The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-11
BANQUET WASA
 NOTABLE EVENT Representative Gathering of Citizens at Hillman ROOSEVELT'S ADDRESS Guest of Honor Made Comprehensive Speech on General Topics-Co-
 mer, Lindsay and Stagg
 Other Speakers

The business men luncneOn al the Hotel Hillman held yesterday after noon in honor of Colonel Theodore Roosevelt was a most notable occa- sion. The gathering represented some of the most prominent men in the af- fairs of the country as well as many of the most influential men in the af- fairs of the state and of this city. Col onel Roosevelt was given hearty well come.
 | The doors of the Hillman banquet hall were thrown open at 1 o'clock promptly and the place was immediate l ly filled with the guests, who remain- ed standing until the appearance of Colonel Roosevelt. The first event of the afternoon was in dispensing with | the excellent and delectable courses that were served, after which the af- fair was taken In charge by Mayor Gull pepper Exum, who welcomed the Ma I tional Child Labor conference and Col onel Roosevelt to Birmingham and formally relinquished the honors of the occasion to James .Weatherly, who presided with imminent grace as toast master.
 Weatherly Postmaster
 This place doesn't become me-" said MT. Weatherly. Tt belongs to MT. Exum, the Mayor, but he took a case | of buck ague,' showed the white | feather and allowed his spinal column | to crumble up and then threw the re- responsibilities of this occasion on my shoulders. 1 do take especial pride and pleasure in being accorded the honor of introducing the speakers of today.
 T have heard the question asked What shall we do with our ex-Presi. dent?' It seems to me that he is in process of solving that question him self I have heard also the question. will he come back?' l think I can say that he has never been away Hia is continuous performance. He is now back where he has been for years-in the heart of the American people, and he has made each day s service of pure gold"
 Colonel Roosevelt arose and after making acknowledgement of his deep depreciation of the laudatory words of MT. Weatherly. held the steady inter. est of his hearers in very compre- hensve address defining his views along social, political and economical problems. He spoke as follows: MT. Mayor Mr. Postmaster and Eel | low Countrymen-I am very much touched with the way in which your Itoastmaster has spoken and with wha. he has said. There are those who speak disparagingly of the reward for public life, but let me say that should hold it over an hundred fold ample reward for such service as man may render to the public to have said what he has said of me. It seems to me that the man who has the stuff in him to work for the work itself, can find an ample reward for public life. The work itself should be an ample re- ward.
 Liked His Job
 q was once, during my first term as President at a meeting of governors and congressmen in Portland, Ore, where edcn man present was in turn called on to eX- press his views in regard to public ilfe. To a man every one Of them said that 1 their services that they had undertaken the responsibilities of office They said there was little glory and all trouble at tendant to public life When 1t came my time to speak I said, I don't want to have any mistake about me; l like my job And, gentlemen, don't think any President ever enjoyed the presidency more or left 1t with a lighter heart.
 "l feel that the American public has put me under an obligation which l can never repay, and shall try to carry my self so that when 1 am called on l may partially repay this overwhelming debt.
 The child labor conference was the oc- casion but not the cause of my coming to see you. I was coming to see you any way to thank you for the trust you have formerly put in me. In coming to Bir- mingham nothing has impressed me more than the spirit with which you are looking at the future. 1t Is marvellous to see the awakening of the south which you repre- sent. believe that the south, within the next half century, will have seen great CT development than any other part of the country. and I believe that you are facing that development with the proper spirit, in profiting by the lessons of oth- CTS. I hope you will not commit the mis- (take of other communities of the north
 
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