ST. PATRICK'S DAY USHERED IN WITH A GREAT BANQUET

# ST. PATRICK'S DAY USHERED IN WITH A GREAT BANQUET ## Irish-Americans of Mining Metropolis and Their Guests Have Delightful Time at Silver Bow Club—Splendid Addresses on Topics Having to Do With Annual Observance Are Delivered—Plans Have Been Made for Entertainment Today. *The Butte Miner, Tuesday, March 17, 1914, p. 1, cols. 1-2. Vol. LI No. 177. Front-page lead.* Truly patriotic was the meeting of Irish-Americans last night at the Silver Bow club on the occasion of their sixth annual celebration of St. Patrick's day. The spacious dining room of the club was well filled and the arrangements made by the committee in charge of the banquet were carried out in perfect accord. Senator H. A. Gallwey presided as toastmaster. It naturally followed that the speaking program was carried out with no hitches. Justice W. L. Holloway, as the first speaker, delivered a splendid address upon "The President." He told of the presidents from Washington to Wilson, explaining that all is not "milk and honey" in the White house. The speaker paid nice tribute to President Woodrow Wilson. W. W. Walsworth spoke feelingly on "Our Country." Mr. Walsworth's address was greatly appreciated and he received a warm ovation. John H. Tolan, a prominent Missoula attorney, talked about "Montana." Attorney T. J. Walker pleased all with a discussion on the theme of the evening. "The Irish-American." Attorney W. B. Rodgers closed the program for the evening with an excellent address entitled, "St. Patrick's Day." The banquet was served in excellent style, with the following as the menu: Martini cocktail Cream of tomato soup Cheese straws Celery — Salted almonds — Olives Sauterne — Crab a la Newberg Lacrima Christi Broiled tenderloin steak, sauce Bernaise New Potatoes — Fresh asparagus Punch, creme de menthe Grapefruit salad Champagne wafers Cheese — Apple pie, a la mode — Crackers Cigars — Coffee — Cigarettes ## The Program. Toastmaster—Senator H. A. Gallwey. "—And still the wonder grew, That one small head should carry all he knew." —Goldsmith: "Deserted Village." "The President" ...... Hon. W. L. Holloway, associate justice supreme court National airs ................ Orchestra "Our Country" .... W. W. Walsworth Song—"I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" ........ James N. Murphy "Montana" ............ John H. Tolan "Montana" .................. Orchestra "The Irish-American" .................................... Thomas J. Walker Song—"The Minstrel Boy" ..... Ed Lee "St. Patrick's Day" .... W. B. Rodgers "The Star Spangled Banner" ................ Ensemble ## Holloway's Remarks. "This might well be termed an age of universal criticism," said Justice Holloway. "It is not a matter of regret on my part, however, for no man in public life is exempt and no one should be. I merely direct attention to the fact in prefacing my remarks, which will deviate somewhat from the beaten track usually pursued upon an occasion of this character. "Much of this criticism of our public men is fully justified, but much more of it has no foundation whatever. It has become a standing joke in this country that every time a man comes upon the stage of action intent upon accomplishing something of substantial worth or merit, the cry is immediately raised that the constitution forbids it. "One would naturally be led to suppose that the fundamental law of this good land of ours was but a makeshift of the American colonies to meet some pressing demand of a day and to be outworn and outlived with the coming of a new decade, but, of course, that is not true. "Our constitution does not represent some spontaneous outburst of the people for a governmental charter, and neither was it the outgrowth of mere political theorizing. It was literally wrung from the colonists out of the grinding necessities of the times, but fortunately for our country it was written by patriotic, far-seeing statesmen to meet, not only the immediate needs of the dying days of the eighteenth century, but as well the enlarging and changing needs of a rapidly developing country in all the years to come. "A survey of the days of the confederation disclosed to the framers of our constitution a monumental paradox in government: a sovereign people without sovereignty; a compact of colonies without authority; public officers without responsibility and a nation without a national government. "The life of the people was made the basis of the constitution and as the framers could forsee the expansion and enlargement of that life, so they wrote in comprehensive terms a document susceptible of application to new and strange circumstances and conditions. They wrought with expanded visions and with prophetic foresight. They builded even better than they knew, for, after a century and a quarter of the most marvelous development, all of its fundamental principles are found to be adequate to meet the necessities and conveniences of 90,000,000 people occupying all of continental United States and extended far out to the islands of the seas, and engaged in every character of enterprise which the ingenuity of man can devise. "Our constitution was intended to keep pace with the advancing public and private life of the people and in its construction and application statesmen and jurists alike are bound to consider it in the light of its own history. It comprehends a government of three co-ordinate but mutually dependent departments, and since there is no superior or inferior among them the question of precedence ought never to arise. The legislative, executive and judicial branches are placed upon a plane of absolute equality before the law, and yet one of the most amusing incidents of Washington life is that never-ending controversy between these same departments of our democratic government over who shall take precedence in social affairs. No president in recent years has dared to invite the speaker of the house and the chief justice to the same function for fear of a personal encounter between