Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-23
1dence Of administrations. congressman,
diplomats and oficialdom generally.
The Gridirou Club.

ldence Of administrations. congressman,
diplomats and ofncialdom generally.
The Gridiron Club.
The successful evolution Of the Washing
ton Gridiron Club from the numerous press
clubs that have sprung up from time to
time. and died out through internal dissen-
Mons or bad management, has been one Of
the main causes for the higher standing Of
the corps and the better feeling existing
between public men and the correspond
ents. The most distinguished personages
In tho land, from the President down. are
glad to accept an invitation to Gridiron
dinner, where, amid wonderful array Of
beautiful flowers, they are royalty enter
tained with things good to eat and drink,
and treated to good-tempered carnival Of
song, fun and frolic, in which there IL no
trace Of vulgarity or taint Of indecency and
no offensive boisterOus horse-play.
No smutty stories or illusions are toll
Grated. and to direct attention to this re-
Qutrement the announcement is made from
the chair at the beginning of every enter
tainment that Ladies are always supposed
to be present"
No man. however brilliant or companion
able. can get admission to the club unless
ne Is OF trreproachable character.
Honesty and Sincerity in Journalism.
The value Of sincerity in Journalism IL
dwelt upon by Mr.. Pulitzer in his article,
and by Whitelaw Reid Charles Emory
Smith and Henry Watterson in thoughtful
addresses. 1t was the quality Of absolute
sincerity that gave such force to the utter
ances OF Horace Greeley and Samuel
Bowles, and that makes Henry Wattersons
scathing denunciations Of the vicious doings
OF the degenerates of the Smart Set" so
effective.
That honesty IL the best policy in news
paper making is a fact now generally ac-
oepted by publishers The newspaper
Iakes 30 common few years ago have
now been abandoned for the most part, be-
pies In the matter find that 1t does not pay
In the long run to deceive the public and
get reputation for unrenability and dis
honesty for the sake of selling a few extra
papers.
Western Journalism.
In comparing relative press growths in
different parts of the country attention is
called at once to the remarkable manner
In which the Journalism of the great middle
west has forgeti ahead. Years ago eastern
recognition of the press Of Chicago and St.
Louis was confined mainly to the papers
represented by Joseph Medill and Joe Nc
Cullagh Now each of these cities has a
number of journals known all over for
their ability and character They are fully
equal to their eastern contemporaries as
newspapers, and from their geogra phical
position and the force and independence of
their editorial utterances they undoubtedly
have greater influence over public oninion
IN all parts of the country than have the
eastern papers
Capt. Henry King, in his very interesting
auoress at the opening of this parliament,
set iortn IN striking terms the marvellous
growth Of the western press In the last
century. "A hundred years ago." he said,
there was but one newspaper In all the
Louisiana purchase, the little French Moni-
a r1l1
1000, or more than there were at that time
In the entire world"
When century hence the editor of a
great st. Louis paper shall make the open
ment Of the second centennial exposition of
the Louisiana purchase, what an imposing
array of figures he will be able to present
showing the growth in numbers. Importance
and influence of the newspapers in this
same territory!
John Hay, Journalist, Diplomatist,
Statesman.
The press Of the country will continue to
supply the nation from it's ranks with able
exploiters of great International EXPOSE
tons, great statesmen financiers railroad
magnates, generals, governors, poets, nov
elists, maya zinists and men of mark in all
lines; but it will probably be very long
time before it will be able to contribute an
other John Hay, who, already distinguished
in Journalism and literature, is now recog-
nized the world over as the most sagacious
statesman and the most astute diplomatist
living; and who by reason of his easy mas
terry Of the business of statecraft, the ex-
tent and importance of his achievements
for the honor and credit of his country, and
his accepted leadership by cabinets and
governments all round the globe in the in
itiation and PRONUNCIATION of great interna-
tional policies, is held by many to be enu-
tied to rank as the very ablest of the long
line of able men who have occupied the
position of Secretary Of State.