The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-04-23

in the organizations called Press Ouoe
to regard themselves as proper Cd
iects OF public and private charity. Tbs ie
an imposition upon the public, and TENDS 70
bring tho great mass OF self-respectine
newspaper men into contempt. we take up
this subject with regret, but the interests OF
the public and OF tho newspaper profession
seem to coll for q few plain words Just now
The begging which various out-of-town
| Press Clubs have resorted to Is modelled
| after the methods now nnd for a long time
practised shamelessly and successfully by
| the Press Club Of this town. q club that has
| made Matchmaking a fine art and reduced
| sturdy begging TO an exact science. Ihis
concern, composed In large part OF men
who AVE no connection with active and
reputable journalism whatever, or are han8-
ing on to 1t with their eyebrows, Is now en-
gnged In the master effort OF Its disreputa-
BILE career. It is playing upon the tmidlty'
the credulity. the ignorance. or the easy
good nature Of this town to get ltsett
n fine club house and to assure Its incapa-
bles q refuge In the future from the resuits
Of their own i~nprovidence. Business men.
actors. artists. are levied upon. and In each
polite request turks tho covert threat. Peo-
pie don't give up their purses to the Press
Club for It's beaur ye,r. They think That
these solicitors OF aims. ninety-nine per
cent. Of whom are absolutely without in
fiuence on any reputable publication. repre-
sent the press and have the disposition to
use it for sinister purposes IL the purse Is
not handed over when Mr.. TURPIN makes his
bow Mt the coach door. Mr.. TURP1N's manner
is pollteness itself. no doubt. but everybody
understands that he Is out on the Heath Tor
business, not pleasure.
We are aware that there is a minority
OF active members who do not encourage
these practices. that there are many non
active members who despise them. We are
aware that some members who. like the
amiable President OF the club. have become
SO devoted to its fortunes and to its specious
schemes OF charity that they IRE incapable
Of seeing what its methods are. and what
is the idea OF newspaper men which 1t Is I'M
planting In the public mind. We expect
no change In those methods. The New
York Press Club. whatever 1t was once.
has long lost the instinct OF dellcacy.
Whether it wants a carpet or a club house.
It will not pay: 1t prefers to beg. to wheedle
or bully somebody else into providing for
its wants. So it is and otherwise it can
not be-. In justice. however. to the
majority OF the newspaper men OF this
town, and for the information Of whom
1t may concern. it is right to say that
reputable newspaper men ask no favors
from the public. and least Of all the degrnd-
ing charity that Is wrung from the public.
They get fair wages. they have and
use the same opportunity that other
men use and have OF laying up
for q rainy day. They have friends
and kindred upon whom. II necessary.
will rest the duty OF providing for dis
tress that is none Of the public's concern.
and will not be exhibited to the public.
Their roast beef in time OF health. like their
cruel when they are i'll. is a matter that
concerns themselves. They have no more
claim upon the public than lawyers and
thar stevedores and bod carriers.
Sickenlng disgust is the feeling aroused in
them by the performances OF the New York
Press Club; and they will ask for charity
when Mr.. VANDERBILT and Mr.. AsTOR do.
This is the cold. calm. and net truth about
decent newspaper men. and blackmailing
m%endicancy.