The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-02-01
THE GRIDIRON Club
Held ANNUAL MID WINTER
SESSION, SATURDAY.
Most Prominent Men Of Public A.
fairs Of the Country Present to
Watch the Fun-PrineipaI Skit Of
Evening Was at Expense Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and J. p. Morgan.


Washington, Jan. 27.-President
Roosevelt was SO overcome with mer-
riment at the annual midwinter din
rer of the Gridiron club Saturday
night that he nearly fell off his chair.
J. P. Morgan and H. H. Rogers, the
victims of a prank, enjoyed most
heartily the shout that went up at
their expense. President Roosevelt
has in his official capacity been at
daggers' points with the dictator" of
Wall street and the oil trust magnate.
But Saturday night these notables and
many others, cabinet officers, diplo-
mats, literary lights and business men
from all parts of the United States
met in the spirit of camaraderie that
marks the meetings of this famous din
ner club Of newspaper correspondents.
The incident just related occurred dur
ing the carrying out Of the principal
skit of the evening, which was based
upon President Roosevelt's centraliza-
ton idea.
The year was 1917, an empire was
erected in Washington, and a cere-
monial session was held at the court
of His Gracious and Imperial Majes-
ty, Emperor of all the Americas,
Champions of Capitalization, King OF
Kings and Monarch of the High, the
Middle and the Low"
The room was darkened, and after
the 10 strokes on gong the lights
came up and a gorgeous gold throne
was discovered. Beside it stood a
herald, who looked more like Happy
Jack Falstaff" than anything else,
who announced the members Of the
court as they came in. There were
four officers Of the kings privy coun
Gil, courtiers, pages and jester, and al!
the panoply of court. .,..
A spirited colloquy was interrupted
by the entrance of two ragged and
woebegone men, both OF whom pros
trated themselves before the king
! One said: "Be merciful, for l once
owned all the railroads in this land
The other exclaimed: And l con
trolled the oil productions" The!
were identified by a courtier as H. II
i Rogers and ]. P. N,-gan. This wa
e when the shout Of merriment went uE
p, 1t was declared by the court that in
v as much as these men had been de
o prived of all their profits they shout
be given employment. Rogers wa
g billeted first oiler of the imperial 81
T. cial train" and Morgan was made 80
J. fetal photographer Of the Panama CT
d nal" with instructions to ''get in a
~ the steam shovels." The laugh wa
long and merry at the testing whic
IN followed at the presidents expens
" between the king and his courtiers.
- Courtier: "Your majesty's ambass
dor at the court Of st. James report
by submarine telephone that the Rigt
y Hon. James Bryce did six feet for
inches in the pole vault yesterday"
'e The King: at is not enough. SIEVE
le feet, or we won't receive him. Wash
e, the French ambassador to be here |
this timer"
Courtier: Eyes. sir; he is in the ga
den putting the II pound shot"
III The King: Inform him that l wi
at not sign the treaty Of alliance u
a. less he does better than he did ye
r terday." -
D. The skit ended with the recital
o. an epilogue and the Star Spanglt
NJ Banner" from the orchestra. Ever
u. body at the table rose, cheering al
ar waving napkins at the president, wi
70 was Immediately introduced. He mat
)" a speech which was received with tr
b. mendous enthusiasm.
I'd Some Of the Guests.
Following is a partial list Of Il
NJ guests:
-. President Roosevelt, Vice Preside
Fairbanks, Chief Justice Fitzpatrick
- Canada, Justices Brewer and Harlan
DO the supreme court of the Unit
lie States, Secretaries Root. Taft, wills
w and Straus, United States Senate
I'd Aldrich, Beveridge, Blackburn, Ga
ng Clapp, Crane, Foraker, Nixon and p
en- terson, Speaker Cannon, Represen
lie tives Bartholdt, Bede, Burlest
ed Champ Clark, Cushman, Lowdt
- Shirley. Sibley, Stevens, Tawney, [
derwood, Wadsworth and Watst
Captain Jack Crawford, Leadvill
James H. Eckels, Chicago; John
ad McCutcheon, Chicago; Melville
his Stone, the Associated Press; GeoI
on Harvey, Harper's Weekly; Arthur
Little, Pearson's magazine; Geol
Ice Horace Lorimer, Saturday Event
an Post; James d. Whelpley, Lond
nj Tribune. and John O'Hara Cosgro
,rd Everybody's magazine.
d. oa-coS, Yco,,,.