Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-31
SAYS UNITED STATES
WILL MAKE ALLIANCE
WITH NO ONE STATE
People of Manchester Give
President Unusually En-
thusiastic Reception.
MANY SHAKE HANDS
WITH CiTY'S GUEST
Audience Apparently More Sym
pathetic Than Amy Other y
in England.
CEREMONIES ARE INFORMAL
American Executive Tells Lord
Mayor He Has Been Given
Happy Time.
MANY SHAKE HANDS
WITH ClTY'S GUEST
ARE INFORMAL
IBy Associated Press. ]

tBy Associated Pressl
MANCHESTER, December 30.-The
people Of Manchester made President
Wilson Freeman of their city to-day.
They did more than that-they made
him at home.
1t seemed as though all the men,
women and children of the town, and
any from Lancashire Large.
cheered the President at some stage
of the crowded five hours In which he
made Il sort OF democratic royal prog
ress from one point of interest tonan-i
other.
The general atmosphere of all the
proceedings was intimate and friendly;
often the people got near enough. to !
shake hands. Even the ceremony of
comforting the freedom of the city had
n tone of homely sim plicity and seemed
than formally staged ritual The
assembly sang For He's q jolly Good
Fellow" sSrr 3
II was happy inspiration that tiled
the aldermen to throw open tha9aar argsst
hall in the city. instead Of follow3ng
me TSis by
speech Nhe President delivered.
MOST IMPORTANT 80
PRONOUNCEMENTlI IN ENGLAND Z
H1iS llOSl IHP1EtdAt V
TO Englishmen. the most tmportantsh he
has made in England. that the United
States would make no covenant With
any powers except one with alifsthe /
powers. was not lost upon his hearers.
No other audience during his European
appearances has absorbed the PSpsi-5
dents utterances eagerly, SO UNDER
standing gly. and has so quickly respond-
ed to every important point. No other
audienee aS has ressmbied % SO o. notlesabiy
whom the President has been accus-
toned to speak at home.
Perhaps this was because Lancashire
the United States and has such close
Industrial connections and follows
American affairs with keener interest
than most English counties.
The first item in the days program
was drive to the famous docks which
have made Manchester an inland port.
OF PROMINENTLY MEN
Later the President made a brief ap-
pearance In the balcony Of the Royal
Exchange, where he spoke; Finally
in the Midland Hotel. where he made
an acknowledgment of Manchester's
hospitality. st
Only the weather was unfriendly TO-
day. 1t was gray and thick. with .in-
tervals Of rain, but that is typical aofE
the season in the midlands. and sit
men. farmers, soldiers, with countless
thousands of women and children. stood
in the streets and rushed from point
10 point for glimpse of the President.
Shaking hands with the Lord Mayor
and the Chief Constable on parting, the
President said:
In all my travels have not known ar
have given me a happy time. My only
regret is that it was not longer"
The last Manchester saw of the
President. ne stood on the PLATFORM OF
the royal train,, hat in hand. with his
presidential flag which had been pre-
sented by the people of France. The
band played THE star-Spangled Ban
ner."
The President was the recipient OF
ovations for many miles along the rail-
way from Manchester. The people had
gathered along the line near the city
and near the suburbs and at various
local cities on the route and cheered
vigorously as the train passed -,
REGRETS INABILITY TO
VISIT SOUTHAMPTON
In a telegram regrettins his inability
freedom OF the city, the President eS-Ss
pressed his cordial thanks for the hon.
or and said: IbE
1T would have been great pleasure,
but 1t is absolutely necessary for me
to return to France on Tuesday"
PRESIDENT INsPECTs
MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL
The inspection of the Manchester
sup Sahdi oS fTeSIuenC w llS0n and his
party had several picturesque fentures.
All the ships In the inland harbor were
dressed brightly with flags and the sen
men cheered as the presidential party
passed by. 49,
The British mystery ship" and two
German submarines were Ia the .har-
bor At first glance the mystery shin" /;
appeared to be an ordinary steamer
but as the President and his party aI,- II
preached. the ship showed it's real char
acter. S-'1SSSa. r
With all the rapidity and effect Ola
great conjuring trick. the dingy vessel
became a fully armed warship Parts
OF the upper works fell down and gums
appeared with"gun crews at their stn-
tions. The German submarines were es
manned by British sailors. s,,s9l #
MEETING COMPARABLE
TO NATIONAL CONVENTION 4
To American eyes the scene In the Y
Free Trade Hall was comparable 10 81
that of a session OF political ma y K
tional convention. The Introductory q
sreeches were received much as 'afs sAs
tho nominating speeches for the favo-
rite candidate at such convcntionf5t 5t
and when President Wilson arose To-
speak the scene resombied that on IA sst
about to nominate candJ,ts ss
date by acclamation. ~ sss iSfe
to to The. ths Free Trade Han audIencs y
-Ar. Lord Mayor, ladies and ssyss 81