Arizona republican., 1919-02-24
TAFT EN ROUTE EAST
 ISSUES APPEAL ON
 LEAGUE ID PEOPLE

RITTER CREEK. wyo.. Feb 23. - kurcaI to tho people of the United Stsries to express their opinions on the proposed league of nations "so clear and strong that our representatives in congress may know that the people of the United States are determined tO assume their part in this crisis of hu man history was made in a state ment issued here tonight to the As sociated Press by William II. Taft and other members of the party touring the country In the interests of the pro posed league
 AssertinE that the alternative To a lcague of nations. is the heavy burden and the constant temptation Of univer- sal armament. and that without d league. a new war of even greater di- mensions is threatened. the statement points Co the disorganized state of Europe and possibilities of German Autocracy again getting the upper hand
 The statement, issued as their train reached here was signed hv Mir. Taft Henry Morgcnthau. A. Lawrence Low ell and Henry van Dyke. 1t bears the caption. An Appeal to Our Fellow Citizens" and is as follows
 The Taft Statement
 ''The war against military autOCraCN, bcctuse the great free nations acted to- gBther, and it's results. will be secured only f they continue to act together. Tho forces making for autocratic rule on the one hand and for violence oi bolshevism on the other. are still at work. In DO years the mall state of Prussia SO organized central Europe as tO defy the world In the present disorganized state of central and east eru Europe. that can be done again on n still larger scale and menace all free Institutions
 The death of millions Of men and the destruction and debt in another world war would turn civilization backward for generations. lu such q war We shall certainly be involved and our best young men v-ill be sacrificed as the French and English have been sacrificed in the last four years.
 "Such a catastrophe can be pre- vented only by reconstruction Of tht small states now seeking self govern mcnt on the basis Of freedom and jus ticc. but this is imuossible without a league for divided its members ar' not strong enough for tse "a Should the victorious nations fail 10 form , pes,gue. German imperiaiists woul, have clearer field for their designs
 By the abundance uk llS uAtuId resources. by the number. intelligenc, and character of its people the United States has become a world power. I cannot avoid the risks and must as Eumc the responsibilities of it's position It cannot stand alOof but must fac, boldly the facts of the day with con fdence in itself and in it's future among thc great nations of the earth
 Win Prevent War
 United as never before. our pcOpl, have fought this war. United ant above party. we must consider th, problems Of peace. resolved that. so fal as in us lies. war shall no more scourgi mankind.
 4--rhe covenant reported to the Pari, conference has come since the las eleCtion. and the people have had n, chance Co pass judgment upon lt. li this journey from coast Co coast, VI have looked into the faces Of mOrl than 1O0. 900 typical Americans and be lieve thai the great majority of on countrymen desire to take part in suCl a league as is proposed in that docu rncnt We appeal 10 our fellow ciu zrns. therefore, to study earnestly thi question and express their opinion with a voice so clear and strong tha our representatives in congress ma, know that the people of the Unite' States are determined to assume thei part in this crisis of human history.
 "The alternative to a league of ma tions is a heavy burden and the con stant temptation of universal arma rneuf !"