Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-23
For Universal Peace and
Arbitration to Gain Il.
But Not for Disarmament Of
The Army Or Navy.
He Has a Strenuous but Enjoyable
Day in New York.


of the United States spoke in the
cause of world peace tonight before
such a brilliant assemblage at the Ho-
tel Astor that he described it as 'su-
perlative" AS the honor guest at a
banquet cf the Peace and Arbitration
League and the principal speaker he
appeared as no other Chief Executive
| has ever done before. international
peace was the keynote of every adj
dress, but no speaker advocated the
| Immediate disarmament of nations. On
the other hand. all agreed that armies
| and naVieS were necessary until a
more Utopian universe shall have
come about. on this point, President
Taft said:
Because We are in favor of univer-
sal peace, and in favor of arbitration
in order to secure il. we stand together
that we are not in favor or one cOun-
try giving up that which we now use
for the purpose of securing peace, to
wit: Our armament in our army and
our navy
Tremendous applause greeted ms
declarations and he continued:
Il do not want to seem inconsistent
Ill Sled 50 IlpiNcttiNoIiS ilNAN ~
favor of peace by arbitration and in
using every effort that | can bring to
hear on Congress. to have two more
battleshipS this year. | am hopeful
that we may continue with that policy
urtil the Panama canal is construct
ed so that then our naval forces Shall
be doubled by reason of the connection
between the two coasts and then we
can stop and think whether we Wish 10
go further Perhaps by that time there
shall he adopted a means of reducing
armament And when it comes ! am
sure we will rot be the power TO inter-
fere with that general movement.
THE expenses of armament is work
ing toward peace. The expense of
war | am sorroy to say, is having
further weight in securing peace than
the expense of lives. A nation does
not lightly enter upon war now and fol
two reasons: First, because the eX-
pense is so great that it is likely to
lead her to bankruptcy even If she
wins and, second. that if she does not
win the government, or dynasty. or
whatever it may be that is in control
of the government, is likely to go down
under the humiliation of that defeat
at the hands of her own people. Those
two things, are working in a healthful
way toward peace.
Personally I do not see any more
reason why matters of national honor
should not be referred to a court of
arbitration any more than matters of
property or matters of national pro-
prietorship.'
Leaving the question of peace the
President touched upon the violation
of the rights of aliens in this country
recommending. as he did in his in
augural address, investing the Chief
Executive and the federal courts with
authority to pass upon such viola
tions committed in the several states
He did not refer to the Japanese OF
any other foreigners. but he spoke OF
the inadequacy of the plan of having
treaty violations passed upon by Gov
ernors or local district attorneys. Their
he continued:
$50 | thought that in view of the
fact that we are all agreed about ar
btration and peace and the abolish
ment of war, if we can bring it about
| that l would suggesl one practical
means by which you can clothe your
Executive with the means of avoiding
difficulties with foreign countries an(
| with a means of avoiding putting, your
| Executive and yourselves in a humil-
iating position with reference to YOU
pledged promise"
| Two ambassadors. Count Won Berns.
torff of Germany and Signor De LIZ
| Barra We're among the speakers of the
evening. as were Charles w. Fairbanks
| former Vice President of the United
States; James B. McCreary. former
United States senator from Kentucky
and president of the league: William
J. Gaynor, mayor Of Greater New Yorl
and Henry Clews.
Count Won Berastorff, like Presiden
Taft, did not look with favor upon dis
| armament. and although endorsing tn
general idea Of arbitration he could no
| agree with Mr.. Taft on the question o
submitting matters of national honor
tn such tribunal.
President Taft, facing a crowd of 50'
newspaper men and editors at tn,
New York Press Club this afternoon
indirectly spologized for his remarks