264 BANQUET. 
really started well yet? You must become established, and as Mr. Love has told you it is 
necessary to demonstrate strength in order to secure respect and receive the same fair treat- 
ment that others receive. 
There is one other point, and then I am through. You know that most of us down our 
way are Democrats—that is, we are Democrats by inheritance—some of us vote the national 
Republican ticket and usually vote the local Democratic ticket. We still have the color ques- 
tion before us, and we neglected to tell you the other day that there is going to be another 
election in which you Republicans will be interested, and we will not neglect it next time, 
and I am sorry that we overlooked it this time. But I want to say this, speaking for our 
people, that we have the greatest respect for the President of the United States and are 
pleased and proud in our business that at least we have a President who is a friend of ours— 
the only President in my time who has known about the merchant marine, and with no selfish 
object in mind has championed it, and stands back of it, and has determined that in his ad- 
ministration such laws shall be written into the statutes of the United States and such aid 
given relating to shipping to mark that probably as the one outstanding feature of his 
administration. (Applause. ) 
I can assure you gentlemen who have not had the pleasure of talking to him about it 
that his heart is in it, that he is our friend in these days of dull times, when building is poor 
and repairing is poor. Weare to be congratulated that we have a friend at court who does 
not have someone else to write his messages about the merchant marine, but who believes in 
it and is devoted to it, and so, as a Southern Democrat-Republican, we are pleased and proud 
that Mr. Harding is our President at this time. (Applause. ) 
Tue ToasTMASTER:—Colonel Simmons asks me to announce that tomorrow morning 
in the auditorium of the American Marine Association there is to be a meeting in relation 
to standardization at 11.30 o’clock, and the meeting will continue at 2.30 o’clock on Friday 
and also at 2.30 o’clock on Saturday. 
I think you will all agree that we have been highly entertained tonight with these mag- 
nificent addresses and that it has been well worth while for us to be here. We want to 
express to Secretary Denby our thanks for his splendid speech and ask him to convey to 
President Harding our sincere thanks for his message. 
Now I shall bid you all good-night. 
The company then dispersed. 
