The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-06
GENOA CHEERS.
WILSON DESPITE.
BIC DOWNPOUR.
President Braves Torrents to
Go Through With Entire Pro-
gram at HtaIian City, En-
Route to Milan From Rome.

hlIANt Jdn. ., my LnS ASSOCldIeu
Press: )-President Wilson journeyed
f1om Rome to Milan yesterday, stopping
at Genoa en- route. Tnere he was
greeted by hundreds of thousands of
the common people, VINO acclaimed him
IN the most eNtravaganr teI1nsA fought
ana scrambled to be near enough to
touch him, and even attempted to kiss
MS hand or clothing as he passed
through the dense CROWDS surging and
buffeting about him.
Mr.. Wilson's visit OF three hours to
Genoa was marred by tropical down
pour Of rain which drenched the. presi-
Gent and all his party. The decora--
tions were soaked and torn and Tapped
in the wind. Nevertheless the presi-
dent carried out his full program, in
cluding visit to the monuments of CO.
fumbus and Mazzini and the city hall,
where he was given reception.
Whatever arrangements might have
heen made to receive the president were
dissolved on his arrival, with the city
being lashed by the binding rain
cls1 party except Mr. Wilson and his
: VIE were compelled to scramble for
! themselves through the troop-lned
streets and make the best way possible
back. to the official train. The secret
service men, seeking to protect the
president, rejected motor cars and car
liages which were provided by the local
committee, but somehow managed to
get through the program and back to
ne train without mishap.
Praises Columbus.
Before leaving Genoa, President will
son laid wreath at the base of the
statue Of Columbus and, standing bare
headed in the driving rain, made
short address. a,-.
Columbus, he said, did service for
the world In discovering America, and
a nIaQCHTH
pride TO show 1t was in the service OF
mankind.
Being free" said the president,
America desires to show others how
they may also share in the freedom
In replying to the welcome OF the
mayor Of Milan, on behalf Of the nu"
nicipality Yesterday. President Wilson
said: a45s
iiMay' + not say to yoa Is the repre-
impossible for me TO put into words
the impressions | have received today
The overwhelming welcome, the spon-
taneous welcome, so evidently coming
from the heart, has been profoundly
moving to me sir; and nd ! nave mo- not
welcome You have yourself referred
to 1t. I am keenly aware, believe,
sir, as anybody can be that the social
structure rests upon the great working
classes of the world and that those
working classes in several countries OF
the world have, by their consciousness
of community OF interest, by their con-
sciousness OF community spirit, done
perhaps more than any other influence
has to establish a world opinion which
is not of a nation. which is not of a
continent, but is the opinion, one might
say. of mankind and | am aware, sir,
that those of us now charged with
the very great and serious RESPONSE
ybility Of concluding peace must think,
act and confer in the presence OF this
opinion--that we are not masters Of
the fortunes of any nation, but are
the servants of mankind: that it is
not our privilege to follow. special in
terests, but 1t is our manifest duty to
study only the general interests.
This is a solemn thing, sir. and here
in Milan, where l know that so much
of the pulse of International sympathy
beats, / am glad to stand up and say
that ! believe that the pulse beats also
in my own veins and that l am not
thinking of particular settlement.
Touched BY Offer.
81 am very much touched today. sir,
to receive at the hands Of wounded
soldiers memorial in favor Of a
league of nations and TO be told by
them what it was that they had fought
for-not merely to win this war, but
to secure something beyond, some guar
antee Of justice some equilibrium for
The world as whole which would make
it certain that they would never have
to fight a war like this again
This is an added obligation upon us
who make peace. We can not merely
sign a treaty Of peace and go home
with a clear conscience. We must do
| something more. We must add so far
as we can the security which suffer-
ing men everywhere demand
And when l speak of suffering men,
] think also OF suffering women.
know that, splendid as have been the
achievements Of your armies and tre-
mendous as have been the sacrifices
which they have made and great the
glory which they have achieved, the
real hard pressure Of the burden came
upon the women at home whose men
had gone to the front and who were
willing to have them stay there until
the battle was fought out. And have
heard from your minister of food the
story how, for days together, there
would be no bread. And when they
knew that there was no bread the
spirit Of the people did not flag
II take off my hat to the great
people of Italy and tell them that my
admiration is merged into friendship
and affection. It Is in this spirit that
| receive your courtesy, sir, and thank
You from the bottom Of my heart fol
this unprecedented reception which
have received at the hands of youI
generous people"