those worthy dignitaries over who should pass through the door into the dining room first. ## President's Duty. "But from the very nature of the duties of their offices, the legislative and executive departments bear the most intimate relationship. The authority conferred upon the president to recommend legislation, to veto bills already passed and to initiate treaties, makes of him in contemplation of the Constitution an important factor in the process of lawmaking. Much has been said in and out of the congress in criticism of some supposed encroachments by presidents in recent years, upon the prerogatives of the lawmakers, but with that hue and cry I never had any sympathy. It may be granted that changes have taken place since our government was instituted; that in its original conception no provision was made for politicians or political parties, but this is true, that every article of the Constitution declares a principle or fixes a definite responsibility. It is quite true that in the beginning presidential electors were chosen to exercise their judgment and discretion in choosing a president, and it is equally true that no one of them has performed that function in the last hundred years, but only because the growth of our country, its great increase in population and its expanded territory, called for the growth and development of political parties to assume responsibility for presidential nominations, for the policies to be pursued and the character of laws to be enacted. "Necessity is said to be the mother of invention and that demand of the people for some agency through which they could be enlightened before election upon the character of men and measures at issue, justified the existence of our great political organizations, and a reasonable measure of party discipline and control. "With more than 400 members in the national house of representatives today, the privilege of unlimited debate would seal the doom of any important legislative measure. We have reached that period in our national life when by a natural process of evolution our government has become a government of political parties. "While in theory the minority is at the mercy of the majority, the intelligent patriotism which controls the actions of our public men is a sufficient safeguard against any possible perils. ## Lead or Be Led. "The president is everywhere considered to be the leader of his party and experienc [sic] has demonstrated that he must lead or be led, for there is no neutral zone in political warfare. The administration is his administration and for all of its sins of omission and commission he is held to strict account. It would be unjust and therefore un-American to hold him responsible for so large a measure of party success or failure and deny to him any compensating influence in shaping party policy. I have no sympathy with the cry against presidential coercionIreland: movements, law & landCoercion ActsEmergency laws for Ireland that suspended ordinary legal protections; the act of 1881 allowed imprisonment without trial of those "reasonably suspected" of agrarian offences.More in Key terms → of members of the congress. I honor the man who sits in the White house tonight, for his native honesty and his dogged determination that the members of his own party shall keep faith with the people who elected them. The son of a minister of the gospel, he did not enjoy in youth all the advantages which wealth or competence can offer to ambition, but he early learned the lesson that every marked success among our people has resulted from the spur of necessity, and that with a liberal education and high ideals of life every gate could be unbarred and every avenue would be open to him. His fight for an education toughened the fibers of his American manhood and developed that force of character by which he now controls men and accomplishes results. "No mere inert mass of flesh, blood, bones and adipose tissue can ever fill the presidency of this nation to the satisfaction of the people. Neither have I any more sympathy with the critics of the party caucus. Upon the party in power rests the responsibility for legislation and if the results are satisfactory the people will be little concerned with the matter of procedure. That party will receive the commendation or condemnation of the people as it accomplishes or fails to accomplish the ends which called it into power. ## All Have Been Great. "From Washington to Wilson our country has been most fortunate in the selection of men for the high office of president—an office which carries greater power and responsibility than are bestowed upon any crowned head of Europe. The poorest of our presidents possessed a high sense of patriotism and public duty, and gave to his country the best service of which he was competent. In my humble judgment the best of them has lowered the standard of his administration in seeking re-election, but no one of them all has ever resorted to questionable expedients to perpetuate himself in power. Everyone has seemed to realize the truth of President Hayes' statement: 'He serves his party best who serves his country best.' "As our population increases; as our industrial system becomes more and more complex, the functions of the presidential office will become more and more important and the burden of its responsibilities greater and greater. The American people are generous to a fault They are willing to give to every man a fair chance. They rely with confidence upon the integrity of their public servants and upon the sense of justice in those in immediate authority. "May they ever exact of their presidents the same high standard of manhood (Continued on Page Two—Col. One.) [continued on p. 2, col. 1; not in the archive] *[Text checked against the page scan at 3x (the singer's initial "N." at 8x and 12x), 21 Oct 2026, starting from the tile-by-tile page reading of 20-21 Oct 2026. The menu and the program are set as centred lines and dot leaders on the page; the dash and dot spacing here is ours.]*