Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-10
TO COVER THE EARTH.
A Plan TO Form an International
Club Of Newspaper Workers.
THE MEETING TO BE HELD HERE.
A Grand Revival of an Old Project to Help
the Profession.
SOME OF TIE OBJECTS As OUTLINED

Through President T. j. Keenan, the
Pittsburg Press Club has issued call to
other similar organizations in America and
Europe to meet here in convention January
q, for the purpose of organizing an inter-
national press club,
AS the Press Club banquet will be held
January 90, the delegates will be the guests
of the local club, and will attend the feast.
A series of resolutions giving the aims
and scope of the new organization have al
ready been adopted. In interviews with
local Press Club officials, yesterday, the fol-
lowing was CLEANED concerning the plan and
the resolutions:
AN OLD PLAN REVIVED.
The project OF forming a national associa-
tion ofpress clubs is not a new one. With
out advancing the claim that it originated in
Pittsburg it may be said that the desirability of
such an organization was discussed by some of
the older members of the local club more than
eight years ago. The idea of taking initiative
steps in the matter did not, of course, occur to
the then infant organization, but when the
New York Press Club, some time afterward,
sent out circular calling upon the press clubs
of the United States to send delegates to a con-
vention for the formation of a national associa-
uon the Pittsburg club promptly accented the
invitation and elected delegates. Unfortu-
nate differences between Eastern and Western
CLUBS gave an early deathblow to the move
ment, however, and the convention was never
held.
Several years later when the Pittsburg Press
Club had gained in prestige and membership,
the Secretary. Mr.. Keenan,, mad some CORE
spondence with clubs in Canad and the United
states, relative to the expediency OF an inter
national organization, including all the journal
iSfi iafin in arin md flnn
capital cities of Europe. Favorable responses
were received, and it was suggested by the Off
GERS of clubs at Toront, and elsewhere that
PittSburg take the initiative in the proposed
organization. Circumstances arose which rem
dered it inexpedient to adopt this fattering
suggestion, and the movement again lapsed for
want of pioneer. Couceiving at the time that
it would ultimately be the destiny of the Pitts
burg club to call its brother organizations to-
gether, it was resolved to present the matter 10
the club whenever it had gained that prestige
which merit and continued prosperity insured
Feeling that that period has arrived. and at the
request of the Board of Directors the following
suggestions were laid before them:
LIST OF THE SUGGESTIONS.
First-That the journalistic organizations of
the United States, Canada and the City of Mex
leo and the capital cities of Europe and South
America be invited to send delegates to the
convention to be held in Pittsburg on January
q, 1891, for the purpose OF organizing an inter-
national association of press clubs.
Second-That programme be at once pre-
pared for the entertainment of the delegates
IN the intervals of the session; the programme
to conclude with the anniversary banquet of
the club OH January 29.
Third-That the bas.- of representation in
the convention be one delegate for each organ
ization with an additional delegate for each 80
of membership.
President keenan, said: "While it would
hardly be in good taste to seek. in the call fo !.
the convention, to define with any degree of
detail the scope or character of the association
it might be well to point out few of its adj
vantages not only to- sthe organizations in
cluded. but to the indi, dual members thereof.
Cards of membership could. for instance, under
certain restrictions, be made interchangeable,
and give to the holder temporary privileges of
the association clubhouse in any city to which
personal inclination or the duties of his pro-
fession might call him. Visiting strange city
could he better obtain needed information or
establish more convenient headquarters than
at the rendezvous of his professional brethren?
Where find more cosmopolitan or infallible
address for his correspondence than "Care of
the Press Club?" If his mission be to report a
convention. or to obtain the details of great
event. his card of membership will buy him
priceless aid and courtesy. 1t will be an open
sesame TO the hearts of the men of the press as
well as to the hospitable portals of the Press
Club.
Every newspaper man in Pittsburg realizes
how much our club organization has done to
elevate his profession in the eyes of the CON-
munity. An international league of clubs,
aside from its other advantages. will place the
calling of newspaper writer upon as high a
plane the world over. As the immediate occa
sion of presenting the matter at this time,
state that within the past three months have
talked with officers and representative men,
bers of half dozen leading press clubs all of
whom heartily favor an international associa-
ton of press clubs, and declared that no better
place for its formation could be found than the
centrally located city OF Pittsburg."