Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-01-06
TAFT APPROVES
TRIP OF WILSON
In AID OF PEACE

NEW YORK, Jan. Eek President
William H. Taft, in lecturing on
"Clinching Our Purpose in the War"
at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, de-
President Wilson in going to Europe.
President Wilson has gone abroad"
said Mr.. Taft, "and l am glad he has.
BY so doing he is coming into close re-
lations with men of oother countries.
President Wilson has more influence
with the common people of Great
britain and France than their own
princes. The reasons for his popular
ity are because of the principles he
has announced and the feeling that the
United States stands back of him"
The lecture was delivered to $500
persons, who gave to the former chief
executive a cordial welcome He was
presented by Frank L. Babbott, first
vice president of the Brooklyn Insti-
tute, under whose auspices the address
was given.
I'VE were shocked by the violation
OF Belgium" said Mr. Taft, after he
had explained his advocacy Of a league
of nations, but we tried to adhere
to the principles laid down by Wash
ington and Jefferson, but finally the
belligerents came so close to us on
both sides that they became dependent
for food, clothing and equipment We
could not keep out of the conflict.
when the German navy was driven
from the top of the sea this country
was able to form a market for the
neutral nations. 1t was then that Ger
many realized that our relation with
tho Allies was what would win the
war for them. She then started the
intensive submarine warfare which
exceeded the limits placed by interna-
tional law.
III 4uIuIC MdiS IuGIC Will D6 no
place for neutrals. There will be no
mi!itarism, but against the German
people as fell, and the only thing 10
do was to treat them in manner
which would cure them.
The great trouble with the German
people" he continued, sis their heads,
and the surgical instrument we used
was blunt one"
In discussing the fourteen peace
principles of President Wilson, Mr.
Taft talked specifically about the
question of Germany's colonies. He
declared that Germany's government
of them was as cruel as it's conduct
of the war. Because of this, Germany
had no equitable right of ownership.
The disposition of the colonies" Mr..
Taft said, would be a problem for
the peace table. We could give them
to England, but the Allies and the
United States went into the war avow-
eddy without the desire for acquisition
of territory. France only is trying to
rescue her lost lands, and Great Bri-
tain and the United States do not want
any more ground In settling the
question it may be the best plan to
place them under a protectorate of
the four nations making the peace
treaty"
Mr.. Taft then took up the question
of Russia. In speaking of conditions
there he said: when it comes to a
one-man despotism or mob-rule, l pre-
fer the former"
The Bolsheviki, according to Mr.
Taft, work on the theory that if
man raises himself to prominence he
must be done away with. AS a result,
they have killed ten times as many
persons as were killed during the
French revolution. MIR. Taft stated
that he agreed with Senator Lodge
when he asserted that Bolshevism was
poison.
There will probably be dozen
states created out of the Central
Empires" continued the speaker,
These states will most likely differ
with those whose tyranny has been re-
scented. The purpose of these states
will be to hem Germany in"