The Helena independent., 1894-11-12
GREAT NEWSPAPER MAN.
Al the Head OF the Independent Telegraph
News service.

~ The Head OF the Independent Telegraph
News service.
Eastern newspaper men are confessing
that the management OF the Associated
Press has been a surprise 10 them. BY
management" Is meant the direction OF
the news gathering. These eastern news
paper men are, many of thin, very pro-
vincial. They cannot conceive OF such a
thing as newspaper training in the west
to compare with that OF the east wild
Western journalism" they admit has an
existence but II Is not TO be spoken OF In
the same breath with the eastern product
save for striking contrast. These eastern
newspaper men expected nothing else than
that in the practice OF the art OF news
gathering Walter 4. Phillips manager OF
the United Press. would easily distance
Melville +. Stone. manager OF the Asso-
ciated Press. They dwelt upon the pre-
yious feats OF Phillips. and insisted that
Stone was outclHssed The result has been
revelation 10 the eastern newspaper
men. The slender. pale cold-blooded man.
away up I'm the top OF one of Chicago's
tall buildings has taught the cffete east
erners things they never knew about thor
ough and impartial newsgathertng, The
surprise which has come out of the west
was the topic of comment In newspaper
circles not long ago. A man who had
early experience that the easterners might
see how far they were OF In their first
estimate OF him as newspaper man.
Twenty years ago, Stone was struggling
10 make a success Of the Chicago Even
ing News. In these days n big deposit
in the bank Is the first step when paper
Is 10 begin TO MI a long felt want. Twenty
years ago newspapers were started on the
expectation that they would make the big
bank deposit. Sublime faith was the cap
ital stock on which the Chicago News
was launched, and Stone was drawing
pretty strong drafts on Il when the inci-
dent occurred which made a turning point
for him. Stone was coming down town one
morning AT an hour which would make
him shudder now. lie was on his way to
the Office. A certain bank official climbed
on the car and sat beside Stone. on the
strength of chance acquaintance, the
newspaper man greeted the other and
commented on the fact that II was re-
markably early in the day TO be on the
way TO the bank. The official said II was
and what was worse he had been az the
bank until midnight the night before.
Horse cars, as compared with rapid tran
sit, have their compensatlons, Before
Stone and the bank official reached the
heart OF the city. the former had details
OF an astounding defalcation. He went TO
the News office and, guarding his sensa.
tlon jealousy, prepared 10 make the most
OF IL.
At that time the Chicago Times was at
it's zenith. Wilbur r. Storey was In his
prime. Money was no object when 1t came
to deals for exclusive news. About mid
day there was held regularly council
of war az the Times Office. The campaign
for the next mornings paper was planned
Storey was accustomed 10 call in the heads
of departments and lay out their work like
a general on this particular day that
Stone was grinding out his bank sensa-
tion, the city editor OF the Times said to
Mr.. Storey that he had learned there was
something up in banking circles and that
the News had it, The News was strug-
Cling. as Mr.. Storey knew. The city ed.
itor suggested that the offer Of snug
sum OF money would probably induce
Stone to postpone publication a day. and
provide the Times with It's daily scoop.
"Go over and try EN-" said Storey.
"Offer EN- $500"
The city editor called on Stone and sug-
gested that the bank story was worth
more to the Times as exclusive matter
than II was 10 the News II the News
did not publish II. there was little danger
OF any other paper getting IT, The Times
was prepared to give the News 500 for the
privilege Of tho first publication.
Stone listened and smiled. He shook
his head
The city editor went back and reported
10 Mr., Storey.
'DEer 'em 5000" said Mr. Storey. The
city editor returned 10 the attack Stone
listened 20 the plausible idea. That 81 600
would double the entire bank account OF
the News Just then. But the young ed
itor again shook his head,
Tho slfE aIifDr rnuortp1 his uarDud fall
uro.
MAKE il 5000" said Storey shortly. The
old mama blood WAS up.
The city editor hurried on his errand,
Tor It was getting dangerously near the
hour Of the News first edition fic found
Stone putting the finishing touches 10 HIS
bank sensation, lie delivered his third
message
"GO back and say to Mr.. storey that he
| can draw check big enough TO buy this
story from the Ncws," said Stone. shut
Ting his Jaws hard IA the 1900 danced
before him.
SOMEHOW thlH tale Of scoop rot noised
! around. From thai day iho News pros
| prr"d ns n hg1 never done before. That IL
tho kind OF O. foundation that Stone built
q newspaper reputation on IN the west
! bnt ihr raat"rners didn't know ID, and
/ ihDr"io they expected 10 scc the eastern
| champion ~ ncwEgathrrnE walk AWAY
| with Mr., Stone, ana were mistaken. as the
| ycnr's experiment has shown Has there
! hcrcn political campaign IN thirty years
before this that one party or The other did
not snvagely nssail the neWs.gat thering
service for partisan biaa?