The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
AMEN CORNER SKIT
: LAMPC0NS WILSON
Peace Conference Scene at
Waldorf Feast Stirs Ris-
ibles Of 900 Diners.
"HYLAN" IN NEW SPEECH
Fun Goes on FuriOusly With
Men in Public Life as Butts
Of Bright Wit.

The Amen Corner. after two years
Of silent prayer and fasting. resumed its
annual dinner habit at the waldorf last
night. 1t was a Victory Dinner Of the
brethren who crooned with Plat In
the Fifth Avenue Hotel in their youth
and of the younger generation Of po-
iitical writer's. but such Is the spirit Of
inockery that the old boys ana the in
fants could scarcely be separated one
from the other as they mutually frol-
licked in the grand ballroom. and with
impartial irreverence lampooned every
body Of Importance on the horizon
from President Wilson at and consti-
tuting the Peace Conference down to
Al Smiths dog.
On heaving shoulders fell the stuffed
club and the dear old slapstick. The
burlesqte, the parody and the pun
zach yielded its share Of torture. A
Republican candidate for President In
1920 was nomlnated-Gen. Leonard
Wood on a Wood-Alcohol ticket.
Mayor Eylan" read q speech about
+. the tentacles OF the octopus
A gang of gunner accompanied Al
Smith to Albany as his staff.
All shots Fired Made to Count.
Many OF the men lambasted wero
there to hear and see and-may be
writhe. Among them were Gov.-elect
Smith, Charles F. Murphy. Joseph p.
Tumulty. the Presidents secretary;
VIM II. Hays. Republican National
Chairman, and so on uncountabiy. No
shot was fired without flushing CO.
Yey Of politicians in and out Of Office
or hanging on the edge. Tho company
numbered about SEQ. Oscars lady
mattresses were edited beyond descrip-
ton. Mayor Hylan himself had been
invited, but was not on the acceptance
list. His secretary. Grover Whalen,
represented the northwest corner of
the City Hall and kept his face
straight part OF the time.
The president Of the Amen Corner,
otherwise Representative Tom Smith
OF Tammany, ruled the proceedings
from an exalted pulpit Right away
>Al Smiths dog was led in by Harold
II. Anderson.
The dog was a tiger with James p.
Gillroy inside. He burst from his
leash and bounded to the side OF the
Governor elect. baying "O-ww-w-w
AL" "Ow-w-w-w-At" then made
straight for Charles F. Murphy. who
sat near the stage, and jumping into
vacant chair next that gentleman
made it evident where his real affec-
lions lay. Meanwhile the band played
Tammany."
Between the first two courses OF the
dinner William A. Brady. theatrical
manager, made up as GoU. Whitman,
arose and soliloquized "a long fare
well to all me greatness" Then a
stranger broke into the room and
begged permission to make a speech.
Ana. It was Mayor Hyldn. or Old
Pct Rellihan disguised as the Mayor
OF this great city.
mayor" IL I'm Splendid Broxue.
Can 1 make a speech?" said the
1iayor.
You can" said President Smith.
"Of course ] can" the Mayor re-
turned, as one grieved. i've got one
here, Tom, that 1 wrote all by my
self"
THAT will be a novelty" said Tom
Smith. Lets have It" The Mayor
demanded an escort to the rostrum
SO Director William J. Leary was as
signed to show him UP. The Mayor
was in splendid brogue. Here's a sam
pie Of his remarks:
You know before I was Mayor ]
vas said TO be the best motorman
the B. r. T. ever fired. There are a
lot of people in the city tonight who
regret exceedingly that 1 was ever
fred, but no matter for that, we are
here tonight on a momentious &C.
casion. 1 see that Mr.. Wilson has
been made a citizen of Paris. Oh
well, New York has its John F.
p iIylan."
How would you like to be Mr.
Wilson," inquired the Amen president
IT would like TO be Woodrow VIII
son." replied the Mayor, throwing out
his chest; 81 would like to be Wood
row Wilson-if 1 were not John F.
4AyId O'CCdSlOIldlIJ ITO MS
eyes from his manuscript and went
astray, as when he grated: THE good
people of New York will never forget
how l am doing them. mean," he
said. with a hasty glance at the
manuscript, what am doing for
them"
Ready to Emancipate City,
He said he had found the city "in
TIE craps OF the tentdcles OF the
octopus in Wall Street." but he had
cmancipated It and would emancipate
II from "the octopus of the b. r. #.
ami all other octopuses." He confided: :
Far be It from me, my friends, to
boast of my exploits in the realm Of
craftsmanship, but a friend of mine
was talking to another great states
man from Washington This great
statesman said he had been all over
tho world and could say conscien-
tiously that he never in his life saw
a big city with such Mayor as Mayor
Hylan. What do you think of that
now? I hope am too modest a man
TO claim all the credit for winning the
war, but Mr.. Hearst assures me I had
every bit as much to do with it as
ne did"
Johnny Get Your Gun" advised the
hand, as the Manor departed.