Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-27
Voice ChOkeS as He
Tells of Losses
in Europe.
PARTY TOUCHED
BY HIS APPEAL
Talking From Wheel
ch air, Executive
Pleads for League.

America was never called upon to
make a more solemn determination
than it must make now on the
league of nations issue, President
Wilson declared today in an address
delivered at the White House. He
spoke to a delegation of pro-league
republicans and independents. headed
by Hamilton Holt of New York, edl-
tor of the Independent
The whole future moral force OF
right in the world said the Presi-
dent. depends upon the United States
rather than upon any other nation,
and it would be pitiful indeed If. aft
er so many great free peoples had
entered the great league, we should
hold aloof.'
While Mr.. Wilson spoke directly to
the delegation which had called upon
him to obtain a further expression
remarks were addressed to the whole
country, under the salutation. MY
Fellow Countrymen."
First Speech Since Collapse.
This was the first speech the Presi-
dent had delivered since his collapse
more than a year ago, while he was
touring the country in support of the
league. He received his visitors in a
small room of his study near the en-
trance to the White House and re-
manned sitting in his wheelchair while
reading his address.
Members of the delegation in
formal statement after leaving the
White House said they were deeply
>touched" by the physical appearance
of the President, who plainly showed
the effects Of his long illness and the
tremendous strain he has been carry
ing.
The President was described as
being greatly moved and his voice
choked once as he read from a manu-
script his reply to the address of the
deputation, and especially SO when he
referred to the American soldiers and
1.-THE mothers of those who had fallen
in battle" Or
shows No III lsAects.
vt was evident that he was voicing
'the profoundest emotions Of his heart"
said the statement. adding that ''the
whole occasion was inexpressibly SOL
emn and tender"
Declaring that it was nothing more
than tragic that the great President
of the United States should have been
brought to such stricken physical
fatigible labor for the country and
for humanity" the delegation said
they felt that this might be the
Presidents final appeal direct to the
conscience of his countrymen in the
supreme moral decision they are call
cd upon to make"
President Wilson showed no ill ef-
fects of the confereHce. according to
Admiral Grayson, his physician. ''The
President is today in better physical
condition than at any time during his
Illness" Admiral Grayson said.
Women In the Party.
Besides Mr.. Holt, who acted as
spokesman for the delegation, the
party included Theodore Marburg Of
Baltimore, Edwin F. Gay, president
of the New York Evening Post; John
F. Moore. chairman of the League Of
Nations Club of Massachusetts,; Mrs.
John F. Moore, treasurer of the pro-
league republican quotas: Mrs.
Schuyler N. Warren of New York, di-
rector Of the League for Political Ed
ucation; F. N. Warren. jr.; Mrs. NAL
colin Forbes. president Of the Women
Voters Association of Massachu-
setts; Joseph NJ. Price. chairman of
the board Of trustees of the New
York City Club; DR.. John Bates
Clark, professor of economies, Co
Bassett. professor of history, Smith
College. and D. G. Rowse. New York.
Col. Samuel P. Weatherhill, head of
the pro-league republican movement
of Philadelphia; Rev. Arthur j.
Brown, New York, honorary vice pres
ident of the League to Enforce Peace,
and George K. Hunton, New York.
The introductions were made by Mr..
Holt, who. in addressing the Presi
dent explained that the delegation
4 . u
usually count themselves republi-
cans" who had held steadfastly to
the conviction that the league of ma
tions transcends party politics. and
''is the greatest moral issue that has
confronted the American people in
this generation"
Holt Explains Position.
Explaining further the public atti-
tude of himself and his associates and
in making clear their standing in the
matter of the league issue, Mr.. Holt
. said:
We have reason to know that we
represent vast number of other re-
publicans throughout the United
States. who are ready to put pa
triotism above party in the present
critical hour.
LAS your term of Office is drawing
to its close, and as the people are now
about to express themselves on the
league of nations which your states
manship has largely made possible,
we feel 1t both duty and a privilege
TO call upon you at this time in order
to assure you that there are many
republicans who are proud to ac-
knowledge your great service in the
realm of international justice, and
who fully and deeply appreciate the
personal sacrifices you have been
forced to make for the cause nearest
your heart.
1T was you who first focused the
heterogeneous and often diverse aims
of the war on the one ideal of pure
Americanism, which is democracy. II
was you who suggested the basis or
which peace was negotiated. 1t was
you, more than any man, who trans.
lated into practical statesmanship the
age-old dreams of the poets Che
prophets and the philosophers by set.
ting up league of nations to the enc
that cooperation could be substituted
for competition in international af.
fairs. These acts of statesmanshiI
were undoubtedly the chief factor.
which brought about that victoriou.
peace which has shorn Germany o.
her power to Subdue her neighbors
has compelled her to make restitution
for her crimes. has freed oppressed
peoples, has restored ravished terri
( tories, has created new democratic.
I in the likeness of the United States
tContinued on Page 2 Column g.