Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
AN OVATION FOR ROOT
Banquet to Secretary of State
at Buenos Ayres.
MOST NOTABLE FUNCTION
Accorded Distinguished American
During Tour.
REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF CITY
Enthusiastic Applause Greeted His
Uttsrancss Exploiting Policy of
United States for q Century.
MOST NOTABLE FUNCTION
REPRESENTATIVE MEN OF CITY

BUENOS AYRES. Friday. August II (de-
layed In transmission).-The banquet given
at the opera house here this evening In
honor Of Secretary Root by leading repre-.
sentatives of the banking. commercial and
railway interests Of this city. was the most
important function since his arrival here.
The house was brilliantly decorated. covers
were provided for seven hundred. and the
boxes and all the tiers Of the galleries were
filled with ladies.
The guests at the banquet included thu
cabinet minister's the high government off,
cals and the leading business men OF
Buenos Ayres.
Senior Drago. former minister OF foreign
affairs. in proposing the health OF President
Roosevelt. Secretary Root and the people Of
the United States. referred to the natural
sympathy of the people of Argentina for
the country and countrymen of Henry Clay.
who had defended their cause He said the
moment was propftfous for drawing closer
the bonds of amity. uniting the two nations
and adding to the material and moral soli-
darity OF American integrity.
Mr.. Root when he rose to reply, was &C.
corded a great ovation. and he delivered
sentence after sentence of a speech more
telling and more eloquent than any he had
previously delivered during his visit to South
America he was frequently interrupted 10y
enthusiastic applause.
Traced Policy of United States.
Tracing the policy of the United States
for over a century. he said the United
States had never employed and never would
employ her army and navy for the cellec-
ton Of debts contracted by governments or
private individuals. Such measures, he
said, lent themselves to speculation and war
based on sordid objects. He was an advo-
cate of arbitration and meditation and all
other elements that made for peace. These
matters were in the hands of the people,
who should be inculcated with a spirit OF
humanity and just consideration for others.
SO that neither governments, presidents.
nor congresses could enter upon a war
policy, which was destructive Of all the
higher qualities Of mankind.
The Secretary referred to the late Presi-
dent Domingo Sarmiento of Argentina, the
intimate friend of Horace Mann the pio-
neer In American educational reform, from
whom the present system of instruction in
tho Argentina schools was derived, and
spoke of the phenomenal progress, of the
Argentine republic, adding that what he
had seen during his brief stay here had
rendered all his previous knowledge of the
country. obtained from books. magazines
and newspapers. Of little value as indica-
lions of the present greatness of Argentina.
Mr.. Root concluded with an eloquent
tribute to Buenos Ayres, its people, insti-
tutions, hospitality and splendor. and re-
sumed his seat amidst the greatest of en-
thusiasm, flowers being showered on him
from all parts OF the house. The banquet
will long be remembered by the Argentina
Inauguration Of a new era In the relations
between the United States and Argentina.
The earthquake in Chile may alter the
itinerary Of Secretary Root.