The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-27
Dinner at Hotel AStor by the
Peace Society.
Guests Number 500 Including
Many Notable Persons.
TAFT AND Alb. PARKER
Enter the Banquet Hall To-
gether Amid cheers.
Three Foreign Ambassadors
Among the Speakers.

New York, Feb. 27.-The peace
society OF New York brought to-
gether around the banquet table al
the Hotel Astor last night a notable
gathering of men prominent in ma
tionaI. state and city affairs. The din
ner was in honor of Senator-elect
Elihu Root Of New York and Jos. H.
Choate was POSTMASTER. President
elect Taft, Governor c. E. Hughes,
Right Hon. James Bryce, the British
ambassador; Baron Kogoro Takahira
ambassador from Japan, and Joaquin
Nabuco, Brazilian ambassador, were
the speakers and the guests numbered
about 500.
The programme card contained
miniature portraits of the speakers
and President Roosevelt and the en-
peror of Japan on India paper be-
meath what was ascribed a brief ex-
preston by the person portrayed on
the subject of peace.
President-elect Taft arrived early,
and as he came in with Judge Alton
b. Parker the assembled guests arose
and gave him an ovation.
The speechmaking did not begin un-
til a late hour. With the ending of
the menu the diners left their tables
and gathered enmasse around a silk
pulpit from which the speakers ad-
dressed the guests There was a
round of applause as the smiling ia ce
of Jos H. Choate, the presiding chair
man of the evening appeared. Mr
Choate was in his best humor and his
speech was frequently broken by
cheers. Mr.. Root was then in
demonstration
Mr.. Root dwelt upon the causes
that led to war and said:
Causes of War.
sT agree with Mr.. Choate that there
is no Inconsistency between the work
IL
of a secretary of peace. because so
long as selfishness and greed and
Willingness to do injustice and brutality
continue in this world. we must have
the policeman. and the international
policemen whose presence makes the
use of his club unnecessary + is the
army and navy. If we would have
peace it is not enough to cry Peace
peace it is essential that we should
promote and insist upon the willing
ness of our country to do justice to
all countries of the earth.
f'War comes today as the result
either of actual or threatened wrong
by one country or another or as the
result of a suspicion by one country
that another intends to do it wrong.
The least of these three causes of war
as actual injustice.
"But a few days ago a member of
the house with no other apparent pur-
pose than to make himself prominent,
by an attack upon the administration
charged upon the chief magistrate of
the little republic of Panama a
fraudulent conspiracy with regard to
a contract under negotiation by the
government of that country regarding
the forests of Panama. All Panama
was instantly alive with just in
the more keenly. because we with our
ninety millions and over, great navy
and army, presented an over
whelming and irresistible force with
are bound, trebly. bound in honor to
maintain and respect. These are the
things that make for war. and if you
would make for peace. you will frown
on them, condemn them, ostracise and
punish by all social penalties the
men who are guilty of them.
With the conclusion of Mr.. Roots
speech Mr. Choate read a cablegram
transmitting Homage TO Eiinu Root
and Andrew Carnegie from the Aus
trian Peace society Ambassador Bryce
spoke of the craftsmanship and ability
of Mr.. Root.
Takahira Speaks.
Baron Kogoro ,Takahira, Japanese
ambassador, was most cordially receiv-
ed when introduced by Mr.. Choate.
Baron Takahira said:
''It is an undeniable fact that as civ
iiization advances international inter
est in commerce is gradually developed
and a general desire for peace is pro-
sign of the times that measure after
measure is successfully devised to in
sure the security of peace.
''In the midst of these circumstances
il is a distinct feature of things that
we are very often surprised by the ru-
NOR of war sometimes not without some
cause but in most cases entirely un-
founded as though there was a desire
in some quarters for such a bloody
"I cannot help referring to this un-
pleasant subject, not only because it
has a direct bearing upon the question
of peace but because Elihu Root him.
self had a trying experience with that
faliacious clamor IN connection with
the relations between United States and
Japanese and stood out against calmly
and firmly during the two years time
of its constant uproar.
To-day we are happy to see the pub
lie has become convinced of the folly
of propagation of that impossible
story"
Governor Hughes address was also
tribute to Mr.. Roosevelt. 1t was almost
midnight when Toastmaster Choate
presented President-elect Taft. ITO
iJut the finishing touches to this splend-
id tribute to our distinguished senator
elect" as he put it. Every one in the
room arose and with waving of hand
kerchiefs and cheering greeted Mr.. Taft
as he took the speakers platform.
Taft Is Complimentary.
First thing that I want to say" in
an apoIogetic tone began Mr.. Taft, 'is
that Elihu Root ought to be president
elect and a prospective member of
his cabinet because 1 know how to
serve under him. The pleasure, the hon
or of having served the country in as
sociation with Elihu Root and Theo-
dore Roosevelt will continue to be the
greatest honor have ever enjoyed.
I'VE orga nized a society in the cabi-
net There were Athos and Porthos and
D'Artagnan and Aramis. My friend
was Athos, he who D'Artagnan was 1
leave you to guess. Porthos only have
80 nd