The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1919-09-25
COAST TO COAST
U. S. FOR LEAGUE
MILLIONS ACCLAIM WILSON AS
HE SPEEDS ACROSS
THE LAND.
FEW ASK FOR CHANGES
Majority Feel That Presidents Guild
ance Should Be HeId-He Regards
Pact AS Sure to Come Soon.
(By Mt. Clemens News Bureau)

Aboard PreSluenC WILSON SpeCldI
Train-From the Capital at Washing
ton to the far Pacific coast the Presi-
dent Of the United States has jour
neyed on the most unusual expedition
ever undertaken by a chief executive
of the nation.
To discuss national questions, many
presidents have toured the land but
Mr.. Wilson is laying before America
a question which affects the whole
world-the question Of whether or not
we are to join in the League Of Ma
tons; whether we are to forget our
former isolation and share with the
other peoples of the earth the respon-
sibilities of maintaining civilization
and preventing, as he says we can do,
future warfare.
Between the capital and the coast
the president made fifteen speeches
and half a dozen brief talks. All of
100000 fellow citizens listened to him.
Several millions had the chance to see
him, and apparently everyone wanted
to see him, from those who thronged
the streets of the cities and towns
where he stopped, to those who came
to the railside or stood at little flag
stations in remote places, knowing
their only reward could be a fleeting
glimpse and a wave of the hand.
He has met and talked to all types
Of citizens-to men big in the bust
ness, financial and professional worlds,
to farmers and mechanical workers.
to Indians and cowboys and foreign
born herders and rangers, to soldiers
and to mothers who lost soldier-sons
in the late war.
What do they all tell him? unani-
mously they say they want peace
definitely settled, they want no mere
wars, they want the League of Ma
tons, and most of the American peo-
pie, it may be fairly said, tell the
President they want the League just
as it is, without the reservations or
amendments which certain senators
have insisted upon. The majority of
citizens say to those who interview
them on this tour:
Woodrow Wilson guided us rightly
before and during the war with Ger.
many. We entered that war, every.
one agrees, to end all wars. He says
the league can do that. We want to
do that, so let us keep on trusting him
and get the league into operation as
soon as possible. Forget politics"
Most Americans encountered on the
tour have forgotten politics. Repub-
lican Governors and Mayors have in.
troduced the President to his audi.
ence; the Major part Of the local COM
mittees which have met him have
been Republicans. They have all said:
I'VE are nothing but Americans, Mr..
President"
Mr.. Wilson's arguments for the
league, briefly summarized, are those:
There can be no peace, either now
or in the future, without it. There
can only be a regrouping Of nations
and new Balance Of Power" which
Is certain to lead to war. There can
be no war in the future, with the
league in existence, because no single
nation would defy the united rest of
mankind, and IL 1t did, 1t could be
brought to terms by an economic
boycott, end without the use Of arms.
There can be no reduction in the
cost Of living until the league Is es-
tablished, for nations will not go
ahead with peace time production un.
til they know that peace is definitely
assured and that production of war
material is no longer necessary.
There can be wonderful prosperity,
with the league in existence, for rel.
ations Of labor and capital all over
the world will be made closer and
more friendly, and the worker will re-
ceive fairer share Of what he pro-
duces.
These declaration of the president
logically and eloquently put, have left
his hearers thinking and thinking
deeply. And then Mr.: Wilson has
pointed out, the people themselves, as
differentiated from senators and politi
clans, seem to want just what the
president wants, which is America for
leadership.
Quite as unusual as the purpose OF
the cross country tour Is the manner
in which 1t is being carried out and
the completeness Of the arrange
ments on the nine car train which is
bearing the party.
At the rear is the private car May
flower, occupied by the President and
Mrs. Wilson. Next is a compartment