The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-04
WHHA WILD RUSH
Saturday Night Club Banquet
Was a Pronounced Success.
Kansas Statesmen Have a Bad
Night Of 1t.
MANY HITS ARE MADE.
Harry Bone as Charles Curtis
Was One of Them.
MOrgue of Kansas Politicians
Pleased the Banqueters.
MANY HITS ARE MADE,
Justice Porter Proved Himself
Equal to Emergency

On several occasions after the hour
of 9 O'Clock last night crowds were at
tracted to the Hotel Throop by the
tunuItuous noises within the place It
seemed that Bedlam had broken loose
in this unusually sedate and quiet
hostelry.
''I wonder what's up in there was
the query on the tongue of everyone
on the outside. as roars of laughter
which developed into almost hendish
howls and which were mingled some
times with songs. disturbed the still
ness of the night.
Inquiry revealed the fact that these
unearthly sounds were being produced
by the members of the Saturday Night
club and their friends and guests who
had gathered around the festive board
to participate in the twenty-third an
nual banquet OF this famous organiza-
ton.
But these noises which caused the
passersby to stop and wonder were
nothing other than spontaneous effer-
yeScences of mirth induced by a lot OF
wholesome fun which the members of
the club had provided for the occasion
and which was developed in an i'm
promptu fashion as the affair pro-
gressed. And this fun was pure and
unadulterated- It was not stimulated
by wine which is red or white or cord
ials that are blue. Nothing stronger
than ice water and hot coffee was
served with the feast. And the feast,
while it was most delectable. was
really the insignificant part of the af-
fair. It was the post prandial festtv-
tiles which furnished the fun and these
were of that character which has given
the Saturday Night club the reputa-
tion of being to Kansas what the
Gridiron club is to Washington.
Seldom, if ever, In this state has
such a remarkably peculiar gathering
OF men been seated at the same ban
quet table. There were eighty odd all
told and they represented every cali
! ing in iffe,- from the "ghOuis of jour
nalis1n'' through the gamut of the pro-
/ fessions and business activities to the
1 leading lights of the bench and bar
/ physicians of prominence, farmers
and capitalists. and last but by nc
: means least that class of patriots who
are dubbed politicians. And there was
surely a brilliant array of politicians
on hand, politicians of all stripes and
hues, leaders Of opposing parties and
factions, and not the least interesting
feature Of the occasion was to see
| these fellows, who take every oppor-
/ tunity to refer to each other as cut
throats, grafters. demagogues and
thieves. rubbing elbows and passing
tests. apparently the best of friends
but neverth less painfully aware of the
| fact that their shoes were full of SHARP
bfaded knives which they will glee-
] fully proceed to carve each other up wi th
| whenever the opportunity is afforded
I Besides this great variety of men who
were on hand a dozen or more WON er
enjoyed the evenings fun. Ordinarily
1 the presence of the fair sex is tabooe6
at the conclaves of the Saturday Might
| club but an exception was made las
night and a number of ladies were per
rrlitteo to sit in a small room off tht
banquet hall to hear the speeches AM
enjoy the fun which was provided.
It Vas shortly after O'Clock wher
the doors to the banquet room were
thrown open and the first glance into
the room was sufficient to make &
timid one feel like turning back fol-
blazing with myriad of electric
lights on the west wall of the room
was this caution: