The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-21

Halls Of the mighty resounded to the
clang of a gigantic hammer last night
when the Knights OF Momus. alias The
Knockers" met for their annual anvil
chorus at a banquet at Rauscher's.
Sparks rained indiseriminateiy in the
direction of almost every one known TO
public life in the Capital Never before.
with the possible exception of the Grid
iron Club dinners. has there been such a
whole-hearted knocking fest in Wash
ington.
More than 800 printers. employees of the
Government Printing once, and the four
local newspapers gave vent TO the care
fully stifed kicks of a twelve months
and jollity reigned unconfned.
Never Cut Deep.
Members of Congress and well-known
public men were guests at the dinner.
sparing none. but never allowing their
Jibes 10 cut deep. the men who set the
type and man the whining nlonotype and
whirring linotype machines hammed to
their hearts content.
In songs and timely toasts they as
sailed the rulers Of the nation without
a scruple. and those few makers OF his
tory who sat at the dinner board took it
ali In good spirit and returned scintilat-
ing raps for clever knock.
Representative Victor Murdock made
an insurgent speech that brought tears
OF laughter to eyes of the Knights, and
Representative Jameson rang the bull s
eye with remarkably worded assault
on the dinner and diners. President
Gompers, of the American Federation of
Labor, was among those present" but
he did not have chance TO speak. Rep
resentatives D. Van Veehten Olcott and
w. W Wilson added TO the merriment
when Toastmaster Joseph C. Watson
called upon them.
Passed Chief Knocker F. n. Whitehead
started the fun with the following re-
marks:
'Momus [the son Of Night was adopted
as the name of this body because the
membership is largely composed Of those
employed on the nocturnal forces in Uncle
is 10 meet occasionally, and in a spirit
Of kindly levity lightly censure each
others foibles and faults.
Swat UnsusDeeting Comrades.
For a few hours We turn from the
grind of duty to indulge in jolly jibe and
rolliclzing raillery; TO swat unsuspeeting
comrades and timorous guests i the
=,
pride of the proofreader. and depress the
spirits of those sour-faced, seIf-centered
sons of sorrow, the Merg. and the Mono
men.
Most of the fun is provided by our
selves, but occasionally a Senator or a
Congressman dips in, with the usual
pitiable result"
The first Congressman called upon was
Victor Murdoek, and he was received with
an ovation.
There are many things" he said.
''abeut the rules Of the House that
would much rather say on Monday than
on Sunday. There Is just one thing hard
er to do that I can think of than setting
type when you don't know how. and that
is trying to pry a Speaker loose from
his chair"
He told half dozen stories of the
days when he was a printer, ana closed
with the following sentiment:
Must Obey Foreman.
In this werld there must always be
foreman. and We who know that disci-
pline is right, must obey him. But there
Is an exception. I am subordinate,
with a foreman over me. and I shall obey
him, but when he is moved by selfish
ness, caprice. and i'll will, am not called
upon to follow him, and. please God. I
never shall be-"
Hardly had the echo OF his words died.
when the Momus Quartet sang a ditty
10 the tune of a popular air. as follows:
MOLLY LWO.
AIIrdock. don't be signing,
Can't you see cur hearts beat true
To the inslrgent banner
Even tho we're Just a fewg
Victor MuTdOck, It's Of thee;
When you're far away from the scene Of battle
And the sound Of the Speakers gavel,
The knockers" with you.
When the last note sounded there was
diversion in the shape OF a females of
rather attractive appearance, who entered
the door and demanded in frenzled accents
permission 10 interview her husband. A
committee tried to put her out, but she
succeeded in getting around the hall be-
fore the Knockers realized it was part
of the programme.
When they finally saw the point and
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