Smyrna times., 1898-03-02
The Delaware Society Dinner, in New
York City.
For the Smyrna Times.


matter of interest to every Delawar-
can.
The dinner was held at Delmonico's
new building), 44th street and 5th
avenue, Feb. 18th.
The Society was formed eight years
ago for the purpose of bringing to-
gether annually the native Delawar-
cans now resident in New York and
vicinity and for the purpose of preserv-
ing old friendships and prom oting
friendly relations between the Della
wareans now located in that city. The
Delawareans were apparently the first
to realize that unless such societies
were formed, the Ohio Society would
soon take in the entire City of New
York.
The officers for the years 1897 and
1898 were as follows: w. H. Stayton,
President; J. A. B. Dilworth, First
Vice-President; j. H. Marshall, Sec
ond Vice-President; S L. McGOnigal,
L
A business meeting waa held at 6
O'Clock. Officers for the ensuing year
were elected as fellows: w. H. Stayton,
President: j. A. b. Dilworth, First
Vice-President; Dr.J H. Marshall, Sec
Ond Vice-President; S. L. McGonigal,
Secretary; R. E. Cochran, Treasurer.
At this meeting resolutions were
adopted eulosizing the memory of the
late DR.. Maloney, a member of the
Executive Committee, who died re-
Gently.
Special efforts have been made dur
ing the year to increase the member
ship of the Society, and the number
of members has been increased from
III to 1852.
The dinner was served at seven
o'clock Covers ere'laid for seventy
guests, all of whom were on hand.
This is the largest attendance in the
history of the Society, and shows a
steady increase in interest
The tables were arranged in the
shape Of an 'I', the speakers being
seated across the end.
W. H. StaytoD, the President, pre-
| sided, at his right side Hon. Ebe w.
| Tunnel, the Governor of Delaware,
the guest of honor of the evening
at his left Judge Edward G.. Bradford,
of the United States District Court
for the District of Delaware The
other persons seated at the guest table
were Hon. John Biggs, Mr.. Charles
E. Hughes, Mr.. Medford H. CahOon.
At the close of the dinner the mem
ber rose and drank the health of Gov
ernor Tunnel, who replied in a brief
speech expressing his thanks for the
compliment and his pleasure at being
able to come on to look out for stray
Chickens of the Blue Hen"
The Governor was followed by Judge
Bradford, who, in response to toast
''The State of Delaware" traced in
outline the history of the State through
the Colonial and Revolutionary period
and her subsequent statehood, dwell
ing with pride on the fact that Della
ware was the first state to adopt the
Federal Constitution, and consequently
that she was the first member of the
United States of America. At the close
of Judge Bradfords speech, the SOci.
ETY. sang their association hymn, "Del
aware, my Delaware"
The toast ''Delaware's New COnsti
tuition" was responded to by Hon.
John Biggs, who presided over the
Convention which framed the COnsti
tuition recently adopted. Mr. Biggs
is the son of Ex-Governor Biggs, who
was a great favorite with the members
of the Delaware Society, and his son
at his first appearance before the Soci
ETY., was greeted with great enthusiasm
Mr.. Charles E. Hughes, of New
York, responded to the toast of ''The
Greater New York" He confessed
his error in not having been born il
Delaware, and said that New Yorker
were doing their very best to atone fO
this mistake by cordially welcoming
to the greater city all those who cal
be induced to stray from the DiamonC
State.
Mr.. Medford H. CahoOn, of Viii
mington, one of Delaware's best writ
ers and speakers and the writer ant
composer of the various patriotic song
sung during the evening, responded t.
the toast "Caesar Rodney" Delaware
signer of the Declaration of Independ
ence, and told of Rodney's varied la
bors in the fields of statemenship, arm
and finance, of his friendship for Wash
ington, and of his great services to tn,
country and State during Revolution
ary times.
-, Mr.. II. B. B. Stapler, an ex-Presi
dent of the Society, respOned to tn
toast "The State of New York, " an,
on behalf of the Delawarearns thanke
the New Workers for a welcome s.
honest aud hearty that every membe
of the Society shares his affection
:. equally between the Empire and tn
Diamond States.
Mr.. Wilson l.. Cannon, formerly G
Dover, Delaware, and the son of Wi
son Lee Cannon, one of the mos
prominent of the Delawareans, re
} sponded to the toast, "John M. Clay
$ ton; and told of Clayton's service
$ as Secretary of State, as Senator, an
as negotiator of the celebrated Clay
ton-Bulwer treaty, which for ha
century has controlled the relation
between this country and Great Br
tain.
: A copy of the bill of fare and of tn
songs sung during the evening is a
tached hereto.
Among the guests present, in add
tion to those already named, were MI
Harry Alloway, Mr.. Herbert Noble
Mr.. John w. Houston, Mr.. S. l
q Houston, of Delaware, DR.. Burton