The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
Collecting Official News
Changes from the Old Days in Methods of News-
paper Publicity Correspondents Machinery

20 I1e west or Il. Tor the use during Lls
business day for the President. his seore-
taries, telegraphers, and messengers. JEFF
ferson, It seems, had planned for this
purpose, and, It IS supposed, built OF
the White House grounds a box-Hke
structure much Ike those compact little
Offices Of the country lawyers, which are
stiIl seen, says Robert Lincoln O'Brien IN
the Youths Companion.
This modern counterpart Of Jefferson S
Office contains a room which he never
thought Of. and that is the one designed
for newspaper representatives. It IS
equipped with telephone booths, typewrit-
ing machines, desks and other working
appliances. It's window commands the ap-
pr5aches for persons who come by ali
kinds Of conveyanees. It is not expected
that the newspaper men VIII stay much
Of their time in this room II rather FUR
nishes a snug harbor from which they
sally forth 10 harpoon with inquiries the
visiting statesman as he attempts 10
glide from call on the President out
3nto the open sea. CT the Cabinet officer
on his way 10 an informal conference
with his chief
Even fifteen years ago. when / went
70 Washington. there would have been no
need Of such a press-room. In that time
methods Of reporting the White House
have entirely changed It was then a
port of call on a daily round IL IS now
q fortress TO be manned constantly, at
least during the waking hours. Then. the
correspondents Of important newspapers.
-
ed into the White House once a day, Us
uslly 10 talk with the private secretary,
and occasionally with the President him
self. on any topic Of peculiar interest TO
their particular papers. Representatives
OF the press associations which supply
uniform news service 10 great many
papers, and whose work IS thus some
what different from that OF the CORE
spondents OF individual papers. called
oftener-perhsps morning and afternoon
but il was with all Of them a call Now,
because Of the more generous scale in
which news is measured, and doubtless in
part by reason OF the increased import
ance which attaches 10 the White House
as a dispOser Of human affairs, number
OF newspaper men have no other OcCUpa-
ton In life. no other assignment, than 10
camp there. watching the tide Of Presi-
and out Of its portals
Prey for All Reporters.
There is no secret passsgeway by which
visitors may enter and depart. Every
body who approaches this Office building
is subject TO questioning from one OF
more Of the colony Of reporters. From
the press room they see a man coming
discuss who he is. and wat he is prob
ably coming for By the time he crosses
the threshold ne is greeted by the one
or two newspaper men who know him
best. speaking for the group. and they
exhibit such a familiarity with his busi-
ness that he usually completes the story
10 set right any little inaccuracies that
may have erept into the cOnjectUraI YER
sion Of the press room
Formerly Cabinet officers going away
from the Tuesday and Friday meetings
had 10 run the gantlet OF an extra num-
Der OF newspaper men VINO had gathered
for that purpose. The member who
came out first gave little Information.
with which IS & fulcrun. they pried TIE
succeeding members TO better advantage.
and finally accumulated a fairly COM
piete story. But a stop has been put 10
this Secretary Loeb now gives cut an
a. the Cabinet meeting. so far as the
administration sees fit 10 make one. and
members Of the Cabinet are supposed TO
refuse to converse concerning its deliber-
atiOns- I believe there IS also a White
House rule against newspaper mems !
questioning them on this subject
What are the relations Of the Presi- !
dent 10 this colony Of BOsweIls who keep
his diary for him. He knows that they /
are there. as q necessary evil or a bless /
ing inseparable from the high Office. ac-
cording 10 the point OF view. and he /
doubtless has spells OF feeling each I
way. At all events, he does what he can
70 facilitate their work.
The names of all persons who dine or 4
take luncheon al the White House are 4
copied by one Of the secretaries on type
written fiimsies. which are left with /
the chief doorkeeper to be given 10 any 4
responsible reporter who may call for 4
one. At the White House receptions.
great and small. the entire list of in
vited guests is furnished to the press
This saves the society reporter the task
OF spying around. and also relieves her /
or him Of an occasional call from a self
conscious individual who is afraid his 4
presence may have been overlooked
Send in Formal Statements.
The White House secretaries are con-
stantly sending into the press room for
nal statements on public policy, rarely.
II ever. purporsing TO come from the
President but couched in such language
that the telegraph editors at their desks
in the home Offices throughout the land
promptly recognize, as the message
comes in over the wires. that It infor-
nation from the White House. on the au-
therity Of its chief. The purpose OF the
United States 70 take Porto Rico was
thus made known to the world IN the
closing days Of the Spanish war
Lists OF persons nominated for Office.
and OF promotions In the army and navy
are regularly given out through the press
room, and often posted there for the con-
venience Of al comers. But these are
largely routine things In addition. SO far
as his tt-ae win permit. President Rocse-
Welt has been - the habit OF seeing the
more influential newspaper correspond
ents when they call, and besides. ne has
often summoned a group Of perhaps
twenty-five 10 explain to them some pol
Icy on which he was about 70 enter. sub
Tnitting on such occasion 10 any queS-
tons which they saw fit 10 ask Presi-
dent Taft viii probably continue these I
pleasant arrangements. President Roose-
Felts relations with the newspaper men
have been closer than were those Of most r
or his predecessors President AFcKiu- +,
ley had an especial fondness for the older
men whom he hsd known when 2 nann- +
Der OF the House President Cleveland /,
saw great many newspaper men during !
his first administration, but in his second I
found his time too much occupied 70 per- +
MT OF Its employment 10 any great ex- :
tent II this way President Harrison s
tells. in his story Of Our Country" that !
be thought a day al the White House ( ;
not complete unless he had converse with
II least one newspaper man. ?
But Il Is the White House callers who / =