OCR Text |
Show THIRTEEN ORIGINAL STATES REPRESENTED President Calls on the People to Be Truly Patriotic Panama Tolls, Mexican Problem and Big Business Touched On Name of United States Should Be Kept Unsullied Obligations Should Be Bravely Met. Philadelphia, Pa.. July 4. President Presi-dent Wilson arrived here this morning morn-ing to attend the big national Independence Inde-pendence day celebration arranged by Philadelphia to commemorate the 138th anniversary of the signing of the declaration of independence. The celebration in Philadelphia this year was on a wider scale than any .that has taken place here Bince 187fi, when the one hundredth anniversary of the adoption of the celebration of independence was observed. The. patriotic exercises were held in Independence Square, close to the room where the declaration of independence inde-pendence was signed and were begun before the president arrived. So far as the records go, President Wilson is the first president of the i United States who has come to the cradle of liberty on the nation's natal na-tal day. The thirteen original states were represented at the exercises either ei-ther by their governors or other representatives rep-resentatives of the state governments. President Wilson was greeted by a shrill chorus of factory whistles from all parts of Philadelphia a6 he entered the square In front of his torlc Independence hall Original States Represented. In attendance at the celebration were members of congress and governors gov-ernors or representatives of the governors gov-ernors of the original thirteen states and delegations from nearly every patriotic pa-triotic organization In the country. The president occupied a chair used by John Hancock and before him was the table on which the declaration of independence was signed. A pitcher once u6ed by George Washington cou talned his ice water. Lines of sailors, marines and soldiers sol-diers occupied the space in front of the platform and beyond tbem stretched a huge crowd drawn from many partB of the nation. On the presidents arrival at tbe Broad street station, he was welcom ed by a delegation of citizens and by the First City troops of Philadelphia, which acted as his guard of honor during the drive to Independence square, a mile distant Philadelphia, July 4. Advocating A. the modernizing of the declaration of independence by applying its principles princi-ples to the business, the politics and the foreign policies of America. President Pres-ident Wilson today thrilled a huge crowd assembled in Independence 6quare within a few feet of where the original declaration was signed The president touched on Mexico, tbe Panama tolls repeal controversy, his anti-trust program business conditions con-ditions and his ideas of modern patriotism pa-triotism Pounding his fist on the table on which the declaration of Independence In-dependence was signed, he declared Americans today must manage their alffairs In a way to do honor to the founders of the nation There are men in Washington, he declared, whose patriotism Is not showy but who accomplish great patriotic pa-triotic things They are staying in hot Washington, doing their duty keeping a quorum In each house of congress to do business. "And 1 am might;- glad to stay there and stiek by them," he added. Duty of People. Touching on business conditions of the country, President Wilson said a great many allegations of facts were being made, but that a great many f of these facts do not tally with each other "Are these men trying to v' , strvr their country or something smaller than their country" the pres ident asked. "If they love America and there Is anything wrong. It Is their business to put their hands to the task and set It right." Eighty-five per cent of tbe Mexican Mexi-can people, the president said, in touchine on Mexico, never have had a right to have a "look in" on their government or how the other 15 per cent were running it. "I know the American people have a heart that beats for them just as it beats for other millions," Mr Vil6on continued. contin-ued. "I hear a great deal about the property loss In Mexico, and I regret that with all my heart, but back of it all Is a struggling people. Let us not forget that struggle, in watching watch-ing what Is going on In front" "I would be ashamed of the flag if we did anything outside this country which we would not do in it." the president declared. Panama Tolls Obligation. Speaking on Panama tolls, the president pres-ident said the treaty with England might be a mistake, but Its meaning cannot be mistaken, and he believed in keeping the nation s obligations. He believed In keeping the name of the United States unquestioned and unsullied. Before the president got his speech well under way, the crowd surged forward in such confusion that a panic pan-ic was threatened Two companies of marines and sailors stood before the speaker's stand and Mr. Wilson was forced to stop several times, but finally got the crowd under control. While the president was waiting to speak, Mrs. Smith, mother of one of the first sailors killed at Vera Cruz, greeted him. Mr. Wilson told her she should be proud of her son and shook her warmly by the hand. |