The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-28
WRITERS DINE VETS
BACK FROM FRANCE
Stay-at-Homes Honor News
paper Men Who Served
Overseas in War.

1t seems that Ed Wynn had a story
bottled up in his system for more than
three hours at the Commodore Hotel
Saturday night and yesterday morning.
when the newspaper men of New York
who did not 80 to war. gave dinner
in honor Of those who did but it seems
also that he did not think the proper
time had come to tell it until about
o'clock in the morning. when ne came
upon the banquet floor wearing a plug
hat and carrying a shepherds crook
plentifully bedecked with baby blue rib
bon.
II would have told this story earlier
in the evening said Wynn but II
seems there was too much competition
from people who liked soup and didn't
care who knew it. So I'll tell 1t now
And he did. 1t was n good story.
Wynne was master Of ceremonies at
the dinner, which began aboN midnight
and continued almost indefinitely. More
than 500 newspaper men attended the
dinner. the first time that so large a
number of New York scribes have ever
got together. and OF these more than
half had seen service in the army or
navy, and a great many OF them had
been in service overseas. Naturally
they made the most OF the opportunity
and naturally. too, there were speeches
lust a few short talks by MajorGen.
Alexander. commander of the SeN
enty-seventh Division; Col William
Donovan comma nder of the 165th In
fantry: Major Bozeman Bulger OF the
| Seyenty-seventh Division. and Chaplain
Francis p DUFFY of the 165th. who
called attention to the 1t that his
outfit, the old Sixty-ninth ln.antry. had
changed the name OF the Ourcq river
| to the O'Rourke.
The big feature OF the banquet, how
ever. was the entertainment provided
by the committee which had arranged
| the affair. and which included some d
! the hest theatrical talent New York pos
Sc sses. Ed Wynn who in spite OF the
| fact that he has been Ill. has appeared
| In more than 100 benefits since his sno"
! opened at the Casino Theater. was IRE
| principal fun maker. Dorothy Jardor
I a,ened the dinner with THE Stai
| spangled Banner" and then sang an,
| other song. and Charles Coburn brough'
| pert and All up from The Better ole.
and gave the Carrying on arc
"Rliehty"--bits from that production
! george White came direct from re
hearsal with the chorus OF his new Ih'
! Scandals OF 1919" show. still In then
| rehearsal costumes. and gave one o
his new numbers. Arthur jackson "n'
wrote part OF the show and Is al
recting 1t. came along as a sort o
chaperon for the chorus girls
George NJ. Conan was there. and sans
one of the newest Conan songs, anc
sophie Tucker sang song ah'
ssye her idea of the shimmy dance
other artists who appeared for the az
fair were George Beban, Bee Palmer
Julius Tanner. Tommy Gray Loui'
Mann. Johnny Dooley and Johnny DOC
Lewis wife. Annette Rugel; group o
sailors in Every Sailor one OF TN
acts that entertained President "llsoi
On his trips to Europe; Herbert Cor
thell the Oakland Sisters. and Dorai
dina Willie Meehan and Jack Youni
gave three rounds OF boxing and on
round of wrestling. with Ed Wynne a
the referee.
The dinner was arranged by com
rnittee. composed OF Frank T.. Pope o
the Journal Of Commerce, Charles A
DALEY of THE SUN, Joseph ]. O'Neill o
the World, Thomas Dibble of the Eve
Ming Journal, Leo Marsh Of the Morriinl
. Telegraph, Bide Dudley OF the Eventn
!. world, Charles Sawyer OF the 'Erentn
post. T. E. Oliphant of the Event',
| MaQ, John J. Crotty OF the Brooklyl
EaoIs, Arthur Dore OF the Brooklyn GU
| i.en. J. G. Dalton OF the Associate
| press, peter L. Campbell OF the Anieri
J can, John J. oConnell of the New Yor
Times, Charles r. Seelig Of the Tribune
: s.. Jay Kaufman Of the Globe. Williar
J. Murray of the New York Herak
, Don Marquis OF THE EVENING Sun
George y. Norris OF the Evening Tele
gram, Hugh Farrell Of the Commercial
. John +. Geiss of the Brooklyn Time
: Joseph J. EARLY OF tho Standard Unto
I and Miles Bath OF the City News Asso
y citation. Martin Green OF the Epenin
/ World was toastmaster. The cover do
. Sign for the menu was drawn by Jam
, MONTGOMERY Flagg.