The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-11
NOTABLE FIGURES
OF WORLD ENJOY
GR|D|RON pr.
Disarmament Is . 1ynote of
Winter Dinner Given by
Famous Body of News
paper Men

| figures in the affairs of the world
brought together in one dining room
as assembled tonight as the guests
of the Gridiron club at the clubs an
nuaI winter dinner.
Not only were the President, the
Vice President and the cabinet pres
! ent, but the guests also included all
of the principal delegates attend
ing the conference, the French, Bel
gian, Japanese, Italian and British
ambassadors, the ministers from
Portugal, China and the Neither
lands, eminent senators and repre-
sentatives. famous business men
and financiers, and distinguished
journalists from all parts of the
world.
In one aspect, the dinner was
plenary session of the men who hold
in their hands the forces and powers
| that are guiding to their destiny the
chief nations. Unlike a plenary ses
sion OF the international conference.
open session, for it is rule of the
Gridiron club that no speech made at
a club dinner shall be reported. Thus
1t was that under this implied pledge
of confidence, famous personalities
delivered notably frank and inform
ing speeches.
Naturally the form of entertain
ment offered by the club to its guests
was attuned to the international
character of the gathering.
Sounding of Keynote
In treating the conference, how
ever, the club for once abandoned its
customary methods of satire, wit and
humor and dealt with the subject in
thoroughly dignified and respect
full fashion. The keynote was sound
ed early in the proceedings when a
member of the club addressed the
assembly as follows:
Five great powers, meeting here
In Washington, have achieved in a
/, months time more than all the world
achieved for disarmament in quar-
| ter of century of aspiration and
effort. To these five powers the
Gridiron club tonight pays homage.
| We feel that it is fitting for us to
| look upon five symbols which repre-
SStAt AAASpC POW CT - DdHocQ III COIu-
mon cause, whose work here is trans
lating the great vision into fact The
! symbols we shall show you are not
those of war, but of peace. Tonight
| they stand together as closely bound
| by ties of brotherhood as they were
in the day of a world tragedy. We
ask you, gentlemen, to look upon
| theml'
| One by one, the silken banners of
Japan, Italy, France, Great Britain
and the United States were borne into
the room each by bearer attired in
the military uniform of the country
represented and each heralded by the
national anthem of that country.
played by the marine band. Every
flag was received with tumultuous
applause, all present standing. When
the five had been grouped, a member
of the club announced:
10 these five flags, united in the
task that barrier against war shall
be built high and strong and imper-
ishable, the Gridiron club offers its
| salue."
To the music of THE Star Spangled
Banner the flags were marched OFF
ana the gaiety of the evening began.
Messages by Radio
Fart or the equipment of the dining
~ was Idulo installation. The
guests were informed that mine
months ago the good shin NormalcS.
salied on IN uncharted sea Through
the wireless. the Gridiron club will
De kept informed tonight of her
movements"
Fcriooically throughout the eve
ming the operators announced the
hessdses as they were received
Among them were the following:
running on even keel. Band NAV
Ing. Everybody singing. Not care
In the world. Wish all could see our
proud ship as she plows majestic
ocean. z. s.; Our smoke screen is
working fine.
This message has been relayed via
Milwaukee and St. Louis: Three miles
| off shore. Deep water. No bars, Rear
ADMIRAL Wayne Wheeler at the helm.
Whew! How the wind blows"
Patronage clouds. Gunner's mate
Davis Eikins threatens mutiny. Stok-
ers and coal passers all want to be
first officers. It's a bitter night at
sea-"
This radio is rather cryptic. 1t
is dated: Still at sea, via Birming-
ham. Alabama. Ethiopian storms. No,
that Isn't right. Oh. yes, equinoxial
storms. White and colored stokers
work together, but won't eat or sleep.
Now steering Northern Lights. Cold
southern winds
Ship rolling heavily. Cannot ac
| count for 1T as sea is calm. Later:
Mystery solved Chief Engineer
George Harvey is rocking the boat"
"A final message from the Nor
malcy. Now in foreign waters. Pilot
Hughes aboard. Skies fair and sea
! calm. Eight bells and the larboard
watch. Ais Well"
At book stall erected in the CEN
ter. of the dining room club mem
bers appeared examining the display.
One found II. c. Wells Outline Of
History" and asked who Mr.. Wells
was. He was the response, lis the
only man who ever wrote an historic
account Of prehistoric times
Here" went on q customer, Els
that new Life OF Joseph p. Tumulty
by Woodrow Wilson--pardon me,
mean the Life of Woodrow Wilson
by Joseph P. Tumulty"
You mean, oh. What / Know
About Woodrow WILSON,"
That's it, l was worried for fear
he would not treat his distinguished
subject in a respectful manner"
Don't worry. Mr.. Boswell never
knew his business half so well as Mr.
Tumulty."
After Maynard Keynes hook on
Continued ON Page Eight
GUESTS AT WHITE HOUSE
Washing ton, December 10.-t Spe-
cial.)-President and Mrs. Harding,