Omaha daily bee., 1911-05-06
GOLD MEDAL FOR CARNEGIE
Steel King Given Mark of Esteem
from South American Republics.
CALLS IT HIS GREATEST HONOR
First Time in History that Twenty
One Nations Unite in Paying
Tribute 10 an Indi-
yiduaI.

WASHINGTON, May 5.-Andrew Car
negie today received what he called his
greatest mark of honor, when twenty
one American republics bestowed on him a
gold medal, bearing on one side the words:
"Benefaotor of Humanity and on the
other. 'The American Republics to An
drew Carnegie"
According to John Barrett. director gen.
eral of the Pan-American union. 1t was
the first time In history that such a tribute
from so many nations had been paid to
an individual. Senior de Zamacona, Next
can ambassador to the United States, made
the speech of presentation; Secretary Knox
presided and President Taft spoke In
eulogy of the gifts which Mr.. Carnegie
has made for the cause OF universal peace.
Members of the diplomatic corps and men
high in official life filled the hall of the
Pan-American union building, where the
ceremonies were held and for the erection
of which Mr.. Carnegie gave almost a mil
lion dollars.
Mr.. Carnegie's Address.
In accepting the medal Mr.. Carnegie
told of his feelings on being informed of
the honor conferred on him by the Pan
American conference at Buenos Ayres.
Il was sitting at my desk in the High
lands of Scotland last autumn" he said,
| when a telegram was handed to me.
which 1 opened and read without seeming
quite to grasp the meaning OF the words.
1 was stunned. Was / dreaming? Slowly
the truth developed and established itself
and began TOT realize what it all meant.
| Truly, my friends, ! never before felt so
! completely overwhelmed and crushed as II
dawned on me that the honor which the
conference had voted to confer was with
out parallel, 16O,OOO0OO of people, forming
twenty-one sovereign nations. bestowing
on poor me an honor the like of which had
never before been bestowed on a human
being Still ashamed to stand up, / felt
as IL / would like to sink into the ground
conscious that l could never have the
audacity to accept it, but the days passed
Hamlet's words came to me-'Treat the
poor players not after their deserts, but
after your own honor and dignity. The
poorer their merits. the larger will be your
bounty l was indeed in the condition OF
the poor players. The republics had fol
lowed Hamlet's advice and treated me moi
after my deserts. but after their own dig
nifty and honor and this thought resigned
me TO my fate"
| Tribute to Taft.
| Referring 20 President Tafts @Vice Q
year ago when he voiced the sentiment fol
a reign of peace among the Pan-Americar
republics. Mr.. Carnegie said
Thus the presidents first invitation tc
establish a reign of peace was properly
made to you, He recently held out thC
other branch of peace and 1t instantly was
accepted by the other branch of our Eng
lish speaking race with such enthusiasm
IV.,V 49, all
we have every reason TO believe that Il
war as means Of settling disputes between
two branches of our race will soon become
a crime Of the past"
In offering thanks TO the nations through
their diplomats present for the honor be
slowed on him, Mr.. Carnegie expressed tn,
ardent wish that prompt action be taker
by the twenty one republics to establish
reign OF peace by adopting President Taft
policy OF submitting all disputes TO arbitra
ton.