Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-09
VISITS
GENOA AND MILAN
Hundreds of Thousands Applaud
Him During His Journey
From Rome

Milan to-day, stopping at GenOd en- route.
There he was greeted by hundreds OF
Of the common people, who ac-
claimed him In the most extravagant
terms, fought to be near enough to touch
him. and even attempted to kiss his
hand or clothing as he passed through
the dense crowds.
Mr.. Wilson's visit Of three hours in
Genoa was marred by a tropical down.
pour of rain which drenched the Presi-
dent and all his party.
The streets ran rivers, and gale snap
ped the nagstaffs. Nevertheless. the
President carried out his full program.
including visits to the monuments Of CO.
lumbus and Maszini and to the city hall,
where he was given reception.
Whatever arrangements might have
been made to receive the President were
dissolved on his arrival. with the city
being dashed by the binding rain squalls.
All the members Of the official party ex-
cept Mr.. Wilson and his wife were COM
PEELED to scramble for themselves through
the troop-lined streets and make the best
way possible back to the official train.
The secret service men, seeking to pro-
tect the President, rejected motor cars
and carriages which were provided by
the local committee, but somehow n1ana9-
ed to get through the program and back
to the train without mishap.
Before leaving Genoa. President Wilson
laid a wreath at the base of the statue
of Columbus and, standing bareheaded in
the driving rain, made a short address.
Columbus, he said, did a service for the
world in discovering America and now
1t was Americas pleasure and pride to
show 1t was in the service Of mankind.
Being free" said the President. Amer
lea desires to show others how they may
also share in the freedom Of the world"
1t seemed as II all the inhabitants
and the people of the surrounding
country side had damned themselves
into the squares and streets along the
line of march. The thoroughfares
were so choked with humanity that the
Presidents motor car crawled through
with the greatest difficulty. The ball
comics. the roofs and every vantage
point were black with people and the
route had been plastered with posters
gether with quotations from his
speeches which could be particularly
applied to Italy's position.
The President called at the city hall,
where the freedom OF the city was
bestowed upon him. He then proceed
ed to the royal palace. where he re.
ceived delegations, going thence to La
Scala where he dined and where 1t was
hoped he would attend the opera. While
he was at the palace the great square
before the cathedral was so damned
that the cathedral had to be closed.
The American secret service men de-
clared they had never taken any Presi-
dent through such demonstrative scenes
or such great crowds. While the
throngs were orderly, they seemed
simply wild with enthusiasm and de.
termined to crowd near to the Presi.
dent. The tour of the city by the presi-
Dental party was to the accompany
ment Of virtually one continuous roar
of "vivas." II was evident that the
President was much fatigued by the
strain. despite his enjoyment Of the
spectacle.
| OF the many Incidents Of the visit per-
| haps the most touching was the presenta.
ton by wounded soldiers of a memorial
| favoring a league Of nations.
! The principal speech delivered by the
| President was at the municipal reception
where he reiterated that the pac must be
made in no special interest The Presiden,
| concluded by saying that he had heard
the story of Italy's prtvations and sac.
rif1ces in the war, and added:
II take off my hat to the great people
Of Italy and tell them that my admtra'
ton is merged into friendship and az
lection"
| In replying to the welcome Of the mayor
OF Milan on behalf of the municipality
the President said:
May I not cay to you as the repre-
sentative of this great city that It 1,
| impossible for me to put into words tn,
impressions I have received to-day. TIN,
overwhelming welcome, the spontaneous
" elcome. so evidently coming from tn,
heart, has been profoundly moving to me
sir. and have not failed to see the sig
n!ficance of that welcome You hav,
yourself referred to it. I am as keenl!
aware, l believe. sir, as anybody can h,
that the social structure rests upon th'
great working classes Of the world. ant
that those working classes In severa
countries Of the world have by their con
seriousness Of community Of interest b,
their consciousness Of community Of sr,r
, it, done perhaps more than any othe
influence has to establish world opinio,
which is not Of n nation. which Is not O
a contingent, but IL the opinion. on
might say. of mankind: and / am aware
sir. that those OF us now charged witt
the very great and serious responsible
ity of concluding peace must think. act
and confer In the presence OF this opin
| ion-that We are not masters Of the for
tunes OF any nation but are the servant
of mankind: that it Is not our privilcg
to follow special interests, but Il is gu
manifest duty to study only the genera
| interest.
This is a solemn thing. sir, and here Il
Milan, where know so much Of the pulls
OF international sympathy beats, ar
glad to stand up and say that I believ
that that pulse beats also In my ow
veins and that am not thinking of a par
ticular settlement.
II am very much touched o-day, sir
to receive at the hands Of wounded sol
diers memorial In favor Of a league o
nations and to be told by them what
was that they had fought for not merel
to win this war. but to secure somethin
beyond. some guarantee OF justice. som
equilibrium for the world as a Who'll
which would make It certain that the
would never have to fight a war like thi
again.
This Is an added obligation upon u
who make peace. We can not merel
sign treaty OF peace and 60 home wit
clear conscience. We must do some
thing more. We must add SO far as W
can the security which suffering me
everywhere demand.
And when ] speak OF suffering men
think also OF suffering women. I kno,
that, splendid as have been the achieve