Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-18

MeEIY war HAS UlOhCA OuC OCtWCCA
the White House Correspondents Asso-
citation and the Graduate School OF
Journalism of Columbia University,
under whose auspices the Pulitzer Prizes
are annually awarded for distinguished
service in newspaper work, literature and
cartooning. President Earl Goodwin OF
the w. H. c. A.. in lively exchange OF
diplomatic notes with Dean Carl w. Ack-
erman of Columbia, has assailed the cita-
ton accompanying the recent $500
award for outstanding Washington
correspondence in 1887 to Arthur
Krock of the New York Times. The
citation refers to the exclusive" and
authorized" interview Mr.. Krock had
with President Roosevelt in February,
1887. The piece produced CONSERVATION,
ci1agrin and resentment throughout the
Washington reportorial fraternity, espe-
cially the group which covers the
White House as a regular assignment.
THE Krock story made several cor
respondents look like 80 cents" wrote
Mr.. Goodwin to Mr.. Alderman, continu-
ing: employers wonder how it is they
can maintain bureaus in Washington
which cannot get exclusive interviews
with the President. The White House
rule has been against anything like an
exclusive interview-that all reporters
are treated alike; and that rule is
scrupulously observed"
Columbia's journalism dean was fur
ther informed that, as far as the White
House correspondents know. the whole
basis of the Krock scoop was Sunday
night supper conversations; that the
Times man did not obtain an O. K. on
the use of the story in the regular man
ner, and did obtain an O. K. IN chan
mel which reporters do not use. but 1t
was for background Sunday magazine
piece, which the New York Times i'm
mediately turned into news story"
The w. H. C. A. has taken no action be-
yond the exchange of letters with the
Pulitzer Prize authorities. Mr.. Krocks
colleagues recognize his eminent journal
istic talents and the brilliance of the
story in question per Sc. But. as Presl-
dent Goodwin points out, washington
newspapermen who have accepted the
White House rules wonder whether. I'M
der the circumstances, the citation OF
exclusive and authorized Is really JUS
titled" In his final epistolary shot Mr..
Goodwin observes that If the President
or the White House planted this story.
then I should say that Mr.. Roosevelt
himself should share the prize" The
controversial interview revealed F. D. r. S
heart-to-heart reasons for springing the
Supreme Court plan, and also intimated
his desire to leave the White House at
the end of his present term.
xxxx
It seems as If the immortal Dooley was
right when he said that the "Soo-Preem
Court follows the Election returns" At
any rate, when members of Congress
and other Washington observers heard
about this weeks decision UNFOLDING
the National Labor Relations Board In
the Mackay radio strike case, wonder
was universal about the extent to which
the 7-to-0 finding was Influenced by the
late New Deal victory in the Florida
senatorial primary. Politically and gen.
orally. Senator Peppers triumph has
been interpreted as the sign Of swing
of popular favor in the Presidents direc-
ton, after the buffetings his program
previously underwent in Congress and
in the country at large. It's considered
within the conceivable that Mr.. Justice
Roberts and his concurring six asso-
ciates-"the brethren" as they call them
selves-may not have been entirely I'M
affected by the apparent change in
temperature toward the Roosevelt re-
gime, at least In the grapefruit belt.
i ~
Washington's grand army Of Govern
ment workers is more than ordinarily in.
terested In the Monday holiday bill.