110 Thirly-iiijtih Annual Mccluuj 



there asseiiil)lecl would have nothing to do w ith it. A pained 

 expression prevailed upon the face of liis audience, verv 

 p.iucli as though an old and venerated i)astor had suddenly 

 launched into profanity from the pul])it. Idie newspapers 

 next day kindly refrained from mentioning the uncanny 

 occurrence, but I venture to say that he will ne\er forget 

 it as long as he lives. 



Now, gentlemen of the Society, i)ermil me to sa\' that this 

 preternatural gra\'ity belongs more to the Weather Bureau 

 than it does to you, for your jMJsition is too well assured and 

 your work too important to be dispensed with, and T would 

 rather see you when you take these precious vacations from 

 tlie constant care and supervision of your work, decide to eat, 

 drink and be merry, and not stifle that sa\ing grace of 

 humor, the proud heritage of the American people. If I had 

 my way I would see tliat the cal)inet Uiember \\'as gi\-en a 

 Carnegie medal for l)ra\ery. 



Now I would ask }-()U to gi\e us who fish to forget our 

 troubles, a place in your scheme of life, and an opportunity 

 to be heard in your deliberations. 



I 1)elie\-e that it has l)een definitely settled bv Congress, 

 that there is no consumer, or rather that we as a nation are 

 producers, and the consuming part of our li\-es is 1)ut inci- 

 dental to the main objects. TWaX if there be a class who do 

 not produce, but only consume, they have no rights that tlie 

 country is bound to respect. Not so with us. who in return 

 for our predatory habits gi\'e as much time and hell) as we 

 are capal)le of to aid }-ou in }'our great and imi)ortant work. 



A certain great lawyer of my state, the general counsel of 

 one of the great railroads of tlie country, who has risen to the 

 top of his profession, was once talking with a xoung lawyer 

 who had just Ijegun to pi^actice. but who jiad high ideals. 

 The }'oung lawyer said he lio])e(l tliat wlien he Itecame li fix- 

 years old to have accomi)lishe(l mucli in his profession; that 

 by that time he would be able to fill certain offices of great 

 honor and trust, so that his life would be a success and of 

 great use in the world. The older la\\\er said that he also 



