Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-04
SPEECH BY PAUL MORTON
Tender Tribute Paid by Former Sec.
retary of Navy Herbert.
HOKE SMITH ALSO WRITES
$11 ,O00, 900 Paid by Policy Holders
as Tax to States Brings Up Dis
cussion of Equity.

NEW YORK, December 4.-By word Of
mouth and pen many high tributes to
the worth Of the late Grover Cleveland
as citizen and statesman were paid at
the memorial exercises which formed the
first session of the second annual meet
ing OF the Association of Life Insurance
Presidents in this city this morning
Clevelands last field of public activity
was I'm connection with the work of that
organization. He had been, its chairman
and general counsel from the date of its
formation until his death
The presidents and other executive Of
ficers of life insurance companies from
all over the United States and Canada
and many insurance comm ssioners from
the states and provinces were present to
do honor to the man who had proved
such a bulWark OF confidence 10 the
policy holders al time when life in
surance was under fire.
Chief among those who spoke at the
memorial exercises were Paul Morton.
president of the Equitable Life Assur-
ance Society and former Secretary OF
the Navy. and John n. Finley Ph.D.,
president of the College of the City OF
New York. Mr.. Morton's father, j. Ser
ling Morton. served in President Clcye-
lands cabinet. while Dr.. Finley is pre-
pairing the authorized memoirs OF Cleve-
land.
Letters Of tribute from Adlai l..
Stevenson. vice president during Cleve-
lands second administration. and from
several surviving cabinet officers of the
late President formed part of the pro-
the Mutual Life Insurance Company OF
New York, presided
MI. Morton's Tribute.
bo hi
Morton said:
Mr.. Cleveland came into the life in
surance situation late I'm life-some years
after he had twice been the victorious
leader of his party and the executive
of this great nation. At that time he
was easily the first citizen OF the coun-
try.
His advent. first, as a trustee of the
Equitable and afterward as chairman
and general counsel of this association.
met with the emphatic appreciation OF
the American public, because every one
knew that in no way would Grover
Cleveland wink at wrongdoinS, or in any
way be connected with maIadministration-
He was grand old pilot taken on board
very important ship that was in danger
among the rocks At once all on board
were pacified and confidence fully le-
stored.
LAS chairman of this association he
our cause. He accepted the position
more on account o. its being a great pub
lie duty than for any. other reason. He
became intensely Interested in the study
Of life insurance and its benefits. and was
greatly impressed with the fact that it
is one of the best institutions of civiliEa-
ton.
Grover Cleveland was Conscientious.
He never for Ole moment heStated as t.
what was right and what was wrong. His
courage in doing right was no less than
his courage in denouncing wrong.
MIR. Cleveland was a patriot-not
partisan. His love of country was greater
than his love of party.
''If his own conscience sold him a thing
was right he acted and took nc conse-
auences He never did things because
they were eXpedient. liis creed was that
honesty was the best eXpedicncy in the
long run.
Mr. Morton related an incident Illus
trating Cleveland's regard for econorl
even in comparstiveiy small matters. In
d lett r addressed 10 Mr.. Morton october
I. 1905. Mr.. Cleveland wrote:
II believe Iou expect to send state
ment to each of the cauita bile policyhold-
ers. Can the trustees send something n
the same inclosure and thus save ex-
pense?'
An example of the consciontiolsne nf
the late President and of his faithfulress
to his employees was contained in another
letter to MI. Morton. written Februarr
Il? 1907. in which Cleveland said:
II want very much to go 10 South Caro-
lima for ten days or two weeks as soon p :
possible after my return from Chicago !
can my way clear 70 do so unless the
duties OF my new position prevent.
'I would not think of taking the trip for
pleasure but I am satisfied that loatipg
outing in a warmer climate just at this
time would increase my usefulness Ill all
matters with which ! am concerned.
DO YOU think can go without anT
damage or embarrassment to the work or
the Presidents Association?
Herbert Writes of Former Chief.
Among the letters read at the memorial
exercises from cabinet officers of the
Cleveland administration was one from
Hilary ~ Herbert OF Washington. who
was Secretary OF the Navy.
I'm responding 10 your request for a
letter concerning the great man whose
memory you honor. and who rf"s formerly
my political chief. il is perhaps To be eN-
uected that | should speak of him mostly
as | saw him when II was a public serv-
ant wrote Mr.. Herbert. Grover CleNe-
land the only democratic President dur
ing the fifty-tWo years stretching from
March l. 1S61 to March I. 1913. will al
ways stand out one of the most strik-
ing figures in our political hstory-Strik-
ing not only because of his intellectual
"A hilty and answering devotion To lofty
ideals bat also because Of what he ac-
but failed to ACCOMPLISH.
After reviewing Cleveiand'S tTo admin
istra tions Mr.. Herbert concluded fol
lows:
.W.eU tic democracy went off in 1876
after TIC ;griS fatuus Of free silver IN"
shitty publican party had Sc N its new
cppprtunity 1t adopted sound money
PLATFORM. placed upon i one OF its ma"F
81 iatee.nen wilo had recently assailed M.
C'levelani's sound money views. and
ROW had th4 supreme good for
tunr Of coming i'll to preside over "A coun-
try who's prosperity had been assured
by tne wisd I'm and courage of his prede-
resSor Business ualer MIR. Mckinley
f'curished. rot because of. but in spite o.
his Dinghy law, which has proven 10
the great mcthcr Of trusts and the grand
mother of TIE present 'trust-busting' era
rf politics.
''Nr. Cleve and was rot a politician: he
intrigued neither fo- place no. fame: his
sh.; i.g qualities gave him place and i'm
partial history will take care Of his fame.
Duty was not his watc,word. because he
did not indulge I'm catch phrases but il
Was his guiding star under whose steady
Eight he always quietly pursued his way.
IN, nI.hI, nj nj iE3fe life