The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-02-12

"
WALTER wELLMAN, PRESIDENT OF THE
PRESS CLUB.
BILE Then we lay aside the cares Of Office,
crack Jokes at each other about our expert
ences with the Office seekers and with the
newspapers and contrive for a short time to
forget our miseries."
Two Lively Clubs.
It is a dull night In Washington that
does not show at least half a dozen big din
ners in progress. The greatest Of all dinners
az the national capital, however, are those
given by the newspaper correspondents.
The newspaper dinner has become one Of
the well recognized institutions Of Wash
ington. II is doubtful IL any other city in
the world is able 20 present its like. There
are two organizations Of newspaper men
here which give each an annual dinner, and
wonderful dinners they arc too. They cas-
fly eclipse everything else in that line known
90 the people Of this country.
The oldest Of these organizations Is the
famous Gridiron club, OF which Frank Hat
ton Of the Washington Post Is president.
IL is composed of 40 correspondents, wheth
or with an idea OF initiating the 40 immor-
tails Of the French academy or not is I'M
known. But at any rate the number Of nc
tive members Is never permitted to go over
40. and candidates are always waiting for
the vacancies Inasmuch as the objection
OF two members Of the club is sufficient TO
blackball a candidate, some Of the best
men in the ranks Of the profession, on &C
count OF having enemies in the club, have
found it impossible 20 gain admission. This
has naturally produced some irritation, and
among the younger correspondents Of the
capital there is "a disposition 10 sneer at the
Gridiron men as journalists" and as chaps
who imagine themselves a little bit better
than any one else in the world. The aver
age newspaper man of Washington, as else
where believes in and practices the most
rigid democracy, and anything that savors
OF high mightiness at once rouses his ire.
Fun That Is Furious.
The open to all and up TO date newspaper
organization of the capital is the Press
club, of which Walter Wellman Is the pres
ident. Unlike the Gridiron, il has a club
house and is n club in the full and proper
sense of the term. But nearly all the mem
bers Of the Gridiron are also members Of
the Press club, 50 such a thing as rivalry
between the two organizations is impossi-
BILE While the Gridiron has but 90 mem
bers, the Press club has nearly 200 active
members, all connected with the press the
y
spondents. Once a year each of these or
CARNATIONS gives a big annual dinner, and il
j. difficult to say which club carries the ban
ner for originality of ideas, for fun and for
good times. The Gridironers 10 in rather
more for roasting" their guests and for
burlesques upon public questions and char
acters, while the Press club has a more dig
nifled dinner usually with accessories Of
decorations and novelties that are beauti-
full or picturesque. The dinners OF both
clubs are highly enjoyable and public
nen are very glad Of a chance to attend
them.
Those Of my readers who have never at
tended one of these big dinners viii not
find it easy TO imagine what they are like.
Scat from 100 TO l25 people at a great table,
loaded with costly flowers, with potted
plants and palms all around, the walls
iridescent with electric devices. the menu
cards always something highly novel and
unique, and you get in the minds eye
a glimpse Of the scene. Then remember
that these men are the flower Of the ma
tional capital. the men who rule the nation
either through the lawmaking power or
through the press. and you will the more
surely grasp the significance Of the occa-
sion. The newspaper men are the hosts;
the members 81 the cabinet, senator's rep.
resentatives generals Of the army and adj
mirals of the navy are their guests. Even
presidents have attended these dinners.
a Fearful ordeal
The dinners Of the Gridiron club and
those of the Press club TO lesser extent
are modelled after those of the famous Clo
Yer club Of Philadelphia. The Clover club
Of which Moses Handy was the early con
trolling spirit, originated In this country
the idea Of asking men 10 dinner for the
purpose OF roasting them on the grdiror
of ridcule. To such an extreme WAS The
process carried in the Clover club that ui
length il became "a contest Of bravery Tn,
men who accepted an invitation % the Clio
Yer club banquet did so with fear aud trem
bling. and only the bravest Of the brave
were equal % the facing of a second ordeal
II finally became necessary To tone dow
the ferucity Of the "ruastcrs," for thing
had come 20 such a pass that public mel
would not in any great numbers subiec
themselves "a the fires Of ridicule and guy
ing. The Gridiron club. made mp wholly o
newspaper men. "a 10 IT, has had the saml
experience. aud "a the years go by 10 d
found more aud more difficult Co induc
public men Of the highest reputation. par
tirularly those who are ambitions Of th'
presidency or other promotions, to incar th
risks Of wounded pride at one Of thcsc ban
quitting hall orlcals
% sno light matter 90 face one of thes
A ..N4.