Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-08
MANY men OF LETTERS
Dinner of the Periodical Pub
fishers Association.
PRESIDENT SPEAK s
A GREAT OVATION GIVEN HIM ON
HIS ENTRANCE.
Addresses Also by Foreign Ambassa-
doris and Men Famous in the
Literary World.

new page and another title was aooeo
to the history of the national capltals
events when statesmen who are men OF let
ters men of letters who are statesmen ana
plain statesmen and writers touched elbows
and clinked glasses about the thlrty-one
tables set in the banquet hall OF the Ne"
Willard Hotel last night for the first annual
dinner of the Periodical Publishers Assocl-
alton of America. To the man of letters
the writer, the occasion was remarkable IN
that it brought him into contact with SO
many of his confreres from every section OF
the country; to the statesman the event was
out of the ordinary because it brought MIN
into contact with the men who have much
to do with the formation Of public opinion
and the fostering and cultivation Of the ele-
ments of good citizenship The men in the
assemblage last night represented a con-
stituency of more millions than the popula-
ton of the United States will show IL was
not a conglomerate mass OF all classes. nc
Periodical Publishers Association is Wnat
it's name implies, purely and simply. IN .i ne
specializatio of the professions and WORK OF
men in the world that has resulted from the
progress in all 1ields Of endeavor organlza-
lions of specialists have sprung up. 1hese
organizations have, to great degree, peen
exclusively for the members or the speeiai'S
emphasized in the name.
Object and Origin.
A broader meaning may be attached TO
the name of the association OF perloolcai
publishers although the organization is con-
fined exclusively to those who work LOT the
success of the periodicals. In the news
paper publishers associations it is the man
who directs the business end of the press
who Is eligible to membership, but with the
association of the makers of the magazines
the business circulation and editorial forces
unite in one great organization ana tnis 10
what is comprised in the Per1oolcal Iup-
Jishers Associa ton of America. 1t has ap-
solutely no connection with any other FORM
of publication than the magazines, the
monthly and weekly papers. It's roster OF
members contains distinguished names II
was organized about two years ago for the
purpose of promoting fraternal relations
among the great representatives OF the
business throughout the country. 1t STAMPS
for all that is good in the periodical puDn-
cations and it's object in part. Is to eiim1-
nate all that is bad. If at any time the In
terests of the publishers of the magazines
are concerned in any legislation or In any
public question. this association Is empoW-
cred to voice the sentiments of the entire
membership, for the good OF ALL Its desire
is to be recognized as the representative
body of the magazine makers. 1t does not
push itself forward and with blatant voice
proclaim it's Importance to the world at
large nor does it make insolent or unreason-
able demands on the government or on
Congress for legislation Or favor. 1t SIMPLY
introduces itself for what 1t is and then
stands by, quiet and unnssuming, until 1t
can be of service. when it comes forward
and gives it's views and again retires to its
state of tranquility.
In order that the introduction of the or
ganization to the governing powers, and
that it might take station in the world OF
organization as guild of national charac-
ter, it came here to this city, the national
capital, on special train from New York
yesterday afternoon, for the express pur-
pose of entertaining and being entertained
by the government of the United States,
as represented by it's foremost men. The
executive, legislative and judicial depart
ments were represented by their heads
the President of the United States. his Sec
rotary of State. senators and represent
tatives and members of the United
States Supreme Court. In addition to the
officials of this government, there were
present three members of the diplomatic
corps the ambassadors of Russia, France
and Germany. All these embodied the
statecraft which assembled at the bidding
of the writer's. OF the writers themselves
there were so many that enumeration
would be almost impossible. Suffice it to
say that the publishers brought with them
their best editors, authors and artists. the
three classes of workers who manufacture
what the French ambassador was pleased
to call the pure mental food served the
WORLDWIDE constituency of the magazines
The Dinner.
The diners assembled in the large ball
room at the New Willard at $50 o'clock
and an hour was spent in exchanging fra
ternal greetings The doors Of the banquet
hall were opened at about 7:30 o'clock and
the guests were seated in short order The
arrangement Of the banquet hall was most
unique. There were thirty-one tables in all,
each bearing its share of the great mass of
flowers that formed the only element of
the scheme Of decoration. One Of the ia
bles was very long and extended along the
west side of the hall. The other tables
were arranged to seat eight and were
placed in five rows of six each across the
hall. At each table there was seated at
least one member of the association, who
acted as host and who supplemented the eff
forts of the walters to that every per-
son had everything the larder and cellars of
the hotel could afford. The souvenirs of
the dinner were miniature magazines which
contained the menu, the list Of guests,
called the billie of Company" and the
names of the members of the association.
A number of blank leaves were left in the
back of the book for autographs. These
blank leaves were quickly put to the uses
for which they were intended and number
of valuable collections of autographs were
secured.
When the last course had been served
and the diners had lighted their cigars Mr..
William B. Rowland, editor Of The outlook,
who is president of the association, called
the assemblage to order and introduced DR..
Hamilton Wright Mabie, associate editor
of The Outlook. as the POSTMASTER OF the
evening. DR.. Mabie made a short address
in which he spoke of the history Of maya
zines and of their extending fields of USE
fulneSS.
The Presidents Address.
While he was speaking President Roose-
welt entered the hall. 1t is probable that
the President has never been given such an
ovation indoors in Washington, as that
given him last night by the eminent men
assembled about those tables. The hand
clapping continued fully five minutes and
at it's conclusion digniied author In the
far end of the hall cried enthusiastically,
Three cheers for President Roosevelt" and
they were given with a will, and distinct
form of tiger" known. probably, only to
the members of the association. The Presi-
dent was Immediately introduced. He spoke
as follows:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: 1t is always
a pleasure to a man in public life to meet
the real governing classes. l wish to bid
you welcome to Washington and to say but
a word of greeting. and that word shall
take the form of a warning and hope. /
did not speak In jest when alluded to you
as representatives of the governing classes.
l think that we of the United States cannot
keep too fresh In our minds the fact that
the men responsible for the government are
-