The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-31
AsH1NGToN, January So.-(Spe-
 cial.)-The annual dinner of the
 Gridiron club this evening was

w Gndiron club this evening was perhaps the greatest success in the his- tory of this famous organization of Wash ington newspaper correspondents. But the story of the dinner is best told by Harry West, who has written the fol- lowing account for the Washington Post: The President of the United States.
 Mirza Ali Asgar Khan, grand vizier of Persia.
 These were the two most distinguished guests at the nineteenth annual dinner of the Gridiron club at the Arlington hotel last night. President Roosevelt came early and remained late The Oriental with the long name came somewhat late and made his exit under circumstances which attracted universal attention. From the cheerful chorus and the flashing of the electric gridiron, which opened the dinner. until President Coolidge's gavel rapped for the descent of the curtain at midnight, the guests enjoyed success sion of the clever things that make the dinners of the Gridiron club unique among entertainments all the world over.
 There was the ratification of the Grid Iron almentary canal treaty, some fun at the expense of certain presidential as- pirants, witty adaptation of ventrilo- quist's show. a modern version of the i Jai Alai gambling game. which figured so largely in the case of General Leonard Wood and topical songs wherein promi- nent guests were embalmed to the music of popular airs.
 And don't forget Mirza Ala Asgas Khan, grand vizier of Persia.
 The dinner was a remarkable one Guests of many Gridiron gatherings, who past-the "steadies," as the members call them-said that there never was such a night in the history of the club, and they ought to know.
 Men who were at a Gridiron dinner for the first time said that they never had such delightful experience in their lives and they declared themselves thor oughly innocuated with the Gridiron habit The vote as to the success of the dinner was unanimous.
 No wonder there Is no organization any where which has the talent to prepare such an entertainment or the esprit de corps to labor for Its perfect presenta- tion. No where else in the United States and at the summons of no other organi- zation could such distinguished compa- ny have gathered together under one roof
 With the President were several mem bers of the cabinet. Associate Justice Day represented the United States Su- preme court, and Baron von Sternburg, the German ambassador, represented the diplomatic corps, but there was no ques- tion of precedence between them, for at Gridiron dinner, fun, like love in "Pinafore,' levels all ranks.
 Senator German, democratic Presiden- tial candidate, was there. Speaker Caa- non, Senator Hanna, Senator Aldrich, Senator Beveridge and Senator Gallagher were few of the prominent republican leaders. Senators and representatives were as thick as leaves in Vallambrosa. The military contingent was headed oy Major General Corbin, who came from New York for the purpose of attending the dinner. Admiral Schley and Admiral Walker were among the naval officers. Governor General Taft of the Philippines, soon to take the oath as secretary of war. was conspicuous figure. The leading officials of nearly all the great railroads were In attendance. And finally, there was Mrza All Asgar whom more anon.
 The ovation to the President was, per kaps, the most striking feature of the dinner. The musicians of the club had arranged song in the Presidents honor, each verse of which. sung with a mag nificent effect as a bass solo, aroused tremendous applause John Philip Sousa for many years a member of the Gridron club, led the chorus in rythmetic waltz time, yielding the baton in his hand In characteristic ssyle The first verse hu- horously advised the guests to apply for any old office. and another verse predict ed the building of the isthmian canal still another verse went like this:
 Wall Street may say it's against you, but don't you mind; Wall Street is not the whole country, as 1t will fnd
 There's a few of us out in the suburbs. who'll have say,
 We'll have chance to vote for you when
 comes election.
 The stirring refrain which told the Pres ident to have no anxiety as long as the people were with him. ended with the declaration that
 There's one man on earth, You can bet all you're worth. And he is President Roosevelt. | As the chorus of lusty voices made the | room echo with this striking climax, a scene of tremendous enthusiasm followed song by waltzing gaily to the door, sing | ing as they danced while the guests cheered and waved their napkins and in dulged in every demonstration of ap- 1 plause.
 The ovation lasted several minutes and when 1t had finally subsided. the Presi- dent made brief speech. He was appre- ciative in marked degree of the ovation which centered around him. The song 1 and its finale would of itself have made the dinner an occasion long to be remem- 1 bered.
 If a painter could have transferred to | canvass the picture which the dining room presented as the guests left the. re- ception room and made their way to their assigned places. he would have exhausted | the colors of his palette in seeking to l accurately portray the exquisitely beauti-