NPC shrdlu - Chapter V - Growing Pains

THROUGHOUT ITS EXISTENCE, the Club as a club, even as its members as men, have been burdened with the problem of women. Doubtless psychologists have written at large on why women desire above all things to enter the sancta of men, especially their spouses. Almost every Club administration has had to light a rear-guard action against feminine invasion. It seemed for a while that the one Ladies' Day a year would suffice. That was a fond delusion. Not long after the Club occupied its Albee Building quarters, the Board permitted the wives and feminine guests of members to enter the Club on Sunday afternoons once a month.

This was, indeed, a foot in the door, strong and firm, if dainty. It seemed but a short while before there was a fresh storming of the walls. In the days when nearly everyone had at least one maid and often a cook and a maid, Thursday was the traditional cook's day off. On the pitiful plea that wives would be sorely burdened if they could not dine out on Thursdays, the Board let down the barriers and women could come to dinner on the second Thursday of each month. Older members, bachelor members, or those of sterner stuff then the majority, absented themselves from the Club on Thursday evenings.

Then the wives of members resorted to an extremely underhand trick. Out of their own purses, they amassed a fund and with it purchased a handsome grandfather clock which they presented to the Club. The clock bears a brass plate with the inscription:

PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
BY THE LADIES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CLUB
AS AN EVIDENCE OF THEIR APPRECIATION OF
THE MANY COURTESIES EXTENDED TO THEM

This was the most obvious trickery and resulted in ladies increasingly being invited to special nights' entertainments in the Club, such as hearing election returns. Of course, they had often attended the big parties held at the Willard or elsewhere.

It must not be thought that on the special Thursdays the ladies were merely tolerated. The occasions were enviable. On the first such evening held in 1911, an especially notable guest of honor was present. She was the great actress Sarah Bernhardt. I n 1912, there were among the Club guests Louise Homer off the Metropolitan Opera and Mabel T. Boardman of the Red Cross. Later years saw other distinguished guests, this protocol continuing until the next beachhead was taken by the woman and they achieved a dining room of their own in the new Club quarters in 1927.

One reason, perhaps, for the success of these occasions was the aftermath of a feud between the misogynist or less hen-pecked members of the Board and the champions of a wider measure of Club hospitality. Fred Emery of the Associated Press and John Smallwood of the Star were the leaders of the party eager to permit the camel to put its head under the tent, and, after a bitter struggle, prevailed. When they had achieved victory, the Board in sardonic revenge, appointed Mr. Emery, a confirmed bachelor, chairman of a special Ladies' Day Committee. He was under more than normal compulsion to make the events successful. His personal charm and wide acquaintance insured a series of affairs that perhaps no other club could have produced. Mr. Emery now is on the staff of the U.S. News and World Report, nearly half a century after those early triumphs, continuing a long and fruitful career. It was Mr. Emery who in 1898 roused Secretary of the Navy Long al an early morning hour to give him the flash on the sinking of the battleship Maine!

Shortly after the Club had moved to the Albee Building a roof garden was established. This was in an era long before air conditioning and, in Washington summers, as many people as possible resorted to rooftops to enjoy the sunsets and such cooling breezes as might blow. From the roof garden the ladies could not well be excluded. The view over the White House grounds and on across the Potomac to the Virginia hills was magnificent. It was true that when the wind was from certain directions it blew the smoke of the building and others adjoining across the tables and one might drink Scotch-and-cinders while the dainty white summer dresses of the women took on the hue of Quaker grey! But it was the best we could do.

On Ladies' Days members wore morning coats or cutaways and, indeed, on all occasions in their daily work members dressed with more care than today. There was a house rule against appearing without coat or collar, save in the card or billiard rooms and any slovenly attire was sternly frowned on and, if need be, rebuked. The waning of these customs in the Club has, perhaps, but followed the general decline in American manners.

Today, the wives and feminine guests of Club members may lunch in the East Lounge, and dine in the Main Dining Room after 6 P.M. Only the Members' Bar and the Card Room are still preserved as wholly-male sanctuaries for those who like their Club to be for men only.

When Johnny came marching home to the Club after World War I in uniforms ranging from private to colonel there were the usual reunions, but members were too busy with the extraordinary post-war activities to make more than a momentary pause. For it will be remembered that the Versailles Conference followed the Armistice closely and that there was a fresh exodus of members to Europe. President Wilson's entourage included many reporters. Not only did the press associations and the large city newspapers send their own men but the official delegation took skilled newspapermen to act as advisers and public relations representatives. John Edwin Nevin, for example, chief of the Washington Bureau of the International News Service, went as a member of the President's staff. So it was that as the ranks of resident members were augmented by the returning soldiers, they were reduced by the departure to Paris of correspondents. Richard V. Oulahan, Chief of the New York Times Washington Bureau, became, at Paris, spokesman for the entire press. When the President could not receive a large group, Mr. Oulahan was given the story and in turn relayed it to the other correspondents.

