Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-15
PRESIDENT FLAYS
HYPHENATES WHO
ARE FIGHTING HIM
Wilson Charges Foreign.Born Citi.
zens of United States Are Try.
ing to Levy Political
Blackmail.
'DIsLoYALTY MUST BE CRUSHED,
Chiefs Flag Day Speech Sc n sSs 4
Keynote Of Issue He w
Make Predominsr ~
TALKS TO MANY SSsANDs

~ "s'''S sSi'' yNi'N - N'ei . y
that foreign-born citizens of the
United States are trying to levy po-
litical blackmail and to undermine the
influence of the national government
was made by President Wilson in a
flag speech today. His assertion
sounded the keynote of one of the
foremost issues on which he will go
before the country for reelection,
and touched upon a platform declara-
tion which will be submitted by the
administration to the ST. Louis con-
vention,
The president spoke before a
crowd of thousand gathered at the
foot of the Washington monument,
liter he had reviewed for five hours
great preparedness parade, at the
head of which he himself had marched
down Pennsylvania avenue. He de-
clared that not since the civil war
had it been tested as it now is being
tested whether the Stars and Stripes
stood for any one united purpose.
Disloyalty Active.
There is disloyalty active in the
United States, and it must be abso-
lutely crushed" declared the presi-
dent, speaking emphatically. 1T pro-
ceeds from minority, very small
minority, but very active and subtle
minority.
1T works under ground, but it also
shows its ugly head where we can
see it; and there are those at this
moment who are trying to levy a
species of political blackmail, saying,
DO what we wish in the interest of
foreign sentiment or we will wreak
our vengeance at the polls That is
the sort of thing against which the
American nation will turn with a
mighty triumph Of sentiment which
will teach these gentlemen once for
all that loyalty to this flag is the first
test of tolerance in the United
States ~
Outlines Predominant Issue.
The presidents words were taken
as, an, open challenge to foreign-born
Americans, who, he had learned from
foreign-language newspapers and
other sources, are opposing him for
reelection. Officials close to him
said he was outlining his stand on
what he had determined to make a
predominant issue in his campaign.
While the democratic convention
was being opened at St. Louis Mr..
Wilson devoted the entire day to the
flag day and preparedness demonstra-
ton. Carrying large American flag
he walked from the capitol to the
White House at the head of more
than $4,000 marchers, including many
high government officials, employees
of all the government departments
and of the capitals business houses,
companies of cadets, national guards
men, union and confederate veterans
and members Of commercial and So
cial organizations.
Goes to Reviewing Stand.
The parade started from the capi-
tol grounds, and as its head passed
the White House the president
dropped out and took his place in
the reviewing stand. He was joined
there by Secretaries McAdoo, Red
field, Lane and Wilson, Postmaster
General Burleson and Attorney Cen
eral Gregory, who had marched at
the head of employees of their Depart
ments, and by Secretary Lansing. As
soon as the last marchers passed the
stand, five hours later, the president
went to the monument grounds, where
his address formed the principal part
of an hours patriotic audience.
Almost every man and woman in
the presidents audience carried an
American flag. Before he began
speaking cannon fired a national
salute of twenty-one guns and the
marine band played THE Star
Spangled Banner" while huge flag
was drawn slowly to the top Of the
white monument, SIS feet above the
ground.
Lansing Presides.
Secretary Lansing presided, and in
introducing the president emphasized
the duty of prescnt-day Americans
to preserve unsullied ideals handed
down by the founders of the re-
public
Speaking OF disloyalty in the
United States, the president said:
ut proceeds from minority, a
very small minority, but an active
and subtle min ority, working under
ground, but also showing its ugly
head where it may be seen, and it i.
this minority that at this very moment
is striving to levy a kind of political
blackmail or wreak its vengeance at
the polls. That is the sort OF thing
against which the American people
will turn. That is the lesson which
come to remind you OF today
T1o r. nou Tvoroiooo