New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-04
WILSON PRESENTS
COCKTAILS MEDAL
Builder of Canal HOnOred
at Geographic Society
Annual Banquet.
PRESIDENT ASSERTS
CANAL is FOR WORLD
Ambassador Jusserand Indicted
Into Organization as
Honorary Member.

Washington, March 3-Washington paid
tribute tonight 10 Colonel George w.
Goethals, builder OF the Panama Canal.
at the annual banquet OF the National
Geographic Society. Colonel Goethals was
the guest OF honor and received from
President Wilson gold medal awarded
him by the society.
Secretary Of State Bryan was toast
master. President Wilson, members or
his Cabinet justices of the Supreme Court
members of the diplomatic corps. army
and navy officers leaders of Congress ana
other notables were present.
During the evening Jules J. Jusserand,
French Ambassador, was notified of his
election to honorary membership
At one end of The dining room an cleo
trio sign read: "Atantic-Goethals-P
cifc" Ice cream was served from min
iature dredges, carried by walters dressed
as United States engineers. who were ioi-
lowed by sailors carrying tiny oattie-
ship. The ice cream was moulded in the
shape Of the Panama Canal dump car
The Goethals medal was OF heavy
Roman gold. Inscribed on it were:
This medal of the National Geographic
Society Is awarded 10 George Washington
Goethals. to whose ability and patriotism
the world owes the construction OF the
Panama Canal, March g. 1914
President Wilson In his address said
The government OF the United States
lent him (Goethals) to the world. and no
has done this thing for the world. For II
is our proud boast that We have cut this
highway for all the seagonS SHIPS OF
The world" said President Wilson, In MS
speech presenting the medal to Coiohei
Goethals.
or am here to do what | suppose is an
unusual thing for a society OF TINS SOFT
said the President as he faced the guess
of honor. ut generally confers its nom
ors upon those who have disclosed geog-
raphv rather than upon those who have
altered II. II is a sort OF advertiser ana
custodian of the globe. but II Is nov
about to honor a gentleman VINO mas nau
the sudacity TO change the giooe' Ino
engineering profession is one OF inc ie"
creative professions. The magic or 'he
engineer is that he can change thoeiaCo
NJ nature and show the work or ms
hands The life Of mankind on the CLIQUE
Is altered. for example, by the cu'''"s
and the use OF the Panama canal
eft fills the Imagination TO thinh OF
u,hot this work will accomplish. IL VIII
create new neighbors. IL Will generate
new friendships The whoie 'enuen''
the routes of trade will be chanseu
we have. therefore, TO honor 'o-hien'
the greatest living representative OF 'i''
extraordinary profession. IL seems 10 me
IN he natural, II / may say so WIN apo''
c,os IN some Of our friends present '"a'
,h. greatest engineer should come iro'h
the United States.
"r take II for granted that We 90 no'
-, Itch, forget that distinguished group
:, no, uho have been associated WIN
c,,one, Goethals-that gallant ana ue
voted soldier who gave ms yer! h'e w
500 that the great work was oohe a.
cuIobra cut: that man who maoe so mum
If his work possible, Surgeon "enc'a'
coro,s. nv knowing how TO hold disease
off a, arms length while these men "eio
given leave TO work; Colonel Seipert WHO
huiIt the walls Of Gatun Dam ana Gre
o,od Ca,un Lake. and Colonel Hodges
u,no made the locks and the machinery
~, ,,h,ch these great things are admin
istered.
"r am glad that this thing was not doho
nv private enterprise and that there lS no
thought OF private profit anywhere IN H.
but that a government put itself at the
service of the world and used great
man to do a great thing
so esteem II a real privilege ec''hs
on behalf OF this society, to present 10 you,
Colonel Goethals, this very peautltul
medal II is made OF mere gold, and gold
is q, no consequence in this CONNECTION
h,,, a. sneaks. but the most precious metal
we know. the gratitude ana the so'"''a-
ton OF the world"