The Indianapolis times., 1923-11-12
VIII SON PREDICTS
TRIUMPH FOR HIS
PEACE PRINCIPLES
Ex-President, Weak and FraiI,
Flags Fools Who Resist
Providence.
By RAYMOND CLAPPER,
United NesCs STAFF Correspondent

: By RAYMOND CLAPPER,
y United NeS1s STAFF Correspondent
: WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-Burning
/. with the zeal of a martyr. Woodrow
$ Wilson made an Armistice day proph
s ecy that utter destruction and con-
: tempt" will come upon the fools
.7Eho have resisted Providence and op-
(. posed the principles for which he
y stood.
Z "I have seen fools resist Providence
: before, and l have seen their destruc-
1tion, as will come upon these again
utter destruction and contempt
: the former President told the thou
'asands of admirers who made an Ar
.smistice day pilgrimage to his home
sson St.
4 Those loyal followers-perhaps l.
1000 of thenn-were moved with pity as
? they beheld their aged, broken leader,
,5coming haltingly out of his doorway,
helped along patiently by a white
nhaired old darky body servant.
y Acknowledged Cheers
The ex-President stood there on the
stoop, bundled in his overcoat, lean
ing on his stout stick, lifting his hat
Gin acknowledgment of the cheers that
greeted him. He gazed down while
Senator Glass of Virginia made the
introductory speech, breaking into
laugh at a facetious reference to the
Senate irrecOncilables-
He seemed occupied with his own
thoughts and his lips moved as If in |
response to great inward emotions.
There was a great cheer as he
stepped forward. But his words came
fsintIy and haltingly. Once he paused /.
because Of his emotion-and apollo /
gized to his listeners. His words came 7.
so weakly they could scarcely be heard |
ten feet away. The old fires within !
him seemed to have burned almost /
out.
Homage TO Soldiers
"I wish you would transfer your |
homage from me to the men who !
made the Armistice possible" he said. |
lit was possible because our boys had 4
beaten the enemy TO a standstill. II .
was the boys who made them
stand still" And his eyes lighted UP
and he smiled. The crowd. hitherto /
moved to silence by the tragic sight, /
broke into laughter and applause.
. Instantly Mr.. Wilson's face became /
serious again and he continued. slow /
Iy, pausing between phrases. strug-
Cling to give voice to the tumult Of
feeling within
\ 81 am proud to remember that 1
had the honor OF being the COM
mander-in-chief-'
The best one on EARTH" some /
one shouted
OF the most ideal army that 4
was ever thrown together" Here /
words failed to come. His chin quiv- /
cred. revealing the internal struggle. |
The poor man." a woman & few |
feet away gasped
Tribute to Pershing
Pardon my emotion" he resumed, !
after a pause Then he paid a tribute |
to General Pershing, whom I gladly /
hand the laurels Of victory"
The war President seemed unable to /
say more and turned back toward the |
door. The band began the opening
bars of How Firm Foundation"
Wilson paused. 1t may have been
some association stirred by the strains
of this familiar hymn. Whatever it
was, 1t lighted the fires in his cold
eyes. Years and feebleness seemed to /
drop away for moment He turned
back toward the great breathless
throng and raised his hand The |
music stopped.
/ Inst OrI "a hi-
voice rising with new strength and
vigor.
It cannot refrain from saying it"
and for fieeting moment he was the
/ Wilson OF old. His tongue burned
with the same forceful eloquence that
humbled the mighty Hohenzonerns.
Has No Anxiety
''I am not one of those that
have the least anxiety aoout the
triumph Of the principles 1 have
stood for. have seen fools re-
sist Providence before ana 1 have
seen their destruction, as will
come upon these again-utter de-
struction and contempt. That we
shall prevail is as sure as that
good reigns. Thank you"
He became the frail old man once
more. and fumbling with his cane.
turned around and made his way hack
into the house, while the crowd stood
in silence.
! After he went inside the great
throng remained awed by the moving
tragedy IT had just witnessed.
1 Many aged woman were there. One
: collapsed and had to be carried into
: a neighbor ng house. Another one
her ha T snow whIte-crowded her
way to the front of the roped inclo-
sure, clouting a pennant bearing the
: words, League of Nat ons" A boy
scout carried a mounted placard read
Z ing. Americas unidentified soldier
shall awaken civilization to reforma-
ton"
Band Plays cover There"
The pilgr mage was headed by a
band which marched up playing the
war-t me strains of "Over There" A
silk American flag waved over the
, Wilson door stoop.
, Many came to get another glimpse
perhaps the last for many Of them
of the war President whom they ad-
mired. Some Of the familiar faces
were seen.
Joseph Tumulty, secretary to VIII
! son during the ght years in the
! White House. stood alone in the
! crowd. far back beyond the reach of
) his former chiefs voice. Former Sem
ator Hitchcock of Nebraska, who con-