Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-26
NATIONAL PRESSCLUb
HAS 1000 MEMBERS
Great Growth Shown by Year Book,
Which Is Soon to Be Is
sued.
President Wilson on the Rol1s-An.
nual Publication Outlines Attrac-
lions Of Organizations Home.

Press Club, soon to be issued, shows
great growth and development of the
club during the last year. The mem
| bership has reached the one-thousand
| mark, and includes the President of
| the United States, three members of
his cabinet and a large number of
| others prominent in public life. Au-
| thors and newspaper writer's in all
parts of the world are included in the
| list
The year book is original in design
and Is typical of the profession which
is followed by the active members of
! the club. Instead Of the usual leather
or cloth binding. the cover of the book
is made Of the front-page matrices of
metropolitan daily newspapers pub
| lished in all parts of the country.
| Original Lines Maintained.
| The book shows that, despite the
| clubs enormous growth during the six
years of it's existence, the purpose of
its founders that it should be a press
club in the true sense has never been
lost sight of by its officers. Even
President Wilson joined the club as
| writer before his elevation to the high
| est office in the land. Secretary Bryan
and Secretary Daniels Joined as pub
fishers of newspapers, and Secretary
Lane was admitted as a former news
paper reporter There is no honorary
| membership roll and only the active
members have any voice in the club
management.
The club annual, which carries many
views of the interior of the new home,
as well as the roof garden, contains an
interesting account of the unique en-
tertainments that have been provided
from time to time. At least three
Presidents of the United States have
selected the rooms of the National
Press Club for heart-to-heart talks,
such as are seldom made by chief exec
utfves. During the last day of his
administration President Taft came to
in doing SO made what he called
confession of his shortcomings.
President Wilson visited the new club
| rooms and told of his desire to be "hu-
manized." President Roosevelt was
also a cc1ler. The statements attracted
as much attention as any speeches
made during the administrations.
Program of "Hobby Night"
THE annual hobby nights at the Press
Club are unique says the annual.
"Once a year distinguished men, each
| famed for some great speciality. are in
vited to appear before the members OF
the club. Each must ride his hobby.
The event is presided over by a mas
ter of ceremonies of national reputa-
ton" Among the participants have
non, Speaker Champ Clark. Amba ssa-
dor James Bryce, John Philip Sousa
and Clifford Pinchot-
| "A more recent but equally popular
fixed event." continues the book: rs is
planned for laughing purposes only.
| The idea is to have an absurd subject,
such as sWhiskers VS.. Badness or
| 'Bowlegs VS.. Knockknees. ably debated
| by forensic disputers of unquestioned
prowess."
| other events such as Ladies' day.
Lame Duck night" and the spelling bee
are popular. A play. The River OF
Doubt, or the Vindication of the Col
| oneI." which was presented by the
club members during the last year.
made big hit
Concerning the club quarters: the
press Club has a new home-a more
comfortable one in every way: 1t oc-
cupies the top floor and roof garden
of a modern building just across the
street from the Treasury building. and
looking down into the grounds Of the
White House. The new home Is ideal
| because of it's central location and &C
| feasibility and equipment
"aolden owl'' Guards Entrance.
Passing the golden owl. which
guards the entrance hall. the main fea-
ture of the club quarters Is reached
the big lounging room or assembly hall,
with its easy chairs, window seats. Its
picturesque fireplace and every COM
fort Four quaint gnomes sit cross
legged above the fireplace. They have
been dubbed Old Subscriber Inter
ested,' Pro Bono Publico' and 'Veritas.
Beyond the assembly hall are the din
| ing rooms. and at the side Is the
library. The secretary's office is at the
| entrance, and beyond the secretary
| Office are the cloakrooms. billiard
rooms and cardrooms. Then there is
the roof garden. where one may enjoy
his dinner in the open. with splendid
panorama of the Virginia and Mary
land hills spread before him..
The year book committee, which built
the book. was composed of Fred A
Emery, Ashmun N. Brown. Austin Gun
ningham. Frederic J. Haskin. JohI
Oliver La Gorce. Frank L. Fisher an6
William A. Van Benschoten. Assist
ance was received from James William
Bryan and George w. Harris. Mr.. Bryar
originated and executed many of the
artistic ideas which made the book
distinctive.
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