Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-09
PRESIDENT FAILS
TO IMPRESS WEST,
LAWRENCE finds
Executives 0ratory Wins
Great Praise, But Does
Not Define Issue.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
EN- ROUTE TO ST. PAUL, Mimi.
September S.-President Wilson die
not make. much of an impression a
Omaha. His audience was interested
and occasionally enthusiastic, bu
much of Mr. wilson's argument wen,
over their heads.
The street crowds showed surprising
apathy. 1t seemed more like Colum-
bus, Ohio, than any other place visited
Little Of the riproaring enthusiasm OF
Des Moines or St. Louis or Kansas
City came out of the multitudes who
lined the streets awestruck OF sat re-
spectfully attentive in the big audi
forum.
View of influential.
After the meeting / talked with
several influential republicans and
some democrats and the consensus OF
opinion ,yas that Mr. Wilson had not
advanced much that was new or soul
stirrirk- L inquired whether the peo-
pie ~ Omaha had heen reading pre-
cedfES Speeches of the President and
whesher the ground work of his ar
gunsEDt was not already familiar to
them through the newspapers. They
said perhaps that has something to
do with it.
But they just couldn't tell why Mr..
Wilson. who really set the town go
ing in frenzy of enthusiasm when he
was q candidate in 1912 and again
paredness tour in February, 1916.
didn't arouse the same fervor this
time One editor, whose newspaper
admires Mr.. Wilson and who is him
self a supporter of the league of ma
tions. was of the opinion that the
la
people very much and that try as Mr..
Wilson might to make them think a
world crisis was on they believed the
warsended last November and that the
processes of unscrambling in Europe
would in due course rehabilitate the
continent He saw everywhere dis
Inclination to analyze the treaty. but
an fmpatience to get it out of the way.
With Him on Issue.
Practically the same viewpoint of
the m1patience of the people was
given by some leading republicans.
They couldn't understand the Sem
ates representation. Were with
WILSON on this issue. but. mind you.
We're not with Wilson-and if he runs
again he won't get democratic sup
port either" was the way they ex-
pressed it.
Again and again an UNDERGONE of
political apprehension is encountered
among republicans who hesitate to
fndorse Mr.. Wilson'S journey OF lend
themselves to the processes of per-
sussfon which would help get the
treaty ratified, because they somehow
believe he may shatter a precedent
and run for a third term. Those who
thi5e league issue will be out of
the Ia ina few months go ahead in
con support of the league, feel
ing&E they will have plenty of time
to NV their communities that they
haSS55ek swallowed wisconsin hook,
bal md sinker just because they
wal pee the league OF nations,
1ek In G. o. p. Fold.
i ela by democrat of national
Pre-, he in Iowa that most Of the
rep 1ps vino voted for Mr.. Wilson
IN 11G&sh gone back to the fold, and
thAk---rnfytakes in Washington had
tut ded AWAY some stanch democrats.
is true that republicans FREEDOM
in&te on the reception committee as
Nj Wilson moves westward, and he
helps to-relieve those individuals of
figure embarrassment by stressing
hi o1n political disinterestedness
an n9n-partisan viewpoint toward
til league issue.
but 1t is clear that the league OF
natfonS in Iowa and Nebraska is get
tflk wholesome support from repub-
Hdkns, In spite of the President rather
ShHn because Of him. Many men told
nj they thought it undignifed OF the
President to characterize senators AZ
"c&ntepptible cutters" Not that
so7ne Of the men who have been lam
batting Mt. Wilson didn't deserve
kidd things and ugly imputations
witch they have been thrusting at
hin, but somehow they do not ex-
pe6t the President to descend to the
level Of his extreme opponents.
One Phase Wins.
Sn the other hand. put up or shut
M gets a big hand everywhere, and
thu hit -'em-hard kind of speech
mikes favorable impression with
tn crowds, who are Immediately un-
del the spell of the President. Read
I'M cold type, however. Is the great
majority of Americans are getting
isfcertain1y not good one, judging
fr4m the effects to be found in Omaha
of fne- remarks made by Mr.. Wilson
onzthe1days preceding.
Hhe President himself comes in for
mich praise as the crowd files out. I
marks. What wonderful English,
what a magnificent flow of language
how easily he talks" On the faces
Of his auditors. too. are smiles as
VASCULAR phrase. They seem pleased
to, learn that the man whom they
had grown to believe was a recluse
knows the phrases of poker or the
slang of colioquial speech.
Susceptible to Flattery.
They are fattered as he says. 81
owe a report of what I did only to
you" And they cheer him to the echo
when he exclaims: IT would consider
myself recreant to every mother and
father, every wife and sweetheart in
this country. If l consented to the
ending of this war without guaran.
tee that there would be no other"
But they look on with a sort of i'm.
pressed wonder as Mr.. Wilson with
dramatic touch declares: IF 1 fel,
that / personally in any way stood in
the way of this settlement / would
gladly die that it might be consum
mated, because / have a vision thai
IL this thing should by some mishar
forever upon the fair name of thil
people a stain which could never b.
effaced."
Reaction to War oratory.
One would think that emotional an.
peal Of this sort would stir men to
outbursts OF fervent approval Ger.
tainly Mr.. Wilson'S oratorical powers
are extraordinary. But it seems as II
there is a natural reaction nowadays
to all patriotic appeal Perhaps il
was the war with its plethora of lib
erty loan speeches and exhortations
to sacrifice, but the old Fourth of July
stuff dsis not get the gatling CUR
applause it used to get.
And while men and women leave tn.
halls convinced that Mr.. Wilson 4.
-ovlripp fnr praaf aud oood o,,co