The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-15
KANSAS BEHIND
EX-PRESIDENT IN
BIG PEACE MOVE.
State Wide Organization of
League to Enforce 1t.
Nearly 5000 TOpekans Cheer
Auditorium Speech.
COURT TO SETTLE DISPUTES
International Body for Argu-
ment of Questions.
No Encouragement to Euro
pean Interference.
BUSINESS MEN CHEER HIM
ROuSing Reception fer Taft at
Chamber OF Commerce.
In Witty Talk He Admits His
Defeat OF 1908.
ROusing Reception fer Taft at
Chamber OF Commerce.
In Witty Talk He Admits His
Defeat OF 1908.
EDDY TELLS OF Big WAR
He Expects Death Toll to Reach
51a Million by Spring.
40 Million Men Have Been
Called to COIOrS in Europe.

Kansas went into the peace move
ment with both feet this afternoon
whom more than $500 men and women
cheered william Howard Taft. former
pre sident in a speech in the auditor
ium and voted for statewide organ
ization of the national league to en-
force peace. Organization followed
4O-rninute talk by the former pres
ident in which he outlined policies
and plans of the peace movement
Not only will Kansas swing behind
the peace program, but funds VIII be
provided for an extension OF the work
to other fields. In his speech Mr.. Taft
urged the formation of an interna-
tional court to hear and settled isputes
Of nations He urged international
agreements for compulsory arbitration
ana use OF force only where arbitra-
tion fails or nations refuse to submit
remedial disputes to Investigations.
Urges international Police.
International police methods should
be maintained by nations, Taft urged,
in enforce ment Of its policies
Settlement of or Interference with
the war in Europe were not encourage
ed i'm the Taft speech. Yet Europe,
he declared, will wisely welcome and
receive any program that bars prob
abilities of future warfare.
Discussing the European situation,
Taft declared that Europe would vel
come the aid and leadership of the
United States in directing a program
for permanent peace.
The first floor of the auditorium
was filled and half of the seats in the
galleries taken when Taft walked on
the stage at 1870. a volley of yells
from Washburn and high school stu
dents greeted the former president and
he responded to a noisy greeting with
"a bow and the famous smile that won't
wear off
Mr. Taft was introduced by Walter
Roscoe Stubbs, Of Lawrence, former
governor. The mere fact that StubbS
failed to support Taft in the political
campaign of four years ago did not
lessen his praise of Taft in his advo-
cacy Of Worldwide peace. The intro
duction followed prayer by Father
Hayden.
This meeting involves the great
est problem in the world today" said
Stubbs and means the stopping by
force if necessary the world war in
Europe today
While our distinguished visitor
held the greatest office in the gift of
our people" said Stubbs. Il doubt not
that the place he holds today means
more to the future and welfare of the
world than any office we gave him.
we don't offer you a panacea OF
a cure-all that will end all wars" said
Taft in his opening remarks. What
we do offer you is a program that
will prevent many wars and make wal
less proba able"
The former president then discussed
former proposals by peace conferences
and thru treaties.
I'VE had a big dinner" said Taft
and good dinner makes you anX-
iouX to agree. But what was our
horror in August, 1914. to see the
opening of this great conflict
Something more than dinners and
speeches must be resorted to in ouI
effort to work out the world peace
plan. he said. Details of the plan for
realization of ideals of League OF
Peace were then discussed by Mr.
Taft
IF Ihis program is to be effective
it must have not only the endorsement
of this nation, but most of the big
nations of Europe" said the speaker
Then there is no doubt the smaller
nations will come in out of the rain
Settlement of disputes by arbitra-
tion was the fundamental principle
advanced by Mr.. Taft He illustrated
his plan by reference to the Kansas
Colorado controversy concerning the
Arkansas river
AS a result of that suit, you have
dry state in more ways than one
he said. 'As between nations you1
case might have been a cause of wal
but you settled the question thru
and by your courts, just as you should
have DONE"
Mr.. Taft injected keen wit into his