The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-05


{ service of memories rather than an
evening of celebration. He said he
doubted that even q majority OF the
Senate would vote against separating
the League OF Nations plan from the
treaty Of peace. II the two instruments
should be interlocked. as he hoped they
would be- He did not believe the SEN
ate would dare to take the responsible
tty Of postponing peace in order to re-
3ect the League Of Nations proposal.
The President assumed the appear
ance, Of perfect confidence. He an
nounced. in fact. at the very opening
OF his address that he was going to tell
the people on the other side OF the
water that an overwhelming majority
OF the American people is In favor Of
the League of Nations. He said he
had had unmistakable limitations Of
1t frpm all parts of the country, and
that the voice rang true in every case.
'vofee" Lacks Ring.
Now It is doubtful, perhaps. II the
voice had any sort or ring TO 1t
last night in the Metropolitan Opera
House. Although the audience was
just as large as the place could pos
sibly accommodate, there was much
lacking In the tone and in the volume
Of the applause. 1t was brief, ftful
and devoid of spontaneous enthusiasm.
The same phenomenon was observable
last night as caught the attention at
the. Boston meeting a week sgo-an
immense throng. polite, interested to
the point OF intentness, yet strangely
IN, "a Arn rrr,t oh ha fp-
ton of great cause is said to stir in
mems hearts.
This was all the more remarkable
last night because tho audience was
generally believed to be made up in
large part of sympathiers with Mr..
Wilson's plan. There had been stories
Mt least that some care had been taken
, In the distribution OF tickets-not to
serve them out to Democrats. but to
make sure that advocates Of the Brit
ish-Wilson plan were not left out in
the cold.
Yes, despite this, when the President
entered upon the stage at 1895 p. NJ.
having come directly from his special
train at the Pennsylvania Station. the
standing thousands that filled the audi
torium and the two horscshoes and that
piled tier on tier through three galleries
to the roof received him with only q
moderate greeting. 1t was quite friend
ly, but the applause and handclapping
neither rang loudly nor endured long. II
lasted. In fact. less than a minute des-
pite the stimulation OF the band and the
inyitational gestures on the part Of
Cleveland H. Dodge, the chairman. Sub
sequently, through Mr.. Wilson's speech.
this Interesting restraint was noted
an occasional patter of approval, an oc-
casional half burst OF applause.
Nothing New From Taft.
s The attitude Of the audience (if this
matter Is importantly seemed to reflect
a, very eager desire for the truth; n
thirst for such information as would cor
rectiy guide the mind. II observers were
correct 1t was an audience that repre-
scented opinion as yet uniformed but seek
ing the facts necessary for conviction one
5 way or another. Whatever the Presi-
dent did or did not do. he certainly failed
to provide this hoped for. anticipated in
formation.
Nor did Mr. Taft contribute anything
now, as may be gathered perhaps from O
survey Of his address. He repeated the
main points already made In the United
States Senate by the few defenders Of
the British-Wilson plan that have arisen
in that body. One OF his comments
caught the ear forcefully. II said that
1t would be time to ask what effect the
league would have on the Monroe Doc
trine when anybody found out what the
Monroe Doctrine actually implied in
these days. Mr.. Taft spoke OF the policy
az X II were/a shibboleth OF no great
consequence.
Both the President and his ally, the
ex-President said that the league ques-
ton was not party question. Mr.
Wilson asked II any party would dare
make II q party question. Care seemed
to have been taken by the managers Of
the meeting TO give the appearance of a
non-part san gathering Not only were
Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Taft side by side
between the nag OF the President OF the
United States and the Stars and Stripes,
but behind them. almost dramatically
arranged. were gentlemen who have not
agreed In the past on political questions.
Non-partisan Audience.
On the stage among others were Gov.
Al Smith and Ex-Gov. Charles s. Whit
man. Frank L. Polk. Abram I. Elkus,
Cleveland II. Dodge. Alfred e. Marling.
Mayor John r. Hylan. Gen. David C.
Shanks, Gen Thomas II. Barry, Comp
troiler Charles Craig. Norman Hapgood.
Homer Cummings, BENJAMIN F. Strong.
William Fellowes Morgan. Martin NJ.
NOEel, Alton Is. Parker, Dr. Henry Van
Dyke, Jacob II. Sch.f. Francis p. Gar
van. Enrico Caruso, William Church
Osborn. Fugenius H. Outerbridge. Law
renee Abbott. John q. Agar. Henry De
Forest Baldwin, August Belmont, Irv-
ing T. Bush. Theodore e. Burton. A. C.
Bedford. George Gordon Battle, DR..
Alexis Carrel, Thomas L. Chadbourne,
yr., Paul D. Cravath. Justice Victor j.
Bowling. Francis l.. Hine. Otto H. Kahn,
Adolph Lewisohn. A. Lawrence Lowell,
Henry Morgenthau. Col. George p. Nc
Clellan. Delaney Nicoll. Judge Morgan
J. O'Brien, George Haven Putnam,
George Foster Peabody. r. A. c. Smith.
John B. Stanchfleld. Henry w. Taft,
Theodore N Vail, Gen. Cornelius Van
derbilt and Robert r. Wagner
The fact that these gentlemen were
upon the stage did not indicate OF course
that all OF them favor the League of
Nations plan. It merely indicated their
desire for the Information that was not
forthcoming.
Tho President arrived in New York at
a:l6 in a special train. He was accom-
panied by Mrs. Wilson. Secretary Tum-
tdty-. pS Grayson and some othres Of
his staff He was escorted by mounted
ppiicemen from the Thirty-f1rst street
Exit of the Pennsylvania station to
Seventh avenue. to Thirty fourth street,
70 Broadway. and so to the Thirty-ninth
direct entrance of the opera house. His
yrogress along Broadway was through
d fairly compact lane Of the curious.
The street was fairly fenced by police
men at the curbs. and back OF the blue