The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-11
600 CITY NOTABLES
At DINNER IN HONOR
OF GEORGE M'ANENY
Every Political Greed Repre-
scented in GOdspccd to Al
dcrmanic President.
F,,Sr APPEARANCE or
MAYOR SINCE ILLNESS

Whether George McAneny remains in
private ifc when he gets there. as he
SAYS he will. or energies In a year or
two with i high power political search
light playing upon him. as nearly every
body else predicts. he can never sit down
t. dinner with a more distinguished
lob hedges said more conglomera;e''
company than bad him godspced in
the grand ballroom OF the Waldorf last
night.
!, was 4 Citizens dinner" given by
way VI appreciation Of the President of
the Board Of A%ldermen's services to The
city. The c~ilizens numbered 600. vir-
,ually all OF them. including the only
woman in the room outside OF the bal
cony boxes. Miss Katharine Il. Davis.
one Of the honor guests. are headliners
in some phase Of business. professional
Or political activity.
Practically all the members Of the
city administration. headed by Mayor
Mitchell IN his first public appearance
since his operation for appendicitis, were
there. Every political creed was repre-
ssnted. Tammany put forward Secre-
tsry Thomas +. smith. Senator Robert
=. wagner. SheriT. elect Al Smith, John
II. McCooey of Brooklyn and a dozen
others from the top layer.
silver service Presented.
George W. Perkins and Oscar s.
etrans, the new Public Service Com
mission chairman, were only two among
the Progressives. Frank II. Hitchcock.
former Republican national chairman. sat
At the same table with Mr.. Perkins. and
they got along sweetly together. VIM
cent Aston was also in their group. along
with Coleman du Tont n Darwin =.
Kingsley. Joseph II. Choate, Henry W.
Taft. Henry l.. Stimson, James Speyer.
Ebert II. Gary. Frank A. Vanderbilt
oh. everybody In the social register, the
blue book. the directory Of directors and
the political almanacs vas distinctly
visible.
The most popular public servant this
city has yet known"-this from Mayor
Mitchel--was n Of the compliments
that kept Mr.. McAneny blushinR while
Mrs. Mc.Aneny and her son and daughter
smiled happily down from a balcony box
And before the 600 citizens would let
him say a word I'm self-defence a silver
tea and coffee service from Tifany's
Was set before the guest of honor and
presented In the citizens behalf by
George w. Burleigh. chairman Of the
dinner committee. Upon each piece was
engraved the city's coat of arms and
Mr.. McAneny's monogram. and on a
tray that was part of the set was q
representation OF the City Hal and an
inscription telling the purpose Of the
gift.
Seth Low was POSTMASTER. He said
everybody was there to honor the man
whom the whole city loves to honor"
lie Introduced Mayor Mitchell. and amid
cheers congratulated him On his re-
eoveIy of perfect health"
Mayor Talks vigorously.
The Mayor talked vigorously and
Seemed quite his old self.
I'm particularly glad" he said
that the first time | am able to appear
again IN public should be at this dinner.
This is no perfunctory tribute. ! am
glad 10 testify TO my appreciation OF Mr..
McAncny's services as a public officer
and 10 my affection for him az a friend
His constructive services during the
aeAiil44sAl dNlOIi VI may VI pdSIDT every
body knows. His greatest work was In
helping TO solve the subway question. l
can the more properly pay his tribute
10 his genius because ! differed with him
regarding some features of the subway
plan.
In the present Administration there
have been problems almost as veXatioJs.
Thanks largely u his splendid coopera-
ton. we are now approaching An adjust
inent with the New York Central Rail-
road of its termlna facilities on the West
Side, which | hope will be presented TO
me Board OF Estimate before the first
" January.
Ills personal characteristics have en-
cearei him to all his friends and made
Inn the most popular public servant this
ely has yet known. The term 'lovable'
Is well applied TO him. Genuine friend
ship is rare. Mr.. McAneny and were
both aspirants for the office of Mayor
Two years ago. Through circumstances,
perhaps BY accident. the nomination
came 10 me. Immediately he came to
my support and his assistance largely
contributed to the final result.
Our friendship has been absolutely
unimpaired by differences on matters OF
policy, | rely on his advice and counsel.
Ills departure from the city government
IS gong to be the city's loss and my
loss too.
Yet when he asked me as a friend
Tor my advice and toll me of the OPP
portunity that was offered him | could
rot as a friend advise him not to go,
ceeply as | regretted 1t.
That type of public servant the people
can III spare. He goes from public office
lhere the Mayor paused and then added
Tor 4 time. but | believe those qualities
OF mind and heart and conspicuous ca
pac!ty viii in the end lead to his
lHear. iear!l "For his own sake the
administration lends him for a little
Nhi'e' but the people. l nm confident. will
Gail MIN back before long
Tribute From w. G.. Breed.