The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-26
Novel Features of En-
tertainment for News
paper Men.
TAFT AND BORDEN
MAKE ADDRESSES
President in Boston and Premier
of Canada at Hot Springs, Va,
While Responding to Toasts.
Thomas A. Edison and DR..
Alexander Graham Bell
Presented.

New York. April 25.-Representatfvc
journalists from all over the coun-
try were brought together tonight at
the annual banquet of the Associated
Press and the American Newspaper
Publishers Association. held in the
bail room OF the Waldorf Astoria no
tel. and the entertainment 2r~"ided
for them. which was interesting
throughout, was novel IN the character
Of some O: Its features. The tele-
phone played i prominent part in lend
ing both variety and novelty to the
program. President Taft, although
actually in Boston. addressed the as
sembled gathering over the long dis
lance wires of the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company. his voice be-
Ing distinctly conveyed to each guest
by means of a receiving instrument.
In like manner. Premier Borden. or
Canada. addressed the guests by long
distance telephone from Hot Springs.
Va. lnterminglcd with these ad-
dresses We're songs over the telephone
wires t. Miss J>sie Collins and Al
Jolson at the Winter Garden. Miss
Collins sang plaintive Southern mel
ody.
The banquet hall was handsomely
decorated with draped i!aEs and great
masses OF flowers and foliage. At the
tables were seated more than 700
guests. Those at the table of honor
included President Frank =. Noyes
and other directors ana oaicers Of the
Associated Press. President Bruce
Haidoman. of the American Newspaper
Publishers Association: President
Finley. OF the College of the City OF
New York; Augustus Thomas, the
playwright. Talcott Williams, head OF
the Pulitzer School Of Journalism OF
Columbia University. and DIR. Alex
ander Graham Bell, and other guests
of note
The surrounding galleries and boxes
were filled with many women in hand
some evening costumes.
Novel Features Intcrspcrscd.
II was between the courses of the
banque. that the novel features were
interspersd. Lively airs from the or
chestra started the banQucting. The
announcement shortly afterward from
Congressman Victor Murdoch. editor OF
the Wichita Eagle. who acted toast
master, that the voices OF President
Taft and Premier Borden would be
heard at such great distances as sep
arated the speakers from the diners
was greeted with enthusiastic applause
and set the guests TO examining the
apparatus supplied for accomplishing
this feat. Underneath each table was
a watchcas> receiver. supplied by the
Western Electric Company. with con-
nections with the long distance wires
and also with the local wires of the
New York Telephone Company. First
there came over the wires the voice of
Al Jolson, singing ragtiIne melody,
Fiddle Upon Your Violin"
The diners were next connected with
Premier Borden. He dwslt upon tho
responsibility and opportunities OF the
interrupted press and expressed the
hope that Great Britain and America
would always unite in a comrnoa effort
to attain the highest standards OF CIV
ilization.
y demonstration of cheers by the
diners and enthusiastic waving Of
handkerchlefs by the woman in the
galleries broke out when tn toastmas-
ter introduced Thomas a. Edison as
The First American" AS the inventor
nights long distance entertainment
possible and as the nan who had '.maIs
the deaf hear" DR.. Alexander Graham
Bell WAS introduced. Liz, his brother
inventor. he did not speak. hut rose to
acknowledge an enthusiastic rising
toast.
silent Toast.
President Bruce Ialaoman. of the
American Newspaper Publishers AS.
soclatioN. referred 10 the fact that
Major Archibald W. BATE was a guest
of honor at the banquet a year ago.
and paid a feeling tribute to the
Presidents former aide and to ..au
heroes of the Titanic" for whom he
proposed rising, silent toast The
toast was given with all reverence
President Taft's address came over the
wires al this iuncture. 1t was recetv-
ed with great applause and laughter
When the President asked. DO YOU
hear?" the entire telephone audience
that the President could not have
heard the answer 81 i!'s end OF tho
wire. After expressing regreat Mt his
inability TO he pres II. president Taft
said:
shall not weight my message to
you with an expression Of my respect
for the concentrated power I'm this
country that You gentlemen represent
The safety of the country lies i'm the
fact that YOU neutrali1e each other. and
IN the growing conviction of the coun-
try that the trust is not in you ut that
1t lies between You. am not thereby
cons!suiG" you all TO an Ananias Club.
however ST. ong your desire for close
association under some banner, but T
am explaining to you how each one Of
you saves the country from the rest.
MY dear fellow craftsmen. engaged
with me in uplifting society as so
MUCH PER, good night: PAX VOBIS-
CUM"
Toasemaster Murdoch. before intro
ducing Talcott Williams. head OF the
Pulitzer school of journalism. at Col
umbia University made ar appeal for
independence of the press.
Although William Marconi was I'M
able to be present. a rising toast was
drunk IN ms honor also. and then
President Finley, OF tho College OF thc
city OF New York. spoke in a humorous
vein.
Augustus Thomas. the playwright.
told Of his newspaper experiences.