November 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



95 



you have known from your school days; for his book on the 

 American Commonwealth, has long been the vade mecum of 

 American students. If he were here he would express to you 

 in his admirable manner the importance that he attaches to this 

 gathering of rubber men." 



Mr. Broderick here introduced very cleverly one or two most 

 amusing stories and then continued : "But your chairman 

 has limited my time to 5 or 6 minutes, so I can only add that 

 I esteem it an extreme honor to be asked to address you, and 

 I speak not only for myself, but for all the representatives of 

 Great Britain here, when I express my sincere appreciation of 

 the great hospitality that we invjriably receive from our 

 cousins in the United States." 



The President : "I think everybody on this round earth 

 who knows either English, Spanish or Portuguese, knows of 

 the Pan American Union, and of its live wire, the Hon. John 

 Barrett." 



Mr. Barrett: "In making a special effort to get to this ban- 

 quet — leaving Washington last night on the midnight train, and 



tary, that the Amazon country, and other countries similarly 

 situated would increase enormously in population and com- 

 mercial activity. He spoke at some length regarding the natural 

 advantages of the Amazon country, and of the rapidly growing 

 cities of Brazil. He said that Brazil had spent more money 

 and more energy in the last ten years in developing her re- 

 sources than had been spent by the United States. He cited 

 the building of railroads, the founding of agricultural schools 

 and colleges, and other instances of the awakened spirit of 

 modern progress. He outlined the work of the Pan American 

 Union, of which he is the executive officer, which without any 

 antagonism to the rest of the world, is seeking to bring all the 

 countries of the .American Continent together for their mutual 

 good and permanent welfare. Referring again to the Rubbir 

 Exhibition he said: "If I had had my way. Dr. Leipzigcr 

 would have brought all the boys and girls of the public schools 

 of this city to this great exhibition so that they might realize 

 something of the products of South America, and I would 

 lia\e had all the members of the commercial organizations of 



The Banquet at the Plaza. 



returning thither on the midnight train tonight — I show the 

 •great importance that I attach to this occasion. I must con- 

 gratulate you, however, on the fact that I am compelled to 

 return on the midnight train — otherwise, I might not be so in- 

 clined to set a proper time limit on my remarks. Your chair- 

 man has spoken of our political emblems. In view of the 

 unique character of the present campaign, I think a most fitting 

 •emblem would be a rubber ball. The Brazilian Ambassador has 

 told you that among the banquets he has attended there have 

 "been some marked by gloom. I can hardly believe this ; I do not 

 think there is ever any gloom where the Ambassador is." 



Mr. Barrett went on to describe a famous international ban- 

 quet where the Brazilian Ambassador had spoken with unusual 

 eloquence and had greatly impressed his hearers. He eulogized 

 Dr. da Gama, and paid a fine tribute to his predecessor. Dr. 

 Nabuco, whom he described as a man of gentle character, 

 keen ■wit, and profound learning, and whom he called the great- 

 est diplomat of his time. He spoke of the wonderful develop- 

 ment of Brazil and the rapidity with w-hich that country has 

 taken her position among the great world powers. He sketched 

 the awakening of the tropical countries because of the solv- 

 ing of the problem of tropical sanitation by Colonel Gorgas at 

 the Panama Canal. He prophesied that by reason of this 

 demonstration the tropics would be made perfectly sani- 



this city come to this great international show so that they 

 might have some appreciation of what the countries to the 

 south of us are doing. You have often heard cotton called 

 king.' and you have often heard corn called 'king,' but I be- 

 lieve that rubber is now 'king.' I was walking along Fifth ave- 

 nue this afternoon. 1 didn't see much cotton. The ladies 

 promenading on the avenue were certainly not wearing cotton 

 — nor did they look as if they were 'corn-fed.' But rubber was 

 everywhere; the avenue was filled with automobiles, all moving 

 swiftly and silently on their rubber shoes. It was time that 

 we had in this country a great Rubber Exposition, and I heart- 

 ily congratulate -you on the pronounced success of this enter- 

 prise." 



The Presipent : "It would be presumptuous to comment on 

 this magnificent address. We are proud that Mr. Barrett is an 

 American, and we are proud of his breadth of view, and we ap- 

 preciate the truth of what he has said about the great Republic 

 to the South." 



.\t this point, several medals and diplomas were laid on the 

 table before the chairman, and he was asked to hand them to 

 those to whom they had been awarded by the various commit- 

 tees selected to pass upon exhibits. 



A gold medal with diploma for the best plantation rubber 

 was handed to Mr. Noel Trotter, who took it in benalf of the 



