Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-04-14
A BUSY CROWD.
The Newspaper Men in and
About the State House
Duringthe Sessions of the Gen.
eral Assembly.

During the Sessions of the Gen.
eral Assembly.
The Members Whom the Reporters ''Have
1t In For" Have Hard Row to Hoe by
Decidedly Large Majority-'Scoops"
Carefully Guarded-A Number of Mem
bers Have Impaired Their Usefulness
by Talking Too Much - The Con-
gressional Aspirants.
COLUMBUS, o., April 12.
The newspaper men in and about the
legislative halls have not q little to do
with the busy life therein. They begin
their grind at 10 in the morning and
keep steadily at it until late at night,
often keeping up their hustle and grind
until long after midnight. These news
gatherers are the medium through
which the doings of the legislators filter
to the latter's constituency, and as a
consequence if member is sharp he
will keep on friendly terms with the
busy men at the little desks up front.
All men do things, even in the legisla-
ture, that they want olher men TO know.
and all men do things they don't want
anybody to know.
The newspaper man who discriminates
wisely in this regard is the popular fel-
low; but if something should happen to
bring the wrath of the writer down
upon the head of the lawmaker, those
things which ought to be unmentioned
are often found in print while what is de-
sired spread broadcast over the state is
as often very carelessly omitted-unless
it be news that has to go. But that is
human nature and in the present legis-
lature peace has reigned supreme be-
tween the press and the representatives
of the people.
The News Gatherers.
The Cincinnati Enquirer man is J. B.
Faulkner He is rotund of figure, hand
some of face and stylish of dress. He
sends out more matter than any other
man, for his paper requires more. He
has nose for news and his matter con-
tains its share of scoops" He sticks to
his work when it is at hand and is
popular all over the state house.
One of the old timers is Pierce Stevens,
of the Columbus Dispatch. He has
never missed report Of secret caucus
in sixteen years; some of these reports
have been noted for their completeness
Mr.. Stevens writes for a number of
papers in addition to his regular work
and besides he is pretty well fixed
financially, being the owner of two or
three Columbus brick blocks. His legis-
lative reports are accurate and copious.
Mr.. George Gordon does the Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette work. He can
keep the run of every motion and legis-
lative act no matter how intricate and
at the same time keep his pencil chasing
itself across the paper in an effort to
keep up with the grind. Mr.. Gordon is
something of a politician and keeps his
two eyes looking in as many directions
for news which he always finds.
The Cleveland Leaders interests are
looked after by Reporter Heiss. Mr..
Heiss is putting in his first year at legis-
lative work, but is turning out reports
| that would do a veteran credit. He is
short and wide, an early riser, steady
feeder and hard worker.
Jack Conley-there is only one Jack
sends reports to the Toledo Bee and the
Cincinnati Freie Presse. Mr.. Conley
ownes two third interest in the Colum-
bus Sunday News, the best edited week.
ly newspaper in Ohio, and his career in
and about the state house covers a
period of seventeen years. He is gray
haired, possessed of small, piercing eye,
and smokes his cigar long time after ii
is out.
Mr.. Claude Meeker after q life of ease
on The Enquirer, supplemented by two
years as assistant governor of Ohio, is
back in the harness at work, doing
special for the Cincinnati Post. Claude
had little experience while in the gov
ernors Office, in the way of cashing
drafts, and as he walks back and forth
among us now with the stride of a
Chesterfield, he looks as if he were
afraid some one else might strike him tc
cash a check or draft. Barring q
frequent use in his reports of the first
personal pronoun, Claude is all right.
i Clement Vallandigham, son of his
father, is doing routine work for the
Cincinnati Post. Mr.. Vallandighan
never hurries, but gets there just the
same. His largeness of figure and red
ness of face are his distinguished
features.
Messrs. Bancroft and Flickinger lool
after The State Journals work. They
are both tall and slim, and as the,
haven't telegraph tolls between them
selves and the home Office they max,
plenty of "copy." They are quiet il
demeanor, but work like double team
Reporters Landon, of the Clevelant
Press, his brother, of The Commercial
Gazette, Webb, of the Columbus Dis
patch, Kelley, of the Columbus Post
and old patriarch Colonel Taylor, ar
some of the others that look after tn
festive item in this manufactory 0