The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-07
TAFT WILL RIDE
| THRU SOUTH AS
MODERN Revere
Cancels Paid Lecture Course to
Spread War Alarm.
Peace League President Preach
ing Universal Service.
PREPAREDNESS Is FIRST STEP
Maintains Ultimate View for
World Peace Court.
But Says Nation Must Be Ready
to Protect Its Rights.
Maintains Ultimate View for
World Peace Court.

New York March 7.-Believing that
there are some things worse than
war;" to use his own words, William
H. Taft, former president of the Unit
ed States, now professor of interna-
tiOnal law at Yale university, and pres
ident of the league to enforce peace,
| has cancelled all his paid lecture en-
| Sagements from March Is to April 4,
in order that he may ride, like Paul
Revere, thru the south and southwest,
| to rouse twentieth century minute men
to proper appreciation of their duty
to defend their rights now and here
after.
Mr.. Taft's itinerary is as follows:
Richmond, Va, March 81; Greensboro,
N. c., March %; Atlanta, Ga, March
%, Birmingham, Ala, March "a;
Nashville Tenn. March 25; Memphis
Tenn, March &c morning. Little Rock.
Ark, Marcel &c, evening; Dallas. Tex,
| March 81; Oklahoma City, Okla,
March 1929. Leaving Oklahoma City
on the evening of March %, Mr.. Taft
will arrive in Chicago on the evening
of March 80, and will reach his home
| in New Haven, on the afternoon of
April 1.
Under Auspices of Peace League.
President Taft's tour is to be made
under the auspices of the league to
enforce peace, the arrangements at
each stop being made by the local
branch of the organization, co-operat-
ing with leading citizens and organiza-
tons. At Atlanta, for instance, Gov
ernor Harris of Georgia, Mayor CanG-
Ter. Clark Howell editor of the Con-
stitution the Chamber of Commerce
and indeed, all the leading citizens are
| working with energy and enthusiasm
| to make Mr.. TaftS visit to the Georgia
| metropolis the most notable event of
the kind in the states history. 1t is
| to be a Georgia affair, with repre-
| sentative citizens from every part of
| the state and not merely city gath
| ering.
| At Birmingham, Ala, the Chamber
of Commerce is arranging a luncheon
at which President Taft is to be the
| guest of honor and a mass meeting in
| the largest auditorium in the city IN
| the evening. at which Mr.. Taft is to
be the principal speaker.
| In Arkansas Governor Brough. with
the aid of the Chamber of Commerce
and a strong committee. is arranging
a state convention of the League to
Enforce Peace, to be addressed by Mr.
| Taft when he visits Little Rock. Gov
ernor williams of Oklahoma, is also
to deliver an address at the Little
Rock meeting.
State Convention at Dallas.
At Dallas, Texas, Mayor Lindsey,
one of the Influential men of the
Lone Star state, and chairman of the
Texas branch of the league, with the
aid of a committee of fifteen, made
up of representatives from the Cham
Der of Commerce. Manufacturers as
ISOLATION and other prominent citi-
zens. is planning a state convention
of the League to Enforce Peace, to
be addressed by President Taft.
A similar meeting is to be held in
Oklahoma City on March % to which
Governor Williams and the mayors of
cities will appoint delegates. A lun-
cheon is to be given in honor of Mr..
Taft on the goth, at which arrange
ments for 800 guests are being made
AS the south and southwest have
| been clamoring for months for a visit
from Mr.. Taft, the tour is expected
to be great popular success. Mr.
Taft has been working with great
energy all winter to explain to the
whole country the aim of the League
to Enforce Peace. which is to promote
the formation of a league of nations
to insure peace after the present wal
shall have been concluded. Adequate
prep alton for national defense is
considered to be essential to this pro-
gram. President Taft understands
this to mean universal military serv-
ice. To quote his own words:
Our Rights Have Been Invaded.
| with the greatest reluctance I have
come to the conclusion that we should
have compulsory military training. We
are now looking over the brink Of
hostilities with some of the belliger-
ents in this war. Could we have a bet
ter proof of the reed for a body OF
trained men to defend the country
That we may avoid war in the present
issue we pray But if our rights be
invaded again under the declaration
of ruthless Warfare at sea, it is ouI
duty to resist that invasion. because II
is of the same nature as if our country
were being invaded