New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-17
GIVES TOAST TO WILSON
Graceful and Generous Tribute
to Victor Arouses Lotos Club
Members to High Pitch Of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
in Gay Humor.
PoKEs FUN AT BRYAN
Would Sooner Take the Osler Treat
ment for Ex-Presidents than Sit
in Senate as Soothsayer-
Leaves Office Without
Bitterness.

Bitterness.
Health and success to the able, dis
tinguished and patriotic gentleman who
is to be the next President of the
United Statesr
This was the toast proposed by Presi-
dent Taft as he finished his speech az
the Lotos Club last night. and as he
raised his glass three hundred mem
bers of the club and their guests rose
and pledged the toast.
| And when the toast was drunk
salvo Of cheers rang out, cries of Taft
and Wilson intermingling at the first
but toward the end lusty cheer for
| the President rose from three hundred
| throats.
Some who heard the Presidents
| speech thought they heard the Presi-
dent at his best, shifting from grave to
gay, at times philosophic with his four,
years of experience and again, from
the same cause, counseling and bit
cynical.
He created laughter when he spoke
of some Of the plans Of President elect
| Wilson, and the gentle sarcasm he Wis
tied upon near-President Bryan pro-
voked many smile.
In hts serious moments the President
came out strongly and unequivocally
| for a single six-year term for the
| President, and urged the admission to
both houses OF Congress OF members
| Of the Presidential Cabinet.
His first proposition occasioncd loud
applause. and when he declared that
one term was enough for any man-a
term of six years-he had to stop until
the cheering ceased.
The Ex.President Joke.
Another change the President ad-
vocated that met with hearty response
| from his hearers was the placing In
the civil service of practically every
officer of the government service, and
he hinted broadly that Congress would
not be amiss If II provided for ex-
! Presidents so that they might not
lower the dignity OF the place they
had held when they re-entered prl-
vate life.
And even this the President, who
was in a gay mood, touched with
humor. for he said that he was not
sure but that the method suggested
by DR.. Osler for elderly men would
not be a good thing for ex-Presidents.
| n -
was that he had been unable to in
nuence the United States Senate to
rstify the arbitration treaty with
France and Great Britain. In spite Of
that fact, he asked his audience to be-
lieve that he would leave Office with the
deepest gratitude to the American peo-
pie for the honor they had given him
and with the belief that enough
progress had been accomplished in his
administration to warrant him feel
Ing that he had done real good for his
country.
The Presidents speech follows:
saw in the name of your club the
| possibility that you were organized 10
furnish an opportunity for a swan song
to those about to disappear. concluded
that 1t was well to cast an anchor 10 the
| windward and accept as much real con-
dolence as / could gather In such a hos
pitable presence as this, and therefore,
my friends. accepted your invitation
and am here.
You have given me the toast Of ''The
President" 1t is said that the Office Of
President Is the most powerful In the
world, because under the Constitution us
occupant really can exercise more dis
cretion than an Emperor or King exer-
cises In any Of the governments OF mod
ern Europe. / am not disposed 10 ques-
ton this as q matter OF reasoning from
the actual power givsr the Presden' -
the constitutional division OF govern
mental function. but 1 am bound 10 say
that the consciousness OF such power Is
rarely II ever present In the mind OF the
ordinary individual acting as President.
because what chiefly stares him In the
face In carrying out any plan OF his Is
the limitation upon the power and not It's
extent.
OF course there are happy individuals
who are able entirely TO Ignore these
limitations both In mind and practice,
and as to them the result may De diner
fession are subordinate TO law. the In
toxication of power rapidly sobers on IN
the knowledge OF Its restrictions ana
under the prompt reminder or an ever
| present and a not always considerate
press, as we'll as by the kindly sugges-
tions that not infrednently come from
that hall Of Congress In which impeach-
ments are initiated and that smaller
chamber In which they are tried.
"The Dear Old Constitution"
In these days OF progress. reform. up,
lift and Improvement man does not
show himself abreast of the age unless
he has some changes to suggest. IL Is
the recommended change that marks his
being up to date 1t may be change
only for the sake Of change. but It is
responsive to public demand and
therefore let's propose II. II is con-
trary to my own love for the dear old
Constitution to suggest any alteration
In its terms lest 1t be regarded as re-
fiection upon or a criticism OF that which
; has been put to the sacred use for 125
years OF maintaining liberty regulated
by law and the guarantees OF the rights