Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1906-04-14

willard hotel In Washington, and the
l.rss of the presidents mirth was the
.koct that he and his administration
md above all, the Panama canal de
nortment of it were roasted to the
,uoen's taste, says a washington spc-
AL dispatch to the New York Times.
Next in size was the colossal laugh
n Secretary Taft whenever the club
demonstrated In It's most convincing
banner that he and his cana; were not
What they were cracked up to be. As
or Secretary Root, he did the best he
Rould, but with hundred or more SEN
stors, representatives, cabinet officers
and newspaper men shouting around
him II was difficult for him to hold his
own with such voices as those Of Taft
and Roosevelt.
The dining room was transformed
into Panama for the occasion, and the
club and its guests marched In singing
these prophetic words to the tune of
'sWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home"
"We're going to dig the big canal.
Hurrahl Hurrah!
We're going to dig the big canal,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
& In Panama we work tonight;
Well do some digging before It's light,
And therell be more shenanigan
4 When the dirt begins to fly
Before they got through they had dug
the canal and flashed upon a large
white screen a picture showing the
completed enterprise, and with it por-
trait of President Roosevelt, wearing
venerable white beard and appar.
emily a century old. This was one of
the things which brought forth that
presidential roar.
First Of all, after the guests had ar
rived they were marshaled into COM
panies. Instead of going into the din
Ing hall in the usual way a procession
was formed. 1t was headed by Lieu
band, all done up in beautiful white
uniforms and looking as summary as
could be. Then came President Roose-
welt of the United States and President
Richard Lee Fearn of the Gridiron
club. Following them marched the
muslcai members, clad in working
mems Dlouses and carrying real picks
and shoyels. In the procession were
ambassadors, cabinet officers, senators
and representatives, railroad presi-
dents-all following golden gridiron
held aloft. Mark Twain kept pace with
the rest, as lively as a boy. Associate
Justice Brewer, sedate and dignified,
was by his side.
AS the band played the members and
the guests made their devious way
through a serpentine aisle Of palms,
rubber trees, banana plants and other
tropical vegetation, so thickly placed
together as to make fascinating illu-
sion of a jungle. Everybody in the
march to the banquet hall Joined in the
chorus:
We're going to dig the big canal,
Hurrahl Hurrah
1t Is really mistake to say that the
procession entered the banquet hall. 1t
emerged from the tropical pathway up
on the plaza of Santa Anna, which, as
every one knows, is the public park of
the isthmus city. The street signs hung
here and there announced that 1t was
the plaza Of Anna, which was evidence
enough; but, in addition to this, the
room was set with towering cocoanut
palms, with banana trees bearing
punches of real fruit and with other
appropriate decorations in rich profu-
sion. All the acts were arranged as If
tney were occurring in Panama, and
everybody referred to Washington as
some faroff, distant city.
The elimination of the evening was
ule one act drama entitled Pointers
from Panama; or, How We Could Do
~ II We Had a Chance" The guests
were brought face to face with this In
eresting and veraclous production by
series of easy stages. Early In the
evening one of the club members came
~, walked around the plaza and dis
Nlouted with great prodigality huge
wads OF stage money. He lighted a
pigar with thousand dollar bill and
scattered bits of money on the floor.
what does this exhibition meani"
asked President Fearn.
I am giving an imitation of the Pan
ANA canal commission" was the sol
gum reply, and the laughter that fol-
'owea showed that the guests appre-
vsated the situation. Then followed
This chorus:
~" ehonts and Stevens and all the bunch,
wu Hurrah! Hurrah
"'' nave TO get an extra bunch
M. In Pan-a-ma!
1--WE got the shovels, we've got the stuff,
No al al can see we've got men enough
40 -dig-dig-dig
Here in Panama
another member appeared with a
urge telescope and seemed to be study.
ing the heavens.
.., nhat are you looking att" he was
n am observing the canals of Mars
~ you know why they are such O
successT"
No one knew.
a., because" observed the astronomer