River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-09-11
WILSON STARTS ON
SPEAKING JOURNEY
President Begins 25-Day 10000
Mile Treaty Tour.
RATIFICATION FIGHT OPENED
Large Number of Newspaper Men Are
Aboard the Special Train, Which
Is Running as the Second Sec
ton Of Regular.

Washington, Sept. president
Wilson'S special train, which will carry
him On his cross-the-continent speak
ing tour to muster popular support for
the ratification Of the peace treaty and
the League Of Nations, pulled out of
the Union station at seven o'clock
Wednesday night
Inc special is running as the second
section of regular train. The prpsi-
dents private car, the ''Mayf1ower," is
at the end of the train.
The president was in the height of
good spirits and laughed and chatted
with various friends and government
ofllclals who came down to the train to
bid him good luck. The Wilson special
mas two characteristics which distin-
guished 1t from all other presidential
specials which have journeyed forth
from Washington in the past. It has
t'le largest number of newspaper men
ever taken on presidential special
and it Is the first special to carry
battery OF moving picture men.
Mrs. Wilson With President.
With Mrs. Wilson and other men,
bers Of his party, President Wilson ar
rived at the Union station about twelve
minutes before the departure Of the
special train. The president repeated
~ lifted his bat in acknowledgment OF
the cheers and handclapping Of large
crowd OF spectators who gathered be-
mind the iron fence within the station.
The president wore straw hat blue
coat and white duck trousers. Mrs.
Wilson was attired In a blue silk trav-
e4ing costume. Mrs. Wilson mounted
the steps of the "Mayflower" and en-
gagged In conversation with Norman
Davis, economic expert to the peace
conference.
President Wilson remained on the
platform and exchanged greetings with
Bernard Baruch, Ray Baker, director
OF the mint; Walker D. Hines, director
general of railroads, and others. AS
the signal was given for "All aboard"
the president said "Good-by Norman"
to the chief of the secret service, and
swung on board. He waved his hat
as the train slowly pulled out.
In the official party accompanying
President and Mrs. Wilson are Adj
miral Grayson, Private Secretary Tu-
multy, Assistant Secretary Brahany,
Miss Benham, secretary to Mrs. VIII
son; Charles Sven, stenographer to
the president, and three other stenog-
raphers.
With the presidential party is
James Smithers, chief Of communica-
tons, who has long service record
of travelling with presidential spe-
Gals. Brooks, the presidents negro
valet, who ministered to Roosevelt
and Taft and who was with President
Wilson in Paris, was pointed out as
one Of the ''notables" on the train.
Assistant Secret Service Chief
Murphy is in charge of the eight Sc
cret service men who will form the
first line of the presidents defense
during his tour. The railroad admin
istration is sending along a special
representative to take care of rail-
way schedules.
There are eight cars in the train.
just forward Of the presidents pri-
vate car is the Office car which is in
immediate command Of Secretary
Tumulty. This car will be the presi-
dents office during his trip.
Twenty Newspaper Men.
The newspaper men occupy two
cars. There were 20 representatives
of the various news service and met
ropolitan dailies who were on board
when the train pulled out. This num-
Der will be augmented by others who
will board the train in the middle
West.
1t is the largest delegation Of news.
paper men which has ever accom-
panied the president on a trip. It is
estimated that at least $4,000 words
a day will be written by the CORE
spondents, each OF whom carries his
own typewriter.
For the purpose OF fling the copy
written by the reporters, the tele-
graph companies have made special
arrangements, sending detachments Of
expert telegraphers at successive sta
lions ahead to receive and send the
newspaper reports.
There are FIVE moving picture men
on the train, representing the lead
ing movie weeklies. It Is the first
time that the movie men have been
permitted to accompany a presiden-
tial special.