A Better Senate

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Senator Irvine L. Lenroot, favorite regular Republican son of Wisconsin, stated in a Chicago address that "the leading 96 newspaper correspondents in Washington are much better qualified to be United States Senators than are the present incumbents."

Having paid this tribute to the source of news he turned to inveigh against the newspaper publishers for whom the correspondents work. Said he: "When we compare the British press with our own, the first thing that attracts our attention is the greater importance given by them to the serious news of the day, especially relating to matters of government, while sensational news regarding individuals is given a minor place.

"With us a murder, an elopement, a scandal gets screaming headlines, and the news of really national importance is usually given second place. I have talked with many publishers concerning this, and the answer always is: 'We give to our readers what they want, and if we don't do it they will buy some other paper that does.'"

The Senator from Wisconsin believes that the publishers grossly exaggerate the perversions of the public mind.

Among the 96 Washington correspondents worthy of the Senatorial toga are: Carter Field, Charles Michelson, David Lawrence, Mark Sullivan, Harold Phelps Stokes, William Hard, Richard V. Oulahan, Louis Seibold, John W. Owens, Arthur S. Henning, Theodore G. Joslin, Robert Barry, Frederic W. Wile, Edward E. Whiting, J. Fred Essary, Gus J. Karger, Charles S. Albert, Roy A. Roberts, Samuel G. Blythe.

Three Princetonians

Recently three Princeton undergraduates called on ex-President Wilson. Since Mr. Wilson's retirement from office, there are very few people, and still fewer journalists, who have had the privilege of personal interviews with him. The three undergraduates were journalists, however, for they went back to Princeton and wrote of their experience for the University paper, The Daily Princetonian.

In their article appeared: "The Princetonians found Mr. Wilson in excellent spirits and good health and willing to converse on many topics. He recited several limericks for the amusement of the three undergraduates during their visit." That and nothing more.

Unappreciant of news value, the three Princetonians did not realize that a limerick from the lips of an ex-President is as rare as a cowslip from Mars. They allowed their fellow-students and the world at large to live on, unillumined by those historically unequaled verses. They were guilty of poor journalism.

Two limericks that Mr. Wilson enjoys reciting are:

There was a young girl from Missouri

Who took her case to the jury;

She said: "Car twenty-three

Has injured my knee,"

And the jury said: "We're from Missouri."

There was a young Prince of Siam

Who delighted in Omar Khayyam.

He said to his Omar,

"You are my Homer,"

And Omar Khayyam said "I am."

"Nose Quack"