Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-25
PRESIDENT WILL FIGHT AT
HOME AS ABROAD FOR LEAGUE
Throws Down Gauntlet in
Speech, Less Than Three
Hours After Landing on
American Soil.

Boston, Feb. 24.-Presldenr
Wilson will fight at home as
he has fought abroad for a
league of nations. Returning
from France, he had been on
American soil not more than
three hours today before he
threw down the gauntlet to
those who distrust the pro-
posed concert of governments,
based, he said, on the Ameri-
can ideals which had won the
war for justice and humanity.
An America confining to
its territories it's conception
and purpose to make men
free, he said, would have to
keep its honor ''for those
narrow, selfish, provincial
purposes which seem too dear
to some minds that have no
sweep beyond their nearest
horizon"
Pictures Old World.
Before a responsive audience that
filled the biggest auditorium in the
city, the president pictured the old
world fighting with stubborn des-
peration, and expecting in the end
nothing better for the peoples than
they had known for centuries. He
pictured the American nation enter
ing the lists with a new purpose
the freedom of mankind The old
world had caught the vision and
any treaty of peace drawn otherwise
than i'll the new spirit would be
nothing more, he asserted, than a
modern scrap of paper" and the
present peace, unless guaranteed by
by the united forces of the civilized
world, could not stand a generation.
Bending over the speakers table,
his face set i'll tense lines and his
right hand clenched, the president
exclaimed. ANY man who thinks
that America will take part in giving
the world any such rebuff and disap
pointinent as that does not know
America. ! invite him TO test the
sentiment of the nation"
Has Fighting Blood.
Interrupted BY applause the presi-
dent halted and then evoked the
greatest demonstration of the afte--
noon when lie added that he would
accept no sweeter challenge than
the issue of the American purpose
in the war
7 have fighting blood in me-" he
said with apparent feeling, "and i
is sometimes a delight to let it
have scope. but if ii is challenge
on this occasion, it will be All III
diligence,
At another point in his address.
the president said that If the great
hope of the world for a league Of
nations was disappointed he would
wish "for my part never to have had
America play any part whatever in
this attempt to emancipate the
world. | have no more doubt of
the verdict of America in this mai
ter than ! have doubt of the blood
that is in me"
New England gave the president
rousing welcome home. This city
probably never has seen a greater
crowd than gathered at every
point of vantage along the route
from Commonwealth pier, to whirh
the naval cutter OssiDee brought
his party from the steamer George
Washington. through the down town
districts and around two sides OF
Boston common TO the Copiey Piaza
hotel, where stop was made for
luncheon.
Guard of Honor.
At every turn, the president was
cheered. Hat in hand, he stood in
his motor car throughout the two
miles of the parade except in one
block between Washington and Tre-
mont streets, where, because of the
narrow way, spectators were not
allowed to congregate.
The National army, the navy
the state guard and the city police
in lines on either side OF the roWc
formed a guard OF honor for the
entire distance of the drive. So
effective were the arrangements that
not an unpleasant incident occurred.
Opposite the state house. in
front Of which group Of wounded
soldiers greeted the president.
handful of suffragists claiming 70
represent the National Woniau's
party took their stand for demon
stration which they had announced.
Before the parade reached them they
were told by the police to move on.
Refusing, they were arrested for
lettering and locked tip. Later. az
the hotel, the president received
committee from the Massachusetts,
Woman Suffrage association, a non
militant organization, and asked its
Continued on PAGE Two. co1ur,n O,eA