Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-06-05
CORRESPONDENTS
HOLD THEIR 24TH
ANNUAL DINNER
Legislative Newspaper Men
Discuss Topics of Day Seri-
ously and Frivolously

was held at the Penn-Harris Hotel
last evening in celebration of the
twenty-fourth anniversary of the or
ganization, with Governor Sproul'
Attorney General Shaffer, Senator
Clarence ]. Buckman, president pro
tenn. of the Senate; Robert S. Span
gler, Speaker of the House; Senator
Edwin II. Ware, w Harry Baker,
secretary of the Senate; Harry >
McDevitt, secretary to the cover
nor; George NoX Mccain and h. j.
Stackpole as guests of honor, the
last two named having been among
the charter members OF the asso-
citation away back in 1895.
The affair was one of the most
delightful in the history of the or
ganization. The tables were deco
rated with huge lunches of roses
and peonies and the programs pore
the coat of arms of the State in
gold Lists of departed members
and of every member since the for
nation of the society, were lnclud-
ed During the dinner an orchestra
furnished music and a number OF
cabaret features were introduced
Governor Speaks
John r. Ball, one of the most
widely known newspapermen of the
State, representing the Pittsburgh
Post and Sun, president of the as
sociation, was toastmaster, ana sat
with Governor Sproul on his rlght
and Senator Buckman on his lett.
The Governor gave the corre-
spondents what one of the mem
hers pronounced a real heart-to-
heart talk" saying that he believed
when the sum of the accomplish
ments of the present Legislature has
been cast the total will equal the
best work of any Legislature alons
progressive and beneficial lines IN
the past decade or more Referring
70 the length of the legislative ses-
sion. which had been criticised in
tbe newspapers, the Governor said
that he believes the time is past
when the Legislature. presldlng as
IT does over the ever-increasing al
fairs of the great Comm onwealth OF
PENNSYLVANIA could, with credit TO
itself and justice to the people
transact its business and get away
in a few weeks. He said time is re-
nuired to ascertain the sentiment OF
the people on the various subjects
before the body and in the end
few additional weeks are more help-
full than otherwise.
The Governor talked to the cor
RESPONDENTS "as one newspaperman
20 another" in a personal way that
brought out frequent bursts OF ap.
plause and constant rlppies OIL
laughter. -.
Attorney General Shaffer deliv-
z, cred n wonderfully elcQueqt address
on the history of politics in Penn,
svlvania. painting series OF word
njctures of remarkable scenes in the
old DAYS of the Quay regime that
ought to be transferred to paper lor
the benefit of n vast numnef OF peo-
pIe throughout the State who
III.
Indeed Mr.. Shaffer made plea to
the correspondents for just that
thing saving that one or more OF
them who have been through the
mill for years ought to write such
history. :,
The Speakers Dog
One of the humorous features OF
the evening was and ADDRESS py
Hiram G.. Andrews, of the North
American. who presented to Speaker
Snangler a large toy dog, which ne
said was the much discussed dog
which the Speaker has been quoted
in the newspapers as hunting ana
hoped that Mr.. Spangler's mind be-
ing taken from the doghunt ne
would be able to concentrate on the
affairs of the House and bring ABOUT
an early adjournment.
The Speaker responded in ike
fashion. saying that the doghunt
had indeed caused him much dis
turbance and he was happy to have
"this figment to console him If ne
could not have the promise OF the
Senate to restore the real thing.
As he concluded the guests showed
their appreciation by barking in
chorus and singing, you've Got TO
Quit Kickin' My Dog Aroun'.
Senator Ware told the newspaper
men that so far as he is concerned
he feels that every knock is a
boost" and that he had no hard
feelings for the newspapermen who
occasionally touched him up a bit
more than he liked" He intimated
to Speaker Spangler that his dog is
not vet out of the woods and hint
ed" darkly at plans for kicking it
around a lot more in the three
weeks before adjournment.
Ed ]. Hart, of the Scranton
Times, responding to a mock read
ing of one of the Philadelphia bills
by w. P. Gallagher. of the Wilkes
Barre Record, gave an excellent
takeoff of a recent address by GER
tain member of the House which
has caused considerable merriment
on the Hill. After the performance
Ed. was advised that he had missed
his calling; he should have been on
the stage.
f. ]. Stackpole, who with George
Nox Mccain and Walter ]. Christy
of the Pittsburgh Gazette Times,
were charter mem bers of the or
.ganization. was called for an ad-
dress on the "old days but he rap
idly drifted into a speech which
had to do with the tremendous part
the newspapers of Pennsylvania had
to do with the winning of the war
and he made aE earnest plea for
real freedom of the press in the
support of American institutions but
not that freedom which spells license
through which certain foreign in
f1uences are endeavoring to disrupt
the republic.
George NoX Mccain
George NoX Mccain, one of the
most roted of the correspondents
of other years, happened in town
yesterday and was at once included
among the guests of honor. Since
leaving newspaper work Nc Cain has
been a traveller, lecturer ard NOV
ing picture maker throughout the
world. He has gone ir:to the wilds
and has been around the earth sew
eral times in search of material for