The Topeka state journal., 1908-03-18
TAFT PLEASES IRISH.
After Dinner Speech to Sons OF st.
Patrick at Delmonico's.

New York, March 1S.-Irishmen OF
New York to the number of $4,000,
made the greatest demonstration IN
honor of St Patrick that the city has
seen. Of the total $4,000 paraded in
Manhattan and others in Brooklyn
The evening feature of the Brooklyn
celebration was the dinner of the st.
Patrick society at the Pouch man
sion, in connection with which a
reception was rendered Governor
Hughes. The governor arrived at
1880 O'Clock and was given an ova-
ton. Owing to other dinner engage
ments his stop was necessarily brief,
but he shook hands with the whole
party.
The turn out in the Manhattan
parade brought in line Al divisions
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians,
80 organizations representing Irish
county societies of greater New York,
4S benevolent orders and 26 GAMMA
Gael clubs. Added to these were the
Sixty-ninth regiment of New York and
several brigades of Irish volunteers.
Interspersed were bands without
number and as the green bedecked
line swung through Fifth avenue the
windows of the mansions ratified with
1.-THE wearing of the green and other
stirring melodies. Thousands of BAN
ners bearing the harp and shamrock
f1uttered in common with the stars
and Stripes from house tops and busi-
ness blocks. An occasional shower
fell upon the heads of the marchers
but failed to dampen their spirits.
Last night there was feasting and
singing and dancing all over town.
OF the many dinners of note the most
elaborate was that Of the Friendly
Sons of st. Patrick at Delmonicos.
The guests of honor were Secretary
Taft and Governor Hughes.
Taft and Hughes Clasp Hands.
Governor Hughes having previously
attended reception in his honor, was
a little late and the dinner was under
way when he arrived at Delmonicos.
As he entered a cheer was raised and
the applause became general through
out the room as he moved toward the
speakers table. AS he neared his
seat at the left of the POSTMASTER,
Secretary Taft, who was seated at Mr..
FarreIly'S right, arose and the sec
retary and the governor clasped
hands. They stood so Tor a moment
and then as though there was some
thing humorous in the situation, both
laughed. In a moment the banquet
hall was in an uproar with laughter
and mingled cheers for Secretary Taft
and Governor Hughes.
AS Secretary Taft arose to speak he
received an ovation, the applause con-
tinuing for several minutes and be-
ing followed by three cheers.
Secretary Taft spoke to the toast
''The United States" Politics had no
part in the speech which dubbed
over with good humored praise of the
Irish race. Declaring that he, too,
had kissed the b1arney stone, the
secretary resorted to the poems of of
Kip11ng and John Boyle O'Reilly to
express the achievements of the Irish
race and set forth his impressi ons
of the Emerald Isle and its beauties
in the lines of 1.-The Shandon Bells
and Samuel Lovers Sweet Peggy
who in her low backed car:
HAS darts in her bright eye
That knock men down
In the market town
AS right and left they fly
The happy drift of the secretary's
remarks early caught the fancy of
the diners who frequently interrupted
him with bursts of laughter and ap-
plause.
Another demonst ration greeted
Governor Hughes as he arose to re-
York. The governor expressed him
self as gratif1ed at the opportunity of
welcoming Secretary Taft who said
man, as administrator and pacificator
has won the esteem and affection of
his fellow citizens irrespective of
party
Amid laughter from the assem-
blage, the governor alluding to a pas
sage in Secretary Taft's address, said
that he should have liked to have had
picture of the distinguished secre-
tary kissing the blarney stone