New-York tribune., 1909-12-28
ChUATE HOLDS DOOR
GREETS HISTORIANS
Ind Economists, Too, Though
Seeking a Definition.

economic Association. The hau xra~ -
fortaoiy filled: the welcome accorded a.
Nsi'ine scholars by Mr.. Choate and hv TIC
"1heT speakers. who. beginning with the
mayor, included President Nicholas Mr.
ray Butler of Columbia UNIVERSITY o.,
Governor Hughes. was extremely co-,1,aI
ana, 1uoEins by the applause, was no less
heartily accepted
M choate was in fire form His o,e,-
ms address was filled first with a s,ood-
atuTed bsdgerfng OF the rest of the conn
trS TOT what he termed an erroneous i'm,
preston there prevalent as to the real
character and ambitions of the CITY q,
Ne" York. The American Historical As
sociatlon he was well acquainted with he
said In twenty-five years il had grown
10 a vast body OF members represenfa7 IN
a. states and territories. each member
interesting his own community and bring
ing from II to the collected body com
fort aid and wisdom And. incidentally.
M Choste had noted that the association
was so choice in membership. so dainty in
the distribution OF its honors. that il had
never had but one honorary member. ..and
that is a great historian, the Hon Iamas
Bryce, Ambassador from Great Britain -
added the speaker. while Mr.. Bryce smiled
his appreciation in a deprecating manner
from the front row on the platform
Mr.. CHOATE PUZZLED
Il was when he began TO rustic arouna
for some more definite understanding tban
he possessed as 10 the objects of tba
American Economic Association that AZ,
Choste confessed, he reached ont for as
sistance. He began by asking at the
e1eakfast table yesterday what is eco
nomics, or what are economies" and
receiving no help, resorted to the nearest
dictionary, which was. however. some little
distance away from the present .teeu1inr
tine, having been published twenty wears
ago. The book told him that economics re-
lated 10 the production distribution and
the use OF wealth. he said
Wei. now" said Mr.. Choate nothing
could ne better for New York: and nothing
could he better for them than that they
should come here and instruct US upon
that very subject" This aroused Iaurh+er
and that, apparently, was what Mr.. Choate
thought might be the result It seemed n
prove 10 him that an erroneous impression
did exist among those visitors from the
Pacific Coast and interior regions of the
country SO Mr.. Choate eloquentIy sought
70 eradicate what he believed TO be so
wrong an opinion ''ss that we are sordid.
selfish, mercenary community. bent upon
nothing but pleasure and money: that the
men spend their nights and days in piling
Up dollars and the women their davs and
nights in spending them He brought ap-
Plause he cited. with fncrea sing fervor.
the things that, 10 his mind. made New
York the centre OF the civilization OF the
continent
PRAISE FOR COLUMBIA.
columbia University he mentioned as the
crown OF our city
See what wonderful things have been
achieved here in this city under our very
e-es he continued. Look at our uni
versities-happily led by COMMUNICATING
lie lea6 in some respects of all the univer-
s res N Tire land. coming as I believe, in
coser contact with the people. a more truly
democratic university than you can find in
Snr other place. allying itself with great
institutions Il finds about it, opening its
doors every Gay 20 the public TO vaiuab bic
lectures on many branches of learning.
Never was there a more democratic insti-
-ption in the shape Of a university than
5hat
Then take the College OF the city of
New York and the Normal College for
Eamen-snd l am told we are the only
CITY thst supports at its own public ex-
pense. without a dollar OF cost to the pupils.
Two great Institutions like those for men
and for women-higher' collegiate educa-
ton which rebounds not only to the great
advantage OF the city but to the whole
country Itself
and then TO take our common school
ssstenn- with its $4,000 pupils No wonder
that the city grows so fast that il is
unable every autumn 20 house them No
wonder that they have TO take half days
instead OF whole days. No wonder that it
he ave
~ this great city to keep up with its own
growth in the production of children and
their presentation to the public schools
telegraph message read from
President Taft, who had been detained at
Washington by reason OF the storm The
message said:
n view of the fact that the railroad peo-
PIE can give no assurance of my reaching
New York in sime for your meeting this
evening, and 7 must be here the first
thing IN the morning. | do not feel war
rauted in making the trip. Please there
Iofe express my excuses and regrets.
PRESIDENT BUTLER's JOKE.
President Butler caused an animated
chuckle to run over the audience. as we'll
TO emanate from the head and shoulders
% the genial chairman. when he wanted TO
know why, IL President Taft had a matter
tricky and important as whiskey to
deal with effectualiy. he should fail TO an
nex the services Of Joseph II. Choate, so
many laurel wreathed years at the bar
- wffl explain one reason why the Pres-
cent Gid not rely upon me in dealing with
certain gentlemen IN kentucky VINO claim.
iecause they manufacture what they call
straight whiskey. that il is the only prod
uct that should be called whiskey at al"
answered MIR. Choafe. 81 have repre-
seslted the people in that case for two
years. During that time / tried to obtain
help and advice from the British Embassy
nBr Ambassador Bryce. although, or PER
hsps because he has had a Scotch con-
stituency for years. professed not 10 know
anything about any kind OF American
whiskey. This convention could have
helped me in the peoples cause, because
Whiskey is historical and has also its
economic side. We have however now
settled the case on the proper ground. that
whatever has been called whiskey to the
people Is wiaiskey."
Governor Hughes Was cheeTed vigorous
j., the audience giving him a rising vel
come. Because the week before the con
vening OF the Legislature was, he said, one
OF fasting and prayer, he had AT first de-
ciined the Invitation TO be present last
night. II WAS pointed out 10 him that the