The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-12
WOODROW WILSON AT
WHITE HOUSE
President Returns 10 Washington
Home-FOur Months Absence.

w etiS V-'tN'' ~;
Wilson returned to Washington at
midight after All absence Of four
at Paris peace conference. He
wa. accompanied by Ms. Wilson,
Miss Margaret Wilson. and by Vice
President. Marshall and most of the
members Of his cabinet who greeted
him on his arrival today at New York.
The presidential party was greeted
at the station by crowd of several
thousand persons who had waited for
several hours After brief welcoming
ceremonies, the president and Mrs.
Wilson drove directly to the White
House.
Welcoming the chief executive were
representative Of the Non-Paritsan
League of Nations, the War Camp
Community Service and the Central
Labor Union and committee Of Wash
ingto citizens headed by Commis-
sioner Brownlow who extended
greetings on behalf Of the city.
AS the president and Mrs. Wilson
left the train shed they walked be-
meath bower Of flowers ard passed
on to a waiting automobjriie between
long lines Of girls reps esenting her
aids while the marine band played.
Plans to strew roses in front of the
presidential party at the station were
disapproved by 1.-The police.
At the city postoffice adjoining the
union station tableaux Of Columbia
welcoming the presidents was illumi-
mated by searchiights. A battalion Of
yeowon.eil in white uniforms also
were present to greet their command
er in chief.
Washington, July S.-President Will
son returning to Washington at mid
night tonight after an absence of four
months at the Paris peace conference.
told throng of many thousand Wash
ington citizens who greeted him at
the union station, that he came home
confident taat the people Of the
United States were for the league Of
nations. The welcome he received
here, he said, was particularly peas
ing because it was immediate assur-
ance" of his feeling
Despite the late hour Of arrival due
to delay in docking the presidential
transport George Washington, at New
York, a crowd estimated by Major
Pullman, chief Of police and other Of
hcials at 100, 900 was at the station. 1t
included District Of Columbia officials.
members of congress and representa-
tives of the army and navy. Imme-
diately after the welcoming cere-
monies, President and Mrs: Wilson
went to the White House. AS they
passed down Pennsylvania Avenue
they were welcomed by thousands and
a large crowd greeted them in front
Of the White House.
Responding to an address Of well
come from J. II. Ralston, head Of the
district citizens committee, the pres
ident said:
'"This very beautiful reception has
taken me entirely by surprise. 1t is
very gratifying surprise and it
makes be very grateful to you all.
The very generous words in which
you have greeted me are especially
gratifying to me.
q came home confident that the
people Oh the CHll0O states were loI
the league Of nations, but to receive
this immediate assurance Of it is
particularly pleasing to me. 1t makes
my home coming just that much the
more delightful l have never been
quite so eager to get home as l was
this time and everything l have seen
since I sighted land until now has
made me gladder and gladder that ]
am home. No country can possibly
look so good as this country had
looked to me and I am sure that I an
expressing the sentiments Of Mrs.
Wilson and of all who are with me in
saying that your gracious reception,
has made our homecoming all the
more pleasurable.'
The trip from New York to Wash
ington was made without incident
the presidential train arriving here q
few minutes before midnight. No stops
were made until Washington was
reached, although there were crowds
at the stations in Philadelphia and
Baltimore.