The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-03-04
A SMART REPORTER.
How Ho Learned the Secrets OF Legis-
lative Caucus.
louisville Courier-Journal.1

louisville Courier-Journall
Joseph j. Eakins, who has been made
Clerk by the new Mayor, once served at
Frankfort as capitol correspondent Of the
Louisville Commercial.
He was only nineteen years old then,
but b, attracted the attention Of Colonel
Kelley. When the session Of the Legis-
lature began In October the Colonel re-
solved to send him TO Frankfort as that
papers correspondent He instructed him
to 20 there at once and make q red-hot
partisan fight for "the only Republican
daily" In Kentucky. There was never
better show for an active reporter. Col.
onel Kelley told Joe that previous corre-
spondents had always been afraid to at
tack the State Government, and that he
wanted him to make no such mistake. Joe
was Democrat, as all his people were
before him, but he knew what his duty to
q Republican paper was, and he promised
to carry out the Colonel's instructions. II
he made any mistake In his vigorous fight,
he did so because he was obeying orders.
He went TO Frankfort with the determine
ton TO unearth sensations, and he sue
ceeded. Many were the devices to
which he had to resort to obtain
the news In spite Of the hostility Of the
members. One Of tbs cleverest and most
amusing was the way In which he OBJ
tanned the proceedings Of the Democratic
caucus. For the purpose Of excluding him
It was resolved to admit no newspaper
men. A reporter Is not easily daunted,
however, and Eakins considered that all
things were fair In the enemy's camp. The
first evening thereafter he went into the
upper gall ry Of the House and hid under
a row OF back seats. When the caucus was
assembled, however, q search was ordered,
and Joe's feet were discovered sticking out
from under the bench by q sergsant-at-
arms The official, with laugh, ordered
him to come out, and when he emerged,
covered with dust and humiliation, he was
greeted with au enthusiastic chorus Of de-
risive yells. He walked out, but he did not
give up the aght. A pipe from the stove in
the House led back into the cloak-room.
Securing q step-ladder he mounted and,
placing his ear 10 the pipe, heard every
word that was uttered. The voices Of the
members were perfectly familiar to him
by this time, and dispatch was unusu-
ally full and complete. There was great
wonder the next day, and this
was intensified when the evenings
caucus proceedings were also reported
that he was In the confidence Of some
member, but the next day the secret leaked
out. The door In the cloak-room was
locked and the step-ladder removed. Still,
this did no good. Eadns found means 10
be introduced into the house early the next
afternoon, and secreting himself behind
bookcase, where, at the cost Of some per-
sonal discomfort, he remained during the
caucus session. He was able 10 do so only
that time, rs the person by whose con-
nivance he had effected It was afraid 10
longer assist him. Another resource was
discovered, and for two more nights the
faithful reports Of the proceedings were
kept up. The third evening, after the roll
had been called, Hon. Laban T. Moore
arose and stated that the Secretary had
omitted the name Of one who had always
taken deep interest in their deliberations.
He desired to suggest at the Secretary
call the name Of Joseph Eakins, member
from the State large. His words were
greeted with cheers, and when the Secre-
tary called out the name q voice said
"Here" from one of the windows. Looking
out thy found the indefatigable corre-
spondent seated In the limb of huge tree
which grew at distance OF forty or fifty
feet IRON the window. He had climbed
the tree and crawled out on huge branch,
whose extremity almost touched the shut
ters. 1t was not a comfortable position up
there, but the reporter had a piece OF soft
paper and was writing up the proceedings
as they went on. AS fast as sheet was
finished he dropped IL 10 the ground, when
1t was picked up by messenger and taken
TO tho telegraph office. The split Of oppo-
sition had not quite died out the next
evening, and guard was placed over the
tree. The day following, however, 1t was
resolved % hold the session with open
doors, and whom Eakns came In a little
after eight o'clock he was greeted with a
perfect ovation OF shouts, yells and cheers.
His nlucky fight had won the hearts Of all
present, and he had much smoother sailing
the remainder OF the term.