The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-02-08
u. 5. FIRST IN
TEST" SAYS WILSON
Tells Milwaukee Danger of Split
Is Past.
WARNS NATION TO PREPARE
President Gives Pledge to Keep the
Country Out of War, If Possible
Asserts That No Immediate
Crisis Exists.

SFlSiS CNiSASs
Milwaukee, Wis, Feb. 1.-President
Wilson, speaking before the largest
audience of his present trip, declared
the men who say Americans will not
stand together in time of trouble have
shot their bolt
81 have not supposed that the men
whose voices seemed to show threat
against us represented even the peo-
pie they claimed to represent" he
said.
The president spoke to an audience
He declared he knew the men who
came from foreign lands to America
loved liberty and would stand by the
ideals of America.
He appealed to all Americans to
support the government in it's national
defense plans.
No Crisis, Declares President.
81 want at the outset to remove any
misapprehension in your minds" said
the president in beginning his ad-
Dress There is no crisis; nothing
new has happened. l came to confer
with you on a matter which we should
confer on in any event. We should
When all the world is on fire the
sparks fly everywhere.
The president said the presence of
the vast crowd attested the interest of
the people OF Wisconsin in his mis-
sion.
America has drawn her blood and
her energy out Of almost all Of the
nations of the world,' he said 1--WE
know that our roots and our traditions
run best into other soils.
I'VE cannot forget our forbears. At
| the outset of the war it did look as if
| there were division of domestic SEN
| timent which might lead us into some
errors of judgment. l for one believe
that that danger is past.
The crowd applauded.
Calls Danger Exaggerated.
81 never doubted that the danger
was exaggerated" he continued. 81 for
my part always feel serene conf
dence in waiting for the declaration OF
| the principles and sentiments of the
men who are not vociferous, who do
| their own thinking, attend to their
own business and leave everything
| else alone.
Il have not supposed that the men
whose voices seemed to show threat
against US represented even the people
they claimed to represent.
81 know the magic of America.
know the impulses which draw men
to our shores. know that they came
| to be free.
| Il know that when the test comes
every mans heart will be first for
America" he declared amid applause.
| There are dangers, however, which
are past our control" continued the
president, land which have not been
overcome, dangers we cannot control.
We can control the irresponsible talk
ers in our midst. All we have to do is
they will abundantly advertise their
own folly"
| America Minds Own Business.
America, the president said, was at.
tending to her own affairs in a world
where everyone else was absorbed in
| war.
There is daily, hourly danger" he
continued that they will feel con.
strained to do things which are abso.
lutely inconsistent with the rights OF
the United States. They are not think.
ing of us. They are thinking first OF
| all of their own affairs.
1.-The very uncalculated course Of af
fairs may touch us to the quick at any
time. Standing in the midst of these
difficulties I want you to know l am in
difficulty"
The president said he knew the peo
pie wanted him to keep the nation out
Of war. Here was prolonged applause
81 pledge you," he continued, sol
emily, that, God helping, will keep
it out Of war;
He went on to say the nation want
ed him to preserve the honor of the
United States. The applause continued
He told how difficult it was to do both
81 want the people to know some
thing of military life if the call should
come That is the reason l am urging
on the congress of the United States
that at least a part OF the people be
| trained"