Evening star., 1934-09-09

lighted and furnished with q long
table, running through its center. At
one side of it are the telegraph OF :
fees devoted entirely to the CORE
spondents, and the electric click goes
on continually. Not many years ago
correspondent, who was an expert
telegrapher, saved himself the trouble
of running after news by sitting and
listening to the kilograms the other
correspondents sent out. He could
tell from the sound Just what the
other men were sending, and many
a good piece of news he got in this
way until the trick was discovered,
when the Offices were for the time
removed to another part of the build
ing. This correspondent then went
to the top of the building, where by
putting his wet fingers on the tele-
graph wire he could tell by the touch
what was going over it. Such dis
honest actions would today cause his
social ostracism among the CORE
spondents.
Admission to the galleries is given
to bona-fide newspaper men on a
pledge being signed stating that they
ARE not and will not become agent
for the prosecution of any claim or
other legislation pending before Con-
gresS while occupying a seat in the
gallery" and that they are not en-
ployed by the Government in any of
the departments of Washington.
Cases have been known in which cor
respondents have operated as lobby
lists and have used their papers to
carry out their scheme. But such
cases are rare. There is a man con-
nected with the gallery today-at
least his name is down in the Con-
gressional Directory-who is charged
with having had something to do with
the Credit Mobilier, and who is now
hlnted at as an agent of Jay Gould
and of John Roach, the big ship
builder.
Years ago another was given
$4,000 to influence the press. On
an investigation which was afterward
held, he said he had used it to buy
house for himself. The two cor
respondents, however, are far more
honest than the average Congress-
man, and had I a corrupt proposition
10 make, I would rather make it to
one of the members below than to
one of the journalists in the galleries
| above.
Washington's Oldest Correspondent.
Ben Perley Poore is the Oldest cor
respondent in Washington. He is now
63 years old, and he came here when
most Of the men who now write were
In short clothes. He still edits the
Congressional Record and is the clerk
OF the Senate Committee on Printing.
He boards at the Ebbitt House, and
of years has grown portly. He has
large head, bright eyes and a strong.
! pleasant blond face. He is prepar-
ing book containing his recollections
| of public men and matters for the
past half century which I can assure
you will be interesting. Maj. Poore
has done big life's work. He has
written cords of interesting matter.
He has published several books and
has sent many an article to the lead
/ ing magazines. He has had the
friendship of leading public men for
| several decades, the literati of New
England have visited him at his Sum-
mer home near Indian Hill, where
Whittier lives in East Massachusetts,; +;
Charles Sumner was a close friend
of his and he can tell you more in
tereSting stories of great men than
would fill the covers of the dictionary.
II Is wonderful how many Wash
ington correspondents have become
noted. There is hardly a leadine
newspaper man IN the country who has
not served term here. James Cor
don Bennett. who founded the New
York Herald, was earlier a CORE.
spondent, writing the first gossipy let.
tiers ever sent out from Washington
Carl SchurZ. who has just refused &
present of 100000, was once a Wash.
ington correspondent, writing letter!
for the New York Tribune. Willard
the railroad millionaire, who latel,
failed, was news gatherer here, anc
Mark Twain commenced his Eastern
career by writing letters at Washing