Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-24
HOW NEWS rs GATHERED.
Journalism and the New


Old-Ttme Journalism and the New
Thirty years ago, nay less, instead OF the
corps OF representatives of the press now es-
tablished IN Washington. the best newspa-
pers Of the land were content TO await the
slow process of mails mo fast ones them to
bring them the newsfrom this politicalcenter
What Congress did Monday usually reached
them Friday. Their writings were as pom
derous as their notions. They had more idea
OF didatic flourish than OF the value of cur
rent events. In those days of Washin gton
letter writers, had a President been assas-
sinatod, the fact would have been found only
In the moral which their labOred effort would
have revealed. They were not men of facts.
and only alluded TO them for the purpose OF
basing text for studied effort and fine
writing. AS the world moved on they were
pushed to the wall. The active American
mind had more 10 do than read newsp2p
When the telegraph was perfected, the old
covies gave way to what they then deemed
the upstarts. Dignity and essays succumoe1
to what is now called American cheek and
enterprise.
WHERE NEWS IS OBTAINED.
The mode OF getting news and the hand
channels of information which belong TO
him pretty exclusively. By this is meant
that one may enjoy facilities, of social ma
ture, which may pour the article into his
facts. 1t is the talent of the writer which
adds the spice and the sauce. Those who
have merely the ''nose for news" without
the faculty OF working it up, must not ex-
pect to reach the highest round of the profess
siOnal ladder.
Now the main spring for all news is in the
executive departments. In the seven grand
divisions which the Constitution creatci. In
each of them, too, is found twenty diverging
channels. Some Of course have Depth Others
are shallow, but like all small streams the
nf ha dr.f md a
wrecker must watch them all.
In the Treasury department the fountain
he I'D is the Secretary. To one who has never
or who puts it in operation for the first time,
the conclusion would be jumped at that he is
rather dry fountain. Well he is. There is
his presence. But to draw from him some of
the troubles which wear upon him requires
tact and ingenuity. He treats all who wait
upon him cordially. He listens attentively,
teer. Go to him on some definite subject, a TX
him about it, and he will give such informa-
ton as is consistent with his sense of duty
and responsibility. Ask him the general
question If she has any news" and his an
swer is a shake of the head. Carrying as he
does in his head all the grand batch Of whis-
has in store II one could only check 1t out.
There is only one way to get at Mr.. Bristow.
III one is in doubt as to the truth of some
sta tement which he has caught in the other
rfvulets, put 1t to him as a fact, and IL it is
not so his eyes will betray him. Likewise il
1T ls He speaks more with his eyes than
with his mouth.
RES, is always willing to give to the press
tbs information which comes under his Oh
servatiOn. He deals in the public debt state
ments and makes the calls for the redemp-
ton Of bonds.
Judge Burnham, the other Assistant. is
quite cordial in his welcome TO all callers.
His class of inform alton Is the interpreta
,<.f w..
the tariff. The New York Bulletin and Jour
mol Of Commerce representatives lad In his
office an Elysium; but 10 newspapers tn 1t
d1tiss on ccifish balls, Holsters in tin over
coats, and the ad valorem on inte but,
cows hair, or argols, any more than print,
Ing often The Sermon on the Mount. fild in
that quarter but little to amuse or instruct
the general reader.
The officer in charge of the customs divi
sion would rather see book agent or a Wild
cat come into his office than a newspaper
man. Some OF "the boys" call on him every
day, more for the purpose OF letting him
know they are around than with any view
OF being benefit ed by the call. either socially
his division is given out through the chief
clerks office.
Mr.. Pratt, the Commissioner OF Internal
Revenue, is a favorite with newspaper m en-.
He can state fact with tersepess, and has a
head as clear as q bell.
John Jay Knox, the Controller of the Cur
reucy, rarely has an item. He has a remark
able facility also of forgetting whei he has
good thing on hand.
The jolliest, ard best liked man by the
guild in the Treasury department is Treas
urer New. His heart is as big as his vaults.
He has genuine Western boluiommie which
makes visitor feel at home, the minute the
door closes one in his Office. He can tell q
good story, enjoys one with Keen relish,
and is not cnary with his information when
he has any.
But the worst TO do business with is Archi-
tect Potter. He may oe all right when you
get at him, but it is the getting at him where
the rub comes In; one must go through q
round OF visiting cards, and the etiquette Of
the thing is too tedious to create desire for
frequent calls. Once in his presence, how
ever, barring good deal of dignity on his
part, he usually gives the information sought
for.
In the way of statistics, Prof Young can
overwhelm an ordinary mind In less time
than any other known qua atty in the Treas
ury department. He has more statistics in
him to the square inch than has the multi
plication table or crop report ten times mag
nified. What he can't hold in the way of sta
tstics he hands over to his assistant, Prof.
lorgesse what Young don't want, but in ad :
diiion can find time to write Christmas
stories on the "Earth's Radius Vector.'
officer usually called upon is the Attorney
General. There is no difficulty in seeing
him. II dozen visitors are in his Office
when one calls he will direct that he be at
give information, than conceal 1t. At times,
while he does not give what is asked for In q
positive way, he leads one to the point by
that class of negative Information which 4
correct.
At the White House Gen. Babcock usually
makes public such matters as the President
desires should be announced. The appoint
ments to ONCE are given out by the clerk In
charge OF the book In which they are record
ed: Other than this latter information the
White House Is not good hopper for news.
At the War department the changes In the
stations Of army Officers are first printed and
then give to the press representatives. Some
times stray bit Of serv1ceable news is com
municated by Gen. Vincent. The Secretary
himEelf IL not much troubled with news.
paper men, and for the reason that they don't
know how to take him. He is variable in
his treatment At times pleasant, affable
and obliging; Again "qulte the reverse"
Gen. Humphries, the chief of engineers il
occasionally visited. He Ii quite nervous
when Information in his possession Ia sou6ht
after. He believes In army regulations, and
usually wants authority from the head OF
the department before he will divulge.
It does not take long to skip through the
Navy department. What il gotten from IL