Evening star., 1940-04-14
Gridiron Club Depicts
Roosevelt as Sphinx
In Ninth Term
~ NO Precedents Left
To Breuk,' Diners Learn
At Annual Fete
Continued From First PaRe)

ClupS president, Mark FOOte, pre-
sented an association of anniver-
saries by paying special tribute to
DR.. Walter Damrosch, guest at the
dinner, who first conducted an opera
company in February, 1885, while
the Gridiron Club was preparing for
Its first dinner. Mr.. Foote called at
tention to the fact that DR.. Dam
rosch Is now engaged with other
music lovers in national campaign
to maintain the Metropolitan Opera
as one Of the great cultural assets
OF America.
At intervals during the evening,
the spotlight was turned on the diff
ferent presidential candidates, and
they IN turn were introduced to the
guests. The candidates present in
cluded both the leading and the
minor ones: Roosevelt, Garner.
Hull. Farley, Jackson, McNutt.
Wheeler, Democrats; Vandenberg,
Dewey, Taft, Bridges, Martin, Gam
nett, Willkie, Bricker, Republicans.
Mr.. Farley and Mr.. Hamilton, ma
tional chairmen of their parties,
faced each other.
The evening of entertainment
was opened by the "Gridiron Owls"
who tapped across the stage with
the query:
Whom will they nominate?
Whom will they elevate,
Roosevelt, Garner, Farley, Nc
Mutt?
vandenberg, Taft. Dewey, tut,
tut!
Who in this room tonight,
Who has the answer right?
Who, we'll you ought to know
who
Who? Who? Who?"
Foote Inaugurated.
Mr.. Foote, Washington corre-
epondent for the Booth newspapers
of Michigan, was inaugurated presi-
dent of the club for 1910. Walter
Karig, Washington correspondent
of the Newark Evening News and
Duke Shoop, correspondent OF the
Kansas City Star, were initiated as
new members. President Roosevelt
closed the dinner with an off-the-
record speech. Senator Vandenberg
Of Michigan, Republican presidential
candidate, was the only other speak
er. The music was by the relocated
Marine Band, led by 1t. William F.
Santelman.
While the lights were dimmed,
with the outlines of the gridiron
looming in the dark, Mr.. Foote well
coined the clubs guests.
This is the only kind of blackout
we ever have in America" Mr..
Foote said. But tonight we are 60
ing to have a lot of fun in the dark.
Even in this lucky land there are a
lot of funny things. If you don't
believe that, look around when the
lights 60 on.
But now everybody is In the
dark. Martin Dies is even seeing
things in the dark, and finding some
So is the Monopoly Committee,
which is trusting to its luck. Anti
New Deal Democrats say the Labor
Board is the light that failed. Re-
publicans are worrying about the
dark vote. We are all In the dark,
especially about the plans of q GER
tain person.
Parties Could Do Worse.
European war may give us
Roosevelt's candidacy again, and
Finnish relief may give us Hoover's.
In both cases, the parties could go
further and do worse-and prob
ably will.
But while F. D. is seeking peace
In Europe, Bill Green and John L.
Lewis have declared for no peace at
any price in America. .
Headed for Chicago, the Demo-
Gratis and their fellow travellers may
run into trouble. If they do they
cannot tell lie. They did it with
their little Hatch. -
BE admonished in any event that
rhapsodists will rant, that the pill
lars of the Republic will totter, that
you will be knee-deep in blather and
flapdoodle, and that for while
people will follow any professional
patriot with a loose larynx. The
campaign song for all will be oh
Promise Me- But America is a
sturdy, youthful nation. 1t will sur
vive even presidential election
year"
In a budget skit, Amos and Andy
had a great deal Of trouble with
the astronomical figures" of the
New Deal budget
Andy said, Amos, Use 50 worried
about the budget"
Amos-"Now dere you goes, always
takin' on somebody else's troubles.
How come you worry so much
about the budget, when President
Roosevelt he amt payin' it no
mind?"
McNutt's Name Mentioned.
Enter Kingfish-"Good mawnin'
brother Andy, hello brother Amos.
My brother, amt got no time to
waste. Use come TO- de money"
Amos-"If'n you is revenoo
agent, how come you amt out in
Indiana wild de est of 'em after
McNutt?"
Kingfsh-"We done finished him
OF. What the internal revenue
remission wants to know is, how
much money you got?"
Amos found satisfaction from q
statement by the President about
the national debt, that, After all,
nah friends, we only owe this debt
to ourselves" They concluded. after
q discussion of what comes after
billion, "is just more billions"
In "Confucius Say" skit, Demo-
cratic candidates walked on the
stage wearing Roosevelt masks, and
the Gridiron chorus sang:
"Yo-high-ho, politics a funny
thing.
Yo-high-ho. make you wanna
laugh and sing.
Confucius say one thing Is true
today.
Every Democrat
Looks Just like that.
Remember what Confucius say"