The Columbia evening Missourian., 1922-05-24

Suddenly out OF a maeistrOm OF idea
churning one against the other, out of
turbulence sensed, but unseen, new
event is shot TO the surface. A mere ac
count of the visible facts can give th'
reader but a poor notion of the news. l
must be explained if he is to have 1
proper basis for the formation of hi
own opinion. To explain as clearly a.
he can, to interpret as honestly as an al
ways imperfect mental and spiritual en-
dowment will permit, that is the worthy
the facinating. the difficult function Of
the special writer.
There is nothing more interesting in
the world than a fight, whether it be a
dog fight, great war or a peaceful fight
Of ideas. Washington, the capital Of the
nation, almost it might be said, the capi.
ftal of the world, is the greatest battle
ground of opinions. Every great legis.
lafive enactment comes out of struggle
between two schools Of thought-comes
out, it may be. poor, battered and use
compromises that went into its making.
Behind every vital decision of the Su-
preme Court-and it is an interesting
fact that most of the great decisions have
been made by fveto-four majority-is
4 story Of powerful forces struggling for
the mastery. You cannot tell the story
Of such 4 law or such a decision of the
Supreme Court by merely setting out its
terms. The real story lies in the back.
ground. and that is the story that the
Washington correspondent, as distin-
guished from the regulars in the first
line news trenches. will try TO give you.
On its practical. mechanical side, the
work of news gathering in Washington
has been highly systematized. can
touch here but one or two phases.
Twice a week, at stated hours, the ac-
credited newspaper men of the capital
gather at the White House to see the
President. Just before he was inaugu-
rated. the President. in talking with
group OF newspaper men. told Them that
however much they might differ with him
in their political views, he would win
them by courtesy to an understanding of
his position. And he has lived up to iha,
promise. His courtesy is unfailing.
We gather, fifty to one hundred men |
and women writers. in the Presidents Of |
ice in the White House, big circular |
room in the wing built by Roosevelt. The |
President is found standing behind his
iat-iop desk. We range ourselves in a
'emi-circle before the desk dozen deep.
I is the rule now that questions must be
in writing. The President
lrst gives, on his own motion, some ac.
'ount of the cabinet meeting of that day.
hen takes up the questions that his Sec
eiary has put on his desk. He reserves
he right to lay aside any question with.
ut answering it or referring to it. That
5 for his own protection-a well.iusti6ed
Measure, when one considers that even
he refusal OF man in the Presidents
'osition to discuss topic broached TO
i'm might be considered to have some
ignifcance. As the President would
limself say, his silence might be used
gainst him." 1t was that same consider.
tion that caused the President to sub.
titute the written questions method for
he oral. He makes this concession: that
'hen he indicates his willingness TO dis.
uss topic by answering a written ques-
ion, further oral questions bearing on
he same topic may be put to him.
But rarely does the President totally
ynore any legitimate query. He is a t
ewspaper man himself, knows the needs !
nd the wants of the newspapers, and /
ives the impression of doing his best to
'rve his fellow craftsmen. The trite i
djective human has often been applied ]
him. | can think of no better. He is
human. ikable man. Sometimes he di. o
resses from affairs of state or Nat Gold.
elm to read us, gently, little lecture on =
ewspaper work as he sees it. | think !;
lere is nothing he would rather talk
bout than the making of newspaper.
Nothing that the President saws NAV y
quoted as coming from him without
S express consent. That is confidence
at is never violated. The information =
at the President gives, however. NAV .
used, either on the writer's own au.
orlty or as emanating from an au.
orIfative source. 1t forms the basis. on
nesdays and Fridays, of some of the
ost important news articles from the
'fIonal capital. Even though the Pres.
ent S conference may yield no so.
He'd spot news, to be flashed ont
on the wires. it is certain 10
We the special writer a helpful back.
ound OF information as to the attitude
the President.
Washington, it is often said, is a civ
magnificent distances. During the
cent arms conference some clever
rase-making writer christened it
y OF distant magni6cences. That,
e great many phrases that tickle the
:, is more picturesque than true. The
at and the near-great of Washington
:, as a rule, are readily accessible when
has legitimate news errand. The
arer they come to greatness, greatness
mind or Of rank, the more likely is this
be true. have spoken of the approach.
llIty OF the President. Most newspapex
N WOuld agree with mo A.. III