The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-29
THE GRIDIRON CLUE
Their Annual Dinner - Many Mon
Prominent in Business and Politios
Present-Hits on Leading Politicians
and Public Events.

Warrington, January 26.-The annual
dinner of the Gridir'on Club. composed
of Washington correspondents. was
given tonight at the Arlington hotel.
About 200 guests and members We're at
the handsomely decorated tables.
Among the guests were distinguished
men in all walks of pubic life, cabi-
net officers. members of the supreme
bench. senators, representatives, armv
and navy officers and ministers of for
eign countries. The reputation of the
club was sustained i'm the matter of
unique Observation-Disclosures of public
affairs roasts on public men who were
guests. new stunts, aM being inter-
spersed with bright speeches, songs
and choruses. President Arthur w.
Dunn gave the key note in welcoming
the guests, saying the ''serious-sfde was
in eclipse during the gridiron dinners.
and from the f1ashing of the gridiro'n
until the end there was abundant mer-
| riment.
Then menu was an old style primer.
| both in printing and illustrations, be-
| ting the alphabet with a rhyme for each
| letter which hit off some public man
or passing event. The inauguration
| of the president furnished an oppor-
tunfty for the vice president to protes t
vigorously. because he was not in the
procession and finally To appear with
| a mountain lion and assert he would
| have an inauguration of his own
| Early in the dinner several members
of the club came into the dining room
singing Benny Havens. o. and as
serted that there We're fourth class men
1 present who had not qualified. -
Whereupon the army officers present
were brought forward, duly "hazed. "
| and notified that as soon as the pres
| ent investigation was over, they would
"be called out
Many men were present who are
! either editors or business managers OF
large newspapers. These were called
up, but when all the names had been
read, a member Of the club noted the
| absence of a distinguished editor, and
| Immediately presented another men,
Der, representing William J. Bryan The
latest arrival began Immediately to
grind out copy. and when five banners
| with nominations from 1904 TO 1920 had
been presented, he declined. but anoth-
er member Immediately came in and
accepted. He hooked like Cleveland
and bade the rank and file" to follow
him, and ais the PROCESSION marched on!
| the club sang -Four Years More oi
| Grover"
! Congressional guests received atten-
tion IN a Senate Press Gallery Sympo-
| sum- where good stories on some
| were told, while songs burlesqued 9TH
| ers. The Dead Dukes" those who fel
in the November battle. or since in the
senatorial elections. were duly remem-
bered. Uncle Joe Cannon was remem-
bered by the following song to the tune
of Baby Nine" alleged to be his la,tes,
effusion:
From the land Of suckers. many.
Illinois, Illinois.
But Of statesmen, few if any,
illinois, Illinois.
For two years therein be a pause
Then Wen have Charley Dawes,
And wont that be a corl1er
On US poor old boysT
General Grosvenor was declared t,
be hand squeezing Tor 1904.
Senator Chandler was presented witt
a toy railroad train and admonshed {,
begin over again. These. with othe
quipe and Jokes were enjoyed by tn
guests. even those who were "on tn
gridiron."
Speeches were made by Secretar.
Root. Justice Brown, Senators Chand
Ter, Depew. Carter. ex-senator German
Ex-Governor Francs Of Missouri. tn
Chinese minister. the Turkish niniste
and others. ls.4