Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-04
TAFT POINTS OUT
VALUE OF LEAGUE
Luncheon Speech at Commonwealth Club Is Heard by
Many Richmond People Who Hear Former
Presidents Views on Covenant.

Former President Taft, in an address
before several hundred Richmond men
and women at the Commonwealth Club
luncheon Saturday afternoon. declared
that the league of nations was SO
frauSht with great and advantageous
possibilities that the United States
could afford to disregard the risks,
especially as they are unlimited by
our right 10 withdraw on two-ycurs'
notice.
DUP of Eighteenth Amendment.
Mr.. Taft who was introduced by
George Bryan was IN good speaking
form. Ills speech was interSperSed
with apropos anecdotes. and he kept
his auditors constantly changing from
applause. He began by calling atten-
ton 20 the ladies being in one end OF
,he hall and the men in another and,
iokinEly. said he hoped there would
I be no such separation after the coming
eighteenth amendment TO the Consti-
tuition OF the United States.
jest. About Wcs,morcland Club.
lie declared that when he read this
they would get along At the West
moreland Club. Continuing. he said:
Il was here With Major. J. c. Ilemphin,
some years ago when maj came UP
70 express his pleasure a. having
:i .!, 20 our conEerSajion Major
journalism can produce. asked the man
( II he would vote for me il | was 10 run
from WestmoreIand evening the man
replied Will see hinl in hell first"
/ Comments on Nations Suspicious.
MI tart used this anecdete 10 Illus
trate how different he thought, Rich
/ mond felt To- him politically from what
IL did personally The speaker VINO
! haG Jus; arrived rom the ceremonies
incident % me dedication OF the Robert
institute. neN; paid tribute to the
work Of this educational institution,
and III his capacity OF president of the
League 70 Enforce Peace, launched
/ ilto discussion OF the league OF ma
ii3ns. He declared that while there
Is. an analogy between the Constitution
@: the United states and the proposed
covenant, he thought that the league
vas more like that which preceded the
itself.
Rnps Microscope History Readers.
In the proceedings to form the Con-
StitutiCn every state had profound
SUSPICION OF n: purpose OF every other
state. Ths nrds its analogy in the
aJti;udc OF ,ome modern dag states
mel On =. Is line the speaker said:
some OF them say the other nations
out OF our hands OF course that would
be highway robbery. Ii we are going
INTO bunco game we ought simply TO
withdraw from the association and
robbers out There was more grounS
Tor the states thinking OF each other
- they d!d than for the nations of
TO-DAY iahlnS similar attitude. The
discussions prior TO the adoption of
ine Constitution showed a lack OF that
broad. generous treatment of neigh
oors II doesn't do to go through his
tory with Il microscope. We find many
instances where the attitudes of our
by modern standards.
In the league it is stated that if any
Subject Subject mater NATE, made the basis for diff
charactc: which by international law
Is N control by one of the parties. the
counSi!; or assembly, shall so find, and
TO the league tell us that When such
questions as the restriction of immi-
G ira ;nna are reached The other nations
get even with the United states. OF
course. this is rcductio ad absurjun, ="
Two Years Notice TO Withdraw.
Here is a league out OF which We
can get by giving notice o. two
theory that everybody entering !, IS
pirate, just vSiting for an oppor-
unity TO get even with US? II so We
o oiG ,t,, no' 10 !o;n IL; but should keep
ing on our coasts ready 10 repel tn.
it.vade! The question that presents
itself is, have We gone 50 far thai,
the nations OF the earth cannot reach
an understanding TO prevent world
suicidc?"
Need Sensitive Voters
Mr.. Taft then declared that there
We're four classes in this country that
generally speaking. were in favor o.:
t!.e ague-In!nsters and church peo-
pie generally. organized women, or
ganizel labor, and the teachers lie
said that IA Dor was Favorable to the
.eaGuc because war fell most heavily
o.! !abor!nc men. Women were favor
be because they had longer memories
concerning the evil of war and are
no. so thick skinned as men.
For this season" the speaker said
i am getting 10 be for woman siIf
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