The Globe-republican., 1894-08-17

well acquainted with the senator, and
known to all of his friends as an hon.
orable and relia bic man, or no member
OF the senate will repose in him such
confidence. In the second place no
newspaper man can succeed in his bust
ness and continue in Washington who
GlvulGeS the name of his informant.
Livery newspaper man realizes the fact
that after he loses the confidence of
one public man in any great matter he
will lose the confidence of all public
men. Without personal relations of
the most cordial character and upon
terms of social and intellectual equal
ity with public men, no newspaper
man in the national capital can reach
the top round of the ladder in his pro
fession
During the preparation of the Nc
Kirlcy bill in 1890, every newspaper
man in Washington endeavored to Sc
cure copy of the first proof sheets Of
the proposed bill. but the members of
the committee were under a pledge of
secrecy that no information concerning
the bill should be given out until it
was reported to the house. The day
was finally set for the chairman of the
committee on ways and means, Maj.
Mckinley. to deliver the report to the
house and make speech on the sub
ject of the tariff. On the afternoon
preceding. one Of the members of that
important committee met a newspaper
man who was his particular friend, in
npn Of ha corri1orc <ho oo~:<o1
said: After supper tonight intend
to go to my room and take smoke and
also nap for about an hour. ALWAYS
leave my Overcoat on the rack in the
hall by the front door. BY the way, il
You are in my neighborhood tonight
drop in and see my wife. I have no
doubt she will be glad to entertain YOU
for little while: and you have not
called upon us for some time
The correspondent. knowing the din.
ner hour Of the distinguished repre-.
sentative. called at his house between
seven and eight o'clock, was received
by his wife, and ushered into the par
Tor. After talking for few moments,
the madam excused herself, saying that |
one of the members of the family was !
not very well and she would see if it |
was not about the proper time to ad.
minister some medicine. Before that
patient received that mag.
mary dose of medicine. and before the
madam returned to the room, the cor.
had distracted the proof.
sheet copy Of the Mckinley bill from
the inside pocket of the overcoat which
was hanging upon the rack in the hall.
The full text of the Mckinley bill was
sent by wire that night and printed
the following morning; and nobody
until this day has ascertained how it
came to be published. Each member
Of the committee had but one copv of
the proof sheet Of that bill. At the
meeting of the committee on the fol.
owing morning each member produced
lis copy of the bill: SO that every mem.
Der of the committee felt himself alb
solved from the suspicion of having
'iven the information which had been
printed. This unanimity of showing OF
he copies of their bill was made DOS
ible only by the prompt return of the
by the newspaper man
fter it had been used in his own office
" his telegraph operator, whose wire
directly with the home office
And yet great many people in thi.
ountry continue to wonder how it i.
hat such important news matters are !
iscovered In the national capital. ,
SMITH D. Fry. I