The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-09
.N|8RE REFLECTED
MADDER THEY GOT
Washington Newspaper Core
spondents Resent Attempt to
Restrict Their Facilities.
DON'T LIKE LoEB's CURB BIT
Climax Of Discomfort Reached By
Announcement in Mrs. Nor
ris Incident.

-----------------------
For n number Of weeks there has been
serious and earnest discussion among the
corps OF Washington correspondents of the
growing disposition Of the executive and
administrative branch OF the government
to curb the facilities OF the special rep
rescntatiyes of the press and to crittcise
the free exercise OF the duty OF comment
iig upon public affairs. the duty with
which tic special correspondents are
charged.
The discussion was Increased when the
President issued his order forbldding Cab
met officials to give out news to the spe-
cals and limiting the dissemination OF in
formation to official statements to be fur
nished the press associations
1t was recognized Immediately that this
action amounted practically to the estab-
lish,ncnt OF n system whereby an admin
istration would have the news presented
10 the public only IN the light desired BY
the officials
1t is only fair to say that under pres
sure Of public sentiment that order has
since been modified and the President
announced to n group of correspondents
called to the White House that newspa ;
per men would be welcome TO inquire at
Headquarters about official subjects OF
public Importance. But while the order
WAS modified. 1t is claimed BY many cor
respondents that the spirit OF its origi-
nal intent still iingers.
The Mrs. Morris Incident.
The climax OF the discomfort OF the cor
respondents was reached last Saturday.
when II became known that the Presi-
dents secretary. Mr.. Loeb. Ind expressed
10 the representative of a paper which
had published 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 Objectionable TO the White House
from the President down.
After the correspondents had recovered
from the aina2ement into which they
were thrown By this astounding state
mcnt they began to reflect upon the cir
cumstances attending the publication of
that story, and the more they reflected
the madden they got. For hours the press
galleries at the CAPITOL buZZed with anil
mated comments.
1t was recalled that some newspa pers
had contented themselves with publish-
ing the official version OF the Incident.
given out from the White House, while
witnesses. and that there was wide di-
vergencc between these two stories. The
official version was very much more
unfayorable toSthc victim OF the incident
and morc In defense of the action OF the
White House employees.
The correspondents who discussed the
subject took the ground that criticism OF
news story by the White House officials
was all the more offensive. as an inva-
nj na ri yn fs nf q xyte
that news story was a fair statement of
the case and the official version was, TO
say the least not complete In detail.
Sensitive On Newspaper Articles
Then 1t was recalled that the White
House has been very sensitive about
newspaper articles. and frequently dis
posed to haul up newspaper correspon-
dents who wrote articles which. however
correct in substance. We're not pleasing
TO the administration. Instances We're
recalled where n number of correspon-
dents had been called up and admonished
that the administration did not like a
certain story.
One case was recalled where a promi-
nent Western correspondent had severe
Is criticised the Cabinet gag order. and
The President sent for another man in
the bureau and vigorously expressed his
displeasure. After listening to him re-
spectfnly to conclusion, the other man
said: II did not write that particular
story, but If L had would have made
ii even stronger"
The correspondents have been talking
over the situation for weeks as stated,
and the discomfort Went so far as to
bring out II suggestion which at one time
was seriously considered for u meeting
of the corps TO discuss ways and means
Tor 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 Correspondents.
The corps OF Washington correspond
ents consists of the newspaper represent
atives whose names appear in the Con-
yressonal Directory. The last list pub
Used 1874 names representative of papers
throughout the United States. The corps
has semi otficial 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 RUB
The admission II regulated by stringent
rules. issued under the authority OF the
two houses. and vigorously enforced.
The personnel OF the corps is high, its
members usually being picked and eXpe-
rienccd writer's on their respective papers,