Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-04-21

Has His Special journalistic Friend.
Some Gossip That VIII BE Interesting.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-rhe newspaper
press is a great and powerful institution at
the national capital. There are few public
men so great or so prosperous that they
can afford to ignore its friendly aid or be
indifferent to it's criticism. Even presi-
dents seek to win favor in the eyes of the
modern Argus, which sees all things and
has all mems fame and popularity safe in
the grasp of its metal fingers. In the old
days it was quite the thing for an admins
tration to have its organ at the national
capital to lie for it, to praise it, to abuse
enemies for it, These organs were general
ly maintained by means of the public
printing, Just as the county commissioners
in some western county may support a
friendly weekly by means of the tax list
and other official advertising. Such an
organ was the old National Intelligeucer
and such were many other papers found
ed, or at least started, after it, But of late
years the business of maintaining friend
ly newspaper at the capital has not been in
vogue. 1t was found that it did not pay.
A paper at the capital has very little in
fuence upon public sentiment ''in the
provinces" as they say abroad. The great
newspapers printed ut the commercial
centers, and the even more powerful local
apress, which in a measure draws its in
SEPARATION from the city journals, are the
real arbiters of power-the leaders and
molders of public opinion. 1t follows,
therefore, that the agencies which admin
istrations and ambitious public men cult
vate are the Washington correspondents of
the big papers. These are the men who
make and uumalIe presidents, who tear
down or build up senator's and who re
elect or defeat representatives in Congress.
Nowadays the fashion is for public men to
have, not an organ, in the old sense, but
intimate relationship with one or more cor
respondents The relationship is, Of course,
like all enduring relationships in this self
ish world, one of mutual advantage. 1t is
good thing for the statesman and good
thing for the correspondent.
When Gen. Grant came to Washington
to be president he picked out as his news
paper friend Mr.. Deb Randolph Keim, an
old army correspondent. If Grant had
news or opinions or Inspirations to give IL
the newspapers keim was sent for. Before
Grant, Andrew johnson had his newspaper
friend in the person of DR.. Warden, one of
the old time correspondents, who died a
few weeks ago full Of years and honors
After Grant the custom was kept up 10y
other presidents. Hayes and Garfield
looked TO Gen. Boynton, of The Cincinnati
Commercial Gazette, still one Of the most
prominent and popular of the Washington
writers, as he is one Of the ablest and old
est. Cleveland depended upon Dan La
mont, himself an old newspaper man
and Daniel knew his business and ATTENDED
to it 50 faithfully that now he is in a fai
way TO become a millionaire. Lamont wa
very free in talking with correspondent
.who would treat him and the presiden
well, and be used often to come down OF
Newspaper Row to give his friends tip
Lamont was of positive benefit to his chic
in the way of avcrting misrepresentation
and in toning down criticism.
President Harrison has no newspape
mouthpiece at the capital. Private Secre
tary Halford is an old newspaper man, an
has the respect of all the corps, but he /
not communicative, and is of 80 little bene
fit to the writers that the great majorit
of them never go to the White House ur
less errands Of necessity take them there
Mr.. Hafford is always courteous, and eve
genial, but he gives no news, and does nc
even let little tips run OF the end OF hi
tongue-an art in which Lamont excellc
all private secretaries ever seen in the e'
ecutive mansion. Col. Perry Heath, a
alert correspondent, formerly of lndianaI
oils, and personal friend Of the presiden
was expected TO be n mOuthpiece Of the az
ministration in certain ways and on ce
tain occasions, but IL has not turned out
be 50.
Conkling and Blaine were two great pul
lie men who made il a rule 10 maintai
friendly relations with certain newspapt
men. Oddly enough, the newspaper writ
who was nearest Coukliug's confidence
the same man who is now nearest Blaine
Since the death of his son Walker M
Blaine has leaned much upon William
Curtis a well known newspaper write
who, as special agent of the state depar
ment, managed the Pan-American tou
Mr. Blaine has had other close newspap
friends, among them Mr.. T. g. Crawfor
who is now writing letters to two or thr
metropolitan journals. To all other new
paper men Mr.. Blaine denies himself e
cept on rare occasions.
The late Secretary Window had TIL
appreciation Of newspaper men and q
best method Of dealing with them. II
door was always open to representatly
Of the press, and he treated them all alik
II he had news to give out-and he gent
ally had, for be was inclined to constr
literally the laws Of propriety respecul
publication OF official matters-any o
that asked could have it. In the matter
interviews and opinions he was equal
impartial and maintained no favoritis
An instance of this was had but fe
weeks before his death. A corresponds
whom he had never known went to
house one night, engaged him in conver'
ton on the financial situation and t
probable action of the treasury with T
erence thereto, and went away with c
umn interview which attracted astenti
all over the country.
Postmaster General Wanamaker Is Z
other good friend Of the newspaper cor
He is approachable and laxative II
chances to have anything to say or IL {
proprieties Of the occasion will permit h
to talk. If he can't talk he Will yt
frankly and promptly say so. The b
public man seen in Washington in man!
day, from a newspaper standpoint, was \
Wanamaker's late first assistant, \
Clarkson. He was not only ready a
fluent talker, but man OF couragec
methods, never afraid he was going to
criticised for saying word too much, a
besides, as an old newspaper man, he KIN
what was news and what was not, wi
vas good gossip and what was stale a
unavoidable In addition 70 all this
.vaa and still is one of the best inform