Despot

First door to the right, inside the executive offices of the White House, is the press room. Last desk, in the best corner, next the radio, near a couch, belongs to J. Russell Young, White House correspondent (for the last 20-odd years)* of the rich, conservative Washington Star.

Absolute tsar of all he surveys is the correspondents' genial dean. Addicted to chess, rich tweeds and almost flammable Virginia cigarets, Dean Young long ago began whiling away hours during dull administrations by practicing Senatorial mannerisms, gradually became more Senatorially impressive than most lawmakers.

Affectionately called "Senator" by the last three U. S. Presidents, Newshawk Young is often trotted out at whistle stops, on campaign train-trips, and introduced to assembled citizens, whom he forthwith favors with any one of his numbered orations (No. 5, "Mother Love"; No. 7, "'Our Flag"; No. 22, "America the Beautiful"; No. 19, "Sanctity of the Home"; No. 11, "For a United Party").

By precept and example, "Senator" Young has long since built up within the White House walls a model political organization of which he is the model boss. The White House Correspondents' Association, set up to control the personnel of press conferences, has become under the Boss's rule a powerful dining-out group, whose banquets are often louder & funnier than the Gridiron Club's.

The Boss, (benign even when KB-QB4, and QXBP, for a Scholar's Mate) runs his Association with an iron hand, withholding & dispensing patronage (honorary offices) as shrewdly as a Cabinet officer.

Two years ago he tapped for the Presidency affable Earl ("Pumpkinhead") Godwin of the Washington Times-Herald.

Things went so well in 1938 that the Boss ordered Newshawk Godwin re-elected in 1939. But recently, in keeping with the times, "Pumpkinhead" has been mumbling about a third term. Last week, vacationing in Coral Gables, Boss Young suddenly decided against it, telephoned his hatchetman, knife-witted George Durno of International News Service.

The "Senator" told Hatchet-man Durno he had chosen as 1940 president the New York Times'?, alert Felix Belair Jr. Balding Newshawk Durno grumbled that Vice President John O'Brien of the Philadelphia Inquirer was next in line; added that Belair didn't want to run. Gruffed the Boss: "I'm not asking him, I'm telling him." Thus, on a Good Government platform, Felix Belair Jr. was this week elected W. H. C. A. president--as correspondents all over the city deserted press rooms, cabbed to the White House, voted 100% Belair on the slogan: "There is no machine opposition." "Hitler only gets 99%," boasted Hatchet-man Durno.

*Newshawk Young could have retired seven years ago on half-pay, refused because retirement might interfere with 1) his chess-playing, 2) a steady flow of scoops to his paper.

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