The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-30
Journalists Put The
 General Assembly
 On Red Hot Gridiron
Laurel Club Burlesque Many of the Leading and Principal Characters Who Have Figured in the
 News During the 193O-3l Session

'To be, or not to ne" shouted Gene Tunney's double in Shake spearean accents at sthe biennial gridiron dinner of the laurel Club of Connecticut at the Hotel Bond, Wednesday night Leaders In the government and politics of Connecti- cut paid the price of prominence while newspapermen assigned to the General Assembly turned the spit and fed the flames to admins ter a thorough roasting to their vic- tims.
 A mock session of the Legislature and inaugural messages provided his staff. Although the adjutant- general, the quartermaster general and the colonel shone prominently In the staff as in the real inaugural parade last January it. was Major Tunney who distracted attention. His hybrid uniform was loyal to the miIitary,With blouse and Sam Brown belt and sword but his legs were attried in abbreviated boxing trunks. an dhe wore boxing gloves. The real Major Tunney once delivered lec- ture at Yale on Shakespeare and the mock Major Tunney bethought him self at the Laurel club of the, fol- lowing soliloquy:
 As Hamlet Might Have Said. ITO be or not to be
 That's the question.
 Whether 'tis better in the end to
 suffer
 The slings and arrows of outrage
 ous sports writers
 Or punch them on the nose
 hu nnnnainD them end This drool about the long count. To lie, to semi-sleep the nine sec
 onds
 Recuperates the heart and the
 thousand natural shocks That flesh experiences in the roped
 \ arena.
 For who would bear the whips
 and scorns of time
 That are handed out to a worlds
 champion
 When he, himself, Marine or man
 of buffets, Is on the governors staff?
 Who would, indeed, by choice To grunt and sweat in embattled
 strife
 When travel. literature and social
 lionizing
 Makes us rather bear those ills of
 peaceful civic life Than make another million In the punching enterprises of
 great pith and moment. In this regard I turn away and
 lose the name of action. Soft you now! Remember the
 Missus."
 "GoycrnOr's" Inaugural.
 Conspicuous figures in the Legls- lature and leaders of both political parties were -bfewned to a turn on the gridiron. The reporters distri- buted their favors widely.
 The mock legislators heard the mock Governor deliver his inaugural address, after warning him at the start that they did not intend to follow, his recommendations any, way. A number of unusual bills were presented for adoption and others, quite as natable, for dis card. The speaker ruled the mimic house with a heavy hand, but in the end was forced to recognize whole sale resolution for Impeachment of the whole Legislature.
 More than 300 men, legislators. former members fof the General Assembly. state officials and others prominent In political and business life were the guests.
 During the dinner some short skits presented on the stage gave hints of worse to follow.
 By order of J. Henry Roraback," the speaker shouted, Il declare this meeting in order as mock session of the General Assembly. Prayer will be dispensed with as the ass sembly is now in session and it's too late to pray"
 Plenty of Arguments. As the session ran its course most of the outstanding incidents of the General Assembly, were reviewed. distorted perhaps, but ercognizabie. The inaugural address of the re- porter-G Governor, properly bolstered by ''quotations" from the poets call ed attention to contests for political appointments among the democrats. to republicans moves to lessen the power of the Chief Executive and to the prominent place that Man chester legislators occupy in the General Assembly.
 Good morning boys" began the make believe dean of the Yale Graduate School. The class will please come to order" ~