Hugo N. Frye

Last month Editors Edward T. Horn and Lester A. Blummer of the "Berry Patch" (funny) column in the Cornell Daily Sun decided that the time had come to celebrate the 150th birthday of one

Hugo N. Frye of Elmira, N. Y. To a Frye dinner at Ithaca they invited Vice President Charles Curtis, Secretary of Labor James John Davis, Senator Joseph Ridgway Grundy, Republican National Committee Chairman Claudius Hart Huston, many another famed Republican. Because they knew their guests' knowledge of local history was not so good as their own, the Cornell editors obligingly identified Mr. Frye in their invitations as follows:

"This little-known patriot of Central New York has been deprived of the fame that should have been his for his part in the organization of the Republican Party in New York State. From his opposition to the Mexican War was born the idea of a political party that would incorporate the principles of protection for our industries and freedom for the Negro. His slogans: 'Protection for our Prosperity' and 'Freedom in the Land of the Free' became the rallying cry of those honest farmers who later became the nucleus of the Republican Party in the Empire State."

When the young editors sat down to celebrate the Frye sesquicentennial last week, none of their famed guests appeared, but most of them sent messages paying high tribute to Hugo N. Frye.

Vice President Curtis: "I read with pleasure your intention to give a dinner honoring the memory of Hugo N. Frye, pioneer Republican of Elmira. . . . I congratulate the Republicans on paying this respect to the memory of Frye and wish you a most successful occasion."

Secretary of Labor Davis: "It is a pleasure to testify to the career of that sturdy patriot who first planted the ideals of our party in this region of the country. If he were living today, he would be the first to rejoice in evidence everywhere present that our government is still safe in the hands of the people."

Congresswoman Ruth Pratt of New York City: "Greetings and all good wishes to all of you who gathered to pay tribute to the memory of Hugo N. Frye."

Next day the joke was out. Hugo N. Frye was even less than a memory; he was nothing more than a fabrication of the imaginations of Editors Horn and Blummer.

When accounts of the "You-Go-And-Fry" dinner were later read to the Senate by a playful Democrat, Vice President Curtis in his high chair grinned sheepishly, rubbed his hand over his red face. Mrs. Pratt said: "I'll admit the joke was on me." Secretary Davis, fresh from his Pennsylvania campaign for the Senate where he learned that a politician must be ready to praise anybody, dead or alive, on a moment's notice, felt his good nature had been imposed upon. The New York World spoke of a "sleazy kind of fawning" by public men, was pleased "to see it trip its toe and come sprawling on its face."

When college authorities at Ithaca threatened to act against Editors Horn and Blummer, the young men succeeded in closing the affair by despatching to each gulled guest the following message:

"We regret that what was intended as a campus prank should have been given such wide publicity. We intended no disrespect to you, your office or the Republican party and sincerely apologize for any annoyance we may have caused. We appreciate your good sportsmanship."

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