"GRILLING" POLITICIANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

"GRILLING" POLITICIANS.

AN AMUSING BANQUET. America's famous Gridiron Club, which exists for the purpose of banqueting and "grilling" public celebrities, "entertained" many guests at Washington one night recently, including nearly all the members of the Cabinet, several representatives of foreign Governments, senators, representatives, and men prominent in business and professional life. President Wilson* who was confined to the White House by influenza, was the only notable absentee, and his place was taken for the evening by Mr. Marshall, the Vice-President of the United States

After dinner many illustrations were given by members of the club with the object of showing that public banquets are not necessarily dismally formal affairs, and that much may be done to replace the long speeches by an element of comedy and pantomime.

To fulfil it« purpose the Gridiron Club will not be content until the formality of public dinners is greatly relieved, and " enlivenment" substituted for boredom. The guests had hardly finished eating when the porter entered the room, pushing a large baggage truck. On the truck was an immense hamper addressed to the Gridiron Club. This hamper was deposited in front of the president of the club. President Kauf mann wanted to know what it was, and ordered it to be opened. Out popped an elderly woman, but very energetic, waving " Votes for Women" flags. " I'm Mrs. Pankhurst, Einmeline Pankhurst!" said the intruder to the indignant protest of the president of the club. " Mrs. Pankhurst" finally became militant, and the president of the club called for the police. When "Mrs. Pankhurst" reminded him that women voted in many American States, his manner instantly changed, and he not only apologised, bat invited her to take his own seat. As " Mrs. Pankhurst" was about to seas herself beside Vice-President Marshall, a Customs inspector hurried in and examined her baggage. From the depths of her handbag he produced a sausage and a loaf of bread as evidence that she was evidently preparing for a hunger strike. The Customs inspector insisted that before " Mrs. Pankhurst" could enter the country he would be obliged to snip three aigrettes from her hat. When this was attempted the indignant "suffragette" hastily re--treated, still waving her flag. Mr. W. J. Bryan and his Chautauqua performances came in for several hits. In the course of the evening an Alpine maid came skipping into the room, followed by her vodcllers in Tyrolean costume. She yodelled jo badly, however, (hat the president of the club called a halt, and asked Mr. Bryan to 6ee if he. from experience could not tell the assembled guests exactly how the yode] ought to go. Mr. Bryan took the invitation graciously, and spoke for ten minutes, defending himself warmly against the recent attacks on his Chautauqua tours. v Gridiron Club speeches are never published, but Mr. Bryan said many times that his Chautauqua lecturettes were necessary because his revenue as American Prime Minister was not equal to his expenditure as a private citizen. \ The programme of farce and. pantomime lasted two hours, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all present, including those "grilled," '