Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-29
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
by raul Y. COLLINS.

, best. That will eniI,lc her tn all the
/ iuxuries Of the wnnaens department in
elusive Of tho privilege Of entertaining
/ three OF her friends at luncheon.
I The dignity and splendor OF the new
! status OF the National Pres, Club cam
/ not be appreciated without slance
backward At its predecessors and al It's
own struggles upward.
/ The earliest beginning Of press or
ganizatinn in Washington was on Sep
! tcmher ia. 1867. when according 10 a
report i'll the National Republican. a
/ meeting of editors and reporters was
/ held in the Republican office FOR the
! purpose OF organizing the Washington
( Press Club local association exclu-
/ sireiv. Mir Arthur Shepherd, brother oi
Boss Shepherd of local fame. called
! tn. meeting 10 order and proposed that
John C. Proctor be made temporary
chairman later TO become president
/ OF the new club. Richard r Boisseau
I of The Evening Star was made secre-
| tary and Herbert A. Preston, father
| OF the we'll known superintendent of
/ the Senate press gallery and for score
of years head of the Washington office
! OF the New YORK Herald, was chairman
/ o. the committee To select officers.
/ This local club enjoyed active life
+. for several years,
-
In 1891 or 1879" certain local news
paper men Waller Wellmau. Frank
Morgan Frank O'Ne,ii and Charles
Hamilton the latter stiil IN harness
here and recently elected president II
/ the National Press Club ~-orga nlEed tn"
National Capital Press Club, and. with
! hardly any funds mt the start. hs0ghi
out a defunct gambling outfit for heac-
quarters. and began their organization
/. with as members,
/ This club gave notable entertain.
! ments, even SCI ambitious that Il special
/ train from New York brought famous
/ players In Washington Tor an afternoon
performance Seats and boxes WEI
/ auctioned TO citizens. some Of whom
paid as high as $i00 for box only 10
offer the same box fnr resale 10 swell the
/ treasury, The house" WaS sold for
S7Ol..SG and the club cleared over
/ s. 600,
| OWing ~ blizzard the special train
bsartnc Eeerbnhm Tree End hrs com
pany failed 10 reach New York afiet
the entertainment here IN time for the
! regular performance there. and the club
sent lo Mr., Tree check for s3nhn 10
! compensate for that DELAY, ehich che ok
he declined 10 accept SAYING tbs DELAY
=, Was an art NJ Providence and MOI ~
| the National Capital Press Club anc
! his New York house was dark because of
| the storm
| The first president Of the club was
| the late Mr q II. kauflmann, pteSi
| dent of The Evening Star Newspaper
/ Company
The club got into financial difficulties
| later and SuCcumbed,
| The ngeaent katiouat Press Club
! dates from April l. ianR, II hogan ~
! modest quarters over Tire corner OF f1t-
! lnenih and L streets
| Quote from historical sketch at
! 1914
The siAth yrnr of its lte 1.-The yea,
! ending April |. ,niA started under A
| handicap New excise legislation. etfee~
| tive ,hiy 1913, promised Ia work n
| sasiouh ruftailmeni Of revenues, Newell
! ihnless The club undertook 10 move tn
! new quarters lin the Alhee hulding'
| 'in alter the rnon,s rented and Ia ~
| them IN the manner desired, ahoih
| ath 900 Was invested 70 create a ront
/ aerdfu. about $1,000 muts wa eNiruv
/ I'd an aggregate Investment VI move
! than si1 900 SIN .hr total debt n tn
| club an July |, 1914 was only sa.fae
| and that II being paid OFT rapidly
| The National Press Club has always
been alive Ia high+elaas entertainment
| ana Ia viaitnfh hook contains the most
distinguished names at puhlir men and
| Of famous artists at The stage The vel
| efrnoe IN the excise na" Is, of reut>r
utterly menmWehenaihle ta Tive Meh"n'
| generation. Tor tiMrh and fustuMR
| change
| WIN all The evolution the innate
| mnduatY III members ot the press ntfe
slsts. ao That not aae viii confess Ia
| this day that he himself IN more than
a mere newspaper man, although he
| freely arrptds tn hls te,loW workers the
| highrr distinction 1T being "iouanal'
| ists" Whether The enhanced biesanes
Of the new building viii enahle the nen
10 arelfnMr their shYhefs remains Ia
hb discovered
| Every man whn nsaelfes ANY athei
nsetsAalnn sanpaaef The true title al hls
snraiion A msdi3ns man sasNess "