The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-31
THE CRIDIRON CLUB.

John p. Miller, in Baltimore SIM.
In Washington nothing Is of greater
interest or excites more comment among
all classes Of people to-day than the fact
that there has been published in a Wash
ingtOn paper what purpOrts to be reye-
lation Of the condolences OF the GridirOn
Clubs dinner.
The Incidents recited in the publication
are OF but minor consequence in ali dis
cussion. The sensation Is not found in
anything alleged to have occurred at the
GridiTOn dinner, but in the fact that there
should be publication even purpoTting
10 be a report or description Of speeches
or exchange Of views between guests of
the Gridiron. An allegation that there ex-
lists a difference Of opinion between P:esi-
dent Roosevelt and Senator Foraker could
excite no surprise in view Of the public
acts of the one and the public criticism on
the floor of the Senate by the other Of
those acts, and while the manner Of their
meeting and the allegation that In meeting
their differences of opinion had not been
overcome by being confronted face to
face. and might have found expression.
there could be no sensation from the as
su,nption that such would be the case.
But the fact that the Gridlron Club.
after enjoying for more than twenty years
immunity from the intrusion upon the pri-
vdcy Of it's dinners, as affecting any ex-
preston by its guests. should now be be
trayed-or seem to be betrayed-into hav-
ms its guests subjected to a publicity
against which the rules of the club give
guarantee. is extremely shocking to both
official and unofficial circles in Washing
ton. where Presidents. Cabinet officers.
Supreme Court Justices, Senators, Repre-
sentatives. foreign Ambassadors, and
Ministers. and the humblest citizens have
through more than twenty years come 10
understand that az Gridiron dinner there
are but two rules, and those inviolable,
viz. that ladies are always present; re-
porters never present
csc rules have marked the character
.of the Gridiron Club. They have been OBJ
served by its members and respected by
its guests. 1t would be absurd to expect
that happenings at Gridiron club dinner
the guests of the occasion and their ac-
quaintances who could not be present. but
the club has heretofore beeu protected
against the publication Of anything except
the programme OF the clubs OWL enter
t4iument, concerning which there is 40
secrecy. by the common understanding of
newspapers throughout the country that
nothing beyond this programme was the
subject % publication, no matter from
what source the report might be derived
The ethics OF this have extended beyond
the membership Of the Gridiron Club and
beyond the guest lists Of the dinner. Some
man capable OF writing. and possibly cap
able a. eavesdrOpping. might easily hear
discussed some OF the incidents OF Grid
iron dinner. but this could be Of no conse-
quence. iuasmIch as. no matter how at
tractive a story be might write 10 would
If be submitted il ~ a reputable paper. be
recognized as piratical and violation OF
the most sacred professional confidence.
To the credit of the entire press Of the
country. the club has been safe in its re-
lance upon this professional good faith.
AS a result more directly Of this than
anything else. there has been established
iH the official life Of Washington a conf
dence not only in the integrity and good
faith az Washington correspondents. but in
this quality in the press of the entire
country In no profession and in no as
sembIage Of men can il be assumed that
there will not be some one lacking in ethi-
cal restraint or inherent honesty who
would If he could be guilty of betrayal
where IL seemed 10 Doe 20 his temporary
profit But through a recognition Of the
high integrity OF tie press in it's authorlta-
tive control IL has come 90 be understood
that the exceptional person without in
tegrity or scrupies is rendered inonensive
10y being unable 10 find market for his
stolen wares.
This has Ted not only to freedom or
speech al q Gridir0n dinner-which. how
ever entertaining and enlighteuiug is q
matter Of but temporary interest and not
wide-reaching importance-but TO a gen
eTal rule IN dealing with sources of pub
LEGATION ASSOCIATED as well as associated
with the correspondents who compose the
Gridiron Club. If imposing confidence
frankly with "a certainty that that conf
dence viii not Doe betrayed or that If by
any chance there is q betrayal the one re-
spousible for the perfidy viii suffer a loss
Of caste for which there can be no COM
pensati0n in temporary profit.
Years ago. before this confidence was
established between the press which
speaks to the people and the public men
who are commissioned TO speak for the
people. there used % be a constant war
fare between the men who wanted to
know and the officials who felt it TO be
their duty 10 conceal facts until the ar
rival Of an appropriate tine for their dis