New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-02-25
AMEN CORNER MEN DINE !
Discuss Affairs of Nation and
Tear HaIos from Candidates.
GIVE A TAXICAB H0LD-UP
Define Recall, Referendum and
Initiative and Report" on
Leading Politicians.

! Six hundred strong they marched last
night into the grand ballroom OF the Wal
OF the Brethren of the Amen Corner. And
as they entered the large organ rolled forth
thunders and crashes in melodious proph-
ccy Of the thuds with which there were to
fall many of the halos and glories that
have been woven around Presidential can
didates and those aspiring 10 guide them
| into office. so that they all might appear al
I viewed by the humorous iconoclasts Of the
Amen Corner
That the Brethren Of the Amen Corner
had gathered as opponents of the national
| life as II should be lived and in as large a
spirit of good fellowship as the struggle
| for the meal ticket would permit was the
announcement made by T. o. McGill the
president. as he asked the brethren TO be
seated.
| I'VE are assembled in convention he
added. Serious matters that affect the
nation. state and city are to come before us.
! The season IS portentous. Before the year
| is out we will honor some man by choosing
him from our millions to sit above us as
our Chief Executive, with temporal and
other power so great that man once hav-
| ing felt the thrill of their use Is never as
other men afterward. And that there be no
error in the treatment Of this national III
we throw every four years, the brethren
| here will discuss the men and measures
that will play important parts in the pollti-
cal proceedings Of the year. We have moth
! ing set down in malice. Our words contain
ne sting Of envy. Optimism fills our minds.
Good cheer is in our hearts"
| Then came a song. and then a great noise
and a lot OF whiskers were blown into the
room through the various doors. But panic
was averted by Mr.. McGll, who said that
| It was only party Of Western Governors
passing through the city.
Give a Taxieab Hod.up.
! The dinner was not in honor Of any in
dividual. the brethren emphasized, but in
| their reunion they had especially invited as
| their guests Governor Dix, Senator Elihu
| Root Senator James A. OGorman, Nor
| man +. Mack, ex-Gevernornor Odell,
Chauncey NJ. Depew, James r. Nugent, of
New Jersey, and Charles F. Murphy. ne OF
Tammany Hail. Mayor Gaynor and Will
! lam Barnes, Jr., were included In the list,
! but did not attend the dinner.
Committees were appointed by the presl
dent OF the Amens to tackle men and issues
and TO report on them during dinner. Mean
while there was a cabaret show, an art
| sale and a taxcab hold-up.
The recall. the referendum and the inita-
tive were explained tersely and compre-
hensively by the committee on platform.
The recall II said, was what happened
when bad losers thought they would be
sure OF openers IL they had a new deck
and a square deal. And as applied 10
judges It was letting the grandstand
choose a new umpire whenever tho decision
was against the home team.
The referendum was telling the people
they were going TO get something for moth
ing. and asking them II they wanted II, and
the initiative was an attempt OF those who
thought legislatures were crooked TO fix
the price OF votes during the campaign.
"A member reported that he had asked
Billy Barnes what he thought OF Governor
Dix's reelection" and had been asked, in
turn, how many times the King OF Den
mark gave the keys to Doc Cook"
Colonel Watterson was declared the most
daring financier OF the country, because he
actually suggested taking money from
Thomas +. Ryan. Charles +. Murphy was
| interviewed" as to whether running
streetcars and selecting public officials were
much the same, and when there was sur
prise at how that could be, the committee
reported;
"Hc says it's pay as you enter" in both
cases"
Report from Murphy and Barnes.
There was n joint report read from
Charles +. Barnes and William Murphy.
IT." on the state OF the nation and letters
from Mayor Gaynor TO William r Hearst
and Charles r. Murphy, and talk be-
tween Mr. McGill and Theodore Roosevelt
Copies of the Amen Corner Axe" a pub
l!cation devoted mostly TO knocks, were
distributed among the diners. It's principal
cartoon. a caricature OF William Barnes,
1r.. entitled constitutional Studies-l. A
BIZ O. Rights" was by Boardman Robin
son, OF The Tribune.
In the kaleidoscope restlessness OF the
diners the spectator got a glimpse OF many
face famila" to the political eye of the
public, and the list disclosed the following
names Of those who we're looked for and
found:
Robert Adamson. winthrop Ames, Frank
Bradley, William A. Brady. George Gordon
Battle Otto 4. Barnard. George Cromwell,
Justice Clarke. Attorney General Carmody,
Michael j. Drummond, Justice Davis,
Charles A. Dana, Justice Delany. JOSEPH
p. Day, Andrew Freedman. Thomas i.
Foley, James T.. Gaffney, Justices Gerard,
Guy and Gavegan; John II. Calvin, Abra-
ham Gruhcr, Justice Hendrick, +, Angus
tus Heinze. Job e. Hedges Joseph Haag.
| Charles Il. Hyde, Winfield A. HupDuch.
| Samuel s. Koenig, i. J. III. Kracke, Edward
Lazansky, +. Townsend Martin, George
McAneny. Justice Mccall. Patrick F. Nc
Gowan. Arthur J. oKeeffe. Ogden NJ Reid,
Judge Rosalsky, John b. Stanchfeld, John
A. Sleicher, Charles T. White. Rhineander
Waldo. Bronson Winthrop. Timothy l..
woodruff and Thomas A. Wise
VICE TALK BY MISS adams
Chicago Woman to Tell New York Con-