Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-14
ROOSEVELT IS TARGET
OF SPEECH BY WILSON
AT JEFFERSON DINNER
Country Has No Time for
Violence, Ambition and
Heroics, President Tells
Cheering Democrats
TALKS ON RIGHT OF U. S.

WASHINGTON. April ti.-President
Wilson issued a challenge to Americans
last night in touching on his Mexican
policy.
Are you ready to meet the test?" he
asked, Are you ready to 60 in where
American interests and those OF humanity
coincide and TO come out as soon as the
interests Of humanity have been satisfied
Are you ready 10 see that American inter-
ests shall cease when the balance for
humanity Is readjusted? Are YOU ready7'
Cheers Of yes" answered him,
His appeal, while not directly linked
with the Mexican situation, was under
stood clearly as referring TO the Southern
Republic by each Of the 500 guests at the
Jefferson Day banquet of the Democratic
Common Counsel Club
The President gave n hint of one Of the
partys claims for reelection, in stating
that his party had redeemed its pledges
to the people. Every one i'm the banquet
hall understood him clearly to be refer
ring to Colonel Theodore Roosevelt when
he said:
THE country has not time to listen to
violence, ambition and heroics"
When his statements were loudly cheered
the President rejoined:
"You seem to have little doubt whom I
mean"
DEFENSE FOR PARTY.
President Wilson declared the country
is demanding non-partisan service, He
held that the Democratic party has sought
not only TO he non-partisan between all
interests and all classes. but had en-
deavored To be partisan to both sides in
every question
When the President declared he was not
interested in personal ambition nor enthu-
siastic over party success, but that he
was interested I'm seeing the load depress-
ing humanity lifted he mentioned no Re-
publican by name but when he spoke OF
ambition and heroics" there were shouts
of 1T. r."
Referring incidentally to Mexico, he told
of how a man had urged that trustees for
that nations welfare be chosen, and of his
reply that no nation had achieved real
prosperity and happiness for its masses
through a trusteeship imposed on II from
above
CALLED NEXT PRESIDENT.
The President was referred TO repeat
edly as the next President by Senators
Hollis and Walsh and Representative
Glass, who preceded him. and each utter
ance Of his name was received with ap-
plause.
Senator Walsh spoke OF the President
as a man who shuns war as "the supreme
calamity which can befall the nation"
but who. nevertheless. prepares for war.
MAY God continue TO preserve the ma
tion in peace" the Senator added
Mrs Wilson and the wives of the Cabt-
net officers occupied a box during the
speaking.
The dinner was in the nature of a Dem
ocratic rally All the speeches were
political. Wherever references were made
to Democratic achievements and alleged
failure of Republican policies the
audience rose to shout and cheer,
Throughout the addresses of all the
speakers there was a constant reminder
that the Democratic party in it's coming
national campaign will lay particular
stress upon the enactment of the Federal
reserve banking act as the greatest boon
to business the country has known"
Virtually every prominent Democrat In
Washington attended the dinner. Secre-
tary of State Lansing and other members
of the Cabinet were present, National
and chairman of DEM
ocratic State organizations from all Sec
tions of the country were there.
Roland s. Morris, OF Philadelphia, state
chairman for Pennsylvania, sat at the
speakers table A. Mitchell Palmer. Demo.
cratic National Committeeman, sat with a
group of Democratic leaders in his State.
Among his guests were Joseph F. Gutfsy,
Of Pittsburgh; George S. Davidson, of
Bruce F, Stirling, of Union
town; DR.. William T. Ellis, OF Delaware
George W. Hensel, OF Lancaster;
James Gillespie. of Philadelphia; Adam
Joyce, OF Philadelphia, and Attorney Gen.
eral Graham.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Blakeslee sat with the other Pennsylvania
guests.