The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1916-02-09

crowd.
"You bet we'll GOMEZ doomed a
deep voice from the crowd, and great
applause followed.
The reception accorded the Presi-
dent as he left the hall equaled in
noise and enthusiasm any he has had
on the trip.
The return trip to the train was
through a perfect mass of humanity,
and thousands remained jammed
about the station until the Presidents
train pulled out.
A brief stop was made at East St.
Louis, where the President spoke
from the train.
The President and Mrs. Wilson
were taken to the Hotel Jefferson
upon their arrival here. They rested
for a short time and then attended a
breakfast given by the Business
Mems League.
There was not enough room in the
main dining room to seat all the
guests. Five hundred and seven were
seated there and sixty more were
seated in a lobby.
Must Mobilize Forces.
The President spoke briefly to the
assembled diners at the conclusion of
the breakfast. He was given a rous-
ing greeting. -.
81 recall when was here before" !"
the President said, 81 was called here
to tell you something of running a
city government. l hope you have
forgotten that speech. 1t is well to
shed your speeches as you 60 along"
daughter greeted this remark.)
"It is necessary to mobilize our de-
fense forces for emergency. 1t is
also necessary that we mobilize our
economic forces for use after this
war is over.
america will be infinitely efficient
in the world of business if she is
right in the world of business.
America now is going to be called
out into an international position
such as she has never been before" !"
the President said.
"For some reason America has been
shy about going out and matching it's
wits with the rest of the world in
business. l am perfectly willing to
match American business wit with
any in the world.
1--WE must keep our resources un-
touched by the flame of war in order
that we may help put the world on
firm footing at the end of the war.
Sees Peace Ahead.
I don't believe the world will ever
see another great war. I think at
the. end of this war the world will
be advanced farther toward perma-
nent peace than at any time in his
tory.
1--WE must see that America re-
mains untouched, as America is too
valuable to allow herself to become
touched.
"When we have prepared then we
can look into the facts and see that
our rights are maintained.
81 have changed my mind about
many things. One of them, for in
stance, is the need of a tariff board,
| now think we need one."
Wild applause greeted this. The
business men noisily voiced their ap-
proval.
81 have my misgivings about a
tariff board" the President said with
smile, ."because l have to appoint
the members of it. 1t is hard to find
big men, and when you do find them,
they have not much in them."
The President took several good
natured slaps at officeholders.
"You know when men get appoint
ed to national positions they grow
very important.
"There is one thing l want you
gentlemen to realize" said the Presi-
dent later. "That is that there is
not anything to make the Middle
West different from any part of the
country. You are the same. Our IN
terests in all parts of the country
are the same"