Evening star., 1923-12-08
TALKS and TALES
With and about
CAPITALS GUESTS

ty-five sears directed the destinies of
the migl ty news system which today
girdles Il e globe and virtually makes
all peoples of the earth neighbors,
one would naturally expect to be
able to disseminate much valuable in
formation. But when that man hap
pens to be Melville E. Stone, sphinx
like couns nlor and former general
manager % the Associated Press
well. it's az. entirely different propo-
sition,
Active and spry as a man twenty
years his junior, the noted A. p. ex-
ecutive. who has passed his seventy
fifth milestone. had just returned to
the Shoreham Hotel after having left
cards at the home of former Presi-
dent Woodrow Wilson, and was max
ing for the elevator when approached
for a statement.
Now, what in the world could
say of INTEREST,"" laughed the genial
official as he led the way to sofa.
you've overcome innumerable diff
culties in your time, Mr.. Stone, but
the hardest task that ever confronted
you is to say something that would
not be of interest Appreciating your
position, however. | would ask only
whether you think general conditions
in America are as good a 8 Durrortad?'
No" and the old fire Shone in the
stand me. though. At present our
country appears to be in the thrnes
of a rathe" remarkable prosperity,
but the trouble with out people is
that they are prone to eXaggerate. l
have experienced many like situa lions
in my day. and have always noticed
q. reaction soon follows. 1t is the
wise man who today fortifies him
self against the inevitable downward
trend. You know the cycle must
turn, and just how near America is
to that turning point is hard to tell
at present. Conditions may continue
good for a year or two. but there is
bound to be n slump"
After stating that he had come TO
Washington at this time to accept
an invitation to lunch a the White
House. Mr.. Stone proceeded to make
a few Inquiries himself, and seemed
much interested as to how the Prasi-
dents message was being discussed
by the public.
"Of all your experiences in news
dispatching what specific occurrence
appealed to you mOSt? was then
asked the veteran as he looked at
his watch.
A decided blush came into the
ruddy checks, his face softened and
the man who has held first hand re-
ports of the worlds most momentous
happenings during the past thirty
years beckoned the writer closer,
smiled and said:
During all my experience the in
cident that touched me most hap
pened on August %. last. my birth
day. when more. than 2.Ioo or the
different rarts of the world took
enough time from their work to send
me their felicitations," and with that
Melville +. Stone was OF Tor the
White House
Hardly had the 4. p. counselor de-
parted when he merry laughter from
a group in another part of the lobby
directed attention. and investigation
found Leroy Vernon. Washington cor
respondent of the Chicago Daily News,
entertaining a flock of Windy city
politicians, who were waiting for
their leader. George L. Brennan. to
accompany them to luncheon.
Finally the jovial democratic boss
hove in sight. and when asked the
reason for his presence in the city he
smiled his most pleasant and said,
Merely business"
Our city officials had business with
the War Department over the
strengthening of the Chicago river
added the man who holds the demo-
cratic vote of the western metropolis
in the palm of his hand, and. as
want to attend the Gridiron dinner, I
thought I'd run along"
whats all this about your holding
receptions for William Gibbs McAdoo,
Mr. Brennan" was put to the poll
tician as he started for the dining
room
"Oh, we receive any good democrat
out in our neck of the woods" was
the evasive reply. You newspaper
fellows have me doing a lot of things
that really never happen. Only
short time back the Chicago boys re-
ported me at Hot Springs in earnest
consultation with Tom Taggert and
Charlie Murphy when the truth oPthe
matter is Tom wasn't there and l only
caught a glI,npse Of Charlie when he
was leaving-but what's the odds, no
body was hurt.
Have you read the Presidents
message, Mr.. Brennan?"
"To tell you the truth, old man,
] haven't. | jumped the train late
last night and haven't seen a paper
since | left him And with that and
a quick beckon by the leader to his
comrades and the party entered the
dining room.
Included in the group were Robert
\. Sweitzer,. Martin OBrien. Thomas
and Edward N Hurley. former chair
man of the Shipping Board.
x x X ::
AS was to be expected, the Pres1-
dents message was the most DIS
cussed topic in the city and at every
turn little groups were seen in the
lobbies of different hotels weighing
it's import.
"If followed to the letter America
will experience the greatest reign OF
prosperity in her history" was the
way John F. Harris, senior partner of
Harris, Winthrop & Co. New York
bankers, expressed himself on the
matter when seen at the New Willard
Hotel
II have studied every line of it,"
continued the banker, and consider
it a masterpiece. President Coolidge
will roll up a handsome vote in New
York next Tho year sasts a. as veSs sentiment strons
for him-he is a splendid and most
efficient executive.
:. = = x
Just then Ambassador-elect Frank
Kellogg dashed up to the desk to in
quire for mail.
Haven't a minute to spare, my
boy" cried the Minnesotan when
pressed for an opinion. Yes. l have
read lit; simply marvellous, or wonder
full, If you'd rather use that descrip-
tive! No, / can't tell when l will sail!
Just ran down to attend a dinner
given by President Coolidge last
night, and am off now, but will be
back again. Goodbye. Yes, l feel
great-so long, all right Yes, think
so, OF course! Why. certainly-au
revoiri No-happy days. goooood-
byem and off scooted the diplomat.
X X X X
But he hadn't taken more than ten
steps when J. F.. Holden. vice presi-
dent of the Kansas City and Southern