Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1916-02-05
President Demands Defense
Steps Be Taken This
Month.
SINGS AMERICA WITH CROWD
American Lives and Commerce
Must be Defended" Says
Wilson.

Kansas City, MO-, FeD. 3.-PreSl-
dent Wilson demanded last night that
steps be taken during the present
month to back him in defending
American lives and commerce abroad.
His demand met with the shouts of
applause from an audience of 49,
600 persons, who waved American
flags, leaped to their seats and
cheered.
When the President ceased speak
ing he leaned forward and asked the
great throng to join him in singing
america. " The band played softly,
the audience stood and the words of
America national anthem came in a
glorious burst Of song.
The big crowd was for the Presi-
dent from the start. 1t waited pa
tiently an hour to see him and
cheered itself hoarse in a three-min-
ute demonstration when he appeared.
Sixteen thousand heard him; 10000
were turned away, and 10000 more
tried to glimpse him as he left his no.
tel for the hall.
''Why some men in Washington
are questioning if we could get the
500, 900 men for which the Govern
lment Is asking" he said at one point
of his address.
Would they volunteer"
A man in the far end of the hall
shouted his answer over the heads of
the crowd: yes" he cried.
A dozen men-a score-fifty-
echoed the word and the hall was in
turmoil. President Wilson smiled
and held out his hand.
'Why, believe" he said as the
tumult died, ''you could raise the
500, 900 in almost any State. Ibelieve
you could get 5000 men right here
in this audience. :"
81 have been thrilled by the expert
. ences of these last few days" the
President said, "and will 90 home
to Washington and smile at the
gentlemen who say the United States
! is not awake.
"Those gallant men who sit on the
hill in Washington and make our laws
are going to deliver the goods"
The crowd cheered. Don't misun-
derstand me. they are going to de-
liver the goods because you want the
goods delivered. "
The President said the time had
come for him to ask his fellow citi-
liens to 'get up on your hind legs
and talk and tell the people who rep
resent you what the nation desires
and demands. The thing that every
body in democracy is listening for
is the tramp! tramp! trampl Of the
facts.
81 have come to ask you what is
back of me in this task of preserving
at once peace and your honor" the
President said. "The judge on the
bench has the law back of him with
its bailiffs, sheriffs, National Guards
men and the United States army, but,
if you ignore in some foreign capital
what the President urges as the rights
of the people and Government of the
United States, what is there back of
il?
ut is necessary that | should come
and ask you this question, because |
don't know how long the mere words
and insistence of your Government
will prevail to maintain your honor
and the dignity and power of the ma
ton.
"There may come time-l pray
God il may never come, but il may in
spite of everything we can do-upon
us when shall have TO ask, 4 have
said my say; who stands back Of it?'
Where is that force by which the
right and majesty OF the United States
are to be indicated and asserted?"
The President declared the need
was immediate and that action should