The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1899-04-22
THAT TEN.DOLLAR BANQUET
NEW YORK DEMOCRATS HONOR
JEFFERSON'S NATAL DAY.
yam WICK AND BELMONT SPEAK
They Asserted Their Devotion To the
Principles of the Party Thomas JEFF
ferson Piloted To Victory.

A New York special says; The
long.heralded Jefferson day banquet
OF the Democratic club--the ten dollar
dinner-began at half past 6 o'clock
Thursday evening in the Metropolitan
opera house.
Each table was piled with m ass Of
roses and ferns intertwined. So abun.
dant were the flowers that some OF the
guests were hardly able to see each
other over the floral banks.
Conspicuously placed at the west
end Of the dining hall was the inscrip-
ton:
Jefferson. 1743.1s99. Democratic
Club"
This was composed of incandecent
lights. 1t surrounded picture OF
Thomas Jefferson. Tall silver can
delabra with shades harmo nizing with
the floral effect were on all the tables.
The guests began to arrive at 9
o'clock, but the dinner did not begin
for an hour and half after that.
Three thousand quarts OF champagne
and $500 quarts of various light wines
were consumed.
To serve the thousand and more
diners who occupied the floor of the
opera mouse, 1870 walters were kept
busy from the dozen serving stations.
Sixty-one men had nothing to do
from the beginning to the end OF the
feast except serve wine.
There were fully three hundred more
guests than the l, 500 planned for, but
all found seats. This is said to be the
largest number ever accommodated at
banquet in the history of New York
city.
The band struck up "Hail TO the
Chief" at 1880 o'clock, and Richard
Croker, arm in arm with John Stanch-
field, marched down the aisle.
With them was Frederick G. Schrau b,
Robert B. Roosevelt, General Catlin
and Amos j. Cummings. The service
of the menu was excellent, 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
levee just before the regular speech
making began. The confusion was
very great. AS tho time drew near
for making the speeches the orators
were almost discouraged at the pros
pect Of making themselves heard.
Perry Belmont began to speak at 10
o'clock. The uproar was 80 great that
he could not be heard hundred feet
awsy. By degrees more quiet was OBJ
tanned. In opening his speech Mr..
Belmont said:
cit is fitting that this democratic
club celebrate the birthday OF him
whose monument is the declaration of
independence-the first democratic
president, the first secretary Of state,
the constructor Of the first democratic
platform, the founder OF the demo-
cratic party.
"Thomas Jefferson was a party man
of the democratic type. To him as
democrat, the world is debtor for
that which was a novelty in political
government until his own immortal
words proclaimed the doctrine that the
right to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness is inalienabls, and to Sc
cure It governments are instituted,
deriving their Just powers from the
consent Of the governed. As a law
eiver, the northwestern ordinance,
framed by him, is his imperishable
record"
At the close Of his address Mr.. Bel
mont introduced Augustus Van Wyck'
the principal speaker, by referring 70
the iatter's canvas for governor. He
said Justice Van Wyck has conducted
q campaign with honor to himself and
credit to the democracy. Justice Van
Wick was received with great APP
plause. He paid much attention to
state affairs, dwelling at length on the
canal scandals, and then going into
national affairs, he outlined the policy
that the democrats Of New York be.
l;eva sbould be embodied in the next