New-York tribune., 1910-04-24
ROOSEVELT THE ONE MAN
Senator DepeW ExaIts Colonel in
Birthday Speech.
"H0LDS DESTINY IN HAND"
Montauk Club, Of Brooklyn, Host
on Anniversary-Capacity Of
Old Men Upheld.

Senator Chauncey NJ Depew aroused the
two hundred men at the dinner tn honor Of
the Senator's seventy-sixth birthday ami
versary at the Montauk CIua Brooklyn.
last night. to high state of enthusiasm
when he said:
The man who holds tn his hand the
destiny and the good OF many generations
to come. the one man who ais the eve Of
the public OF the whole world to-day. is
Theodore Roosevelt
AS usual. Senator Depev was the only
speaker at the dinner. President william
II. English Of the club presided The ceIe-
bration OF the Senator's birthday on the
actual date OF the event was remarked
upon as unusual. April . having been sell
dom available heretofore. Yesterday the
Senator was seventy-six. and this was sx-
planned. along with the kindly feelings
which the club members have for him. In a
song composed BY Secretary Aigernon s.
Higgins. the former Assistant Superintend-
ent Of schools. and sung under the direction
OF H W Price 10 the tune OF Has Any
body Here Seen Eellyr'
The Senator'S speech was largely devoted
10 showing that old men are capable Of
good work, and that they have frequently
proved their capacity. He said:
public life and upon the platform all over
this country and in Europe have given me
a larger acquaintance than almost anybody
living The sum Of observation and ex-
perience is that, granted normal conditions.
10 hereditary troubles and barring acci-
dents and plaques. the man who dies be-
fore seventy commits suicide"
Senator Depev then quoted the editor Of
The Evening Post" in reference 70 Sen
ator AIdrich resigning his seat. IN which
IL was said that Senator Depew will con-
tinue in Office as long as he lives" After
making a few humorous references TO the
editorial. he gave his unqualified tndorse-
ment of the editorials prophecy. Long
live the editor" he remarked. smiling
broadly.
Referring 10 Senator Aldrich again. Mr.
Depew said that. while the former had sp-
parently discovered the secrets OF a sound
financial system. he knew that he was dis
credited by the great mass Of the people.
The only way 20 avert a financial panic.
said Senator Depev. is by his leaving the
Senate"
Mr.. Depev said that the country demand
ed that Congress be a rubber stamp for
the President He declared that Congress
stood as high to-day in intellectually. wis
dom and other qualities as IL did in the
days OF Webster but that II the country
continued 20 discredit the Legislature and
enlarge upon the Executive. and a man
came into the Presidency who held Jack
sons views. I'VE may reach a period OF
despotism that viii be most unfortunate for
the best interests OF the country
IN speaking o. his natal year. 1884. he
81 r-E-~
and said: Just now there are both suf-
fering and alarm because OF high prices.
have not much sympathy with those
who say that this condition is due TO
national extravagance. There was tre-
mendous complaint Of high prices in 1875.
There is on file in the Treasury Depart
ment a copy OF the expenses Of a clerk
who wanted an increase Of salary because
OF the unusually high cost OF living. His
family consisted OF FIVE persons and his
Bureau OF Labor OF the government esti-
mated last year that the food for similar
family now would Be s512 o.
Nobody could live now "a the whole
country did in 1856 Both men and women
urers Of their own clothes in their own
houses"
In ending his speech. Senator Depsw
said:
In closing this seventy-sixth anniver-
sary there rises out Of the past this
fact Of hope and aspiration; During all
my earlier years I sat under the preach
ing Of learned preacher OF the old school
Presbyterian Church His most fervid ser
mons were on Christmas and Easter. He
claimed that there was no historical
authority for these dates and denounced
them. TO use his own language. as 'Popish
superstitions. Liberalism. or modernism.
or rather Christian charity. has softened
the sntagonisms and lowered the barriers
between churches and creeds- In these
days Of Christian unity and faith. with
liberty in forms, around every altar on
Christmas are evergreens and on Easter
flowers. The question OF dates becomes
insignificant compared with the trenen-
dous consequences 70 humanity from the
Birth and Resurrection. and all can now
unite In a common celebration OF these
festivals. II is a long step toward the
peace OF the world. the fatherhoOd OF God
and the brotherhood OF man