The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-03
TREAT THE REPORTER RIGHT!
This "Reminiscences Is a Reminder
That Times Have Changed.

This "Reminiscences Is a Reminder
That Times Have Changed.
When the New York Times was the
leading Republican paper in the United
States-ns the Press Is today-and the or
gan OF its party. it's editor was Louis j.
Jennings. who sfterward went to Eng
land, tecame editor of the London Week
and member OF parliament for Stuck port
One day Carl Schurz, William Steinway
German Republican Club called on him
with request that the Times give a gen
erous amount OF space to the speeches to
be delivered on that svening at ths clubs
annual banquet. and, OF course, MIR. Jep-
nings assented, as the Gt mans we're get
ting to be a considerable power In pcIi-
tics. With profuss- thanks the committee
retired.
Mr.. Jennings Instructed General (then
Colonel) Howard Carroll, his next in su-
tbor!ty, to SEQ that an excellent report of
the dinner was published-at least two
columns At o o'clock he went nome for
the night. leaving Carroll In charge.
Ashley w. Cole. afterward Governor Nor
tons private secretary and now president
or the state railroad commissi ion at $4,000
year, was the star reporter on the Tines
and. rs he had about tho only evening
clothes known 20 the Office. to him fell
the assignment to "sover" the German
Republicans. Ashley" said his chief.
Carroll, "remem Der that these are the in
structions OF Mr.. jennings; he wants at
least two columns about the hanoust In
your best style" And Ashley departed
for the scene of action in his best bib aud
tucker.
At IL O'Clock Cole showed ND In the
Office with bundle OF notes. "WelI.
how much have you gotg" asked Carroll.
81 can give you three or four columns, IL
you want so much, +" said Colo. "WelL
make It three columns" was the order.
"But let me tell you how they treated
me, the reporter begged. After ten
minutes OF hard work at the door man
aged to gain aamittance. There was not
another newspaper man present. and the
master OF ceremonies seated me Mt table
in corner whore ths walters thrsw tho
dirty dishes. They spilled soup ali over
me and messed me up een, rally. No one
Of the committee cane near me. I was
too far from tho speakers 10 hear we'll.
but managed TO get enough stuff for three
columns" lilo started off to his desk 20
write, but Carroll stopped him. Ash
Icy, ;" he said, after thinking the matter
over guess you'd better mako para
graph OF three lines ABOUT the pandust,
simply saying that 1t took plnce - Tho
three lines appeared next morning In agate
solid In dark corner Of the paper.
MIR. Jennings reached the office at 10
o'clock in towering frenzy and distrac-
tion. MIR. Carroll was sent for The edl-
tor-in chief suffered. "M-n mi. stsr C.
C-C-ar.'oll." he screeched In his high
pitched voic, "w-w-w-what docs Ga is
mesU, sirY pointing to the three-iine
paragraph. "D-co-do you remombsr sir
that NV orders wero to give at least two
columns TO this banquet ?"
mir. Jennings" Carroll said, calniA
III you will allow me to explain"
"E.e-e-expls.n, sirf w-w-w.what ex-
PLANTATION is possible? Why were my 90
o-or,isis dd .d'sobeyed, sir'
Carroll repeated the story OF Coles
treatment. whereupon Jennings all afro,
spranG up and said:
mir. C-C.C-Carroll. i AIN disappointed
In you, sir After what you hsve told me
I am surprised t-t-t-that you n-mmen-
toned the damned dinner at all !"
Jennings, ono uf the lovable men In
journalism, disl in London five years
ago. ut tho age of 56.--New York Press