Edward, Prince of Wales, was a Club visitor in 1919. Here he is greeted by John C. O'Brien of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Later he was to get a Scotch-and-water, despite wartime Prohibition, through the good offices of a resourceful waiter.

In 1919, Earl Godwin, then of the Washington Times, was Club president. A notable visitor in that year was the slim, youthful Prince of Wales whose signature - Edward P - was added to the Club's guest book. While National Prohibition had not yet covered the entire country, what was known as wartime prohibition under a special act of Congress, had been applied to all Federal jurisdictions including, unhappily, the National Capital.

The Club held an informal reception for the Prince. Earl Godwin, with other Club officers, stood beside him to present members by name. Now it was no secret to anyone that His Royal Highness had a nice taste in Scotch whisky, for some of the correspondents had traveled on his train and knew him fairly well. So an eager young member of the Club steward's staff, one Jimmie was commissioned to obtain through such channels as were familiar to him, a suitable supply of suitable liquor. Jimmie had done so earlier in the day and, it would appear, had been so eager to please that he had acted as a sort of king's taster to make sure of the quality. He must have been tasting for some time and he was fairly bursting with his part in the affair.

So it was that when the line of members was growing thin, Jimmie could wait no longer. Slipping around behind the receiving line unnoticed he sidled up to the guest of honor and in a thick stage whisper that could be heard across the room said "Have a little drink, Prince?", accompanying the suggestion with a nudge of his elbow which nearly threw His Royal Highness off his balance. Quickly, Mr. Godwin took charge and the Prince was led back to the Flemish Room where he did justice to the Scotch.

In that period many visitors came to the Club from overseas. An especially interesting visitor was the Lord Mayor of Cork. At lunch one day with John Oliver LaGorce of the National Geographic Society, Jerome Connor, the Irish sculptor who went to Dublin to do the Emmett statue and remained there, Frederick Simpich of the Geographic and a few other members, the conversation drifted to the morals of the Irish. The Lord Mayor asserted that the Irish, men and women were the most chaste people in the world. Sevellon Brown, who had doffed his captain's uniform and now was correspondent or the Providence Journal, remarked that he could not avoid wondering, in the light of this statement, who supported the many brothels which he had observed in Belfast and Dublin City. "Ah," answered the Lord Mayor, "They are sustained by sailors and members of the English nobility!''

During the Godwin administration the Club experienced serious financial difficulties. The quarters, which had been crowded for the duration of the struggle, were now experiencing the "return to normalcy.'' Wartime members had returned to their home cities and either withdrew from the Club entirely or became non-resident members at $5 a year. Further, the many members who had gone into the armed services had their dues remitted for the period of their absence.

Another blow arose from wartime prohibition. Bar receipts had always been a munificent source of revenue to the Club. Not a few individuals, perhaps envious of the standing of newspapermen, predicted that the Club would not obey the law, that members would use their influence to continue usual operations exercising some special prerogative. Not a few clubs in other cities, it was known, did ignore the statute. But the Board of Governors decided that the Club would lean over backwards and some thirsty members contended that it was the driest club in the United States.

Under the pressure of these hardships the Club fell some four months in arrears for rent and a Washington bank which stood in the relation of landlord, at length warned the Board that unless the arrears were paid up, the Club would be evicted. It was taken that Mr. Godwin took heroic steps.

Scorning to use the blackmail powers of the press to serve liquor, Mr. Godwin did go to the president of the importunate bank and ask him how he would like to see printed all over the United States that his insistence on prompt rent payment had thrown the President of the United States out of his club? Mr. Wilson was a member. It worked. More grace was allowed and eventually the arrears were met.

In 1920, Mark L. Goodwin became president. He was chief of the Dallas Morning News bureau from 1914 until 1939, when he retired. He was a Texan of an earlier type than that which today furnishes so many jokes and so much money. Mr. Goodwin had been a sergeant in the Spanish American war but, save for that interruption, a newspaperman all his life.

It seems not out of place to mention as one of the events off his administration the arrival in Washington of Willmott Lewis, destined to be- come a figure of more than passing note in Club annals. A Welshman, son of a Cardiff solicitor, he spent an apprenticeship on the provincial stage and the comment was made many times in later years that he never left it. However, he had a varied newspaper experience, including the Boxer Uprising, before coming to Washington to succeed Sir Arthur Willert as correspondent of The Times. He had been especially selected for the task and appeared on the Washington scene at a time of unusual importance.

There had begun in the Senate of the United States the long contest over the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles with its Covenant of the League of Nations. This brought to Washington other foreign correspondents besides Lewis and, they were admitted to membership in the Club. Then, too, the various foreign missions here were strengthened so that, from the wartime, uniformed complexion it had worn, the Club now took on more the appearance of a diplomatic anteroom with the babel of foreign tongues continuing.

