The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-03
WILL MASONS STAND
FOR PUPPYIsM

Editor LAKE COUNTY TIMES
1 presume to think that the Masonic
fraternity of Hammond with whom
have mingled all my life will not
oountenance the display Of splenetic
puppyism in the criticism OF my con-
duct as a reporter and gentleman at
the ceremonies marking the laying of
the corner stone of the Masonic temple.
printed in the Hammond Daily News
and written, as matter of acknowl-
edgement and boast by Percy a. Parry,
the city editor of that paper My re-
spect for journalistic ethics impels me
to step out OF my job, as it were, for
the nonce to reply to Mr.. Parry's bill
Ious diatribe. l have no assurance
from you that you will print this as
[ know very we'll that the policy of
THE LAKE COUNTY TIMES is not to turn
and bite the dog that snarls, but go on
peaceably attending to its own bust
ness. making no more enemies than
come naturally with the process of
making friends.
One would naturally think when an
event passed off as tremendously and
smoothly as the banquet and the cor
ner stone laying last Wednesday, that
a reporter with the proper sense of
propriety would have overlooked what
appeared to him (and no one else) to
be the over-enthusiasm of a fellow re-
porter.
Mr.. Parry did nothing of the kind.
He took the first opportunity to make
the following statement about COM
petitor in the business of getting the
news. The vice president was much
annoyed by Roscoe E Woods, q re-
i
Impudently crowded his way to the
speakers banquet table and was maxi
Ing longhand notes Of the vice presf-
dents talk only intended for Masons.
1t was Woods who also embarrassed
the distinguished guest of honor earlier
In the day at the corner stone laying
by shouting Fairbanks at him in
order to get him to look his way so
that the reporter could get a snapshot"
Those who know the facts and do not
rely upon a distorted and garbled &C
count of the activities of the reporter
in question know that Mr. Parry has
deliberately misrepresented him and
even overstepped himself far enough
to tell an untruth.
I attended the Masonic banquet upon
the invitation of Mr. ]. G. Ibach, one
OF the high officials OF the fraternity,
for the express purpose of represent
ing the paper with which I am con-
nected.
Upon my arrival at the banquet. hall
was cordially greeted by the Masons
with whom / came in contact and was
escorted by Charles Dyer to a place
at the banquet table.
Taking it for granted that the ten
dering Of an invitation to a repre-
sentative OF the press, not a Mason, ]
presupposed the fact that / was want
ed in my professional capacity, and al
once began taking notes OF the speech
I was sent 70 get a picture. 1t was
my business TO get 1t. Before the cere-
monies began I simply called the WIGS
president to get him to look around
The vice president smiled At the rus,
and tipped his hat. Everybody IN tn.
crowd but Percy Parry laughed.
Just TO show how much annoyed VIC,
President Fairbanks was went to tn,
Office of J. G. Ibach after the banque
and found all of the grand officers an,
the vice president there. Mr.. Ibach In
troduced me to the vice president ant
the vice president got up aud shook m1
hand warmly.
When I came 10 Hammond, Parry an,
1 were friendly. The only thing tha
stands between us today is the fac
that dared enter the Hammond jour
nalistic field. I dared to go after an
get all the Chicago correspondence
could handle. This is the sum total 0
my SHINING against Parry and hene
the unprofessional attacks.
Parry has established a reputatio
for himself as a hard loser. He gee
about the streets with a sour face. II
has seen HIS former preeminence a
the only reporter in Hammond vanisl
He has become peevish about 1t. H
f. IN his journalistic second childhoo
TIe is frantic when he orders the wave
70 receds and they will not.
Parry the "old maid" of the locs
journalistic field will probably kee
pecking a. the reporters OF THE LAX
counTY TrAfEs as he has done eve
since the paper began, but with fe'
exceptions he will probably be ignore