Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-03
MID WEST FOR
PREPAREDNESS
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THE dificulty Of keeping America
at peace during this titanic struggle
across the sea cannot be disclosed
now; perhaps it never car be disclos-
ed. How anxious and how difficult
this task has been! But my heart has
been in it. have not grudged a sin
gle burden that has been placed upon
me with that end in view. For l know
that not only my own heart but the
heart of all America was in the cause
Of peace" y
There are actually mon in America
who are preaching war, the president
declared; men who want the United
States to have entangiing alliances
abroad. He said he did not think
they spoke the voice of America,
which ne declared to be for peace.
Raps Extreme PacIfsts.
He added that others go further than
he in advocating peace. They preach
the doctrine of peace at any price" he
added. while men in the audience call
ed Never! Never!" He said these
men did not know the circumstances
Of the world.
America cannot be an ostrich with
its head in the sand" he said
His declaration that he had found
the people OF the middle west for pre-
paredness drew long applause.
No Lethar0y In West.
Some one who does not know our
follow citizens ar well as he ought to
know them told me there was a GER
tain degree Of indifference and leti1ar-
~ In the middle west with regard to
the defense Of the nation" he declar-
ed. u said / did not believe it, but was
going to see. l have seen what | ex-
pected to see-great bodies of serious
men and women coming together to
show their interest In the object of
my visit"
The president closed with 4 tribute
to the American flag.
"As I look at that dag" he said, II
seem to see many characters upon it
which are not visible to the physical
eye. There seem to nov ghostly Wis
ions of devoted men, who, looking to
that nag, thought only Of liberty, of the
rights OF mankind, of the mission of
America to show the way to the world
for the realization Of those rights.
Meaning Of FLAGS colors.
And every grave of every brave man
in the country would seem to have up
on it the colors Of the nag, II he were
a true American-would seem to have
on it that stain Of red which means the
true pulse OF blood; that patch of pure
white which means the peace Of the
soul, And then there seems to rise over
the raves Of these men and to hallow
their memories that blue space of the
sky in which swim those stars which
exemplify for us the glorious galaxy Of
the states Of the union which stand
together to vindicate the rights OF
mankind"
Welcomed by Organizations.
On their arrival here the president
and Mrs. Wilson were met at the
station by a committee representing
the Greater Des MONIES committee, the
chamber of commerce, and the East
Des Moines Commercial club.
Four companies of national guards
men, with the entire police force OF
the city, held back the large crowd
which packed the sidewalks all the
way to the hotel. The progress OF the
president was marked by cheers. A
closed automobile was used by the
president, for the temperature was
neal zero. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson
were wrapped in furs.
At the hotel the president and Mrs.
Wilson shook hands with members OF
the committe and then dined privately
in their suite before leaving for the
coliseum, where the address was de-
livered. Secretary Tumulty, DR.. Cary
II. Grayson, the white house physic.
ian, and other members OF the party
were entertained at dinner blythe com
mittee.
Thanks to the president and his
stand on the woman suffrage question
were extended to him by Iowa SUI.
|fragists, who sent Mr.. and Mrs, Wilson
la bouquet of flowers and a note vel
coming them to Iowa.