New-York tribune., 1908-02-06
uPHOLDS PRESIDENT.
Michigonders Cheer When Speaker
attacks Critics

Michigan is surely great state and as PENN
e,ls feven il IL does project into fresh waterD II
has equal
This was the lesson learned last night at the
fourth annual dinner of the Michigan Society 81
New York. The dinner was at the Hotel l.iaza
and every good Michean6er who is living IN Ne"
York for his sins. his business. WAS present to
drink TO the mother There were over three
hundred OF then1-these sons Of Mchigan-ano the
WAY they cheered the toast to our Presldeht len
no doubt as 10 Their political status II was a
standing toast. and the band PLAYED The Star
s,s,r,ed Fsanner'' and every cheered for Theo-
core Roosevelt
President William A Boland called them together
after they had conquered half dozen courses lie
said that the recent financial furry should impress
,rnop all -h. motto that nc wished TO take from
Isurnass Three Musketeers" and apply TO the
a;sc1scanders -'one for all and all for one The
living ,p 10 this would surely follow the sringency
he said. and the result would be hghef desree
of financial honesty
Mr. Roland continued by saying that present
there is q war against dishonesty in business and
that every citizen should become a soldier He
followed has speech by reading a letter OF regret
from Governor Hughes This however, was in
lire with Governor Hughes's custom Of not at
tending a state dinner unless the Governor of that
state vas present Governor Warner. of Michigan.
~as not present After announcing that Congress
man Charles Z. Townsend, who slated for a
speech. could not appear. Mr- Boland introduced
Perry AveriIi who sang Michigan. Ny Michigan"
q parody Maryland. My Maryland"
The strongest speech Of the dinner toward
end when William D. Murphy praised Presi-
dent Roosevelt's policies and turned his batteries
Of Wit and raillery against critics of the admins
trstion In response 10 the toast observations, -
he said
Come. you critics of Theodore Roosevelt If
you 20 charge him with the panic and depres-
sion Of 1907 give him credit for the prosperity of
1876. Balance your books In the latter part of
lsE snd UP 10 September came the highest OF
prices. and then. without the slightest change of
the executive policy came the overspeculation and
kindred causes, and prices dropped 1 ask you
critics 20 balance your books If the President is
be charged with l9o7, give him credit for the
good tirnss. high prices and abundant employment
prevailing In 1896.
President Roosevelt spread the principles OF de-
cency and honesty, and strange TO say, the people
OF the country liked them
AIr. Roosevelt may be indiscrcet at times. but
Is IL not better 70 have sincere President who is
sometimes indiscreet than discreet President who
is sometimes insincere? Shall cover up the ex-
sssing corruption. shall approve of the Presi-
dents broader principle Of uncoveTing corruption
that It may be swept out OF sight?"
Everybody took Up the song. and II was encored-
that IS, the singers encored themselves, and the
women IN the gallery enthusiastic hand"
Finally Mr. Boland found time 10 make hit
with his hearers by saying that when 'the cream
Of Michigan manhood present il suf1-
cfe1r indication of the Governors absence to say
because
ts Interested In the manufacture OF American
Cheshire cheese" But to let that pass, the next
speaker Colonel John J. McCook, president
of the Ohio Society of New York. Colonel McCook
made one Of his usual pleasant speeches. in which
he talked OF the affection he had contracted for
Michigan because Of the work of Michigan 1roope
the Civil War
James T Keena- Of Detroit q lawyer who isn't
much FIVE feet five inches and who is willing
to make a joke of his bantamweight size. was
scheduls6 for Remarks Pertinent and Irnperti-
neilF They We're. Mr.. Boland had referred TO the
women in the gallery angels and Mr. Keena
began hy saying to them: I'm not large enough
1o be heroic. but I'm large to be taken in your
Laps he then paid his respects to Mr.. RoIand
ly saying that whatever his reputation after
dinner speaker. NT. Boland the finest the-day-
after-flle-dinner speaker he had ever heard. He
then drifred 10 the subject Of New York, and gave
some views Of il according TO the lights of a
from Michigan For instance: New York is d
human temple of imagination and disiIiusion. Your
Broadway is the spiritual broad path that leads TO
Wall Street. The signs over your stores lead a
man 10 think he is in the Holy City. but if he
takes flyer in Wall Street lie viii think he's in
some other place. You be almost good
New York you in Michigan. If you try.
hut YOU II have to try little harder II you
human in Michigan. you'll be a little human
New York"
Mir. Keena kept on in this unconrlimentary vein
amid laughter until he wound up by saying that
from what he read he had begun think the young
idea in New York taught that the three RS
stood for Rockefeller, Rogers and Ryan.
George Cary Eggleston the writer. spoke the
subject OF national waste of resources such
timber lands Frederick Levant Brown. who last
year made the star speech fishing. was inca
pacitaied by cold and spoke briefly on Southern
Neighbcrs-" Other speakers were Colonel Alexan-
der s Bacon. the chairman: William r WILCOX. Of
the Public Service Commission. and eH-Judge Byron
s. Ware, who is member of the United States
Board OF Appraisers
AT the speakers table Postmaster Edward
N. Morgan and down among the other diners were
eleven heads OF departments In the postoffice Rob
ct: Watchorn. Commissioner of immigration. was
also there with small Of his slbordinates
George H. Roberts postmaster of Brooklyn was al
tabie with half dozen Republican off1ceholders
from Kings.