Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-11

the older newspaper men, Mr.. Adams was at
that time o le of the owners OF THE STAR. but
not Identified with its management i was
greatly impressed at the time with the very in
Innate relations he enjoyed with the leaders OF
6o1h pot, political parties Aithough rePreseaiinga
ship Of the ablest men In the republican party.
Often after work was ended at night he would
tell me what Secretary So-and-So, senator
Blank or Representative Dash had said
regarding the most important events OF
the time, and 1 could not understand when
reading the World next day why Adams had
not made public use OF their communications.
IL took me but a short time to learn. however.
that mis- absolute fidelity 10 every trust reposed
I'm him constituted his greatest strength as a
CORES spopdent Public men knew that he
would not betray confidence and they talked
10 him i.eely. He WAS quick to shape his dis
patches in the line of the Information he had
received, but to obtain a temporary advantage
over rival he never quoted a public man
against that persons wishes. The consequence
was that Mr.. Adams won "A reputation Tor ac-
curacy and reliability, and his opinions aud
comments regarding public affairs were read
with attention and respect. There was nothing
sensational in his dispatches. They were prac-
tical, straightforward. trustworthy and grace
fui in style. He would al auy time prefer be-
ing beaten than telegraph his newspaper a
statement that had not been upon Investigation
found 10 be true The caution that he exercised
publishers desk.
During the war;" continued Mr.. Ogden, "Nrr.
Adams was at the heighth OF his success as a
journalist. At one time / have been told he
represented the Boston Herald. NY. World, Bal
tlniore san, Chicago Times, Cincinnati C,onlB,er.
yane, savannah Netos ana Charleston C0usTer.
The income he derived at this period from
these Journals formed 1 believed the nucleus
OF which, invested at "A later date I'm The STAR,
MS fortune. He represented of course during
the war many other journals, but the newspap-
efs ABOVE named We're those from which he de-
rived the bulk OF his income. subsequently
with the cheapening of the telegraph rates. re-
ductlon In the cost OF publishing Washington
news, etc., together with "A disinclination on MIR.
Adams part to perform unnecessary labor
he dropped all his newspaper work save for the
World and afterwards abandoned that TO AS
sune the business management of The STAR.
lnnumerable incidents of Mr.. Adams kindness
To the younger men In The corps of Washington
correspondents could be given. and had he
Kept diary OF public events of what he had
Knowledge hut did not mention in his dis
patches il would make u valuable contribution
To the history OF the most exciting anG momen-
ious period in the history of the Republic.
Familiar with the eight years OF Washington
newspaper work that has followed Mr.. Adams
retirement from the position of correspondent,
can simply say that the young and inc xperi-
enced adventurer i'm the field he had SO tho
roughly explored knew no kinder friend: no
more generous opponent than him who is now
dead
Gen. Boy yntOn's Sketch.
Gen. H. V. Boynton, correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commerciat- Gazette, last night tele-
graphed to the journal he represents the follow
ing sketch of Mr.. Adams:
''The death OF George W. Adams, of THE
EVENING STAR, has brought keen sorrow TO his
large circle of friends, and especially to the
large company of Washington journalists with
whom he has been SO long Identified. For many
years he has. been the most popular, and de-
servedly the most popular, man among them.
This did not arise entirely from his unvarying
success in his profession. That early gave him
leading position here. But the kindly side of
a generous nature WAS always turned toward
every one who came in contact with him. Nor
IL because he cultivated nopuIariiV II Is
extremely doubtful whether the idea OF making
himself popular or OF adding To lIis popularity,
through long years, now covering almost gen.
GRAFTON in their reach. he has moved among his
fellows with unbroken evenness OF temper, aud
kindly, friendly, and totally unassuming ways,
attaching all 10 ann by the spell which such a
character eXerts. The death OF man like this
causes no ordinary sorrow in a community.
Mr.. Adams was born in Indiana in lS4O.
