The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-22
FORETELL A HORSELESS AGE.
AUTO CLUE MAKES MERRY AT
ITS ANNUAL DINNER.
Meets in n Bower ~ Evergreens and
Listens to Tales OF the Growth Of the
Self-Driyen CarriAge-More stringent
Trafnc Rules Urged for Automobiles

grand ballroom on the Waldorf-Astoria
last night More than 400 devil wagon
enthusiasts were packed ia the room and
they had a great time until little after
II O'Clock. when the festivities came TO a
close 10 allow many Of the members TO take
Especial train for Florida 70 attend tho races
on the ocean beach.
The grand ballroom OF the Waldorf has
never been more handsomely decorated
for dinner than IL was last night. Against
every wall and pillar and along all OF the
galleries were stacked soft pine trees, big
and little, which made the room seem Ike
a clearing in forest.
A pile Of rocks and moss hid the front oil
the guests table. and little trees stood on
each Of the forty-four smaller boards.
The decorations made necessary warning
from President Dave Hennen Morris that
care should be taken by smokers.
At the guests table we're seated Gen.
George Moore Smith, Commodore Frederick
q Bourne. Thomas A Edison James B.
Dill Creswell Mclaughlin, the Hon Henry
A. Van Alystyne, William c Gotshall'
Attorney General Julius Mayer Lieut.
Gov. VI. Linn Bruce Winthrop f. Scarritt,
Colgate Hoyt. Col John Jacob Aston, Je'rer-
son Sehunan Park Commissioner John
j Pallas. Samuel Walter Taylor. William
Phelps Emo. William II. Page, Jr. and
John Brisben Walker
WELCOME PROM DAVE HENSEN MORRIS
In his address Of welcome President Morris
told of the growth Of the club and of the
automobiles development IN the last few
wears In contrast to the banquet OF last
night he reminded the diners Of the first
feast Of the club, which was held at the
Waldorf IN 1899 and at which only hand
iul Of men who owned or tended to own
automobiles appeared.
Continuing, tie sad;
j ask you to glance at our record. The
first club run was held on Nov. T. 1899
L was barely seven miles long Some thirty
eight machines attempted TO 60 that jour
ney, seven miles over good roads yet on
account OF the grade on Riverside Drive
not a dozen finished. Who here has for
gotten our inst speed and endurance test,
the Banchet cup, thHt thrilling contest
on Long Island. where the winner drove
his automobile fifty miles in hours
minutes and 30 seconds, at the terrific rate
Of almost twenty-five miles an hour. And
how about that century TO Philadelphia
in June, 1900 where two cars actually
reached their destination within twelve
bours Of starting. averaging better than
eight miles an hour.
GROWTH OF TIE AUTO INDUSTRY.
How great has been the change in only
few years. Gentlemen, i beg you will
not forget that only five years ago the auto
mobile movement In this country was
started, and that there we're only fifty cars
in America Note what progress we have
made. from seyen-mile runs we now go
a thousand TO Boston or Buffalo or St
Louis, over the worst road IN the world'
the American road, and the way is not
strewn with wrecks. but with broken rec
ords, and % per cent. Of the cars arrive on
schedule time.
Now glance at our club itself Our mem
bership limit has been twice reached. and
now the waiting list Is Tonga list com
prising some OF the greatest names N Amer
lea. Look at our membership, the most
democratic Of any in this coimtry-beside
the millionaire IL the artisan, the only
qualification being that Of gentleman in
It's best sense. Within the fortnight we
have voted to build half million dollar
club house and garage, where we may
accommodate the Thousand members we
soon shall have our rolls. and through
which We can curb and control tho pro-
fessi0nal chauheu-'
Of the club had little fun with his fellow
mem Der, James Z. Dill and then devoted
himself, as did Mr. Morris, 70 pointing out
what a great thing the automobile Is in
spite Of all that has been said against It.
In part he said
SPEECH or WINTHROP sCABRITT.
1t was the lamented Garfield who said
that the Pilgrim fathers were opposed
10 hanging only when they we're the people
20 be hung The average American, with
The automobile, only uutil he gets one him
self and then he becomes an enthusiastic
advocate oi this sport for kings and king
Of sports
Notwithstanding this great and solemn
fact late Governor Of the mosquito State,
Sith more audacty than wisdom, recon-
mended in a recent message that no auto
mobile he permitted 10 the State of New
Jersey that could nun over twenty miles
per hour And yet this dstinguis ned
gentleman. who loves horse, would swell
with righteous Indignation II it were sug-
Rested that law be passed 10 hobble a
horse so that 1t could not do a mile in better
than 3 minutes.
Four year, ago there was in this country
enc automobile To every 100000 nhahi-
isnts Two years ago there vas one TO
every 800 inhabitants Io-e.ay .bere IL
one 10 every 200 inhabitants Give us
another five years and they will he as
thick in this country as mosquitoes in the
Hacken,aCk meadows.
William 7. Emo spoke at some length on
Street Traffic Regulation, outlining the
wora started by Deputy Police Commits
sioner Piper and developed ~ Commis-
sioner McAdoo. He said that the ordi
nances and the Penal Code make possible
punishment for infractionoft the regulations
only in some cases and declared that to
make the system Of enforcement complete
the Penal Code should provide that any in
fraction should constitute a misdemeanor
Lieut. Coy. NJ. Linn Bruce was accused
Df llit y - lfeif ing " Alt Sftl ltrt
where many women sat. He got more ap-
plause from that quarter than any Of the
other speakers when. raising HIS glass he
proposed this toast.
TO the ladies. he only autoc rats who
elect without voting. who govern with
out law and who decide without appeal
Mr. Bruce admitted that he didn't own
an automobile and that he had never r id en-
in one more than two or three times in his
life. As for automob lists, he had he said
usually seen them coming at him with
gogg ee on. disgui sed. their hands upon the
Wheels and their feet upon the trakes
travel ing at the rate Of forty niles an hour.
On this occasion, though. he said he was
glad 10 meet automohilists as equals.
glass for glass and bottle for bottle.
Woodruff AN AUTO CONVERT
Timothy Woodruff has been converted
20 automotilism. Although he admitted
that be hadn't been invited 10 the dinner
ne came, be said, to declare the fact Of his
conversion.
i came here boldly he announced. FOR !
the purpose Of finding out II my suspicious
were correct that the man who sold me I
that automobile at O'Clock this afternoon
was paying the entire expense Of this din
ner."
Mr.. Woodruff said that he WINS one Of tho |
men who believed once that he would never I
give up the horse for the automobile, hut 4