Inevitably, the great debate going on in the Senate was duplicated around the Club tables. Many foreign and American correspondents participated and discussion waxed warm with doubtless more world history being subjected to re-examination than ever before in the Club's history. As the work increased, a second Times man was sent in the person of William Casey, an extraordinary Irishman who, at the very time he was with us, had two or three successful plays running in England and France. With our own Capitol men of no mean learning, table and bar conversation of that period reached a high point.

Mr. Casey returned to London and Paris after the treaty excitement had calmed down, but Willmott Lewis was to remain at Washington for 30 years and to become a Club future. He served a term on the Board, and was not unknown in the cardroom. In fact he was sitting in the cardroom when notification reached him that his knighthood was included in the 1931 New Year's honors. Since 1919 he had been a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor. Sir Willmott, in addition to his correspondence, lectured in various cities about the country but it is likely that he earned his designation as Britain 's most successful unofficial ambassador at Washington dinner tables, where he was in great demand, and in constant talk with members of the Club who, especially as the years went by, came more and more to regard him with affection and respect. He retired in 1947 and died at his Georgetown home in 1950.

His successor, not as Times correspondent, but as an interpreter of Britain to America and the reverse, was Charles H. Campbell. As World War II drew on, the British felt the need of closer public relations between the English-speaking allies and Mr. Campbell, then city editor of the New Orleans Item, was selected to undertake the difficult task. He was made a special attache of the British Embassy and then set up the British Information Services at Washington. A man of extraordinary tact and with a gift for wide friendships, he is credited with bringing Anglo-American relations to their gentlest pitch. He died suddenly while returning to his New Orleans home for the Christmas of 1956. A memorial service was held for him at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington.

During Mr. Goodwin's regime there was held on January 16, 1920 an official farewell to John Barleycorn, for that was the unhappy date when National Prohibition took effect. Later, May 14, Chauncey M. Depew, a former Senator and at this date head of the New York Central Railroad, and former Speaker "Uncle Joe" Cannon joined the Chinese Minister, Mr. Wu, in telling of their individual discovery of the Fountain of Youth.

The year 1921 brought the administration of Avery C. Marks, Jr. Mr. Marks first came to Washington with the Associated Press, but soon moved to the Washington Times and became managing editor. He is reputed to have served longer as a Hearst managing editor than any other of that rank in the Hearst kingdom. As an example of his extraordinary popularity with his subordinates in all departments, he was presented on one occasion with a gold watch. It was not Christmas, nor a birthday, but merely the result of a desire of his staff to show what they thought of him. The watch was simply inscribed: "Hurrah for the Boss." This may be better understood when it is related that his long term ended as a result of a spirited dispute over the recommended dismissal by an itinerant efficiency man, a Hearst "hatchet man," of one of his staff. Mr. Marks told Mr. Hearst that if his man was fired, he would resign. He did resign, and subsequently became an official of the National Broadcasting Company.

In passing, it should be noted that, in those days, after a President had finished his term, he was not laid away on a dusty shelf. Even as John Quincy Adams continued to serve his country in the House of Representatives after his term as President of the United Slates, in like manner so served Club presidents. Mr. Marks had on his Board of Governors no less than four former presidents: Frederic J. Haskin, Gus J. Karger, Theodore H. Tiller and Mark L. Goodwin, and one future one, Carter Field.

There were, under Mr. Marks, the usual entertainments. On February 3, for example there was a notable joint debate held in Keith's Theatre on the question: Resolved ; that it is more noble to be fat than to be lean. Such shows would seem pretty silly as, indeed, fundamentally they were and were meant to be. However they brought together notable figures in public life, for the audience, in addition to members, included the most celebrated men in Washington .

The participants in this "Jack Spratt Debate" were, for the affirmative, such more-than-plump figures as Representatives J. N. Tincher of Kansas and Samuel E. Winslow of Massachusetts, both veritable Falstaffs. The negative sustained by two lean and rangy Senators, Pat Harrison of Mississippi and Henry F. Ashurst of Arizona. The judge of the debate was the Speaker of the House, Frederick H. Gillett of Massachusetts. Before the debate opened, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby read Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard.

When Warren G. Harding, an active member of the Club by virtue of his operation of his daily paper at Marion, Ohio, became President of the United States, he was a participant in another Hobby Night performance with Marshal Foch and Marshal Joffre as guests of honor. But there was a greater affair to come. It will be recalled that President Harding, soon after he came to office on March 4, 1921, called the epochal Conference on the Limitation of Armaments. The Great War was over but in the minds of statesmen and throughout the nations there remained anxious unrest. The Conference was, in large sense, comparable to a summit conference today.

