Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-13
Yale Alumni in Gathering.

only SORT that Will make LOT laStlns
Yale Alumni in Gathering.
Representatives of all branches of
the government. including the Chief
Justice Of the United States, Associate
Justice Holmes, Secretary of Agricul-
ture Houston, Senator Brandegee and
other officials. heard the former Presi-
dent deliver notable address on the
Significance of Americas participation
in the world war. The talk was given
before the members of the University
Club. of which Mr.. Taft was the first
president. and members of the Yale
He was accompanied to the assembly
hall by Henry s. Graves, chief Of the
forest service, who Is president Of the
Yale alumni body, and was introduced
the University Club. Claude N. Bennett
presided.
After commencing university men on
the part they are playing in prepara-
lions for the coming struggle, Mr.. Taft
expressed confidence that the people of
the United States again will show they
have the moral instinct and the moral
tenacity to sacrifice everything for
principle"
Germany Mistaken.
Surface indications do not always tell
the temper Of a people, he said, point
ing out that Germany thought the
French morally decadent at the outset
OF the European struggle.
But they have shown a calm courage
and a Willingness to sacrifice not
cheers from his auditors.
1t may be we shall have to face the
sacrifices England and France have
made" he said. Our enemy is the
greatest military power the world has
known hoc
Being in the war, we must win.
That means not only money, a navy,
heavy taxes curtaflment of the food
supply for economical distribution, but
might as well face that fact and get it
under our skins. The trouble with us
is that we are SO internally optimistic,
so confident that God takes care of
that 1t is hard to convince our people
of the burdens they may carry"
MT. Taft said the situation in Russia
might in itself carve out for us a ire
with 100000 men at the front out Of
100000, and said that such a ratio.
calling for 100000 men from the United
States to maintain a similar proportion,
gave some idea Of what we may be
facing in this war.
Better to Expect Big Burden.
at is far better to anticipate too large
a burden than to anticipate too small a
burden" he said. I'm Russia the pros
pect OF anarchy Is not SO remote but
that we may count 1t as possible. If
the Germans get into Russia they can
rehabilitate themselves so far as food
is concerned, and can withdraw men
from the eastern front to reinforce
their western lines
But no nation could have = higher
cause than ours" he continued I'VE
went into the war because Germany
sunk our vessels, bearing our citizens,
who had perfect right on the high
seas. After we went In we found the
should feel exalted by. taking part In
the world cause in which we are now
engaged"
The essential fact about our particle
patton, the speaker argued. defined as
autocracy against democracy, Is not
that we may topple over the Hohen-
zollern or Hapsburg dynasties, nor that
we may dictate to other nations what
forms of government they may have.
Menace to the World.
Our reason is that the existence in
the future of military dynasties or au-
tocracies like that of Germany is
menace to the world. What we now
are engaged In is establishment of a
league to enforce world peace.
We are going to live more and more
IN tne WOIlQ, ana we ought TO snare the
responsibility for the peace of the
world. That is why this talk of
entangling alliances is fash
toned. out-of-date, a point of view
from the past. Every circumstance Is
heading US into a new kind Of relation
turns out to mean removal Of autoc-
racy and militarism, and brings about
a lasting peace in the world, then II
will not have been fought in vain
A.. a
ought to feel that the end in view JUS
titles any expenditure we may make"
This concluding remark was received
with prolonged applause which broke
into cheer. and finally died away in
the long cheer Of Yale from the Eli
Entertained at Dinner.
BefoSe the talk Mr. Taft was enter
tanned at a dinner by the Yale Alumni
Association. at which the guests In
cluded Chief Justice White, Ambassa-
dor Naon of Argentina, Associate JUS
tice Holmes. Secretary of Agriculture
Houston, Senator Brandegee, Henry S.
Graves. Col N NJ Parker. Edwin F.
merce; Francis G. Carly. solicitor for the
Department of Agriculture; Ernest
Knaebel, Claude N. Bennett, George
OConnor and Solicitor General John
w. Davis Of the Department of Justice.
George O'Connor and Matt Horn pro-
vided a musical program, ito remind Mr..
Taft of old times" the Invitations
stated. and the former President called
particularly for one song. IF He Comes
In, / Go Out" which he once heard
o'connor sing just before presidential
election day.
HOMAGE TO J0FFRE
PAID BY BOSTONIANS