Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-06
'TAFT / SAYS LEAGUE
GUARANTEESPE
Ex-President Tells Hosiery Men
Treaty Should Be Speeded to
Check Bolshevism
APPEALS FOR NO. IL SOCKS

sihle guarantee of world peace, former
President William Howard Taft told the
diners at the annual banquet of the
National Association of Hosiery and
Underwear Manufacturers and affili-
ated organizations, held last night at
the Bellevue -Stratford.
The early completion of the work of
the Peace Conference was also urged as
a great necessity by the former Presi-
dent. if the spread of radicalism in some
q Of the allied countries is to be pre-
vented.
His audience, tense with interest in
the great task now before the Peace
Conference. Mr.. Taft switched his line
y of thought and took them entirely by
surprise by seriously requesting the
hosiery manufacturers ''to make more
No. IL size socks" because, he said,
big men like himself have an everlast-
ing competition to beat the other big
men to the few pairs of that size the
ordinary store keeps in stock.
English and French Favor 1t
Mr.. Taft then returned to the sub
iced of the league. and said that both
the French and English people expect
their representatives, Clemenceau and
LLOYD George, respectively. to adopt the
league idea, and that most Americans
are in favor of that measure.
Strong Plea for League
His speech was q powerful plea for
fhe league. with an adroit use of persua-
sion. anticipating objections from time
fo time. Mr.. Taft dismissed each one
with some serious or humorous thrust.
II reneral. his address was the same
AZ fhe one earlier in the day at the
Bryn Mawr commencement.
The former President was in good
spirits and he joked over his defeat in
1912. p. C. Withers, former president
III the association, in the speech of in
frodnction. referred to himself as one
who had supported Mr.. Taft in 1912,
and who hoped to support him again in
1920.
Z ~ thank Mr.. Withers for his gen.
erosity. but must say that / look back
upon 1912 with less affection than l do
upon any other year." Mr.. Taft de-
rlared with that famous chuckle of his!
ssAnd the other suggestion that he made
does not disturb my slumbers in the
slightest For l know that it is the
custom to place in nomination for that
high Office every guest of honor, no mat
fer.w who he is-no matter whether born
IN this country or not, and no matter
whether the peculiarities of the situa-
fion make shis election impossible or
not"
More seriously, Mr.. Taft said:
"If know the temper of the Ameri-
can people, they are not cutters, and
>~,fhey never will be when they are called
upon to take their place in the affairs
that duty calls them to. The United
states is the most powerful nation on
3 sarth and potentially the most powerful
= Z In military way. We cannot live a
life of national isolation and we cannot
escape the share Of the burden in
making this world as good as it can
be made, according as God has showered
His blessings upon us.
When Mr.. Taft spoke of peace and
the need of an early signing there were
many mods of assent from his hearers.
1--WE must have normal peace anc
1t is the waiting for it that is haltinl
business now. There is malt and there
is waiting of capital until we know
what the terms of peace are to be anc
" how secure the world is to be made
against further wars"
Then quietly and evenly, disarmint
prejudice as he went along, with thu
plea that the cranks of one generator
vision in the next. and that he hopet
h to be regarded as one of those who die
"A have the vision, Mr.. Taft described thu
purpose of the league of nations anc
Y what it is believed it will do.
Mr.. Taft lightened an extremely tech
8 nical discussion with many shafts o.
wit At one time he was speaking o.
his efforts to negotiate two treaties witt
foreign countries, treaties which would
pave the way for discussion Of jus
ticiable matters.
tsBut the Senate changed amended
truncated and crippled those treaties
until its father did not know them any
longer. So / put them on the top shelf
where they gathered dust, for l did no
have the heart to propose these treaties
to the two countries. put them ava!
in the hope that the Senate woul,
change its mind or that the people woult
change the senators. But instead the.
changed me.
You know, it's something good +
be defeated he added, with anotke
of those delightful chuckles. ''In vic
tory, you know, You are SO liable to b
~ carried away in maze of winning tha
you don't know where you are. Blu
when you are defeated you know ex
actly where you are"
In general Mr.. Taft maintained tina
The league of nations would not impai
the sovereignty of any of the nation
party TO it; that it was simply a
agreement and that the council and til
assembly could simply recommend an
propose plans.
II leave it to the ladies whether tn
word proposal carries with it any con
notation of acceptance" and the wome
nmiled.
Near the end of his address Mr.. Tat
spoke of bolshevism.
saThe world will learn that Americ
win take care of bolshevism as it take
care Of any bad smell-let it evapo
& rate"
Mrs. Katherine CIemmons Gould. {
New York, was introduced as the frs
4 president of the first Woman's Cham
her Of Commerce just before Mr.. Tai
spoke.
,rhe Philadelphia Commercial Museui
was described as one of the most valu
able sources of credit and export in
formation to manufacturers in Il
United States by Charles Lyon Chand
Ter, Foreign trade manager OF the Cor
Exchange National Bank, in an at
fl1css yesterday at the closing sessic
\ 3f the convention.
The following officers were elected
4 president, II. ii. Johnston. Knoxvil
{, Knitting Mills, Knoxville, Tenn; VII
orrsfaent, ID. l., Galbraith, America