Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-02
SAYS COUNTRY WAS RIGHT
IN ENTERING WORLD WAR
American People Never Will Be Fully
Prepared, Taft Decentralization Had
i TO Fight In Order to Retain Self
Nsspset-LaFolIette Classified as
Pre-. German in Bitter Denuneiation.


United States is at war and what this
country Is fighting for.
The former chief executive addressed
two packed houses at the Y. NJ c. A
auditorium, the first at o'clock in the
afternoon and the second at 100 in
the evening. He spoke at three more
meetings today, the first at 10 this
morning, another at ! p. NJ. and the
final at 7 o'clock tonight
In his addresses the speaker attempt
ed no fancy oratory, but in a judicia,
manner analysed the events which LED
to the American declaration Of wal
and explained the things which have
converted the German people from a
lovable community into a menace to
world democracy.
He maintained the Taft geniality
/ turnout his talk and referred jocularly
to his experience in his last presidential
campaign. Senator LaFollette and
Kaiser Bill both got a touch OF hot
tongue, seasoned with a bit of tobasco.
but II anything LaFollette was given
the more severe treatment.
United States Was Right.
In opening his address. Mr.. Taft out
lined the series OF outrages which Ger
many committed against the United
States, including the sinking OF the
Lusitania, the destruction of the Sus-
sex and the violation Of the pledge
made not to repeat these offenses and
showed that at all times the United
States acted within its right under in
irrational law.
He declared that the only course open
to the United States when Germany
declared for unrestricted submarine
warfare and in effect ordered the
United States off the open sea was
war, and that it was the solemn duty
Of the people Of the United States to
continue the fight until German auto
cracy was beaten and the liberty OF
the world assured.
America PeaeeAble.
The American people are naturally
peaceable," he said. 1T does not care
for war, q the autocratic methods
which must necessarily be adopted dur
Ing . war.
aThe United States viii never adopt
q policy Of permanent preparedness Its
people are not inclined in that direc-
ton. It will always be found unready
to meet an attack by an aggressive and
prepared militaristic nation, such as
Germany.
ST - for this reason that the United
states must fight this war to con-
cluaiou. and determine that no nation
eacefuliy inclined, need fear a sudden
tack by Germany or any other similar
lower"
d. The rise Of German militarism from
he time Of Frederick the Great down
o the present Kaiser Wilhelm was re-
Z Viewed, with especial attention to the
j policy Of blood and iron"as inaugural
\ ed and successfully carried out by Otto
. Won Bismarck.
LaFoIlette Gets His.
> I.aFollette was called among Inc
9 o..o-Germans in cool but bitter bit o.
! denunciation.
j Does any one suppose that II Halt
!, mad committed the same slaughter O
{ American citizens that Germany was
I guilty Of that Senator LaFollette OF
! any other senator would have criticized
4 the American government for taxing
\ stringent measures" he said.
4 "The United States would have de-
E manded reparation and assurance tina
the offense would not be committee
4 again, 1t would have accompanied th'
Z request with an American warship
lust as a gentle reminder that bushes!
was meant.
..when laFollette takes the attitud
that the United States was not justl
I ned in breaking off relations with tn
German empire, or in declaring wal
and says that the United States wa:
only technically wronged, he is assum
ing the position that the United Statei
should condone a wrong done by Ger
MANY which would bring immediate
/ retribution-
THE United States could not con
done the Lusitania sinking, the Sus
4 sex. or unrestricted submarine war
] fare OF Germany and still maintain tn
same spirit of liberty which brought OF
I the revolution and the civil war.
Forced Into War.
1.-THE American nation could not ii
4 lpN-Feepect refuse to fight merely be
cause Germany is the mightiest mill
ifary power In the history of the world
and defiance meant conflict whic!
nav cost thousands of lives and loni
struggle"
u II referring to the Lusitania inciden
As.2sr.s. declared tt... ::!:;.c: sinking. g
th3a aI,fp was simple murder on tn
part OF Germany.
rThes excuse offered that the pas
senxer1 az the Lusitania were warned
ma therefore had no one to blame bu
themselves for their fate is as ridica
lous - II a murderer were to plea
not eniIty upon the grounds that h
/ -. H.,