New-York tribune., 1908-02-21
HOKE SMITH, SAY "DRlS'
Presidential Boom Inflated at South
ern .SOcietu Dinner.

Governor Hoke Smith of Georgia for the Presi-
dency of the United States on the prohibition uchec
is the latest boom to strike New YORK Mrdoeau
/. Towns lawyer and poet. of Brooklyn. speaking
for the Crackers at the Southern Society dln-
ner at the Hotel Astor last night, Launched the
boom and the yellow Hammers, "Orloles lar
heels" and "Mossbacks'' applauded the sentiment
vigorously. while the ''Moonshiners and those from
the Blue Grass State just sneered, and with I'M
punity.' TOO.
The dinner which was designated as Dixie
dinner" was the first of the Southern Society at
which women were among the diners ana Oh course
each speaker had something chivalrous 10 say
about them The speakers were representatives of
seven of the states whose sons comprise the nehi-
bership of the society. Each spoke of his native
state and thus it was the IF. F. vs. learned
how unmportant Virginia was compared WIN
North Carolina, and the ''Palmettos were ihaue
understand that the mortality rate III 0outi
Carolina from rattlesnake bites would be tremen-
dous if it not for the effcacious antdote
made in Tennessee
In fact the speechmaking like a joint meet
ing of the Boost Club and the Roast Clup' LOT
there was much of both of these elements evident
The schedule allowed speeches of only five minutes
except in the of Virginia, for whose euosy
the society allowed minutes. Hardly any OF
the speakers kept within the allotted uhe LOT II
took them that long to extol the beauty OF the
womanhood their respective states But Dr.
John A Wyeth. president of the society, obseIv wing
the usurpation of time. said: We are travelling
on the Southern and, usual, we are behind
time" The unusual haste on account of the
dance that follow the dinner
Dr. Wyeth spoke for Alabama. Then lie an
nounced the unavoidable absence of John Temple
Graves who was TO have responded to Georgia, y
and introduced Mirabeau l.. Towns. who took his
place. Mr.. Towns eXtoed the glories of the En-
pire State the South of her great resources and
proud history. Her men," he said, We're brave.
staid and sober whereat there was some laugh
had Ia
last Characterization Mr Towns continued:
They certainly sober down there now since
they have prohibition. Why Hoke Smith was elected
Governor only on his promise that he would not
take drink within the borders of the state for two
years. and these Prohibitionists who are becoming
so plentiful this country, going to make
him their leader With Roosevelt and Bryan run
ming out the trusts. and Hoke Smith, with the
Prohibiionists, chasing alcohol, there viii be life
in the land yet
W. A. Barber, speaking for South Carolina, took
up a remark by the toastmaster that that state
had given much trouble and said:
South Carolina has always done her part, some
times first and always well, if she has given
trouble She also has always stood for the preser-
walton of liberty and constitutional state sover-
eighty. And l might say that with the tendency
for a greater Capitalization of power by the sug-
gcstion of the government ownership of railroads
l would he surprised if South Carolina would
be the first to raise her voice and cast her vote
against the slightest infringement of the sover-
eighty Of the state and agar st wnat she believes
TO be the personal rights Of her citizens.
Ex-Judge Charles +. Moore referred to all of the
other colonies of Virginia and all their
sons and daughters children and grandchildren
of that state Kentucky not represented by
a speaker but it was in song by Miss Bloomfield.
who sang My Old Kentucky Home Miss Knowles
sang Down the Suwanee River
The musical feature important one. there
being employed successfully three orchestras, the
first Brooks and Denton banjo septet followed by
a Niennese then Italian orchestra.