Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-03-28
whose work is along these lines are

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. 1t 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. 1t was the custom of the Ger
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 of 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 to main
tain its neutrality, it is almost inev-
liable that questions should concern
themselves with the matters most in
the minds of the people. Diplomacy
is delicate subject, and it is probable
that Mr.. Wilson came to the conclu-
sion that it was better to call the con-
ference off rather than to make it pos
s.ble 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
flee he was guarded and apparently
fearful lest he be misquoted. He
gained confidence after a while and
talked more freely to newspaper men,
giving them an insight into the work
ings of his mind and a certain init
macy with his plans for forwarding
legislation to which his party was
pledged. He 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 Tumuity.
Every morning of the year except
Sunday ten or fifteen newspaper cor
respondents drop in to see Secretary
Tumu,ty 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 dGy. The
White House information today is thus
gwen out.
President Wilson on one occasion
gave the afternoon newspapers big
story. He not being a newspaper
man, perhaps did rot realize how val
liable from 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 - took the president
only a moment to realize that he hao
started something"
One morning at a White House cIr4
ference at which some thirty corTe-
spondents were present things were
drifting along rather aimlesSly when
the president suddenly said that per
nicious lobby was at work in Wash
ington. Then he added that he had
daily evidence of the existence of such
a lobby. and he also said in effect
that it was useless for interested
ones to say that evil influences were
not being exerted to defeat perfect
ly proper legislation.
Virtually this was tire first time that
Mr.. Wilson had given the correspond
ents real story. 1t was early in his
administration. When the president
had said what he did, it was instant
ly suggested to him that if he would
allow himself to be quoted it would
help things much. Then Mr. Wilson
turned to a stenographer and dictated
statement on the lobby matter and
gave it 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 TO prove what b.
had said Within few hours tk;