Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-02-15
GUEST OF HUNGARIAN CLUB.

For the first time since the days when
he was Governor of New York, Presi-
dent Roosevelt last night revisited the
heart of the East Side, where, as a guest
of the Hungarian Republican Club, he
dned and spoke at the restaurant Little
Hungary" Guarded by mounted police
and secret service men, through streets
cleared and cordoned by patrolmen, he
drove from upper Fifth avenue into the
crowded district which lies around
Second avenue and east Houston street,
a region of small shops and tenements
and largely populated by foreign-born
citizens.
From the moment his carriage entered
the district he received an ovation.
Never before has a president of the
United States visited this little known
part of New York, and never before has
fraction Of the thousands that cheered
him seen p nations ruler. Electric
lights winked and blinked characteristic
legends, gaudy bunting futtered in the
wind and the great East Side showed its
enthusiasm in every imaginable way.
Across Second avenue, at Sixth street,
huge electric device blazed forth the sim
gle word "De-lighted"--a word ire
quently used in the decorations. Many
small shepkeepers apparently had spent
a weeks profit in elaborate decorations,
and it has been many years since the
East Side saw such night.
Six years ago Governor Roosevelt was
entertained at the same place. and when
he was police commissioner he became
familiar With every turn of the narrow
streets through which he passed last
night. In bis police escort last night
there were some of the men who wore
their badges under him when he headed
"the force" and who still addressed him
as "Mr. Commissioner.
When the President drove up to "Lit-
tie Hungary" last night he fulfilled
promise made to members of the Hun
garisn Republican Club several years
ago that he would be their guest at
banquet if their prediction came true
and be ever went to the White House.
The applause was deafening as the
President arose and faced the crowded
room. His speech was devoted to local
matters and "reminiscences of the Fast
side, and the President made number
of references to by-gone days when he
filled the positions of Police Commissioner
and Governor.
Congressman William SulZer, a demo.
crat, whose district includes the section
in which 'Little Hungary" is located,
was one ofthe speakers at the dinner aud
paid high tribute 10 Mr. Roosevelt, at
the same time scoring the United States
Senate.
Among the kilograms read at the din
ner was one frem the Hungarian Club
OF Kansas City to President Roosevelt,
which said
Hungarian hearts, they beat for
you because they always find you true.
We hope you will find the tokay right
and God will bless your appetite"
Vice President elect Fairbanks sent
letter expressing bis regret that he could
not be present
A letter was read from Count Apponyi.
one OF the opposition leaders in the
Hungarian Diet, in which be said how
much he would have liked to attend the |
banquet. 81 have no right he said,
"to express anything like partisan feel
ing with respect to American affairs, but
there is nothing to prevent me from
giving expression to the feeling of high |
personal regard which /, like all Euro
peans, entertain foIPresident Roosevelt,
of whom every American. irrespective of
party distinction, may well say what an
English Tory statesman said concerning
Lord Palmerston we are all proud
of him.
Kossuth, the Hungarian statesman,
sent the following telegram, which was
read amid great enthusiasm : ''Deliver
at banquet congratulations of our party
D.