Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
MARATHON NOW
WELL LAUNCHED
NEW ASSOCIATION ORGANIZED
AT BANQUET
WINNER OF FIRST RACE SITS BY
ToASTMAsTER
Big Feast and General Good Time
Mark Election Of offlcers--Long-
Distance Sprlnters Enjoy
Novel Spread
BY CHESTER LAWRENCE

At banquet rendered the runners
and officials who participated in the
recent Marathon race to Venice. and
which was held at the Los Angeles
Athletic club Tuesday night, the
Southern California Marathon associa-
ton was organized. The officers OF the
new organization were elected by bal
lot, ana are as follows: President,
Chester Lawrence; secretary ana treas
urer, William F. Henderson; manager.
De Witt c. Van Court. The object of
the association will be to promote run
ming in Southern California generally,
but particularly Marathon cunning.
Lou Guernsey presided as sNtoastmas-
ter of the banquet and chairman OF the
meeting, which positions he hiled with
unouestioned ability. At his left sat
the winner of the race. Edward Diet
rich. and on the left were the rest OF
the runners in the order they finished
the race. Others at the table were
James Routzahn, Samuel Han, De
Witt c., Van Court, w. +. HENDERSON
and Walla Wheeler.
Because of the lateness of the hour
at which the prize presenting cere-
monies convened at the AUDITORIUM
1t was 1880 o'clock before the boys en-
tered the banquet room. Ihe nrss
glance of the room was feast IN ltseiI
for the eyes. In the center OF the taple
a miniature course of the race to VEN
ice was tastily executed.
Spices Mark Road
Various colored spices marked the
road and the names of the streets'
while images of each runner were m
animately plodding toward the end OF
fhe table marked "Venice." Surround
ing this piece of art were many vases
of flowers, daintily arranged.
The festivities started with COCK
tail. with which Toastmaster Guernsey
called for a toast TO the winner, Ed
ward Dietrich, and In the twinkllng
of an eye the liquids disappeared. me
next course consisted OF a canape' soon
followed by consomme royal AFTER
the busche O sardine Edward Dietrlch
was called to the floor with cries OF
"Speechl" Dietrich's words were too
sincere for the steely word SpeecnI
He disclaimed all honor of winning the
race on it's merits and heartiIy
thanked the officials and his feilow
runners for the honor they had pressed
upon him. He also assured tne poys
that he would train systematically Ior
the next race, and. wltn otnes a. :
tempt to keep The Herald cup In the
los Angeles Athletic club. The ova-
tion he received at the end or these
| words was as prolonged as his WORDS
were sincere. e.
The next man to be called upon Tor
a speech was Joe Pensa- Joe explaiiieu
to some extent why he MADE sucn pooI
comparative progress In the race, teii.
fving an assertion already made that
his toes were bleeding from blisters;
He also complimented the winner OF
the race for the excellent showing tnat
was made by him during the run.
During the interval following Joe
words the tenderloin steak was brougn'
in and another toast was drank wiz
the claret. Then l.. l.. burke wa Wa
called upon. He arose, bringing VII WY.
him about 200 pounds OF nesn anu siA'
Same Old Grit
II WAS the same kind of grit thai
+ook him over the last bridge at Venlce
q winner-almost-an he needed IL u
face the audience that greeted hlm VIZ
cries Of "Norwalk. where is h! anu
"How are the folks?" 49,,
Nevertheless Burke soon mad theii
hushed and, with appropriate woraS
that were unusually fitting from tne
nonular member, eulogized every mem,
her present except himself. lie toio
tba fellows he entered the race only
after being persuaded on the evening
before the race. That same evening ne
purchased a running suit ana ie"
hours later went to a SUBURBAN toWn
and for the first time in years ran
hopt ave miles. The run had made
his limbs ache. Nevertheless he re-
solved to keep his word and run IN the
race. Burke's ovation was exceedeu py
none.
Assistant Secretary Henderson,
health was toasted with the reishhg
He responded with speech or tnanks
In behalf of the officials or the ciup loi
the enthusiasm they showed IN tne re-
cent Marathon race.
The next man called upon was De-
Witt C. Van Court, boxing ipstructoi
of the club and clerk of the course dur.
ing the run to Venice. The gray~nalreo
Instructor surprised the boys with MS
oratorical powers. He spoke 10 tnt
boys of the many lessons they couio
profit by during their training Ior tne
next race. His remarks or what ne
saw along the course and the nltie us
crepancies which he had noticed Wniit
acting in his official capacity along tne
course, were interestingly Instructive te
the bows, who cheered him Justify as nt
| took his seat.
In turn eacIfs of the banqueters were
called upon for suggestions and re-
marks concerning the race, ana tnt
whole affair broke into heart-to-near'
talk among the boys.
After the speech-making was over
Chairman Guernsey asked for nomina-
tions for officers for, the Southern Call
fornia Marathon association, and fol-
lowing the formal election a motion
was made. and after some discussion
was carried, to the effect that the next
race be over the same course and the
same distance as the last one. 1t was
also resolved that an entrance fee OF
81 be charged every entrant to the mex
race to cover the expenses OF the ar.
fair. A vote of thanks was extended
| to Assistant Secretary Henderson fol
the superb banquet and another vote
of thanks was extended Lou Guernsey
for his excellent work as toastmastei
and chairman of the evening.