The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-14
ELECTION RELICS.
 ARE AUCTI0NED| BY GRIDIRON CLUB
Washington Correspond
 ents Hold Annual Frolic; Coolidge Speaks
(By Associated Press.)

night to the accompaniment of mlrth and music in which public men and officials came in for the usual good natured roasting over the gridiron of this oldest club of Washington news paper correspondents.
 Gathered at the banquet table as guests, as heretofore, were President Coolidge, members of the cabinet, ot congress, the diplomatic set, several governors of states and men prominent in the business and professional life of the country.
 As a graceful interlude, the club presented to the retiring French ambas- sador, Jules J. Jusserand, doyen of the Washington corps, a decoration Tn the form of large golden gridironis milar to the one it presented to Uncle Joe" Cannon on the occasion of his retire. ment from congress.
 Sandwiched in between the skits of comedy and music were speeches. Under the rule of the club none may be pub lished. Among them were remarks by President Coolidge, Ambassador Jusser- and, Senator Butler of Massachusetts, Governor A. F. Smith of New York.
 The presidential campaign, of course. furnished the material for much of the entertainment. An auctioneer opened the proceedings by offering to the high est bidders the greatest accumulation of election remnants in history I'm personators of John w. Davis. Senator La Toilette. Chairman Butler of the republican national committee; Chair man Shaver of the democratic national committee, William c. McAdoo, Samuel committee, William G. McAdoo, Mangus Johnson and Theodore Roosevelt, de- feated candidate for governor of New York, appeared as bidders.
 For Charitable Purpose
 ''The proceeds of this political rum mage sale" announced the auctioneer with gusto, twill be used for charity. They will be donated to the democratic national committee
 A convention radio amplifier, the first item to go up, brought out eager bids from everybody but Chairman Shaver. He declared that never again would the proceedings of demcratic na- tional convention be broadcast by radio if he could help it. The instrument was knocked down to Chairman Butler.
 When Mir. Butler examined his pur- chase he discovered it was not an ampli- fer at all. but Maxim silencer.
 "Stung," chorused the losing bidders 3oyously.
 Ono not at all,' responded Mr. But Ter bandly. Its just what I wanted to send to friend for Christmas"
 Explanations developed that the friend to whom he wished to apply the silencer was Secretary Wilbur of the Navy department, whose sudden recall from speaking trip in the west dur ing the campaign at the call of the White House was the subject of lively comment and speculation at the time.
 Nobody wanted to bid on ''the famous campaign teapot which next was of fered but there was excited competition for the pictorial farmers costume, guaranteed to make any candidate look like Vermont farmer" Magnus John son bid highest for it and carried it off
 Going to have your picture taken in N"" suggested the auctioneer
 For Real Use
 Picture nothing" roared Magnus. I'm going to use it after March fourth !"
 A map of the southern states went to Chairman Shaver of the democratic na- tional committee, who explained it made | 1t easy for him to figure up the cleo toral votes cast for John w. Davis.
 ''But this map" he objected on examination, absent show Kentucky"
 Its new map" explained the que tioneer. Kentucky was democratic B. C.-before Coolidge
 50 this map is A. D." queried the democratic chairman.
 "Yes After Davis"
 The campaign hat of Senator La Fol lette was knocked down to McAdoo and the auctioneer then offered the plat form that won the election"
 "If anybody has a right to the re- publican platform," shouted Senator Butler, T have"
 II said the winning platform," ad- monished the auctioneer. This is the platform"
 ''The progressive platform didn't | elect La Toilette" presisted the bidder.
 "No," rejoined the auctioneer, but | 1t elected Coolidge"
 For Revision
 When the Democratic platform was put up, Governor Smith bought it. re- that he was going to rewrite it for 1928
 "Thc next democratic national conven- tion won't go to New York sneered | McAdoo.
 "No, retorted Smith, "but the nomina- tion will"
 The auctioneer punched the remainder | of the lot of relics including the League | of Nations issue, the Red Bloc, the lit tie green house on K street, q choice | assortment of pee-wits and the record | of the Boston police strike. Nobody wanted to bid on any of them.
 "All those issues" interrupted Mir. Butler, "are busted" A shattered Bull Moose head, offered next, threw the bidders into such com petitive activity for its possession that | the party withdrew in disorder and the passed to a muscial skit | the two women governors elect-Mrs. Ferguson of Texas and Mrs. Ross of Wyoming
 Coolidge Speaks
 With other skts of wit and music the entertainment ran late into the evening and President Coolidge closed -he program with few remarks, whcih 2an only be described as Appropriate 10 the occasion"
 Early in the proceedings, before the dub turned to the evenings fun, it paid l respectful tribute to three members who have passed away since the last iinner. They were Frank G. Carpenter, John II. Nolan and David R. Mckee. he last of whom assisted in founding he club 40 years ago.
 Two new members were properly 'gridironed' and initiated. They were James L. Wright of the Cleveland Plain )ealer and Henry Suydam of the Brook yn Eagle.
 4CCOMPLICE SOUGHT IN HAARMANN CASE