Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-01-09
THE NEWS GAThERER
RY Frank w. Mul0Ck

II be statesmen, iinuncers or the
great captains of industry. The
leading members of congress, Of the
presidents cabinet aud the pres
dent himself, deem it great honor
to be invited IA guest 10 one Of
the famous dinners and entertain
nlrn,s of the Gridiron Club. an or
ganlzNtlnn of newspupcrmcn aud cor
respondents in the nations capital
AT Washington. No matter how
wealthy the individual may be, il h.
/, personal non grutu 10 the club.
all Of hi, great wealth would not
secure HIM an invitation To the club
~ one of llr entertainments. The
iidirnn club l. conducted on II
strictly rush basis. No one IS al
lowed to give II tab for anything tina,
he may get there.
Great statesmen vie with each
other In get invitations and IN Op.
porlumity I" visit the club, but the
most humble reporter, if he is honest
AN become II member.
President Taft did not think it be.
nrnlh the dignity OF his high Office
10 attend IN the capacity of an
comfortable pail bearer, the funeral Of
Raymond \. Patterson, late cor
respondent in Washington for the
Chicago Tribune. Yet there are many
petty official, clerks, and under
-trappcrS IN public office who affect
Ia look down upon reporters and
newspaper correspondents.
President Woodrow Wilson deems
i an honor tu met the newspaper
correspondents. and he is particular
to instruct his secretary, Mr.. Tumul-
~. to always admit the press
boys" The !alch.string nj the
White House Is always out for the
reporters.
II is the experience of all news
galhcrr- that, ~ It rule, the greater
the man and the more important hi
position. the greater the Difference
and consideration he shows news
paper men. aud th~ i, not usually
from II selfish motive. but be.
cause big men il high places
almost invariably have II keen
perception Of the Importance
of the press moi necessarily rs u
"moldcr of public opinion" but be
cause rvrrvbody reads the news
papers 80 il is the best medium
/ through wh'rh to communicate with
and influence the public.
PRESIDENTS MESSAGES
Presidents messages, for example
although they are addressed to Con.
grrs-. are III reality, prepared fol
the press. and newspapers are pro
yid,d with copies DAYS in advuuc,
Of the transmission of such message
to thr legislative branch OF the gov
rrnmrur And it j. Il common thlnl
for the president, whoever he may br
10 rive confidential information |,
newspaper correspondents, the under
standing being that he Is not To- b,
quoted. In this manner Roosevelt
often communicated indirectly with th'
public. or prevented the press from
being miSlcd n To matters connected
with his administration.
REQUIRES ACVMEN
Every newspaper man OF expert
cnrc aud character has been toll,
many things in confidence by publ,
men. which would make goo'
"storics.' but have never appeared
in print, There are, ct course
"back sheep" IN every calling, bu
the standing Of honor AND good fart
are rs high in journalism n IN an
other profession The orcns'ona
. rasrally reporter Is no more tymco
nf nrw~gnthcrcr~ than is the shyste
IL lawyers or the Quack OF doctors
Charles \. Dana, one of the great
rsi and most scholarly OF journal
,st,. used to say there was no call
ne demanding more brains. energy
and character than that of the news
paper reporter, or one more worth
II respect and consideration. An
! lhul j. the Judgment of many abl
men who have never written for IN
press aud 50 may he regarded a
unbiased
REPORTER Is HISTORIAN
The newspaper reporter Is III
historian of the times. He write
better aud more faithful history tina
much that is found in boks, gleane
ut second hand from traditions an
mustV archieves, The reporter Is
spectator. II trained observer, as We
a. a chronciler of current event
tie secs more and with greater a
,,nlion to detail than the ordlnai
witness aud commonly remember
IN far more accuracy what he Ia
,r,u and heard, This Is the cife,