The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-26
AsHINGTON, January 25.-(spe- eial)-The annual dinner of the Gridiron club this evening was

l told or AS reporters are never pic9Sitt' only that which Harry West tells about in the Washington Herald can go out Here is what he tells;
 It was candidates night.
 Presidential aspirants appeared in the lmeight. The Gridiron club and large 1 party of distinguished guests saw these 1 candidates at close range.
 There were William Jennings Bryan, still the peerless leader; Vice President Fairbanks, Justice Gray. Speaker J. G. l Cannon, Judson Harmon and Senator 1 Philander Chase Knox, all of whom are l figuring largely in the political equa- l ton.
 Theodore Roosevelt. President of the | United States himself not a candidate l likewise was present, and had oppor- tunlty to see and appraise these candi- dates in a bunch. Secretary Elihu Root and "other local political talent also participated in a flaming 'ad'' in the court journal called Grand Political Rally and Barbecue in the Hall of the Willard House.
 It was the twenty third annual winter 1 most notable function, as all the club dinners are. The approach of the na- tional campaign added interest to the 1 gatherings. The scheme of decoration emphasized the point. Flowers and plants 1 deftly and artistically arranged about the 1 gridiron-shaped tables, gave the banquet l hall a peculiarly attractive appearance, and with so many men of prominence oc- 1 cupying seats about the board the scene was one that will long be memorable even for Washington where memorable scenes are not uncommon.
 l Promptly at o'clock the dinner bell sounded, and the guests, led by Presi- dent Roosevelt, escorted by Club President Henry, marched from the reception room into the banquet hall. As they took their seat the Gridiron quartet sang, 'There's Music in the Air" Then with the brief address of welcome, the four hours or 1 good-natured fun began.
 There was music, music, music. Indeed, after it was all over, as is the case with l most Gridiron dinners, the musical feat ures doubtless remained most vividly inn pressed upon the minds of those present. There were songs to the candidates, songs to the President-songs galore, and all good songs.
 Besides the songs actually ssung, there was "The Grldiron Club Campaign Song book" which contained IS "pomes' set to music -parodies on popular airs, intend ed to take off 16 presidential aspir- ants, avowed or receptive On the cover | Ia Elephant and the Donkey, singing to beat the band. It was the souvenir Of the dinner-this song book-and was "dedi- | cated to the candidate who stays put. The 16 songs appeared side by side with | IS apt cartoons, intended, good -natured- ly to disclose each aspirant's strength and weakness. The Bryan song was to the tune of Pull for the Shore; the Taft song, "Where Have You Been Billy Boy; the Hughes song was set to the tune of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" the Gray song, "In the Morning by the Gray light; the Fairbanks song, warrior Bold"; the LaFollette song, a parody on .'Tit- Willow" from the "Mikado," and SO on through the list.
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 The guests hardly had time to glance at the souvenir and get their bearings before an episode occurred which threat ened effectually to put stop upon the nights merrymaking. for huge police man-bogus-put in an appearance and read an edict from the District Com | missioners placing the whole blessed com pany on the water wagon. A higher power, however, promptly annuhed and set aside the edict and the programme continued uninterruptedly
 The inauguration of the club presi- dent was a most impressive spectacle A figure closely resembling Chief Justice Fuller of the United States supreme court administered the oath with solemnity befitting the occasion. A contretemps cut short the inaugural address, how ever, just as it was begun setting forth some highly momentous policies. An ex- tra edition of the court journal appeared in the hands of leather-lunged newsboys. It anticipated what President Henry in- tended to say by giving the text of his 1 inaugural address in full, subject only to some significant censoring done by the editor of the court journal, gen. tleman not unknown to subordinate White | House fame.
 The court journal, by the way, was an attractive sheet of most extraordinary contents. Here are a few things it contained, picked out at random;
 Order of punishment Mulai Hafid Foraker is hereby banished forever from these realms on account of political dis content and pernicious activity.
 Announcement The following names, by imperial order, have been added to the list of undesirable citizens: Charles Evans Hughes, John Kean, Jr, dor frivolity), Willard H. Brownson, Charles Dick, Jacob H. Gallinger.
 Public Notice-The constitution of the United States is hereby amended so as to exempt from the advice and con- sent of the Senate all nominations for postmasters and other federal offices in the state of Ohio and such other states as may be necessary.
 N. B.-This exemption extends until March 4, 1909.
 All Rough Riders who are not in office or in jail will report at Washington on March f. 1909, to act as escorts to the outgoing President of the United States during the ceremonies of the inaugura- tion of his successor
 By order of colonel, First regiment, Uni ted States volunteers.
 Resignaton-George Bruce Cortelyou, secretary of the treasury. has transmitted his resignation, to take effect at the