The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-03-24
whose work Is along these lines are
not admitted 10 the press gallery.


not admitted TO the press gallery.
The press galleries. under the rules
OF congress, are under the control of
the standing committee OF correspond.
ents, subject TO the approval OF the
speaker OF the house OF representatives
and the supervision and control OF the
senate committee on rules. IL Is not
once in. decade that either house or
senate tries TO effect any change In
the system OF government OF the press
galleries which has been established
by the standing committee OF newspa-
per men.
Getting the News.
Thus far this year President
Wilson has not resumed his form.
er semiweekly conferences. or bet.
ter, perhaps, conversations with
washington newspaper correspond
ents. IL was the custom OF the cor
respondents To call on the president
on Tuesday morning and again on
Thursday afternoon TO get from him
such impressions as they could con-
corning matters or national moment
The war problem is responsible for
the fact that these meetings between
the writer's and the chief executive
have not been renewed.
In times OF diplomatic anxiety when
the task of a great nation is 10 main
tain its neutrality. IL is almost inev-
liable that questions should concern
themselves with the matters most In
the minds OF the people. Diplomacy
is a delicate subject, and II Is probable
that MIR. Wilson came to the conclu-
sion that IL was better 10 call the con-
ference of rather than 10 make II pos
sible that some misunderstanding OF
the governments position might be
made possible through an interna-
tiona' misconstruction OF what was
said.
When Mr.. Wilson first came into Of
fice he was guarded and apparently
fearful lest he be misquoted. he
gained confidence after while and
talked more freely 10 newspaper men.
giving them an insight into the work
ings OF his mind and certain init.
macy with his plans for forwarding
legislation to which his party was
pledged. lie always was careful, how
ever, not to say anything In proposal
form which. as coming from him
would. in newspaper parlance. make
the first page"
Get Tips from Tumulty.
Every morning OF the year except
Sunday ten or fifteen newspaper cor
respondents drop In to see Secretary
Tumulty at an early morning hour.
These correspondents represent after
noon newspapers. Later In the day
about an equal number OF correspond
ents call on the secretary TO get such
information as they can concerning
matters for publication in the morn
ing papers OF the next dey. The
White House information today II thus
given out.
President Wilson on one occasion
gave the afternoon newspapers big
| story. lie. not being a newspaper
man, perhaps did rot realize how val
liable from n news point OF view the
information that he was giving really
was. The correspondents, however.
did not allow him TO remain long In
ignorance and IL took the president
only moment to realize that he had
started something"
One morning at a White House con-
ference at which some thirty CORE
spondents were present things we're
drifting along rather aimlessly when
the president suddenly said that per
nicious lobby was at work I'm Wash
ington. Then he added that no had
daily evidence OF the existence OF such
lobby, and he also said In effect
that IL was useless for Interested
ones to say that evil Influences were
not being exerted 10 defeat perfect
ly proper legislation.
Virtually this was the first time that
Mr.. Wilson had given the correspond
ents a real story. II was early in his
administration When the president
had said what no did, IL was instant
ly suggested TO him that IL he would
allow himself 10 be quoted 1t would
help things much Then Mr.. Wilson
turned TO a stenographer and dictated
statement on the lobby matter and
gave II to the press
Started Big Investigation.
When the charge that a lobby had
been at work and was at work was
published, many OF the senators and
representatives made light OF the ac-
cusation and said that Mr.. Wilson
would have TO work 10. prove what he
had said. Within a few hours the
president undertook TO prove his
charge and the lobby investigation OF
comparatively recent history was on.
IL IL not too much TO say that the
old.time lobbyist, the pernicious type.
has been absent from Washington for
some time. although he keeps up his
work from a distance.
A good deal has been written from
time to time about lobbIes II has
come TO be recognized and proof has
been adduced this winter OF the fact
that the letter lobby IL more effica-
cious than a personal lobby. and ordi-