The sun., 1900-05-02
SOLDIERS TALK TO s. A. r.
NILES. WHEELER AND BRECkfN.
RID0E SPEAK Ar THEIR BANQUET.
Congress Of the sons Of the American Rev
oiutlon Brought to a Close Last Night
at the waldorf Astoria -- Iieut.'Gov.
woodruff and Comptroller Make Addresses.


As conclusion TO the meeting OF their
| eleventh annual congress the sons oi the A. or
lean Revolution from forty states OF the l mon
dined at the Waldorf-\storia last night.
and nearly SIX hundred we're seated nj
the table, The boxes overlooking the
banquet hail we're filled with ladies'.
just before the speaking began a white
haired woman in widows mourning was
escorted To the first tier box on the
east side. Immediately above tho reporters
table Following her wss girl dressed In
white and Just IA the two wer" about TO SIT
down one of the diners jumped up and shouted:
Three cheers for Mrs. JEFF Davis and Annie
Wheeler "
In a moment every man on the floor was on
his feet cheering This continued unh' Mrs
Davis and Miss Wheeler stepped to the front OF
the box and bowed their Acknowledge
menls. While this was going on Gen Wheeler
sal az the right OF the toastmaster. huddled up
in his chair rs II TO render himself a. incon-
spicuous AS possible But the very attitude OF
the little General seemed To attract the atten-
ton he wa, trying to escape, and the diners
turned their cheers on him for another several
seconds.
Walter y. Logan. vice-President OF the En-
pre State Society. whose guest the National
Society has been. presided over the BANQUET
lie welcomed the guests and introduced frank
lin Murphy OF New Jersey. the rctiring fresl-
dent General of the National Society MT Nlr-
ply was followed by the new President GENERAL
Brighten Joseph, G breckenridge. L, =, A I,
who paid high tribute TO the military services
OF Gen Miles. Cen Wheeler and Gen Iawton
4 toast was drunk in silence To the memory of
Gen Lawton.
Gen Niles was the next speaker
a. have had busy day OF it. said ne
Among other things l have inspected
the the fTrthca2ns5 I0rti HAnsSGk %sa
imperial city on the condition Of the works that
guard the city's gateway, They are not yet
completed, but they are in such shape that they
could successfully defy to-day any navy IN the
Lieut. -Gov. Woodruff followed Gen Niles
We all regret Tonight that the Hon, Robert
B Roosevelt the President of the Empire State
Society, is not here to welcome the socety's >
guests from the otl.er States. and YOU and re-
gret that his sturdy and strenuous nephew.
the chief Executive Of this State. Is not here
TO bid You welcome 70 the Empire state"
., S9mebody called for Three cheers for
seemed A. II those who were doing il forgot
10 stop and MIR Woodruff stood waiting
and sntling at the outburst OF enthusiasm
When he got chance haven't on TO pay a tribute
TO the STATE of New York. which caught the
auditors and brought stiffness upon. the
room commanded by no other speaker OF tho
sat down. Joseph Jefferson came in When tho
venerable actor was seen making his way to
tho speakers table everybody, got up. the men
at the tables cheering like mad and the women
iu the boxes waving handkerchief- and fans
When Gen Wheeler arose 10 speak there was
another demonstration. Ho said In one
American civilization has crossed tho Pacific
ocean The man who would can It
back is one who would be turning the
course Of nature, Our country is the great
producing nation OF the world and needs
nothing. We did not 20 there with the intent
to find market, but an unseen hand had sent
that country which produces what tho
whole world wants and which must have what
We produce. The event, OF the last two years
have placed US on the very edge Of aprosperlty
greater than was ever before dreamed Of "
Comptroller Coler followed Gen Wheeler
The Comptroller said
Careless of our right. and indifferent TO tho
obligations OF good citizenship We have be-
come communities misgoVerned and overgoH-
erned the private gain OF individuals Who
carefully evade re- possibility for their acts.
With All our boasted Independence We have for
years been drifting into a condition OF political
slavery. aud With little more opposition than
murnurs OF disapproval We have calmly Wit
messed the establishment OF corrupt and ncom-
petent government in city and State. We have
seen the property Of the people exchanged for
political adv antage or sold for personal gain
We have seen favors of partisan governments
bestowed upon corporate interests and the
rights ot the people a. whole bartered In the
mar Oh ulsnOTNNl IlplllCS'
but II have not mis- Judged the teinper OF
the people. we have passed the danger point
and entered upon new era Of civic and politi-
cal conditions. new Revolution IA begun and
Il will be fought out toa glorious finish as our
forefatherS fought the fgh, for freedom a CEN
tury and n quarter ago. We ara lighting now
for freedom everywhere from thattorm Of gov
erninent that enrches the few while stealing
away the rights OF the many
With reference 10 the condition OF local Affairs
the Comptroller said
The city OF New York IS rich and prosperous
and will cheerfully pay the bills for the most
progressive government on earth but the time
has come when the people demand that these
bills shall be honest ones and that they shall not
include private fortunes for political bosses and
dividends for favored corporations "
A rising toast with three cheers was drunk
for Cen. Fred Grant, who is still in the Philip
pines.
The Rev Or Dwight Hills was introduced
ms being always orthodox enough for the
Sons of the American Revolution" John 4
Taylor followed Mr. Hills. Judge John Goode
OF Virginia, Joseph Jefferson and william Gil
lette also spoke