St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-15

readers OF his newspaper in whatever
section of the country it may be located.
The gallery proper is rarely occupied
by more than two or three reporters.
These represent the local or the New
York papers which keep a sentinel al
ways Oh guard. Let anything out of
the usual dry and droning order occur,
and one of these SentinelS on the watch
tower pokeS his head into the waiting
room and shouts: Tom Reed is up!" or
John Allen is after 'emv'
There is rush for the gallery, and,
like magic every seat is filled and every
lead pencil in use.
The comments on the various states
men in the press galleries are humorous,
Satlrlcal, witty and extraordinarily per-
sonal. The modern newspaper respects
no man-no principle-nothing. The
Washington correspondent entirely
represents the modern newspaper.
Woe be to the fellow who takes the
floor for speech while under the in flu
ence OF liquor. In two hours his weak
ness is known and commented upon
J from one end of the continent to the
other. To the drunkard, the fool or the
rascal who happens to achieve a seat in
the house the press gallery is merciless;
ana yet there is an unWTitten neWSpa-
per code that protects members from
the malice of those reporters who have
tendency to blackmail or to use NAL
| Ice. Every political criticism is regard
ed as proper and Legitimate. but the cor
| respondent who telegraphs to his home
paper any hint of the Salacious gossip
| that is forever aSSailing members here
in Washington, is very speedily in
| formed that such breaks are not per-
| misSlble, and that the offender will be
debarred his privileges if the offense is
| repeated. Hence it is that choice pieces
| OF gossip are constantly being passed
around i'll the gallery-known to every
| newspaper man therein - which are
| never told in print.
Another popularity: While these sto-
| ries are told and laughed over In pri-
vate, nobody ever thinks of saying,
| "Now, this is not for publication ~ The
! good taste and tact of each man is relied
| upon not to bring the gallery into con-
we'll enough to laugh over, but which
might damage the reputation of the
member of whom they are told. The
wicked members of both the house
and senate understand this, and are
never uneasy about the Washington
correspondents giving away to the GEN
eral public their foibles or their slips.
The house gallery is the popular place
for the journalists. The free and easy
methods of the house, the large proper
ton of young men who are elected to
that body, and the entire freedom OF
debate therein, are attractions not to be
resisted by the news caterers of the
great public. There are frequent rows
in the popular body. This suits the
pugilistic tendency of the newspaper
boys, and keeps the large majority OF
them at the house end of the capital.
The scenes sometimes enacted on the
floor of the house rival in interest and
entertainment the performances of the
concert saloon or the mimic stage, and
have the further advantage of being
free to all observers. Although the
press gallery is filed with representa-
tives of partisan newspapers, the pas.
sion provoked by the debates on the
floor never enters here. After four ses
Sions in the galleries l have never heard
a political discussion therein among the
correspondents. Like the gods, we are
elevated high above the prejudices and
passions of the little fellows who tot
and spin below.
IN THE SENATE END.
The senate press gallery also partake.
of the popularity of the distinguished
legislative body which it guides, super
vses, abuses, encourages and directs
1t is open to all daily newspaper men
and the same crowd frequents it which
occupies and utilities the house gallery
The writing room in the rear of the
senate gallery is larger, handsomer an6
better ventilated than that OF the house
In lieu of carpets the floor is hand
somelY tiled. The writing table is
smaller, their being only six blotting
pads and chairs for use. The walls are
tinted pale buff color, the ceiling 6
very light green. The walls are not
dessicated, desolated or desecratea by