The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-12-13
Gridiron Club Dinner
Miss Democracy Takes Ride in the Band
Wagon-Flrst in Sixteen Years Wall
Street Settles 1t.
Street Settles 1t.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 10
Politics, past, present and future, was
the dominant note at the annual fall
dinner of the Gridiron club Saturday
night. President Taft was there with
members of his cabinet; Vice Presi-
dent Sherman, senators and represent
atlVes III congress, latent presidential
possibilities. newly elected governors
OF states and men OF mark in various
positions and Of all shades OF political
belief, and ambassadors and ministers
plenipotentiary of foreign countries,
who We're numbered among the CLUBS
guests, heard the good natured grill
ing administered by the newspaper
men to their victims. With tableaux
and comedy sketch and topical song,
the clever speech and moving picture,
the incidents of the last campaign
were recalled and grim forecast made
of the future.
And right wittily and with many
scintilatfng thrust of oratorv did the
objects of this attention retort upon
their tormentors. Forgotten for the
moment were party differences; VIC
tor and vanauished joined hand and
glove in repelling the attack of their
critics.
Caanon's Sentence Committed
Clearing the way for the incoming
democracy, Uncle Joe Cannon was
swept aside and in skit embodying
parody upon the "Mikado'' he was
sentenced to decapitation 1t was left
to him to select his executioner. Vic
tor Murdoch, he declared, was "to
hasty,' while he feared Senator La
Toilette would talk him to death. The
man he selected was of strong arm
and sure, an old friend, was no Fo"
Longworth. Just in the nick of time
President Taft. in the person of the
"Mikado,'' staid the hand OF the ex-
ecutioner and committed ''Uncle Joes'
sentence to staying in congress, in a
hopeless minority and to being chain
ed to his seat during the debate OH
tne mouse ruieS.
The catchy chorus of the "Mikado's'
song ran:
My smile is still serene.
j AS plainly may be seen.
No matter how they may jump the
track and batter the old machine.
For / am quite content
To do the work hats meant.
For big American President.
American President
Champ clarks Campaign Pledge.
A furious cracking OF whips and
clanking Of chains, and roars of
"Giddap" and stamping of hoofs sig
nalized the approach Of a tumultuous
party from outside. II portrayed the
redemption of Champ Clark's famous
ante-election pledge to ride down
Pennsylvania avenue behind team
of mules il he were elected speaker.
The actor who represented Mr.. Clark
was clothed in farmers costume with
big whip overalls, wide felt hat and
hickory shirt. He was riding two
wheeled cart cracking his whip and
shouting at his mules, christened
Bob and Fritz" Dragging behind
in heavy chains were Cannon, Dali
zell and Payne. At every other stop
the ex-speaker yelled defantly, "Dic-
tator!" "Czar."
Ollie James introduced Clark as the
new speaker, and the latter promptly
sentenced his prisoners to various
punishments, such as the assignment
OF Cannon to the Craftsmanship OF the
committee on disposition of useless
paper where the Aldrich- Payne
Smoot tariff was consigned), while
Payne and Dalzell were to be trampled
by Ollie James. Clark undertook to
define his policies but had only got
ten to the point where he declared for
free trade when the party broke up in
row.
Miss Democracy a Suffragette.
Few of the guests at first could
recognize the dainty little lady Miss
Democracy. in the brawny, big mus
cled, large wasted and base voiced