Evening star., 1922-03-12

Washington newspaper correspond
ents presented to Secretary Hughes
at tho State Department yesterday a
pair Of gold desk shears. in token OF
their appreciation for his kindly as
sfstance to them in their work" since
assuming office. The gift was said
to be unique in that 1t was the first
ever given q cabinet oficer during
his incumbency by the newspaper
men who como in daily contact with
heads Of Administrations.
The gift, which was appropriately
engraved. was presented on behalf
Of the correspondents by Matthew F.
Tighe, who has been covering the
State Department for more than
forty years. In delivering the shears
Mr.. Tighe expressed the hope that
the Secretary would make the use
Of the gift that Alexander made OF
his sword "in cutting the Gordian
knots Of international diplomacy: to
which the State Department head re-
piled that he was quite sure the cor
respondents would not permit any
knot, Gordian or otherwise, to escape
his attention.
Placed in Dlmcult Position.
In his reply Secretary Hughes took
occas sion, to remind the correspondents
of the difficulty public officials ex-
perienced in maintaining the proper
contact with public opinion. 1T isn't
always easy to decide what shouid
be DONE" he said, adding 1t should
be realized that the government genins WAS was
not trying to put something over
when it was found necessary to re-
fuse information on subjects prom
inently in the public eye.
:" Nothing is more difficult he said.
"than to maintain the proper contact
on the part OF public omceI, par.
ticularly in the great departments,
with public opinion. OF course, 1T is
essential that nothing should be done
which would impair administrative
work by improper or premature dis,
closures. You, as citizens, understand
connection with the work of the State
Department. On the other hand, it
is Just as important that suspicion
should not be allowed to get under
way because of an undue reticence
and a lack of proper appreciation
of the time and opportunity Tor
disclosure to which the public is en-
titled. A public officer has always
got to remind himself. and he ought
to say every morning as he ap-
proaches his task: I am q servant
and it is my business to see what
can do for the American people.
am not a boss, and my little authori-
ty or great authority that happen
to have for a day is not @'personal
perquisite.'
Not Always Easy to Decide.
$50, of course, it is obvious to you,
with your intimate contact with the
department, that we have to main
tain this balance. 1t isn't always
easy to decide what should be done,
and there has to be mutual conf
dence between those who represent
in their contact with the department
the public opinion of the country, and
the officer who is trying to administer
the department. or else there will be
a failure on both sides. There will
be a failure of the public to under
stand and a failure of the public Of
."That means that when l tell you
that there are certain things I can't
saw. you will believe that at last
1 have a conviction that that is
so, and that am not trying to con-
ceai something which you ought to
q thing to you to guide you, SO far
as can, in your Interpretation of
the work of the department., you
know that I am not trying, in the
language of the street, to put some
thing over and get something to the
DuDllC WHICH Will Oc III SOIuc personal
interest of mine rather than making
a straightforward statement Of what
we are actually doing.
Appreciation of Relations.
ST have been very happy to think,
by reason of your generous relation
to me since 1 have been here. that
you have felt that I was trying to
deal with this work in manner
compatible with our theories of
our work as Ineligible to the public,
as thoroughly understood by the
people, as the circumstances Of the
case would permit. OF course, that
was especially difficult during the
conference. ! was in the position of
chairman nf the conference uae =