The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-04
THE DINNER TO SMITH.
State Notabilities Gather in
Honor of the Senator
Elect.
AT ORANGE COUNTY CLUB.
Letters From Cleveland and Crisp
Speeches by Mcpherson
and Werts.
At ORANGE COUNTY CLUB.
Special to the Jersep Cftu Meas.

Special to the Jersep City Ne,rs.
NEWARK, Feb. 4, 1893 = One of the
largest gatherings OF representative pro-
fessional and business men that ever as
sembled in this State, met at the Essex
County Country Club last evening to
tender their congratulations to James
Smith, Jr. on his election as United
States Senator from New jersey. AS
will be seen by the list of those present.
representative in almost equal numbers
of members of both the great political
parties at home as we'll as notable Jer-
seymen from abroad.
The dining room was tastefully decor
ated, the menu was Of the best, the
speeches were bright and witty, and the
occasion was one of the most delightful
that the handsome clubhouse has ever
witnessed.
LETTERS OF REGRET,
A number of letters of regret were re-
ceived, President-slect Cleveland having
sent the following
To the Honorable J. F. Fort.
DEAR SIR:-I am much gratified at the receipt
of your kind invitation to attend the banquet 10
be given in honor Of Senator-elect James Smith,
Jr in your city tomorrow evening
My engagements and occupations at the pres
eut time are SUCH however, that am obliged to
decline. The cares and duties pressing upon me
offer little opportunity for pleasant social relax
atIon, and SO / am compelled to forego the
pleasure of joining you at your banquet.
With kind regards, very truly yours,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Speaker Crisp sent the followinc:-
SPEAKER's RooM,
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, Jan. SS, 1870
Mr. j. f. Fort
Nv DEAR SIR-Your letter inviting me to be
present in Newark February next, at a
banquet to be- rendered to our mutual friend,
Senator Smith, is received. ! know Senator
Smith well and esteem him most highly. he
has rendered me great service In the past,
and would be much gratried to have an OPP
portunity at any time OF showing MN now
highly appreciate it. would be dsiighted
honor, but the truth is it is impossible for me to
get away from here even for day without neg
iectny some of the matters entrusted to me.
1t is so near the end of the Congress that can
not in Justice to business here, leave. saw
Senator Mcpherson today and he has promised
TO explain fully to our rr1ends the reason why
cannot leave.
Thanking you sincerely for your kindness an
Soining with you all ia wishing that our friend
SGnith may live long TO represent you in the
Senate, am, sincerely, your triend,
CHARLES F. CRIsP.
Acknowledgement Husel of Pennsyl-
vania wrote
HARRISBURG, Pa, Jan. 20. 1893.
Mr. J. Frank Fort:
My DEAR SjR-I beg to acknowledge your
favor of January "a and to thank you for your
very bind invitation to the complimentary
pleasure to accept, as my acquaintance with
that gentleman has given me the very
highest estimate of him personally and polite.
ally, but my college alumni association, Of
which am President, absolutely demands my
presence on the same evening. Please be as
sured of my high appreciation of your invita-
lob laat on
VI. u. HENsE1.
Letters were also received from the
Hon. John Kean, Monseigneur Doane,
the Rev. DIR. Frazer and the Hon. G. A.
Hobart.
THE LETTER OF INVITATION.
The letter of invitation which led to
this pleasant feast aud happy interchange
of good fellowship read as follows:-
NEWARK, Jan. %, 1898.
To the Hon James Smith, Jr.:
DEAR SIR:-In your election to represent the
State of New Jersey in the Senate of the United
States for the term of six years from the fourth
day OF March next your friends and
ally take just pride. The honor conferred
upon yourself brings especial honor upon New
ark the city of your birth, the home of your
boyhood and the place of your business career
erations of personal regard impei natural
desire to publicly testify in some suitable man
ferred upon you, and through you, upon the
community of which you have all your life been
an honored citizen.
In our judgement the most fitting way to give
expression to the general sentiment of public
favor with which your selection has been re-
ceiyed, and Of the personal esteem In which you
are held in the city and county of your nativity,
is to tender you public dinner. We therefore
invite you to be cur guest at a banquet given in
your honor on Friday evening, Feb
ruary 3, 1893, and most earnestly
hope that we shall have an early acceptance of
this invitation which, it is unnecessary to assure
you, is as cordial as it Is non-political.
With great respect, your friends,
JOIN f. DRYDEN,
GEORGE B. JENKINsoN
GoTTFRIED KRuEGER,
SAMUEL ATwATER.
WILLIAM H. CUhTIS,
J. FRANK FORT,
e. B. GADDIs,
SAMUEL kLoTZ,
CHARLES A. STERLING.
There were covers laid for 125 III the
ballroom, private dining room and restau-
rant of the big club house, and the tables
we're prettily decorated with banks Of cut
flowers. The ball and reception rooms
were lined with PALMS and NOTED plants.
aud an orchestra played from behind
screen of palms under the winding STAIR
case.
Mr.. Smith held an informal reception
on his arrival, and sat down at the table
of honor at eight O'Clock.
AT THE DINNER.
The guests table was placed opposite
the baywindow in the large assembly
room.
John F. Dryden, who presided. had at
his right James Smith. Jr.. William F.
Herrity, of Philadelphia, Senator Nc
Pksrson and George "A. Halsey, and at
his left Governor Werts, ex-senator
Seweil and a. @. Keasbey.
Judge Fort, who acted as toastm aster,
sat at the opposite end OF the table, hav-
ing at his right Ex-Governor Green, Judge
Kirkpatrick and H. 5. Little, and at his
left Ex-Governor Bedle, President Adrain
of the Senate, and Comptroller Heppen-
heimer.
Mr.. Dryden called the company to-
pether and said that the banquet was
rendered Mr.. Smith by his friends and
neigh bors irrespective of political affilia
tions, and that it had no political signii-
canoe whatever They rejoiced that so
high an honor had fallen on fellow citi-
zen, and that Essex county was honored
at the same time. He went on to say
that instead of theorists, We need men of
business experience TO represent us in
Congress. and spoke of Mr.. Smith In the
highest terms as representing this ele-
nient.
1--WE have not had enough OF these
honors of late,'' he said. although we
have produced many great men and are
capable OF producing many more lUp-