The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-05-21
Gridiron Club Sang An Ode
Which Embodied the Why
and Wherefore of Colonel
Kuser's Planked Shad
Feast
Feast
BIG GATHERING or LEADERS
REFORM PARTY MEN WERE,
HOWEVER, CONSPICUOUS BY
THEIR ABSENCE FROM GLoU-
CEsTER ON SATURDAY

The candidacy of United States Seua-
tor Dryden for a second term was
LAUGHED Saturday at ''non-poiitieaP
feast of planked shad served to 800 Jer-
seymen and a big delegation of members
of the Gridiron Club of Washington. at
Washington Park, on the shore of the
Delaware river, which has been made ia
nous for planked shad dinners by Will
Jam J. Thompson, the Duke of Gloucss-
ter.''
The host was Col. Anthony 4. Kuser,
son-in-law of Mr.. Dryden, who Tor
several years past has given shad din
ners to his political and personal
friends. The event this year received
peculiar significance from the fact that
the Legislature to be chosen next fall
will vote next year for the successor
to Mr.. Dryden.
Most of the guests of Col. Kuser
came from the northern section of the
State, and for their accommodation the
host considerably provided a special
train of Pullman cars. which left Jersey
City at $50 in the morning. stopping at
Newark, Elizabeth, New Brunswick.
Trenton and Burlington for delegations
The host himself got aboard at Eliza
beth.
At Camden the North Jersey contin-
gent found their fellow guests from the
south counties awaiting them at the
! Pennsylvania terminal The entire party
boarded a steamboat, which carried them
down to Duke TAompsons domain.
First, however, the boat went across to
Philadelphia, where large party from
Washington was taken on. 1t, too, had
| come in special train. In it were Sena-
tors Dryden and Kean, Congressman
Gardener, Loudenslager and Parker and
the members of the Gridiron Club. Con-
gresham Wiley boarded the special train
at Newark.
At the banquet were few of the men
prominently identified with the new
idea" movement, within the Republican
party of New Jersey. George l.. Record,
whose candidacy for Senator Dryden $
place was launched by Mayor Pagan at
dollar banquet in Jersey City two
week sage, was conspiciOusly absent. So
weeks ago, wassc0nspicuDuSly absent. So
P. Martin and the other prominent Cdl-
byites. Misrepresentation of the reform
movement was confined to three Hudson
Assem- blynen, Berg, Coyle and Arrow
smith, all of whom, it is thought, will be
succeeded by Democrats Under the new
election-by districts law.
But while the Reform Republican ele-
ment was lacking, there were enough
Democrats to give color to Col. Kuser's
noa political announcement regarding the
feast. The Democrats included ex-Sena-
tor James Smith, Jr, who joined the
train at Newark with his party asso-
ciates; Judge George B. Gray, of the
Court of Errors and Appeals; Gen. JOS
eph w. Blume, Geo. R. Heber Breintnall
and T. Edward Burke, president of the
Newark Fire Board Gen William Hep
penheimer represented the Hudson Coun-
ty Democracy. Eckard P. Budd, of Bur-
lington; Stephen ]. Meeker, William x
Devereaux and other minority party
men were also present.
Gov. Stokes went down in an auto
mobile from his home at Melville.
Col. Kusers wishes that speech.mak-
ing should be tabooed were observed but
the host placed no embargo upon sing
ing or upon political gossip, and through
both those mediums the candidacy of
Senator Dryden was made positive and
clear. The Senator received assurances
from all sections of the State that he
would receive support.
The actual launching of the candi-
! dacy was accomplished in rather
unique way, and in this the Gzidiron
Club men figured prominently. At the
close Of the dinner, when little re-
mained of the shad save the bones.
Col Edward 3. Hay arose and called
f,Sr attention, lie said there was no
intention to break the rule against
sptSech-making, but explained that
coming up on the train from the capi-
tai an ode to New Jersey had been
thought out, and with the permission of
the party he proposed to sblurt it out"
then aud there
A glpup Of the Gridiron Club men
crowded about piano, and with Col.
Hay singing the verse and all hands
the chorus. they sprung their "ode.'
It was quickly discovered that the
"ode'' was aimed against the reform
ers. and was a glorifcation of the
present representatives at Washington in
the Senate.
THE members Of the New Jersey Leg
islative correspondence Club followed
their brethren Of Washington with
another chorus. in which they assured
Mr. Dryden they would "be with him
to man, if he'd tell them of his
plan.v The Senator seemed fahtered.
but he refrained from speeeh-ma iaiug.
The party left Washington Park long
before sundown, so that the special
train reached Jersey City on the return
trip shortly after o'clock.