Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-01-14
PENPUSHERS
ARE WAKING
INDIGNANT
White House Episode StiPs
Up The Animals.
NEWSPAPER MEN DECLARE
PRESS FREEDOM THREATENED
Presidents DispIeasure at Publicity
Given Morris Incident Ex-
cites Resentment,
Correspondence Morning journal.

Correspondence Morning Journal.
Washington, d. c., Jan. l3.--For a
number of weeks there has been seri-
Gus and earnest discussion among the
corps Of Washington correspondents
Of the growing disposition of the eX-
ecutive and administrative branch of
the government to curb the facilities
of the special representatives of the
Lress and to criticise the free ex-
erCise Of the duty of comment
ing upon public affairs, the duty
with which special correspondents
are charged.
The discussion was increased when
the president issued his order forbid
ding cabinet officials to give out news
to the specials and limiting the dis
semination of information to official
statements to be furnished to the press
associations.
1t was recognized Immediately that
MS action amounted practically to the
establishment of a system whereby an
administration would have the news
presented to the public only in the
light desired by the officials.
1t is only fair to say that under
pressure of public sentiment that or
der has since been modified and the
president announced to a group Of
correspondents called to the White
House that newspaper men would be
welcome to inquire at headquarters
about official subjects of public inn
portance. But while the order was
modified it is claimed by many corre-
spondents that the spirit of its origi-
nal intent still fingers.
Discomfort Reaches Climax.
The climax of the discomfort of the
correspondents was reached last Sat
urday. when it became known that the
presidents secretary Mr.. Loeb had
expressed to the representative OF Il
paper which had published a full and
fearless account Of the Morris episode
that the manner in which the paper
in question had handled this matter
IN its news columns had been very OBJ
jectionable to the White House from
the president down.
After the correspondents had recoy-
cred from the amazement into which
they were thrown by this astounding
statement they began to reflect upon
the circumstances attending the pub
lication Of that story, and the more
hey reflected the madder they got,
For hours the press galleries at the
Capitol buZZed with animated com
ments.
1t was recalled that some newspa-
pers had contented themselves with
publishing the official version of the
incident, given out from the White
House, while others had printed the
accounts of eye witnesses and that
there was wide divergence between
the two stories. The official version
was very much more unfavorable TO
the victim of the incident ana moro
in defense of the action of the White
House employees
The correspondents who discussed
the subject took the ground that criti-
ism of a news story by the White
House officials was all the more often
Sive as an invasion of the rights of a
free press, when that news story was
u fair statement of the cause ana the
officials version was, TO say the least
aot complete In detail.
Then it was recalled that the White
House has been very sensitive about
newspaper articles and frequently dis
posed to haul up newspaper cOrre-
spondents who wrote articles which.
however correct i'm substance, were
not pleasing to the administration.
Instances were recalled where num-
ber of correspondents had been called
up ana admonished that the adminis-
tration did not like a certain story.
case was recalled where a prom
inent western correspondent had Sc
ycrely criticised the cabinet gag order
ana the president sent for another
man in the bureau and vigorously cX-
pressed his displelsure. After listen
ing to him to the conclusion.
the other man said: II did not write
that particular story. but IL / had 1
would have made Il even stronger
The correspondents have been talk
ing over the situation for weeks, as
stated and the discomfort went so far
as to bring out q suggestion which at
lone time was seriously considered for
p meeting of the corps to discuss ways
and means for possible escape from
the tightening lines that seemed TO be
drawn about them In the executive
branch. Nothing was done at the
time however.
The corps OF Washington corre-
spondents consists Of newspaper rep
resentatives whose names appear In
the congressional directory. The last
list published 154 names, represen-
tatives Of papers throughout the
United states. The corps has semi
official standing. as admission TO the
press list can only be obtained by
cards issued by the speaker of the
house and the chairman of the senate
committee on rules.
The admission is regulated by strin-
gent rules issued under the authority
( of the two houses and vigorously en-
/ forced.
The personnel of the corps IS
high. It's members usually being pick
ed and experienced writer's on their
respective papers. and the honor and
I dignity Of tho corps are jealousy
guarded by a committee elected every
/ two years by the correspondents and
acting with and under the direction
Of the speaker of the house and the
chairman of the senate committee
I an tttfaa