New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-02
Too POWerIeSS to
Prevent Staining
of u. s. Flag.
IOWA CROWDS
OUTDO CITIES
observation-disclosures Those
Seeking to Embroil
Us i'm War.


Des Moines, Iowa, Feb. /. President
Wilson took his preparedness case be-
fore a fighting audience here tonight
an audience so sure of its lighting abil-
ity that it was rather contcmptuous of
preparation; an audience Of veterans,
their sons and others who take it for
granted they will do what the veterans
did when the time comes. He WAS
among Americans by blood, birth and
breeding; among men and women with
generations of American traditions
among which is patriotism.
The President showed his apprccia-
tion Of their temper and Of thc criti-
csm his course toward Germany had
aroused when he demanded whether all
they wanted o. their President was "to
write words OF protest
Iowa set new marks for the Wilson
trip IN patriotic tervor. enthusiasm and
warmth of welcome. Even tempera-
ture below zero could not prevent tho
mastering at the stations of practical
" the whole population Of every tOWr
at which the Presidential specia! even
slowed down.
And here tonight this little city Of
l25,000 turned out a crowd larger than
did Pittsburgh. Cleveland. Milwaukee
or Chicago. Nearly 10000 had been
waiting at the Coliseum for over two
hours before the President arrived,
and until after he left ether thousands
oesieged every door.
In addressing the audience President
Wilson asked this question:
"Do YOU want the situation TO b.
such that ali the President can 10 i
to write message and utter words )t
protest?
Can DO Nothing but Protest.
"Why. to ask that question is to an
swcr it," he said "Whencvcr intcina-
tional law is violated by one o. the
other belligerents." the Pres idcnt said,
America was called upon 10 register
a voice Of protest, Of insistence.'
"Do you want the situation 70 oe
such that all the President can do IS
10 write messages and utter words o.
protest? If these breaches OF n.er-
national law. which arc IN daily danger
of occurring. should touch the ver5
honor of the United states, do You
wish to do nothing about it, Do YOU
wish 10 have all the world say that the
flag Of the United States can be stairc1
with impunity? Why, TO ask the quc5-
tion is TO answer 10.
81 know there is not man or woman
within the hearing OF my voice VINO
would wish peace AZ the expense OF
the honor Of the United States
The Presidents address vas pune
tuated with thunderous applause. lie
smoke slowly and gravely. with cmphat-
ic gestures 20 enforce his words. His
declaration that the United states
wanted peace drew a quick response
and his assertion that the seli-respect
of the nation must be reserved ehcited
another great demonstration. throhg
that filed every seat IN the Coliseum
rheered him TO the echo.
The President declared he was try
inc 10 weigh carefully every word fe
said. He reiterated that he had peen
oajlv charged 10 keep The country out
of war and also 10 uphold its honor.
Difficulties Nearly lneXtrlcable.
"And many a night when it seemed
imnossihic for me TO sleep he said,
"becausc OF the apparently lneXtrlcable
difficulties into which our international
relations were drifting. | have said TO
rcyself. q wonder If the people OF the
United States fully know what that
mandate means 70 me- And then sleep
las come. because knew that there
was not community in America tnat
would not stand behind me IN maintain
ing the 1onor of the United States.
"The difficulty of keeping America
al peace during this titanic struggle
across the sea cannot be disclosed now;
perhaps il never can be disclosed. How
anxious and how difficult this task has
beeni But my heart has been IN IT.
I have not grudged a single burden
that has been placed upon me with that
end in view. for ! know that not only
INV OWL heart. but the heart of all
America was in the cause of peace
There are actually men in America
who are preaching war. the Presldeh T;
declared men who want the Onlted
states TO have entangling alliances
abroad. He said he did not think they
spoke the voice Of America, wnich ne
declared 10 be for peace.
America Cannot BE An Ostrich.
Ilt added that others 20 further than
ne in advocating peace. They preaeh
the doctrine OF peace at any price, ne
said. while men in the audience crieG:
Never Nevrr," lie said these men
did not know the circumstances OF the
world.
America cannot be an ostrich, with
It's head ir the sand he said.
The President declared he hoped II
this war had no other result It would
create an international tribunal 10
settle questions which cause war. HIS
declaration that he had found the
people Of the Middle West for prepared
ness drew long applause.
Some one who does not know our
fellow cit zens as we'll as he ought 10
know them told me there was certain
degree Of Indifference and lethargy IN
the Middle West with regard to the
defence Of the nation he declared.
81 said ! did not believe II. nut was
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