New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
ON THE ROCKS
.SauaY's Ciric 1Viancc Has a
Stormy Dinner.

The American Civic Alliance IL on the
rocks. and according 10 members VINO at
tended the dinner Of the National CIVIC
Congress held under the auspices or the
alliance last night at the Hotel Astor' u
will take big man. 10 save II. IL was
lively affair.
" I.afayette-Savay. the president OF the
alliance said that he had been vtlinsd by
the press and deserted by friends and mad
been called a tyrant. He denied vehenently
the imputations that he had used his Office,
for self f-aggrandizement and expressed his
desire to lay down the cares and responsi-
biIities of his office. even suggesting that
an election be held for the purpose after
the dinner. Savay also accused the Hearst
organization Of appropristing the name
Civic Alliance
Groups of delegates from other states
gathered In the corridor trying 10 find out
why they had left their homes 20 be pres
ent at the congress and the dinner The IN
surgents had met i'm the morning. and as
result OF the conference they did some in
vestigating. Its a gross imposition" said
a delegate from Cleveland. They used the
names of many prominent men. and that
caused me to come in and contribute 80.
If. said. there are six thousand mem-
bers throughout the United States and each
has contributed $40 there has been large
amount collected"
The first rift occurred early in the after
dinner programme Savay requested Ed
win Markham. who had read a poem. 20
act as POSTMASTER. The venerable poet
rose and said. smiIingIy: You have every
privilege in the word. but not the privilege
10 ask me TO preside" Then. he added:
Some men are born great. some have
greatness thrust upon them. while some
men thrust themselves on greatness.
don't belong TO either class
y. Lafayette-Savay began what he called
his Oration mildly enough by telling of the
vital defects in the government and OF
how little the people knew about the gov
ernment. The alliance. he said. takes
with the best people in the nation. Then
he became excited and got down TO the
subject OF the press. The latter. he
said. did not care for the uplift-
ing Of the country. They were
more interested I'm suicides. murders and
divorces, Savay afterward amended his
first statement TO say that the metropol-
itan press was interested only In public
movements that had money behind them.
Savay halted his TRADE long enough 70 tell
the alliance and told Of former Gov
ernor of New York State who said that
he had been insulted by receiving an invi-
tation from the alliance. Il deny" roared
Savay. that he has the right to citizen
ship" Still interpOlating. Savay expressed
his disappointment that there were only
three hundred at the dinner. as he had
expected six hundred. The trouble was
that man whom some people liked and
more didn't had appropriated the name
of the alliance and injured the latter's cause
because people confOund the two organi-
zations" Turning around. the speaker
said: The attitude Of the press has been
one OF ridicule. I have been villifed by
the press and deserted by my best friends.
who have been told to keep away from me.
1t has been said that I have been working
for my own aggrandizement. To tell the
truth, l have been working more than a
year and spent lot of time, but I have
had lot of fun. However. / have never
taken penny for my services. no matter
what the press says"
At this juncture Savay saw a vision of
"a broken state" because the citizens
would not do their duty. II have done
mine" he said. lat least for a year. I
have had no motive out the desire TO
benefit my country. OF course. I am not
the only man who can save it,"
There will be a meeting of the alliance
soon. when the members will discuss the
Savay matter. Other speakers last night
were ex-Mayor David A. Boody. of Brook
lyn. Henry Clews, Hamlin Garland and
Hammond Talbot.