New-York tribune., 1919-09-08
Declaration That ''Cause Is
Greater Than Govern.
ment'' Expected to Invite
Criticism of Opponents
Gets Mild Ovation
Holiday Spirit More Appar.
ent Than Vivid Interest
in Defence of Covenant
Staff Correspondence,

Staff Correspondence
DES MONIES, Sept. 7.-President
Wilson's advisers on his special train,
some Of whom are close enough to him
to venture word of counsel now and
then, are much perturbed over what
they regard as "bad break" made by
the President in his Kansas City speech
Saturday when he said the cause he
was pleading for was greater than the
government"
This was uttered in the speech in
which he said that "Opposition is the
speciality of those who are Bolshevist-
ically Inclined" Soon afterward, refer
ring to the Senate opposition to the
treaty, he said: 81 have not come to
fight or antagonize any individuals Or
body of individuals. have, let me say,
without the slightest degree of atfec-
tation, the greatest respect for the Sem
ate of. the United States; but, my fell
low citizens, have come ut to fight
tor cause. That cause is greater than
the Senate. 1t is greater than the gov
ernment. 1t is as great as the cause of
mankind; and l intend, In Office and
out, to fight that battle as long as I
i've"
Fear Phrase Is Koorback
ut IS greater than the government"
is the phrase which the Presidents
advisers now fear will come back with
damaging effect as soon as the op-
position has time to read, mark and
inwardly digest the Kansas City
speech.
The crowds are turning out in the
Middle West to see and hear the
President of the United States as
President, rather than because OF q
burning desire 10 hear about the
league of nations treaty.
The reception of the President in
the capital of Iowa last night was so
nearly typical that a reference to its
main features may fit fairly we'll all
of his receptions. AS soon as the man
committee of citizens for the welcom-
ing of the Wilson's was appointed there
was political counting of noses, and
1t was discovered that five of the seven
representative citizens were Repub-
licans. In the automobile parade last
night between the railway station and
the Coliseum, a distance of about a
mile, the streets were lined with men,
women and children. The women and
girls wished especially to see Mrs. Will
son.
Crowd Out for Holiday
1t was essentially a holiday or sight
seeing crowd. The people were not es-
pecially demonstrative. There were no
ropes to bar the venturesome from
reaching toward the Presidents auto
There was faint cheering and vlgor-
GUS handclapping as the Presidents s
auto was passing. But that was all.
Few followed the car.
In the convention hall after the in
PRODUCTION there was generous ap-
plause for half a minute and then the
audience became silent and deeply re-
dent made particularly emphatic
statement, there would be burst of
applause. But such outbreaks have not
been 0ver-frequent.
In some instances the President to
many listeners was disappointing.
This seemed to be the case at st. Louis
at night. His address at the Chamber
of Commerce, made at midday to COM
paratively few business men, had
plenty of snap to it. At night this ele-
ment was lacking
Young Discusses Visit
ExUnited States Senator Lafe
Young, publisher of "The Des Moines
Capital" in commenting on the Presi-
dents visit here, said to-day:
I'VE are doing our best to honor the
President of the United States. There
are more Republicans than Democrats
on the executive committee. After the
President leaves town we want him to
feel, and we want ourselves to feel,
that we have done handsomely by the
President of the United States. Our
people are against war. They are for
some kind of league of nations, if
such a league will lessen the chances
of war.
PERSONALLY, l do not agree with the
President when he says that the cause
he is advocating is greater than this
government. l do not believe the peo-
pie of the country will follow him
that far. I am inclined to think the
two Senator'S from Iowa are being sus-
tanned by their constituents in their
efforts to amend the treaty and it's
DrOnOSod ratification"