The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-29

Sharp Satire on the Alleged Secrecy
of Senate Executive Sessions
MormOnism Given a Hard Hit
Standardized Depew's Jokes Re-
son and Davis Among the Guests.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The Grid
iron club gave it's fourteenth annual
dinner at the Arlington hotel tonight
Inc club is composed of forty Wash
lngton newspaper correspondents who
nave made speciality of the enter
tainment of distinguished guests at
dlnners OF a unique character More
imam 1|5 persons were present tonight
including men from every sphere of
public affairs, from different quarters
OF the globe. Many novel features Of
entertainment We're introduced
Gen. Henry v. Boynton, the newly
elected president Of the club, occupied
the head of the table The tables.
which were arranged to resemble a.
gr1diron, were covered with ferns. in
which pink roses and orchids were i'm
beded
President Boynton, in a patriotic ut
terance, opened with a toast to the
president of the United States, an in
novation which he commended, saving.
In this new time the Gridiron club
desires to make new suggestion con-
corning toasts to the president of the
United States. There is an Anglo
Saxon nation across the sea whose
boast for many decades has been that
it rules the waves and that the sun
never sets on it's dominion. At all it's
1easts, whether in polar regions or
n ~ Inn.
the first toast is The Queen There
is now another Anglo-Saxon nation this
side the sea, upon whose flag of stars
thessun shines increasingly. 1t Is as
II the trumpet of resurrection had been
sounded for the nation, calling it in the
tW1nkllng of an eye to new life. to
wider responsibilities, to broader fields
OF patriotic effort, to commanding DO
slt1on among the powers of the earth.
Let .Anglo-Saxon forms follow our
drum beat around the world, and at all
our feasts, whether where the ice
breaks within the Arctic circle
where temperate regions smile or
where tropic airs blow softly. let the
first toast be always The President
Among the speakers Of the evening
We're: Senator's Foraker and Frye,
secretary Wilson, Mr.. WI, the Chinese
minister; Mr.. Komura the Japanese
minister; Gen. Corbin, Admiral SchIev
Mr.. Derew, Mr.. O'Meara and Mr.
Allen
r The menu was a calendar for 1899
the months surrounding a joIIy-looking
monk, who held gridiron to his brea ST
and seemed to invite enjoyment and
promise good cheer.
ON THE GRIDIRON.
The initiation Of Henry Hall afforded
an opportunity for a play upon the
Mormon question. As he came into the
room he was followed by four alleged
wives, personated by members of the
club in female costumes, who were at
tached to him by gaily colored ribbons.
Mr. Hall was not allowed admission
to the club until divorces had been Sc
cured, which were speedily granted
with the assistance of a Chicago law
yer The wailing grass widows were
provided for by lottery, each pulling
out of basket large card with the
name of some prominent guest attach
ed. proceeding which created much
mirth.
The Gridiron club then ratified the
treaty of peace. A mock executive SEES
sion Of the senate was held, different
members Of the club impersonatine
senators prominently identified either
for or against the treaty. President
Boynton declared that the greatest
secrecy must be maintained as to the
action taken, stating that on no ac-
count should the proceedings in execu-
tive session be allowed to come to the
public. As he ceased speaking a great
clamor was heard at the doors. and
Crosby N. Noyes. editor of the Star,
came in at one door with large bundle
of extra Stars under his arm, while
Reriah Wilkins, editor of the Post, en-
tered at another with as many extra
Posts. Cries of extra Star" and Eek
ira Post" together with "all about the
ratification of the peace treaty in ex-
ecuttve session" were loudly voiced by
the two gentlemen, and the papers
containing the detailed vote and the
proceedings of the secret session were
distributed among the guests, to the
great amusement of the many senators
present.
The swearing in of Senator-elect
So