The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-03-14
PRESIDENT GIVEN
OVATION IN n. !.
ON EVE OF DEPARTURE FOR
FRANCE, HE SPEAKS IN
FAVOR OF LEAGUE
TAFT ALSO MAKES ADDRESS
From Same Platform, Ex-President
Outlines His Reasons for Believ-
ing the League Should Be Or
ganized to Prevent Wars

New York. March 5.---On the eve OF
his return To the peace conference,
President Wilson delivered an address
last night ut the Metropolitan opera
house urging establishment of IA league
of nations. Former President Taft,
speaking from the same platform, al
so outlined his reasons for believing
that league should be formed to pre-
vent future wars.
Long before the president reached
the opera house, great crowds had col
lected along Broadway and Seventh
avenue, while hundreds Of policemen,
the strongest guard ever Movided in
this city, were stationed around the
building.
An hour before the doors were
thrown open To the few thousand who
had been able to obtain tickets, inspec-
tors from police headquarters search
ed the opera house from cellar TO up
permost gallery. showing evidence of
precautions taken to protect Americas
chief executive. Roofs of buildings
near by We're also searched.
Police lines were drawn two blocks
from all sides of the opera house.
Seat holders arriving in automobiles
were forced to descend one block from
the building and walk to the main
entrance. AT least Is uniformed po-
licemen viewed each ticket before
seat holder could reach the main en-
trance Of the building and almost as
many more scanned the ticket before
person reached his seat.
The president and Mr.. Taft walked
onto the stage arm In arm. They were
applauded for several minutes.
A wave of cheers swept over the
house as the president and Mr.. Taft
took the center of the platform. The
president stepped forward and bowed
to all sides of the house. Mr.. Taft
then stepped forward and acknowl-
edged the cheers Cleveland H. Dodge
called for three cheers for President
Wilson, and three more for Mr.. Taft.
They We're given with will. Then
someone in the house called for three
the audience burst forth into another
wave of applause.
After Mr. Taft had concluded his
speech mt 9:45 the president began
speaking. MIR. Wilson declared he was
convinced by 'unmistakable evidences
from all parts of the country" that the
nation was in favor of the league of
nations.
Il am more happy because this
means this is not party issue" he
SAID. This Is not party issue. and
not party in the long run will dare
oppose It,"
The president said an effective work.
Ing agreement for league of nations
was sought abroad.
Intrigue cannot stand publicity and
II the league OF nations were nothing
but big debating society it would
kill intrigue"
Under the covenant, he said, it is
1.-THE friendly right" of every nation
to call attention of other nations to
anything which endangered peace.
Germany would never have gone to
war IL she had first discussed the sit
uation with Serbia, he declared.
THE first thing l am going to tel,
the people ON the other side of the
water Is that an overwhelming ma
)ority OF the American people Is in
favor of the league OF nations" said
the president.
Speaking after former President
Taft had expounded the main features
OF the proposed covenant of nations
Mr.. Wilson told the vast audience his
opinions of opponents of the leapua
plan I'm America.
NO party has the right to appropri.
ATE this issue. and no party will. In tho
long run. dare oppose it," he asserted
IN closing, the president said
America could look forward with con.
iluence to the future, for he had heard
cheering news since he came 10 this
size OF the water about the progress
that Is being made In Paris toward
tue discussion and Qualification of n
great many difficult matters AMI hs
believed settlements will begin 10 he
maue rather rapidly from this time on
at those conferences.
The day will come when mo, -
America will look back with S,v.,l,,r
hearts and rising pride that tbev
sheu'd have been privileged 10 make
the sacrifice which 1t was necessary N
make In order 10 combine their mi.h,
and their moral power with the eansa
OF Justice for men of every Kind every.
where"