The Topeka State Journal

James B. Preston Secures Ringside Seat at the Arms Parley for Governor Allen

After Powers in Disarmament Conference Fail to Provide a Ticket, President of Senate Press Gallery Takes Care of Kansas Executive He Always Takes Care of Newspaper Men.

Governor Allen had a ringside seat for the disarmament conference while he was in Washington last Saturday.

But it was James B. Preston, president of the senate press gallery in Washington, who saved the Kansas governor's "goat" after powers in the conference deliberations had failed to provide a ticket. It was Preston who sent a ticket to the governor just when it looked as tho the Kansas executive was to be banished from the deliberations.

Today Governor Allen is boosting for Preston. His praise is sweet music for Topeka correspondents and newspaper men in many of the smaller cities of the country who have been recipients of Preston's courtesy on many occasions. At every national convention, on every important presidential campaign trip, at every gathering of national and international prominence, Preston is always in charge of the newspaper section.

He is personally acquainted with almost every correspondent who has covered the big shows and he has an acquaintance second to few men in the country.

He Looks After Newspaper Men.

Always Preston has religiously looked after the small town newspaper man.

None of the human tendency to grab the best seats for Washington correspondents has been in evidence in Preston's way of doing things. In consequence he has more friends and boosters among American correspondents than any news representative in Washington.

The other day it was the quick witted, observant Preston who made a plea in the press section for Governor Allen. And Preston arrived on the scene just at the right time.

Naturally Governor Allen wanted to see the conference. He went to see the president and stopped for a talk with his secretary.

"By the way, Christian," said the governor, "how do I get to the conference. I don't want to ask the president himself for a ticket."

"I don't know," was the gloomy reply. "Probably the president could get you in if he went over there. We haven't any tickets here. Better go over to see Secretary Hughes. Maybe he can help you out."

Went to See Secretary Hughes.

So the governor went over to see Secretary Hughes. He was in conference with foreign diplomats.

The secretary's private secretary offered to engage Governor Allen in animated conversation as they entered the hall and thought they might work thru to the meeting. It all sounded fine.

The governor was on hand several minutes before the meeting started.

General Pershing came along and shook hands. He boosted the governor along a few feet. Then Secretary Hughes himself appeared and led the Kansas executive inside. Just then an officer of the meeting recognized the Kansas governor and told him to take his seat. But the governor didn't have a seat.

Down front Preston saw the situation. Just when it looked as tho the Kansas governor might be forced to attend the conference from a seat in a hotel lobby he sent a messenger to Governor Allen with a ticket.

It was one of Preston's ways of doing things. And today Governor Allen is cheering for Preston just as loudly as any of the more lowly correspondents who have benefited thru Preston's courtesies at national conventions and on campaign trips.