New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-05
eft -" 400 FUND
In 20 MINUTES
Dekes at Annual Dinner
Plan Clubhouse and Hear
Admiral Peary.
SWISS MILITARY PLAN
URGED BY EXPLORER
Resolution Indorsing System
Arouses Opposition and
Is Withdrawn.

The promenade and lobby Of the
Hotel Plaza were crowded last night
about 10 o'clock. Men and women IN
evening clothes sat about talking and
couples walked to and fro. Suddenly
there was a rumbling noise. People
turned their heads as the rumble be-
came more clear. II was singing. -
seemed as If 1000 male voices were
raised in a rollicking college song.
Suddenly around the corner of the
desk appeared a file of men. Leading
the file was Oswald c. Herring. Behind
him, walking in the step that made
great big gray building in Westehester
County famous, came 800 men, each
with his hands on the shoulders Of the
man in front. The "thud," "thud,
"thud" of the lockstep was drowned in
the swinging jolly drinking song each
man sang at the top of his voice.
People pushed back against the wall
to make room for them. The men
passed without needing the look OF
establishment on the faces Of the pat
rons Of the hosiery. In and out,
through the cafe, grill, past the desk,
through the dining and tea rooms,
marched the humping, singing men.
They were the Dekes. They were
attending the annual dinner of the
Delta Kappa Epsilon, and they were
- fhaf ant having
Just raised $4,000 in twenty minutes
for the clubhouse. And when they had
sung themselves hoarse and there was
no further place TO roam through, they
were all led back to the banquet tables
10 listen to Admiral Robert E. Peary
tell why the United States should
adopt the Swiss system Of military
training, a system that permitted
Switzerland to place 100000 trained
citizen soldiers on her frontiers within
forty-eight hours.
The postmaster at the dinner was
James c. Colgate and Henry Harper
Benedict presided. The big feature was
the displaying of the plans and pict-
ures of the proposed new headquarters
and clubhouse in New York. The COM
mittee had worked on the plans OF the
proposed S250,000 home, and when
call for contributions was given last
night il took twenty minutes 20 sub
scribe $4,000.
big and broad and prosperous and
wealthy as this countr-- is Admlral
Peary began after he had been intro
duced, "never has there been a time
more fateful for - future destiny than
now; never time when the country
needed the brains and energy OF every
one of its citizens more than now
never a time when it was more the
dutv Of such men as form our frater-
nity to throw their fullest weight and
influence and activity in favor OF ma
tional safety and existence ,,
after stating that the time OF TAX
ing had passed and that Of action had
arrived. he told of how Switzerland,
only about as big as the State or Mas
sachusetts, when the desperate war,
ring countries surrounded her, had
placed 100000 men in the held Tor pro
lection and has remained immune from
aggression, attack and insult.
This striking illustration of efh-
cheney is the result of the Swiss sys-
tenn of citizen military education and
training" the speaker added. by this
system every able bodied man in the
country is subjected TO and ready Tor
instant military duty, yet until that
call comes pursues his civilian life and
occupation.
"That is the kind Of system that
we need over and above, and in addition
10 whatever may be decided upon Tor
onr regular army. Schools and col
leges are adopting military training.
That is fine, but it is not enough. What
we want is a system that will reach
every able bodied man in the country
and we want to begin on 1t at once,
now"
Admiral Peary asked the men, as
members of the D. K. E., 70 adopt a
resolution indorsing the Swiss system,
which would give the United States
10000. 900 men available for emergency
military duty, and urging the adoption
Of the system by the United States.
Charley Ham, Of Harvard baseball
fame, moved that the resolution be
adopted. The motion was seconded by
ogden NJ. Reid. On the question
George Schaettler opposed the motion
on the grounds that Il might be con-
strued as q slap at Germany. lie said
that he was an American of German
parents, but was an American TO the
backbone. However, he felt that no
action should be taken until the close
of the European war. Al the sugges-
ton of POSTMASTER Colgate, liam
withdrew his motion.
Richard d. Richard and Oswald c.
Herring spoke on the advantages OF hav-
ing i'm New York a clubhouse, a place
where out of town Dekes could spend
the night and be entertained. The idea
Is 10 have the club In a central part
Of the city. The basement, first, sec
ond and third floors will be given over
10 general clubrooms.
Above will be four bedroom floors,
containing twenty-four bedrooms, twelve
private baths. four general bathrooms
and four shower rooms. The front part
of the roof is designed 70 be used IN
the sumner as an open air restaurant
and cafe, back Of which is TO be a
ANAL auxiliary kitchen and a squash
court, with showers, lockers and dress
ing rooms. The other speakers were:
Herbert Hartwell Gibbs, who repre-.
scented the Greek Letter Society, and
John Clair Minot.
Among those present az the dinner
were:
Yre4eT1sk B. JenninEs, A Barton Hepburn. ysr-
re DAVIS. AiIas, y jsrs. az q sho1n' wi,n
csDi. gA.ssrfll.. v1lhla. Hiehsrd Billinr.
t3isais; fFs1srief ccyfsadsi. eoiam5ia: v.raoa
D.s 7. a. Il. cry h Vel { Gs. f co.
sts cs..isls J. Gisssoa. Aiahsrss; I1ehtrd r.
n.a 'i sgssr. M nad &c. ,I Mss T H.;
lns. hssssctvssf,s Institute H Techno'oxy: Fslir
'is' ,ss S..h s h ,'Ps x !.: T1sg
.,, ,e' si'{ q ~. r9Js Ds,ia psaY.,. Kag
"a No.. Ysi. 1oes hs,nn s William GU.