Evening star., 1915-04-04
Greetings of National Press Club to
"Sister Association" of the
Golden Gate.

Washington gathered ut Iightfall
with ears glued to nearly a score oI
telephone receivers. and eagerly lis
tened. The words were heard just al
plainly as though in communication
with house around the corner.
Secretary William j. Bryan had just
pressed button. formally opening the
doors of the new building of the Sar
Francisco Club and unfurling q flag
that now floats over it. He had also
delivered himself by phone Of speecl
to the most remote audience lie has
ever addressed. and had talked back
and forth with officials Of the Sar
Francisco Press Club. Frank B. Lord
president of the National Press club
had taken up the receiver to send his
message of good will when MIR. De
Billie broke the current of the formali-
ties to tell what he thought of what
was doing.
Newton Sends Word Picture.
Then Acting Secretary Byron r
Newton of the Treasury Department
sent over the telephone wire a word
picture of the snowed-under condition
OF Washington, receiving a reply from
Peter B. Kyne. president of the San
Francisco Press Club, who said he had
never seen a snow ball. and gave an
account of cloudless blue skies, balmy
temperature. an ideal California day
on the other side of the continent,
5000 miles away.
Theodore Tiller next gave a word of
greeting for the board of governors
of the National Press Club. After that
many members of the National Press
Club exchanged brief words across the
miles and miles of wire
And. unique in the annals of the
hello" machine and of the science of
pot hooks well. for the first time
on record stenographic notes were
% H of
tered 1900 miles away Samuel II
Gray. official stenographer of the
House of Representatives. took every
word that was said in the course of
an hours conversation without miss
ing a trick. He even got in the
laughter" But IT was plain talk, and
no one had difficulty in hearing what
ever was said.
Formal Opening Ceremonies.
The San Francisco Press Clubs new
building on the fair grounds was for
mally opened at 3 o'clock. in the
height and glory of a California after
noon. Six o'clock. corresponding
Washington time. the members of the
National Press Club gathered in the
clubrooms, at the close of gloomy
day. snow-clad roofs showing to the
eye from every window. There had
been installed for the ceremony sew
. (
phone receivers.
At the hour designated the doors of
the National Press Club were closed,
so that there would be no interruption
to the ceremony and 10 shut out noise
calculated to disturb the efficiency of
the communication. Secretary Bryan
took his seat at the telegraph key, and.
when the time came, pressed the but
ton that unfurled the flag over the new
building and opened the doors of the
oil, hh fai Il
fully ten minutes before the exchange
of communications began.
Mr.. De Billie of the San Francisco
Press Club was announced as at the
other end of the wire. Secretary Brya n
exchanged words of mutual introduc-
tion with Mr.. De Billie, and then delfv-
cred himself of his formal telephone
address. He said
Secretary Bryan's Greeting.
The National Press Club Of Wash
ington. whose members keep guard
over the doings at the federal capital
send greetings and good will to its
sister association. whose members do
sentinel duty at the Golden Gate We
congratulate you upon the enterprise
you have shown in establishing head
quarters at this epoch-making exposf-
tion, which celebrates the marriage Of
the oceans: and we envy YOU the on
portunlty you Will nave to see for
yourselves and describe for the bene-
n OF others the innumerable objects of
interest which the magic workers of
the wonderland beyond the Sierras
have collected for the admiration and
instruction Of the muItitudes who will
this summer answer TO the call of the
west
Having spoken for tho Nation nj
Press Club. OF which 7 have the dis
tHction to be a member. allow me 70
add for myself that I appreciate most
highly the honor which YOU have he :
perform the delightful task or pressin !,
the button that opens sour building 10
the public
Stenographic Report.
furthcr communication between
Washington and San Francisco cannot
be better told than in transcript Of
the stenographic report Of Mr. Gray.
Mr.. Bryan-"Now. having said the
formal things. let me tell you / am
mighty glad TO talk TO YOU"
Mr.. De Billie THANK you very much
] want to say that when you pressed
that button you, for the first time. un-
rurled flag, out here. across a wire
Everything went OF very beautifully
Mr., Bryan-"It IL remarkable that on,
voices can travel and be heard so dis.
tinctly AT such a distance"
Mr.. De Bille introduced Peter Il
kyue. president, san Francisco Pres.
club
Mr.. Kyne-"Nr Secretary"
Mr. Bryan-"Mr kyne. accept my per.
sonal compliments and greetings
Mr. kyne-"Thank YOU. sir, and ac.
cept. Mr.. Secretary, the thanks of Tho
Press club for your courtesy TO US thi:
afternoon. We have wished that yol
could be with us this beautiful day"
Mr.. Bryan-"I am glad the weather
has been so favorable there 1t ha.
been anything but favorable here. Per
NIT me to say, Mr.. kyne. that ! an
glad TO have my name connected will
yours on so important an OCCASION"
Mr.. kyne-"Thank you, Mr.. Secretary
j want to introduce to you now, NJ II
De Young of the San Francisco Chron
icie"
Mr. De Young-"How are you, Mr.
Bryan"
Mr. Bryan-'Mr. De Young"
Mr.. De Young-.1 am glad to hea,
your sweet voice again"
His Most Remote" Audience.
Mr.. Bryan-'-Thank you. This is tn.
most remote audience to which I hav
had the pleasure Of talking. Uaugh
ter.) hope that. as my voice travel
through Nebraska, can make II hear,
to some Of my friends there"
Mr.. De Young'1 can hear every
word that you say"
Mr.. Bryan-"Tour voice is as dstinc
~ II you were talking from an ad
Der here who are going to enjoy tn