The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-23
INTERESTED IN POLITICS
Interstate Republicans Forget the
Past in the Present.
President Mckinley Receives More
ton ut the birthday Exercises ut
Mctzcrotts Hail - The Mother of
the Father of His Country"

small audience, mixed both as to sex
and color, assembled in Metzerott's Hall
last night. under the auspices Of the In
terstate Republican Club. for the ostensi-
ble purpose of concentrating the ami
versary of the birth of George Washing
ton. In the bestowal of honors, however,
! there was a close contest between the first
President and the present Execu-
| tive. with the latter perhaps obtaining a
| shade the better Of his illustrious prede-
cessor.
| 1t was explained at the outset that the
attendance might have been larger had it
not been for the unfortunate fact that the
! elevator in the building was cut of order
| and not running. which was equivalent to
! saying that the enthusiasm over the birth
: OF George Washington was not sufficient
| to cause some Of the club members and
I their friends to walk up two flights OF
! stairs. 1t was also stated that the glee
( club which was expected to render patri-
| otto and inspiring music was unable to be
] present because OF the illness Of some one.
Their numbers on the programme were
supplied, however, by photographic re-
productions of Roosevelts famous charge
| up San Juan Hill
Judge Doan was called upon to preside.
| In assuming the chair he talked about des-
tiny the United States as a world power,
our influence as a civiliZer, the islands of
the sea, and kindred topics similar to
those to be found in the Republican cam
paign books. He referred to Washington
by perpetrating a joke IN which he said
. Washington was supposed to have been
born on February %. and that at that time
he was much younger man than the
speaker. The audience. however, did not
readily see the point as no laughter fol-
lowed.
Mrs. J. Ellen Foster was introduced as
speaker famed throughout the country
and one who had contributed much toward
the success of the Republican ticket in
the last campaign. Her subject was Mary
Washington, the Mother of George Wash
ington." Mrs. Foster contrasted the char
acters of the Empress Dowager of China
and the late Queen Victoria. saying they
were the two women upon whom the at
tention of the world had recently been TO-
cused. The former, she said, was a great,
wicked woman representing all that is
bad in the worst Government on the
earth. She then briefly rehearsed the tri-
umphs of the British Empire under Vic
toria's reign. She was a great woman,
Mrs Foster said. but the fact that she
was also good woman would be longest
remembered.
The speaker then took up the subia:t
of suffrage in the District of Columbia.
Because of the fact that they are deprived
of the right to vote. she said the men OF
this city had fallen to the level of women.
She urged every man to go home at each
election and vote the Republican ticket.
Mrs Foster then told what she had done
to secure the success of Mckinley and
Roosevelt. and then drifted gracefully INTO
the subject of woman suffrage, declaring
that the fathers had fought against the
doctrine of taxation without representa-
tion, yet half of the adult population OF
the Republic were disfranchsed. Not
withstanding this the speaker declared,
in an outburst OF imprisoned oratory,
that she would rather be citizen of this
country than queen of any other.
Further on in her address on Mary
Washington Mrs. Foster referred to in
suiar colonial government and the prob
abilities of an extra session OF Congress.
The Constitution, she said. did not pro-
vide for government of colonies, but
she asserted we have such a system now
and we are going to continue it.
I'VE have the Philippines now by the
nap of the neck exclaimed Mrs. Foster,
"and we are going to hold them, with or
without their consent"
In the end she averred It would be
found that Mckinley was right, even
though he was maligned now. The child
rem of those who despise him now would
honor him in the future. The Republican
party. she asserted was always at the
head Of the procession. Mrs. Foster also
spoke of Tammany and the question of
slavery She concluded by congratulat-
ing the members of the club upon the re-
| suit of the late election.
Incidentally in ore portion OF her ad-
dress, Mrs. Foster made some reference
| TO the mother of the Father of His Coun-
| try" in which she said she was not
remarkable woman. She said she had
read something of Mrs. Washington, Ito
refresh her recollections," and could find
little else other than that she was good
| woman, always did her duty. and was pos
sessed of true womanly virtues.
During the evening America and
THE Star Spangled Banner" were sung
by the members of the club.