Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-18
PATRIOTIC EPOCH
AT UNION LEAGUE
Reception to Secretary McAdoo
Adds Scope to Organiza-
tion Purposes

i Treasury McAdoo at the Union League
last night would make clear to US that some
thing Is happening in this country to break
down partisan prejudices, even IL we had
failed to notice other signs all around US.
It's an unusual thing for Democrat to be
permitted to eat square meal to the ac-
compartment of music and the approving
murmurs OF the assembled members OF that
great Republican institution 1t seemed to
us when we first heard of II that remark
able precedent was being established. and
we started out to learn IL We were right IN
our surmise.
We ourself recall a famous dinner in the
old banquet hall of the League when the
Confederate General Longstreet was guest
and a speaker. but he was not officially tho
guest of honor Of the League" as the Secre-
tary of the Treasury was last night we
weren't able yesterday to find a single mem-
Der who could lay specific finger upon any
Democratic name previously SO honored.
Indeed, 1t was difficult to find any one
willing to make any positive statement be-
yond the boast that Union League dinners
are always superb and that no other or
ganization In this city has held Its own
hospitabe roof over so many. Which Is
very likely the truth
In the course of fairly long life about
town we have attended dinners there which
left upon us deeper impress than most others
we recall.
But It is hard to get bon vivant to stick
to details. The man who has had the privi-
lege of attending but one big banquet In all
his poor, narrow life-and that a quarter of
century ago-will be able to describe for
you the sort of knife his peas rolled off.
but Union Leaguer's memories are too
numerous to coagulate properly and promptly.
The Quest for Details
We ourselves were not present at the great
dinner TO General Grant when he came back
from his tour of the world In 1879 so yes
terday we invited Colonel Louis Kolb to ask
us to luncheon at the League. that we might
gather some first-hand gossip from old
members who had been present.
YES" said one. 'I was at that dinner,
but don't remember much about It. But Bill
Soandso could tell you"
Bill had just passed down the corridor and
we toddled after him and caught him. But
Bill couldn't remember anything except that
Grant probably spoke. However" said he,
Colonel Blanks over in the reading room
and he sure knows all about it,"
We found the genial old gentleman and
poured question into his ear trumpet. He
frightened up. I'm ashamed to confess It,"
he said, but there was a fire Just around
the corner that night, the Central Theatre, /
think, and a lot of us ran out to It. / was
one and l don't remember much about the
dinner"
There are in this town a number of men
who perfectly recall that dinner, no doubt,
but the memory of no Lacquer with whom
we talked yesterday Travelled, with any GER
tainty, further than our own recollection of
less ancient functions.
The Leagues Crown of Crowns
We remember the furry of excitement that
rippled through tho town when there was
talk--idle talk-of the Union Leagues offer
ing reception to President Cleveland at
period of his first administration, when his
popularity arose high enough almost to war
rant the overlooking of his political faith
A could n Ou i'm
of the reception to Ii Hung Chang in the
fall of 1896, when for once somebody's foot
slipped and more guests were admitted to
the clubhouse than could be accommodated
with the wonted dignity of the house.
But the most important function ever held
in the League occurred on Founders Day,
November "a. 1900. when at a banquet in the
old hall on the second floor were gathere.
together the President of the United States
and the entire Cabinet, to say nothing of
Vice President-eect Theodore Roosevelt and
many Senators and congressman.
Joseph G. Darlington was then president
of the Union League. In his opening address
he said:
THE Union League of Philadelphia was
founded and organized for the specific pur-
pose of fostering and promoting the love of
republican government and aiding i'm the
preservation of the Union of the United
States. and to this end assisting the Pres-
dent in defending this Union against the as
VI ilel WHO were OO1nB all in their
power to destroy the greatest Republic that
the Almighty ever permitted man to create"
Which is a sentiment that might have been
ot inappropriatey repeated In explanation
I last nights meeting. But upon that occa-
IN, when the League was for the moment
3 seat of the Government of the Republic,
ere was no danger of assault from without,
even from the hungry Democrats who
n just felt again the somewhat accus-
ted sting of defeat.
resident Mckinley spoke with his accus-
tod grace, but the Vice president elect as
weecollect 1t, was the orator of the eve
MIR unless he might have been said to share
thadistinction with Senator Henry Cabot
LOG
AR the dinner the President and all his
dist'uished retinue stepped down from the
bandt room to the first floor and received
the rmbers Of the League who were unable
10 crd into the comparatively small BAN
quet Il.
The and then was held the greatest Re-
public lovefeast this city ever sheltered.
But Ia nights function. considering all it
meansr broad patriotism. was the biggest
thing League has ever seen