Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-30
WILSON'S TRIP HAS
NOTED PRECEDENTS
Speech-Making Journey in Line
With Examples Beginning
With Monroe
FRAUGHT WITH IMPORT
BIZ a star Correspondent

Washington, Aug, 30.-The speech e
making tour of the country which Pres
ident Wilson will start next Wednesday
win be the greatest thing of its kind
ever undertaken by a President of the
United States.
In the thirty days or so that President
Wilson will be gone from Washington
in making the twenty five odd speeches
he will not cover nearly so much ground
MS President Mckinley did on cross
country tour in 1901, or President
Roosevelt in 1908, or President Taft in
1911.
But the immense Importance of the
auestions which hang in the balance,
depending upon the acceptance or re
lection of the appeals President Wilson
will make to the people in his speeches
dealing with the peace treaty and
league of nations, the high cost of
living and the general strike situation
have no equal in history.
Upon the series Of speeches President
Wilson will make from coast to coast
may depend the future peace of the
whole world and the future domestic
welfare of the people of the entire
United States as directly affected by
our international relations and cost of
living and earnings.
Living Cost and Wages
While the primary purpose of the
Presidents tour will be to obtain the
support of the people for the peace
treaty and league of nations as means
of whipping the Senate into line, it is
certain he will touch very literally upon
the other two burning subjects before
the American people today-the hlgn
cost of living and the wages of workers.
The President is expected to force
home some solid arguments against
profiteering in foodstuffS that will have
a noticeable moral effect in stemming
the rise in food prices and to place the
national economic situation before the
people in such away as to halt tenn
porarily at least the clamOr on all sides
for increased wages or strikes.
Presidential Precedents
President Monroe was the first Amer
ican President to make an extended
tourney. In the summer of 1917 n"
left Washington and visited all the
states and the principal fortiticationS.
He was rowed up the Delaware river
from Wilmington to the Philadelphia
navy yard in a barge of the frigate
Franklin. The barge was lined and
trimmed with crimson velvet and was
rowed by sixteen oGrSmen, dressed IN
scarlet vests. with white sleeves and
trousers. His route led him through
= 10 ffnp
Springfield and Boston. From Boston
he visited New Hampshire and Yer
mont and stopped at Plattsburg, y. y.
From there he went to Ogdensburs,
Sacketts Harbor and Detroit. He left
Washington in June and returned late
10 September.
benjamin. Harrison was TIL" first
President to go so far west as the Pa
cifc coast. He took the southern route
to Los Angeles, stopping at the princi-
pal cities en- route, and visited San
Francisco, Portland and Seattle. He
then took the northern route home.
Since Harrison the people of the far
West have expected to get at least one
look at each President during his ad
miDistration.
The longest tour ever taken by an
American President was that of TheO-
dore Roosevelt in 1908, when he trav-
eled $4,000 miles. Beginning on April
1, 1908, he took the northern route
west and the southern route home, made
forty stops and returned to the White
House on June 8.
Roosevelt First to Cross Line
President Roosevelt was the first
American President to really leave the
borders of the United States when he
went to the Panama Canal Zone tC
make an inspection of the canal. Presi
dent Cleveland and others only sailed 1
short distance beyond the three mil,
limit from the coast.
William Mckinley was the first Pres
ident to make anything like 10000
mile tour. On April 30. 1901 accom-
panied by distinguished party. h,
left Washington, visiting Memphis. New
Orleans, San Antonio. San Francisco
Seattle, Butte, Salt Lake City, Den
yer, Kansas City, Chicago. Buffalo anG
several other cities, and returned tc
IN 5sO miles and making almost in'
rsr,ar.hIn snsocboc in hobolf 81 ~.
,,alect;on
Tho second Ionypst tour oyor +olor
he an American Presidont ,vos +ho+ -,
will;am n Taft who in tho outnmn y -
1a1I covered 13 600 milos and nod,
.neecbes in nil the nr;ncin,I citins ~
tba pacific coast and Middle Vast 10 y,
M .Tor. - s.curo % 70 o,ootion %' ''' III al