The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-01-28

!, Miss Democracy Looking For Ean
''Take Off, Over Controversy FIac-
Ing Medical Men i'm Command of
Vessels-AdmiraI Evans Insists on
Being Called Doc
Washington d. c., January 25.-
1t was a grand political rally and
barbecue in the hall Of the Willard
House.
This was the official description
of the twenty-third annual winter
dinner rendered tonight by the Grid
iron Club to as many of it's friends
as conveniently could be seated at
the flower bedecked tables in the
great ball room of the New Willard
Hotel. Cut flowers, giant plants and
potted plants !, with splashes Of beau
tiful coloring made by the red po1n-
setta ard other winter blooming
plants Had transformed the hand
some room into a bower of floral
beauty. Into this scene of almost
tropical splendor were introduced
with characteristic gridiron felicity,
aspirants for the presidency. For
it was candidates !" night. Into
the limelight were brought William
jennings Bryan, "Still the peerless
leader" Vice President Charles w.
Fairbanks, Justice George Gray, Spea
ker Joseph G.. Cannon, Former At
torney General JudsoH harmon, and
United States Senator Philander G.
Knox, all of whom figured as fac
tors in the presidential equation. The
president of the United States, The.
odore Roosevelt, who it was alleged
at the dinner, had a long string at
TO- ~ l,.r1 ~f fhnr
term as president, was afforded an
'opportunityS to look over at close
range, some of those who are in the
list of hispossible s hccessors.
One of the impressive features Of
che dinner was the Inauguration of
the new president of the club, James
g. Henrys of the Philadelphia Press.
During the evening songs were
sung to tke president, songs to the
eandidatesNfor president and they
weref all frdicksome songs, full Of
jollAy and with not a sting or bite
In any of them.@
Indeed, the campaign song book,
which, with the ''colrrt Journal con-
fributed the literary features Of the
Edinner, afforded not only the candi-
dates themselves, but all of the
guests, lot of food for thought. On
the cover of the song book were the
elephant and the donkey singing as
If they really meant it.
This song book was the souvenir
of the banquet and was dedicated
to the candidate who stays put" All
of the sixteen or more candidates
were deftly and humorously treated
in song, each of the musical produc
tions being illustrated by a clever
cartoon intended in the best OF hu-
NOR to "hit off, the candidates par
ucular foible.
Among the announcements contain !
ed in the court journal were the
following:
"Mula Hafid Foraker is hereby
banished from these realms on &C
count Of political discomfort and per-
nicious activity
"The following names, by imperial
order, have been added to the list of
Hughes, John kean, (for frivolity) ; |
William II. Brownson, Charles Dick, |
Eacob H. Gallinger."
A particular feature of the court
journal was a parody on THE Bells ,
by Edgar Allen Poe, entitled The
Booms" which was read with admir-
able effect. This attracted attention
to a unique decorative effect, con-
Sisting of a dozen or more party |!
colored balloons which fioated over !
the banquet table as typical of the !.
presidential booms of some of the
guests.
During one period of the banquet /!
songs and jests were hushed while !
eloquent tribute was paid by mem |
bersand their guests to the memory |
of Charles Emory Smith, whose death |
only a few days ago, prevented him |
from being present at this dinner as
one of the Gridiron Clubs guests Of
honor.
Miss Democracy" appeared at
the door of the banquet hall in the
midst of the proceedings and insisted |
upon being admitted. She wanted
to see a Dlan. That man was Gov
ernor Johnson, of Minnesota, but he
was not present She was asked If
any other democrat would answer
Mr.. Bryan for instance-but she
answered emphatically in the mega
tive, 81 accepted him in 90 and
again in 1900," said she, "and he
Tilted me both times" She left the
room to continuer he rsearch for
Johnson, saying shyly, "this is leap
year, you know"
A musical skit was presented as
O humorous take off" on the contro-
versy over placing medical men In
command OF vessels, in the course OF