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Show or PRESIDENT HAS A BIGAilENCE Indianapolis, Tnd , Jan. 8- President Wilson today voiced what a crowd of more than -1,000 people assembled here to hear him make a Jackson day speech Interpreted as a hint that ho might be a candldato for the presidency presi-dency again in 1916. The people leaped to their feet and cheereJ until the president himself raised his hand and called for quiet. The president had been discussing the Mexican question and referred to his belief that he knew the temperament tempera-ment and principles of the American people, adding that he would not be fit to stay where he was if he did not understand them "There may come a time," he went on, "when the American people will have to Judge whether I know what I am talking about or not." There was a slight pause and then the crowd, which included the members mem-bers f the Indiana legislature. Jumped up and began shouting and cheering. Realizing the construction which had been put on his words, the president held up his hands for silence and said: "I did not mean to stir up anything. That was merely preparatory to saving sav-ing that for at least two more years I am free to think I know the American Ameri-can people." Previously the president had attacked at-tacked the Republican party, defended the record of his administration on the Mexican policy and the tariff and currency questions and declared that a careful examination of the returns from the elections Ia6t November showed that If it had been a presiden tial year a Democrat would have had a majority of about eighty in the electoral elec-toral college The president criticised Republican senators opposing the government ship purchase bill, whom he characterized as "self-styled friends of business." He said the Republican partv had not had a new idea In thirty years and that "the Republicans do not know how to do anything but sit on the lid." He added that the country wants the ship purchase bill enacted into a law, and "will have It." A warning to Democrats not to break up the solidarity of the party-was party-was given gravely by Mr Wilson, lie declared that any such men will gain an unenviable position for themselves them-selves and mentioned Senators Kern and Shlvely of Indiana as men whom he "did not have to lie awake nights thinking about." He continued that "if a man won't play on a team he must get off the team," and later Bpoke of himself as ' the captain of the Democratic team for the present." pres-ent." The president spoke brieflv of Mexico. Mex-ico. He said that the people there are entitled to liberty, "no matter how long they take in determining it." Speaking slowly and carefully, he declared that "so far as my Influence In-fluence goeg, while I am president, nobody shall interfere with them.' He said that until the revolt against Diaz 80 per cent of the Mexicans never had a looking as to who should be their government. ,rHave not European nations taken as long as they wanted and spilled as much blood as they pleased to settlo their own affairs?" he continued, contin-ued, "and shall wo deny the same right to Mexico No, 1 say." Much of Mr. Wilson's address was devoted to the Independent and Progressive Pro-gressive voters. He said that about one-third of the Republican party Is progressive and about two-thirds of the Democratic party is progressive "Therefore," ho added, "tho Democratic Demo-cratic party is more progressive than the Republican." He declared most of the voters oi the country are Independent, but thai it was bis ambition to have them voto with the Democrats. He spoke of himself as "an animated conservative." conserva-tive." Referring to the European war, the president said that the people of the United States should not pay too much attention to it, but should get their own affairs in such order that they can be of the greatest assistance to the countries fighting. He closed his address with the prayer that the time might come when the United States could be instrumental In re storing peace Business conditions were taken up briefly. He characterized talk of bualnesM depression as a "state of mind." and said that the Democratic party had already done much to free business and that Its program wa not yet complete. Whenever the country coun-try really wants something besides talk, he added, it turns to the Democratic Demo-cratic party. The president advocated the estab- lishmcnt of a great federal employ" ' ment bureau, said some means should be found for nulckenlng and cheapen ing the processes of the courts, and spoke of the necessity of congress passing the administration conservation conserva-tion bills Cheering and handclapping interrupted inter-rupted the president at intervals, and he had trouble in making his voice reach the people in the back of the hall. He was introduced by Governor Ralston of Indiana as one of the great figures of the world and then an actress sang, "We Take Our Hats Off to You. Mr. Wilson." Immediately after his speech the president went to the home of Mayor Joseph R Bell of Indianapolis, who was confined to his bed by sickness, and later attended a reception given by the Indiana Democraiic club, which lasted for an hour and a half. Later he took a ride about Indianapolis Indianap-olis in the automobile of Thomas Taggart. and at 6:45 departed for Washington. The president's advocacy of a fed-era) fed-era) employment bureau and of re-forms re-forms in court procedure were the two new questions taken up In his address. ad-dress. It was understood tonight that he will press both subjects on congress con-gress at the earliest possible opportunity. |