The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-03-05
PUZZLED BY CRITICISMS

! q must say that 1 have been puzzled | by some of the criticisms-not by the
 criticisms themselves: l can understand
 them perfectly, even when there was no 1 foundation for them; but by the fact of the criticism.
 | "I cannot imagine how these
 gentlemen can live and not live in the atmosphere of the world. cannot imagine how they can live and not be in contact with the ] events of their times. and I par ticularIy cannot imagine how they
 can he Americans and set up a doe 1 trine of careful seIfisliness, thought out to the last detail. | T have heard no counsel of gener-
 osity in their criticism. l have heard no constructive suggestion; have hearo ! nothing except will it not be dangerous l to us to help the world?' It would be fatal to us not to help it''
 Of George Washingtons warning of entagling alliances President Wilson said
 that the thing that he longed for was | just what we are now about to supply; | an arrangement whNh. will disentag!e 1 all the alliances in the world | The President said criticisms of the | league do not make any impression on me-, because "the sentiment of the coun- 1 try is proof against such narrowness and such selfishness as that.
 In closing, the President said America could look forward with confidence to the l future, for he had heard cheering news since he came to this side of the water a bout the progress that is being made in matters and he believed Settlements will begin to be made rather rapidly from this time on at these conferences.
 Declaring that while abroad he had "heard cries for the league of nations from lips of people who had no partlcu- lar notion of how it was to be done, the President said it was ''inconceivaoie that we should disappoint them, and we shall not. "
 "The day will come when men in Amerl- ca will look back with swelling hearts and rising pride that they should have been privileged to make the sacrifice which it was necessary to make in order to combine their might and their mora power with the cause of justice Tor men of every kind everywhere" he said
 "God give us strength and vision to do it wisely God give us the privileg" of knowing that we did it without count ing the cost, and because we were true Americans lovers of liberty and of the right." Governor smith of New York presided at the meeting and introduced poth President Wilson and MT. Ta1t.
 Long before the President, coming here tonight from Washington to sail from Hoboken tomorrow on the steam CT George Washington, reached the opera house, great crowds had collected along Broadway and Seventh avenue while hundreds of policemen. the strongest guard ever provided in this city, were stationed at every few paces around the building. e
 One hour before the doors were thrown open to the few thousands who had been able to obtain tickets. 20 in spectors from police headquarters searched the opera house from cellar to uppermost gallery, showing evidence of precautions taken to protect Amer ica's chief executive. Roofs of build ings nearby were also searched.
 Police lines were drawn two blocks from all sides from the opera house. Stockholders arriving in automobiles were forced to descend one block from the building and walk to the main en- trance. At least IS uniformed police men vised each ticket before seat holders could reach the main entrance of the building and almost as many more men scanned the tickets before a person reached his seat.
 DOORS OPEN AT SEVEN
 The doors were opened shortly after
 o'clock and as sfashionably dressed