The San Francisco call., 1899-04-27
PLANS FOR
HUNT|NGTON'S
BIG BANQUET
Covers for One Hun
dred and Fifty.
MERCHANTS WILL BE THERE
WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF GAGE
AND BURNS ATTEND.
Will Railroad Commissioners Lau-
meister and Blackstock Be Sup
planted in the Magnate's
Favor?
MERCHANTS WILL BE THERE
WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF GAGE
AND BURNS ATTEND.

The annual banquet to be given at the
Palace Hotel this evening in compliment
to the president of the Southern Pacific
Company promises to be a gorgeous feast.
The dinner was planned by the heads of
the various departments of the railroad.
Owing TO the policy Of expansion adopt
ed by the promoters of the banquet many
representative bankers and merchants of
San Francisco will break bread and drain
a glass of wine with c. 2. Huntington
and General Hubbard.
Many little details have yet to be ad-
justed in order to insure the complete
success of the event. The table, fash
ioned in the shape of horseshoe, will
be spread in the main dining-room of the
Palace 1t was the estimate last night
that covers would be aid for one hundred
and fifty. AS the invitations are general
as applied to leading business men of the
community and others who are in close
touch with the company, the acceptance
may exceed present calculations.
In seating the guests great deal of
diplomacy must be Exercised. 1t is easy
enough to place c. P. Huntington in the
seat of honor, and General Hubbard is
certainly entitled TO be seated near the
throne. Should Governor Gage and Colo
mel d. NJ. Burns attend it might embar-
rass the company to indicate where they
should be placed.
Should Railroad Commissioners Black
junction with Gage and Burns the
smoothest kind of tact would be required
to preserve the harmony of the occasion.
That acknowledged master of all things
intricate and complex, Vice President J.
c. Stubbs, would surely then be called
upon to classify the attendants
The Governor might have a dozen invi-
tations to the banquet and not respond to
one. Word comes from the south that he
did not acknowledge the compliments of
an invitation to the Free Harbor Jubilee.
Should he drop in along with Colonel
Burns invited yet unexpected, could they
be placed next to Mr.. Huntington or
nearer to the throne than the place re-
served for the two Railroad Commissions
ers? Many delicate points might be pre-
sented pending the solution of the ques-
ton. and yet Mr.. Stubs or Mr.. Mills
would be required to act promptly in the
presence of Mr.. Huntington Leaving
aside gratitude. which, after all, philoso-
piers say is but "a sense of the faVOrS TO
come" the decision would have to be rem
dered on a basis of justice to the corpora
tion. The point would arise. Are not the
Commissioners the more deserving OF
recognition and entitled to preference over
a Governor and gold brick SenatOr?'
1t might be contended, on the other
hand that the Commissioners belonged to
the railroad family and We're there as
givers rather than guests of the ban
Quet All these little questions of pro-
priety touching the relative proximity of
State officers to the chief of the corpora
tion would demand instant adjustment.
As suggested, past services would not
alone count, but the ability to render fu-
ture service would demand serious but
instant consideration. 1t would never
do to change positions once assigned,
and, for one Gage would fight before he
would get up and give his seat to Black
stock or Laumeister. Wherever Gage is
placed he will stay, and if he makes one
of his campaign speeches the dinner Will
be a victory for the people on the out
cid