The Washington times., 1917-02-18
NOTABLES GRILLED
OYER FIRE OF WIT
Spirit of Patriotism Is Domi-
mating Feature of Spring
Dinner of Club.
FLING TAKEN AT GUESTS
Senator Johnson, Grayson, and
Leak Committee All
Get Theirs"

President Wilson. Vice President
Marshall, Speaker Clark. Cabinet menu
bers, other prominent officials. news
paper men. and out-of-town celebreties
participated in the spring dinner Of the
Gridiron Club, held last night at the
New Willard.
The spirit OF patriotism was the COM
mating feature. When the 800 diners
had been seated the clear call Of a bugle
sounded from the rear Of the hall. There
was a hushed command. and a squad OF
sailors, commanded by commissioned
officers, marched smartly through the
big room and came TO a snappy halt in
front Of President Wilson.
Present arms!' was commanded. and
as the sailors came to the salute the
diners rose and. led by the clubs quar-
tet, sang The Star-Spangled Banner"
as a hugh silk American flag was I'M
furled from the ceiling. Following the
song the members and guests Joined in
applause and cheering which lasted sew
eral minutes.
Fire of Wit Under GridIrOn.
Those who attend the Gridiron Club
dinners always come with the expecta-
Aon VI bG4Ai6 IOdsNcus anu EOdSAtu SOI1G
Of them certainly were last night But
the fire under the gridiron was brighter
than warm, and the roasting was done
by the fire of wit.
Senator Hiram Johnson, of Cali
fornia, DIR. Cary Grayson. and mem
bers OF the Leak Probe Committee"
together with those who were alleged
TO have been involved in the leak,
cSme in for their share of the good
natured raillery.
After successfully answering the
questions put to him as an immigrant
and thereby showing himself entitled
to membership in the Gridiron Club.
John Snure, of The Washington Times
and Des Moines Register-Leader, was
initiated into the club.
He designated the building in
which Congress meets" as a school
for scandal" and named the streets
leading to the Capitol as follows:
pennsylvania avenue. North Capitol
street, South Capitol street. and Wall
street"
Phantom Breakfast.
A rich Irishman named Barney
Brooks gave a phantom breakfast at
the Splitmore Hotel. in New York.
where imaginary guests were present
from Washington.
After reading the Presidents peace
note and commenting favorabIy upon
Mr. Lansing's ability to use the Eng
lish language. he did a little teIe-
phoning to his office and disposed of
Few billion shares of guilt-edged
stock.
Then there was the distribution of
me profits among the guests. "Mr.
McAdoo," who was one of those pres
fg aI
sent to the Riggs Bank.
One of the shots at the leak nrobars
was attractively given in meIo-
drama In which Administration
Leak. the heroine, was successfully
SIutched from the talons of the vii |
sh, Barney Lawson, by the hero.
reginald Montmorency.
Searched by Lawyer.
Before she is proved RuiItIess of ,ha
stain upon her fair name. admins.
Iration Leak" is searched for by
Marks, the lawyer, sent by the leak
committee TO find Administrator
Leak, II any there was
He is directed "by Rules Committee
y. ). House of Reps, to find Adminis
tratlon Leak IL there be any such per- |
son as aforesaid, namely, ct cetera
t eetera. Put your trust in the ma
5ortty, and remember everybody's in
guilty" "o'
During the dinner a member OF the !
club escorted Congressman Henry, !
chairman of the leak" inyestigatin1
committee, and Sherman L. WhippIe
the attorney, to the floor. Some ff /
teen guests were requested to arise in
their places, while the club member
propounded the following query:
Did any of you or all of you or
each OF you, by yourself or by others,
or Tor yourself or for others, indi-
yidually or collectively, directly or in
directly, in person or in concert
through the instrumentaiity of cor,
porations or copartnerships. or by or
through agents, friends, associates.
substitutes, factors, colleagues. ac-
guaintances, employees, relatives.
brokers, bankers. lawyers. sttenogra-
pliers, or other persons, between the
hours Of 10 o'clock in the forenoon
and o'clock in the afternoon of the
2Oth day Of December, Ammo Domini |
1916, or prior to that date, or about
that date, or subsequent to that date,
or ever or at any time or under any 4
circumstances, to the best Of your
knowledge or belief"
interrupted by President.
Here the questioner was interrupted
by President Bennett, who stated the
question was hypothetical.
The question was admitted to be
because it was a hypo-
thetical case. but because they had
been seen talking to newspaper men,
and had been known before to talk
to newspaper men, Chairman Henry
and Mr.. Whipple were guilty of mis-
demeanor and sentenced to have their
names kept out OF the newspapers
for a period of six months.
Selections by the Gridiron quartet,
the songs all being hits at some par
ticular person, formed the concluding
events at the dinner.