The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-18
She is Wooed With Ar
dor by Presidential
Candidates.
THEY FURNISH FUN
FOR GRIDIRONERS
Distinguished Company, lnclud
ing President Taft, Among
Guests of Newspaper Men.
Who Make Merry at Ex-
pense of Leaders Now
in Public Spotlight.

=
| Democracy was the belle OF the mid
winter dinner DC tho Gridiron Club
tonight. while members. disguised to
represent the several candidates for the
( Democratic presidential nomination.
entertained with their wooing a dis
tinguished company. including Preai.
dent TAFT. some of the candidates In
person. prominent members of Con-
gress of all factions. and guests from
la number of states.
Festivities began as usual with the
blazing UP of the red and white lights
of the immcnse gridlron over the head
OF tho presiding officer, and from that
moment until the diners were dis
missed, TO the strains of The Song
That Touched My Heart" candidates
of tho Democratic faith were con-
tinualiy IN evidence. They appeared
as judges OF election. members of
court of honor as Robin Hoods band
of lusty outlaws. and as contenders
In steeplechasc. Tho situation was
enlivened occasionally by Il few Repuu-
lean progressives and regulars break
ent Democratic candidates.
Mistake In Menus
good many of the guests sot a.
shock when they un1oldcd the menu
cards at their places and looked to sec
what they were going 10 have 10 tickle
their palatea Eyebrows wore raised
when the guests encountered near the
top OF the menu the words fried cells.
In
the surprise expressed when they ran
down the card and found among other
delicate banQuetinE dishes the follow
| ing: Pigs feet and honl'ny, stewcd
rabbit, hambone and boilLd cabbage
and stoSics la Wheeling. This list
seemed startingly out OF place with
canape cocktails and oysters, which
headed the menu
The guests started In brayeiy. how.
ever. on the cocktail and the oysters.
and just about the timo the fried cells
were due, tho chairman Of the menu
committee rushed In amid great con
fusion. crying out to President Louis
Garthc. of tho Grdiron Club that !.
| terrible mistake had been made The
printer hnd sent the wrong menu cards
to the dinner. lie had so, tho Grid
iron Club menu cards mixed with those
! Intended for a dinner Of the Southern
delegates to the Chicago convention
Discovering his mistake. he had hur-
ried the proper ones around to the dim
rer. These proved 10 be valentine
with hearts and gridirons embossed on
the front page and with n very differ
cnt list Of cstablee
| The club was about to innuEurate It's
new president into Office when a bur
| ~ Individual Ia Khaki uniform with
rough rider hat. eyeglasses and a shiny
eXpanse of white teeth. washed into tho
room on white horse. ual0nE so much
noise that the president had 10 call
him to order.
IF progressive president is to be
| inausurated here am present :"
shouted tho rough rider. Mr.. tiarthc
the real president OF tho C;-idiron Club
resented this attemnt to butt in on his
inauguration. and he wanted to know
II the intruder was candidate. and IL
he had even declared himself MS such
Maybe So" shouted the man on the
white horse, but have always found
1t convenient 10 have string TO ever
declaration"
The club finally turned down the
| rough rider ana handed the insignIa OF
| the clubs presidency over to Mr..
Gurthe.
President InnuEurated.
Louis Garthe, of the Baltimore
American, who was initiated as presi
dent of the club. was subjected to al
srillinG cross-cxamination by ton
presidential candidates In order TO test
ms fitness Champ Clark wanted to
know OF Mr. Garthe whether he Ia
vorcd tearing down custom houses and
anneMing Canada; La Toilette asked
what he would think of Gods patient
poor biting piece out of a fat corpo.
ration every day" while Oscar Under
wood put his question into rhyme,
thus:
IF ! cut steel ana steel cuts me,
Can L cut ice as nominee?"
The answer was: Not If Mr.. Bryan
sees you first"
To the "Gentlemens Court OF Homer"
was left the reply to woodrow VIII
sons query: 'Is the schoolmaster
abroad safer than at home?" Harmon's
pathetic appeal, Running for real
President. which would you rather
have. Cleveland's blessing. Bryans
curse or an Ohio candidate agains.
you?" brought forth tho comforusss
answer: MY candidate Is not running
In Ohio"
New Member Initiated.
The Gridiron Club permits Its guests
to share In the fun attending the
initiation OF new member. and thero
was no exception tonight, when Al.
Harry Stevens was added to the lin
tied membership. x spotlight I'm the
darkened hall disclosed an old-tima
bard, who delivered Tho Lay of tina
Last Minstrel" His songs. though
set In classic music, were rcdolent Of
CONTINUED on Third Page.)
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