Evening star., 1938-11-20
Roosevelt Praises
CAPITAL Newsmen in
Press Club Speech
Allows Port of Address
On Groups Anniversary
To Be Made Public

VII SsV0P VusuVCtSOuy
To Be Made Public
Breaking a precedent, President
Roosevelt in his speech at the an
nual members dinner of the Ma
tional Press Club last night allowed
a portion of his speech to be made
ION the record" In this part he
paid tribute to newspapermen IN
general and to Washington corre-
spondents in particular.
The President spoke of newspaper
men as filled with vision and UNDER
standing, even if these are slightly
colored with cynicism.
The President mentioned the
names of a number of the old-time
Washington newspapermen some
of whom he said he remembered as
boys or as very young men. Among
these was the late Bill Price, who
was reporter for The Washington
Star. The President spoke OF Bill
Price as one of the finest of the old
timers among the Washington
writer's. He said he understood that
Mr.. Price during the Cleveland ad-
ministration was the first newspaper
man regularly assigned to go to the
White House and ask visitors what
the President had said.'
President Roosevelt expressed his
affectionate appreciation OF the CO.
operation the newspaper profession
of Washington had given him during
his six years in the White House.
Praise for butcher.
He paused at the close of his trib-
ute to express glowing appreciation
of Rodney butcher, writer for the
Scripps- Howard newspapers, who
died Friday night He spoke of Mr..
butcher as a fearless and objective
writer who depicted the news as he
saw it.
At the close of the Presidents
address, Harold Brayman, president
of the National Press Club. an
nounced that the portion of the
speech referring to newspapermen
was not off the record
Presidents addresses at annual
Press Club dinners habitually have
been off the record The first part
of President Roosevelt's speech last
night was in this category, but
then he broke the precedent to ex-
press his appreciation of 25 years
of association with Washington
newspapermen. explaining that he
had first taken up his official life
In Washington quarter Of a CEN
tury ago.
goth Anniversary Marked.
In joining with fellow members OF
the National Press Club in cele-
brating the 30th anniversary of the
clubs founding, the President heard
himself acclaimed as "a newspaper
mans President"
The tribute to Mr. Roosevelt,
which included the presentation Of
an inscribed cigarette case, cli-
NAKED an evening of entertain
ment, feasting and fun, during
which the President good-naturedly
took" a barrage of jibes and JOSH
ing in general.
Mr.. Brayman, who is correspond
ent of the Philadelphia Evening
Public Ledger, presided over the ban
quet, held in the redecorated audi
torium of the Press Club. More than
400 members and distinguished
guests attended the festivities.
President Roosevelt arrived short
iv after a Navy bugler had sound
ed mess call. He was accompanied
by Maj. Harry S. Hooker of New
York City, Prof. Samuel Morrison
of Harvard University and Secre-
taries Stephen Early and Marvin
H. Mcintyre He was escorted to
his place by President Brayman,
Club Vice President Arthur Hach-
ten of International News Service,
and Club Board Chairman Rich
ard L. Wilson of the Des Moines
Register and Tribune. The United
States Navy Band under direction
of It. Charles Benter, played Hail
to the Chief"
Cabinet Members Present.
Seated near the President were
Secretary of State Hull, Secretary
of the Treasury Morgenthau, Sec
retary of War Woodring, Secretary
Of Commerce Roper, Assistant Sec
retary of War Louis johnson and
Solicitor Gen. Robert H. jackson.
Greeting the President as he
entered the hall were 81 framed
newspaper cartoons OF himself,
drawn for the occasion by nationally
known cartoonists. Hung promi-
nently about the walls, they showed
Mr.. Roosevelt's face as artists have
depicted it to millions of news
paper readers-usually with a broad
smile wreathing the features.
An added cartoon feature was
presented by Walter Karig, talented
correspondent of the Newark Eve
ming News. who dedicated his "Karig
Kreated Kartoons' to the stamp
collecting hobby of the President.
"Our distinguished member, as
notable stamp collector" Mr.. Karlg
explained, had gladdened the
hearts of dealers and collectors
with more issues of gaudy labels
than any other administration ever
= put forth. It is true that his col
league in these ventures, Brother
Jim Farley, has not been able to
resist the impulse to put Re-
publicans out of the picture. The
glum and whiskery visages Of Re-
publican Presidents have been
knocked off all stamps in common
usage and relegated to the 81 and
IS ones.
with touching modesty, however,
the President and Postmaster Cen
eral have neglected to mark the
stirring and historical events of
this administration, and the Ma
tional Press Club has determined to
rapond1, this peclect Without re.