The sun., 1919-04-23

10 go. The Lotos and Montauk clubs
might as well arrange the programmes
for the ninetieth and Tooth birthdays
while they are about it.
Orntorical Powers Cndimini.hed.
Naturally the conversation turned to
speechmaking. which Mr.. Depew has
often said is not the least Of the diver
sions that have made growing old impos-
sible.
1T has given mo no end of pleasure ="
he testified yesterday. while returning
from Florida ten days ago / stopped off
III Washington at the invitation Of the
president Of George Washington Uni
versity. The meeting was held in
large church. and it was gratifying to
find out that could talk an hour and
quarter without a trace of hoarseness
My friends the doctors say that after
man reaches so years the vocal cords are
useless for public speaking. but know
that In the past year I have talked for
as much as au hour and half on seven
or eight occasions"
He is at his desk IN the Grand Central
Terminal at 10 a. NJ. each weekday. goes
homo for luncheon at ! p. NJ, takes a
short nap and is back at work by 80
to stay until 5. He reads and dictates a
great amount OF correspondence.
my best asset" he said, sis my MEM
ory. which has always been good. You
know l have been with the New York
Central hfty-three years, and my recol-
lection goes back to the days when rec
ords were not kept as carefully as they
are now. ] remember clearly the details
o! business conferences that took place
long ago. Last year something came up
that made II important for the officers
of the railroad to know just what was
done at conference OF nearly fifty
years ago. I was able to tell Just who
was there. including Commodore Van
derbilt, Judge Rainey, the famous Ohio
lawyer Amasa Stone, whose daughter
married John Hay, and the others. I
remembered that Judge Rainey was
asked for an opinion as to the legality
of a matter that was being discussed,
and that his opinion prevailed. All who
were present except myself are dead"
Predicts Republican Victory.
Mr.. Depew apparently has no formulas
for assisting the memory. lie just re-
members. II is a gift to which he
ascribes much of his reputation as an
after dinner speaker. for the stories and
illusions come trooping to the mind
without special bidding. He recalled
President Garfield warning him one eve
ming that some day you will make
CHASTITY failure and will ruin yourself
for life II you do not prepare yourself in
advance" Butexcept for extraordinary
functions such as the Montauk Club
dinners, Mr.. Depew has never written
out a speech beforehand, and even then
he has never lost any sleep worrying.
A remark that he had attended as a
delegate all Republican State conven-
tons and most of the national conven-
tons since 1853 led to a request for his
views on the present political outlook
oh he laughed. "I think the Repuh-
leans will elect a President next year.
That's not mere speculation. but the
cool calculation OF a man who has been
in politics sixty-three years Consider
this: In nearly every country at war
except America the administration that
was in power took in all the parties
and had a coalition government This
is nots bly, true of England and France
With us the war has been carried on
from start to finish wholly by the Dem
ocratic party. so far as the Cabinet is
concerned. No one of the opposition
was invited in. The demonstrated ex-
pert talent OF the Republican party
was ignored and dismissed. Therefore
the burden of spending all those billions
Of dollars. of all the blunders and waste.
has been assumed by one party. Every
great war has been followed by dissatis-
faction. 1t seems to be inevitable
III there had been combination gov
eminent the people might feel inclined
to divide the blame. and, you might say,
both parties might have a chance next
year. But under the circumstances
everything will be put on the Democrats.
and / expect to hear almost a frenzy
OF cries, Turn 'em out The breakdown
in the aircraft programme, the waste in
shipbuildlng. the chaotic mail service. the
delay in paying soldiers allotments and
all the other things that have irritated
the public will be laid to the Democrats
because the Administration has been
wholly Democratic"
The Peace Conference? Mr.. Depew
knows what's the matter with II.
what the people want Ia peace" he
said. ''They believe the League OF Ma
tons Is a side issue which could come
along later. Any man Of long expert
ence in Congress knows what ails the
Peace Conference. The trouble Is that
the delegates have been breathing their
own atmosphere all the time. The story
OF the Black Hole OF Calcutta should
have taught them better. But / remem-
Der how in the Senate we used 10 re-
Nolse afogtd ourselves. hfesth'rg our
own atrnosphers In 'tns same way.