The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-05-06
American Publishers Get Con-
cert by Phone From Fair.
BIG SURPRISE AT BANQUET.
Mayor of San Francisco Speaks Across
Continent to Newspaper Men, Invit-
ing All to Exposition-cornet Solo
and Song Are Heard-Mayor Of New
York Replies.

The surprise of the night at the ban
quet Of the American Newspaper Pub
lishers' association, in convention In
New York city, when part Of the pro-
gram Of speeches and cabaret took
place $500 miles away, amazed as well
as delighted those who heard it. It
will go down in history as the first
transcontinental dinner and concert.
At every place at the seventy-fve
tables was telephone receiver, 600
in all. Scattered through the boxes
were 125 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-Pacific exposition George
B. Pecheco of the San Francisco Bohe-
mian 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, If All Those
Endearing Young Charms" filling 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
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.
It was not until later that it was
made known how nearly the great sur
prise had escaped being a failure. At
5 O'Clock in the afternoon, New York
time, hurricane swept down upon the
country west Of Cheyenne, Wyo, and
ruined the connection. The telephone
company had men ready to attend to
such 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-Pacifc
exposition and the members of the San
Francisco Press club.
Mayor Rolph added to the delight Of
the banqueters over the novelty ar
ranged for them by J. G. 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 in very well, as he
had often eaten there. He thanked
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 success.
''This is the longest exposition speech
ever made" said the voice in the west
1T is costing more than the pay Of
grand opera star. But it ought; ev-
cry word is more than $500 miles long.
! However, it Is mot the first time l
have enjoyed long distance speeches.
Il get all the speeches Of the world
every morning and evening in the
newspapers. But wish could take
oil 80
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 K. Field, editor Of the Sunset
Magazine, next addressed the New
Workers. over the wire.
"In future he said, instead Of
hearing toastmasters at banquets say
We have with us tonight they will
have to say Here's your party But 1.
am In the west end Of the dining room,
and the walters haven't brought me
any food. Here am making an after
dinner speech and haven't had any din.
ner yet.
It's a great thing to make an after
dinner speech this way" continued Mr.
Field "Any one who wants to can
leave without my knowing it, and
therefore without insulting me, at any
time he wants to. And that's an adj
vantage in such long speech as this
started to speak at O'clock. and
4. Nss