The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-05-02

How the Nescren Oes~os nv
seeking the Cabinet Member In His
LAir-Running Down Rumors.
WASHINGTON. May s.-[Special The
last few months have been very trying
Don the newspaper correspondents OF the
national capital. In somewhat extended
experience as a newspaper man In this
city do not remember another period In |
which the energies, the endurance and the
stayinp qualities of the men of the profess
sion were put to so severe test as they |
have been since the outbreak OF the Span
ish crisis. Starting with the letter OF Du-
puy de LONE in which that diplomat ex-
cited the world by Offering an Insult to |
the president of the United States the |
newspaper correspondents of Washington
have had no rest or peace. One sensational
phase of our relations with Spain has ioi- |
lowed fast upon another's heels, and for |
more than six weeks now the tension has |
been sharp and continuous. 1t must be
remembered that the newspaper corre- |
spondents are compelled to start their work
early in the morning in such times as
these, and they are rarely through with
their daily tasks before midnight or or
even o'clock in the morning. The
amount of energy, of nervous force, they
are called upon To expend In hunting IN
formation and then in putting 1t In proper
form for transmission upon the wires 10
something tremendous.
It may we'll be doubted IL any other men
| In Washington have had such hard and
trying work to do as the correspondents.
| IL there is any exception, 1t must be made
| in the case of President Mckinley. His
| Job has been a hard one, indeed, and
have heard more than one veteran corre-
| spondent say with evident earnestness ana
| sincerity, "The presidents place Ii the
| only one in town that Is harder than
| mine" The fidelity and accuracy with
which the news of the day has been re-
ported from Washington throughout this
| long period of strain speaks volumes for
the newspaper men of this city. As mat
| ter of fact there has been very little sensa-
| tionalism. Nineteen correspondents out
| of 20 have striven with might and main to
present nothing but the truth. In order
| to make sure of their facts they have run
the town over from early in the morning
| till late at night, waking members OF the
| cabinet and important senators out or
their beds and refusing to accept rumor
for news.
Correspondents on the Jump.
One thing that has made the work hard
for the men of the press is the manner in
which the news has been scattered through
the city. Some days the shuttlecock or
excitement moved from the big white cap
itol to the executive mansion, or vice versa
} three or four times, with Incidental side
shows at the state department. the navy
| department and the war Office. This has
, kept tho writers on tho jump from one
end of the city to the other, but wherever
the news has been thickest and hottest
there YOU may be sure newspaper men
were to be found, plying their trade.
Night cabinet meetings have added ia
the excitement from the newspaper point
, of view. When a cabinet meeting Is held
at the unusual hour of 9 In the evening,
that fact alone signifies events OF unusual
interest, and therefore all the more impor
, tant is IL that the press men should know
J all about what took place in the executive
mansion. More than once have witness
|, | ed such scenes as those L am about to de
, scribe. A night meeting of the cabinet
. the carriages of the members of the coun
= ell standing about I'm the White Hous
. ward: upon the portico of the famou
= building assembled all the way from
dozen to 30 newspaper representatives
waiting for the meeting to adjourn tina
they may II possible learn something
. what has taken place. But In this tnron
upon the portico of the White House
- would be difficult to find any OF the olde
10 and more experienced corresponding
- Those who are present are principally tn
:. vounper men, the scouts of the profession
Is it true then. that such an ilnportar
affair as this is left to the young men
~ the corps while the older ones take the
20 ease in their offices or at their homesg
Nv no means. Go out into Pennsy
"a vania avenue and you will lind perhaps
=. dozen carriages, public conveyances, stan
:. ing about. Inside, If you could loo
=. within, you would see the veteran new
:. paper correspondents of this city. Th'
a. are simply waiting for the adjournmel
- of the cabinet AS soon as they sec q
"o presidents councillors come out and emit
their waiting carriages the press men 81
orders tn their cabbies. "To Secreta
So-and- SOS, and quick about It," L
-. result is that when Mr.. Secretary driv
80, up to his house he finds corresponds
oe standing on his front steps. In ten mi
=. utes the newspaper man knows all
.a wants to know and Is driving as RAPID
'oi es a cab horse can be induced to go
his Office
Getting Information.
The veteran Washington correspond
knows better than to stand upon the
led tico of the White House waiting fol
member of the cabinet He would 9
0 Is more for a ten minutes talk with one
up there important gentlemen, one whom
re- knows well, In the secrecy of the cabi
the mans house or hallway than no would
her a chance hurried and scurried talk W
,ry- ali the members of the council in the pI
ence of witnesses.
pat In times such as we have been havin
age newspaper correspondent has need OF
We his balance and stamina. IL Is SO cas-,
Eu- "eo off ones feet" to mako mistal
lou- late at night rumors are In circulation
and Is impossible to confirm or disprove TIT
One must write from his common sci
,ex- from his general knowledge. He N
mar evolve a story which has in 1t facts, ju
me ment, diplomacy, probabilities, infor
very ton, Interpretation, and he must do u
'00.- the jump--no time Tor dehperation'
- for false efarta-