The age-herald., 1898-01-02
Matt Myr1Or- at
 Mayor Evans Dinner


That was a beautiful dinner Mayor Evans gave to Gov. Johnston. Mayor Evans possesses a special faculty for get ting together at the same table Jovial gen. tlemen. They were all companionable, and so far as I could observe the best of friends. It is true I did not expect any shooting, and if there were any persons present who were not on good terms, there were no outward evidences manifested at the table. As Mayor Evans said, I ex- pect as many as fifty times, there was no political significance" attached to the din- her. There was, during the speeck-making, a remark made which, to my mind, con veyed the idea that it was a kind of a set tling up meeting That is, settling old po- litical scores. Burying the hatchet. Caus- ing the goose to look out of the tenth story window. Making the goose hang high, as it were. All serene. Past differ ences buried in the flowing wine. If that was the object of the dinner, it was splen- did success. Some mighty bright fellows in Birmingham. Good after-dinner speak CTS. Can make good touchdowns at any point of the game Say bright things. Make everybody laugh.
 My observations at dinners teaches me that Mayor Evans can make more speeches at one sitting than any man in the United States Mayor Evans gave a dinner that ranks with many given by the Gridiron club in Washington and the Clover club in Philadelphia, which are two of the great dining organizations of the United States. It must not be supposed that Mayor Evans has developed himself into dining organi- zation. He takes pleasure in getting his friends about him and then making speeches to them. Evans is very good speaker. Gets a little water-logged at times, but comes ashore at the proper place.
 There is more humor Tn Gov. Johnston than people generally know He is known as good story teller. never heard him make a speech before. He has lot of clean-cut humor in him. It is safe to spec ulate on the fact that both the mayot and the governor were on their best behavior Each are candidates, or will be candidates, for reelection. Politicians have the fac ulty of saying smooth things when they want the suffrage of the people. If Mayor Evans and Gov. Johnston have ever been enemies in the past I am sure the result of Mayor Evans dinner was to weld their ties of friendship into bands stronger than that of Birmingham steel. Men who are candidates for reelection to office are al- ways at a disadvantage. In some way they become possessed with the belief that the politicians are against them, while the people always for them.
 I have often thought that 1t would be a good plan to pass a law both in congress and in every legislature to prohibit polti- clans from opposing the nomination or election of any other politician. This, from a point of view of a candidate, would remove all obstacles and give the people untrammelled freedom. I don't believe that Mayor Evans or Gov. Johnston are in the least apprehensve of opposition. They know enough about politics, how ever, to know that there is nothing like having dead sure thing
 Speaking of after-dirner takers Col B. Steiner ranks at the head of the procession It you went to Mir. Steiner's bank to get a note discounted, you would not zine much humor dwelled beneath that frank
 
 taken for stern man of business, and that humor never crept into his we'll shaped noggin. MT. Steiner upon the oc- casion of Mayor Evans dinner didn't in any way resemble a banker He was full of fun if not of wine. Colonel Steiner is almost total abstainer. He made a good speech. witty speech. One among the very good speeches made at the dinner. II t41J very well if printed in a newspaper. There were two other bankers that made speeches. President Barker of the First National bank and General Fucker of the Alabama National bank, P. H.. Earle, president of the Birmingham Trust and Savings company and Henry B. Gray. president of the Peoples Savings bank were there, but they talked not I was a little surprised at Mr. Barker's speech. He thought Birmingham did not have enough : kickers in it. If they were not to be found here, he was in favor of importing them. Whats the use of importing kickers? There is already good supply of im- ported ones here now. I know what am talking about believe there is enough material within the city limits without going outside MT. Barker is a young man to be at the head of big bank. With the exception of handsome Henry B. Gray. president of the Peoples Savings bank. NIT. Barker is the youngest bank president l ever knew. Youthful ideas turn to finance with much rapidity in these pro- gressive days.
 General Fucker is not as good an after dinner speaker as he is during the dinner and after the dinner drinker. General Rucker thought there was entirely too much to eat and not enough to drink I expect the general would not have ob- jected had it been about sixteen to one sixteen drinks to one eat. Of course, Gen. eral Fucker drank a great deal of water and coffee. It was not all wine that he consumed. General Rucker was in his most amiable mood. He was at peace with the world. Mayor Evans and Governor Johnston included, General Fucker Is a great harmonizer. He is friend to every- body and don't believe anybody could know General Rucker without being a friend of his. President Earle, of the Bir-