The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-11-18
Opposition to S0niWGakly In
tGrVioWS With Wilson.
keep DOWN lMAGINATIONS.
Talks Are Heart to Heart Affairs, and
Correspondents Are Thus Prevented
From Anonymously Quoting "High-
est Authority" or "Some One Who Is
In a Position to Know"
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN

Washington, Nov. II. - [Special.] =
When rs or 100 newspaper CORE
spondents stand in a semicircle facing
the president, each of whom is privi-
legged to ask any question he pleases,
it might be assumed that Mr.. Wilson
is placed in a most embarrassing po-
sition; that he is being interviewed
by the press and might be "badgered''
into lapse of some kind. In fact the
suggestion has been made that these
semiweekly interviews should be aban-
dOned for the reason that they may
be embarrassing to the president, also
that they have not been productive in
the matter Of news.
Presidential Anesthetic.
But another theory has been devel-
oped in regard to these meetings be-
tween the president and the newspa-
per correspondents. They serve to
'cork up" the imaginative writer who
could turn out good story of what
ought to be taking place in the secret
councils Of the administration. They
are sort of Wilson anaesthetic ad-
ministered to those who would like to
write what ought to be doing.
The Wilson method gives every man
an opportunity to ask the president di-
rect about everything under the sun.
If after his questions are answered he
goes out and writes something differ
ent, or draws upon his Imagination he
will "get in wrong" and the other cor
respondents will not back him up. The
president tells the newspaper men that
he has not done so many things they
think he ought to have done, or that
he has received no information on
points that they think should have
reached him, that the presidential in
terviews serve to close the avenues of
"good stories' on "the highest author
ity," and other sources of inspiration.
Talking Too Much.
Senator Chamberlain of Oregon pre-
sented to the senate a resolution con-
demning the utterances of one of the
ambassadors. Another senator made
an inquiry as to the purport of the
communication. 'It is suggestion to
our diplomats abroad to keep their
mouths shut" replied the Oregon SEN
ator. But in the seclusion of closed
doors 1t was decided to eliminate the
remark from the Record, and so that
publication, which is supposed to tell
what takes place in congress, did not
record the remark.
Big Fight Coming.
The California men who thought
they had the Hetch-Hetchy water prof.
ect tied up securely are finding a
widespread opposition. Nothing goes
quite so much to the heart of the
American people as a crusade to pre-
vent the spoliation of something in
which the country has taken a great
interest The Yosemite Is said to be
threatened, and that has started hun
dreds of interested persons who never
saw the Yosemite, but hold it in ven
Grafton. Curiously enough, many per-
sons who have heretofore worked side
by side in referm movements are divid-
ed on this Hetch-Hetchy proposition.
By the time the legislation is actually
before the senate there will be very
formidable opposition organized.
Senator Reeds Democracy.
Speaking of his loyalty to the Demo
cratic party and his intention to abide
by any decree it may issue, Senator
Reed of Missouri told the senate that
he had never bOlted a convention nor
a caucus. He had never bolted tick
ct nor drew pencil through a name
on a Democratic ballot And, what
was more, he was going to abide by
any decision a majority of his fellow
Democrats made. 1t was because they
could count on getting Reed in line
that a caucus was called on the cur
rency bill. He had been inclined to
support many provisions which the ad-
ministration did not want.
Hay RetaIiates.
Congressman Smith of Idaho was en-
deavoring to get through a bill of I'M
portance to his state when James Hay
of Virginia objected, saying that as
Minority Leader Mann had objected to
bills coming from the Democratic side
he would do some objecting himself.
And in this way, If no other, partisan
feeling is kept alive.
A Mississippi Chesterfield.
Three sharp rings of the elevator bell
and the senate elevator conductor, pos
sessing that awe for senators in a hur-
ry, forgot that he had Senator Weeks
of Massachusetts aboard and rushed
the car to the top floor, where Senator
Vardaman stood.
SENATOR we came up to have the
pleasure of your company down." re-
marked Weeks.
Senator" replied the Mississippian
with courtly bow, ''you are as sweet
as you are handsome"
And by this exchange the elevator
conductor knew he had been forgiven