The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-04
PRESIDENT GETS
FIRST OVATION
Enthusiasm of Columbus Pre-
sages Success of Peace
Treaty Campaign.
TALKS WITH PE0PL E
First Stop at Dennison Turned
Into an Old Fashioned
Handshaking Bout.
(BY JOHN EDWIN NEVIN.)

Memorial Hail. Columbus, o.,
| Sept. "a. N. S.)-Ohio's capital
city greeted President Wilson today.
| 1t was the first actual stop on his
speech making program that is to
| take him to the Pacific coast. How
ever. long before he reached here, he
| had received the welcome greetings
of an interested populacc.
Early this morning the train had
stopped at Dennison. There a crowd
of citizens, many of whom wore the
uniform of the Red Cross, shook
hands with the nations chief execu-
| tive. The president had just finished
breakfast and made his appearance
on the platform of the private car
! Mayflower as soon as the train
stopped.
The hands OF the crowd were ex-
tended and an old fashioned hand
shaking bee was soon in progress
The president engaged in conversa-
tion with his welcomers. One in
cident that aroused much comment
happened as the train was about to
pull out of the station. An elderly
gray bearded buckeye" held the
presidents hand for n second or two
and said.
"Mr. President, Dennison voted
against you in the last election. but
it certainly will he for you in 1920"
The president smiled broadly, then
shaking his head with a typical VIII
sonian gesture, said;
"Oh, no, no."
ioinder.
The trip from Washington Oas
without incident. The presidek Ire
tired shortly after Harrisburg was
left behind, but arose early. He sat
in the drawingroom OF the private
car chatting with Mrs. Wilson most
of the morning. He was in an tn-
| usually happy mood. 1t was plain
| that he regarded the trip ms more or
less Of vacation and all cares Of
state were banished. Here and there,
as the special flashed through sta
tionS, crowds gathered to cheer, and
both the president and Mrs. Wilson
waved greetings to the people. espc-
cially to the women and children,
who were in the majority.
There was an utter absence of
partisanship so far as the crowds
were concerned. The people plainly
had turned out to see the chief
magistrate of the nation, and they
We're enthusiastic in their greetings.
Another incident at Dennison very
materially impressed the president.
One man, whose name was not
learned. after shaking hands, said:
"Mr President, ! lost two of my boys
In the war. | have one left. | am
looking to you to. save him for his
mother and me by making future wars
impossible"
The president shook hands with the
man from the platform and replied:
"The whole world is hoping that this
can be accomplished
Live on Train.
The special train OF the president,
which will be his temporary home for
nearly a month, is one of the best ever
assembled. The private car Mayhower
is attached to the rear of the train so
that the president will be able to see
the people all along the line. Both
he and Mrs Wilson are in excellent
health the president especially showing
no signs of the strain OF his battle with
the senate to secure ratification Of the
treaty of Versailles.
Talked With People.
1t was plain by his attitude that he
was very anxious to sound out public
opinion. At the brief stops made dur
ing the morning he encouraged conver-
sation with the people The talk. how
ever. had little to do with affairs
of state. To Red Cross workers
he addressed questions as to whether
they still were keeping up the work of
feeding and caring for troops passing
through and he showed evident pleas
ure when told that this was so and
that the men who fought in France
were having their wants looked after
as they passed enroute to their homes.
The farmers were asked regarding
their crops. But the individuals in the
crowd who interested both the presi-
dent and Mrs. Wilson the most were
the children. Mrs. Wilson especially
leaned far over the rail of the private
car to shake hands with the little ones.
Besieaed With kilograms.
The president was besieged with tele-
grams urging that the special train be
held up at additional points to allow
the people to see him. However, It was
officially announced that there would |
be no changes In the schedule. The |
proposal to have the president spend |
an additional day in Seattle and take
one from san Francisco was negatived |
by the president. who said he wanted |
his original itinerary carried out.
At all times in trip the president re- |
mained in touch with Washington. Sec |
retary Tumulty and his assistant, |
Thomas ]. Brahany received number |
of official dispatches through the day |
r. toll % |