Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-28
HE GOT THE NEWS.
A Green Reporters Assignment on =
street-car Strike, and How it Worked.

When I was in Chicago last summer
told me this story, which will show the
| advantage of not having an excuse,
! SAYS writer in the Detroit Free Press.
Some years ago green-looking fell
low appeared in the city editors room
from no one knew where, and wanted
a job. The city editor told him, as he
had told hundreds of fellows before
him, that there was no vacancy at
present-that is the usual formula-but
that if he came across good bit of
news it would be cheerfully accepted
and paid for.
Well, the young man brought in
what stuff he could, and sometimes an
item or two was used; but more often
nothing was available. and the fellow
lived as best he could and slept in
sheds or in the park and never grum-
| bled. The editor began to get tired Of
seeing his want-stricken face, and once
! or twice advised him to 60 home, but
the young man said that perhaps .
chance would come along bye-and-by,
! and anyhow he was here to stay. Ono
night the city editor said to him:
"If you want q chance, there's .
| beautiful one open for you tonight
The street-car men are having meet
! ings every night, and we can't find
out what they're up to. They meet at
! the corner of -th street and -
avenue"
"All right" said the young man.
'Have you any objection to my saying
I'm reporter of this paperP"
Al. - a.
with grin. ST might say, though.
that Ratigan, who tried to get to last
nights meeting, is in the hospital to-
day."
Seeing how much in earnest the
! young man was, the editor added:
1.-THE meeting is SHADES regular as
Segment tonight, but I don't think
he'll get much except broken head,
perhaps. Anyhow, if you get any
thing at all it'll help out. Here's q
couple of dollars to meet any expenses
! you may have"
Shortly after midnight the young
man appeared in the city editors room.
He looked as if he had been principal
in prize-fght.
"WelIP'' said the city editor.
"I couldn't get in," remarked the
young man. HAS Mr.. Slade brought
! anything.P"
! ayes, a tirst-rate excuse like yours"
81 tried to pass the guards, but they
flung me downstairs. That's how
got this" pointing to his cut and swol,
len lip.
That's all right. didn't expect
you'd get in.''
II bribed fellow for dollar to let
me in the back way. They found me
out and dropped me out of the win
dow. That's how | got this" pointing
to his closed right eye.
'Well, you mustn't feel discourag-
ed. 3"
81 felt little cast down when they
dropped me out of the window"
That is not bad. You ought to ap-
ply for position in the paragraph de-
partment."
81 climbed up to the roof on the
rear fre-escape, got into the top story
through the trap-door, went down to
the room above them by the stair, and
found that the stovepipe came up
through the foor.'
Yes" said the city editor with in.
creasing interest
lueN Wolc having sum d oIOI my
time below that | removed the stove
pipe without any one hearing, and
held the lower pipe from falling with
nv left hand"
YES"
81 could move it aside and see all ]
wanted to and hear everything"
"Yes.'
They have resolved to go on strike
on all the lines at o'clock tomorrow
morning, and every one is sworn to
secrecy"
Great Scott" cried the city editor,
jumping to his feet. "Write that up.
Give us all you can of it"
at is written up. You see, the
electric light opposite made the room
light enough to write by, and had to
stay there and hold the stovepipe till
everyone was gone, and then fit it up
again so they wouldn't suspect. Good
scheme for next meeting. So / wrote
it up as lay there"
"Great head" said the city editor.
The young man is now managing
one of the biggest papers in the west
and all because his rule was: