The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-04
WILSON EULOGIZES
COCKTAILS IN SPEECH
Calls Him Greatest Living En-.
gineer in Presenting
Gold Medal.
CANAL BUILDER BLUSHES
He Modestly Accepts Geographic
Socicty's Gift in Name
of His "Army."

,on signslized the conclusion Of his first
wear In the Presidency by paying q re-
markable public tribute to Col Goethals.
The builder Of the Panama Canal.
The occasion of this tribute was the
presentation Of the gold medal OF the
National Geographic Society to Col.
Goe,hals tonight.
The medal was presented at a dinner
given by the Geographic Society at the
New willard Hotel. Secretary Bryan
vas postmaster.
other speakers Of the evening were the
German Ambassador. Count Won Bernstein
the French Ambassador. j. j. Jusserand.
dean Of the Diplomatic Corps. and Repre-
sentative James X. Mann Of Illinois.
More than half Of the members Of Con-
sress and the larger part OF the Diplo-
matte Corps and high officers of the army
and navy were In attendance.
The gold medal to Col. Goethals Is in
scrbetl
.Ths special medal OF the National
Geographic Society is awarded to George
Washington Goethals, to whose ability
and patriotism the world owes the con-
,truction of the Panama Canal, March 3.
,si4."
The Predicate speech.
President Wilson in presenting the
medal said;
4 am here to do what suppose Is an
unusual thing for society OF this sort.
II generally confers Its honors upon those
who have disclosed geography rather than
upon those who have altered IL. II Is a
sort OF advertiser and custodian OF the
globe. but II Is now about to honor a
gentleman who has had the audac!ty to
change the globe.
The engineering profession IL one Of the
few creative professions Those Of US who
have attempted to be literary men con-
ceive that We have created conceptions OF
the mind, but We never can produce them
In court They are never visibly upon
exhibition.
But the magic OF the engineer is that
he can change the face OF nature and show
the work Of his hands and that IL Is In
some deep sense creative In character.
.ereatest Living Representatives
I'VE have therefore to honor tonight
the greatest living representative OF this
extraordinary profession. 1t seems to me
to be natural. II i may say SO. with apollo
g.es 10 some OF our friends, that the
greatest engineer should come from the
United States.
The Government Of the United States
lent him to the world and he has don,
! tbs thing for the world. For II il our
proud boast that we have cut this hiEh-
way for all the seagoing ships Of the
world.
Il take 1t for granted that we do not
tonight forget that distinguished group
Of men who have been associated with
Col Goethals-that gallant and devoted
soldier who gave his very life to see that
The great work was done at Culeb-a Cut /:
that man who made SO much OF this work
possible. Surge on-General Gorgas, by
moving how to hold disease OF at arms
length while these men were given leave
70 work: Col. Seibert. who built the walls
o. Gatun Dam and created Gatun Lake
making II look to the eyes OF the behold
en- As n nature had done the work over
which he himself presided. and Col
Hocges. who made the locks and the ma
ehnery by which these great things are
administered.
SO esteem II a real privilege. acting
On behalf OF this society. to present to
you, Col. Goethals. this very beautiful
medal II Is made Of mere gold and gold
y Of no consequence in this connect ion.
but II speaks In the most precious metal
We Know gratitude and the admiration
o! the world"
The Colonel looked as II ne would like
y run away. He said. after some hest.
ht!on:
This medal represents the satisfa elton
OF the National Geographic Society at
me practical completion of the canal and
~ approval OF the services rendered.
Those services are not only individual
services but national services.
The Debt "a Others.
The French were the pioneers In the
Undertaking. But for the work they did
on the isthmus We could not to-day regard
NE canal a. practically completed. Zap
Dlausel
But for the English we probably would
not nave known the means OF eradlcatin
malaria. The death rate would have been
great. Among individuals we have ma
uonal representatives OF the Spanish and
He English in our labor!ng force.
The canal has been the work Of many.
and II has been the pride of the Ameri-
cans VINO have visited the canal TO find
me spirit which animated the forces
EVER man was doing the particular part
VI The work that was necessary to make II
asuccess
No chief Of any enterprise ever com.
,hahded an army that was so loyal, %
.s!thtul. that gave It's strength and Its
ulood 10 the successful completion Of II
man ms canal force. [Applausel
=. ana so. In accepting the medal. ! thank
me National Geographic Society for it,
appreciation in the name Of the cana
sEfny.' TIirpat applunsaI