Evening star., 1925-04-24
Cridir0n Club Holds Mirror
To 'sOtIter Side'' of NOtables
FOrtieth Anniversary Dinner and Pro-
gram attracts Distinguished Com

Celebrating it's fortieth anniversary
with dinner given at the New VIII
lard Hotel last night, the Gridiron
Club had the pleasure of the attend
ance of one of the largest and most
distinguished companies of guests
ever assembled about it's board. They
came from all sections of the country
and included many men of distinction.
4 number of them had been present
at other Gridiron dinners at times
through two decades and more, and
the occasion was i real reunion of
old friends.
The President of the United States,
the Chief Justice. leaders in Congress,
Ambassadors, men distinguished in
finance and business. sat through four
hours of an entertainment supplied
by the members of the club touching
upon national and political events and
pubic questions of the times Among
the guests were former President Taft
and former Vice President Marshall
both of whom having been guests of
honor of the club during their official
incumbency.
Touch on Inauguration.
The events of the evenings enter
tainment touched upon the Inaugural
ton of President Coolidge and Vice
PRESIDENT Dawes and also took in the
lnauguratlon of the recently elected
president of the Gridiron Club, ].
Fred Essary. correspondent of the
baltimore Sun, and the initiation of
Two new members of the club. Presi-
aeht Essary welcomed the company
III an appropriate address, which was
supplemented by a welcoming song
>denVered by the Gridiron Quartet.
one or the most interesting Incl
oehts OF the evening was the reading
OF a letter from Chauncev M. DeneW
10 the Club. upon the ninetv-first an
nIVersary of his birth. which was CO.
lilcldent with the fortieth anniversary
OF the club. The letter follows:
Mr.. j. Harry Cunningham,
Secretary Gridiron Club,
Washington.
My Dear Mr.. Cunningham: THAT
Apr1l 20 was to be the fortieth an
nlVersary of the Gridiron Club and
gratifying coincidence, and the re.
membranes which surround the two
would fill a volume.
remember with keenest interest
mat first gathering of your associa-
tAQn, Which has accomplished SO much
ana mas become so famous, and it is
one OF the sad limitations of life that
Should be the only surviving guest
or that wonderful evening.
1t has been my good fortune to
nave met at your festive board all the
; Presidents of your period, except
cleveland, who would not come; all the
cabinet ministers, most of the justices
of the Supreme Court and those who
made themselves famous either perma-
nently or temporarily on Capitol Hill
Harrison Won Over.
. Harrison; who became so unpopu-
lar because of his harsh mannerism,
developed under your genial influence
his rare talents and superior gifts.
Mckinley exhibited with you that won
derful good fellowship which was his
greatest political asset. Roosevelt.
child of nature never tanned, entered
with the most infectious enthusiasm
into your play and lost his temper
because your skit revealed a weakness
in his policy. His furious quarrel with
Foraker made a memorable night,
but it was outside Gridiron rules.
Taft's geniality radiated many a night
d0f glorious time under the Gridiron.
II Wilson enjoyed immensely his eve
Inings with you, but never gave an in
idication that he thoroughly under
stood the humor of the evening.
recall the havoc he created one night
when he essayed the Wilson idea of
ihumor. The dollar-a-year men who
were famous in many departments of
american enterprise were all present.
Il sat that night in group of them.
Turning to them, the President said,
my troubles with the war are very
slight compared with the difficulties
iof satisfying my distinguished dollar
'a-year associates. Each of them
thinks he ought to have all attention
and is unhappy if any is given to
iothers of his group.
(, 1.-The result is that I am like an
Opera impresario. every member of
Whose troupe wants to be recognized,
;honored and applauded as the prima
donna 1 said to the dollar-a-year
statesman, who looked very gloomy,
ITO whom of you gentlemen does he
refer" They answered in an enthu-
isiastic chorus, Not me-
! Harding, on Gridiron evenings,
distributed joy, happiness and good
Fellowship, as was his nature. l am
sure that everybody appreciates the
fE