Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-08
a SMART REPORTER.
How lie Learned the Secrets of a Leci
lature Caucus.

How lie Learned the Secrets of a Legis-
lature Caucus.
The Louisville COurier-,J0urnal, in a
sketch Of Joseph }. Eakins, a young re-
porter VINO has been made clerk by the
new Mayor, relates some illustrations of
Eaklns' journalistic enterprise while be
was serving at Frankfort as capital cor
respondent Of the Louisville Commercial:
He was only 10 years old then, but he
attracted the attention of Col. Kelley.
When the session of the Legislature began
in October the Colonel resolved to send
him to Frankfort as that papers cores
pondent. He instructed him to 90 there
at once and make a red-hOt partisan
fight for the ''the only Republican daily"
in Kentucky. There was never a better
show for an active reporter. Col. Kelley
told Joe that previous correspondents had
always been afraid to attack the State
government, and that be wanted him to
make no such mistake. Joe was Demo-
crat. as all his people were before him,
but he knew what his duty to a Republic
can paper was, and he promised to carry
out the COloneFs instructions. II he
made any mistake in his vigorous fight,
he did so because he was Obeying orders.
He went to Frankfort with the determi-
nation 70 uUGaIlu bCAi5dLAOAb, anu uC sue
ceeded. Many were the devices to which
be mad 10 resort to obtain the news in
spite of the hostility of the members.
one OF the cleYercst and most amusing
was the way in which he obtained the
proceedings of the Democratic caucus.
For the purpose OF excluding him, il was
resolved 10 admit no newspaper men. \
reporter is not easily daunted, however,
and Eakins considered that all things
were fair in the enemy's camp. The first
evening thereafter ne went into the upper
gallery Of the House and hid under a row
Of back seats. When the caucus was
assembled. however, search was order
ed. and Jpe's feet were discovered stick
ing out from under the bench by a Ser
geant-at-arms. The official, with laugh,
ordered him TO come out, and when he
emerged. covered with dust and humilia-
ton, he was greeted with an enthusiastic
chorus Of derIsiye yells. He walked out,
but he did not give up the fight. A pipe
from the stove in the House passed back
into the cIOak-rOOm. Securing a step
ladder he mounted and, placing his ear TO
the pipe, heard every word that was
uttered. The voices OF the members
were perfectly familiar to him by this
time, ard his dispatch was unusually full
and complete. There was great wonder
! the next day. ard this was intensified
when that evenings caucus proceedings
were also reported IN detail. 1t was at
| first thought 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. Eakins
| found means to be introd uced into the
| House early the next afternoon, and Sc
/ creting himself behind bookcase, where,
] at the cost OF some personal discomfort,
/ he remained during the caucus session.
! He was able to do so only that time, as
| the person by whose cOnnivance he had
| effected it was afraid to 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,
/ the Hon. Laban I. Moore arose and stated
/ that the secretary had omitted the name
/ Of one who had always taken a deep in
! terest in their deliberations. He desired
/ 10 suggest the secretary call the name of
| Joseph Eakins, member from the State-at-
/ large. HIS words were greeted with
/ cheers and when the secretary called out
/ the name a voice sa~l Here from one OF
the windows. Looking out they found
! the interchangeable correspondent seated on
J the limb of huge tree which grew at a
/ distance Of forty or fifty feet from the
/ window. He had climbed the tree and
/ crGwled out on a huge branch, whose
| extremity almost touched the shutters.
/ II was not a comfortable position W
there, but the reporter had a piece of soft
paper and was writing up the proceed
! ings as they went on. AS fast as a sheet
was finished he dropped it to the ground
when it was picked up by a messenger
| and taken to the telegraph Office. The
| spirit OF opposition had not quite died out
/ the next evening, and guard was placed
| over the tree. The day following, how
! ever, it was resolved to hold the session
with open doors, and when Eakins came
in a little after s O'Clock he was greeted
with a perfect ovation of shouts, yells
and cheers. His plucky fight had woI
the hearts of all present, and he had
much smoother sailing the remainder Of
! the term.