Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-02-10
Generalization At Washington.


the presence Of large and intelligent
audience. A number Of speeches were
made by prominent persons. Among the
addresses was one delivered by j. Fred
Essary, Washington newspaper cores
pendent Of national reputation, which was
both eloquent and Informative. il follows
in addressing the members OF this club,
those who are before me and the 1000
more scattered from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, from the Lakes to the Medlterra-
nean.' as Fourth Of July orator once put
Tin addressing you feel in a broad
sense am addressing the American press
as whole. We are uniquely privileged
to represent the journalism of the Nation
and il is our obligation to represent II
worthily.
Il might remind you that because WASH
ing has now become the great nerve CEN
ter VI America, It likewise has become
the great news center Of America. perhaps
the greatest news center In all the world.
Practically every interest in our national
life responds in degree to the activities
and vibrations Of some agency Of the Fed
eral Government. This has inevitably fol-
lowed that Capitalization Of power In the
Capital which received its first strong i'm
pulse In the Civil War period
There is scarcely basic industry in
the land that does not consciously or UNI
consciously listen to its masters voice in
Washington. The great banking and credit
system, for example. looks to the Federal
Reserve Board for its inspiration. Wall
Street, sometimes regarded at sort Of
supergovernment. is reacting more and more
to Federal orders. DEGREES or mere gestures.
The railroads bend to the will of the Inter
state Commerce Commission the mercan-
tile marine to that Of the Shipping Board,
Agriculture seeks its panaceas at the
hands Of Congress. Organized labor lives
side by side with that body. Education
is yielding to Federal supervision. as is
highway construction. water-power devel-
opment, scientific research, foreign trade.
commercial practices and a score OF other
interests, great or small.
There was time when the Federal
Government concerned itself primarily with
the national defense. delivery Of the mails.
maintenance of navigable rivers and har-
bors. enforcement Of Federal statutes.
guarding Of the Indians. currency. pay
ment of pensions, control Of public lands
nd N fat n.,a ehos al
has passed indeed. 1t is almost forgotten.
las result Of a sweeping Capitalization
Of political. social and economic affairs in
the National Capital. hundreds Of Ameri-
can newspapers and trade journals find it
important to maintain bureaus in Wash
ington to supplement the activities Of the
great news agencies and to reinforce the
local press. all Of US serving as the unoffi-
cial ambassadors Of the American people at
the seat Of government-the eyes and ears
OF mighty constituency.
by degrees the dream OF Washington
and L Enfant Of the most splendid capital
in the world, here in the Valley Of the Po-
tomac, is becoming reality. Vast struct-
ures of granite and marble now house the
divisions Of the Federal Government.
and others more vast and more beautiful
are to come. Monuments. memorials. cathe-
!drals. shrines. universities, galleries Of art
and homes Of science add their charm TO
the city's landscape.
Should Gen. Washington emerge from
the silent past for one more sit TO this
city, and II, from the pinnacle Of that ma
jestic shaft which bears his immortal name,
his eyes should survey the far reaches of
the National Capital. he would glory in the
panorama before him.
There could be no regret in his heart
that the City Of Washington had failed to
become the great commercial mart which
he foresaw that no fleet Of merchantmen
ride at anchor in its harbor and that no
pail Of smoke from thousand factories
obscures its sunshine. Instead. he would
probably lift his head in grateful prayer
10 Providence for the beauty and splendor
Of the city founded forever TO commence
TdtC MS SctVlCcS 10 Ills COu0tTy.
1T has seemed to us fitting that the
press Of the Nation should rear and occupy
its own monumental structure in this set
ting not merely as an ornament. but both
an ornament and great utility, designed
to shelter under one roof the Fleet street
Of America.
Gentlemen. il is here. finished product.
the property and the permanent home of
the National Press Club. We are here TO-
night to dedicate 1t TO the highest ideal OF
of the journalism we practice. We dedi-
cate it to faithful public service"
The building has frontage of 27O feet
on F street and $50 feet on Fourteenth
street, and occupies nearly whole acre.
The cornerstone was laid in the spring of
1926. and this great structure Of compost
ton limestone. steel and concrete, as near
fireproof, as possible, rising IA stories. was
completed late last year. It has a large
moving picture theater and there are stores
and Offices around the auditorium and the
stage.
In the rest Of the property there are
located 1000 individual Office units. Al
ready more than 400 newspapers are rep
resented in this building. although some
of the correspondents are connected with
more than one publication. The National
Press Club occupies the larger part Of the
thirteenth and all Of the fourteenth floors.
giving 1t floor space Of $4,000 square
feet. The club has large auditorium with
q seating capacity Of close to 1000. spa
cious dining rooms, and q library capable
Of holding 5000 books. The other facili.
ties are such as are characteristic OF a
first class club
Ii is hoped by the MANAGEMENT that this
property, valued at about $i0.000.OO0,