Arizona republican., 1910-12-11

Washington, Dec 10.-Politics, past, present and future, was the dominant note at the annual fall dinner of the Gridiron club tonight. President Taft was there, with members of his cabi- net. Vice President Sherman, sena- tors and representatives in congress, latent presidential possibilities, newly elected governors of states and men of mark in various positions and of all shades of political belief. and ann bassadOrs and ministers plenipoten- tiary of foreign countries who were numbered among the clubs guests heard with wonder the good natured griIiing administered by the newspa- per men to their victims. With tab leaux and comedy sketch and topical song, in clever speech and moving picture, the incidents of the last cam paign were recalled and grim fore cast made of the future.
 And right wittily and with many scintillating thrust of oratory did the objects of this attention retort upon their tormentors. Forgotten for the moment were party differences; vic tor and vanquished joined hand and
 
 critics.
 Clearing the way for the incoming democracy. Uncle JOer Cannon was swept aside. and in a skit embodying a parody upon the Mikado he vas sentenced to decapitation It ~.'s left to him to select his eNecutfoIer. Victor MurdOck. he declared, was too hasty. while he feared Senator La
  The man he selected as of strong arm and sure, an old friend, was "KO Ko" Longworth Just in the nick of time President Taft, in the person of the MikadO, stayed the hand of the execu- tioner and commuted Uncle Joe's" sentence to staying in congress, as helpless minority, and to being chained to his seat during the debate on the house rules. The catchy cho- rus of the Mikado's song ran:
 My smile is still serene,
 As plainly may be seen;
 No matter how they may jump the
 track and batter the old ma
 chine.
 For l am quite content
 To do the work that's meant
 For a big American president,
 American president"
 A furious cracking of whips and clanking of chains, and roars of "Geddap," and stamping of hoofs signalized the approach of a tumultu- ous party from outside. It portrayed the redemption of Champ Clark's fa- nous anti-election pledge to ride down Pennsylvania avenue behind a team of mules if he were elected speaker. The actor who represented MT. Clark was clothed in farmers costume. with big whip. overalls, wide felt hat and hickory shirt. He was riding a two wheeled cart, cracking his whip and shouting at his mules, christened Bob" and "Fitz." Dragging behind in heavy chains were Cannon, Dal- zell and Payne. At every other step the ex-speaker yelled defiantly, Die tatorl" "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 chairmanship of the committee on Disposition of Useless Paper" (where the Aldrich- Payne Shoot tariff was consigned). whi'e Payne and Dalzell were to be tram pied by Ollie James. Clark undertook to define his policies, but had only gotten to the point where he declared for free trade when the party broke up in a row.
 Few of the guests at first could recognize the dainty little lady, Miss Democracy" in the brawny. big mus cled. large waisted and bass voiced female in evening dress who occu- pied in solitary state the place of honor on the ldemocratic band wagon which drew up on the stage. Hang ing on were various candidates for the presidential office, but the lady. while GOV. was also firm in her at titude and presented a face of flint to her suitors. She announced that she was not simpering old maid, but was militant: that she was taking this joy ride for -he first time in sixteen years. and had chartered ii for quite> spell. too. When the president sought to expel her. she de- fled him. saying that he talked like T. R before election day"
 At the critical moment, Governor Judson Harmon came to the rescue and climbed into the band wagon. When his right was challenged he declared that he was the logical can didate. the friend of the masses and the classes were friends of his. But Miss Democracy decided that he would have to wait for two years to see what he could do with democratic legislature. so Harmon climbed down.