merely look back upon this great war as the beginning of a time of improved international relations, of settled peace, of deliberate refusal to pour out oceans of blood to satisfy some notion of domination; but that in addition to those blessings the war and what happens after the war may prove to be the beginning of a revivified civilization which will be felt in all departments of human activity, which will not merely touch the material but also the spiritual side of human nature, and which will make the second decade of the twentieth century memorable in the history of mankind.

At a luncheon which was served later in the library of the Chamber's building, Mr. Balfour made a further brief speech in which he said: "I shall tell them (in England) that this great Republic is not only warmly, but passionately, engaged on the side of the Allies. From the very beginning of this great struggle, there has been the profoundest sympathy for us from every one in this country who had the imagination to grasp what was going on. Since August 1, 1914, the fight has been for the highest spiritual advantages of mankind, and without a petty thought or ambition."

Mr. Choate, following Mr. Balfour, in a few words of warm appreciation of the courtesies extended to the British Commission, said that once while he was in London and calling on Lord Salisbury he looked through a window in the park and exclaimed: "What a shame!" Lord Salisbury sprang to his feet and asked what he was referring to, and Mr. Choate replied: "Look at those tramps lying on the grass in that beautiful park, which should be devoted to little children and their nurses and to ladies and others who would more properly fit the surroundings." "Well," said Lord Salisbury, "the men are tired. What would you have them do?" "Why," said Mr. Choate, "in New York we would not stand that for a moment." "What would you do in New York?" inquired Lord Salisbury. Mr. Choate said: "A policeman would order them to move on, and if they did not do so they would be locked up." Lord Salisbury then remarked: "In

America you evidently do not know what real personal liberty is."

This was the last speech that Mr. Choate ever made, for he died on May 12, 1917, two days later.

An informal luncheon was tendered on November 12, 1917, by the President of the Chamber and the Executive Committee, to Sir Stephenson Kent and other members of the Special Commission of the British Ministry of Munitions, then on a visit to the United States in the interest of increased industrial efficiency in the production of war supplies. Brief speeches were made by President Outerbridge and several members of the Commission.

An occasion which will always be held memorable by the members of the Chamber was the reception given, on March 7, 1918, to the Most Reverend Cosmo Gordon Lang, Lord Archbishop of York, Primate of England. The Archbishop had arrived recently in the country for a visit of seven weeks in response to the invitation of the War Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States. The object of his visit, as stated by himself, was to emphasize the importance which the help of America had been to the Allied Cause, and to appeal to Americans to strengthen and keep strong their great contribution. He made a tour of the principal cities, preaching in churches and addressing audiences of various kinds. He appeared before the Chamber at its regular monthly meeting, when the Great Hall was filled to overflowing with members and invited guests. The President, E. H. Outerbridge, greeted him in a brief address in which he assured him that there had not been a time since August 4, 1914, in which the great masses of the people of the United States had not admired and believed in the justice and chivalry of England's cause. "Now that we see clearly shining," he continued, "the pure ideals and principles upon which our fathers founded this nation, and which we are bound to hand down to posterity unimpaired; now

that we have joined hands with England to fight for the salvation of the world, we shall not let go until we have achieved the victory or until death do us part."

In concluding, Mr. Outerbridge, in the name of the Chamber, welcomed the Archbishop, first, for what he had been and what he had done "in leading men onward and upward in their paths through life"; second, as "a most distinguished representative of that nation with which we are now allied"; and, third, because "we feel that your presence here at this time is a benediction upon what we have done in the past and an inspiration and strengthening of our hope and courage for what we have to face in the future."

The address of the Archbishop, distinguished by deep feeling, intense earnestness, and great charm of delivery, fairly held his audience spellbound. He spoke of the persons present as "those who are here controlling the power-house of this great nation," and said that, considering all the circumstances, he must needs regard the occasion as one of the greatest honors of his life. "I doubt very much," he added, "whether there is any Chamber of Commerce in the world which would have expected its President to speak as yours has done, and which would have shown its capacity to rise to the vision and the ideals which he put before you. I have always said across the ocean, and have abundant reason to repeat it here, that what seems to me the great strength of this people and the great strength that it is bringing into our common cause, is its singular combination of high idealism with a resolute and determined practical energy. And I think what has moved me to-day almost more than anything else is that I should feel in the midst of a number of men daily concerned with the most practical necessities and operations of business, this radiating and instantaneous response to the appeal of a high ideal."

After speaking of what the war was costing England in life and treasure, the work that England was doing in manufac

turing munitions and material with which to carry on the war, and the enormous advances England had made to its allies, he said, in regard to the aid that the United States might give: "You will, I know, do your utmost; because I realize the force of public opinion in America, upon the administration in America, which such a body as this represents. You will do your best to see that nothing blocks the way of the real desire of the American people to get this thing done and this help rendered."

In closing, the Archbishop profoundly moved the assemblage by saying: "I know the tasks before us will be great and the strain will be heavy, and, therefore, with a full heart, I will avail myself of a word that left the lips of your President at the close of his moving speech; and as one who holds an office in the service of God older than the crown of our United England, I would ask the privilege as I speak to you, by invoking upon you, Mr. President and gentlemen, in the work of this Chamber and in the struggles of these coming years, the blessing and guidance of Him upon whose will the achievement of our victory must depend.'

CHAPTER XLIII

BROAD SCOPE OF LATER WORK

REVIVAL OF AMERICAN SHIPPING-RAPID TRANSIT-STATE

POLICE-NEW WATER-SUPPLY

1900-1918

THE range of the Chamber's activities during more recent years has broadened steadily and has included every question of importance in city, state, and national affairs. It is impossible within the limits of this volume to take up in detail the proceedings of the Chamber in regard to all of these. A few of the more notable instances may be cited as worthy of special mention.

Always interested in the revival of American shipping, the Chamber has supported every effort in that direction. It gave special attention between 1880 and 1900 to the question of ship subsidies, advocating the passage of various measures of the kind which were proposed in Congress. After war was declared by Germany in August, 1914, the Chamber took up the question of the restoration of the American Merchant Marine in foreign trade and appointed a special committee of five members to consider and report. This committee made a report at the Chamber's regular meeting on January 7, 1915, in which they disapproved the ship purchase bill which was pending in Congress and submitted a constructive plan of their own. The report was adopted, after a full discussion in several successive meetings, and the suggested substitute plan was approved, but the matter was not pressed further because of the creation of the Federal Shipping Board.

After the control of rapid-transit problems was transferred to the Public Service Commission, the Chamber continued