Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-26
6RIDIR0N BANQUET
AMID JEST AND SONG
4naua| DInFer This Year Of
Famous Washington Organization
Was Candidates vIghl".
NEARLY ALL Bo0ms WERE THERE
Many BRIGHT Things Said and Sung
About the Men Who Want to Live
in the White House the Next Four
Years-Many Distinguished Guests
in Attendance.
t3y Associated Press,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 20 =
1T was grand political rally and
barbecue in the hall OF the Willard
House, is the official description
of the 23rd annual winter G:nner ten
Tered tonight by the Gridiron Club
q as many of It's friends as conven-
emily could be seated Mt the flower
bedeckcd tables in the great ball
room of the New Willard Hotel. Flow
FRS. giant palms and potted plants
with splashes OF beautiful coloring
made by the red poinsctta and other
winter blooming plants had trans
formed the handsome room into a
bower of floral beauty.
Into this scene of almost tropical
iplendor were introduced with char
icteristic felicity, aspirants for the
The presidency. For it was "canii-
dates night" Into the, lime light
were brought William jennings Bry-
m. still THE peerless leader: Vice
President Charles Warren Fairbanks.
Justice George Gray, Speaker Joseph
!. Cannon. Former Attorney General
hudson Harmon. aud United States
whom figure rs factors in the presi-
iential equation. The President or
The United States. Theodore Roose-
relt, who. 1t was alleged at the din
Ter. had a long string attached to his
ieclination of another term as Pres
dnt. was afforded an opportunity to
ook over, ut close range, some of the
men who are in the list OF his pos
'ible successors.
During the evening songs were
'ung to tho President. songs 10 the
he candidates for President and they
we're all rollicking songs, full of jol-
ty and with no sting or bite in any
4 them Indeed, the campaign song
ook. which with the court Journal
Constituted the literary features of
he dinner, afforded not only the
andidates themselves, but all of the
,uests lot Of food for thought.
On the cover of the song book were
he elephant and the donkey singing
IS If they really meant 1t. This song
)ook was the souvenir of the ban
2aet and was dedicated to the can
iidate who stays put
All Of the l6 or more candidates
we're deity and humorously treated
IN song, each of the musical pro-
luctions being Illustrated by clev-
'r cartoon, intended in the best OF
lumor to hit off the candidates foibl.
,es
Among the announcements contained
n the court jOulnal we're the fol-
owing: "Mulai Hafd Faraker is here
by banished from these realms on ac.
count OF political discomfort and per-
nicious activity
me following names by imperial
order, have been added to the list of
undesirable citizens: Charles Evans
Hughes. John Kean. Jr. (for frivol-
ity), William H. n-ownson. Charles
Dick. Jacob II. Gallinger."
Some of the GAGS.
Miss Democracy" appeared at the
iooT of the banquet hall in the midst
Of the proceedings and insisted upon
being admitted. She wanted to see
man. That man was Governor
Johnson of Minnesota. but he was not
present She was asked if any other
Democrat would answcr-Mr. BRYAN.
or instance-but she answered en-
'hatically in the negative.
Il accepted him in 1896 and 1900. +
she said. land he killed me both
lines" She left the room TO continue
her search for Johnson, saying: This
IS leap year. you know"
a musical skit was presented as a
humorous take off" on the contro-
ve'sy over placing medical men In
command OF vessels. in the course
IT which Rear Admiral Evans OBJ
lected to the Presidents calling him
Rob- and insisting that he be called
DOC"
Among the speakers during the eve
mig were President Roosevelt Vice
President Fairbanks. William j enning
Byan, Judge Gray, George AIDE. Speak
sr Cannon. Representative John Sharn
Williams, Senator Knox. Secretary
Root. Ambassador Hengelmuller and
Right Reverend Henry Y. sattoricc,
bishop Of Washington.