Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-02
Thousands of Topeka Citi-
zens Welcome Wilson on
His Arrival There.
is GUEST OF GOVERNOR
With Party He Goes to the
Home of State Executive
in Open Automobile.

Topeka, Kans., Feb. 2. - President
Wilson reached Topeka, the turning
point of his middle western tour, at
1910 a. m. today He was greeted
with a salute of q guns and escorted
by state troops to the residence OF
Governor Capper, whose guest he was
until l o'clock, when he addressed an
audience in the auditorium.
The president and Mrs. Wilson rode
over snow packed streets in zero
weather in open automobiles. A crowd
cheered them at the station, but most
of the city's $4,000 population lined the
sidewalks along the way to the gov
ernor's residence.
| Topeka, Kas., Feb. president
| Wilson told an audience of 5000 per-
sons here today that America is not
going to abide the habitual or con-
tinual neglect" of it's rights under in
ternational law, either with respect to
! the safety of it's citizens or it's foreign
commerce. For one thing, it may be
necessary" the president said, with
an emphatic gesture, ito use the forces
of the United States to vindicate IT,
rights of American citizens everywhere
to enjoy the rights of international
law.
eve must also insist on the right
Of Americans to trade with the world"
he continued, Eve shall respect any
blockade, but the world needs the
products of the United States and we
will insist that the world gets them"
The Philippines, the president said,
would be freed.
THAT flag will come down." he
declared, when we feel that the Phil
ippines can take over their own af-
fairs and no longer require our pro-
lection; and it will be more honored
in the lowering than in the raising"
May Need to Use Force.
For one thing it may be neces-
sary," the president said in his speech
here today, ito use the forces of the
United States to vindicate the rights
of American citizens everywhere to
enjoy the rights Of international law.
America is not going to abide the
habitual or continual neglect of these
rights he added. President Wilson
also declared that the American flag
would come down in the Philippines,
as it had done in Cuba, "as soon as we
feel the Philippines can take over
their own affairs and our protection
is no longer required"
1t was 1:1S o'clock when the presi-
dent entered the auditorium. He was
greeted with applause as he rose after
being introduced by Governor Capper,
who said that if necessary at least
100000 Kansas men would answer the
call OF the government. Several thou
sand American flags were draped from
the ceiling. The audience stood and
cheered.
The president declared ne knew the
people of Kansas wanted TO know the
facts before taking action. "You will
ask if there is some new crisis for my
coming here" the president continued.
Il answer no; there is no special new
critical situation which | have to dis
cuss with you, but | want you to un-
derstand every hour is critical while
this great contest continues in Europe.
1t is easy to refrain from unneut-
raj acts, but it is not easy to re-
Train from unneutral thought.
Blames Americans.
Some men OF foreign birth have
tried to stir up trouble. But there
are also some men born here who have
tried TO stir up trouble in America,
IF you could listen to the counsels
dinned into my ears almost every day
at Washington you would find that
some OF the most Incorporate have
come from the lips of men who for
generations together have been identi-
he'd with America, but who for the
moment have been so carried away BY
their sympathies that they have ceased
TO think in terms of American ira
dition and policies.
Asks More Power.
Des Moines, Iowa. Feb, 2.-"Do yor
want the situation to be such that al