The independent., 1907-01-24

The Grdiron club of washington is
in a class by itself. 1t is composed OF
the leading newspaper correspondents
of the capital, the clevererest body OF
men to be found anywhere. There is
no man SO great or so famous as not
to feel honored by an invitation to one
Of it's dinners. Presidents Cleveland,
Harrison, Mckinley and Roosevelt
have enjoyed it's hospitality. j.. p.
Morgan has said that he would cross
the ocean TO attend one of its dinners.
Carnegie, Rogers. Hartman, and all
the other financial lights have been
proud to sit in. To the foreign am
bassadors the dinners are an endless
source Of delight, and the reports that
Baron Won Sternburg has sent to his
imperial master has drawn from the
kaiser regrets that he could not attend
one 1t is at these dinners that Pres
ident Roosevelt is seen at his best He
knows that not word of what he
says will be reported in any news
paper, and there is no need to armOr
himself with reserve. He talks right
out in meeting explains, defends, JUS
titles. And yet he is not spared His
vulnerable words or acts are held up
to ridicule of a good natured chatting
kind in which he joins as heartily as
anybody. 1t exercises a beneficial in
fiuence in reminding men in power that
they are fallible.
"The most democratic gathering that
I've ever been in," was the comment
Of the famous ambassador towards the
close Of the gridiron dinner. And he
was right Every man has to take in
good part whatever is coming TO him,
whether it be in jibe or railery. But
10 ncu
There is skill and deftness SO as to
| touch the spot without leaving
| wound.
| The retiring president of the club is
| Richard Lee Fearn, head Of the New
| York Tribune bureau, and all that
| need be said OF him is that this blue
ribbon of the profession the highest
honor within the gift of his fellows
came to him by unanimous vote. For
next year the president selected is
Samuel G. Blythe, one of the happiest,
brightest and most cheerful souls to be
met with anywhere. He sees humor
and fun in everything, and yet there
| isn't anybody more sympathetic or
helpful when sympathy or help Is
needed. Both men are proud Of the
Gridiron, and the Gridiron is proud Of
them
A persistent report is in circulation
| among the members of congress that
within the next six months Secretary
| Wilson will retire from the head Of the
agricultural department and will be
succeeded by Clifford Pinchot, now the
chief Of tie forestry division. Several
efforts have been made by numerous
congressman specially interested in the
subject to learn If the report is true,
but thus far no confirmation Of it has
been obtained at the white house. Mr.
Pinchot is one Of the presidents clos
est friends, and, like James Rudolph
Garfield who soon is to supplant Mr.
Hitchcock as secretary Of the interior,
is one of the chief executives favorite
tennis players. Mr. Pinchot is about
Mr.. Garield's age, and like the son
Of the martyred president, he has
adopted public career because he
wants to do things, as Mr.. Roose-
velt says. His parents, who live in
Washington are very wealthy, SO that
he would not have to work at any
thing if he did not want to. Mr.
Pinchot has brought the forestry di-
vision up to high degree of efficiecy,
and until he took hold of the work
practically nothing was known of the
organized activity of the government
to preserve the country's forests and
provide a method for foresting large
sections that have been ruthlcssly de-