Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-06
WILSON HAS
A BIG DAY ON
WAYT0 Paris
Acclaim the President at
Genoa and Milan as He
Leaves Italy.

MldH, SUNDAY, Jan. 0.-tBy Luc
! Associated Press. .)-President Will
son journeyed from Rome to Milan
| today, stopping at Genoa enroute.
| There were thousands of the popu-
! lace, who acclaimed him in the most
extravagant terms, fought and
! scrambled to be near enough to
touch him, and even attempted to
I kiss his hand as he passed through
+ the crowds surging and buffeting
about him.
| Mr. Wilson's visit of three hours
| in Genoa was marred by a down
pour of rain which drenched the
president and all of his party. The
streets ran rivers and a gale snap
! ped the flag staffs Decorations
along the streets were soaked and
torn and tapped in the wind. New
ertheless, the president carried out
his full program, including visit
to the monuments of Columbus and
Mazzini, and the city hall, where
he was given a reception.
Rein Interferes at Genoa.
! Whatever arrangements might
have been made to receive the pres
ident was dissolved on his arrival
with the city being lashed by the
binding rain squalls. All the men,
bers of the official party except Mr..
Wilson and his wife were compell-
ed to scramble for themselves
through the troop-lined streets and
make the best way possible back to
the official train. The secret ser
vice men, seeking to protect the
president, rejected motor cars and
carriages, which were pfovfded by
the local committee, but somehow
managed to get through the pro-
gram and back to the train without
mishap.
Before leaving Genoa. President
Wilson laid a wreath at the statue
Of Columbus, and standing bare
headed in the rain, made a short
address.
Columbus, he said, did a service
for the world in discovering Amer
lea, and now it was Americas pleas
service of mankind.
Being free" said the president,
America desires to show others
how they may also share in the
freedom of the world"
Given Freedom of Milan.
The demonstration in Milan was
of the same character as that in
Genoa, but proportionately greater
, in view of Milan's greater size. It
seemed as if all the inhabitants and
the people of the surrounding coun-
tryside had jammed themselves into
the squares and streets along the
line of march.
The president called at the city
hall, where the freedom of the city
was bestowed upon him. He then
proceeded to the royal palace,
where he received delegations,
thence going to the lie Scala Colo.
The great square before the cathe
dral was so jammed that the cathe-
dral had to be closed.
The American residents of Milan
declared that they had never seen
such demonstrations of enthusiasm
in all their many years of residence
in this city.
Strain Tells on President.
It was evident that the president
was much fatigued by the strain,
notwithstanding his enjoyment of
the spectacle.
OF the many incidents of the visit
perhaps the most touching was the
presentation 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 peace must be made in no spe-
cial interest. The president con-
cluGed by saying that he had heard
the story of Italy's privations and
sacrifices in the war, and he added:
81 take off my hat to the great
people of Italy and tell them that
my admiration is merged into
friendship and affection"
President wilson's Speech.
In replying to the welcome of the
mayor of Milan on behalf of the
municipality today, President Will
son said:
May l not say to you as the rep
resentative of this great city that |
it is impossible for me to put into |
words the impressions 1 have re-
ceived today. The overwhelming
welcome, the spontaneous welcome, |
so evidently coming from the heart, |
has been profoundly moving to me,
sir, and 1 have not failed to see the !
significance of that welcome You !
have yourself referred to it. I am |
as keenly aware, I 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 sew
eral countries of the world have by |
their consciousness of community |
of interest and spirit, done perhaps |
more than any other influence |
known to establish a world opinion |
which is not of a nation, which is |
not of a continent. but is the opin-
ion, one might say. of mankinds