The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-07
TWO NEWSPAPER MEN.

ne ol1er Cav Frank Na-6ernp teeA
TIP from Washington City - New aoEA
on business deal involving sss.S4s - a
Efiie ever seven years aso l net rFsaA
Nsnaerlp When be was h,ghly elafed ever
zcNancarg from The position OK SUP
or me Saseago Tribune .cca1 SAT- 70 TIE
title O. financial editor, Now re
slsE.nr secretary O. the treasury OF tae
United States
The st5Ty IS ere OF scr.e interest IN this
state. as 4 was due entirely 10 emporium
ties arising 70 ysnderiip through 500
kane enterprise that he Is now Occupying
his high position.
Early in Iss9 Two newspaper men IN chi
cage were negotiating to start the srse-
kane Spokesman. One II these men was
Joseph French Johnson, then nnancaai
editor OF ire Chicago Tribune. the other
was the writer. Johnson vas prototype
CT So Smith Russell 10 appesTance-taii.
lank and sraoogh-shaven. A graduate OF
old Harvard. ae chung seu6sriy 20 TIE ca
university and all Of is ASSOCIATIONS
Socially johnson was good companion
created warm friendships. and Kept his
friends for he was loyal as the days
drew near for johnson 70 leave Chicago
for Spokane. he introduced me 20 2 hgnt-
haired sentlenzn-prernatarel gray, II l
remember arizht-rnuch younger than niIr-
self. who was accompanying him on his
rounds among the financsers Of Chicago.
1t was Ar. Vanderbilt
The next day Mr.. Johnson told me that
Mr.. yandsrlip was personal friend OF his.
who had come up from the interior some
where and was endsavorins 20 secure
foothold among the Chicago newspapers.
He had been placed on the Trioune's sub
list or reporters through Mr.. Joansons ef-
forts. but while he had secured the conf
dence of his city editor. he had not sue
ceeded IN obtaining regular employment,
hpFnr7trz hz- TtSFTlraFH0.
Mr.. Eanderlip is a bright fellow, said
Mr.. Johnson. though he Is rather easy
going for a husiling reporter. He mas
good financial head on his shoulders, how
ever. and. knowing him as ] do, ! can see
more In him than Is apparent on the sur
face. he might make only an ordinary re-
porter. but i am satisfied he would make
good financial editor. have recommended
him for the position upon my retirement,
and IL he Is given a chance believe he viii
make a success Of II"
Johnson's work took him among the
greatest financial heads in Chicago. Daily
he had to chat with such men as Lyman
Gage, the head of Chicago's greatest bank:
Fl. II. kohlsaat. successful business man
and fnancier; Phil Armour. Chicagos
greatest business man. and others OF that
character. The day / met Mr.. Vanderiip
he had been getting acquainted, through
Mr.. Johnson with such men as these.
Later Mr.. Johnson came West TO Spo-
kane. and Mr.. vanderlp was appointed TO
his position on the Chicago Tribune. True
to Mr.. Johnson's words. yanderiip was
success. He plodded along. without any
effort at dash or esprit, until he had mas
tered his detail. and then he advanced
rapidly.
Vanderlip was open, honest, frank. His
position was one OF great importance 10 the
hnanciers OF Chicago. Always around
them looking for pointers" always alert
for great deals In bonds. real estate. or
what not; always awake for information
OF the organization of powerful syndicates
10 build great railroads. gas or electric
works. street railways. or to secure cor
ner on wheat. they knew not what minute.
were he disposed, he might ruin some
gigantic enterprise by making II public be-
fore they were ready and exposing their
intentions to rivals. But Vanderlip was
discreet. He knew when an item was ripe.
and never tipped his hand. His good
fellowship, honor and conservatism, to-
sether with his ability to grasp a financial
problem. quickly gained him the confidence
and goodwill Of the big financiers he met.
Mr.. Vsnderlip was never dependent upon
his salary for livelihood. He was one OF
the 'fortunates" OF the earth in having an
income. His friendship among Chicago's
great men undoubtedly gave him many op-
he prospered as few newspaper editors
prosper. and was considered a rich man
In 1895.
When Lyman Gage was appointed TO a
position in the cabinet as secretary OF the
treasury. there was but one request he
made 10 President Mckinley. Il wish 10
name my own assistant" he said, and the
request was granted. II is big position.
that of assistant secretary OF the treasury,
not only one OF trust responsibility and
good pay. but IL gives the holder standing
among the big financial men OF the Uni
ted States when the administration has
changed. Naturally. there were many
applicants: men from every state In the
Union were candidates, some with In
dorsements so great that II would seem
they could not be overlooked Mr.. Van
derlip had not even filed an application,
aud when Secretary Gage said he had ap-
pointed Frank A. Vanderlip, of Chicago,
as his assistant, every politician IA the
capital wondered how the successful man
secured such a strong pull" There was
no pull" about IL Mr.. Nanderlip had
won Mr.. Cages confidence and esteem,
and when he looked around for an avail
able man, in whose hands he could safely
place all of his official honor, he turned
naturally to the Chicago newspaper man
and appointed him.
The Spokane Spokesman IS no more. 1t
lived three years. and then passed into
other control Joseph French Johnson Is
now occupying a chair IN the University
OF Pennsylvania. having lest his money
and time in the Spokane newspaper ven
ture. / often wonder IT, had he retained
his position on the Chicago Tribune his
acquaintance with the great Chicago
banker would have been Of the benefit 20
him that IL was 70 his successor. the man
ne introduced 10 Lyman Gage.
4 a