Telegram-herald., 1889-07-11

An Interesting sketch Read by Mort L.
ifppkiu~.

Mort l.. Hopkins, of this city, gave
some interesting "reminiscences of the
late Wilbur +. Storey.
Mr.. Hopkins was connected with the
Chicago Tines during the war period,
and was therefore we'll acquainted with
Mr.. Storey. The paper was as follows:
II had proposed writing upon the
press-what lt had done, and what 1T
can debut only IL slight reflection was
needed to tell me that the subject was
4 trlte one, requiring more of yersatil-
ity and imagination than possessed to
invest IL with novelty. 80 instead of
this thought that some "reminiscences
OF one of the most prominent journal
lists OF our Western states, and whose
paper for many years WAS foremost III
enterprise and IN collecting news, re-
gardlcss of expense, might prove OF III
terst to the meeting. Many OF the
veteran editors of Michigan Will re-
member Wilbur F. Storey rs the pro-
prletor and editor OF the Detroit Free
Press. In what | shall SAY OF HIM here
| shall discll.m any intention OF spe2k-
ing "a partisan, bat OF course the
meeting Will understand that rs has
reputation Is au eminent and success
ful manager in the domain OF news
paperdOn' WAS achieved rs u partisan
OF rather extreme type, there can be no
discussion of hlm as such without ref
erence to his political opinions. TO at
tempt this would be like an attempt to
play Hamlet and leave the melancholy
prince out of the play.
The sagacity uf Storey in Judging Of
the tiniesand probable course OF events
WIS strikingly q splayed IN the fall and
winter of 1850. after the election of
Lincoln IN that year tho Free Press pre-
dlcted The see lUu OF the southern
states, and published almost daily ac-
counts Of tic speeches and uttcrInces
OF Southern leaders. At that time 1t
was generally estimated to be a badly
distorted judgment to suppose that
serious attempt would hc made by the
South 20 Withdraw from the Union.
The iudgncutOt Storey was discredited
by men of all parties. and ms motives
were perenptorly challenged and
made tap s,lbiNCtfOr invectIve as severe
As his Ccnsors could employ. What
ever may have been h.s purpose IN
such acton, time vas sw II III APPROX
ing his SSH as prophet.
lis foresight WIS shown about tins
time in selling the Free Press which was
then established on a paying hasis, and
ms purchase of the Chicago Times. lie
foresaw the rapid growth of Chicago,
and the success winch must attend q
vel managed newspaper of pro-
nOunccd Democratic type IN that field.
Il WAS here that his seiil as a journalist
vas admirably displayed. by this I
mean much more than tile conduct If
thc editorial department. The presses
and type, and mdced al of the ma
ter.al OF the Tsass when purchased by
hIu were worn out, and hc Was COM
PEELED immedist 81 tO rc.it the office ia
every branch He carried wlth hlm
from i'etrft less than = coo and TO.
RETURNS sa the Jsmss estsh shmCut for
tne FIRST year he was oii god 20 lncur
an indebtedness from which man of
less nerve and less sa-3cty would have
recnlC,i.
Up - that date he had owed his sue
cess IN the world % industry. tact, ina
piidence anj economy. Perhaps Il I
should substitute Ins.elerce f0r Imnl-
aeucp. and for economy PenuFs0usnes
nv description III the qualities waien
az th-s period II bis Gfe were foremost
n h,s s8Vsncemart would Re nore a.
Cnrate. lie never perm tied his PEN
uriousass. however. 60 restrict osltIavs
wh1th he thnueit necessary far che
sreceSs of tfe Iate. ~ the he tf
news he had q cig-3petlt1r In the
lCoa.iaaca on slAtA gaseg