New-York tribune., 1919-02-19
James r. Sheffield, Republi-
can, Invited to Speak and
Accepts the Opportunity
Greeted With Cheers
He Tells What All Would
Know if President Had
kep, Promise to Congress

thousand other more or less prominent
Democrats sat in the ballroom of the
Hotel Commodore last night and lis
tened while lone Republican speaker,
with an Introductory may I not rat
tied the skeletons in their partys
closet
The occasion was a testimonial din
ner given to their president, John NJ.
Richie, by the members Of the Ma
tioral Democratic Club, The Repub-
lcan speaker was james r Sheffield, Il
former president of the rival organiza-
tion. the Republican Club
''lt is pleasure and a privilege TO
Join in this tribute of honor to the
president of this historic club" began
Mr.. Sheffield, after he had been in
troduced by Toastmaster Charles B.
Alexander. at was a graceful COM
pliment to give this opportunity to one
not of your party faith. 1t serves
to remind US that the sweetest flowers
of friendship are those that grow over
the garden wall of party politics. On
behalf of the Republican Club Of the
city of New York ! gladly extend their
sincere fluctuations to your president
and their best wishes to you, their
friendly enemies
Some Who Were Soothed
Among those who were soothed by
this painless opening were Francis
Burton Harrison, Governor General Of
the Philippines; Ambassador Abram |.
Elkus and Frederic c. Penfeld, Acting
Mayor Robert l. Moran and Grover II.
Whacn, Mayor Hylan's secretary.
Then Mr.. Sheffield plunged into his
speech.
Having said this and said 1t from
my heart may l not be permitted to
talk as if among friends about the
things on which even friends may
differ?"
Then Mr.. Sheffield explained that he
had been invited to have as much fun
as possible with the guest OF honor,
Mr.. Richie.
"But why have me pick on you, noble
guest OF honor? For years no has
cone everything that any man could
do, considering the raw material he
had TO work with, to make a Demo
cratic Club of the City of New York
both successful and respectable. And
he has succeeded. The wonder, to a
Republican, is how such a man of
brains, capacity, integrity and patrio-
tism, could remain contented and hap
py-in the Democratic party.
Another President
"No. il wasn't the president of this
club, but another president ! intended
to have a little fun with. He who is
now on the George Washington steam
ing at 2l may I nots,' an hour" After
telling how Mr.. Wilson had won the
hearts Of the British people, Mr.. Shelf
field said:
81 miss here tonight one genial,
frank, talkative Democrat Colonel f.
NJ. House. Every one who knows him
likes Colonel House"
There was tumult of applause from
the assembled Democrats Then Mr..
Sheffield asked:
But who knows him? ." He is the
most perfect embodiment Of secret
diplomacy the world has ever known.
He is the one man no one viii ever
accuse of putting over on the Presi-
dent that first of his fourteen points
open covenants openly arrived at'-nor
OF writing in the latest message to
Congress: 4 shall keep in touch with
you by cable. You viii know all that
know All, If we only did, then we
could know Why George Creel was sent
10 France while Leonard Wood was
kept at home, why George Heron,
advocate OF free love, was sent as a
representative of this great moral
nation to a conference with the un-
speakable Bolsheviki, while another
gallant man was refused a. comm sson
in the army.
Something About Gables
We might then know why the gov
ernment seized the cables after the
war was over, or why we can read col
umns by cable Of the size of our auto
oil ~ h.
porary White House in Paris, and yet,
owing to the wire congestion, fifteen
days are required to get q five-word
cable from our boy serving in France.
We might then know why you can
beat by train your telegram TO Boston,
pay an added price for poorer service
on tire railroads, pay 1925 to the man
who raises a bushel of wheat, while
The raiser Of potatoes oats, corn and
rye get only the market price, and
after July the men who raises a glass
OF beer gets a jall sentence
If we knew all the President knows
We could answer the question as 10
Why. when fighting side BY side, we
could not call our brothers in arms
Allies but only 'Associates.' while
after the fighting is over we halt peace
until we can force them and all others
INTO an alliance where we can call them
nothing else
Those Three Messages
We rnew all that he knows we
you'd understand Why the only three
neasages sent by the President TO Con-
gress IN compliance with his promise
were one for 100000 900 to feed we
Know not whom, one secret and conf
dental for 500, 900, 900 for vessels of
var 70 hgnt We know not where and
ono asking Congress TO surrender it's
rlgnt of FREQ speech by not debating
ne league Of nations until he had
n!led them with good White House
dinner, vines included
II we only did know all the prcsi.
dent knows perhaps you and I and
even Cabot Lodge, Hiram johnson anG
Senator Horah, you'd move 20 roake
u unanimous. Don't rnisundersfand
he IL my President as well as vonrs
rms government, administered on
firely by Democrats, is still nv gov
ernmentn and has my allegiance, and
nat RiYrs rne the same right 20 cNti-
cise or praise that it gives you. Onlv
the in'aillDie are exempt from critj,
cisra, and even an autocrat jsn't ~
fallbIe" '''' ~
when Mr. Sheffield finished ,bn
heartily -
Soon after that Mr. Richie was oe.
scented WITH n handsome silver rcr.'in,.