St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-03-01
The Gridiron Club and Its Dinners.

The Gridiron Club OF Washington, D.
c., is the product Of long process of de-
velopment. Fourteen years ago group
Of the leading newspaper correspondents,
meeting one evening socially, agreed that
it would be good thing to establish
club which should cultivate friendly re-
lation between the members of their
craft and help maintain high standard
of professional responsibility, without
yielding to the influences which have
wrecked so many Of the so.called press
clubs in Washington and other cities.
Its convivial activities were to be con-
fined to dinner once month during
the busy season, and occasional excur-
sions in the spring and summer. The
membership was to be limited to forty.
At later stage the forty full members
attached to their organization ten linn
tied members, residents OF Washington
not connected with the press, but Sc
lected for their accomplishments in vari-
Gus lines tributary to the general qualif-
cation of good fellowship.
The dinner illustrated by the artist OF
Harper's Weekly had several of these
features. The election of Chauncey M.
Depew as senator was a subject of es-
pecial interest, since Mr.. Depew had been
present at least once every year at
dinner. He had enjoyed so heartily the
fun poked at other victims that the club
thought this good opportunity for let
ting him see how it ielt. So it went
through the form of administering the
oath Of office to huge property" vol.
ume of Depew's Jokes, on the pretext that
Depew's Jokes were really all there was
to Depew. Then they called upon Mr..
Depew for few remarks; but, before he
could respond, huge monograph,
which had been concealed in one corner
of the room, began to shoot forth some
of his most familiar anecdotes, to which
he was permitted to supply only the ges-
lures. When Mr.. Depew was finally al
lowed, at late hour, to speak in his
own person, he made one Of his cleverest
addresses, and assured his permanent re-
tention on the clubs invitation list.
Another amusing feature was mock
ratification of the treaty of Paris. The
club resolved itself into the senate in ex-
ecutive session-its president, General III.
V. Boynton, impersonating the vice
president OF the United States, and other
members representing senator's promi-
nently identified with the expansion and
anti. expansion sides of the treaty con-
troversy. An emssary Of the Filipinos,
who was discovered in the gallery, hav-
ing on his person a card OF admission
signed by the senator from Spain, was
ANONYMOUSLY hustled out by captain
Of the Capitol police. Then, after some
debate, the vote was taken, the presiding
officer announcing that, as the roll was
called, "all patriots in favor of the
treaty" should respond aye" and "all
enemies of their country who disapprove
of the treaty" should respond AYE"
also. BY this ingenious means unani-
nous vote for ratification was obtained.
On announcing the result, the chair took
occasion to remind the senator's afresh of
their solemn oath, so often violated,
that the proceedings of an executive SEES.
sion should be kept absolutely secret.
Before the words were fairly out of his
mouth the doors at either end of the din
ing.hall few open and newsboys rushed
in, crying "extras" containing the full
account OF the executive session, includ-
ing the vote. The extras were the real
article, special editions of the Washing
ton Star and Post having been printed
expressly for the occasion.
Still another satire furnished fabric
for the initiation OF new member into
the club. He appeared as an applicant
for admission under the name of the
recently elected polygamist representa-
tive from Utah, and leading behind him
at the ends OF long ribbons, four wives
Since the cultivation of the moral vir-
tues and good citizenship are among the
aims OF the club, it was decided that he
should not be admitted till he had purged
himself of the offence of plural marriage
To this end the services of Chicago
lawyer were called in, who advertised to
procure divorces while you watt" and
who relieved the novitiate OF his wives
by process peculiarly his own. Then
as the forlorn women wept so bitterly
at being left alone in the world, it was
decided to console them by marrying
them off again, but to separate husbands
one apiece. The ex-wives drew lots foi
their new lords, and were duly handed
over, one to famous senator, another
to great political camgaigner, a thirr
to leading diplomatist, and fourth to
member of the cabinet. - Harper:
Weekly.