Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-15
PRESIDENT HURLS
OPEN CHALLENGE
AT HYPHENATES
Defes Foreign-Born Citi-
zens Who Oppose His
Reelection.
THEY TRY TO LEVY SPECIES
OF POLITICAL BLACKMAlL
Disloyalty. Now Active in U. S.,
Must Be Absolutely Crushed.
He Declares.
PREDOMINANT CAMPAIGN ISSUE;
Executive Delivers Flag Day Speech
After Walking at Head Of Pre-
pnredneSS Parade.

WASHINGTON. June IA >charce
that fo-cign-born citizens OF the United
states are trying TO levy political black
mail and to undermine the influence Of
;hc national government was made by
President Wilson In "a Flag Day speech
mere to-day His assertion sounded the
keynote Of one Of the foremost issues
on which he will 90 before the country
for recollection. and touched upon a
platform declaration which will he sab
mitted by the administration 10 the
81. Louis convention.
The President spoke before a crowd
ot thousands gathered NJ The foot OF
;he Washington Monument. after he
had reviewed for nve hours q great
preparedness parade. At the head Of
which he himself had marched down
Pennsylvania Avenue. He declared that
no. since The Civil War had I. been
tested as il now is being tested whether
the stars and stripes stood for any one
united purpose.
There is dsloyalty active in the
United states. and IL must be absolutely
crushed" declared the President. speak
!nr omphaticaliy. 1T proceeds from a
minority. a very small minority, but
very active and subtle minority.
10y hIlf To FLAG FIRST
TEST OF TOLERANCE
1T works underground, but Il also
shows its ugly head where Ne can sec
il. and there are those at this moment
"ao are trying to levy a species o:
political blackmail saying, Do what
we wish in the interest Of foreign sen;i-
Ineu;. or VIC Will wreak our vengeance
At tho polls. That IL the sort OF thing
against which the American nation
wtll turn with a might and triumph
Of sentiment which viii teach these
gentlemen once for all tina. loyalty to
this flag is the trst test Of tolerance
in the United States
The Presidents words w.le taken as
oren challenge to forcign-b born Ametl-
cans who, he has learned from foreign
language newspapers and other sources
are opposing him for recollection. Of
hcials close 10 him said he was ou;lin-
ing his stand ON what he had deter
mined 20 make a predominant issue in
mis- campaign. While the Democratic
campaign was being opened AT ST
Louis, MIR. Wilson devoted the entire
day 20 the Flag Day and preparedness
demonstration. Carrying Il large Amer
ican nag. he walked from the Capitol
20 the White House at the head Of
more than $1,000 mnrchcrs. including
many high government officials, Civil
War veterans. employees Of AL the gov
crnmcnt departments and OF the local
business houses, companies of cadets
and national guardsmon.
Union and Confederate Veterans and
sons of Veterans marched close to-
rether. and were constantly cheered
"SoSS OF THE SOUTH,
COMPOSE ONE DIVISION
The Sons of Confederate Veterans.
including commands from Virginia and
Maryland, were grouped with the
Southern Society OF Washington as the
Sons OF the South" and composed Il
. division of more than ] 900. They in
cluded Senator's and Representatives
and other men OF prominence Ernest
w. Baldwin, of Roanoke. Va. national
Con.mander-in- chief Of the Sons of Con-
federate Veterans: w. w. Old, Of Nor
folk. Va. and Clarence J. Owens past
commanders chief. and Everett w
Eeckmann. commander OF the Wash
i1gton camp headed that organization
The parade started from the Capitol
grounds, and as its head passed the
White House the President dropped out
and took mis- place in the reviewing
stand. He WAS Joined there by Sccre-
tares McAdoo, Rcdfield, Lane and Will
son. PostmnsterGeneral Burleson and
Acknowledgement Gregory, who had
marched ut tho head of employees OF
their departments. and by Secretary
Lansing. As soon as the last marchers
passed the stand five hours later, tho
President went to the monument
grounds. where his address formed the
principal part of an hours patriotic
exercises
The program began with n national
salute of iwenty-one guns and the
Marine Band played the "Star-Spaneled
Banner while huge flag was drawn
slowly to the top of the white monu
ment. $50 feet above the ground Sec
retary Lansing presided. and in intro
ducng the President emphasized the
duty Of present-day Americans to pre
serve unsullied ideals handed down bv
the founders Of the republic
NOT ONLY DAY OF SENTIMENT.
BUT ONE OF PURPOSE. roo
The Presidents address follows:
Mr.. secretary. Ladies and Gentlemen
i have not come here this afternoon
with the purpose OF delivering to YOU
al elaborate address 1t seems to mo
that the day is sufficiently eIoouent
already with the meaning which IL
should convey to us need not
Aremind you how much sentiment has
CONTINUED on Second Page.)
Washington and Return. 5000
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