The Raymer enterprise., 1919-03-13
WILSON and
TAFT SPEAK
ADDRESS BIG CROWD IN THE
METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE
IN NEW YORK.
POWERS WANT LEAGUE
PRESIDENTIAL PARTY SAILS FOR
EUROPE AGAIN ABOARD THE
GEORGE WASHINGTON.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
New York, March 4.-On the eve OF
his return to the peace conference,
President Wilson delivered an address
At the metropolitan Opera House, New
York, urging establishment OF a
League OF Nations. Former President
Taft, speaking from the same plat
form, also outlined his reasons for be-
lieving that league should be formed
to prevent future wars. Governor
Smith of New York presided at the
meeting.
Governor Smith opened his speech by
paying a tribute to the part the New
York soldiers had played in the war.
THE war Is not yet won." he said.
.and will not be won until the Golden
Rule is written into the international
law of the world"
He introduced Mr.. Taft as the man
who had worn the purple OF the Pres
ident of the United States and with
grace ana honor"
Taft emerged from the room in which
they conferred and walked through tho
thronged wings onto the stage. Mr..
Taft said: Il don't know on which side
OF you I should walk. Mr. President"
He was on the left, and the President
smiled and nodded. Mr.. Taft was greet
ed with loud handclapping.
"A League Of Nations covenant is in
dispensable to the treaty Of peace. II
the war Is to accomplish the declared
purpose OF this nation and the world.
former President William Howard Taft
told the audience at the Metropolitan
Opera House In an exhaustive discus
sion OF the league principles. preceding
the address Of President Wilson.
An adherence to the Washingtonian
policy OF avoiding foreign alliances
could not be applied to the present In
ternational status, Mr.. Taft declared,
because the interests OF the United
States are inevitably involved in the
preservation OF European peace" For
the United States to withdraw from tho
project. he asserted, would make the
League Of Nations merely "a return to
the system OF alliances and the bal
ance OF power with a speedy recur-
renee OF war. In which this country
would certainly be involved. as It was
in the present struggle"
The rank and file of the American
people are standing firmly behind
President Wilson. declared Governor
Smith in presenting the world leader
Of today-the President Of the United
States.
The President began speaking At
The President declared he was con-
vinced by unmistakable evidences
from all parts OF the country that the
nation was in favor Of the League Of
Il am more happy because this
TVno - fhia In a i0auao ~ bA
said. This Is not party issue and
no party In the long run will dare
oppose It."
The President said an effective
working agreement for q League Of
Nations was sought abroad. Intrigue
League Of Nations were nothing but
big debating society II would kill
Under the covenant, he said, II IL
the friendly right" Of every nation to
call attention Of other nations to any
thing which endangers peace. Germany
never would have gone to war II she
had first discussed the situation with
Serbia. he declared.
Il am amazed-not alarmed, but
amaxed-that there should be In some
quarters such q comprehensive ignor-
ance of the state Of the world" said
Mr.. Wilson. Those gentlemen do not
hnOW WuAt tItc HiluO Vi ulCn ~ JuSt
now. Everybody else does.
II do not know where they have been
closeted: do not know by what influ-
ences they have been blinded: but do
know that they have been separated
from the general currents Of the
thought OF mankind.
And l want TO utter this solemn
warning. not In the way of a threat.
the forces Of the world do not threaten,
they operate. The great tides OF the
world do not give notice that they are
going to rise and run. they rise In
their majesty and overwhelming In
might. and those who stand In the way
the world is awake. and the heart OF
the world must be satisfied.
What are we to say. then. as TO
futuref think, my fellow citizens,
that we can look forward to II with
great confidence. have heard cheer
ing news since ! came to this side Of
the water. about the progress that Ia
being made in Paris towards the dis
cushion and Qualification OF a great
many difficult matters. and believe
that settlements will begin to be made
rather rapidly from this time on at
those conferences.
but what I believe-what I know
as well as believe. 10 this: That the
men engaged In those conferences are
gathering heart as they go. not losing
II: that they are finding community OF
purpose and community of ideal to an
extent that perhaps they did not ex-
pect. and that amidst all the interplay
OF influence - because II 10 infinitely
complicated - amidst all the interplay
OF influence. there Is q forward move-
ment which Is running towards the
right. Men have at last perceived that
the only permanent thing In the world
10 the right and that a wrong settle
ment Is bound to be temporary set
tlement-buund to be a temporary set
tlement for the very best reason OF ali,
that II ought to be q temporary settle
ment. and the spirits OF men will rebel
against II, and the spirits Of men are
now In the saddle.
God give US strength and vision to
DO II wisely. God give us the privilege
OF knowing that we did II without
oonnting the cost. and because we were
true Americans lovers OF liberty and
OF doing right"
President Wilson went aboard the
y. s. 8. George Washington at 1905
o'clock this morning with Mrs. Wilson
and other members OF his party. The
steamship Il scheduled to sail FOL