294 ■ BANQUET. 



Springs in a day or two for a rest. I have had eight rather strenuous months. I have had 

 to associate with Piez and Page and the rest of them and I am almost tired out. I am going 

 down there for a Httle rest, and I hope you will not tell any stories on me upon my return 

 as Replogle told them on me in New York once when I was away. He came over and said, 

 "I saw C. M. at White Sulphur Springs," and the friend asked, "Was Grace with him." 

 Replogle replied, "Well, I don't know her name, but she was mighty good-looking." (Laughter.) 



I am going down tliere with a sense of satisfaction, a sense of thankfulness, and a 

 sense of appreciation that I can ill express in any words I might choose. My association, 

 Mr. President and Mr. Secretary, with these gentlemen who are directly responsible for 

 building ships in tliis hour of the coimtry's need has been, indeed, a splendid association, and 

 one that must make everybody feel that the highest type of American manJiood and patriot- 

 ism and energy has been centered in the shipbuilders of the United States. (Applause.) They 

 have done their part and done it nobly; they have worked under the most trying circum- 

 stafnces and with tlie greatest disadvantages, with a cruel winter last year (we have had none 

 like it for many years) which delayed us many months, with a shortage of labor, and with 

 new management and new worlc. It seemed to me that the conditions were such as to make 

 large production well-nigh impossible. Yet, gentlemen, you will be glad to know that in 

 the month of October we produced 410,000 deadweight tons of ships, and I think in the month 

 of November we will pass our best prophecy of over 500,000 tons of ships. (Applause.) 



Now, under all the conditions which have existed, this organization, this Society, so 

 largely represented by the builders of ships, is to be congratulated. As far as I am con- 

 cerned, they not only have my sincere thanks, but they have my admiration — yes, they have 

 my love for the loyal and splendid mamier in which they have co-operated and for the wa)' 

 in which we have carried through this program. I have had nothing but the best service 

 from every source. Troubles, of course, we have had. What great business does not have its 

 troubles? But they have all been overcome and every one concerned has been filled with 

 enthusiasm, and, Mr. President and Mr. Secretary, while we have been spurred on with tlie 

 patriotic influence o>f endeavoring to su.pply our boys across the sea and have had all the 

 pleasure that patriotism brings in tlie accomplishment of such a task, the real pleasure to 

 us now is to know we are building ships that will transport to their homes and their 

 mothers' firesides boys that bring with them ttie victory that has made this great countrj' what 

 it is. (Applause.) 



We built as a work of necessity to date ; we now build as the work of love until we have 

 brought these boys home, and how proud we should feel of them all. Is there one heart in 

 this room that was not stirred by the Secretary's description of what these boys have done ? 

 It is not the men who have built ships, however well and nobly their duty has been per- 

 formed ; it is not the boys who have made aeroplanes and guns, or an)^hing else in the ser- 

 vice whose names will be written on the golden pages of history ; but it is the boys who were 

 in the trenches of Flanders, who have risked their lives, and in many cases made the supreme 

 sacrifice, for their country, that deservedly shall have their names in our hearts, in our mem- 



