The Washington herald., 1908-01-26
It was Candidates Night

It Was Candidates Night.
Presidential aspirants appeared On the
llmcIlght The Gridlron Club and a large
party or distinguished guests saw these
candidates at close range.
There we William Jennings Bryan.
stlu the Peerless Leader; vice President
Fairbanks. Justice George Gray Speaker
j. G. Cannon. Judson Harmon. and sena-
tor Phlander Chase Knoy. all OF whom
are figuring largely in the political equ0-
ton
Theodore Roosevelt. President Of the
United States himself not a candidate,
likewise was present. and had opportu-
nifty to see and appraIse these candidates
in a bunch, Secretary Euhu Root and
other local political talent also partici-
pateq in what a flaming "ad." In The
Court Journal called q Grand political
rally and barbecue in the hall Of the
Willard House"
It was the tweuty-third annual winter
dinner Of the famous dining club, and
was a most notable function. as all the
clubs dinners are. The approach Of the
national campaign added interest to the
gathering. The scheme OF decoration en-
phasized the point Flowers and palms
deftly and artisticauy arranged about the
gridiron-shaped tables gave the banquet
hall a peculiarly attractive appearance
and with so many men Of prominence oc-
cupying seats about the board the scene
was one that will long be memorable
even for Washington, where memorable
scenes are not uncommon.
There's Music I'm the Air"
Promptly at o'clock the dinner bell
sounded. and the guests, led by President
Roosevelt, escorted by Club President
Henry marched from the reception room
into the banquet hall. As they took theiI
/ seats. the Gridiron Quartet sang There,
/ Music in the Air Then, with the brie
! address Of welcome, the four hours o.
good-natUred fun began.
There was music. music. music. In.
deed after it was all over. as is the cas-,
| with most Gridiron dinners, the musica
| features doubtless remained most yividIy
| impressed upon the minds Of those pres
ent. There were songs to the candidates
| songs 20 the President-songs galore. anC
| all good songs. Victor Herbert, a guest
| led the chorus in one of the songs.
Besides the songs actually sung. ther
| was 'The Gridiron Club Campaign Son,
| Book, which contained sixteen PONIES
| set TO musiC-paTOdies on popular airs
| intended to take Off sixteen Presiden
| tial aspirants. avowed or receptive. OI
the cover Of this campaign song book ap
peared the Elephant and the Donkey
singing to beat the band. It was Tn,
| souvenir of the dinner-this song book
and was Dedicated to the Candidat
| Who Stays Put" The sixteen songs an
| peared side by side with sixteen ap
cartoons intended good-naturedly to dis
close each aspirant's strength and weak
/ ness The Bryan song was to the tun,
of Pull for the Shore" the Taft song
/ Where Have You Been. Billy Boy?" tn
| Hughes song was set TO the tune o
Swing Low. Sweet Chariot" the Ora.
| song. In the Morning by the Graylight;
the Fairbanks song, Warrior Bold" tn
La Toilette song. parody on "Tit-WiI
low" from The Mikado" and so oi
through the list.
An UntOWard Episode.
The guests hardly had time to glanc
al the souvenir and get their bearing
before an episode occurred which threat
| ened effectually to put a stop to tn
nights merrymaking, for a huge police
man-bOgus-put in an appearance an,
read an edict from the District Commits
( sioners placing the whole blessed com
pany on the water wagon A highe
power. however, promptly annulled AM
set aside the edict.
The inauguration of the club presiden
was g most impressive spectacle A fig
Continued on Page 4, Column 2.