Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-24
GIVEN GREAT
GREETING ON
HIS ARRIVAL
President Given Mighty
Welcome on His Return
From Historic Trip.

son landed at Commonwealth Pier
at 11:42 a. m
Returning to American soil from
his history making mission abroad,
the president. accompanied by Mrs
Wilson. was transferred in the low
er harbor from the steamship
! George Washington and escorted by
aircraft, submarine chasers, torpC-
do boat destroyers and a foulla Of
/ committee boats, reached the land
/ ing place on board the naval cut
! ter Ossipee
The president looked az though
the journey had agreed with him
physically He appeared vigorous
and alert, his step was brisk and
his features showed rather more
than a trace of sea tan.
Cheered by IhTOnCs-
Cheers from the throDE assem-
bled at Commonwealth pier greeted
him as he stepped ashore. In the
great shed OF the pier built by the
state and taken over by the navy
department during the war as
housing place for recruits, thers
were assembled hundreds OF state
and city officials legislatures. rep
resentatives of the federal govern
ment and a committee Of women
appointed to receive Mrs. Wilson.
Reception Informal.
Fifty senior officers Of the army,
navy and state guard in command
Of Colonel Thomas ". Griffith,
formed a guard Of honor az the
pier. The reception was an infor
NAL character. Mayor Peters at
whose invitation the president
chose Boston as his homecoming
port, making the presentations.
Less than a half hour was CON
sumed by the greetings. As soon
as the presentations were completed
the presidential party entered au-
tomobiles and began a parade
across the city through streets
lined throughout the two-mile route
with double ranks Of soldiers and
sailors and banked with cheering
thousands Of civilians.
In the car with President and
Mrs. Wilson were Governor Coole-
ridge and Mayor Peters.
President Well Guarded.
Boston, Feb. 24-Special precau-
tions had been taken to safeguard
the passage Of the chief executive
through the city Fifty mounted
policemen headed the procession.
while troop A of the state guard
mounted, acted as the presidents
escort The soldiers and sailors
guard Of honor formed a doubles
row on each side Of the street, The
men stood three feet apart and strict
orders we're given them no one wac
10 be permitted to pass through
A detail Of 200 yeowomen as part
OF the guard of honor stood at at
tention as the president passed.
Greeted BY Veterans.
As he passed the state house, the
president was greeted by 400.
wounded veterans Of the war, who
occupied seats OF honor on the Of.
ficial reviewing stand
Tho president stood in his car
during tho entire parade, acknowl-
edging the consequent demonstra-
tions. He appeared much pleased
with his reception.
Reaches Hall at 2:30.
President Wilson arrived az the
hall at . 80 o'clock. lie entered at
the West Newton street entrance
which led to the stage AS his
party reached the outer door a bat
terry in the railway yards at tho
rear of the hall fired a presidential
LIT, - L-#
the band struck up Hail to the
Chief"
The preliminaries were brief.
John Mccormack sang the Star
Spangled Banner and the president
applauded.
Mayor Peters welcomed tho
guest in the name OF the city and
Governor Coolidge extended the
greetings of the commonwealth,
The president was escorted 10 a
private room at the right of the
platform and a moment later ap-
peared on the stage.
The thousands who had found
seats rose cheering and waving
flags. The roar from the audience
drowned the music Of the band.
The president sat down, but rose
to bow and smiled.
ApS'aud for Two Minutes,
The demonstration continued and
Mr.. Wilson again rose and this time
waved his acknow Judgments. Tho
applause lasted two minutes
Governor Coolidge aroused ap-
plause by reference to the presi-
dents share in the work of the
peace conference
The mention OF New England as
the home of the Twenty di-
vision caused a demonstration I'm
which the president Joined
Onward Christian Soldiers was
sung, the president joining In the
singing.
AS Mr.. Wilson rose 10 speak. ths
crowd cheered and shouted He
grni1nd and bowed rcDaatcd1v