PRESIDENTIAL DIGNITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15521, 31 January 1914, Page 6

PRESIDENTIAL DIGNITY.

PRANKS OF OFFICERS. CENSURE FOB DISRESPECT. fITKOM OTTR OWN COEEESPONDENT.] London, December 19. Half the press of America has been indulging during the last few months in jokes at the expense of the new Administration, whose ideas of national righteousness and the purity of public life have been ridiculed- right and left. That President Wilson has felt this ridicule is now evident from the fact that he has expressed displeasure at what occur at a dinner of the Carabao Club Washington. This club was formed Manila in 1902, by officers who had sen in the Philippines, and those who dii comprised 100 officers of the army i navy of all grades, up to Major-Genei and Rear-Admirals. They indulged many caustic jokes and wild vagaries, a: unfortunately for .them, the President t suffering from an attack of influenza wl he read the report of the proceedings. According to the New York corresp dent of the Daily Telegraph, " he was so. angry that he forthwith resigned membership of the club, and instruct the Secretaries of the Admiralty and 'VI to make a strict enquiry, with the obj of punishing those responsible." One sc chorus particularly incensed the -Ci Executive. The Carabaos travestied, the Administ tion's peace policies in song and pan mime. After the members had condemi the Insurrectos in the Philippines, th: battleships sailed into the midst of 1 revellers. They were 6ft models, boi by concealed boys. In the muzzles of < guns of each ship were stuck nosega; and a milk-white dove was perched each fighting-top. Thev bore respective the- legends, " U.S.S. Fellowship," " U.S Friendship," and "U.S.S. Piffle," and all it was plain that allusion was .bei made to the address of the Secretary State, Mr. Bryan, on the metaphorii battleships which, he said, would symbols of peace and concord. The entrance of the battleships vi greeted by a demonstration. The ba queters cheered, and a marine band play "Columbia, Get the Ocean.'' Dr. Wilson's attitude is that the Carab consist of officers of the army and nav of whom he is the titular chief, and, such officers, they are officials of t Government, without politics, and oi allegiance to the country and the A ministration in power. Incidentally doubts whether the Philippines and Eui peans without a sense of American hump would appreciate the lampooning, ca catering, and buffoonery which marked i. Carabao festivity. Commenting upon the incident, the N< York Evening Sun expresses regret th President Wilson > should lose his equi briurn over "a bit of fun," and be unafc to take a joke. "It was bad taste," sa the Evening Sun, for army officers carry the warship Piffle into the banquc ing-room with the dove of peace on i smokestack, labelled "Hot air;" wi grape juice bottles for guns and witn tl Chautauqua platform for -a conning tow* All these jokes directed against the Sect tary of State, Mr.. Bryan, hit too near tl mark, and might have -, been merciful left unsaid. But: to grow hot 'over, it really wretched manners, according to' American code. » The President shou realise that the.country .. will turn -t] laugh a thousand-fold, aye, 'a million-fol< on him if,he seeks to soothe his offici dignity, by punishing army officers for ■ lokft. hprvmsp. lia wmM-iint, talro it. "

As ,a result,of President .Wilson's- i dignation, the officers 'responsible* for t] dinner have sent a deputation to M Garrison, Secretary for War,,: and M Daniels, Secretary, for the ;Navy/ to> press? their 'regrets and state that no di respect to the Government policies was tended. Th» officers feared a court-martia or at least a": reprimand that" would "Je pardise" their. chances of : promotion. < ■