The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-25
THE PRESS CLUB DINNER
MAI. w. j. RICHARDS, RETIRING
PRESIDENT, ENTERTAINs.
Newton Booth Harrington the Guest
of Hcnor-New Officers Elected
List of Those Present.

That overwhelming feeling kindred to de-
spair which is the outgrowth of the fear
of being "scooped" was thrown to the
winds for few hours last evening. when
the newspaper workers of the city gathered
at the Denison Hotel TO pay due respect
to the host, Major w. j. Richards. and in
cidentally to a most sumptuous feast
something very essential in holding the
attention of the average reporter for so
long time.
The guest of the evening was y. Booth
Harrington, the Indiana author, who has
risen so rapidly into prominence as
writer. There were but few absentees
when the host OF the evening called for
the guests to be seated. The largest crowd
that ever gathered at Press Club banquet
was present after the many course 0oo
numerous to be counted by aninexperienced
reporter) banquet was served there was
feast of oratory and speech-making, most
of the prominent guests of the evening
being called upon to tell some story regard
ing the life and work of writer or news
paper reporter. Major Richards, in making
the opening speech, referred to the growth
of the Press Club and compared the or
ganization to other clubs. He said no
other club could call forth such gather
ing each year as did the Press Club. In
introducing Mr.. Harrington, Mr.. Richards
referred to him as ''the gentleman from
Indiana who has taken his place in the
literary armament. / think we may ask
that luminary to give us a special ray"
When Mr.. Harrington arose to the floor
he was accorded a warm and hearty well
come. He told story of his newspaper
career in Lafayette in humorous manner
which kept his audience in a quiet laugh
ter all the time he was talking. He said
years ago. when he was in Lafayette he
thought he was a newspaper man. He
took special delight in writing stories of
street car conductor who was too officious
and one day while he was alone on the
car the conductor told him he was going
to kill the man who writing stories
about him. Mr. Harrington said he came
to the conclusion he needed exercise and
after that he walked instead of using the
car. but he never stopped writing the
stories.
Mr. Morris Ross spoke on Club Spirit"
He referred to the writings of Mr. Tark-
ington and paid the Hoosier author glow
ing tribute in his rapid strides in the lit
erary world. Mr.. w. p. Ffshback enter
newspaper work of early days in Indian
apolis, when editors would have to make
retractions in their papers TO prevent los
ing a subscriber who paid his subscriptions
in a load of wood or a few dozen eggs
Miss Anna Nicholas was next called upon
to give her views on the opportunities al
forded a newspaper reporter she said the
majority of young reporters are satished
in covering an assignment and not in
branching out into the field Of newspaper
work and writing facts that interest the
people. She said many well-known men of
the world have preferred to remain re-
porters instead of becoming editors.
Hector Fullor talked on the Press Gang
Miss Laura Smith was called upon imme-
diately after the shorthand reporter had
left the room and she said she would not
give her talk in full as there was no one
present to take stenographic report or 1t
She .sized up the newspaper man as she
saw him in few fitting verses with apollo
gies from herself as to the rhymes but
which met the hearty approval of the large
room full of critics. Other speeches were
made by William Fortune Mr.. Bowers, MI
Bellinger and others.
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED.
/ A nominating committee was selected
to prepare nominations for the officers of
the club for the ensuing year, which re-
suited in the following being selected and
unanimously elected: For president, Miss
Anna Nicholas; vice president. Harry
urer, r. NJ Seeds; directors, Miss Chomel,
Annis Burke. r. T. buchanan. c. A. Casad
and Henry Palmer. The club elected to
honorary membership Mr.. N. Booth Tark-
ington and Mr.. w. P. Fishback.
The following names were offered for
election to membership and they were all
admitted: Kent Cooper, w. M. Herschell,
Louis Weslyn Jones, George L. Reed, Jas.
b. Young, ID. L. West, William NJ. Phil
lips, l.. /. Lewis, Hugh Richards, Frank
Baker, Hanson Hess, A. G. Andrews, j. l..
Newmans, Mr.. and Mrs. +. w. Gregory,
Miss Isabella Oakley, III. p. Brunaugh.
Charles G. Spalding, James S. Bone, Fred
Weiner. Charles j. Dalton, Robert Fish
back and b. b. johnson.
Those present were: Major w. ]. Rich
ards, n. B. Harrington, Miss Anna Mich
olas, S. e. Morss, w. p. Fishback. Hector
Mrs. Albert Rabb, w. l.. Wilson. Laura
Ream, Morris Ross, Lot Lee, Miss Mary
Chomel, Eli Earring. Henry Palmer Harry
Brown, A. G. Andrews, Robert Fishback,
Charles ]. Dalton. Samantha w. Miller,
Williams. Annis Burke, r. t. Buchanan,
]. w. Trowbridge, G. L. Reed, L. w. Jones,
Mrs. Yeoell, w. NJ Phillips, A. O. Royse,
Hugh Richards. Mrs Gregory, Mr., Bait.
A. w. Peterson, Mr.. Yeoell, Isabella
Oakley. Ben d. Crosse, Otto Stechan, j. P.
Hornaday, r. A. Brown: H o. Thudiam,
Miss O'Malley, G.. l.. Payne, j. w. Percy,
F. Il. Baker. Fred Weimer, D. A. Jenkins,
]. B. Young. F. w. McElroy. Charles Den
mis-, B. B. Johnson, Miss Anna Mckenzie,
T. L. Shipp, Horace Lancaster. Earl Mar
tin, Miss Bessie Miller. Z. /. Lewis, Kent
Cooper. T. w Gregory Miss Grace Alex
Hiss, Adolph Schmuck. Mrs. Franz Bel
linger w. A. Royse, II. Percy Brunaugh,
Edward Davis, Miss Laura Smith, Rus
sell M. Seeds. Joseph I. Elliott. jr., Frank
Bowers, o. r. Johnson, w. d. Pratt. H. NJ
| Rriceland. James -. Bone and Arthur C.