Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-14
JEfFERSONIANS
Honor His Memory and Also
RegaIe Themselves.
Col. VIM. J. Bryan Addresses the
Faithful at Milwaukee.
New Workers May Shock Western Brethren by
Floral Extravaganza.

New York, April lj.-lne ulhLei VI
the Democratic Club in honor OF the
anniversary of the birth of Thomas
jefferson was held. tonight. at the
Metropolitan Opera house. Looking
from the tiers to the floor of the vast
dining halls the tables seemed ike
great beds of roses. The % tables
were on either side of the two guest
tables Each table was piled with
mass of roses and ferns. SO abundant
were the flowers that some of the
guests were hardly able 10 see each
other over the floral banks. cornue-
opias or horns of plenty filled with
flowers and fruit were there ana the
scene was set off with ribbons OF car
dinal silk.
The floor of the auditorium was rails
ed 70 q level with that Of the stage by
Il temporary floor, making one rectan-
guIar room of immense size. the
guests Of honor We're at two tables set
about under the proscenium arch and
at right angles to the other tables.
The stage was set with gorgeous pal
Ace scene Of the court of Louis XIV.
Four great electric chandeliers lighted
uD the picture. COnspicuously placed
at the west end Of the dining hall was
the inscription. composed of mean
descent lights. Jefferson, 1743-lS99,
Democratic club" 1t surrounded a
picture Of Thomas jefferson.
Perry Belmont. president of the Dem
ncratic club. stood in the grand tier
and commented upon the scene as the
guests assembled, saying: This is
certainly a beautiful scene, but rather
Too many flowers for a dinner for men.
I'm afraid the Democrats out West
win misconstrue it. We patronized
the local florists and we spent money
in order TO give plenty Of people en-
pIOyment. But there is no doubt Of ii
that there are too many flowers for
Democratic simplicity
The guests began to arrive at 8
o'clock, hut dinner did not begin for
an hour ana a half after that. capt.
Price Of the Tenderloin, and A. police
men were in and around the building.
The crank letter Of q few days ago. in
which a threat was made to blow up
the building during the dinner, seemed
III have made the police unusually Nlgi-
liant number Of detective SER
geants i'm evening dress mingled with
the guests To see that no unbidden per
son might enter. There We're num-
her IL fremen also on duty TO prevent
any danger from fire.
Some of the boxes We're occupied as
early as o'clock, but the tiers were
empty for some time after that. Fam
ciullis' orchestra of 30 pieces was early
in its station on the right of the grand
tier. The list Regiment Band played
as the guests entered.
Judge Stiner Commissioners York
ana Scannell and several others promi-
nent in the Democratic Club, received
the guests and gave each a welcome.
Just before the guests We're called to
order, Richard Croker, Perry Belmont
and Commissioner Sexton arrived. Mr..
Croker was in enthusiastic converse
ton with those about him and waved
his hand to guests all over the hail.
There were fully 300 more guests than
the 1900 planned for. but all found
seats. This made a total Of lSoO
guests. 1t is said to be the largest
number ever accommodated at pan
quet in the history of this city. The
only absent invited guest was Senator
Mackey of Buffalo.
The band struck up Hail to the
Chief" at 7.30 o'clock and Richard
field marched down the aisle. With
them We're Frederick c. Schraub, Rob
ert B. Roosevelt, Gen. j. Catlin, Amos
j. Cummings and John w. Keller.
AS the procession marched up the
aisle the word Club" in the illuminat-
ed inscription Democratic Club on
the stage, vanished. the current having
been turned off either by accident or
Intentionally. 1t left only Demo
cratic" This happened several times
during the evening.
The service of the menu was excel
lent but some confusion was caused by
some of the diners stripping the tables
of flowers and ribbons and throwing
them to the women in the boxes. Mr.
Croker held a levee just before the
regular speech making began.
The confusion was very great at 10
o'clock. as the time drew near for max
ing the speeches. The orators were all
most discouraged at the prospect Of
making themselves heard, but matters
soon ouieted.
Perry Belmost began to speak at 10
o'clock. Mr.. Belmont introduced Au-
gustus Van Wyck by referring to the
latter's canvass for governor. Justice
Van Wyck was received with great ap-
plause.
At the conclusion of Justice Van
Wycks speech many persons left the
nan. Justice Van Wyck's reference to
trusts, the state canals" and the i'm
ACCESSIBILITY of an alliance with Great
Britain was applauded with much show
of spirit,
The next speaker was Mr.. Stanch-
Held. As he was introduced. Maurice
f. Holahan jumped to his feet ana ex-
claimed: Mr.. Stanchfield represents
outside the city Of New York the old
Democracy Of the state. For two years
ne was the leader of the Democrats in
this state and he always used his vote,
ana influence to counterfeit the schemes