The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-09-05
fDAVID LAWRENcE.)

ct, Louis. Mo-, Sept. 6.-(Copy-
righted for The Chattanooga News.)
President Wilson comes as a
stranger from afar. His first au-
diences are cool, awestruck and even
apathetio toward the gospel he
breaches, when he begins. but grad
ually the president strikes the heart
strings of American patriotism and
emotion and brings down the house.
Street crowds are unenthusastic,
with only a hand clapping group
here and there. occasionally cheer
so rare as TO be conspicuous, and Mr..
Wilson proceeds down the main
thoroughfarcs Of the city as re-
spected magistrate OF the people
with an austerity and dignity that
begets solemnity, not Joy. Out in Ohio
which helped re-elect Wilson in 1916,
though every state here voted the
other way, one might have expected
n joyous welcome, but to any one
who saw the cheering throng on the
Champs D'Elysses in Paris, or even
the demonstrations OF the undemon-
strative British, or the fanatical en-
thusiasm OF the emotional Italians,
the reception at Columbus was
painful anticlimax. Here was the man
who had come back from overseas
after representing the United States
in the most momentous conference
ever held between governments, but
there was nothing triumphal or heroic
about the presidents journey down
the streets OF Columbus. He got more
attention in that city seven years
ago as an unknown candidate. To be
fair. one must note certain things.
The street cars were at a standstill, a
strike said to have been called
chiefly to impress Mr.. Wilson with
the restiveness OF labor, had tied up
traffic and besides, it was drlzzinR,
this combination of circumstances
made Mr. Wilson's visit about as
welcome as n dinner guest when the
cook had left. Also, folks hereabouts,
according to local newspaper men,
are worried about the cost OF living.
They would have liked to hear Mr..
Wilson denounce the profiteers and
tell them how he expects prices to be
reduced, and II the president has
claimed the delay in ratifying the
treaty is affecting the prices Of COM
modities IN the United states. His
audience. would have preferred to hear
him on that phase of the domestic
ills. The president told the corre-
spondents afterwards that he ex-
pected to discuss this In future
speeches. Mr.. Wilson's first utter
ance incidentally Is not to be taken as
the proverbial keynote. He did not
cover all the subjects with which he
plans to deal. He will develop his
IDEAS as he goes along. The speeches
are extemporaneous.
II Applause Means Anything.
That Ia a tremendous strain, for In
his efforts at Columbus to make a
comprehensive survey of so vast a
subject as the peace treaty, the presi-
dent touched only superficially on
number OF things, but while he did
not go into details. he did express
himself in simple enough fashion to
convey his points convincingly. If in
terruptions OF applause mean any
thing, then Mr. Wilson's audience at
Columbus not only seemed to accept
his doctrine, but to exhibit faith in
the man who was calling on them
anew to follow his leadership. Again
and again the president failed to ex-
plain why the people should accept
his view rather than the view OF the
treaty opponents, but insisted that
the people ought to read the treaty
and see for themselves. and IL they
did not read it, then they should ac-
cept the Interpretation OF the men
who made the treaty and knew what
was intended.
Sentimental Note Throughout.
II Is the familiar appeal asking the
people TO have faith. Indeed, that Idea
In his speech seemed TO get more ap-
pIause than any other. for throughout
Mr.. Wilson's speech ran sentimental
note OF constant exaltatIon OF American