Not only were the regular foreign correspondents here but it early became known that a great many special writers had been assigned to Washington to cover this Conference. The great British and continental dailies sent representatives. Lord Riddel was in charge of a British news bureau, H. G. Wells, Colonel Repington, the "Gentleman with a Duster," many great names, historians, sociologists gathered to watch this great experiment. Scores of Oriental newspapermen especially from Japan, China and India were on hand.

The Club made special arrangements to assist in their entertainment and their coverage. Writing rooms with typewriters and other equipment were set up in the Club and special attention was given to cable facilities. The members became hosts to these fellow journalists, most of whom were given guest privileges for the period of the Conference.

Robert B. Armstrong of the Los Angeles Times served as President of the Club for 1922. He was a man of serene dignitiy who had served as an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury and who knew political Washington thoroughly and knew how to report it with skill. He was an especial friend of President Harding and arranged, for March 5th, a first birthday party for him. There was a vast cake with a single candle on it marking the expiration of the President's first year in the White House. Alas, he was to see but one more.

President Harding made as full use of his membership as time permitted. During his famous front porch campaign at his Ohio home, a group of correspondents, assigned to cover him, organized what they called The Order of the Elephant an inner club which played cards in the long waits of that summer. After the President had been inaugurated, the Elephants had a memorial meeting at the Club. Ray Clapper of the United Press, George Holmes of INS, Samuel W. Bell of the Philadelphia Public Ledger, Byron Price of the Associated Press, subsequently Director of Censorship in World War II, and later Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations; Edwin C. Hill, radio newscaster, and Charles Michelson, who was to earn tremendous fame as Democratic Publicity Director in the Franklin D. Roosevelt presidential campaigns, were present. Walker Buel of the Cleveland Plain Dealer told Mr. Harding what was afoot and he duly appeared, winning, legend tells $1.80. From that time on, he dropped in occasionally at the Club, usually unannounced.

It was on January 28, 1922 that the Knickerbocker (now the Ambassador) Theatre disaster occurred. A 28-inch snowfall caused the roof of this motion picture theatre to collapse, killing 98 persons and injuring many more. Louis W. Strayer of the Pittsburgh Dispatch and Chauncey C. Brainerd off the Brooklyn Eagle, prominent Club members, were killed. Mrs. Brainerd also was a victim of this tragedy.

Further tragedy was to befall members in the following year. Carter Field, chief of the New York Tribune bureau was President of the Club in that period of mounting political unrest in the Nation. As usual, a large number of Washington correspondents accompanied President Harding on a western trip which took him to Alaska and to his death at San Francisco. On a motor trip through Colorado mountains in June, a car carrying three well-known newspapermen went off the road. Sumner M. Curtis, former political writer for the Washington Post now representing the Republican National Committee, was killed instantly as was the driver, a Denver businessman. Thomas F. Dawson, Colorado State Historian, formerly with the Washington bureau of the Associated Press and a Charter Member, was injured and died two days later.

Donald Craig, chief of the New York Herald bureau was so desperately injured that he remained in a Denver hospital for sometime. Upon his return to Washington, he recovered partially but was able to do little continuous work. He did some public relations work for the Smithsonian Institution and reportorial writing for David Lawrence's newly founded United States Daily, but ultimately succumbed to the lingering effects of the Colorado accident. His widow, May Craig, is today a prominent Washington reporter.

George F. Authier of the New York World was elected president for 1924 when Calvin Coolidge had succeeded to the Presidency of the United States. The Club had its usual difficulties with finances but no emergency. A party of unusual interest was given on May 15 when a group of the most famous entertainers in the country put on their own show. Gene Buck, always a staunch friend of the Club, was there and so was John Philip Sousa, who had made the Marine Band famous around the world. Victor Herbert took part and so did Oley Speaks, composer of some of the country's most enduring songs. Producer Charles K. Harris with a number of others joined in presenting the program.

The year l 925 was epochal for the Club for many reasons. Henry L. Sweinhart of the Havas News Agency became President. On the evening of March 25 a mortgage burning celebration occurred. The Club had managed by the practice of thrift and frugality to pay off the promissory note it had given to assist in the removal to the Albee Building quarters, decorate and furnish them, so it was deemed necessary to celebrate the occasion.

Five thousand dollars was not a vast sum in 1925 but one might almost say that the wealth of the Nation was present to see that debt extinguished.

While Theodore Tiller held the note in his fingers, it was set aflame by Andrew W. Mellon, not only one of the richest men in the United States himself but Secretary of the Treasury, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Wadsworth also was there, the Speaker of the House, Nicholas Longworth; Secretary of Agriculture Jardine, Attorney General Sargent and David H. Blair, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue. A more august gathering could not have been assembled to witness the extinction of the National Debt!

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CHAPTER V

GROWING PAINS