Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-11
ANNUAL DINNER OF
STATE SOCIETY IS
GREAT OCCASION

Patriotism ran riot at the annual
dinner of the Pennsylvania State So
ciety last evening. The event took
place in Chestnut Street Auditorium
and more than 500 men connected with
the State service and a number of
well-known citizens from this and
other cities participated. Among those
present were Mrs. Brumbaugh and
many wives of State officials.
The great hall was decorated from
floor to rafter in red, white and blue.
Countless flags and pennants of the
national colors, combined with the
beautiful flag of PENNSYLVANIA adorned
the walls and hung in festoons from
the ceiling. A beautiful patriotic set
ting filled the stage at the front. The
auditorium never looked better nor
has it housed very many more impress
sive gatherings.
The feature of the evening was the
presentation to Governor Brumbaugh
of a large portrait of himself. The
painting, done in oil, was the gift of
the Governors military staff.
AS the guests were seated the or
chestra struck up the national air and
the curtain of the stage ran up to
show the figure of a beautiful girl
posed as the Goddess of Liberty, her
brow wreathed with a starry crown
anu II large Sllh
flag. The striking picture was greeted
with thunders of applause.
Public Service Commissioner John
s. Killing introduced State Librarian
Thomas Lynch Montgomery as toast
master. Mr.. Montgomery in a word
explained the objects of the Pennsyl-
vania State Society saying:
The society is for the promotion OF
good fellowship among it's members
nd oh, iG1, no nf
the promotion of efficiency and econ
omy in the administration of the af-
fairs of our Commonwealth. The dis
semination of information relating to
and the manner of administering ouI
State government, together with 9
knowledge of the history and of the
varied interests and affairs of our
State and the upholding of the dignity
of our Commonwealth and the en-
coura ging of a patriotic devotion tc
our State"
Patriotic Addresses
The addresses of the evening teem-
ed with patriotism. The guest OF
honor was former Governor Frank b.
Willis, of Ohio, warm friend of GOV
ernor Brumbaugh. Mr.. Willis, Ad-
jutant General Thomas ]. Stewart
General, and the Governor, himself,
delivered the principal addresses OF
the evening.
The portrait of the Governor was
unveiled by General Stewart at the
conclusion of one of the most eloquent
addresses that we'll known after-din-
ner speaker ever made. He paid a
high tribute to the Governor on be-
half of the staff of which he was the
chosen representative.
Speaking also for the other mem
bers of the staff he made an eloquent
plea for the volunteer soldier, who he
said, had in ky-gone wars wrested VIC
tory from every foe that has ever
faced the Stars and Stripes. Too much,
he added. had been said in disparage-
ment of the volunteer and that this
kind of discussion should cease at a
time when the fate of the nation may
depend largely upon the men who will
lay down their daily tasks and leave
their homes voluntarily to take up
arms in defense of their nation. He
predicted that the outcome of the
present war would see the volunteer