New-York tribune., 1909-03-14
TWO MAYORALTY B00MS
SPRUNG By ABE" GRUBER
Nets and Edpards Named at
Thirteen Club Dinner.

There were two mayoralty boorns sprung last
night at the dinner OF the Thirteen Club at helseI
webers One was for Controller Metz, chief ruler
Of the club and the other for Commissioner
Big Bill Edwards But there was sorne'ilie
irregular about these booms-they were both start
ed by the same man, Colonel ABE GruDeI' VIM
was POSTMASTER and besides he is not OF the po-
rticaI Affiliations of Mr. Metz and Mr.. Edwards
The theme for discussion last night was "Wnat
Is superstition?' But how the thirteen tunes
thirteen men who dined last night at thir'e7n
tables some Of them under umbrellas De eNpec'eu
to answer that question? Then. also. there were
thirteen courses and thirteen kinds OF hQud re-
freshments, of which twelve were water
dinner was eaten by the light of candles placed III
miniature plaster skulls. The arrangements were
satisfactory to all except Mr.. Clancy and MI oli-
hooley They protested that "deVllleo CIdos
should not have been on the menu Of a dinner held
in Lent. But Alderman Reggie Douli VINO was
one Of the thirty aldermen present reassured the
protestants
Earlier in the evening there looked as If an un-
pleasant incident would mar the harmonious luhc-
ton. Three strangers approached ]. A Lesgett'
registrar of the club and asked him If he was a
stew" which, in the yeTnacular of the street.
means q man addicted drink. Mr.. Legsett re-
garded the man quizzlcally, but before he couid
reply or decide course of action waiter re-
Ieved the tension by explaining that THE Stews.
a social organization. were holding their dinner IN
another part of the house.
Chief Ruler Metz introduced Nh Gruber as toast
master opening hostlttes by saying the colonel
was supersttious the question Of the Repuoicah
party's chances in this city this year. Mr. Gruoer'
when his turn came. countered by saying that he
was optimistcally superstiuous on this point but
he didn't have that same feeling about Mr. Metz
If Nh Metz were Mayor" said Mr.. Gruber. the
rate of taxes would so down. the assessed value OF
real estate would be reduced so would the car
fares and in fact everything"
AS to Commissioner Edwards. the toastmaster
said he was the newest BIZ in town, and that
he had the easiest job in New York. His was the
that Mayor Mcclellan had made on the recon-
mendation Of Charles F. Murphy. Not being the
president of the Republican County Committee.
said Mr.. Gruber, 4 offer you the nomination
for Mayor
\ little later Mr.. Gruber introduced Mr.. Metz
the possible next Mayor The toastmaster said
that President Taft had brought a note of cheer
and optimism to the country.
President Taft" he said. land his smile are
Lincoln and his gracious humor reincarnated, and
1t will be written in history that Tafts admins
tration brought TO the people season OF ease
satisfaction and general love and charity"
Big Bill" Edwards seemed 10 be just a little
bit superstitious about his job. for he said there
usually tombstone at the end of 1t. Also
he expressed superstition about people throw
ing things in the streets Somebody whispered:
Just think of Big Bill slipping on a banana
peel!"
power to keep the streets clean and asked the help
Of the citizens
Controller Metz resented the newspaper refer
ences to the high rates which New Workers have
to pay for everything, and said that they were
not likely to be any lower.
IF YOU want good things" said the Controller,
you have to pay for them