Arizona republican., 1916-02-03
In Kansas City Speech Ex- ecutive Insists That Steps
 Be Begun This Month to
 Back Him Up in Defense
 Plans for Country.
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1


 KANSAS CITY, Feb. 2.-President Wilson tonight demanded that steps be begun during the present month to back him up in defending American lives and commerce abroad. His de- mand met with shouts and applause from an audience of 16,0O0 persons who waved American 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 Amer ica" The band played softly, the au- dience stood and the words of Amer icas national anthem came in a glori- ous burst of song from 16,000 threats.
 The big crowd was for the president from the start. Ii waited patiently an hour to see him and cheered itself hoarse in a three minute demonstration when he appeared. Sixteen thousand heard him, twenty thousand were turned away. and ten thousand more tried .o glimpse him as he left his ho tel for the hall.
 why. some men in Washington are questioning whether we could get the 500,000 men for which the government is asking" he said at one point of his address. Would they volunteer" he asked.
 A man in the far end of the hall shouted answer: Yes" In moment the crowd was in an uproar Scores of men. echoed the shout "yes. yes" Pres ident Wilson smiled and held out his hand
 Why. I believe" he said as the tu- mutt dIed, you could raise the 5U0,00 men in almost any state I believe you could get 5000 men right here in this audience. -
 q have been thrilled by the AXn"- rierce of these last few days" the president said, and I will go home 10 Washington and smile at the gentle men who say the United States is not awake"
 Those gallant men who sit on the Till in Washington and make our laws are going to deliver the goods" the crowd cheered Don't misunderstood me-they are going to deliver the goods because you want the goods de- livered."
 The president said the time had come for him to ask his fellow citi- zens to get up on your hind legs and talk and tell the people who represent you what the nation desires and de- mands. The thing that everybody in democracy is listening for is the tramp tramp. tramp of the facts. have come to ask you what is back of me in this task of preserving at once the peace and honor of this country the president said. "The judge on the bench has the la-. behind him, With its bailiffs, sheriffs, national guardsmen and the United States army, but, if you ignore in some foreign capital what the president urges as the rights of the , people and government of the United States, what is there back of it?
 Tt is necessary that I should come and ask you this question, because don't know how long the mere wort and insistence of your government vii prevail to maintain your honor and. the dignity and power of the nation. There may come a time I pray Goo ! 1t may never come, but it may com, 1 in spite of everything we can do, whel l shall have to ask: I have said m, say: who stands back of it?' Where i ! that force by which the right and ma jesty of the United States are to b, vindicated and asserted"
 1 The president declared the need wa. immediate and that action should b, begun with the present moment | T assure you there is not day to b, 1 lost" he exclaimed. Not becaus, there is any special crisis but becaus I do not know A hours ahead what vii l happen.
 ''The future does not depend on u but upon commanders of ships and o submarines and upon blockades an, upon many other men. big and little.
 T have read editorials" he saic "sneering at the number of rfotes sen abroad by the government and askin why the government did not act: i these same papers I have seen edi torials against the preparation to d anything whatever effective if thes notes are to be regarded. Is that tn temper of the United States? It ma be the temper of some editorial of ficeS but I know it is not the ten1
 (Continued on Page Two)