The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-20
President-Elect Is Initiated Into
Organization at Sight.
Was Not Even Permitted to
Make a Speech.
ORDEAL MADE EASY.
A Dummy Represented Him in
the Proceedings.
The Ceremony Was Conducted
in Total Darkness.

Cincinnati, Feb. 0.-President-elect
w. H. Taft was last night made a
knocker eat sight" His initiation fur
nished entertainment for one hundred
prominent business and professional
men of the city at the Knockers an
nual dinner.
Cincinnati's Knocker organization is
an auxiliary of the Business Mems
club, its particular business is to
knock hard any and everything tend
ing to hinder the material advance OF
the city and to originate and promote
enterprises and undertakings for the
city's welfare. 1t is unique in that it
has no known organization and no
one knows who are its members. 1t
makes members of whom it pleases
and dismisses them at will. The an
nual dinners of the Knockers club
have become famous for their enter
tainment features, and the stunts
which begin with the first course and
ed to have origin in some serious pur-
pose of advancement although depict
ing merriment.
The president-el was not allow
ed to make a speech, which was in
terpreted as a delicate compliment
from his townsmen, who were in fact
saying farewell to him as a private
citizen The tension upon Mr.. Taft
from speaking as skillfully made up
"double" represented him in the en-
tertainment features. occupying a con-
spicuous place at the raised table with
"Uncle Sam" and Miss Columbia"
The spacious rooms of the business
mems club were resplendent in drap-
cries of flags and in decorations OF
ferns and flowers. At each of the fif-
teen tables sat an appropriately cos
TUNED knocker to represent one OF
sixteen foreign nations, and during
the evening a message to the president
was made known from each
Emperor Williams wireless message
was to announce to Mr.. Taft a kiss for
each cheek and the hope that the sen-
ate would not find it necessary to re-
duce the presidential salary before the
new president could get in. Miss Col
umbia got one of the kisses from the
enthusiastic German An Irish cook di-
rect from the palace of King Edward
was England's tribute, but the cook at
once began to make terms. Little
Charlie" must not be boss of the White
House and "Charlie p" must not live
with his brother was assured her be-
fore she would remain. One of his 81
varieties of wives was offered Mr.. Taft
by the representative of the sultan but
Uncle Sam would have none or
this. rejecting the offer with the as
sertion that "one wife is enough to
With hands upon Mr.. Taft's Uranium
Persia's represe entatives told the as
sembled knockers of the thoughts pass
ing through his brain as follows:
fHe is just now concentrating him
self that he was made a Mason at sight
and so is the goat.
HE is now trying to discover soma
word to use instead Of de-e-e-lighted.
He is wondering whether the invisi-
bile Knox who bosses this bunch can
possibly be the ubiquitous senator
from Pennsylvania.
"He wishes he could find a caddy
who would not laugh when he makes q
drive.
He is now recalling the days when
he PLAYED the Sleeping beauty at Pixies
opera house and was kissed by the
Prince Charming'-it was his first kiss
and then he acquired the habit on
displaying his pearly teeth In a seraphio
smile.
net maker ought to work over eighS
"He wishes the cabinet would let him
write part of that message to con-
gress. -,
mines had been cannibals he would have
penetrated their interior.
"4e resolves in the tariff war to lead
the charge up to the very Cannon'a
mouth"
The ceremony of declaring the guest
NJ honor a 'knocker." was conducted in
total darkness with rumbhngs of thun-
der and flashes of lightning and con-
cluded the festivities. The Taft smile
was afterwards depicted through NOV
ing pictures in the assembly hall of the
cInh through which the scenes OF no
tifcation day. were enacted.
Vaudeville features followed until the
hour was late.
for Philadelphia.
AAA HarAR