The Washington herald., 1911-01-01
TAFT AT PRESS CLUB
Drops In and Wishes Mem
bers a Happy New Year.
RECEIVES A HEARTY WELCOME
President Walks Down from White
House with His Brother, Charles
and Capt. Butt for Social Half
Hour with Newspaper Men.

William II. Taft, disciple OF iniormaiity,
walked over to the Press Club yesterday
afternoon from the White House to join
the newspaper men in their annual New
Year Eve celebration. With him came
his brother. Charles P. Taft, Nicholas
Longworth. and Capt. Archie Butt. All
joined for an intimate half hour with the
men who send the news OF Washington
out over the wires. and although the
President was not this time attred in
sweater and corduroys, as at his visit last
year. he was as informal as ever.
The Presidea, received an enthusiastic
reception, and twice during the little talk
he gave the journalists the applause was
SO great that he was forced to pause for
several moments.
Taft's Remarks.
The President said. in part:
II presume the craft of newspaper men
Is not rich. to speak moderately, but GER
tainly the benefit TO be derived by the
members of the press from such a club
as this can hardly be overstated. There
are no men more clubable than members
of the press.
II am i'm favor of clubs but I always
think that clubs are better if they have
an addition to them which permits the
wives of members to come in and run up
bills. 1t brings home to one the necessity
for a little moderation in the use of that
part of the club that is expensive, and
it Introduces into the family a belief that
life is partnership. after all.
And. therefore. l commend to you as
the members of this club the making of
plans for bringing into it those ladies who
ought to govern your lives. and l have
no doubt in most cases, If your expert
ence is mine do.
But I came here for a very informal
evening. gentlemen. I did not come
charged with the feeling that comes to a
man who is to be subjected to a roast
at the Gridiron Club. 1 did not even
make that preparation that one who has
attended such dinners is in the habit of
making: that is, of cOnfesSing himself
with respect to all his sins. and being
prepared to admit them to very kindly
company.
Those who come before the press men
for the first time are in the habit Of eitt-
er praising the press and its influence or
bowling before 1t. or of taking the oppor-
tunity to indicate how it might be i'm
proved. 1 have had SO much experience
in this matter that ! am going to take
neither course, for I have failed in both.
Il believe press men are like all other
men of intelligence and education in the
country. There are leaders: there are
men of conscience, and mep who are not
greatly burdened with it in the ppofes-
sion. The profession is like all other
law and the ministry and medicine. You
are proud Of a great many of them.
Some Of them you are not proud of.
What 1 wish to emphasize is that
there is no Characterization that you can
make of press men different from :hat
which you make of all professions in
which a great majority are gentlemen,
and there are some that you would be
glad to have left out Of this profession,
as OF others.
Now, gentlemen. l thank you sincere
ly for your welcome: I hope that the
coming year will be full Of happiness for
you all. l do not know that that wish
can come true. because happiness for
some of you will be sorrow for others.
You are engaged in competition, as
we all are. but l sincerely hope that
the next year will be full of prosperity |
and as much happiness as can come to
all Of us in this country i
Returns Home ON Foot.
Following the conclusion Of Mr. Taft's |
New Year greeting. afternoon tea was |
served. The President. with his brother. |
and Albert c. Robinson, an old-time |
newspaper man who was with the Presi- |
lent in Cuba. formed a chatty group ut |
one end Of the assembly room, while |
Nicholas Longworth. Willis Abbot, and |
Capt Butt formed one Of many others |
Mr. Taft and Mr.. Robinson talked over |
Did times on the island. and there Was
. bit Of auehter when some one aslkcd
~ RrenS6n0fsa bR0fhar n =