Democratic Dinner

Republican Presidents Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Arthur, McKinley, Taft, Harding, Coolidge, were mixed up in a paragraph by Franklin D. Roosevelt and despatched to Manhattan to be read at the annual Jefferson Day dinner of the National Democratic Club. Wrote Mr. Roosevelt:*

"May I renew your attention to an interesting historical fact which deserves consideration by the American people? During the period since the Civil War the administration of President Johnson was marked by impeachment proceedings against the President himself; the administration of President Grant was marred by grave scandals reaching into the Cabinet itself; the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes and Chester A. Arthur were filled with such serious patronage scandals that civil service reform was forced through by an indignant country; the administration of President McKinley saw the graft and rottenness of the War Department and other bureaus during and following the Spanish-American War; the Administration of President Taft stirred the country with its Ballinger episode, and that nation is now shocked by the events which have occurred since March 4, 1921. On the other side of the ledger, both the first and second administrations of Grover Cleveland were marked by the efficiency and honesty of the government service, and the eight years of leadership of Woodrow Wilson gave the country the highest and cleanest administration it had ever had.

"This is a record of over half a century which will help to cause a victory for clean Democracy in 1924."

To Senator Joseph T. Robinson had been assigned the keynote speech, but when it was learned he could not be present, the honor was conferred upon J. Bruce Kremer, of Montana. Mr. Kremer is Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee of which Cordell Hull is Chairman.

The orator from Montana acquitted himself with great spirit, attacking Republicans for: a) Fordney-McCumber Tariff; b) Mellon tax plan; c) lack of foreign trade; d) corruption. "With covetous eyes," said he, "certain great oil interests of the country had long looked upon the naval reserves. During the Wilson administration, that great Secretary of the Navy, Josephus Daniels, stood guard over these precious properties."

On the question of a Democratic candidate there was a conspicuously unprecedented silence. Of all possibilities only Lawyer John W. Davis was present. Odds against various Democratic candidates were quoted by a "well-known layer of bets" (in Washington) as follows:

Senator Copeland..................................5 to 1

James M. Cox.........................................5 to 1

Senator Glass.........................................5 to 1

William G. McAdoo.................................5 to 1

Senator Ralston.....................................5 to 1

Senator Underwood..............................5 to 1

John W. Davis........................................5 to 1

Homer S. Cummings.............................10 to 1

Edwin Thomas Meredith......................10 to 1

Alfred E. Smith.......................................10 to 1

Senator Reed (Mo.)...............................10 to 1

Senator Robinson..................................10 to 1

Denman Thompson................................10 to 1

Senator Walsh (Mont.)...........................10 to 1

*Enjoying the society of W. J. Bryan, James M. Cox, William H. Kelly, Norman Mack, in Florida, he was unable to attend the dinner.