and ap-
plause from an audience of 49,
900 persons who waved Ameri-
can flags, leaped to their seats
and cheered.
When the president ceased
speaking he leaned forward and
asked the great throng to join
him in singing America" The
band played softly, the audience
stood and the words of the pa
triotic anthem came in a glori-
Gus burst of song.
The big crowd was for the
president from the start. 1t
waited patiently an hour to see
him and cheered itself hoarse in
a three-minute demonstration
when he appeared. Sixteen thou
sand heard him; 10000 were
turned away and 10000 more
tried to glimpse him as he left
his hotel for the hall.
"Why, some men in Washing
ton are questioning if we could
get the 100000 men for which
the government is asking" he
said, at one point Of his ad-
dress.
Would they volunteer"
A man in the far end Of the
hall shouted yes" and others
echoed the word until the baN
was IN turmoil
"Why I believe" the nresi-
dent seid "vou could raise the
100000 men in almost any state.
] believe you could Get 5000 men
right here in this audience. /
have been thrilled by the expert
ences of these last few days. and
and I viii 90 home to Washinr,
ton and smile at the gentlemen
who say the United States is not
awake.
These gallant men who sit on
the Hill in Washington and make
our laws are going to deliver the
goods"-the crowd cheered.
Don't miissunderstard me, thew
are going to deliver the goods
because you want the goods de-
livered.
"I have come to ask you what
is back of me in this task of
preserving at one peace and your
honor" the president said. "The
Judge on the bench has the law
back of him with its bailiffs,
sheriffs, National guardsmen
and the United States army, if
you ignore iii some foreign capi-
tai what the president urges as
the rights of the people and gov
ernment of the United States.
what is there back Of it?
ut is necessary that I should
come and ask you this question
because / don't know how lono
the mere word and insistence of
your government will prevail to
maintain your honor and the
dignity and power of the nation.
There may come time-T
pray God it may never come, but
it may in spite of everything we
do-upon us when / shall have to
ask, I have said my say, who
stands back of it? Where is
that force by which the right
and majesty of the United
States are to be vindicated and
asserted?"
The president declared the
need was immediate and that &c
tion should be begun within the
present month.
II assure you there is not \
day to be lost" he said. "Not be
cause there is any special crisis
but because ] do not know %
hours ahead what will happen.
"The future does not depend /
on us, but upon commanders
of ships and of submarines and
upon blockades and upon many
other men, big and little"
The president presented a |
warning that most of the muni- I
tion factories of the United
States were on the Atlantic sea-
board and that therefore the ma