Omaha daily bee., 1898-06-26

Wilbur IF. Story was alive were largely in
strumental in the success of that news
paper. John Wilkie followed in the pro-
fession of his father. For a number Of
years he was city editor of the Chicago
Tribune. He left journalism to become
manager of Lows Exchange in London and
went from there to the secret service.
Not long ago Secretary Gage asked Wilkie
to do a bit of special work for him. The
work required much shrewdness and nerve.
Wilkie performed the task so quickly and
satisfactorily that Gage almost took Wilkes
breath away from him by Offering him the
high position he now holds. Wilkie had no
thought Of the place and was skeptical of
his ability to fill it. But Gage was conf
dent, and that the selection was good has
been abundantly demonstrated by the short
time it has taken the young Chicagoan TO
practically break up the Spanish spy system
here by capturing its chief operatives and
exposing so completely the identity of its
chief that the latter, according to the
present outlook, will have TO leave his snug
harbor in Canada and quit this hemisphere.
During times of peace the secret service
is engaged in looking after criminals who
take to counterfeitine for a living. That
pursuit in itself is spicy enough in variety.
But the demands of war lend additional
bits to the spicy quality of the service.
Shortly after the Spanish legation left
Washington the War department received
numerous reports concerning Spanish spies
and asked Chief Wilkie to look after them.
President Mckinley placed 5000 to Will
kie's credit and later $50, 600 more to his
credit to carry on his operations. He was
thus enabled to secure a large and COM
petent force to cover the country thor
oughly, and with the knowledge that there
is plenty more money where the last came
from.
Chief Wilkie is naturally disinclined to
speak of the operations of the secret serv-
Ice during the war. After the war is
over, he says, there will be a number of good
stories for publication. But when, as for
instance at present, he has one man in a
band Of Spanish cutthroats in the south
who think that he is one of them and who
would slit his throat in an instant were
they even to suspect him, it is not wise to
the service nor fair to the man in question
to mention the case or for similar reasons
to say anything of others.
Nominally the State department has
charge Of the secret service men in Cuba
and other Spanish territory. But there is
good reason to believe that all OF them are
under Chief Wilkes control, though he
himself refused to admit that there are
any secret service men on Spanish soil.
II the records are ever published, however,
1t is dollars to doughnuts that foreknowl.
edge OF the operations of the Spanish forces
during this war has come to this govern
ment from secret service operatives at the
front.
A week or so ago BILLY" Pinkerton, the
famous Chicago detective, was seen to come
from Chief Wilkes room and straightwas
the report went forth that Pinkerton had
been engaged to assist Wilkie in running
down Spanish spies. The report is wholly in
correct. In the first place the government
Is prohibited by statute passed by congress
Just after the Homestead riots from employ
ing the Pinkertons. In the second place in
stead of coming to help Wilkie with advice
Pinkerton came to clear his skirts OF al
suspicion of being in any way connected with
the Spanish spy system. Prior to the war
Pinkerton was in the employ of the Spanish
legation and by his detectivs ability many
hlibustering expeditions were foiled. 1t was
therefore not unnatural to think that he
might still be retained by Spain. 1t is but
Just to Pinkerton to say that he demon.
strated TO Wilkes complete satisfaction
that he is a loyal subject citizen and has
now no connection whatever with Spain.
In personal appearance the chief of the
secret service is a fine specimen of young
American manhood. He is above medium
height, just escaping being tall. His shoul,
ders are square and broad and his back
head and hips on the perpendicular. His face
is intelligent and strong and his walk firm
and swinging. His voice is magnetic, his
bandshake full OF feeling, and altogether h,
Is as fine a chap as you would meet in
days walk.