Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1909-02-05
THE GRIDIRON FEAST
VFWSPAPERMEN AT NATIONAL
CAPITAL HAVE A time.
,.os,dent Roosevelt and President-elect
Taft Are Told Few Things of What
.no Members Thinks of Them, AL of
which is Received in Good Nature
Manv Others Are Also Subjects.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Farewell to
prosident Roosevelt and Vice President
roirbanks-in their official capacities
onlv-was said to them Saturday
nigbt by the famous Gridiron club of
WASHINGTON newspaper men. The occa
sion was the annual winter dinner of
that club In all there were nearly 200
cnests, and, as is always the case, the
roll included many names that figure
conspicuously in the hall of fame. Am
bassadors, justices of the supreme
court of the United States, cabinet Off
Gals, senators, representatives., editors,
publicists and men of affairs generally
were in the gathering.
If was far from a sad affair, though
tbe occasion was of farewell nature
Gridiron dinners never are sad. AS the
nresident and the vice president were
the guests of honor, so they came in
for equal prominence in the fun of the
evening. While they were the butt
of many of the jokes and sllits, there
was every evidence that they enjoyed
the entertainment as much as the rest
until the jests were aimed at others.
The temperance movement showed
its effect on the club. AS the souvenir
of the dinner the guests were given
oh 2 o" illustrated gridiron almanacs
published by the "Gridiron Water
Wagon Press - Between it's covers no
remedy was given for the ills of states
men, journalists, real newspaper men,
mollycoddles and "malefactors of great
wealth" other than plain "H 2 o."
In this almanac the "Teddy Bear"
formed the center of the signs of the
zodiac, while the entire production was
marked as forwarded to congress as
especial message No. 23232323232323. !"
Total Eclipse in March.
The guests observed particularly that
the total eclipse of the year "is due in
March" and twill be viewed with in
terest by the United States, Africa and
Oyster Bay" A list of forecasts for
every day was given in one section of
the almanac, but the representations
did not extend beyond March 4. The
reason for this, it was explained, was
that CATER the fourth of March there
is no telling what will happen"
For the convenience of the guests a
notice stated that "gentlemen men
toned" for the Taft cabinet would
march in procession at the Inaugural
ton, forming division 23, under Will
liam Loeb, Jr., "who has been 'men-
toned most frequently"
But all the wit was not in that al
manac, as a megaphone announced bull
letins from the "great battle-ground. /"
This great battle-ground, advertised on
bills scattered through the banquet
room, proved to be a fight between
President Roosevelt and congress.
The Inauguration of Henry Hall,
correspondent of the Pittsburg Chron-
icle-Telegraph, as president of the
club, afforded the retiring president,
James Henry of the Philadelphia
Press, an opportunity to give the new
official some instructions. The new
president took the oath with his long
arm raised and two fingers crossed,
swearing that he would keep the
Ananias club in a fourishing condition,
ride SO miles day and keep congress
on it's reservation.
When Jewel H. Aubrere, correspond
emit of the st. Louis Globe Democrat,
made his appearance for initiation he
produced an invitation from the presi-
dent of the Aanaias club. He was
told of his mistake, but he insisted that
the room was packed with members
of the Ananias club.
Darkness and Sleuths.
Dinner was well advanced when the
lights suddenly went out. Amid dark
ness, and to the accompaniment of a
weird piano air there was a shuttle of
feet, and in rhyme came sibilant
and mysterious "sh-shsh." The Sc
cret service sleuths were approaching
One of their number explained that the
sleuths were trying to find out what
congressman did with their $4,000 a
year. Chief Wilkie admitted that he
had detected no counterfeiters, but
added that he had discovered a "four.
fusher." The sleuths then sang their
repertoire, including a song about
sleuthing in general and White House
slouthing in particular. Finally the
squadron separated, one going out "tc
protect the letter boxes in order ia
keep Senator Tillman from franking a
grand piano"
At one stage of the dinner an inter
ruption was made to revise the tariff
Representative Serene E. Payne OF
New York, John Dalziel of Pennsyl
vania and Champ Clark of Missouri
were discovered seated at table. An
nouncement was made that the house
committee on ways and means was in
session to hear evidence concerning
the tariff, and "God save the United
States" added the herald. The climax
of Andrew Carnegie's testimony came
when he demanded to know what rea
son there was for a tariff on steel, now
that he had gone out of business.
The music, as attractive as usual
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