Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-09-20
PRESIDENT SPEAKS 10
$4,000 AT SAN DIEGO

san DieSo, oept. 1S.-An extract
from a magazine article written "a
1914 by Theodore Roosevelt was real
by President Wilson ir an address
here today as all argument in favor
OF the League OF Nations.
speaking to cheering crowd
which hlled sac great San Diego Sta
dunn. the President also quoted from
Senator Lodge, one oil the most biz
ter opponents Of the treaty in t.,
present form, arc declared that In
framing the League covenant the
versailles conference had followed
the advise c. these and other Re-
publican statesmen.
I am glad to align myself with
such utterances," seid Mr.. Wilson;
while the crowd cheered. Here in
concrete form IL the fulfiiruent of
the plan they advocated"
The address was interrupted many
times by applause by the crowd.
which local officials estimated at
more than $4,000. The great amphi-
theatre. with its seating capacity Ct
10000, was packed. thousands stand
ing in the aisles and on the terraces
ABOVE.
Speaking from a glass enclosed
platform. the Presidents words were
carried out to the distant rims of the
stadium by means Of an electrical
device. Only rart Of those present
could hear him. however, and before
&c finished there were many empty
seats.
San Diego gave the President a
noisy welcome. factory whistles
shrieking while the party passed Up
the streets through cheering throngs.
He went first to a hotel, where he
was welcomed formally by the city's
officials. Later he was driven through
the San Diego exposition grounds.
When he entered the stadium, tho
great crowds stood UP and cheered.
each person waving a small American
flag. In the center Of the big horse.
shoe of color several hundred girls
dressed in white were so seated as to
spell Welcome" The President also
discussed it longth the subject that
the British empire might have q pre-
ponderance Of voting power in the
League assembly. It was a ''delu-
sion" to be frightened at any such
prospect. he said, because there could
be no important action by the as
sembly without the concurrence Of
the American Representatives.
The assembly, he asserted, was
largely n debating body and as such
it was only fair to give membership
to the British colonies. 1t would be
unjust. he said. to give votes to the
small independent nations and ex-
clude such great dominions as Can
ada.
Declaring that the people had not
been told the truth about what the
treaty contained. Mr.. Wilson added
that IL the American public did know
the truth no man would have the au-
dacity to take the risk of trying to
impair such an effort toward liber-
ty and justice
nation features Of the treaty, the
President declared that, without the
the League of Nations the other
peace terms would not be worth the
paper they were written on. 1t was a
"final decision" which the United
States must now make, he added.
Some of the changes proposed in
the treaty, the President said, seemed
to have it as their object to upset the
theory Of equality among the nations
and put the United States in a spe.
cial position Of privilege. He de-
clared that to 60 into the league
without assuming an equal respon-
sibility would be a "mockery."
Il will not join." he said. Sin claim
ing in the name Of justice an unjust
position for the country l love and
cherish. Neither am I afraid of re-
sponsibility. Neither will I scuttle.
l will not be party to belittling
America"
Emphasizing the arbitration fea-
ture Of the covenant, Mr.. Wilson
said an example Of the efficiency of
discussion was shown in labor con-
troversies. He asserted that when
ever either side to such O controversy
refused to discuss it's. case the pre-
sumption was that it was on the
wrong side.
1t was be the death warrant" Of
the children Of the country. declared