When mere boy he entered the service oil the
New York UOrtd, and was soon after sent To
establish its W asilngton Office. He held this
position through the war, and tor a long period
thereafter. He is therefore identified with the
earliest teiegrapnic correspondence from the
national capital Through the war he was
prominent here among those journalists whose
work was everywhere known, and Of whose
subsequent prominence the country knows.
Henry Willard aud Horace White, OF the Chi
cago Tribune; w hiieaw Reid, OF the Cincinnati
Guzette; lillian Swinton, OF the New York
Tunes; John Russell Young OF the Philadelphia
Press; u II. Painter, of the Philadelphia In
qiire,'; Or. Whitley, OF the New York Herald;
D. W. Bartlett, Oi the Springfield Republican;
Sidney Andrews of the Boston Aduer,iser, anu
Joseph Maciariand, oi the Philadelphia Press.
were some OF those with whom he worked sue
cessIully and always held his own in the un.
ceasing isilance and activity required OF those
VINO served the public with the hourly history
OF the war.
He was democrat, but not a partisan.
Though much OF his work was for the opposi-
toa press;t ne enjoyed & ths au confidence OF the
administration. This tact alone reveals the
man and the character Of his work. In those
times OF severe government censorship over
news, when the craving OF the public for tidings
of battle WAS never satiated and correspondents
were always on the alert for material 10 meet
this universal call tor further Information, only
the discreet could get along with the authori-
ties Oh the one hand ana satisfy the calls of the
press on the other. 10 be recognized under such
restrictions as one OF the promptest, most sue
cesS.ul and most reliable OF a company SO dis
Iinguished for its enterprise i'm gathering war
news, made Mr.. Adams man of mark in those
stirring days. the memory OF which causes these
times 10 seem like unbroken calm.
For some ten years after the war Mr.. Adams
continued the work Of Washington corre-
spondent. He then dropped ii TO become presi-
dent OF THE EVENING STAR company, and one
of its third owners. Meantime the little COM
pany OF brilliant men who organized the first
news offices AT the capital for their respective
Journals had grown TO a body of a hundred,
representing every prominent newspaper in the
land. With this company he retained his
prominence. He was the chosen leader Tor all
occasions which called tor uuited action. His
readiness of speech made him the presiding
officer. He was peculiarly happy at the head
OF a table, He was a president Of the old Press
club, and while no longer a correspondent, he
was retained as a member, and made vice
president of the existing Correspondents club.
Throughout his career his work has been
largely impersonal. Comparatively little OF il
Was over his signature. He was scarcely ever
involved in controversy. His work was the
energetic collection OF news and the judicious
and lair commenting upon public men and
measures. While he neglected no criticism
which seemed to be called for, he excited few
antagonsms. he was thoroughly acquainted
with the machinery of government aud those
in cOutrol OF ii. lie, therefore, knew ali the
sources of news, and as he enjoyed the respect
and esteem and held the confidence of those he
knew, all avenues needed Tor successful work
We're open to him.
The influence he has exerted, though SO largely
1mpersonal SO tar as the great mass of his read
ers were concerned, IL Is lmpossb Die 10 estimate.
His hand was on the keys which year after
year transmitted his observations, his views OF
public measures, his estimate OF public men, his
inside knowledge OF administration policies
and party play TO millions OF readers. 1t is
useless to attempt TO measure an influence like
that And when his facilities TOR Information
and uniform fairness and honesty are taken
into the account, IT is as impossible 10 estimate
how great is such an influence for good. There
was time when his dispatches went to the
Boston Herald, New YORK World. Philadelphia
Record, Baltimore Sun, Cincinnati CbmmercioL
Chicago Times, ST. Louis Republican, Louisville
CUur1er-JOurndt, New Orleans Picdyuae, and the
Savannah Nesos. To such an audience of read
spoke, and spoke truthfuily and honestly, year
by year. In such work there is always q
mighty power.
His success in local Journalism has been
weii-known partners, Mr.. Noyes and Mr.. kaufi-
mann, he has built up q newspaper business
which, Tor the territory within which IL ope-
rates, compares well with the most successful
A exaun Hold sroxy