Evening star., 1916-02-27

For few minutes. at the Gridiron
Clubs dinner at the New Willard Hotel
last night, it seemed as If the occasion
would be marred in the outset by a
most deplorable and embarrassing in
cident. President Wilson. Vice Presi-
dent Marshall. members of the cabinet
and the company of other distinguished d
guests were appalled,.
1t came about this way: When the
soup was served one of the members
of the club was seen to be in an ex-
cited and irritable state. Another mem
ber of the club was trying to pacify
him. but without avail. 1t was shock
ing and everybody expressed conster-
nation.
II will not sit down." cried the OBJ
streperous member ''and l don't care
if ! am making a scene. tell you
there is something the matter with
the soup. You know what happened
out in Chicago the other night. | don't
claim there is poison in this soup, but
we must protect our guests.
oh, this cannot be tolerated for a
moment said President Strayer of
the Gridiron Club: this is disgraceful.''
But there is something the matter
with the soup"
Hotel Manager Called.
Call in Mr.. Hight, the manager OF the
hotel" commanded MIR. Strayer. There
upon, Mr.. Hight appeared and sug-
gested that to satisfy the protesting
member he would have the soup
caldron brought in. Forthwith ap-
peared the chef with the soup kettle
and the complainant was given long
spoon to sample the contents.
His suspicious proved well founded
There was something in the soup He
spooned up variety of things, includ-
ing the continental army bill. the Co
Iombian treaty, the low cost of living
plank of the Baltimore platform and
a few other articles OF soup stock.
words were lost in the clatter of
spoons as the. relieved guests betook
themselves to the very excellent turtle
in their own plates.
But this is getting ahead of the story
The narrative really should begin with
the arrival of the guests, their COM
mingling in the small ballroom, the
coming of the President of the United
states and his leading of the process
sion into the big banquet hail. most
S!oriously decorated with flowers and
greens and resplendent in light: with
the darkened room, as the company
stood while song Of welcome was
rendered by the Gridiron Quartet and
President Strayer made brief but
happy introduction, followed by the
flashing of the big electric gridiron.
which is the signal that the bride is
off. and, barring the fact that ladies
are always present. constructively and
reporters never present" the guests
can go as far as they like
President Strayer Grilled.
It was not long after the soup Incl
dent until something else happened.
Louis w. Strayer of the Pittsburgh Dis
patch, the newly elected president of
| the club. was to be inaugurated, and
according to Gridiron tradition, had to
be griIled himself before presiding
| over the roasting of innocent guests.
An old-time inaugural parade entered
| the hall, led by band and a drum
major. Represented IN the procession
| were the Old Guard. the regular army
reserve. the continental army, the gov
| ernment mechant marine, the progress
sive party and war revenue tax COL
! lectors
| At the outset the progressive party
! objected to the Inauguration of Presi-
| dent Strayer until he could assure him.
| self that the president had received
! the Endorsement of COL Roosevelt. He
withdrew to consult the colonel by
/ wireless, but in the meantime several
| newspaper correspondents who had re-
| Gently visited the colonel entered the
| room and reported.
Reports From Col. Roosevelt.
| Said the first one: II have just re-
| turned from Bermuda. and while / am
not at liberty to quote Col Roosevelt,
! feel that / may say that he will ac-
cept as a presidential nominee Charles
E. Hughes. Theodore e. Burton. Phil
ander e. Knox. Albert b. Cummins,
EIihu Root or Herbert S. Hadley."
The next report was this:
Il have just returned from Martin
ique. and while am not at liberty, to
quote Col. Roosevelt. feel that l may
| say that he regards Burton as worse
than Root. Root worse than Knox
| Knox worse than Cummtns. Cummins
worse than Borah. BOrah worse than
| Sherman. Sherman worse than Fair
banks. Fairbanks>worse than Weeks
Weeks worse than whitman and Whit
man worse than nobody
| Emissary number three told his
| tale. as follows:
| II have been interviewing Col
4 Roosevelt at Kingston, Jamaica, and
| while | am not Mt liberty to quote him
/ @In,,.5 - oa.tt De-.