The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-11-16

The Witty Depew Expected a Funer-
al and Found Democratic Ratifica
tion Meeting Instead.
New YORK, November 15.-The annual
dinner of the Chamber of Commerce
was held at Delmonico's tonight. In the
famous gold and white room were many
of the most influential representatives of
the social, political, educational and mer-
camille interests of the country. Mr..
Cleveland was present. Chauncey NJ.
Depew gracefully congratulated the
President-elect instead of Offering him
that promised ante-election consolation.
Vice President A. E. Orr presided. Mr.
Cleveland sat upon his right, and Secre-
tary Of the Treasury Foster upon his
left. The cabinet was further represent
ed by Attorney General Miller. Others
at the guests table were Comptroller Of
the Currency Hepburn, Senator Brice Of
Ohio, Senator Hiscock of New York;
Congressman Breckenridge Of Kentucky,
Whitelaw Reid, Carl Schurz, Murat Hal
stead Rev. DR.. John Hall and others.
The toast card provided for but five
speeches: s'The Treasury Department.
by Secretary Foster; "The President of
the United States,'' by Attorney General
Miller; 1.-THE House of Representatives"
by Hon. William G. Breckenridge of Ken
tucky; Commerce and Civilization"
by DR.. John Hall; ITALY" by Baron Fa-
va; Commerce and Education" by
President Schurman> of Cornell Univer-
sity After dinner, Mr.. Orr made short
address and was
Followed by Secretary Foster.
Mr.. Foster among other things said:
81 have had nearly two years experience
as secretary of the treasury and 1 feel
competent to speak of the service so far
as know it. The great distress of
secretary is the opportunity of his party
and social friends for office. If he could be
relieved of this great worry much of the
discomfort of the position would be
obviated. 1t takes time for the secretary
and to learn how to utili re them for the
promotion of his personal comfort. /
take pleasure in testifying here to the
intelligence and faithfnlness of thes en-
ployes. After much observation and ex-
perience, do not hesitate to express
the opinion that the work of the govern
ment is better done than that of our great
corporations. We have by the circula-
ton of gold and silver certificates illus
trated their superiority as circulating
medium over paper money My sue
successor, with the help the President,
will make many changes of heads of
bureaus and chiefs of divisions and, as a
consequence, at least for the time being,
the business of the department will suf-
fer. But behind the heads are a corps
of trained clerks upon whom the utmost
relianced. have no doubt the Treasury
Department will maintain its fairly
earned and honorable record can be
placed"
Mr.. Orr then introduced Attorney Gen
eral Miller, who said that President
Harrison was kept away because of his
affliction. He believed the people did
not understand the vastness of the Pres
idential Office. The founders of the
Constitution did, however. He believed
the tendency existed among the legisla-
lures Of the states to rob the executive
government of it's powers and instanced
his own state of Indiana.
St. Clair McKelway of Brooklyn spoke
to the toast of ''Italy" in place of Baron
Fava, who was kept away by illness. He
believed the bond of friendship between
the United States and Italy should be
preserved in the interests of both ma
tions. He was followed by Rev. DR..
Hale, Congressman Breckenridge and
President Schurman.
A.
''We ali have noticed that many men
when they seek to appear especially wise
and impressive, speak Of our busin ess
interests as something awful and myste-
rious. Quite often, when a proposition
is under discussion, it is no longer ap-
parent to those whose hair is on end at
the solemn suggestion that our business
interests are lying in wait with numer-
GUS walls of wrath in complete readine So
for those who arrive at an unexpected
conclusion. am fortunate in being able
to state that my relation to the Chamber
of Commerce of the State of New York,
though merely of a complimentary kind,
arising from honorary membership, has
so familiarized me with business inter-
ests' that no longer regard those words
as meaning blodthirsty beast.
Nor do have constantly before my mind
the children in the biblical story who
were torn in pieces by bears for discuss
ing too much at random the badness of
the ancient prophet. 1t is entirely natu-
raj that my familiarity with business in
terests, arising from the relation to
which 1 have referred, should be of
very pleasant sort and free from fear and
trepidation for the only meetings l ever
attended OF the Chamber of Commerce,
have been precisely such, as this, when
the very best things to eat and drink are
exhaustively discussed. am bound to
saw that on these occasions the different
beings representing business interests
have been very human indeed.
II know you will not do me the great
injustice of supposing in the least un-
derate the Importance of the commercial
and financial interests here represented.
No one appreciates more fully than l
that, while proper adjustment of all in
terests should be maintained, you repre-
sent those utterly indispensable to our
national growth and prosperity.
II do not believe any other interests
.La,,Jl 1.o oh1;uoJ 10 food from tb a