The Washington herald., 1922-01-16
Has No Anxieties for 1t,
He Tells Admirers Sur
rounding Home.
is FIRST BREAK
IN LONG SILENCE
Parade to Ex-President's
Abode Follows F0un-
dation Meeting.


mer President woodrow Wilson,
father of the league, made this
statement yesterday-the first pub
lie expression since his physical
breakdown during the summer OF
1s19-in response to 5000 persons
who gathered about his home, 254o
S street northwest, following a mass
meeting in the National Theater
inaugurating the woodrow wilson
Memorial Foundation Fund
Coincident with the concrete
statement by Mr.. Wilson, regard
ing his present stand on the league
of nations, was the fact that the
demonstration at his home, and the
mass meeting in the National
Theater were participated In oy
members of Congress, who, al
though of the same political faith.
were among the "irreconcilaoles
during thu fight on the league.
Seated on the stage during the
entire mass meeting-the begin
ming of a movement to honor VIII
son-sat Senator Reed, OF missouri
Senator Watson, of Georgia; sena,
tor Walsh, of Massachusetts, ana
Senator Shields, of Tennessee. all
so-calleds "irreconctlables. Many
other members of Congress at
tended, but did not occupy seats
ON the speakers platform
First Break I'm silence.
Although the former CHIEF Ex-
ecutive intimated on November -
that he still believed in the Vitaiity
n, the league, during the first public
dsronstration staged in front or
hIs transformations home on that
day, by smiling and waving MS
hand whenever the crowd, In mass
or individually, mentioned the
league Of nations, his declaration
vesterday was the first break In the
long silence regarding the Ser-
saflles treaty since the election
There can be no doubt as to the
vitality of the league OF nations,
he said, after Samuel GomperA
nrssident Of the American Federa-
tIon Of Labor, had referred to him
as the person who blazed the way
for the proposed four-power treaty
now under consideration by Presi-
dent Harding arms conference.
swm Take Care OF Itself"
The league Of rations will take
care of itself. 1 have no anneties
Sor il, My only anxiety Is to see
our great American people turn
their face in the right direction and
move with all their force" MI. VIII
.oa continued.
THE public tribute to the man
who, for two terms. occupied the
Presidential chair. and VINO gave
10 the world the league OF nations,
was spontaneous, having originated
through a motion introduced before
the Wilson Foundation meeting oy
d. c. Hodgkins, a local admireI,
Tba Introduction of the motion, and
rs unanimous passage were as one
Immediately after the adjourn
xment of the meeting, the more than
1000 persons who attended assem-"
6Ied in front of the National Thea
.er-haying secured permission
rom the police department, while
{ha last speaker was on the plat
form-and headed by a police escort
and a band began to march toward
the Wilson home.
Marchers increase I'm Number.
During the course of the march,
up Thirteenth street to Msssachu-
setts avenue to street. many per-
sons were attracted and Joined, with
the result that when the process
sion reached its goal shortly after
s o'clock, the number OF original
marchers had been doubled.
The first plan had been for the
procession to march on Pennsyf-
vania avenue passing the White
House, but this had to be abandoned
owing to the fact that the police
authorities would not permit march
ing on streets upon which street
cars operate.
Upon the arrival at the Wilson
home. Robert w. Woolley. former
Interstate Commerce Commissioner,
and chairman of the local founda-
tion committee. accompanied by
Samuel Gompers, stepped upon the
> small porch in front of the house
Former President smiles.
As the man to whom they were
doing homage stepped to the door
way. a lusty cheer arose from the
huge assembly and despite repeated
efforts to restore quiet on the part
of those in charge of the impromptu
gathering, the cheers continued for
many minutes.
During this period the former
President, clad in a dark suit, a
black cape and wearing high silk
hat on his head, stood smiling on
the porch. He was supported by
his left arm by a house attendant
and held in his right hand light
cane.
stepping to the side of Mr.. VIII
son. offering his arm as a support,
Mr.. Gompers led him to the front
of the porch, following which the
cheering WAS renewed with even
greater lustiness. He responded to
this ovation by bowling and smiling.
Gornpers Lands Him.
The band then struck up Dixie"
and augmented by the continued
cheering OF the multitude rent the
Sunday Quietude for many more
minutes. Finally. by repeated
wsvings of his hands, Mr.. Gompers
gained silence.
The treaty Of Versailles was first
injected into the unusual DEM
onstration when Mr.. Gompers,
speaking of the mass meeting dur
ing the afternoon, made the follow
ing declaration:
The general psychology mani
Tested IL clearly that the Ice ON. of