New-York tribune., 1921-05-24

TIeSlGSnC hdTQl0S COAipdiSQ LuS
business situation of the country to-
day with that prevailing at the time
The New York Commercial was founded
125 years ago, in his address at the
dinner at the Hotel Commodore in
celebration Of the papers 125th birth
day, saying that now, as then, the
problems, would be solved by honesty,
fair dealing and hard work His adj
dress follows:
"Mr. Toastmaster and gentlemen:
''ft is a pleasure to join in the COM
memoration of an anniversary of busl-
ness, for business is the most engross-
ing affair of the world. 1t is no con-
fession of unworthy vanity to say it
Is especially engrossing in America,
because it is the very life blood of
material existence.
$50 / have come; Mr.. Whitman, to
greet you, Your staff, your associates
and the splendid company of your
friends, here assembled You and your
predecessors, sir, have done a continu-
ing work of generations TOR the cause
of American business, which it is a
pleasure to acknowledge, and on which
you are entitled to be highly compli-
mented. The high place which we have
given to business in the modern COM
Jnunity could not be more eloquently
Ia6teSted than in this gathering. 1t has
Wrought together men who are proud
ITO be the workers, organizers, produ-
toers, directors of business life, and
whom the community has recognized
as Its leaders in the most diversified
realms. Perhaps morsel of special
satisfaction may be permitted to me,
because, as newspaper man myself,
find here the evidence of the stability,
the permanence, the firm hold in public
regard of the particular business that
has engaged my own efforts. You are
atfording us proof of what may be
achieved under the guidance of high
Ideals and continuing policy of sim
eere, useful service.
Ne may as we'll pause q moment to
consider what such background seems
TO commercial business, such as your
own. The New York Commercial comes
down to us through a century and
quarter of splendid traditions. 1t is
= good to think that almost the only
thing that has remained constant, un-
changing in the business world since
this paper was founded is the su-
premacy of sound principle and high
purpose, which have been it's inspira-
tion in the past, which guide it to-day,
and which constitute heritage of dis
t!nguished merit.
Record of Transformation
IF we could have summoned for this
occasion the men who prepared and
issued the first numbers OF the old
New York Price Current, lineal pro-
genitor of The Commercial, their
amazement at material changes, their
satisfaction in the vinGication of right
policies, would offer eloquent testi-
mony. They would see the magic city
of a re-made world where they knew
struggling colonial port They would
that city as they knew in the entire
country. They would learn that here
is the business and financial lodestone
of a new world. The revolution in
methods of production, the introduc-
tion of the factory system, the marvels
of steam and electricity, the railroad
and the steamship, the summoning Of
science as the handmaiden to progress
and the minister to human welfare
these things they would see, and they
would exclaim at last: Has nothing
been left unchanged in this magic
century of an Aladdin's world?'
And we would reply to them to-
night: Yes, one thing remains un-
changed. The generations do not out
grow 1t. Invention does not supersede
IT. Mankind can no more prosper with
cut IT than it could in the earlier day
OF simple manners and methods. That
one continuing, unchanging and un-
changeable thing is character. Here
You may view one of its monuments
Here you will see how through all mu-
tations the structure built with con-
sclence as its architect and character
as It's cornerstone is destined to stand,
iear square and firm. Here you see the
business growth from those seeds of
character and integrity which you
planted 1t hes lived and grown in
three centuries, but it has the same
sow that You implanted in the DAYS of
humble beginnings
on an occasion such as this, and in
ehs presence OF such an inspiration. IL
WIZ not be inappropriate to congider
lor moment the position, duties and
tespensiolllties of men who are lead
ers Of business
me New York Commercial was
1onmded as IN the time when the vonnS
on;n;n,, ;aDaae was distracted by division OF
EUROPE. The noble Waghineton wv wv
peIhg iampooned and traduced 49, w.
s ms administration was comm;tted -
eho say treaty with Great Brits,n
Isl ,.ass OF 5ne nations commercial COWS,
naass. - represented an effort 10 es-
system, and in the period when nv, "a q
were too weak TO sustain fora;"n
connict 1t served to POSTPONE that A.
aster. But only to postpone ;t. for
with every wish to preserve the neaca
IT was impossible We fought ware
with France and England, as incjdents
to the French revolutionary and Nsa
noleonie upheaval.
1t has been too often assumed that
our recent involvement in the troubles
Of Europe marked a new development
IN our affairs. In fact, ii was an ol9
story. We never were and never will
be able to maintain isolation. But our
part and our place in international
afsirs are strikingly changed. II is