The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-06
TO REJECT LEAGUE MEANS
TO BECOME WORLDS RIVAL.
Prolonged Cheers Greet Wilson's Declaration
That He's No "Quitter"
' Center" of Treaty Is the Requirement for Elapse
of Nine Months Before Nations Mobil-
izaton-America Can Be Senior
Partner in World League.

St. Louis, Mo-, Sept. Cd. N. S.1
If the United States cannot accept
the peace treaty as il stands and bes
come a part of the league of nationa
the only alternative is to reject il ia
its entirety and become the hostile
| rival of the rest Of the world Such
| was the declaration Of President
Wilson in a speech before several
thousand persons in the Coliseum
| last night. And in this event, the
! president said, I'VE must be physi-
! cally ready for anything that comes
must see that every man in Amer
ica is trained to arms-that there are
ammunition and guns enough for q
| modified nation And this military
preparation, he added, must be kept
up to date and "ready for use to-
morrow"
This would mean the continuation
and increase Of present taaes," no
said and would mean that the nation
must be organized on a new basis.
! The sort OF government Germany
! had, he declared, was the only sort
that could handle an armed nation"
democracy does not go to war
| that way Mr.. Wilson continued, de-
| claring that if Il did the president
|
counselor elected for a little while,
but as man meant continually to
be the commander IN chief OF the
| army and navy of the United States.
"if the United States must stand
! alone it must stand as a part OF the
world in arms he said, referring to
conditions that would result from re-
tusaI to participate in the league.
There can be no league of nations
in true sense without the partner
ship of this great nation And il we
are partners let me predict that we
will be the senior partner-financial
leadership would be ours, industrial
supremacy ours, the commercial ad-
vantage ours. Othor countries would
look to US for leadership and diree-
! ton.
81 want to get in and get in az
quick az ! can; be inside and know
how the thing is run and help to run
It. Tho alternatives are armed iso-
lat'on or peaceful partnershp.'
Thousands Turned Away.
The doors of the Coliseum were
thrown open at o'clock, but within
half hour every seat was taken and
thousand8 Of persons Clamorng for
admission in the street outside were
turned away by the police.
The president arrived at 8:13, pre-
cedcd by Mrs, Wilson. The audience
| arose and gave an ovation that con-
tlnuod for four and a half minutes,
while it seemed that every one pres
ent was waving a small flag. The
president sat during the demonstra-
tion smiling. Mrs. Wilson, behind
him. looked on QuiCtly.
James r, smith, temporary chair
man, spoke of the president as hav-
~ hn, ~
of the world ever attained by any
American Citizen" He then intro
duced Gov. Gardner. who presented
the president.
The question now is, Shall we
obtain the fun fruit of our victory?"
Gov. Gardner said. The president
nodded vigorous assent.
when we contemplate the presis
dents splendid intellect, his under-
standing the fun power of his tren-
chant pen breaking the morale of the
enemy behind the line, then we will
acclaim Wilson as the father of
world democracy"
The president began speaking at
SIS. 1t was 9:10 when he con-
cluded. He showed displeasuge when
photographer called to him through
a mcgaphone to lend attention while
Il flashlight was made. He did not
wall, huL began speaking.
Text of Stirring Address.
"My fellow countrymen," he said,
this is much too solemn an occasion
to care how We look. We must look
to how we think
Il have noticed that some very cu-
rious alterations of thinking have
taken place in this country of late.
| have sought to understand the point
of view Of those opposing the treaty.
| must admit it is very hard for me
to believe they have followed line
of thinking to a logical and necessary
conclusion when YOU reflect their po-
sition is that we must either reject
the treaty or change it in such way
as to make ii necessary to reopen ne-
aotiattons with Germany and recon-
slider the settlement of peace.
"The only alternative is to reject
and stand alone in the world. What
does this alternative mean?
"Only those ignorant of the world
can believe that any nation-even the
United Statcs-can stand alone and
play a single part in the history of
mankind.
1--WE have got TO carry this burden
of reconstruction or be ruined and
1.-THE question is, shall we carry it and
be ruined anyway? The whole as
lpect Of the matter is one of igno-
rance The men who propose these
things do not understand the inter-
ests of the United States.
81 have heard some say with amaz-
ing ignorance that the covenant OF
the league was an arrangement for
war. Very WELL But what of the
other Arrangements Would it mean
peace?
Il wonder IL some of the gentlemen
who are commenting on this treaty
ever read ii? If anybody will tell
me someone who hasn't III send him
a copy"
Then several persons shouted.
at is written in the plainest Eng
il.sh," the president continued. There
isn't phrase Of doubtful meaning in
the whole covenant. There is a cove.
naut of arbitration and discussion.
81 Am Not a Gutter, For One"
Everybody you have heard dis
cussjng the league mentions article
X. We'll, there are twenty five other
articles and al labout different uues-
tions. Ana they are talking about how
quick we can get out. We'll, am not
gutter for one"
This was greeted with prolonged
cheers.
we can get out as soon as we want
to. but we don't want to get out as
quick as we get in, the president
went on. Nr Wilson then explained
what he called the center of the
treaty.
|