Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-30

Manchester, Dec. 30.-In Manches-
ter. the great manufacturing mid
lands Of England, President Wilson,
who arrived here last evening, found
a different atmosphere from that of
London. There his time was absorbed
and necessarily, by formalities and Of
fetal functions. Here there have been
formal events, but with a more demo-
cratic air and on a more democratic
scale. Here he found a hospitality
which could not be warmer than that
of London, but which brought him
closer to the people.
There is a strong civic pride in this
metropolis. It's people feel that their
city was signal honored in being
chosen among other English cities for
the presidents visit.
The lord mayor is a self-made man.
His home. where Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson
were guests, is a section Of the city
their terms of office. 1t is a typical
English home. The rest of the presi-
dents party was quartered at a near
by hotel.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson sat down to an
early family dinner last evening and
soon afterward retired to their apart
ment to rest. The presidents days ii
England have involved great physical
strain. which vas apparent to those
near him last evening.
The most important feature of to-
day was the presentation of the free
dom Of the city to Mr.. Wilson with an
address by the president. What Man
chester expected in the way of a
speech is. shown by the fact that IS
minutes were. allotted to it.
Everyone wished to near the chief
executive of the United States and the
pressure for invitations was insistent.
The members of the council foresaw
that the president would be glad to-
address a popular, rather than a Sc.
lect audience. If Free Trade hall how
ever, had been three times as large
it could not have sheltered all who
were anxious to secure admission.
The most notable engineering
works in Manchester are the ship
canal and docks. The first activity Of
the day was an inspection of these.
and the party proceeded from the city
hall in automobiles. There were eight
cars in the procession. Mr.. Wilson was
received by Captain Bacon, chairman
of the directors of the ship canal and
spent an hour on board a small steam
er which cruised among the docks.
After his return to the city hall, Ross
f. Holiday, American consul, pre-
sented Americans residing in the city.
Thence it was a short drive to the
Free Trade hall. After the ceremonies
there the official party drove to the
Midland hotel where at l o'clock the
president was entertained at luncheon
by the city officials and many Of the
representative citizens.
Before MI. Wilson'S arrival at the
hotel there was an incident at the
Royal Exchange which will be treas
ured in the history of that institution.
The president appeared in the dis
tinguished strangers gallery, while the
floor was filled with members, and
made them a brief informal speech.
The only escort for the presidents
drives about the city was a squad of
mounted police. Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson
and their party took the train for Lon
don shortly before 3 o'clock, closing
a day which will be regarded as one
of the most important in the history
OF the city.
In presenting the freedom Of the
city to President. Wilson the lord
mayor said it affordedlthe city of Man
chester supreme satisfaction to have
IN it's roll the chief citizen Of the
American republic, Foremost Of all
Americans who have ever visited Eng
land" and one whose clear u]tterances
and earnest acts had beer a proof OF
the real union Of sentiment. This
man. said the lord mayor, now stood
before the audience as a living type
and symbol of the friendship of the
English speaking races.
The bonds between : England and
America, the lord mayor added, had
been riveted with great strength and
made indestructible.
when the complete history of the
war is written" he declared, "the
world will comprehend more fully
than it can today the s~tupendous
character of the effort which the
United States made to insure a RICH,
decision. The president has como
among us equally resolved hat the
world shall henceforth be better and
happier for a we'll ordered peace"
The president, the lord mayor wen,
on, was not a vain dreamer, as hi.
dreams had been fulfilled. This wa.