The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-04-30
DINERS HEAR TALK
$500 M|LESAWAy
American Publishers Get Con-
cert by Phone From Fair.
BIG SURPRISE AT BANQUET.

The surprise of the night at the ban
quet of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers association, In convention In
New York city, when part of the pro
gram of speeches and cabaret took
place 1880 miles away, amazed as well
as delighted those who heard It 1t
will go down I'm history as the first
transcontinental dinner and concert.
At every place at the seyenty-five
tables was a telephone receiver, GOO
in all. Scattered through the boxes
were lbs more for the spectators.
About forty other receivers were In
the hall. At $50 the POSTMASTER gave
the signal. Every receiver was raised.
and the silence became intense.
Far away In the press building OF
the Panama-Pacifc exposition George
b. Pecheco of the San Francisco Bohe-
milan club wet his lips and began to
blow into one end of his cornet- From
the other end came the sweet and shrill
strains Of Believe Me, IL All Those
Endearlng Young Charms" filing the
room.
They didn't stop there. however.
They leaped across the Rocky noun.
tains, the Arizona desert and the plains
on the other side OF the Mississippi and
burst upon the eardrums OF 765 tense
men and women who sat In the ball
room of the Waldorf Astoria hotel In
New York.
Cornet Clear as If Near BY.
When the cheering had subsidized the
hearers were astounded on being told
where the player was. Every note had
been heard as clearly and sweetly as
If the cornet had been In one of the
balconies overlooking the diners. En-
thusiasm ran higher still when a voice
over the wires said the cheering had
been heard, and Mr.. Pecheco was bow
ing In response.
1t was not until later that 1t was
made known how nearly the great sur
prise had escaped being a failure. At
3 o'clock In the afternoon. New York
time. a hurricane swept down upon the
country west of Cheyenne. Wyo.. and
ruined the connection. The telephone
company had men ready to attend to
such a trouble, however. and the wires
were hastily put into place again.
There was more than $500 miles Of
them to protect.
At the Pacific end of the wire were
James Rolph, Jr.. mayor OF San Fran
cisco; officials Of the Panama-Pacihc
exposition and the members OF the San
Francisco Press club.
Mayor Rolph added TO the delight of
the b%anqueters over the novelty ar
ranged for them by ]. c. Cook. chair.
man Of the dinner committee. Mr..
Rolph talked for nearly fifteen minutes.
Words $500 Miles Long.
He said he knew the room the New
York diners were I'm very well, as he
American newspaper publishers on be-
half OF his city for arousing the sym
pathy Of the country for San Francisco
after the fire and for helping to make
the fair q success.
This Is tha longest exposition speech
ever made" said the voice In the west
1T Is costing more than the pay OF
a grand opera star. But H ought; ev-
cry word is more than $500 miles long.
However, 1t Is not the first time
have enjoyed long distance speeches.
II get all the speeches Of the world
every morning and evening In the
newspapers. But l wish ! could take
you all on a tour OF the world here at
our fair.
Come on out" he urged. Every
nation of the world Is here. and we're
making Jules Verne look like a Long
Island commuter."
After Dinner Talk Before Dining.
Charles X. Field, editor Of the Sunset
Magazine, next addressed the New
Workers. over the wire.
in future" he said, instead OF
hearing toastmasters at b%anquets say
We bave with us tonight they will
have to say Here's your party But
am In the west end Of the dining room.
and the walters haven't brought me
any food. Here l am making an after
dinner speech and haven't had any din
ner yet.
Its a great thing TO make an after
dinner speech this way" continued Mr..
Field. ANY one who wants to can
leave without my knowing II, and
therefore without insulting me, at any
time he wants to. And that's an ad-
vantage In such a long speech IS this.
l started to speak at o o'clock. and
now by your watches 1t Is g."
Afterward L. A. Larsen, editor of
the Daily Pacific Builder. sang II Love
You, California" with such success
that the New Workers. applauded Wig
orously.
Mayor Mitchell of New York spoke
over the wires and gave the thanks OF
the surprised diners. He congratulate
ed Mayor Rolph upon the spirit and
enterprise shown by the people Of San
Francisco In boosting the exposition
and promised ito be out there within Z
moUth AZ n