The Washington herald., 1909-01-21
SCENE WAS BRILLIANT
Close Relations with Japan and
South America Urged.
Cannon, and Representatives OF
South American Republics Address
the OrganizatiOn-@Our Destiny il
tn Our Own Keeping" Is keynote
of Convention Now in Progress.

Politics, Wit, national questions, and
pleasant exchange Of personalities be-
tween statesmen. orators. business men.
and commercial powers distinguished the
banquet Of the National Board OF Trade
at the Willard Hotel last night
Worldwide influences were discussed
by world-renovned personalities. and not
the least interesting was the is:sndly TIT
between Speaker Cannon and Senator
Newlands. OF Nevadas
In decided contrast vas the fnpsssioned
oratory OF Senor Don GonzaIo de Qussa-
da, envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary from Cuba, to the diplo-
matte. even, and logical speech Of the
Hon. Charles ". Fairbanks. vlcs Presi-
dent Of the United States
Secretary Root ExtOIIed.
While the praises OF American indus
trialism were sung, those in part respon>
sible for great gains IN this direction
were eulogized. Enhu Root Secretary Of
State. was iauded as the foremost statss<
man Of his time, and by the foreign min
lister extolled as a figure that VIII stang
in the annals OF American and Cuban
history second only TO George Washing
ton"
The banquet was held IN ths red rcou
OF the hotel and the conventional tones
Of the large hall were transformed and
became q bower OF roses, palms, and cut
flowers. Two hundred candles. shaded
with red shades. placed on tables bur
dened with roses. threw a soft, warn
glow over the gathering, rejecting On thi
Immaculate vhiteness of shirt fronts ant
the brilliant color OF gowns.
The soft tunes OF an orchestra. hiddsz
behind wall o. flowers. and The soft
hum OF conversation from the hsif-hun-.
dred tables formed the picture Of sight
and senses that was riven by the open
ing phrases OF Frank D. La lame, re-
elected president Ct tae national board,
who made the address OF welcome.
President La lame tod OF the power
and strength OF the board and OF the grssf
assistance It had been and would be 20
Congress in passing needed legislation.
He said the boa-d discussed and pro
posed measures for the fostering OF busi-
ness in the Cni'ed States and abroad.
the leading business men OF the country
being interested In the work
The speaker told Of the growth OF tbs
board and OF the position Il now occu-
pies: Of the good done in discussing
questions Of national inn ortance, and
IN the advocacy OF reforms IN every
branch Of public service.
Tribute 10 Vice President.
In closing. he paid tribute 10 the Vice
President as one OF the leading states
men OF the day. and then formally in
trOduced him as the next speaker.
|, After a brief preamble. II which hs
told OF attending the dinner under mis-
apprehension. having been made to be-
lieve that he would not be called UPON
for a speech. Mr.. Fairbanks said that
none appreciated more than himself the
excellent and progressive work OF the
board He said il was right and fitting
that a gathering OF men representing
such wide national interests should be
gathered in convention in the National
Capital He spoke OF the msny subjects
taken up by the organization. and said
that, outside Of religion. he could name
no important question that the banquet
ers had not touched upon.
Our destiny is in our own keeping
said the Vice President. and il is for
Us TO work it out. and no greater ally 10
this great work Of progress can be found
than the Naticnal Board Of Trade. Theiz
intelligent and conservative judgment
amounts 10 a great deal in the admins
tratiOn Of national affairs
Touches on Tariff Revision.
Touching on tariff revision, Mr.. Fair
banks said that the future prosperity OF
the country depends on The sound soIu-
tion Of this great economic problem t
is n problem. he said. that cannot be de-
cided without consideration
IF the tariff is revised without due
consideration. Re continued. "our in
dustriaI prospects are doomed TO direct
defeat. I believe in America I believe
in that good old doctrine. Charity begins
at home. and that 1t should be applied to
tariff revision.
The speaker told Of the ties uniting
Canada and the United States. bowins
gracefully 20 Sir Charles Ross. or Eng
land and Scotland. one OF the speakers.
and ended by saying.
I came 20 this banquet not 70 speak.
bu5 to testify my appreciation OF the
great work done by il and its members
and 10 assume The welcome Of the organ
ization to tho city OF Washington
Francis b LOOMS. commissioner gen
sral OF the United States TO the Japan
ese Exposition, was the next speaker
he hailed Japan as holding the oppor-
tunity for Americas greatest Industrial
development.
Mr. LOOMS arguments In favor OF ia
pan as the great commercial center OF
the future we're attacked later N the
evening by John Barrett. director OF the
International Bureau Of American Re
pubhcs. who. speaking from years OF ex-
perience. claimed Cuba and South Aneri-
can republics to be places where lie the
greatest opportunity for commercial de-
veIopmsnt on the part Of the United
States and Of the world.
Our Relations with Japan.
II opening. Mr.. Loomis commented on
The relationship existing between Japan
and the United States. He said he had
heard in many quarters gossip presagins
tae sincerity OF Japan ii her advances Of
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