The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-11
GR|D|R0N CLUB FROL|C.
THE GREAT LANDSLIDE OF 1917
AND HOW 1T HAPPENED.
TOLD BY NEWSPAPER
MEN.
Taft, Roosevelt, johnson, Cannon
LOngwOrth and Other Victims of
Recent Political Unhcaval Butts OF
Jokes at Annual Farce of Famous
Organization OF Newspaper Corrc-
spOndentS - President Himself
Heads List of Distinguished Guests,
All Joining in Merry Making.

Washington, Dec. THE landslide
of 1912, how it happened, and the
futility ot an attempt to reorganize
the &c. o. p" on the old lines, were
the themes upon which played the
wit and humor Of the Gridiron Club
at the annual fall dinner tonight.
Events Of political Importance and ac-
tions upon which turned national is
sues were treated in a spirit Of levity
and fun. Underlying each jest and
quip and skit were touches Of human
sympathy and kindliness for the VIC
Tins of the November avalanche, as
we'll as some bits of homely advice
and warning for the victors, that kept
everybody in good humor.
Not even his late political enemies
failed to welcome the pathetic tribute
to President Taft in the song rendered
by the Gridiron Quartette appealing
to him, mot to forget us when you
go away" The President sat and
listened with the members Of his
Cabinet scattered about the banquet
hall
The fun started early. 1t was dis
covered that the usually immaculate
hall was not as tidy as it should be,
and q ssyVhita U;pU,, ,,,,, .oo+ oho,..
gathering all sorts of litter. This
turned out to be campaign rubbish"
and each find brought forth a ripple
OF applause. He pulled out from the
bandstand pair of moose horns, and
the club members tossed into his bag
some wOrn-Out souveniOrs of the
campaign. Such were the last pre-
dictisns of Senator Dixon and Charles
d. Hilles;" that smile that wouldn't
come Off" the bluff at big business.
O. KID by Bill Bryan" couple of
old empty wallets. one marked, &c. P.
T." and the other, "G. w. P" the
peace treaties, the Commerce Court,
and the hopes Of Henry Cabot Lodge
for the Craftsmanship OF the foreign
relations committee"
Unlike other clubs, the Gridiron
Club initiates it's members in public,
and this time it acquired two worthy
young journalists in novel fashion.
Hobblng into the shall on crutches,
bandaged, hats knocked in, and
clothes dishevelled, came caricatures
Of President Taft, Uncle Joe" Can
non. "Nick LCugworth, Murray Crane
and Representative Sulloway, Nc
Kinley and Dalzell. Sons Of the
landslide" who declared their pur-
pose to reorganize the Republica n
party rallying around the States Of
Utah and Vermont. The messengers
from these States each announced
their four votes in limerick, Vermont
declaring:
In the Green Mountain state, recol-
lee.
Old Taft won out by a neck;
And we'd We elected him,
Ef they hadn't neglected him
In forty-siX States, by heck!"
The messengers it was discovered
were Bull Moose spies in disguise,
who when stripped of their false
boards. turned out to be the new
members of the club, Charles =. Key
ser, correspondent Of the st. Louis
Globe, Democrat and Edward B.
Clark, correspondent OF the Chicago
Evening Post.
The Republican Electoral College
insited on meeting while the dinner
was in progress to name a candidate
for the second place, for which va
rious names were suggested, only to
be instantly withdrawn by solicitous
friends. OF such was that stable
minded, never changing his views, pa
triot" Herbert S. Hadlcy the "Ster-
ling Revisiorst" Reed Smoot, the
'lnvinc,ble Borah," the great friend
OF the common people" Senator Pen
rose, and Robert Marion LaFollette
whose motto iH. Forgive your one-
mics who recommended that the
place be given To oyster Bay"
Then the scene changed To the Ori-
cnt and the battle of Armagcddon was
fought in realistic style. as described
by half dozen war correspondents
for the benefit of old Saul. who had
come to tho scon" Of his early CON
ficts.
Correspondent Lodgc reported That