The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-10-31
A GREAT EDITOR.
Interesting Incidents in tho Life of
Wilbur F. Storey.
His influence on Western Journni.
ism-His Methods as "a Publisher
and Editor-Personal EraII.
Tho End.
IChicapo Herald1

which made him hated, feared and admired
all have vanished leaving behind as liter
ally piece Of human clay as il the vital
spark had fle,l frum the old mans heart.
The Wilbur +. Storey whom the people have
known by reputation for n generation exists
10 longer. His shattered body only is left,
waiting upon the judgment
Mr. Storcy's influence on western journal
ism has been almost incalculable. When no
appeared i'll Chicago Il publisher and ei-
itor, western newspapers were for the most
part reprints OF publications. at the east.
With small re&Uurc ..' Storey embarked
on II system Of eXpeuuitUre heretofore nm
known OF ncarv "vorv important feature
OF the blanket JOuI.... hc G"y Ice WAS
the pioneer. He lea l..- We. % .rr'vthing,
and not until the mind whici Il, wosriel
of planning great eGterpr:s'% Hrli authorizing
enormous expenditures failed him did any
other newspaper rival his own For many
years he was an interchangeable worker. lie
almost lived in his office the first man Mt
work in the morning. he was frequently the
last to leave at night. He was master Of
the business, ami lie gave to every detail
his personal attention. lie organized his staff
for work and not for ornament. He w..S the
sole head. There w"ru chiefs o. de- aItnci Is,
hut no one rIuplOyc could Il r,l it over a.
other Every one could ~ peal to tho "nId
nuu, and 10y was quit, II, apt 10 l.c list
ened 20 patiently Us I'LL Old :. ,Eii.er q. tie
staff
He would rot confer the title of managing
editor upon any empluye until his own failing
health made 1t absolutely necessary that
there should lie ali active and responsible
chief. Wien he started an evening paper in
1876 hc attempted to manage that also as he
had his morning paper, but finding the task
too ouerous he at length in brief notes in
formed the various heads Of departments
that he had APPOINTED manager for this
evening paper.
After this paper had been running eight or
ten weeks the business office Sent Il statement
to Mr.. Storey showing that tie loss cone
quent upon its publication had bocn about
81 900 n week, He summoned the managing
editor ialll showed him the figures, with N.,rnc
remark expire ssive Of disappointment.
That is not very bad" said the employe.
a supposed, of course, you expected +" sink
slOO, 900 Lefore you got it established"
We'll, didn't any such d. thing re-
pl;cl Mr.. Storey at is good paper and it
ought to pay right away. What will we do
with itf'
"lmuttl il" .aid tho manager
And tIIuttlr il le did the next day.
During all this pCr.od If hard wock, id
versity and in some sense failure Mr.. Storey
was a man ~ simple tastes He lived at q
hotel, kept no servants, DIR, sscd plainly, and
in his Office preferred a common pine table
to the most ornamental desk that could be
furnished He was full of nervous force,
uae pp1 irritable apb
ill at ease with the world and with himself
His domestic and business troubles wore on
him and made him sullen and petulent.
When the great fire swept away the city
it almost crushed him, ard tor day or two
he was inclined to give up the struggle. Tie
disaster Lad come upon him at a
time VIXEN success appeared to be
in his grasp and he could not
ntemplate with hope another combat such
as that from which he had so recently
emerged. When he was filed with the
gloomiest forcbodings as TO the future he
was handed telegram from a friend in
Michigan authorizing him to draw for $5O,-
600 and the next day his newspaper reap
peared. As soon aS arrangements could lie
perfected he had new material and presses at
hand, and the journal which he then pro-
duced became the marvel of the world. So
far as typographical appearance, vigcr and
freshness went be never improved upon it.
Sue ess was instantaneous.
During tie six or eight years Immediately
following the fire Mr.. Storey mav lie said to
to have been in the prime of n successful
career He gave his personal attention to
every detail Of tie work and by his example
inspired his associates with zeal not often
witnessed. He surrounded himself with n
large and hiph-IIiccd staff and exnt tcd FRI III
it the strirtCst adherence 10 certain fixel
principles. Eaving L,en happily MARI icd lie
ceased to visit the CO nights, hut curing
the day he was always at lis post No
error of makeup, 10 failure 10 obtain
news, no iInperfectly handled subject ever
capped his notice. 1t used to be tra-
diton in the Office that the cd man read
nothing but the mistakes. His rules for
making up the paper were so exact that it
was almost impossible in the haste Of putting
so large paper together not 10 make some
triaing violations of the general scheme, hut
he always called attention TO them AMI con-
Gemned them. Nothing was right with him
unless it was exactly right. For long time
he was SO particular about classification that
he would not give his consent to the printing
of dispatch unless it could I've put where it
belonged. Thus, if casualty came in too
late to go with the casualties, but early
enough to be squeezed in on another page
not yet sent to the stereotyper, it was to be
left out He would not have the symmetry
of the paper marred even il certain intelli-
gence was kept from the reader. Later on
under the advice of employees he changed
this rule To some extent
1t was common remark with him that
anything that was worth printing was worth
telegraphing. "Do not spend money for
things that are of no account" he would say,
"but when news is on foot and it costs money
to get it, pour the money out" He wanted
q special telegram about everything of inn
portance, and some Of his employees, appreci-
ati,ig how severe would lie his criticism il no
Special appeared en- certain subjects, fell
into the habit when not sure Of prompt SER
vice in any one quarter, Of ordering from a
dozen points. In such cases it frequently
happened that three or four long and costly
dispatches would he received on the same
subject, only one of which would he printed.
He never grumbled at that wastefuness
when told that it appeared to be
necessary in order to make sure that the
paper NOulu nOt 10 "fcIt. iEe elnpOye
who would not take the trouble TO order a
special on anything that CHANGED to come up
be despised, While thus lavish in big things
Mr.. Storey was economical in small things.
He would turn down the gas that he saw
burning nesdiessly. and any other wastefui.
ness caused him great Indignation
One night he strollel into the tclegrarii-
roon where 1t 50 happened but one man. n
newcomer. was at that moment at work.
The employee did not know Mr.. Storey, bnt
he sail nothing. The @old man. sat on The
arm of chair, and, seizing lot OF copy
paIer began making letter S's ON 1t, one :" q
sheet As he won write big s lie would
threw the sheet on tho floor and take anotht !
ona. The enploye spoke Mt last:
Say, that leper costs money. Don't "
throwing it ar'nad in that way
Mr. Storey rose and walked out without
sayiug ,ny,hin- The tmrIoye aiterwaIt
isee ne al. Ia .ur ,diior.
TX u-e> ~.r ier Lngs TO 60 him vi D.
81 MAJ. - u Lis a.. .,u- 81 al, sail IN ,stl
tar 4, 1iI.s o,,ss'. Il amt hire y.u To Z s~s
mistakes" !" was tLe qrik l. IL pine. BE .
li.t,., rrii.i how you make excuses 70 tf'
IL. g., sa,a ,;..dir~ n:e.ie \ Asiss e.ltsc