The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
NO Swan SONG
FOR Mckinley
Defeated Representative Says
He Is "Taking a Smoke
Between Acts"
PRESIDENT Is PRESENT
Jamestown Survivors Meet and Say
"Good-by" to Representative
from Illinois.

The Jamestown Survivors" an ex-
elusive organization bound together by
the ties of good fellowship and mutual
and pleasant recollections,, last night
bade a hearty so long" to Representa-
tive Mckinley of Illinois. who leaves
the halls of Congress for brief time
they hoped, March 4 next
Mr. Mckinley, founder and main
tainer of the order had been the host
of the Survivors" on several memori-
able jaunts of exploration" OF the
Potomac, James. and contributing
streams The Survivors" are composed
of newspaper men and members OF
Congress, who have been Mr.. McKin-
ley's guests on these trips of "explora-
tion."
President Taft Attends.
President Taft, in his happiest vein
of good-feIlowship, was there to "con-
dole with his young, bald-headed
friend" Some 200 members and guests
were present to add to the jollity OF the
occasion, for it was a jollification and
not a fearful farewell. No one could be
found who believed for minute thai
the occasion was a permanent farewell
As Tom Brahaney, in an original lrlsn
dialect version OF McKinley's political
conquests, said, the luke" was merely
going out for a smoke between the acts'
not caring for the next act.
President Taft said, in part:
4 Mere Formally.
I'm this room there are gathered
friends whom you have hooked to your
self with hooks of steel 1t Is not De-
cause you talk, but because you do, that
frsa dc n because
YOU promise, but because you make
them know that you are necessary TO
their existence. And now l regard this
farewell to you, sir, as a mere for-
mality.
when come back to the streets of
Washington looking to see what
changes have occurred, l expect to hnd
you, sir, sitting in that greatest BODY
of legislation in the world, the Senate
of the United States. OF course, there
are certain problems that present them
selves to you that seem to us of SIM
pier mind and less ability. problems in
capable of solution, but that is the KIND
Of problem that makes men great.
when you have solved the politics
of Illinois and Strengthened them out so
that anybody can tell what is going to
happen out there, you will have earned
laurel crown emitting you to stand
I'D before your fellow citizens, and say,
7 have Strengthened this thing out and
1 have made the people of Illinois and
the Legislature of Illinois useful for
some purpose
And now, my dear old Mack, We part
for a while. / shall. during the rest Of
my years, attempt to be useful in ex-
planning to the youthful mind what so
many people of the United States seem
to have forgotten. that this is a country
for whose permanent life constitution
is necessary.
In other words, 1 expect to take my
place in the humble ranks of teachers,
among the pedagogues, to re-educate
some Of our friends in America as to
why it is they have had such a good
time down to this, when they have wax
ed fat. and are kicking at what they
know not. You will take your place again
in Champaign County, and will come
back to Congress-it may be in two
years, it may be in four years, it may
be in six years. To you with as few
years behind you and as many before
you. a decade makes little difference.
Now, my friend, God bless you. I hope
you will own the State of Illinois, and
keep it straight, and keep it as it ought
to be. a part of the Union of States.
Now. only dear old Uncle Shelby remains
to remind us that it has anything to do
with the United States. Jim Mann indi-
Gates in the House that Illinois is not
entirely dead, but we look to you to
straighten things out"
Mr. Mckinley insisted that he be per-
mitted to make his speech as soon as
the President concluded before I for
get it."
He told the guests that he had learned
the unwisdom of humor in political life
since his district had taken seriously his
remark before the committee investigat-
ing campaign contributions last fall that
up to eight years ago I was an honest
man"
"No Swan Song Here"
Some people around here are singing
swan songs" smiled Mr.. Mckinley, half
turning TO the President. but no swan
song for me-"
Referring to the newspaper men, he
said:
Il have always found that you were
ON the square, and did the right thing as
far as your bosses would let you
George O'Connor and Mat Horn, who
needed on introduction to the guests,
inaugurated the entertainment features
Ct the evening. -dr. OConnor sang a
couple Of his best-known songs, and
Frank Clark followed with an original
poem.
Thomas w. Brahaney, assistant secre-
tary to the President, and formerly q
well-known newspaper man, widely
famed for his Irish dialect stories, read
A dialogue account of the conquest of
jamestown by the Duke of Illinois"
an offering which kept his audience con-
vulsed with laughter for several minutes.
Sings Watermelon Song.
Although the foregoing stars were of
the first magnitude, II remained for the
Duke himself to discover and intro
duce the brightest satalite OF the even
ing. Maj. Alfred j. stofer. The major.
in his inimitable way, sang his famous
watermelon song, which brought the
bunch" to their feet, and their lusty
efforts in the chorus will cause many
was forced to give several others Of his
private stock before being allowed to go
to his corner.
"Hughie'' Jennings, the peppery man
ager Of the Detroit Tigers, acted like an
schoolboy when introduced
Il have always boasted that 1 never
lost my nerve in a pinch. but tonight
there is something In my throat that
will neither come up nor go down." said
Mr.. Jennings. II feel as IL am going
to strike out"
No amount of persuasion or force
could induce Hughie to sing. He stated
he had a bad cold and was afraid of do
ing injury to his high tenor voice
The duke himself took the floor and,
stating that II had always been his
policy to play his high card last, called
on Uncle Joe" Cannon to say good
night Former Speaker Cannon recalled
the time forty years ago when he was
a rookie in Congress. He told Of the
fortunes he had missed during that time