Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1916 — U.S. MUST ACT WITHIN THE MONTH [ARTICLE]

U.S. MUST ACT WITHIN THE MONTH

Wilson Says Congress Is Going to Deliver If the People Insist Upon It. Kansas City, Feb. 2.—President Wilson demanded tonight that steps be begun during the present month to back him up in defending American lives and commerce abroad. His demand met with shouts and applause from preaudience of 16,000 persons, When the president ceased speak ing he leaned forward and asked th? great throng to join him in singing “America.” The band played softly; the audience stood and the words of America’s national anthem came in a glorious burst of song. , The big crowd was for the president from the start. In his speech the president said ..that some men in Washington were questioning if we could get the 500,000 men for which the government is asking. He then said he believed that 5,000 men from the audience - would gladly volunteer if need be. He explained the needs of the country in the way of defenses, and was roundly cheered at many points in his speech.