The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-13
A NOTABLE AFFAIR
ANNUAL FALL DINNER OF GRID-
 IRON CLUB!
An Extended Program Devoted En- tlrely to Fun Making. Made the Night One LOnE to Be
 Remembered.


 Washington, Dec. 12.-The annual fall dinner of the Gridiron Club, held at the New Willard tonight. was made notable by the presence of a disttn' guished company of guests. An ex- tended program. devoted entirely to fun making. made the night one long to be remembered.
 The company was one that is only possible at the capital of the nation The President, the Vice-President. the President-elect and the Vlce-President' elect, Presidential possibilities of the future. Senators and Representatives without number, newspaper men whose names are known far and wide. cap tains of finance and industry. and men of affairs generally were guests of the club and seated about the grtdtron- shaped table.
 Following the national campaign, the dinner was especially notable in the exceptional opportunities offered in suppying the subjects for the mer- ry-makers. There were many rollick- ing, tuneful songs and jests that car ried in their words no sting to irrftate the distinguished guests to whom they referred.
 In an unusual degree, the souvenir of the dinner, a miniature steam roller. was unique. It drew particular att tention to Chairman Frank Hitchcock of the Republican National Commtttee, who was one of the notable guests. The steam roller was . little bronze affair with the name Taft" on the ob- verse and the gridiron emblem on the reverse side The banquet hall, at the New Willard, was gorgeously deco rated.
 E. H. Hartman, the distinguished ffnancier. Champ Clark. the new mi- nority leader of the House of Repre- sentatives; John Henson, of Minneso- ta, were among the distinguished speakers of the evening. but a rule of the club prevents any report of their remarks.
 One of the most delightful skits of the evenings entertainment was fur. nished by a roll call after the recent national political battle.
 The mournful tap of a drum was heard In the ante-room and there came marching in a battered and dilapidated troop. Their uniforms showed they had been on the firing line. President Henry announced in a solemn voice that the battle was over and that the slaughter had been terrific.
 The members of the troop answered to the roll call. Sergeant Tom Watson was reported as killed while riding to the front on the water wagon.
 Private Charlie Landis fell at Wat 
 Private Charles G. Dawes passed in his checks" and Private Frank Lof- ten was "shet in the pocket
 Corporal Norman E. Mack was re- ported as "burying the dead.''
 Corporal William J. Bryan was "among the missing"
 Corporal Loeb was "in the hands of his, friends. "
 Private Taft was reported present and Color Sergeant Hitchcock was an- nounced as "here with the colors."
 The guests included President Roose- welt. Vice. President Fairbanks. Presi- dent-elect Taft; Vice President -elect sherman, Speaker Cannon, Secretary of the Navy Newberry. Postmaster Gen eral Meyer. Secretary of the Interior Garfield. Senators Aldrich. Beveridge, GaHinger Guggenheimer, Heminway. Nswlands and Warner: Representatives Champ Clark, Hughes. Hull. Humph- rey, Langley. Lloyd. Lowden. McKin- ley, Mann. Dalzell. Moore. Nye. Stevens. TawneY Perkins. Rams deli, Small Buleson and Sparkman: Governors Magoon of Cuba, Frear of Hawaii and Johnson of Minnesota; Sec retary Loeb. Frank H. Hitchcock, Nor man E. Mack. Chares H. Boynton. Vic tor Morwitz. George W. Perkins. B. H. Hartman and William Roche. all of New York; W. H. Crocker. San Francisco; Milton E. Ayles, Assistant Secretary of State Adee, Brigadier-