The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-04
H0N0RSC0ET hALS.
Geographic Society Presents
Medal to Canal Builder.
Speech of Presentation Is Made
by President Wilson.

Raio tribute last night to Col. George
Washington Goethals builder of the
Panama canal. The occasion was the
| annual dinner of the National Geo
graphic society. Colonel Cocktails was
present as the guest of honor and re-
celved, from the hand of President
wilson. a special gold medal awarded
MIN by the society in recognition OF
his achievements.
Secretary Bryan of the state depart
| ment was tOastmaster. and gathered
about the dinner table with the distin-
guished scientists Of the society were
t,r wilson and his cabinet. JUS
tices OF the supreme court, members
OF the diplomatic corps, high officers
Of the army and navy, leaders in both
houses of congress and other notable
figures in the life of the national cap
ital.
Jules ]. Jusserand, the French am
bassador and dean of the diplomatic
corps. was formally notified of his
election to honorary membership in
the society.
The dining hall presented a striking
scene. At one end raised high above
the table the words: "Atlantic-Goe-
thals-Pacific, blazed in brilliant cleo
trio letters as all other lights were ex-
tinguished.
Ice cream was served the diners
from miniature dredges. carried by
walters dressed in the uniform of the
United States engineering corps, and
followed by sailors bearing a tiny bat
tleship. Individual dishes of cream
were nodded in the shape of the Pan
anna canal dump car.
The medal awarded Colonel Goe-
thals was of heavy roman gold. 1t
was given as an expression of the ap-
probation of the national society of
the engineers distinguished service.
It's presentation was the final act of
President Wilson's first wear as chief
executive of the United States.
The Presidents Address.
Presenting the medal, President
Wilson said:
Il am here to do what suppose is
an unusual thing for society of this
sort. 1t generally confers it's honors
raphy rather than upon those who
have altered it. 1t is a sort of adver-
tiser and custodian of the globe, but
1t is now about to honor a gentleman
who has had the audacity to change
the globe.
is altered, for example by the cutting
and the use of the Panama canal.
1T fills the Imagination to think OF
what this work will accomplish. 1t
will create new neighbors. 1t will gen.
crate new friendships. 1t will make a
new atmosphere of rivalry and of gen.
erous association. The whole ten
dency of the routes of trade are
the routes of enlightenment. only
when neighbors touch one another do
they cease to be provincial and look
upon the great tasks of humanity In
stead of combining themselves to the
relatively selfish task of their own
domestic development, and 1t Is only
as we export and import ideas that
civilization becomes thoroughly estab-
lished.
I've have therefore to honor tonight
the greatest living representative OF
this extraordinary profession IL seems
to me to be natural, IL l may say So
with apologies to some OF our fr1enos
present. that the greatest engineer a:n
The United States has made the world
very uncomfortable. but it has at least
done so by the exercise of extraordinary
dynamic qualities. 1t is not one OF the
statistical nations which has disturbed
equilibrium, which has cut new paths
for the thought and action Of mankind.
1.-The government Of the United States
lent Colonel Goethals to the world and
he has done this thing for the world.
For it Is our proud boast that we have
cut this highway for all the seaSo1ns
ships of the world.
Cocktails Associates.
IT take for granted that we do not
tonight forget that distinguished group
of men who have been associated with
Colonel Goethals-that gallant and de-
voted soldier who gave his very life to
see that the great work was done at
Culebra Cut; that man who made so
much of this work possible. Surgeon
General Gorgas, by knowing how to
hold disease of at arms length while
these men were given leave to work:
Colonel Seibert, who built the walls OF
Gatum Dam and created Gatum Lake,
making it look to the eyes OF the pc
holder as If nature had done the work
over which he himself presided. and
Colonel Hodges, who made the locks
and the machinery by which those
great things are administered. But we
are merely acknowledging the pres1d-
ing character and genius wnlcn Grew
ali the elements of this work together,
which made 1T work done by CO.
Ia borers. not by rivals-work done as II
II we're the conception of single mind,
and work done in the spirit of service
and self-effacement which belongs to a
great service of great government
There is nothing selfish in the emfn-
ence Of Colonel Cocktails. 1t is repre-
sentative of a great profession; 1t is
representative Of a great government;
it is representative of a great spirit.
It is representative of a great spirit"
Civic Forum Medal.
New York, March I'm recognition
of his work as chief engineer in the
construction of the Panama canal.
Col George w. Goethals will receive
this evening, at Carnegie hall, the
civic forum medal of honor. 1t will
be the first time the medal has been
bestowed for distinguished service.
James Plew Is Hanged.
Hartford, Conn.,, March flames
Plew, who murdered William Wake
field at Middlebury last June in order
that he might marry Mrs. Wakefield.
was hanged in the state prison at
wethersfield early this morning.