New-York tribune., 1909-06-15
BIG THRONG AT DINNER
CHEER JEROME WILDLY.
Noise Dro1cns Out Speeches at Birth
abraham Gathering.

All who attended the dinner last night in cele-
bration of the fftieth anniversary of the founda-
ton Of the Order Birth Abraham, the fraternal
and benevolent Jewish association, were OF one
mind that the occasion had been a warm one in
more senses than one The committee in charge Of
the celebration expected that between two thou
sand and twenty-five hundred would pertake OF
the dinner and listen 10 the speeches by the dis
tnguished guests The advance figuring may have
been little below or it may have been above the
calculation of the dinner committee, but there IS
no getting around the fact that the flag and bunt-
ing draped hall could have held hardly any more
tables that tables could have been provided
for the guests.
The committee of arrangements had done itself
proud in arranging for a distinguished list Of
speakers and for wide diversion Of topics which
should have afforded interest 10 every one
in the gathering. Also. alas. they had provided
handsome souvenirs-there were jewel cases for the
women and gun metal cigarette cases and leather
cigar cases for the men-the sight of which played
havoc with the gems Of oratory that were waiting
to be dropped from the lips of Congressman and
Judges District Attorney Jerome and Coroner
Julius Hamburger.
There's bound to be a noise even on a winter
night when two thousand or more persons get to-
gether under one roof 10 eat and drink and be
merry and 1t takes lung power. even on the
part of prsctsed public speaker. to get across
what he wants to to them But last night the
walters rushing to and fro. and the incessant din
Of glasses and plates and knives and forks and
even District Attorney Jerome found himself un-
able to overcome. though he made brave at
tempt
Samuel Dorf. the grand master of the Birth
Abraham. did his best 10 get a hearing for the
speakers but many of those he could reach
too busily occupied in finding out whether they
going be favored with souvenirs Even
during the presentation Of handsome silver punch
set 20 the grand master the din from the anxious
lockers for the souvenirs and the arguments that
were going on all the hall made such pother
that nobody outside of those at the guests table
and the platform could hear a word of Congress
man GOldfogIe's speech.
Congressman GoIdfogle. who acted as toastmas-
ter wanted say something about the usefulness
of the order. but he made prompt surrender after
he had succeeded in shouting 10 Mr.. Dorf. vino
stood lees than three away. what the members
of the Birth Abraham thought OF the good work
he had done for the crder- Congressman Julius
Kahn of San Francisco, took the and ad-
dressed himself the people Immediately about
him and then get a fresh collar.
Mr. Jerome has met the hecklers and been heard;
so last night he thought he could succeed in quiet
ing the audience But his spirit quailed be-
fore the din Of converse and the strife for the
souvenirs. and last he gave up the attempt and
confined his attention to the reporters.
I'm down to talk The Empire state" he
said: so get this. just want TO say this; Ihe
State of New York to-day IS a large state It Is d
populous state II IS a rich state and want these
neonie % the Jewish race TO 70 it that by CO.
operation. organization and suoordination to wise
| leadership we make il a great state"
Among those az the speakers table we're Mr ana
| Mrs Samuel Dorf an1 Miss Bertha Dorf; the Rev
DR. Bernard Drachman. Congressman GoIdfosie'
| Bennett and Kahn; Justice Deiehanty. Coroner Har-
| burger Samuel Strauss. Judge Joseph G Bloch' OF
| Cleveland; Nathan Straus, Leonard Leisersohn ana
| Samuel stern. The music was under the direction
| Of Mrs Albert RosenthaL Governor Hughes sent
a telegram expressing regret at his inability TO be
] hFs a q
| +a,+ VOL, and interests Of the Birth Abraham
There we're about 10 delegates, representing i7s
/ lodges and 900 members at the day sessions OF
| the convention, which opened yesterday morning
| in the New Star Casino. Grand Master Dor1 re-
oeived a fine Kaddish cup and tray from Samuel
Dorf Lodge of Baltimore. and also gold fountain
pen from Sluzewo Eleazar Lodge. OF New YORK
The election of officers will take place today and
IL is probab Bile Mr.. Dorf will be CHOSEN chleA
executfve for the seventeenth consecutive term