New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-13
THE AyIIETIES or 4 STATESMAN.


That ten-thousanG-dolar banquet In ceebra
ton Of JeffersonIan simplicity seems to be in
a bad way. AS the highest of all possible au
thorites took special pains TO announce with
mesaphonic distinctness the original intention
was 10 have everybody who is anybody in the
Democratic party present. and in addition, as
a particular favor. an occasional nobody, In
order that in this and other respects the gather
ing might wear superficial aspect like unto
that Of a Democratic National Convention. But
the affair had scarcely taken on these prospec-
tive proportions when pleas Of previous en-
gagements began 10 pour in upon the master
Of the feast Mr.. Cleveland, for example,
whose bosom was lately laccrated by the dis
covery that he could not possibly attend the
dinner 10 Mr. Schurz because some friends in
sisted that he should start on a ducking expedi-
ton that very day. felt that he should non be
sufficiently recovered from his distress to make
him a coDgenal companion at the Jeffersonan
banquet: and his was only one in a long list OF
illustrious refusals But Mr. Croker who al
ways tries to look on the bright side of things
just at that point opportuney ascertaincd that
the paltry dimensions of the Metropolitan Opera
House would not permit the original plan to
be carried OUT. and consequently announced
OF the State Democracy.
This difficulty having been overcome in a
peremptory manner befttng a disciple of JEFF
ferson and Andrew Jackson. no other obstacle
has been officially recognized. But it appears
20 he generally understood that some additional
embarra ssments are apprehcnded As Mr. Gro
ker was strollng along the Bowery one day
his eagle eye observed the sign. own Your
Own Dress Suit" 1t struck him as a good
idea. and rs ne was rcorganzng the Demo
cratic Club about that time he resolved to en-
force the command on every member and com
pei him TO wear what he has since learned TO
call evening clothes invariably after dusk with
in its precincts This did not cause 50 much
annoyance as might have been expected. for
a good many members privately acknowledge
that they have never felt 50 much at home
since they began to swcar napkins on their
knees instead Of over their arms There will
therefore be 10 trouble on this score at the
dinner so far as they are concerned. unless in
deed they should forget themselves in the ex-
uberance Of their feelings and occasionally in
rerrupt the proceedings with hoarse cries Of
zone up" Double on the side" etc But IL is
feared that some rural statesmen who are not
Oh TO all the curves Of etiquette will arrive in
town without their own or ANYBODY else's dress
suits TOO late 10 supply the deficiency by sur
reptitious or other means. In thar case they
viii have 10 be firmly debarred from the ban
ouet. for a breach of decOrum is extremely
painful 10 Mr. Croker. II is understood that
he and Mr. Perry Belmont own two dress suits
apiece. and each might cOnceivably loan one
of them 10 q visitor Of the first magnitude. but
their sartorial resources cannot 20 far 10 solve
an awkward problem
Then there is the matter Of thirst. Some
thousands Of bottles Of wine bearing the in
sigma OF celebrated vntages are said 10 have
been selected and put whore they can't get
away preparatory 10 their being put where
they Will do the most good. But Il has been
observed that JeiferSOnan. and especially Jack
sonian, Democrats have low opinion Of soft
stuff" AS n rule. they want red liquor thing
which Mr. Croker would never tolerate in
banquet hall, and unless they have gone
through preliminary course Of training in his
club they will be pretty sure to demand 1t on
the evening Of April 10. They will not get IT,
nor win they compromise ON Scotch and Soda