The National tribune., 1885-12-03
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
THANKSGIVING AT THE CAPITAL.

dull and quiet day in Washington. The Gov
ernment Departments, which are the life OF the
city, are ali closed, and nobody seems to nave
anything TO do, or any inclination to do it If
he had There would seem to have been un-
usual cause for thanldulness this year on the
mart of the clerks and officials The Republi-
cans who are still "in F" have undoubted cause
for fervent gratitude that they yet hold the
fort" under a Democratic Administration;
while the Democrats who have succeeded IN
elbowing their way in should be equally thank
ful that they have been able to get taste of
official milk and honey. Many of them found
it as hard to &" get there" as did the children of
Israel. Thousands of anxious and hoping
Democrats are still wandering about in the
wilderness. Doubtless the latter would have
enjoyed their turkey better if there were no
such thing as Civil Service Reform.
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGES.
For moath past President Cleveland has
been addressing himself TO the work of prepar-
ing his message to Congress. He has consulted
freely with his Cabinet on the various subjects
therein treated, aud his friends predict that he
will give TO the country very able and states
manlike document. Its appearance is awaited
with much interest.
Years ago the Presidents message was an
event of much importance on Newspaper
Row" in Washington, where the correspondents
of the great journals of the country are hud-
died. OF late the matter has been taken out of
their hands, and the message is supplied to the
newspapers through the regular press associa-
tions. If the enterprising correspondent has
any duty in the premises, 1t is to get hold OF
the message if he can, by hook or by crook,
day or two before it is sent TO Congress, and
=" scoop" all the other papers. This has been
DONE now and then, to the extreme disgust of
the Presidents who fell victims to journalistic
voracity. 1t is considered on the Row great
feat, and every year ingenuity Is taxed to the
utmost to get hold of the message. The greatest
vigilance is exercised. on the other hand, to
keep it from falling into the hands of the van
dals of the press 1t is put In type at the
Government Printing Office; the copy"
"proofs," ETC., are all kept locked up in the big
safe, and the strietest possible surveillance is
kent over the printers to make sure that they
do not "giye it away" 1t is well understood
that person who can procure an impression OF
the message day or two in advance will strike
a bonanza. He can get price for it on News
paper Row, "spot cash, that would seem almost
fabulous
The beys outfanked Gen Grant when he first
became President. He was not up to the tricks
of the Row and his first message was spread
before the people of the country "a hours before
it was transmitted to Congress The General
was annoyed, but he said nothing. He inwardiy
resolved, however, that if they beat" him
again they would be good deal smarter than
he believed them to be. The second year the
correspondents, encouraged by their previous
success, tried it again: but SO carefully was it
guarded that they could not get the slightest
trace of it. The night before the opening Of
Congress the President sent messenger along
the Row, inviting number of the leading cor
respondents TO cali upon him at the White
House next morning. OF course, they were all
there promptly. Gen. Grant entered the room
with IA twinkle in his eye and big roll of
man,1script under his arm.
",Well, boys" said he after greeting them
alaZe
ni6ely. Here is ny own draft of the message;
if you want it you can sit right down here aud
SOpy it."
as printed copy would be sent to Congress in
couple of hours, and there not time for
them to make any possible use Of it, 1t was
alresdy in the hands of the Associated Press,
and would be promptly furnished to their
spective papers. The boys ali laughed and
said it was an excellent joke. But they never
got another of Grants messages in advance.
The guileless and unsuspecting Hayes was
the last victim. The correspondent of the New
York Times was smart enough to get copy of
his first message in 1877. Fully authorized by
his employers, be paid fifteen hundred dollars to
the man that "stole' it. He let the Chicago
Times and Cincinnati Enquirer into the "pool," !"
the three papers paying $500 each. The mes
sage, containing some 5000 words was tele-
graphed as special TO each of them, and ap-
peared on Sunday morning, the day before the
assembling OF Congress. Life had no longer
any charms for the other correspondents on the
Row when they found they had been left"
But the most remarkable feature of the affair
was the publication Of the message at the same
time in the Chicago Tribune, between which
and the Chicago Times there was a great rivalry
in such matters. The latter, when it made the
arrangements at Washington, congratulated
itself on having a sure thing for grand
scoop" The Tribune secured the prize by one
fkx.Sr zc% l,-t.n
The editors of that paper by some means had
an inkling that the message would appear in
New York, not knowing that it was even then
humming over the wires to their own neighbor
the Chicago Times Nor were their suspicious
definite enough TO fix upon any particular
paper in New York in which it was to be
printed.
So they placed men on picket at the Offices of
all the New York morning papers. The first
copy of the Times that appeared was seized and
hurried to the telegraph Office, where arrange
ments had been made for the immediate trans
mission Of the message 20 Chicago 1t was cut up
into small sections, and in few minutes was
buzziDg over 20 wires. The fact that the lines
were free from business at that early hour in the
morning favored the success of the scheme
The entire force of editors and printers were
"on deck at the Chicago Tribune Office, and the
words and sentences were literally picked off
the wires and put in type in an incredibly short
time The enterprise was made possible by the
difference in time of an hour between New
York and Chicago. In scarcely more than that
the entire message was transmitted and set
up" The Chicago newsboys were yelling on
the streets, Here's yer 1ri5,sse; ali about. the
Presidents messagei" at the same instant that
its neighbor the Times made its appearance
The chagrin Of Mr. Storey, of the latter may
be imagined; it cannot be expressed in words
He was so angry that he refused to pay his
500, and a lawsuit was the result
CONTESTED SEATS IN THE HOUSE
The number of contests for seats in the House
OF Representatives at the approaching session
OF Congress is much smaller than usual there
being but four. 1t is not often that there are
less than dozen. The case attracting the most
attention is that of Frank Hnrd, the Ohio
apostle Of free trade, against Jacob Romeis.
The latter, who is Republican, was formerly
Mayor of Toledo. He was elected to Congress
by small majOrity-less than 300-and Mr.
Hurd claims that 1t was secured by fraudulent
votes and the corrupt use of money. The seat
of Steele, Republican, of Indiana is contested
by Kidd, Democrat, on similar grounds. In
the Sixth Iowa District, Weayer-who five
years ago was the Greeuback candidate for
President-was elected by a coalition of Demo
Gratis and Greenbackers. Campbell, Republican
thinks the seat belongs 10 him, and files his
claim to that effect The remaining case is a
little tempest in the Rhode Island teapot Page.
Democrat, contests the seat of Pierce Republi-
cal, on the ground OF fraud and irrepIIarty in