The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-28
GRIDIRON CLUB ANNUAL
USUAL FUN AT THE WASHINGTON
CORRESPONDENTS DINNER.
w. j. Bryan and Senator Beveridge
Among the Guestsi-A Bur-
lesque on Imperialism.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 27.-The fifteenth
annual dinner of the Gridiron Club was
given at the Arlington Hotel tonight and.
like its predecessors, was the most sue
cessful event OF the season. The club is
composed of forty Washington correspond
ents, who each year give a number of din
ners, and make the last Saturday evening
in January a notable occasion, as it is the
anniversary of the organization. The BAN
quet hall was handsomely decorated. the
ceilings and walls covered in laurel, fsmilax
and maiden hair ferns. while palms and
other tropical plants filled every window
and corner of the room. Through all this
mass of green were more than a thousand
of electric lights of all colors. The tables
were banked with flowers, orchids and
roses predominating, while many vases of
American Beauty roses adorned the room.
Henry Litchfeld West. of the Washing
ton Post, the new president, occupied the
head of the table, which was made in the
shape of a gridiron and around which were
gathered two hundred guests and the
members of the club.
AS usual the unique features and daring
burlesques, together with the good-natured
skits aimed at prominent guests, formed
the principal part of the entertainment
These were interspersed with songs by the
quartet, solos and witty speeches. all max
ing a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
The menu was an exquisite affair, being
little volume bound in leather, each page
having the name of a member, together
with his vignette set in a reduced front
page of the paper he represented. 1t was
designed as souvenir of the fifteenth an
nual dinner.
The Initiation of two new members was
made the text for a burlesque on imperial
ism. The club expanded" for the new
members, raised the president to the rank
of Emperor and crowned" him. Reports
from colonial governors and vassal states
and the comforting of titles were rudely in
terrupted by Uncle Sam who seized the
.'crown" and drove the decorated officials
from the room.
A minstrel show with really new jokes
amused the guests, several songs, written
for the occasion, were given, a verse being
allotted to Mr.. Bryan with an allusion TO
10 to /" Another lamented for Senator
Frye because as president of the Senate
he had TO listen TO Senators instead OF en-
Joying his favorite fishing sport.
The speeches were especially good SEN
ator Depew and the Chinese minister be-
ing at their best, while the remarks Of
Messrs. Frye. Bryan. German. Chandler.
usual high order The speakers were
placed on their mettle by the happy intro
auctions of Mr.. West, who presided
throughout the dinner with dignity and
ability. Among the guests were the fol-
lowing: Senator Frye. president OF the
Senate; w. j. Bryan, A. p. German. WI
Ting Fang. the Chinese minister; Senators
Depew. Beverage. Burrows. Chandler
Hanna. Jones OF Arkansas. Penrose. Shoup
Tillman. Wolcott and Rawlins; Representa-
tives Dalzell. Clark. Cummings. Devries
Bowersock, Hall. Lands. Mcclellan. Law
renee, Swanson. Tawney Underwood and
Wheeler; Maj. Gen. John r. Brooke. Rear