The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-30

shrewd enough to take in toe situation
trom the outset. As indicated by the
conversation he feigned full knowledge
of the arrangement. Feeling assured
that the three papers would hack" him
he determined that if it was the message
that the man had he should not take it
awav with him.
Are you positive there is no other
copy out?"
Pledge You my word on it, said the
stranger"
Lay it down here said the Times.
"call around Monday morning and
you'll get your money. on condition
that no other newspapers have it."
''All right" said the stranger, and
shereupon he laid upon the correspond
snt's table printed copy of the Presi-
;ient's message. and departed. The
Times man quickly thrust it into his
pocket and fastened to find his part
ners'' of the Chicago Times and Gin
cinnati Enquirer There was great re-
ioicing as they perfected their plans for
getting the message off to their respect
i've papers without its leaking ont. The
least slip in the arrangements might
prove fatal. In order that they might
not excite suspicion along the Row they
hired for the night room at the Ebbitt
House, which they used as their head
quarters" They decided to admit the
Boston Globe into the combination.
which would make the cost of the mes
sage 1915 to each of the four papers.
the additional expense to each for tele-
graphing il as a special being about
800. The Globe man wired his paper
On the subject and received reply that
he might give $3.50 and no more The
other fellows refused to let the Globe in
unless it would paw its full share; so
the Boston people did not have the mes
sage 10 mix with their bean-porridge.
In the meantime the New York. Chi
cago and Cincinnati papers had tele
graphed their representatives fully APP
proving the arrangement, and telling
them to secure it at any price. The
most discreet of their number was out
to privately interview the manager oil
the telegraph office, and invoke upon
him all the curses in the calendar if he
permitted anybody in that Office. through
which it must 60. to give it away.
The precious copy was deposited in
MS hands with full instructions, and the
three lucky journalists sauntered down
AiOng the Row. They called upon THEN
friends. the wretched correspondents of
old togy journals. who had not enter
prise enough to do so easy thing as
getting a Presidents Message two DAYS
ahead OF time. They inquired for news
as if they had not already furnished
their papers with just as much as they
could handle. and asked despairingly il
anybody had heard anything about the
message. All this time the ten or twelve
thousand words were chasing each other
over half dozen wires to each of the
three cities.
Next morning the Row showed early
signs of animation. The representatives
of the two Illnesses and the Enquirer
knew the boys would be around betimes
to continue with redoubled vigor their
aunt for the message. as this would be
the last day of grace. Conscious of the
entire success of their scheme the three
met by appointment and went down the
Row TO see the boys and hear the re-
turns come in.
Half dozen able journalists Were
standing in front of General Boynton' s
Office. As the trio came up they ac-
costed the former with:
''Have you got On to the message
yet?''
mo. have you?" was the reply.
''Well," said the New York man, 81
sent it to the Times last night
There was a stare of wild amazemeni
on the faces of the disguised group.
Their eyes opened still wider when the
two others chimed in:
The Cincinnati people are all read
ing it in the Enquirer this morning.
Me, too" said the Chicago Time:
man.
And those who ..got left walked
sadly away. At that time there Wa,
nothing on earth that had any interest
to them.
As the three heroes of the hour
walked up the street they met the cor
respondent of the Chicago Tribune. 1t
was now their time to be surprised and
particularly he of the Chicago Times.
His utter generalization may be inn
s;gined when the Tribune. with a broad
sni-5 II nisI race, SAID to them:
well. boys. that was a good job.
You deserve a credit mark. But the
Tribune has got the message all the
samer'
And this proved to be true. In some
way the Tribune people had the idea
that it would appear that morning in
New York. The difference in time OF
an hour afforded the possibility of hav.
ing il telegraphed from that city im-
mediately upon its publication. and Vet
the amount of matter to be handled
was so large as to render the feat a
difficult one. In carrying out such
scheme it was necessary that
the issue in Chicago be made as
nearly as possible even with the Times.
In anticipation of such an attempt. and
to prevent it if possible the New York
Times DELAYED its issue fifteen or twenty
minutes. until it could be no longer kept
back and meet the early outgoing
trains.
The Chicago Tribune people had the
impression that it was the World that
had the message. and kept that office
closely picketed all the latter part OF
the night. Thay also had their Skin
mishers at each of the other offices. The
first copy of the Times that appeared
on the street was snatched up by rep
resentative Of Chicago paper, who
went with it a: his utmost speed to the
telegraph office. The manager of the
after had been notified of the job and
rad ready all the operators that could
Ne employed. Corresponding arrange
nents were made at the other end
Of the line, and the message in sections
went b,zzing over twenty wires There
toinr little ordinary business at that