Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-18

tHarrls q Ewing photot
With song and music, joke and clever
skit, and many quip at great men and
big topics, the Gridiron Club entertained
at dinner at the New Willard last night
a company of prominent men from far
and wide. The President Of the United
States, ambassadors of foreign monarchs.
leaders in Congress of all parties and
factions, politicians Of all calibers. and
men otherwise noted sat down to the
hospitable board.
Louis Garthe, the new president of the
club. had not gone far in presiding over
the dinner before there was -eayil. One
of the senior members grumbled that
Garthe was running the dinner without
warrant; that the new president had not
been installed. Mr.. Garthe said he was
the new president and that, moreover, he
had a campaign manager, who would
answer all questions.
We'll, there are managers of other can
didates for the presidency here, said
member, addressing Mr.. Garthe's mana
ger. I'm behalf of w. ]. Bryan, de-
mand to know wha are the quahnca-
tons of your candidate?
That he already has the job was the
terse reply. Champ ClarSs manager
wanted to know il the new man was III
favor of tearing down the custom houses
and of appexjny Canada and was told
that he was Pointed questions were put
by the managers of Cummins, Kern, IN
dcrwood Wilson. Marshall. Harmon ana
Foss. but Garthe's manager bawled them
all out one after the other. .
Wbereupon there galloped into the han
on a mettlesome charger a wen recoS
nized figure
IF progressive President is to be
1aa
toving with a gun and fitting back ms
Rough Rider hat. Il am the orlslnal
progr gressiye: these others are mere
pliers.
But you have said that YOU are not
q candidate objected one OF the man
ayers .
'-Maybe so: maybe so, clicked the Ia
miliar accents. but / have always found
it convenient to, have string on every
declaration.
Il protest against that man., shouted
Bryan's manager, "he stole all the. planks
In my platform.
That is real progress. retorted the
Rough Rider .Progressives take every
,nirs thcv can find All We want is
sonethin: to divert the people Until we
get the joos.
\ showdown was called for as among
all these candidates and Gartne was oe-
clared the choice for President, and was
handed the formal badge OF his once
The dinner proceeded very merr1ly
after this with song and sklt ana
music by the Marine Band. with words
of wit and wisdom by the speakers OF
the evening. No report Is made OF the
speeches at Gridiron fest. the rule
being observed to give the orators Tree
swing To their sentiments, put the
second clause of the rule is just as
rigfdly enforced that nothing Is ever
said which could not be listened to by
the clubs women guests. who construc-
lively are always present.
Ncu Nerter Shows Qualifications.
The initiation of d new member was
made the basis of an interesting quar-
ter of an hours entertainment NJ.
Harry stevens, whose musical qualifi-
cations as the possessor Of a tenor
voice of unusual sweetness had won
him a place on the Gridiron's limited
list. appeared in the darkened ROOM
where the spotlight picked him out
attired as a bard of olden times.
He had few songs to sing. to earn
place at the festal board: there was
one composed by William jennings
Bryan. entitled The Nomination and
sung TO the air of Believe Me II All
Those Endearing Young Charms the
first verse OF which ran thus:
.'Believe me, il all those cndearing young
Which 50 fondly to conquer try.
Were 20 vanish tomorrow. and fade in my arms
As they faded in campaigns gone by.
You would still be adored as this moment thot
art,
Let the delegates vote AS they will:
Around your dear image each wish of my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly STILL
After singing some more improvise,
songs, members of the music committee
gathered about to interrogate him.
What is your opinion of Woodrow
wilson, he was asked.
IF you want me to sing IL, can give
you a lovely melancholy funeral chant
Can you give us a song about ChamT
Clark"
Il am afraid he won't like these old
folk songs of mine.
What is your politics?"
Has II. X. announced his candidacy
parried the hard anxiously, and. receiv
ini, reply in the negative. said he didn'1
know what he was yet.
But you are candidate for member
ship IN this club?"
Il am not a candidate. but IL an over
f(.ontiuued on Twelfth Pa2Al