The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-05
President Bitterly DenOunces
Foes in st. Louis Speech.
President DOns Fighting Duds
as He Enters Enemy Land.
GREAT OVATION IN MISSOURI
"Put Up or Shut Up" His Defy
to Opponents.
President Denies Treaty Is a
Political Issue.

Political Issue.
St. Louis, Mo, Sept. 5.-"Absolute
! contemplate cutters" was the epithet
applied by President Wilson this after
noon to those who refuse to go thru
with Americas program to end all
war. which Wilson believes can be
accomplished by means of the League
| of Nations
merce luncheon here, he bitterly de-
! nounced those who speak to prevent
/ the Uunited States joining the league.
Calls Opponents Hands.
| Discussing men who declare the
\ United States should not go into war
to protect every little nation in the
world the president said:
Let them show me how they will
| keep out of war by not protecting
! them. Let them show me how they
| viii prove that having gone into an
/ enterprise, they are not absolute, con-
| temptible cutters If they don't see the
game thru.
They Joined with the rest of US in
the profession of fine purpose when
we went into the war. They went in
and they professed to go in to see that
nobody after Germany's defeat should
repeat the experiment Germany tried"
Great Outbursts of Cheering,
punctuated Wilson's attack on the
treaty foes. He spoke with vigor and
stuck out his jaw. pounding on the
rail for emphasis.
! Those gentlemen are dreaming
he cried. They are living in a past
age. which has gone and is all but
forgotten, when they say we can
mind our own business
! Wilson. rising to speak, was greeted
with three cheers "for the benefactor
| Of the world"
He declared party politics had no
place in the treaty discussion, and
that he was glad to hear the chairman
say that politics is adjourned"
He said criticism of the treaty was
directed at mere details and incidents
of the great human document"
The treaty is the chart and consti-
tuition for new system of the world,
he asserted. to establish the independ-
ence and protect the integrity of the
weak nations of the world. The weak
nations must be protected to prevent
war.
The dining room on the roof of the
Hotel Statler was jammed to the win
dows. In addition to those at tables.
an overflow swarmed in when 1t was
time for Wilson to speak, and the
throng was so dense many were un-
able to move.
Mrs. Wilson was first to enter. She
carried roses. There was quiet ap-
a table directly below the dais on
which Wilson sat.
Gets Great Ovation.
Wilson was greeted with handicap
ping, shouts and ear-piercing rebel
yells which lasted several minutes.
He was dressed in a light gray bust
ness suit and wore a rose in his lapel
The president was escorted to his
n place, a high backed, red plush af-
I fair resembling a throne, festooned
hwith red, white and blue ribbon and
punches of red roses He ended the
ing several times. Flashlight photo
gfaphs were taken, creating a thin fog
J of smoke in the room.
Crowds which cheering and wav-
ing flags struggled to break thru po-
Ice lines and swarm about his auto
mobile, greeted President Wilson on
Fhis way to his hotel this morning.
n The noise of voices mingled in a
; continuous all the way from the out
skirts of the city. where the presiden-
tial special stopped, to the hotel where
, Wilson went for a short rest before
making his speech at the Chamber of
| Commerce luncheon, demanding Tati-
, fication of the peace treaty un-
, amended.
Now Famous Wilson Smile.
Wilson's smile was always in evil
dence as he flourished his straw hat
IN response, sometimes standing up in
! his automobile to bow his apprecia-
tion.
J Ranks of troops from Jefferson
barracks presented arms as the presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson stepped from
the train as a military band played
The Star Spangled Banner" The
crowds at this point rushed the lines
OF soldiers, good naturedly jostled
, aside the boys in khaki who carried
rifles with fixed bayonets and massed
around wilson's machine striving to
shake hands.
In addition to the people on the
sidewalks along the route to the hotel
: every window was filled and many
= were on the roofs.
: Signs had been pasted in a number
of windows bearing such MESSAGES as
S Tell it to 'em. Woodrow" and Were
( with you. Woodrow"
Booze Lovers There.
One automobile bearing a huge
: placard demanding lifting of the war
time prohibition ban, lodged down
! side streets and confronted the presi-
dent at number of points. 1t was
, filled with women, shrilly cheering
+ and waving banners.
Mrs. Wilson received much ap-
: plause, especially from the women and
: her name was frequently heard along
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