The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-12-31
Peace Banquet Last Night in New York Was At
tended Only By the Ambassador From
Far Off Japan
PRESIDENT TAFT LAUDED FOR TREATIES
Every Available Seat Taken at Meeting Which
Proved Great Endorsement For the Work
Which is Before Humanity.

tive, and each pointed out that his
government hal called his attention to
the fact that 1t would be, to say the
least, incongruous for him to attend
a peace banquet when his countrymen
were actually engaged in war. The
ambassador from Brazil also explain
ed that he had been forbidden by his
government to attend Most of the
other diplomats sent word that they
would not be able to come, but failed
to elaborate on the reason.
Former President Roosevelt, who
has been emphasizing for some time
! the break between himself and Presi-
dent Taft, and his absolute disapproval
of the contemplated arbitration treat
les, took a final fling at the dinner in
a letter he sent to Former Senator
Griswold OF the committee. in which
ne said:
RooseseIt's Letter.
My Dear Mr. Griswold:
1t seems to me worse than foolish
in short, utter hypocritical-now to
support these arbitration treaties
unamended-when We have just abro-
gated the Russian treaty. People can
sincerely believe as l do that it is
right to abrogate the Russian treaty
and wrong to pass the unamended ar
bitration treaties; or people can sin
cerely believe, as apparently one
representative in the house believed,
that the principle of the unamended
treaties is right and therefore it is
wrong to abrogate the Russian treaty:
but it is absolutely impossible sincere
ly to advocate the unamended arbitra-
ton treaties and at the same time the
abrogation of the Russian treaty. IT
puts US as nation in a ridiculous and
hypocritical position to do SO. Hold
ing these views. l fear, from what Il
now learn, that | should not be in
sympathy with the opinions of most of
those attending the peace dinner.
(Signed) Il
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
There was also considerable com
ment on the absence of Secretary OF
State Knox. He had accepted an in
vitation and it was not until the BAN
queters had assembled that it was
learned that he had not come. While
it was explained semi-oficially" that
he was forced to remain in Washing
ton because Of the strained conditions
abroad, growing out of the troubles in !
China, Persia. etc, persons in touch
with the capital stated that he was /
neither at his home nor his Office |
there. and that it was believed there
he must be lodging trouble" An
other person conspicuous by his alb.
sence was Senator Root, who had also
promised to be present but who did /
not put in an appearance, and failed
TO send any regrets
There was, however. an enormous
crowd of diners on hand, everv avail.
able inch of space in the big Waldorf
Astoria hotel banquet room being utiI-
lied for those who came to see and
be seen. The elaborate precautions
that had been taken to prevent am
untoward incident disturbing the
diners had added TO the interest and
It was estimated that there were 1900
persons in their seats when the presi.
emit reached the hotel.
Police Protection.
The president was met at the rail- 4
road station by a squad of policemen.
plain clothes men in automobiles and
mounted men and hurried to the hotel.
by the committees request the police +,
precautions at the hotel were elabor
ATE Inspector McCloskey was In
charge of the police arrangements.
and the men under him had been
seIected for their fighting ability .
MOST OF them We're members of the !
stfong arm squad, which had been
Aevpihg order at the beaches and the
aiway terminals during the summer T,
Instructions were that, even :
70 o hs.,, the diners might be prepared I
:. ~ battle for their peaceful princinles ,
militant. ''o"ed 10 grow
PIX OF the more pompous Of tna !,
a. ID hao squeezed themselves IN, I,
led with the diners. their on,, ni, a,