The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-15
Sounds One of Predominant Issues of Campaign in
 Flag Day Speech
.DISLOYALTY ACTIVE
 IN UNITED STATES
Do What We Wish in the Interest of Foreign Sentiment or We Will Wreak Our Vengeance At the
 Polis," They Tell Him

Washington, June 14.-A charge that foreign born citizens of the United States are trying to levy political blackmail and to undermine the iu- fluence of the national government was made by President Wilson in :. Flag sounded the keynote of one of the foremost issues on which he will 90 before the country for reelection, and touched upon a platform dec.aration which will be submitted by the admin istration to the St. Louis convention. The President spoke before crowd Of thousands gathered at the foot Of the Washington monument 1fter he had reviewed for five hours d great preparedness parade at the head of which he himself had marched down Pennsylvania avenue. He declared that rot since the civil war had it oeen test ed as it now is being tested whether the stars and stripes stood for any one united purpose.
 DISLOYALTY IS ACTIVE
 '"There is dislOyaIty active in the United States and it must be abso- IuteIy crushed," declared the Prest- dent, speaking emphatfcnIly.
 "It proceeds from a minority, very small minority. hut very active and subtle minority.
 "It works underground, but it also shows it's ugly head where we can see it: and there are those at this moment who are trying to levy a species of political black mail, saying. Do what we wish in the interest of foreign sentiment or we will wreak our vengeance at the pOlIs.' That is the sort of thing against which the American nation
 will turn with q might and triumph of sentiment which will teach the gentlemen once for all that loyalty
 to this flag is the first test of toI-
 erance in the United States"
 The Presidents words were taken as an open challenge to foreign born Americans who he has learned from foreign language newspapers and oth- CT sources are opposing him for re- election Officials close to him said he was outlining his stand on what he had determined to make a predominant is- sue in the campaign.
 While the democratic convention was being opened at St. Louis MT. Wilson de- voted the entire day to the flag day and preparedness demonstration. Carrying . large American flag, he walked from the capitol to the White House at the head of more than 5000 marchers. including many high government officials, Civil
 
 ernment departments, of the capitals . business houses, companies of cadets and National Guardsmen. Union and Confed- crate Veterans and Sons of Veterans marched close together. and were con- stantly cheered.
 SONS OF THE SOUTH
 The Sons of Confederate Veterans, ins cluding commands from Virginia and Maryland grouped with the Southern so- ciety of Washington as the Sons of the South,' composed a division of more than a thousand. They included sen- ators and representatives and other men of prominence. Ernest w. Baldwin of Roanoke, Va, national commander in chief of the Sons of Confederate Vet erans; Clarence J. Owens past comman- der in chief; Everett w. Beckmann, com- mander of the Washington camp, and w. w. Olds of Norfolk, past commander in chief, headed the Sons. c. c. Calhoun of Kentucky. president of the Southern society, headed that body, and others who marched included Gen. Albert Esto- pinol of Louisiana, with six sons.
 The parade started from the capitol grounds, and as it's head passed the White House, the President dropped out and took his place in the reviewing stand He was joined there by Secretaries Me- Adoo, Redfield, Lane and Wilson. Post
 tCeutinued on Page Twoy