The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-12-29
WILSON AND PRESS
PRESIDENT RESUMES WEEKLY
CONFERENCES WITH THE
RESPONDENTS.
THUS GIVES OUT HIS VIEWS
Chief Executive Is Careful to Avoid
the Possibility of Being Misquoted
Big Stories Sometimes Come From
These Talks.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


Observation-Disclosures Wilson has
resumed his onCe-a-Week conferences
with the newspaper men. Every Mon
day 10 or 80 Washington correspond
entS assemble at the White House to
talk things over with the president and
to publish some of the things that he
says, provided he will let them.
1t was a good while ago that Mr.. Will
son called off the meetings with the
newspaper men promising to resume
them when it was possible so to do.
The reason for the stopping of the in
terchangeS between the president and
the news gatherers was that Mr.. VIII
son felt he could not discuss foreign
affairs, and as they were uppermoSt IN
the peoples minds the conversation
naturally would drift to them and
It would be difficult to avoid reference
thereto.
1t is entirely probable now that the
newspaper men will avoid asking any
questions about foreign affairs which
are in their nature too delicate for the
president to answer. Other subjects,
however, will be discussed thoroughly
and even if the president does not wish
his views on certain matters to be
given out, his words will be q guide to
the newspaper men and will prevent
them from making possible errors Of
judgment when writing on the sup
posed attitude of the administration
toward this question or that.
Careful About Being Quoted.
When the president is willing that
his views on certain subjects snail be
put on the wires at once he so signi-
fies, but he frequently says he prefers
it shall be said that the president views
a certain matter in a certain light,
rather than to put his words in quota
ton marks.
Occasionally, however, Mr.. Wilson
agrees to be quoted and then it is al
most his invariable custom to ask the
sten0grapher who is always at his
elbow to take down what he has to
say, to make manifold copies Of it on
the typewriter and to submit a copy
to him for approval. In this way he
avoids possible misQuotation, although
1t can be said that rarely has the pres
ident Of the United States had occa-
sion to say that any of the correspond
ents have misconstrued his words or
mistaken his meaning.
Sometimes big story comes out OF
these newspaper conferences. About
three and a half years ago the presi'
dent in the middle of one Of the talks
with the newspaper men said: There
is an insidious lobby working in this
city," 1t is proper to quote what ne
said because he allowed himself to be
quoted at the time.
Instantly newspaper men said almost
In chorus, There is big story in this
Mr.. President, if you will allow us tt
quote you" He called in a stenog
rapher and made the statement con
corning lobbying methods in congress
q statement which resulted in the grea
lobby investigation in which the doing!
Of some men were shown up in rather
an unpleasant light.
These talks with the president arr
interesting affairs. The round Office
room Of MIR. Wilson when the talks ar
on looks like the setting Of an old
fashioned spelling bee. The CORE
spondents, shoulder to shoulder, ar!
lined in q semicircle about the presi
dent. who stands in what would b.
the center Of the circle If It were com
plete, and answers questions or parrie
them as he sees fit. More than occa
sionally he puts the question himself.
National Press Club FIourishes.
President Wilson, cabinet officer
and prominent men from all parts o
the world will address the NatiOna
Press club Of this city before the win
ter has waned. This national organi
cation of newspaper men, 1t Is pleas
ure to chronicle, Is in tlourishini
condition.
Once in a while q man likes to tall
shop, and if those who have to lister
may be believed, the once in Will
comes often. The Press club of thi
town is just what its name signifies
q national organization.
Years ago there was press club Il
Washington which went the way O
death before it had attained man
years of age and, it may be said with
out acrimony, before it could attai
the age Of entire discretion. 1t wa
succeeded after lapse of considerabl
time by the present National Pres
club, which has been success sine
its inception.
When it is said that the Washingto
organization is a national press clut
the proof can be adduced by a glanc
at the list of active members and g
that of the papers they represent.
is almost unnecessary to say that mos
Of the Washington correspondent
oorno from tho towns in which GRO II