carry forward with greater ease the reforms which should be the object and aim and interests of this Club. We hope to prosper so that in 1892, when the paint trade of New York, Washington and St. Louis come here to attend the World's Fair, we can entertain them in a manner that will remind them that when Columbus discovered America , it was not only-Manhattan Island and the Potomac flats and Shaw's Garden that was discovered, but the entire continent extending from ocean to ocean, where we are to have in the twentieth century, according to Bellamy, no army, no navy, no merchants, no money, no servant girls, no saloons, no courthouses - consequently few lawyers and judges - it is expected that the Cronin trial will be finished by that time - but we will have a grand industrial army controlled and operated by a happy and contented people, sharing alike in the profits of the industries, all of which will be in keeping with the greatness of the nation. What an Utopia to contemplate? In the meantime, we live in a different era - an era in which competition is severe, requiring the best thought and patience, of organizations like this, to correct abuses and to enable us to make from our business a profit compensating us for the capital invested and the time and energy devoted to its pursuit. In my opinion the solution of our difficulties lies in co-operation, and I believe the membership of this Club is equal to the occasion. I believe that they will commit no step backward, but that they will grasp and solve the difficult problems and that our progress will be onward and upward, until Chicago stands without a peer in the manufacture and sale of paints, oils and varnish.

Enthusiastic applause followed these remarks.

President Vrooman then introduced the distinguished guest of the evening, in these well-chosen words:

As a soldier,as a statesman, as a jurist, the name of Gresham is a part of the history of our land (Applause). One cannot be written without the other. I now have the honor, gentlemen, of presenting to you Judge Walter Q. Gresham, who will address you.

Judge Gresham. - Gentlemen: I fear that you have mistaken this introduction of your president to have been somewhat sought on my part. I am invited as your guest, and not as one who is expected to address you. I have enjoyed the evening very much, and why should I be called upon to address an assemblage of business men - this body of men representing a particular branch of trade - the oil, paint and varnish business?

It is not because I know anything about it. It is safe to say that I know less about it - very much less - than any one else in this room. What the president's good friend said to him on the street, it would be well for me to observe-not to

Judge Gresham's speech is given verbatalk too much. That was good advice. It would be well for many men if they received such advice and heeded it. Time was when men were in demand simply because they could Calk whether they said anything or not. The men who are in demand now are men who can think and act.

Some of you are old enough to remember the campaign of 1858, in which Mr. Lincoln and Judge Douglass canvassed this state as representatives of the two great parties. It was a famous campaign. Perhaps such a campaign never occurred before. Certainly, there has not been such a match in this country since, in any state.

Mr. Lincoln's friends gave him a reception at Bloomington, as Judge Douglass' friends did also. A gentleman was selected who was happy - who was gifted - -in the way of speech. He could talk gracefully and pleasantly, whether he said much or not. He was very happy, on that occasion, receiving and presenting Mr. Lincoln to the people, but Mr. Lincoln was not quite so happy in his response as the Judge was in his remarks - Mr. Lincoln's mind was such that he needed some question to discuss - he could not talk into the air very well--his little speech was not satisfactory to him, perhaps not to his friends. It was not his forte. And, at the dinner party, he paid the gentleman who made the address a rather questionable compliment. Addressing him, he said: "Judge, you have one talent that I envy you the possession of very much." The judge was flattered. Said he, "Mr. Lincoln, what is that, if I may ask?" "Judge, it is the ability to talk as you do and not say anything."

There are such men. But, as I said, their occupation is pretty much gone, and it is well it is so. I am glad to see a meeting of this kind to-night. You, gentlemen, are no doubt engaged in sharp rivalry, but you meet around this social board in a friendly way, and discuss questions affecting your welfare. What you see here is going on in other departments of trade. It shows the mental activity of those who attend them. These meetings stimulate thought. You learn your own business better; and, by the way, while I do not understand this question of paint, oil and other things, there is one thing that I can observe and do observe. And that is this: There is no longer the opportunity for individual enterprise that existed twenty-five years ago,

I am not going to enter into a discussion of this question. I am not going to say anything about who is right or who is wrong. It is not the time nor is it the place. But, with these large bodies of associated capital, which we find not only in your business but in all departments of trade, what show is there for merely individual enterprises? Very little. What is going to be the outcome of it? I do not know. The time has come when the business men of the country must assert tim in both reports, and this is also, on page 267, correctly folthemselves. We have too many mere talkers now in our national and state legislatures. What we need is more men of practical business experience - men who understand the economic questions which are forcing themselves to the front. It would be infinitely better for our country if we had more good business men in Congress. Legislation would be better. I hope you give me credit for candor and not think that I am trying to flatter you, when I say that it is not true, as some people suppose, that the talent of thi3 country is in the professions, that the men of brains are found in the professions. The men of ability in this country are largely in business enterprises. The professions are amounting to less and less all the time. I think I may safely say that, in my profession, the standard is not as high as it was twenty-five years ago. That is to say, the percentage of able men is not as great as it was then. I will simply refer to some of the questions - one in particular. You all know that we have an international trade congress here, to be in session at Washington - I believe it is mainly on wheels, though (Applause) - to consider questions affecting the welfare not only of the United States, but of ocher countries upon this continent. Suppose we had had practical business men - more practical business men-in Congress for the last generation, don't you think the business men of this country would have been transacting more business, would have been exchanging more goods with the South American countries? Why is it that only a small percentage of the business done in the countries south of us finds its way here? Why is it that the business men of this country are not engaged more in commerce with the countries south of us? Then conditions should favor us, and yet we are scarcely known there as merchants and traders. It affects you. It affects the welfare of the whole country. We need legislation there. We should not be controlled or governed by mere sentiments or prejudice. It does not matter what our political ideas are. This is a practical question. There is a field and we should occupy it. We can occupy it, and if we do not it is our own fault. We are standing in our own light. We should have more than fifty per cent. Instead of that we have less than ten per cent. of it. Then we need legislation which will open the doors to those countries. I do not care what it is. I am no free trader, but I am net going to make a political speech here. I do not think the conditions under which we are now living can justify free trade. We cannot yet handle the commerce of the world. Neither am I in favor of the making of laws which deny to our business men the opportunity to enjoy the trade of other countries. Let us modify our laws.