St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-03-14
Explained to St. Johnsbury
Audience Plan of League
To Enforce Peace
CORDIAL RECEPTION
AT THE COLONIAL
Gave Many Prcccdcnts For Intcrna-
tiOnal Agreement of All the
World Powcrs-Rcception After
The MISUNDERSTANDING By
Academy Clubs.

ACADEMY CluDS.
EXPresident William Howard Taft
received an enthusiastic welcome from
st. Johnsbury citizens Saturday night
when he addressed nearly 1000 per-
sons at the Colonial Theatre in the
interests of the League to Enforce
Peace. For nearly two hours Mr..
Taft held the closest attention of his
audience while he explained the aims
and purposes of the league; told of
it's inception and estab ablished logical
precedent for belief in the success Of
such world movement at the close
of the present war.
Judge Taft endorsed the stand TAX
en- by President Wilson, and explain
ed the International laws, the VIOLA
tions of which has led up to and placed
the country in it's present position
with Germany. The deck of a COM
mercial vessel he vehemanently said.
was as much part of the United
States sod as the mainland, and en-
phasized the law which protects pas
sengers of such vessels even when
that vessel carried eontraband. In
relation to the arming of merchant
ships by the President. Judge Taft
said, Gums on armed merchantmen
will probably be manned by United
States sailors, and if such Il ship en-
tering the barred zone sights SUBJ
marine the sailors will endeavor to
sink that submarine-as l hope they
may-and if they do the next move
as they say in checkers-will be Ger
many's. In event they do not sink her
and the merchantman is torpedoed
what will we do?--One thing. 1t is
our move"
The meeting was presided over by
Hon. Elisha May, and prayer was Of
fered by Rev. Paul D. Moody. Others
seated on the platform were: Joseph
Fairbanks, Esq, member of the exc
cutive committee of the state branch;
Arthur F. Stone, Hon. r. H. Brooks
Rev. F. B. Richards, Walter H
Young, Rev. E. G. Drouhin, Secretary
Olzendam of the state branch, Judge
Harland B. Howe, Alexander Dun
nett, Esq, Rev. John Dwyer and Chas
Shields, Esq.
The first speaker introduced by Mr.
May was Rhoderick H. OlZendam, sec
retary of the Vermont branch of the
League to Enforce Peace. He gave a
short resume of the state work and
of the state program which includes
the gaining of 5000 members before
the first of July, and the getting OF
the moral support of the people of the
state.
The audience stood and applauded
as the distinguished speaker of the
evening came on the stage, and after
prayer had been offered by Rev. P. D
Moody, the st. Johnsbury Academy
chorus sang as opening numbers 1.-The
Battle Hymn of the Republic" and
America, We Love Thee The Choir
us was lead by Miss Ella Brownef
and Miss McGillivray accompanied al
the piano.
Mr.. May in Introducing Mr.. Taft
referred to the fact that he was the
son of a Vermonter and u "son wor-
thy of the father and that the father
worthy of the SON. AS Mr.. Taft start
ed to speak, the audience rose and
applauded for some minutes, and fin
ished the ovation with three cheers
and tiger.
Judge Taft Speaks
In opening the speaker said in part
81 am very much touched by the cor.
dial greeting accorded me, am proud
that my father came from Vermont
There is something about coming oui
of the state that gives a ruggedness
of character and quality of purpose
and high ideals that predominates
wherever you find it." Mr.. Taft caus
ed laugh by adding: "And Vermont
ers recognize it in themselves"
After speaking of his early knowl
edge of Vermont and his first visit tt
this state when a boy, the speaker
emphasized his profound respect fol
the ruggedness of Vermont which
was cXemplified in Hon. Henry c. Idt
of this place with whom he had beer
associated in the past.
In taking up the subject of The
World League to Enforce Peace, Mr.
Taft spoke of the plan as one of Ions
standing but recently put into form TO
the present nations of the world, ant
said, Il have long been Interested il
peace as has others but I felt it m!
lot to take some official part in pre-
venting war between nations III,
| then went on to explain treaties tina
| had been made on similar lines in TIL,
past, but which had never been con
| sumated. Among them was one in
| troduced in the Senate by himsel
through Secretary of State Knox
! while Mr.. Taft WA in the Presidency
! Concerning this. Judge Taft laughing
ly remarked that the treaty was s.
cut up" by the Senate that its ''owl
father could not recognize it,
j He further said. AT the outbreak o
the present world war l was com
p1etely dazed. I had been dreamin
/ Of peace and thought that wor1
peace was at hand. The very size an
| strength of the countries armameu
seemed to prohibit war