, 1889-05-09

BY The New York World on the occasion
a the Washington inaugural centennial
Two days prior 10 the occurrence OF that
event kilograms we're sent TO the Worlds
army Of salaried correspondents In every
city and hamlet in the United States. in
struoting them to forward by wire the off,
cial lists Of the local dignitaries and mill
tary and civic organizations which had ar
ranged to attend the celebration. The
ponderous mass of matter thus accumu-
lated was carefully tabulated and arranged
In the order of states and towns, so that
the readers might see at q glance If any of
their friends were coming. The names
we're set in agate type and filled thirty
three columns of that mammoth sheet, in
An edition Of forty eight pages.
Within the recollection of the present
proprietor OF the World such a feat was
never dreamed of and il suggested few
years ago would have been promptly re-
jected as an impossibility. Its successful
accomplishment forcibly illustrates the
marvellous progress of journalism since
Washington's day, all of which is due to
the advanced thought in America and
American enterprise, which has revolu'
ionised the business of newspaper making
throughout the world. As an example it
has been related that when Washington
died an attache of one of the leading
newspapers in New York suggested that
il might be well for the editor
70 attend the funeral "Oh, no." he
replied; ut would cost $50 or more, and
some one will write us an account of it in
Q week or two." At the centennial cele-
bration the Worlds telegraphic dispatches
alone cost great many thousand dollars,
and the investment yielded An enormous
profit.
In thie connection il may not be i'm
proper to mention that the career of Mr..
Joseph Pulitzer, proprietor and editor of
the World. has been remarkable. He was
born in Buda- Pesth, Hungary, in l847,
and came to this ,ountry in early youth.
Proceeding to st. Louis he took position
~ reporter for the Westliche Post, of which
General Carl Schurz was editor. Subse-
quently he acquired proprietary
interest in that paper, and
became its managing editor. He
conducted it as republican paper until
after the famous split in the party in Mis-.
souri, in 1870. over the question of the re.
epfranchisement OF those who had borne
arms against the United States during the
war Of the rebellion. While the regular
republicans insisted that the suffrage
should be withheld from the rebels until
complete and unqualified political suffrage
and civil rights had been accorded the
negro, Mr.. Pulitzer united with William
Grosveuor, editor Of the st. Louis Demo.
csat, in the leadership Of so-called
liberal republican movement, the object
Of which WAS to incorporate in the plat
form of the republican party re-en-
franchisement plank. They were out
numbered in the convention, and after
two days flibustering, they bolted
and nominated b. Gratz Brown for Cover.
nor, against Joseph w. McClurg, the
choice of the regular republicans. The
democrats made no nomination and sup
ported the liberal ticket, which was over
whelmingly triumphant, but the result
vas fatal to the republican party in Mis-
souri,.
This victory gave Mr.. Pulitzer greater
prominence than he hsd ever enjoyed be-
fore, and taking advantage OF the oppor-
tunity he urged the formation of ma
tional liberal party, and it was mainly
due to his efforts that B. Gratz Brown
was nomi mated for the vice presidency on
the Greeley ticket. After that campaign
Mr.. Pulitzer identified himself with the
democratic party. He purchased the st.
Louis Dispatch, which was founded by
Stilson Hutcbins, now owner of the WASH
'ington, d. c., Post and consoli-
dated it with the Evening
Post, under the hyphenated name OF
the Post Dispatch. of which he is still pro-
prietor. Manton Marble had retired from
the New York World and that paper was
regarded as a decidedly shaky concern.
Mr.. Pulitzer bought 1t for song and was
ridiculed by the metropolitan press for his
audacity in coming out from the wild
West to teach New Workers how TO make
newspaper. Under his magic touch the
uaper Immediately spraDR into prOmi-
nepce. and grew and grew with rapidity
that was astonishing, until it now stands
vithout q rival. Just to show his oppo.
nents what be could do, Mr.. Pulitzer ran
for gress and was elected. but immedi.
stely resigned, because his newspaper re-
ouired his undivided attention. aud was
worth even more than the presidency.