Press: Fun at Columbia

One period during the year when prominent U. S. newspapermen express themselves from the forum instead of the type font is the University of Missouri's Journalism Week. To Columbia, Mo. last week went 350 guests of the University's School of Journalism to take part in the 27th Journalism Week, the first without the presence of Dr. Walter Williams, founder of the school and president of the University from 1931 until his death last July.

Most important speaker lined up by Dean Frank Lee Martin, Dr. Williams' successor and longtime associate, was President Hugh Baillie of United Press. Addressing Journalism School students and guests, United Pressman Baillie painted a sad picture of Press censorship and repression the world over, perked up sufficiently to declare: "I envy you men and women who are just starting in. You've got a lot of fun ahead of you!"

A lot of fun was had right there by all those who heard two other Journalism Week orators. Bronzed, bushy-haired Publisher Bernarr Macfadden of Liberty, True Story, True Romances and Physical Culture took the platform to explain the secret of his success in the publishing business, part of which he credited to curiosity.

"It pays to ask questions," declared body-loving Publisher Macfadden. "Take my hotel down in Florida. If you could see how the girls dress down there! Nothing but a pair of shorts and two breast cups. It pays to ask questions! [Ribald laughter.] I'm sure you boys aren't thinking the same thing I am."

More conscious was Hearstian Humorist Arthur ("Bugs") Baer's attempt to be funny. Sample crack:

''Before I came here my boss got a wire from Dean Martin that said 'Like to have Bugs Baer in Missouri.' The boss wired back, 'so would I.' "

Among the awards made during the six-day ceremony, one went to Publisher Ogden Mills Reid of the New York Herald Tribune, who gratefully accepted a citation for his paper's "typography and makeup ... distinction . . . high selectivity of material for intelligent readers who desire urbane writing and unusual treatment . . . for consistently maintaining departments of nationally recognized superiority conducted by commentators of extraordinary discernment."