Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-07
The Former Method,


of President Cleveland and continuing to
this time the method was to have the an
nual messages distributed to the country
from New York instead of from here. The
press associations and Western Union did
this. and telegraphing it to newspapers
from New York began Sunday nights Not
a copy of the message was given out in
this city until Monday. The copies were
sent from here to New York by trusted
White House messenger. Colonel Crook
was always this messenger Passing
through Baltimore he was met by the col
lector or postmaster of that city. There
he left copies for the newspapers. In
Philadelphia he did the same. The Off
Gals with whom copies were left dis
tributed them to the newspapers Monday
morning with the greatest care and Sc
crecy. Arriving in New York Sunday night
Colonel Crook left the remaining copies
with the persons charged with their dis
tribut!on personally or by wire.
Colonel Crook never went away with
these messages without arminE himself
and being on the alert. His mind was con-
stantly with his important documents. He
did not know but that at any minute an
attempt would be made to steal copy or
to assault him and take one. He was par
tfcularly careful on arriving at Jersey City.
Colonel Crook remembers when an offer
was made to a White House attache of
$4,000 for a copy of one of President John
would at any time give thousands for an
advance copy of the Presidents message.
especially in exciting times. when the Off
cial utterances of President might affect
the stock market to the extent of millions
of dollars. The premature publication of a
message would be equally dangerous.
Various Other Ways.
Prior to the foregoing method various
plans had been in use. During the admin
Of of yrjx-o 70
secretary tried a plan of sending rhe mes
sage to newspapers by mail three or four
days in advance of it's appearance in Con-
ton and dissatisfaction all around. The
plan was dropped after the first trial.
During the terms of Presidents Lincoln
and Grant. and for most of the term of
to newspaper men at the White House at
the hour Of its arrival at Congress. This
resulted In exciting contests between the
newspapers to see which would get the
message to the public quickest. No copies
were given out in advance of the hour
mentioned, and every newspaper man re-
ceived a copy at the same time. The WASH
ington papers, of course, had the advan-
tage. They did not have to wait to receive
the message by wire. There was naturally
great rivalry between the Washington pa
pers as to which would get to the public
first with the message. Horses were fire.
QuentIy stationed at the white House for
the reporters to make the race to their
offices. A few seconds difference in get
ting to the Offices might mean a beat
How The Star Secured a Scoop.
White House officials recall an exciting
race from there by newspaper men at one
time. The Star was represented by
brainy. athletic and fleet-footed young
man. who has since risen to one of the
highest rositions an the naner When the
batch Of newspaper men received the mes
sage there was a rush down the White
House steps from the Presidents office
and a race out the front door and to their
Offices. The Star representative had pom
dered how he might beat" his rivals. As
soon as the message was in his hand he
dashed down the steps. then down the
basement steps. went through tine White
House basement and rear grounds. and was
into Pennsylvania avenue on his way to his
office while his rivals were turning into
18th street on their way to the avenue
They had gone out the front OF the White
House and taken the usual roundabout
way. The Star scored one of its most nota-
BILE "beats."