The Washington times., 1919-08-24
Nations Fastest Job of
Shorthand Was Done at
White House Conference

promptly made. If George Washing
ton. James Madison, or even Grover
Cleveland, could have returned to
the White House that day, unques-
tiOnably they would have blinked
their eyes and retired quickly to their
yonder abOdes.
Six expert stenographers were as
sembled. With them came twelve
typists. Awaiting in adjoining rooms
were approximately 100 newspaper
correspondents. Verbatim transcripts
of the conference proceedings were
sold at cost by the stenOgraphers. A
dozen or so copies were purchased
and put on the wires, sheet at a time,
by the press associations and big
newspapers who wanted immediate
service.
Sven Also Present.
In addition to these six professional
stenographers. the Presidents own
rapid-fre shorthand man, Charles
SVEN, was present to represent the
White House. Sven always reports
whatever the President says. when
ever he says il. He did the same
thing for President Taft.
The White House also called in
Alexander II. Gait, a professional re-
porter and nephew by marriage of the
President. He was on hand to help
out the newspaper men with extra
copies
Here are the names OF the six men
specifically charged with RESPONSE
bility for correctly reporting the dis
cussion and who put down in pot
hooks, curves and strange-looking
symbols each word spoken:
In charge: Griffith l. Johnson, who
does much Of the committee reporting
for the Senate.
James w. Murphy, representing the
Senate proper, as one of the official
reporters Of debates in the upper
chamber.
Percy L. Budlong, another official
reporter Of debates in the Senate.
Fred Irland, dean of the steno-
graphic corps Of the House Of Repre-
sentatives.
Henry L. Francisco. recently of New
York, now Of Washington, who han
died many big reporting jobs in the
metropolis.
r. D. Lille, official reporter for the
Customs Court and a specialist in
court and Government work.
Not n Word Lost.
With these six and SVEN and Gait
Sitting in" the random word at the
White House COnfab had 10 chance
Of escape. Doubters may look over
these newspapers and find about two
pages Of printed questions and an
swers, the same being the published
verbatim report of the East Room
conference. There were columns and
columns OF il. including the use Of the
Presidents "Sir" in addressing Sena-
tor Lodge and the opening Mr.. Presi-
dent Of the Senatorial questions.
From the moment the President
opened the conference with lis
formal statement to the time more
than three hours later when the Chief
Executive and his Senatorial guests
went to lunch, these sho"thlnd cX-
perts worked tireIessly. rapII'r ana
accurately. As each reporter finish
ed a tpn-minute take" a. the table
he quietly left the East room and a
relief man took his place This re-
lief stenoErapher. in turn. worked
ten minutes and so on down the line
through the six verabtim recorders.
No Rapid Takers Present.
Probably no man in the east room
was what shorthand reporters con-
SlltT a Tdplb l1lHFT. IL was lne III
portance Of the subjects discussed
rather than the nucncy of speech
which made this a hard reporting job.
Perhaps the average flow of language
was around $50 words per minute,
scarcely above the systematic bust
ness dictatiOn speed, whereas the
shorthand men present could have
speeded up 10 go words per minute,
and might have bumped themselves"
for even more. IT has been done.
Shorthand reporting in Washington
is developed TO the highest degree. No
city in the country claims more eX-
pert reporters. because the demand
here is constant and the compensation
is excellent. The Federal courts. Con-
greSs and its committees, the Inter
state Commerce Commission and other
departments and bureaus
before which hearings are held call
for stenOgraphic professionals, and
there is work for them all.
In the Senate chamber the debates
are long winded, bit there is not the
rapid fire oratOry and repartee that
one catches in the House. Fred
Irland and his associates in the lower
chamber are necessarily on the jump.
for the debates are often marked by
partisan flare-ups, and there is not
the dignity, genuine or false, that the
Senate affects.
Not infrequently three or four men
in the House attempt to talk at once
Quite frequently there is a running