New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
Schiff, Vanderlip, Belmont,
Baker, Hepburn, Among
Those at Table.
PRIVATE AFFAIR"
ONLY EXPLANATION
Roosevelt Helps Keep Secret,
but Some Say Ardent Beck.
man Was Present.


agreement" politically, or perhaps
they were oil practical men, at the
dinner held at the Fifth Avenue home
OF Judge Ebert H. Gary, chairman of
the executive board of the United
States Steel Corporation, Friday night
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt was the
particular guest of honor. A great
deal OF secrecy was maintained, and
when the news Of the dinner was
whispered about yesterday 1t afforded
an unusually savory morsel for politi.
cal gossip.
VI course the inference was that the
grooming of Colonel Roosevelt for the
Presidential race as the Republican
candidate had begun.
The other guests were Jacob n.
schif, Of Kuhn, Loeb q Co.; George p.
Baker, chairman of the board Of d.
reetors Of the First National Bank;
August Belmont, A. Barton Hepburn.
former chairman Of tho board of di-
rectors of the Chase National Bank:
George W. Perkins, Frank A. Wander
ZIP, president of the National City
Bank; Cornelius Vanderbilt, Frederick
W. Whitridge, Frank T. Kellogg, Of ST.
PAUL. Daniel Guggenheim, G. A. Coffin.
president Of the General Electric Com
psny; Henry Walters, director of the
Steel Corporation and many railroads:
Richard Lindabury, Of Philadelphia; E.
g. Converse director of the Steel Cor
poration; Clarence H. Mackay. and
George B. Cortelyou.
Was Beechman There7
~ was at first reported, but later
denied, tina: Medill Mccormick, Of Chi
cago, and R. Livingston Beeckman p.
publican Governor Of Rhode Island. at
tended the dinner. A report recent,v
percoiated through political circle,
here that Governor Beeckman wa, the
hrst Of a possible Seven little gov
ernors" 70 announce himself In favor n,
Colonel Roosevelt for the Republican
nomination in 1915. It will be recalled
that seven little governors started
the ball rolling for the Colonel, nomi.
nation in 1912.
AT any rate, it was said that Cover
nor Beeckman had talked with Colonel
Roosevelt quite recently and told the
latter that he would be delighted TO
support him for the Republican nomi-
nation.
Another significant fact debated by
local politicians yesterday who had
heard of the Gary dinner was the con-
ference Mt Colonel Roosevelt's Office.
at "Thc metropolitan Magazine" Offices,
on Friday afternoon. MedilI McCor-
mick, Of Chicago, formerly vice-chair-
man Of the Progressive National Com
mittee. but now working in the folds
of the Republican party, and Theodore
Douglas Robinson. the ColonePs
brother-in-law, and another recent ac-
QUESTION TO the Republican camp,
talked with the Colonel for a couple
of hours
"Just a social CALL" said Mr.. McCor-
mick, as he and Mr.. Robinson were
leaving.
Mr.. Roosevelt, Judge Gary and the
others who were known to have at
tended the Gary dinner were reluctant
to discuss the affair yesterday. The
Colonel was reached at Sycamore Hill
last night
Roosevelt Will Not Talk.
"You can say that was at the din
ner, but that | declined to discuss it,"
he said. John McGrath. Colonel
Roosevclt's secretary, declared the din
ner was private and had no political
significance.
Judge Gary asked to be excused from
going into any details, declaring that
it was purely a private affair.
Ordinarily | am pretty free to talk
to the newspaper men," said Judge
Gary over the telephone at his home,
"but don't care to say anything about
this. never make a practice of dis
cussing private affairs"
But il is understood that Colonel
Roosevelt was present, and that puts
different light on il, doesn't it?"
Judge Gary was asked.
ooh, no; would rather no. say any
thing about It; II was purely a private
fair" he replied
A list of names of some Of the men
who were understood 10 have attended
the dinner were read to Mr.. Gary. He
would not deny that the men mentioned
were present, but he repeated that he
didn't care to say anything about It.
George W. Perkins demurred. on the
ground Of privacy.
The politicians: how however thought
/ dent in a. least a semi-public light,
owing to the fact that the Colonel had