The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-01-28
DEFENDS
 MEXICAN POLICY


 MEXICAN POLICY
 The President vigorously defended his Mexican policy. He asserted that to invade Mexico would mean the los ing of the confidence of the rest of the western hemisphere He cited the freeing of Cuba as in instance of good done by the United States
 "If we are drawn into the maelstrom which now surges ill Europe" the President declared, i've shall not be permitted to do the high things we would prefer"
 The President defended the conti- mental army plan drawn up by Secre- tary Garrison and said that he did not care about the details of any plan as long IS 500,000 trained men were pro- vided as reserves under the federal government He advocated strength ening the National Guard, but said the constitution itself put the guard un- der the state He added that the Uni ted States will not turn in the direc- tion of militarism.
 Outlining why the United States should be prepared, MT. Wilson said we must protect our rights as na- tion and the rights of our citizens in America and outside of it as the con sensus of civilized peoples has defined them: must ensure the unembarrassed realization of our political development within our own borders, and must pro tect the peace and political autonomy of the Americas.
 Industrial preparedness, with the military training of students in indus trial schools. was proposed by the President He left consideration or navy plans for later addresses.
 Business men who formerly relied on protective measures in their dealings with foreign powers were criticized by MT Wilson He said American busi- ness men should be able to hold their own against the world.
 The President asserted that the Amerl- can people love the principles upon which their political life is founded better than peace,
 READY TO FIGHT
 '"They are ready at any time to hsht for the vindication of their character ana of their honor," the President declared. 'They will at no time seek contest, put they will at no time cravenly aVolu u. Because, if there is one thing that the country ought to fight for and that every nation ought to fight for, it is the 1n- tegrity of it's own convictions. We can not surrender our convictions. l would rather surrender territory than surrender those ideals which are the staff ot nIe for the soul itself.'
 The President praised Representative Mann, minority leader of the House or Representatives, for a speech he made ca rlier in the week advocating prepared ness He said he took it for granted that the men behind MT. Mann were ready also to forget party lines in order that all men might act with a common mind and impulse for the service of the coun- try.
 After he had finished his address be- fore the Railway Business association, the President and Mrs. Wilson went to the Hotel Biltmore, where the President made a brief speech at the annual dinner of the Motion Picture Board of Trade. The President spoke eXtemporaneously, and was frequently interrupted by ap- plause.
 Leaving the Biltmore, the President and Mrs Wilson went immediately to the Pennsylvania station for the return trip to Washington. MT. Wilson said he was more than pleased with his reception in this city and well satisfied with the man. ner in which the first of his appeals for ns tional preparedness was received.
 BUSY EVERY MINUTE
 The President was busy from the time he arrived early this morning until he left at midnight for a brief period in Washing ton before departing for the middle west to speak for preparedness. In addition to attending two banquets tonight the President spoke twice during the day, shook hands with a group of suffraglsts and took two automobile rides.
 Insistence that the American people love peace but must be treated justly and must harmonZe internal racial and re- ligious differences marked his address at noon before a conference of 1900 New York clergymen of all denominations He declared that peace was inconsistent with the abandonment of principle and the loss of self-respect.
 The President did not repeat his now famous phrase 'too proud to fight" but asserted belligerently that q always ac- cept perhaps, by some impulse of nay na- tive blood, the invitation to fight" He added that he hoped he always fought in "knightly fashion, that he did not "tra- duce his antagonists and that he fought with the intention of converting them.
 VOTE OF THANKS
 A vote of thanks for MT. Wilson's ef- forts in behalf of peace was passed unan- he declared that in his efforts for peace he had always been conscious of repre- senting the spirit of America.
 'It is hard to hold the balance, even when so many passions are involved" he said, but I have known that in their hearts, and by their purpose, the people of America have been trying to hold the balance even. The neutrality of the Uni ted States has not been merely formal matter. It has been a matter of convic- ton and of the heart"
 He added that he could find no other foundation for peace than justice with out aggression and that the passion of America was to be allowed to live it's own life according to its own prin- ciples
 The President said he had been very deeply disturbed by evidence recently of religious antagonism in this coun- try.
 Live and let live is very homely expression,' he asserted, "and yet it is at the basis of social existence"
 DROP PARTISAN FEELING
 The roofing out of narrow and par tisan feeling was urged by MT. Wilson in closing. He was very warmly ap- plauded and ministers of several de- nominations praised his attitude during the present war.
 During the morning the President re- peated his opposition to action by the federal government on the woman sur frage question when speaking to a dele- gation of 200 members of the Congress sional Union for Woman Suffrage who called at his hotel and would not leave until he saw them. He reiterated his position that he would help the cause in individual states whenever possible, but politely turned aside efforts to cross examine him.
 He was met at the station this morning by committee of the Railroad Business association and before the banquet tonight shook hands with the guests at the ban quet This afternoon he spent two hours at the University club working on sDeeches