BANQUET. . 361 



ever, who stand out with special preeminence. One, now in this city, you have just had an 

 opportunity of honoring. The other is detained in Washington on most important duty 

 as a member of the Committee on Reduction of Naval Armaments, of which Colonel 

 Roosevelt is chairman. This officer represents the highest naval ideals. In the grind- 

 ing test of war he showed that he exemplified, in his own personality, the highest tra- 

 ditions of the service which he adorns. We had hoped that he would be our gtiest of 

 honor this evening. He was first constrained to decline our invitation, because he was sched- 

 uled to leave this country on November 15. Subsequently his reservations were cancelled, 

 as he was detained in connection with the work of the Conference now in session in Wash- 

 ington. The invitation was renewed by your President in person, and I was told that nothing 

 would ha\^e given this officer greater pleasure than to attend our annual banquet, but that he 

 feared his duties in Washington would absolutely prevent his coming to New York at this 

 time. 



Today I received the following letter: ' 



"It is a great regret to me that my duties in Washington have prevented me from at- 

 tending the dinner of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. The wonder- 

 ful results achieved by the United States in the building of both naval and mercantile vessels 

 in large quantities and in an incredibly short time, during the war, did so much to assist the 

 cause of humanity. I am glad to have this opportunity of paying my small tribute to them 

 for their skill as naval architects and marine engineers. 



"Beatty, 

 "Admiral of the Fleet." 

 (Great applause.) 



The Toastmaster: — I now ask you to drink the health of Admiral of the Fleet, Lord 

 Beatty. 



The company rose and drank to the health of Lord Beatty, the orchestra playing the 

 British National Anthem. 



The Toastmaster: — In these days of great tasks there is no one agency under this 

 government which has a greater task, a greater responsibility, than that committed to the 

 U. S. Shipping Board. We all know the tremendous efforts made during the war to increase 

 our merchant tonnage. We are prone, I fear, to place too much stress upon the money 

 spent, and too apt not to give full weight to the very great things which are accomplished — 

 psychological^, at least, if not always physically. 



The opportunities and the duties of the Shipping Board are as important now as they 

 were, even during the war. The very life of the American merchant marine hangs largely 

 upon the wisdom and success of its tuiderta kings. 



It is, therefore, a very great privilege to have with us tonight the man who has been re- 

 cently selected by our President to head this organization. I have, therefore, the very great- 

 est pleasure in proposing the toast — "Overseas Commerce and Its Relation to American Ship- 

 ping," and to couple with that sentiment the name of the Hon. A. D. Lasker, chairman of 

 the United States Shipping Board. (Great applause.) 



