The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-03

delphia hospitality, it can be understood
| that the entrance into the Quaker City
of one or more strangers constitutes q
gala occasion and calls for the brewing
of the fishhouse punch.
An important announcement was made
to the visitors by Mayor Ashbridge re-
lating to the Forthcoming convention The
mayor denied outright the report circu-
lated by the Hanna press agent that the
worthy minister of the gospel who had
opened with prayer the first convention OF
the Republican party ever helG-which
was in Philadelphia in 1s56-will oficiafe
in like capacity at the opening OF the
convention June 10.
1T is fact" said the mayor. that TINS
pious and venerable man is still citizen
of Philadelphia. but he is too old and Zee
BILE to open the convention with prayer
j have told Mr.. Hanna that somebody else
must be selected for this duty and he has
left the selection to our local committee.
We have concluded to leave it to the
preachers. and it is probable that from
among their number they Will designate
the persons who are to suppiicate the
throne of grace for light and guidance to
the convention. Mr.. Hanna wanted to
have each session Of the convention
WINGED him that it will be necessary only
to have the first session OF each day COM
menced with an appeal to the Almighty.
/ believe the delegates will like this ar
rangement better than the Hanna idea OF
having two prayers day."
One of the chief social organizations OF
Philadelphia is the Manufacturers Club.
Here the principal men OF Philadelphia
meet every day at the close Of business
and exchange news and views. 1t was in
this club that the Harrison compaign
fund was alleged to have been raised; or,
as the phrase ran at the time, 1t was here
that the fat-frying of the protected in
dustries was done. All Philadelphians
deny that there is any truth in this story.
At the Manufacturers Club yesterday 1t
was learned that the Philadelphians have
raised in cash and turned over to Mr..
Hanna just sixty thousand dollars Of the
one hundred thousand dollar fund prom
Used for the convention. They say that
Mr.. Hanna is entirely satisfied with the
amount turned over to him, and that,
therefore, nobody else has any right to
complain or criticise. 1t was also learned
in the Manufacturers Club that there are
various taverns in Philadelphia and that
If the accommodations of these places fall
short when the convention crowds gather
the hospitable people of the town will
throw open their houses to the visitors.
AS 1t is evident that the Philadelphians
mean to do this there need be no uneasi-
ness about securing board and lodging in
the town during the convention. Phila-
delphia's pride is aroused. and with this
incentive back of Philadelphia's naturally
hospitable spirit plenty of good things to
eat and plenty of comfortable beds to
sleep in will be provided for everybody
who may go to the convention.
Just before the time for starting back
to Washington arrived one Of the visitors
asked group Of entertainers in the Man.
ufacturers' Club this pertinent question:
rs John Wanamaker Philadelphia's
greatest man today"
There was an instant lull in the con-
versation. The Philadelphians riveted
their eyes upon the questioner. After a
few moments of embarrassing silence one
of the liveliest debates of recent times in
Philadelphia broke out. The group Of
Philadelphians Immediately was divided
into factions. Some of them argued earn
estly in the affirmative and others argued
with equal earnestness in the negative.
Before the debate had grown into an acri-
monious quarrel the questioner reluctant
ly hurried away to Broad Street station.