Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-04-26
A NOVEL Entertainment
THE TELEPHONE PLAYED AN
IMPORTANT PART IN THE
FESTIVITIES.
PROMINENT men SPEAK
President Taft and Premier Borden of
Canada Made Addresses Over
Long Distance Telephone.

NEW YORK. April 25.-Represen-
tative journalists from all over the
country were brought gogether to-
night at the annual banquet of the AS
ISOLATED Press and the American Pub
fishers Association. held in the ball
room of the Waldorf Astoria hotel,
and the entertainment provided for
them, which was interesting through
out, was novel in the character in
some of its features.
The telephone played a prominent
part IN lending both variety and nov
city to the program. President Taft,
although actually in Boston. address,
ed the assemblage gathered over the
long distance wires Of the American
| Telephone and Telegraph company,
his voice being distinctly conveyed to
each guest by means of a receiving
instrument. In like manner Premier
| Borden of Canada addressed the
guests by long distance telephone
from Hot Springs, Va. Intermingling
with these addresses were songs over
the telephone wires from Miss Col
Inns at Daly's theatre, and AL Jolson
at the Winter Garden and a character
recitation by Lewis Waller, the actor,
at Daly's theatre.
Many Notable Guests.
The banquet hall was handsomely
decorated with draped flags and great
masses of flowers and foliage. At the
tables were seated more than 700
guests, those at the table of honor in
cluded President Frank b. Noyes,
and other directors and officers of
/ the Associated Press, President Bruce
Haldeman of the American Newspap-
er 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 DR.. Alex
ander Graham Bell and other guests
of note. The surrounding galleries
and boxes were filled with many
women handsomely gowned. 1t was
between the courses OF the banquet
that the novel features We're inter-
spersed The announcement shortly
|
Victor Murdock, editor of the Wichi-
ia Eagle, who acted as POSTMASTER,
that the voices of President Taft and
Premier Borden would be heard from
such great distances was greeted with
enthusiastic applause. Underneath
each table was a watch case receiver
supplied by the Western Electric
company with connection with the
long distance wires and also with the
local wires of the New York Tele-
phone company.
A Little Comedy.
First there came over the wires the
voice of Al Jolson. singing a ragtime
melody, Fiddle Up on Your Violin"
The diners were next connected with
Premier Borden.
A demonstration of cheers By the
diners and enthusiastic waving of
handkerchiefs by the women In the
galleries broke out when the toast
master introduced Thos. A. Edison as
the first American"
"Mr. Edison will not make
speech said Mr. Murdock. but l
want the members of the Associated
Press to know him. | propose a ris-
ing toast to Thomas A. Edison tho
inventor acknowledged the toast with
bow, cheers broke out afresh.
Dr. Bell Great Fayoritc.
The wires next brought to the ban
quetters a soprano voice singing a
plaintive old southern melody. The
voice was that of Josie Collins. of the
first American" As the Neularable
Winter Garden, and it held the diners
silent until the last note died away.
Then. as the inventor of the TELEPHONE
who had made tonight's long distance
entertainment possible. and the man
who had made the deaf hear" Or.
Alexander Graham Bell was introduce
ed. Like his brother inventor he did
not speak but rose to acknowledge
an enthusiastic toast.
President Bruce Halderman OF the
American Newspaper Publishers asso-
citation was first of the evenings
speakers He referred to the fact
that Major Archibald Butt was q guest
of honor az the banquet year ago.
and paid tribute to the presidents
former aide and to "all heroes Of the
Titanic" ior whom he proposed ris-
ing. silent toast. The toast was Civ
en- with all reverence.
President Tsfts address came over
the wires at this junc;ure. IT was re-
esived ,:iih great arplause/and laugh |
ter When the president asked
''Do you hear?' the entire tele- I
phonic audienee answered yes al I
i'-~.--', =. was said that tlsr president
..,ffusted an mare 1l