BANQUET. 373 



and still holds tliat wonderful time record for a round trip across the Atlantic. Not ship- 

 minded! "Where do they get that stuff?" They get it from the enemies of an American 

 merchant marine. (Great applause.) 



But the descendants of those whose humble homes were on the seacoast, and who, in the 

 Pilgrim days, depended so much upon the water for sustenance of life, the children of those 

 strong men and noble women, who subsequently crossed the sea to cast their lots among 

 those who were so triumphantly performing the great miracle of changing a savage wilder- 

 ness into the ricliest and most blessed land the world has ever known, feel the ocean heritage 

 is a part of every true American life — that rush to the ships at duty's call in the epochal years 

 just passed has proven this again; and now we may with confidence look forward to that 

 day, already dawning, when the many-faced opponents of an American merchant marine 

 shall find their subtle efforts unavailing, and the ships that bear the Stars and Stripes shall 

 brighten again the waters of the world, even as in those days when every sunrise upon every 

 ocean revealed the shimmering sails of an American ship, the silver ripple beneath her bow, 

 moving in fearless pride along the liquid highways of commerce, a queen upon the sea. 

 (Great applause.) 



The Toastmaster : — I am sure, gentlemen, you wish the Toastmaster formally to ex- 

 press your thanks to Mr. Plummer for his words of cheer and hope, even though you have, 

 by your applause, already voiced them much more effectively than he can. 



Now we have finished the formal numbers on our program of speeches. There are two 

 gentlemen, however, that I wish to present to you — I will not detain you long and you should 

 meet them or renew your acquaintance with them. The first is an officer of the Navy, who 

 has just been assigned to one of the highest technical posts in the gift of the Government — 

 a very great and responsible post. 



I take great pleasure in presenting to you the engineer-in-chief of the Navy, Rear Ad- 

 miral John K. Robison. 



Admiral J. K. Robison : — We have the same job ahead of us. It is new to me, but you 

 are more or less used to it. I have forty cents next year to do — ^per horse-power, that is^ — 

 what they had a dollar to do with ten years ago. I do not know how to do it yet. I need 

 your help. We in the Navy have been taught from the beginning that when you get in 

 trouble we take you out. We are up against exactly the reverse side of that proposition 

 now. I have to get the help of some A No. 1 he men, because I do not know how to make 

 forty cents go as far as a dollar did ten years ago. Prices have not gone down that much. 

 That is what I am up against. I have not the most remote doubt in the world that we are 

 going to do it. I do not know all the details. I do know some of them, but I have not the 

 most remote doubt in the world that you are going to have the Navy, what there is of it, fit 

 and ready when you need it. (Applause.) 



The Toastmaster: — Now, gentlemen, one more introduction and a most important 

 one. Yesterday the Society elected a new president. He is here tonight. He needs no in- 

 troduction whatever from me to an audience of this kind, but it is my privilege to say that, 

 after long, faithful, devoted service, having always the best interests of this Society at heart, 

 sparing no time or trouble, there has come to him the highest honor in the gift of the Society, 

 and he richly deserves it. 



I take great pleasure in presenting to you the president-elect of this Society, Mr. Walter 

 M. McFarland. (Great applause.) 



