The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-18
WHICH WILL IT BE?
The Question to Be Decided by
the Press League.
Delegates Must Declare Themselves For or
Against the Interests Of Newspaper
Workers" Chinese Journalism"

Tomorrow will mark an event Of great
Importance to the working newspaper men
of the United States. and particularly those
Of San Francisco.
The International League of Press Clubs
will then elect a President, and in the Sc
lection of that officer the league will show
whether or not it is in favor of low salaries
for editors, reporters ana other newspaper
workers-if it approves of a newspaper
policy designed to break the spirit of its
employees, destroy their self-respect and
strange their ambitiOn-in brief. the league
will stamp its Endorsement or disapproval
upon what is known in San Francisco as
"Chinese journalism"
While the visiting delegates and their in
vited guests were being wned, dined and
otherwise feted during the week just closed
and while the local newspaper seaappeared
as placid as a mill-pond, there has been, be-
meath the surface, a storm OF contention
such as can only be stirred up in an organi-
cation like the Press Club of San Francisco.
by the conflict of the selfish ambitions Of
the individual and the better judgment Of
the thinking members OF the club.
MIKES AMBITION.
Nike do Young desires to become Presi-
dent Of the International League OF Press
Clubs and to that end Is devotins all his en-
ergies. The great majority OF the local
newspaper men oppose his candldature,
and had determined to thwart him In his
ambition At the Late Watch" Of the
Press Club held on Wednesday night DE
Young appeared IN the room about midnight,
ami after circulating quietly among the en-
piOyes of his own paper caused snap
meeting to be called at 3 o'clock, at the tail
end Of the low jnkS. when almost all the
members opposing him had gone home. Tie
object Of the meeting was TO secure the IN
dOrsemenL of De Dung candidacy.
His opponents were taken unawares, but,
notwithstanding their surprise, lost none OF
their vgor One member. after telling De
Young that "there were certain chapters in
his history which he (the speaker would not
bring even before the Press Club, reviewed
his course as the enemy OF newspaper Ia
UOT both mechanical and journalistic Ha
Teclted how De Young had imported cheap
contract labor from the East; how he had
always lead the vanguard in reducing the
maximum Of remuneration for reporters, to
say nothing Of notices of the following
character which had frequently been posted
Ia the local" rooms of De Goung's paper:
CHINESE JOURNALISM.
Members OF the local stan are assessed
cents each per week for soap and towels.
Members OF Tie local stan ara assessed
cents tcI per week for coal
Members OF the local stan are asses sed 10
cents each Tor cleaning the waller closet
Similar charges were preferred by other
members tending 10 subStantlate their
claim that De Young is the "Chlnaman Of
journalism
The accused remained seated during the
whole Of the prOtracted session, evidently
with a view OF illuminating, in the final
vote, his own employees, many OF whom had
privately stated their opposition to his can
dIdacy.
Notwithstanding the fact that the plat
form upon which fOur-ffths of the dele
cation was elected was in opposition TO De
Young, vote was taken on motion to in-
struct the San Francisco delegates TO vote
for him as President Of the league. The
vote stood l6 Tor De Young s against OF
The former number all, with possibly one
exception. are or were IN his employ. The
active resident mem bership Of the Press
Club is about 10. An informal canvass
disclosed the fact that ninr-tentEs Of the
active newspaper workers IN the club were
strongly opposed 10 De Young
" And this. said delegate, 'is why to-
morrow VIII be M important day IN the his
tory of journalism. Many delegates have
advocated plans Tor the benefit If old jour
nalists and their families, and the conyen-
ton now Las a chance 10 exert its influence
IA favor OF better treatment for active news
paper men. 1t Will determine whether it is
IN favor Of lew wages, the starvation APP
prentice SchoOl-boy system, imported con-
a
ersl as typfed in De Young.
MAY BE A BOOMERANG.
" The San Francisco newspaper men will
also have an opportunity either OF congTat-
ulating themselves upon their invitation to
the league to meet here in convention if 1t
elects one Of the many available delegates
from this city or the East, or, on the other
hand, they will have long years in which to
reuent their folly in bringing into this city
journalists who, understanding the situa-
ton. act contrary to the wishes and inter-
ests of their San Francisco entertainers
1.-The rOll-call on the vote for President
III the league will be a valuable document
for fling in the archives of the local Press
Club, for it will be conclusive evidence
whether the league is in the interest OF
newspaper workers or Yiolators of their
trust ana the hospitality extended TO them.
DE Young has said that lie would resign
his membership in the local Press Club at
the conclusion of tile convention. He was
told that the club could probably stand the
shock Should he keep his promise, as it
is hoped he may, his eligibility for the
Presidency of the league will be in serious
question
81 must add one thing more," concluded
the delegate. ''As to the officers and dele
gates of the Press Club of San francisco
who prefer the role of Lazarus to that Of
keeping faith with their constituents, here
after their greeting will hardly be that of
respect.