The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1919-03-14
PRESIDENT GIVEN
OVATION IN n. Y.
ON EVE OF DEPARTURE FOR
FRANCE, HE SPEAKS IN
FAVOR OF LEAGUE
TAFT ALSO MAKES ADDRESS
From Same Platform, Ex-PresidentN
Outlines His Reasons for Believ-
ing the League Should Be Or
ganized to Prevent Wars

New York, March Son the eve of
President Wilson delivered an address
last night at the Metropolitan opera
house urging establishment of q 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 provided in
this city, were stationed around the
building.
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 were 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 10 uniformed po-
licemen viewed each ticket before a
seat holder could reach the main en-
trance of the building and almost as
many more scanned the ticket before
a 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 acknewl-
edged the cheers Cleveland II, 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
more cheers for the president, and
he audience burst forth into another
wave of applause.
After Mr.. Taft had concluded his
speech at DAD the president began
speaking. Mr.. Wilson declared he was
convinced by "unmistakable evidences
rom all parts of the country" that the.
lation was in favor of the league of
iations
Il am. more happy because this
means this is not party issue" he
aid. "This is not party issue. and
lot a party in the long run will dare
ppose it,"
The president said an effective work
ng agreement for q league of nations.
5as sought abroad.
Intrigue cannot stand publicity and
the league of nations were nothing
ut big debating society it would
i'll intrigue
Under the covenant, he said, it is
the friendly right" of every nation
} call attention of other nations to-
nything which endangered peace.
ermany would never have gone to :
ar if she had first discussed the sit
alton with Serbia, he declared.
1.-THE first thing / am going 70 tell
lie people on the other side sf the
alter is that an overwhelming ma
'rity of the, American people IS in
lvor of the league of nations" said
lie president.
Speaking after former President
aft had expounded the main features
the proposed covenant of nations,
r. Wilson told the vast audience his
,inions of opponents of the league
an in America.
mo party has the right to apMopri-
e this issue, and no party will, in the
ng run, dare oppose it." he asserted
"In closing, the president said
merica could look forward with con
1ence to the future, for he had heard
eering news since he came t. this
lie of the water about the progress
at is being made in Paris toward
e discussion and Qualification Of a
eat many difficult matters, and he
lieved settlements will begin TO be
ade rather rapidly from this time on
those conferences.
"The day will come when men in
nerica will look back with swelling
arts and rising pride that they.
ould have been privileged to make
e sacrifice which it was necessary to
Ike in order to combine their might
d their moral power with the cause
justice for men of every kind every
leren