, 1919-03-13
WILSON and
TAFT SPEAK
ADDRESS BIG CROWD IN THE
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE
IN NEW YORK.
POWERS WANT LEAGUE
PRESIDENTIAL PARTY SAILS FOR
EUROPE AGAIN ABOARD THE
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
New York, March 4.-On the eve of
his return to the peace conference,
President Wilson delivered ar address
at the Metropolitan Opera House, New
York, urging establishment of a
League of Nations. Former President
Taft, speaking from the same plat
form, also outlined his reasons for be-
lieving hat a league should be formed
to prevent future wars. Governor
Smith of New York presided at the
meeting.
Governor Smith opened his speech by
paying a tribute to the part the New
York soldiers had played in the war.
and will not be won until the Golden
Rule is written into the international
law of the world"
He introduced Mr.. Taft as the man
who had worn the purple of the Pres
ident of the United States and with
grace and honor"
AS the President and ex-President
Taft emerged from the. room in which
they conferred and walked through the
thronged wings onto the stage. Mr..
Taft said: 1T don't know on which side
Of you I should walk. Mr.; President.
smiled and nodded. Mr.. Taft was greet
ed with loud ha~ndclapping.
"A League of Nations covenant is in
the war is to accomplish the declared
purpose of this nation and the world"
former President William Toward Taft
told the audience at the Metropolitan
Opera House in an exhaustive discus
sion of the league principles. preceding
the address of President Wilson.
An adherence to the washingtonian
policy of avoiding foreign alliances
could not be applied to the present in
ternational status, Mr.. Taft declared.
because the interests of the United
States are inevitably involved in the
preservation of European peace" For
the United States to withdraw from the
project, he asserted. would make the
the system of alliances and the bal
ance of power. with a speedy recur-
renee of war. in which this country
in the present struggle"
The rank and file of the American
people are standing firmly behind
President Wilson. declared Governor
Smith in presenting "the world leader
States"
The President declared he was con-
yinced by unmistakable evidences
nation was in favor of the League of
Nations.
II am more happy because this
means this is not a party ISSUE" he
said. This is not a party issue and
no party in the long run will dare
The President said al. effective
working agreement for a league of
Nations was sought abroad. Intrigue
league league Of Nati pnsii we're n aod ~ b sne
a big debating society it would kill
the friendly right" of every nation to
call attention of other nations to any
thing which endangers peace. Germany
never would have gone to war If she
had first discussed the situation with
II am amazed-not alarmed. but
amazed-that there should be In some
quarters such a comprehensive ignor-
ance of the state of the world said
Mr.. Wilson, Those gentlemen do not
now. Everybody else does.
Il do not know where they have been
e ennss theY ! bo not ba know I,, by what at, tnflS,
know that they have been separated
from the. general currents of the
thought of mankind.
And want to utter this solemn
warning. not in the way of a threat:
the forces Of the world do not threaten.
world do not give notice that they are
going to rise and run; they rise In
their majesty and overwhelming in
are overwhelmed. Now. the heart Of
the world is awake. and the heart Of
the world must be satisfied.
What are we to say. then, as TO
future? / think, my fellow citizens,
that we can look forward to 1t with
great confidence. I ave heard cheer
ing news since I came to this side of
the water about the that is
being made in Paris towards the dis
cussion and Qualification of a great
many difficult matters; and / believe
hat settlements will begin to be made
rather rapidly from this time on at
those conferences.
But hat I believe-what I know
as well as believe. is this: That the
men engaged In those conferences are
gathering heart as they go, not losing
II; that they are finding community OF
purpose and community of ideal to an
extent that perhaps they did not ex-
of influence because It is infinitely
complicated - amidst all the Interplay
of Influence, there Is a forward moye-
ment which. Is running towards the
the only permanent thing in the world
is he right, and that a wrong settle
ment Is bound to be a temporary set
tiement-bound to be a temporary set
t!ement for the very best reason OF ali.
that 1t ought to be n temporary settle
ment. and the spirits of men Will rebel
against II, and the spirits of men are
now in the saddle.
90 II wisely. God give us the privilege
OF knowing that we did IL without
counting the cost. and because we were
true Americans; lovers OF liberty and
President Wilson went aboard tho
y. s. s.. George Washington at 12:o5
o'clock this morning with Mrs. Wilson
steamship is scheduled to sail for
France at S:15 a. m. Wednesday.
Must Report Allowances.
oahfn0fon C.Tu