The sun., 1903-05-30
THAT FEAST OF SHELDON'S.
REM ARK ABLE COMPANY or
STATESMEN AT HIS BOARD.
Platt. OGell. Depew. Low and Fish Among
Then,-"And We Didn't Talk Politics."
Says the senior senator. WHO Stayed
Late-A Few Thoughts on the Absent.

Because of the identity of the g,ieste the
dinner which George r. Sheldon gave at
the Union League CLUB last night took a
significance of which 1t could not be stripped
II was n private dinner, a social party in
the eyes of the host and of his guests. yet
all the onlookers in politics were spec,,-
lating as to what the candles heard be-
meath their pink shades, and whether the
grouping of so many distinguished Re-
publicans under the rose wasn't sure to
give birth to some party plan, purpose or
resolve.
Mr.. Sheldons guests numbered seven
teen. He had at his right the Hon. Thomas
C. Platt, senior Senator Of the State Of
New York. and around the board were
these Republicans in office: Gov, Benja-
min B. Odell Senator Chauncey NJ. Dcpew.
Secretary Of War Elihu Root, Mayor Seth
Low, Police Commissioner Francis Y.
Greene, Lieut.. .-Gov. Frank W. Higgins,
Senator John Raines, Speaker s. Fred
Nixon, Collector Of the Port Nevada \.
Stranahan, Assistant Treasurer of the
United States Hamilton Fish and Park
Commissioner W. r. Wilcox
Major-Gen. Adna Romanza Chaf1ee,
forty years a soldier in the service Of tn"
United States, hero of battlefelds in Amer
lea, ~, "a, the Philippines and China, was
thea ~ admirable and an admired mill
tary ag1. re among these statesmen and poll
ticians. Major-Gen Charles F. Roe Of the
National Guard attended with Gov, Ode.
The notable Republicans not in office were
Frank S Witherbee. Col. William Cary
Sanger Assistant Secretary of War, was
obliged TO decline yesterday afternoon
Tine list of guests will be read with interest
by some who always analyze such events
portend. Some of them went further last
night and affected to see larger sigrt-
canoe in possible list of the notable alb
sentees, forgetting in their deductions that
a gentleman of Mr.. Shedon's all-theyear-
round hospitality cannot entertain all his
friends at the one time. and overlooking
the wide privilege of choice which custom
gives 10 the host of private dinner and
which he may not exercise in formal or
public function. g..
was no lull in the conversation around
a board where so many entertaining takers
We're gathered, remembering that Sena,cr
Depew was not the only wit aud stor"
teller there One OF the diners pointed
out that among the eighteen there were
five men. any one of whom might b" tho
Republican nominee for Governor in 1904,
and his fellow diners. looking around sa*
Hamilton Fish, Lieut.-Gov. higgins and
Mayor Low all abreast of him.
Naturally, a glass was drained to The
President of the United States" and pos
sibly it was that which directed the informal
conversation to a theme Of lively intere-,
because of recent happenings in Ohio,
Among Mr.. Sheldon's guests no one would
care to single out a man who is not now
confident that President Roosevelt's nom
ination is assured for 1904. Strong friends
of the President were there, and that eeme''
in the party in this State which promise;
to divide the delegation to the next National
Convention was without confessed rep
resentativc.
Probably three of the four delegatos-a'-
large 10 the National Conventoa wcr"
there-Platt, Depew and Odel
Mr.. Sheldon's guests did not sit down
until after 9 O'Clock. Senator Plat who
usually retires early. did not gel back to
the Fifth Avenue Hotel until mdGigh'
A very delightful dinner, mos, gracious
host and entertaining COMPANY, said the
Senator. And he added: Il didn't hear
word of politics"