Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-19
HAIL WILSON
ON ARRIVING
IN BRUSSELS
Follows Heart of q. S.
People Toward Bel
gium" Tells Crowds.

Brussels, June 10. - Presiden:
Wilson, who reached the Belgian
capital last night after a days
trip from the border which took
him through the districts devasta-
| ted by the war, began the second
day of his visit to Belgium this
morning by motoring to Charleroi
with King Albert. The king ex-
! pected to show the American ex-
ecutive the destruction wrought by
the Germans in the mines at Char
leroi and supply him with docu-
mentary information of the whole
sale and systematic destruction
practiced by the Germans.
The president was Eot accom-
panied on the Charleroi visit by
Mrs. Wilson, who was somewhat
fatigued after yesterdays trying
| journey.
A luncheon at the American lega-
tiontion, the appearance of the
president before the Belgian cham
Der of deputies and his reception
by Cardinal Mercier at Malines,
were few of the features on to-
days program.
The president and King Albert
set out on their trip to Charleroi
at 9 O'Clock. They were accom-
panied by M. Jasper, the minister
of economics, and a numerous
suite.
Hailed by Thousands.
On stepping out OF the palace
this morning the president found
several thousand persons assem-
bled there who clamored for a
speech. He responded with his
first public talk, which was con-
fined to a few words.
MY friends" said the president,
Sin coming here personally l have
merely followed my own heart and
the heart of the American people
towards Belgium"
In the palace the president had
met all the members of the Bel
gian cabinet and Cardinal Mercier.
By calling first, the cardinal offer
ed diplomatic route for the pres
ident's call upon him at Malines
today.
Labor Lauds Wilson.
The general council of the Bel
gian labor party has addressed a
message to President Wilson, in
which it says:
The labor party repudiates any
peace of violence and awaits the
reign of a definite peace assuring
the sovereignty of labor and the
triumphs of President Wilson's
principals"
The address recalls the interven-
ton of the United States in the
war and adds:
IF the working classes every
where were masters of their des-
TIMES it is beyond doubt that the
presidents program would have
completely triumphed at the peace
conference and Belgium would
have obtained complete reparation
for the losses she suffered"
President and Mrs. Wilson with
King Albert and Queen Elizabeth
as their guides, saw the devastated
regions Of Belgium. The first part
of their visit deeply affected the
Americans, not only Mr. Wilson,
but those accompanying him. The
second phase was of an entirely
different character.
Given Great Welcome.
In the forenoon almost no resi-
dents were encountered. In the
afternoon the appearance of the
president at Ypres, Ostend, Zee
brugee and finally Brussels, was
made the occasion of demonstra-
tions that might have been accord
ed a conquering hero. With the
president and Mrs. Wilson were
Miss Margaret Wilson, B. NJ. Bar
uch, Norman Davis, General w. w.
Harts, Herbert c. Hoover, chair
man of the inter-allied food COM
mission, and Commander Baker.
The night run from Paris ended
at Adinkerke, just across the
Franco-Belgian frontier, where
King Albert, Queen Elizabeth and
a party of Belgian officers waited
to receive the president The
Americans had breakfast on their
train and stepped out of it pre-
pared for their long drive
From time to time the cavaIcade
halted to permit the visitors to
study at close range some bitter |
fortification or some piece of de-
struction that was unusually thor |
ough. Nieuport was the first halt. |
President Wilson, who was riding
with King Albert, followed Queen !
Elizabeth and Mrs. Wilson, who |
descended from the next car
Turn Out To Greet Him.
In Menin, where the work of de-
struction was less marked, the po-
pie gave the party the first real
greeting of the day. The town was
decorated and apparently all the |
were in the streets. !
The word had gone out that the
kings guests were President Viii