Weekly Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-11
MORGAN GUEST
OF CHlCAGOANS
FINANCIER IS GIVEN OVATION AT
COMMERCE BANQUET AND RE
PLIES BRIEFLY.
GENEROUS WITH SIGNATURE.
Signs Many Menu Cards, Saying He En-
joys Writing Name to Anything
but Checks.
YOAKUM PLEADS FOR RAILWAYS.

CdlCAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 1U.-J ameS
Pierpont Morgan of New York, guest of
honor at a banquet rendered him by the
Chicago Association of Commerce last
night at the Auditorium hotel, delivered
q brief after-dinner talk, one of the
few he ever made, in which he declared
that he would remember the occasion as
long as he lived.
Mr.. Morgan said that he had not come
to Chicago to talk, that he was not Il
speechmaker, and that he came because
he wanted to assure the business men
of Chicago that his heart was with
them in the upbuilding of the city.
Mr.. Morgan had listened with evident
interest to addresses by B. +. 1oakum
of the Rock IslandFrisco lines, who
roads," Judge Thomas Burke of Seattle,
Wash. who talked on the Commercial
Relationship of the Pacific Northwest
and the Orient and Rt.-Rev. Charles
p. Anderson bishop of Chicago, who
discussed THE Ethics of Commerce.
Thinks Nation Needs Rest.
Mr.. Morgan did not restrain his dem
onstration of appreciation of poignant
remarks made by Mr.. Yoakum on the
railroad situation in the United states
and applauded vigorously the declara-
llOH Ol Tie IdlIIOdu lIldt lhiS SOuih
try now needs a rest from further regu-
lative laws until the railroads can ad-
Just themselves to q compliance with
those which have been enacted
This statement was enthusiastically
applauded by the 700 Chicago business
men who partook of the dinner in Mr..
Morgan's honor, and the great fnancier
nodded his approval as he clapped his
hands enthusiastically.
Again he applauded when Mr.. Yoak-
UNI turned from a discussion of the rail
road problem to the development of the
great waterways of the country and adj
vocated the completion of the Chicago TO
the gulf deep water way project as of
more importance to the United States
than the completion of the Panama ca
nal.
Morgan Rises Unannounced.
Mr.. Morgan, who occupied the seat of
honor in the center of the speakers ban
quet table, said nothing until the con-
clusiOn of the programme. Without any
announcement he rose from his seat
and the great crowd rose with him
and cheered him to the echo. Handker-
chiefs were waved and scores of en-
thuSiaStic Chicago business men stood in
their chairs applauding while Mr.. Nor
gan bowed and smiled his appreciation
of the reception.
Mr.. President and gentlemen of the
Association of Commerce." said Mr..
Morgan. speaking in a voice that was
surprising for its strength and clearness.
"When your president called upon me
last September asking me to come and
dine with you here, it is needless for me
TO say that | was deeply touched, and
| told him that | would come, but I'M
fortunately, being familiar with dinners,
there was one thing that L could not do
and that was to speak.
p,,+ I allow n from
here tonight without telling you how |
thank you from my heart for the sin
cerity of your reception, for all that
has been said, for all that has been
done. and to tell you that | shall never
forget it as long as | live"
AS Mr.. Morgan concluded the applause
was Geafening, exceeding in intensity and
vigor the cheers which greeted him when
ne rose to speak.
Generous with Signature.
Mr.. Morgan signed his name to more
than 200 programmes during the progress
of the dinner. In fact Mr.. Morgan had
little time to partake of the dinner, so
great was the demand for his autograph
He took the demand of the guests very
cheerfLlly, and even after officials of the
club tried repeatedly to stop the walters
in their rush from all parts of the house
with menu cards and programmes, Mr..
Morgan insisted that his fountain pen
had not gone dry, and that he would
keep signing his name as long as it was
demanded.
You see l am used to signing my
NAME" said Mr.. Morgan to President
Hall.
When the first cards were passed up
to him from guests who sat near the
press table Mr.. Morgan leaned over the
table and said, smiling as he spoke:
Gentlemen, you can have anything
you want from me except speech or an
interview"
The walters were Immediately in great
demand. and they found it profitable, for
on returning the menu to its owner with
Mr. Morgan's signature attached sub
stantial tip was waiting. After Mr.. Nor
gan had passed the squad and the ice
association officials attempted to stop the
procession to the guest Of honors seat,
but it was of no use.
"Oh. let them GOMEZ said Mr.. Morgan.
81 am enjoying it. 1 am not signing
checks"