Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-12

FINANCIER-HE BELIEVES IN THE CAPITAL.
CITY-AND INVESTS HIS HONEY HERE-HH
JOURNALISTIC IDEAS AND BUSINESS
METHoDs-How HE BOUGHT MILLION
POUNDS OF PAPER.
John r. Mclean, the editor and proprietor Of
the Cincinnati Enquirer, greatly admires Wash
ington, and his admiration has taken q very
practical shape, for In the past five or six years
he has purchased and now owns over four hum
dred thousand dollars worth of its real estate
He has spent the most of the past two winters
within its limits, and he intends spend
ing the present winter here, having
for the purpose rented . comfortable house
on G street, which he is now occupying. A
stalwart democrat, who has attained national
reputation by his defeat of the putative father
of the civil-service reform bill with Senator
Payne, he is to-day probably the most infiuen-
| tial member of his party in Ohio. Hardly
thirty-seven years DID, with hts hat on (his hair
| is little thin on the top OF his cranium) he
| looks even younger; he looks more like pros
porous New York stock broker than western
politician. In height he is about five feet eight
and he weighs about ITO pounds. He used to
but attention to diet and plenty of exercise
have brought him to the former figures. His
hair is dark, and SO is his mustache, but his
| with perfect health. He was born In Cincinnati
| and was raised there-though q portion of his
boyhood was spent in this CITY. In his youth
nearly had one OF his eyes knocked out while
| taking a ball off O. bat, when he was catcher OF
| club Uhe CincinnatD made its unbroken victo-
riOus trip through the country. This prevented
| lege.
LEARNING THE BUSINESS.
He spent couple OF years in Europe and on
| returning he was put to work in the ENQUIRER
office, by his father, Mr.. Washington Mclean,
| to learn the newspaper business He began as
a common office boy and worked up through
| all the gradations until be became business
manager, after amusing and instructing him.
| self, meanwhile by knocking around at night
with the reporters learning how items were OBJ
tanned: He was an apt scholar and soon de-
yelOped nose for news that remarkable.
Upon the retirement of his father froln the
| paper he took his place in the firm of Faran
Mclean, and in 1877 he became the editor
| of the paper. In 1881 he purchased Mr.. Faran's
| interest in the Enquirer and became its sole
| owner.
AS an editor, he is indefatigable in the pur.
suit OF news-can tell it ut sight-doesut have
| to De introduced to 1t to recognize 1t, and is
willing to pay literally for it.
NEWS BEFORE EDITORIAL OPINIONS.
AS q writer he Is decidedly vigorous and in.
cisive. He does not, however, attach that inn
portance to the editorial column that many ed
| itors do, for he believes that if the average
reader is furnished accurately with the facts he
IS abundantly able to form his own conclusions
once when news and advertisers were crowding
him issue number of the Enquirer with but
one line of editorial, which was "All the news.
| No opinions"
| JOURNALISTIC FINANCIER.
AS financier he is probably the ablest in the
| journalistic field. He foresaw the panic of '73
and prepared for it by boarding up S173 900 in
| currency. This he kept in his box in the safe
deposit. When the banks suspended payments
| he honored every bill against him with cash,
| and this gave him not only great credit but
ina ihis les IN ssas Dur
manufacturer who was DESTROYS to sell him a
| quantity of paper. He said: "Mr. Mclean, am
| several times, but we could never hit it. Now
am determined TO make you a customer If
| possible"
"An right" responded Mclean, "you can
easily sell to me II you will only sell cheap
Well, you know what the ruling price is"
"4es! know what the asking price is, but it 8
| thousand pounds for?'
. The dealer unused a moment. and then said:
"l'll let you have 1t at six and quarter cents"
Cant you do better than that?''
NOT for that quantity" was the answer.
me Il million pounds for?''
"A million pounds!" exclaimed the dealer,
somewhat astOnished.
can't y'ous sP'''0 '4''''''n' lou can MAKE IT,
ooh, yes; certainly! Let me see." He pulled
out note book, figured awhile, and then an
swered: "Ill give it to you at six cents"
"on what timer" was the next question.
I'll let you have two or three MONTHS was
mo-, / can't buy on three months in these
| times" said Mclean Here are banks suspend
cd, and All that No, must have six months
"But, my dear. Mr.. Mclean" urged the paper
man, six months Is terrible; it's half year"
know it, was the response; "but 1 didn't
paper. Well, I'm willing to buy, but 1 must
have IL the time ask Say the word, and the
The dealer did not reply for minute Then
ne said: Mr.. Mc!Iean you drive hard bar
gain. but business Is business. / will give you
tEe lime you ask Tor, but 1t Is merely to secure
In few minutes the contract was drawn up
and signed. Hardly had the ink been blotted
Oh the signatures when Mclean turned and
said: What discount will you allow me for
| cash on delivery?'
Nv hat discount"
eyes. What discount for cash as you deliver
the paper?' 1t took another thinking spell on
the part OF the dealer before he could make
Tor 5la cents a pound cash and this, too, at a
Tune when his competitors had to pay fully a
cent more on the pound. If a "close' dealer
ever mad to present him just bill twice for
his money one Though his acquaintance are
the reputation of being loyal to his friends and
Kind to his employees.
MARRIED AND SETTLED
In conversation he is quick and decisive. He
is fond of illustrating his points with stories,
which he tells very well, indeed. A little over
a year ago he was married to Miss Emily. the
daughter Of Gen. BeaIe. Of this city. Though
was red, or amber either, since that time he has
not touched liquor of any kind, though he
! always has 1t on his table for his friends
A devoted husband, good son, sturdy friend,
and reliable business man, the lurid picture OF
Mr.. Mclean presented by his adversaries does
not seem to be phOtographically accurate.
| For THE EVENING STAR.
| Something New i'm Christmas Festsvays
BY UNCLE JOHN
something new! How can that be? What is
| it? Oh, do tell u.s." sang out, as entered my
| class room, bevy OF delighted children, whom
had promised to tell about q new style OF
Christmas festival. lis it something very
| funny?" pnt in Fanny. NO." rejoined Ada,
"why, it's not proper to do funny things at
Christmas festivals" eyes it is" sang ont
Harry Wilson; I'm sure Santa Claus last year
was real funny"-and little Jesse added, al
there is to be no fan don't want to hear about
it." Just have little patience, my dear chill.
dren; there is something In what shall tell
you that will greatly surprise and delight you.
The children who took part in the Christina s
| FESTIVAL am about to speak of were not O,,Iv