Evening star., 1939-12-08
President Declines
1910 Ring and Hat
Al Press Club Dinner
Nautical Atmosphere
Peryodes Annual
Founders Day Fete

President Roosevelt, gueSC OF
honor last night at the annual
Founders Day dinner of the Ma
tional Press Club, laughed on a
steel ring and a battered hat tossed
at him in allusion to the 1910 cam
paign. He refused to pick up either.
The political symbols were pre-
sented by Santa Claus, impersonated
by Edward E. (Ted Wilcox, corre-
spondent of the Philadelphia Eve
ning Bulletin.
AsterWard the President made a
speech. But, in accord with custom,
1t was off the record.
A nautical atmosphere pervaded
the dinner. When the President
entered, the traditional Hail to the
Chief was played by the Navy Band,
directed by 1t. Charles Benter, and
the guest of honor was "piped
aboard" by a detachment of blue
jackets. The naval greeting, "Wel-
come aboard, sir" was spoken by
the club president, Arthur Hachten
of the International News Service,
and Mr.. Roosevelt responded with
the familiar Good to be aboard"
On one wall was a large cartoon
showing the President as Popeye
the Sailor, standing on the deck of
a top-heavy destroyer and stufflng
january, 1941" spinach down the
throat of the press. With third-Jerm
smoke curling from the stack, AS
sistant Secretary of the Navy Edi-
son-who was among the guests
was shown as a mermaid wear
ing an. admirals hat and SWIM
ming in the natatorium ocean. The
cartoon, reproduced on the menu,
was the work of Walter Karig
correspondent of the Newark Eve
: ming News and chairman Of the
clubs Dinner Committee.
Club Chorus Sings.
The National Press Club Chorus,
IN innovation of 1899, sang three
sea chanties. The ensemble was d.
rected by Robert Davidson. Navy
signal flags were criss-crossed
through the hall.
Toward the close of the dinner
Mr.. Hachten picked up telephone
and talked to Marvin Mcintyre,
presidential secretary, at Ashevllle,
N. c., where he has been recuperat-
ing from an illness. Both voices
were heard by the banquet guests.
Mr.. Mcintyre, stanch member OF
the club, was told that his tenor
was missed in the chorus. He re-
piled that he had heard the songs
and was surprised the harmony was
so good without him.
Feminine entertainment was Of
fered for almost the first time in
club history. Songs were presented
by Benay Venuta, Jane Froman and
Sheila Barrett, stars of stage, screen
and radio.
Founders Are Introduced.
Several of the founders OF the
Press Club were introduced, and
President Hachten was given for
the archives some of the original
papers of the organization.
Gene Buck was master OF cere-
monies on the stage. Lew Lehr, the
noted tongue tWister, made a char
acteristic speech.
The guests included Secretary OF
State Hull, Secretary Of the Treasury
Mongenthau, Postmaster General
Farley and other Federal officials.
The satirical menu included neu-
trality eggs in 16-inch shells, hors
(du combaD a la dictator, Caribbean
submarines en- surprise, kedgeree Of
destroyers in drydock with high
gravity and cracked stern posts,
Panama mixed salad with oil, hemi-
sphere on ice with raspberry sauce,
essense of good neighbor.
The wine list featured Grapes OF
Wrath 1910, imported bilge 1928, ink
rouge New Deal and G. o. P. bubbles
1910.
In addition to Chairman Karig
and President Hachten. members of
the Dinner Committee were Fred
Perkins, Ralph Collins, Oliver
Hoyem, Ray Tucker, Frank Waldrop,
Kenneth Berkeley, Edward E. Will
cox, Anthony Muto and Howard
Acton.
The list of guests follows: