Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-25
TAFT AND
PARTY In
FOR
LEA C U {
Former President With No.
table Men Of Nation Pass
Through City; Score
Opponents of Pact.
William Howard Taft, eX-

Opponents of Pact.
William Howard Taft, ex-
president of the United
States; Henry Morgenthau,
ex-United States ambassador
to Turkey; DIR. Henry Van
Dyke, man of letters and ex-
ambassador to Holland; DR..
A. Lawrence Lowell, presi-
dent of Harvard university,
were in Omaha for nearly an
hour last night.
They were en- route from
Salt Lake City to st. Louis
where, today, the seventh in
a series of eight national con-
crosses for a league of ma
tions opens. @..
The distinguished gentlemen
named with numerous others and
with officers of the League to En-
fore Peace and secretaries and
stenographers to the total number
of 20 have been on the road in two
special cars since February z, when
the series OF congresses opened in
Boston.
I'VE are carrying the appeal for
the league of nations direct to the
people to get them to see to it that
The senate supports President Viii
son in bringing about this great
league of nations" said Mr.. Taft.
Crisis In Europe.
There is a great crisis on the
other side Of the ocean. People
don't realize it here. But, unless
the Representations formed
there may be a reaction there.
These recalcitrant senators. Poin-
dexter. Borah and Reed, who are
attacking the league, assume no
for the result Of
their acts.
"If Europe breaks up it will be
because Of the operation of such
as these men are plac-
ing in the presidents patti"
Mr.. Taft was asked regarding a
popular idea with the ''man on the
street" namely that England will
have more votes and more power III
the league of nations than this coun-
try.
"How absurdF he exclaimed,
"this wild idea that somewhere,
some time some sort OF vote is
taken. Will you take it down if l
dictate just what is the method of
procedure?"
Covenant For Arbitration.
The reporters answered unan-
imously in the affirmative and Mr.,
Taft dictated as follows:
The nub of the covenant OF the
league of nations so far as it has to
do with peace or war is this;
'First-It is a covenant by all the
nations to submit their differences
to arbitration by an agreed court or
to the mediation and attempted set
Element of the executive council.
"Second-The covenant will pro-
vide that no nation shall begin war
against another nation until three
months after a report shall have
been made by the executive council
which has been mediating; and not
even then if the nation against
which it had a grievance complies
with the award of the executive
council
"Third-Any nation that begins
war before this, violates its cove
nant, and that is an act of war
against every member of the league.
when such contingency occurs
all the other nations boycott the
outlaw nation. Congress in our
and similar bodies in other
countries must make the necessary
embargo order. This embargo cuts
off the outlaw nation from trade
with the rest OF the world. 1t rem
ders the nation helpless.
"This theory that a vote must be
taken and that England will have
more power than this country has
no other excuse except ignorance.
Van Dyke Carries Message.
The train bearing the distinguish
ed party arrived at 5 o'clock from the
vest. Henry Morgenthau. former
United States ambassador to Tur
KEY. was first off the car.
"Where is Victor Rosewater!
Didn't he come down2" was his first
question. Being told that Mr., Rose
water had not arrived, he called Sec
retary Short of the League to En-
force Peace and sent him into the
station to telephone. Within 10
Minutes Mr.. Rosewater, who evil
IDENTIFY was en- route when called for,
arrived at the train where he
greeted Mr.. Morgenthau, Mr.. Taft,
Or. Van, Dyke and others of his
friends.
DR.. Henry Van Dyke, a small
man with gray hair and a white
talked TO the reporters
before Mr.. Taft gave his interview.
We don't expect that the league
OF nations will bring the millennium
at once" he said, but we do know
that it will make war more difficult
and more dangerous. / had the
honor of bringing the FIRST idea of
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