The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-18
'tGOats" of Evening Were Wis.,
itOrs From Kaw'S Mouth.
ALBERT KING WAS A SCREAM"
Financial Editor of Journal
Kept Crowd in an UprOar.
and Movies a Feature of
Monthly Entertainment.

building last evening. MUSIC galore,
gbod -natured jabs at the policies of
the Kansas City Journal and Kansas
CITY star, moving pictures of films de-
leted by the state censors, toasts and
parodies made up a program which
continued until a late hour.
Most remarkable. probab bly,. was the
toasting ability displayed by the three
newspaper men from the Kansas City
Jburnal. Celby c. Cline. steve O'Grady
and Albert King. "reminiscences were
their forte.
Albert King. financial reporter for
the Journal, told of entering the news
paper business in Kansas City to salts
~ a curiosity more than anything else.
Befor-' entering the work he inquired
Of a brother, a newspaper man, as to
the meaning OF news. His brother
oPoted Charles Dana's version of
news.
u: you walk down the street and
dog bites a man. said Dana, there's
not much to it. But. if you should see
n man bite dogs that's a story"
Thus fortified. King sailed forth on
a first days assignment. He passed
a saloon and heard the yelp of a dog.
Entering he discovered that a drunken
man taken to the rear of the saloon by
born pups. had insisted the tails
should be cut off. grabbed the pups
and began using his teeth for shears
Madly King dashed to the office and
told his city editor the story.
One Was Enough.
"One pup would have been enough
for that story" said the editor.
Where did it happen
I'm a saloon" replied the cub.
you're beginning the booze fight
ing pretty early, my boy" warned the
editor Now go out and get some
truthful news"
No less Interesting were remin
iscences Of steve O'Grady of the old
Kansas City Times. Charlie Sessions
was "A reporter on that paper with
OGrady in those days and tales of the
wild times Of early newspaper days in
the southwest stirred the blood of the
younger generation of newspa permen
present at the banquet Charlie Ses-
sions acted as POSTMASTER. Mr.. Kline,
city editor of the paper, also gave
Most interesting talk.
-. G. Cooper of the Orpheum do
mated excellent music which kept
things lively during the dinner. c.
Otterbein Spessard. of Kansas City, a
soloist of ability, came to Topeka sole
Is to sing for the club at Mr.. Coopers
Invitation. In addition orchestra mu-
sic was furnished by the Calkins' Or
pheum orchestra of the Orpheum and
ACCORDION music by Armada. Then'
too a dozen colored youths from the
Industrial school sang several tune
ful selections.
During the moments when musical
selections were not being given, Frank
FARRELL. assisted by Marco MORROW ana
Merle Thorpe read bulletins on the
latest political issues of interest to the
Kansas City newspapers. b. P. Bar
tell the Press clubs excellent soloist
sang and led the club in singing par
odies
kansas Notes. Spoke.
Dan
ieIs. son of Tom Thompson of the
Howard Courant. and writer of kan
sas Notes for the Star. was called
upon to speak. All the Star men en-
phasized the fact that writing and not
talking was their stronghold. Young
Thomson expressed a desire that
Kansas city might some time organ
ize 8, similar Press club and entertain
Topeka newspaper men as they mad
beer: entertained.
Prior to a speech made by Frank
J. MacLennan. editor of the Topeka
state Journal. Charlie Sessions spoke
Of MIR. MacLcnnan's recent editorial in
favor of Theodore Roosevelt for pres
idena. He declared that Roosevelt
sentiment was not as strong in the
club as represented and called for a
YES and no vote in favor of Teddy.
There were two ayes" for and a
chorus of noes"
The Important Reporter.
Frank T. MacLennan of the State
Journal was introduced as one of the
speakers. saying in part: Il did not
want TO come up here to this head ia
bic. but was dragged here by the toast
master. l wanted to enjoy myself to-
night and be down among the report
els on the floor. but being here. look
ing about. l find that each of the
more than a dozen people about this
table is a reporter, so l really fee
quite at home. The reporter is the
most important man on daily news
paper When / came to the State
Journal thirty years ago, l was classeC
as editor Of the paper. l was really
a reporter. perhaps the other name
was used because edited my owl
Stuff When I speak of the impor
lance of the reporter. | mean a gooC
reporter. for good reporter needs n,
editor; his copy is all right to begin
With. The new reporter and the raw
reporter and the unframed man ar
the peopfe that cause grief to the edt
tor ana give him occupation"
The speaker then said something
about each of the gentlemen about tn
table. OF the Governor. Arthur Cap
per was a good reporter. l know that
because 7 used to report convention
side by side with him at the pres
tables. One Of the reasons he ha
made a great success Of his valua bl
properties in Topeka is because he wa
a good reporter, and II any of yol
have noticed = falling off recently il
the interest in my morning contem
porary. il must be because, as the Gov
ernor himself said a few days ago:
All so busy with affairs of state nov
that am unable to spend more tina
about one hour week with the Dali
Capital There is J. c. Mohler; he
the star reporter of the state. Moth
ing more important to Kansas tina
good crops and good crop reports
and Jake Mohler covers those hap
penings to the queens taste. Next t
Mohler at this table is Jay House. II
Is Topeka's greatest reporter, for doe
he not cover the city hall for bot