The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-09-09

he the rule In the earlier days Of Journal
ism. He knows all phases OF life, 40 only
an experienced newspaper man can come
10 know them, and he has ~ the same
time the grasp Of . man OF large business
affairs and the breadth OF one with whom
big" politics has been an everyday occu-
patton from hs youth up. In Washington
ara at the summer resorts Of the ashion-
abies he n conspicuous as an entertainer
and bon vfvant: In Cincinnati there are
s;Ill many OF his friends in middle life
Who win hold Mclean up 90 the finest fei-
low about town and best boon companion
they ever saw-one who could do more
things we'll than anybody. from putting on
the gloves to baseball. from snginx q CON-
&c song and picking banjo or pounding a
piano 20 playing or a big pipe organ. from
telling story 70 writing the brightest
stun that ever went INTO his newspaper.
Bio&raphicsI sketch.
Mclean Ia 81 years old. He was born in
Cincinnati. the con of Washington Nc
Lean. who was also born In thu same city
Ia Isls. The latter's Scotch father appren-
tieed him to bo.iermaker. and when he
had served his time the young man start.
ed a shop Of his own. He had no educa-
ton but wha; he picked up himself. but
nj the age OF Is he was . political factor In
the young state. He made fortune at
boiler making and N ls52 bought the Gin
cinnat Enquirer. the principal organ Of the
Democratic party west Of the A!leghanies.
He had great faith In the future Of the
national capital and invested largely n
real estate here when the prices were down
to village lots. He educated his son John
well. After graduating at Harvard the
young man went to Heidelberg and when
he returned 20 Cincinnati his father gave
him the responsible position OF once boy
upon the Enquirer. Some young men
would have resented this, but young Nc
Lean probably knew his father too well %
make any objection by his own unaided
efforts he secured promotion To police re-
porter and about that time planned little
surprise for his father as well as some OF
the other stockholders.
How He Surprised Hts Father.
The young man had heard OF block Of
stock held by Tennessee party which he
thought might be bought. without saying
OF his intention to any one. he slipped down
the next stockho!ders meeting occurred
John II. strolled into the room and took
seat. The story continues that when the
meeting was about to be called 10 order the
father turned TO the son and sad:
Now. John. run along we are going to
hold a stockholders meeting"
II know II, father was the reply:
that's what am here for. came to at
tend IT,
my son." said sturdy. Old Wash Nc
Lean. somewhat severely. as he looked at
the boy, this Is business mattel and your
pranks are out OF place"
"well. fafher. just examine my creden-
tails q moment was the young mans re-
Spouse. as he pulled out his stock ana
handed II to his astonishcd fathsr.
1t may be. easily guessed that the episode
no more lowered the young man IN his
fathers estimation than AID William IT,
yandsrbilt's historic besting OF his father
initiate against his standing with the
shrewd old commodore. The shrcwd cd
seotchman probably uttered the phrase no
often used about his son on such occasions:
The wonderful child
In 1871 Washington Mclean sold his half
interest In the Enquirer 10 John r. The
Transaction was safeguarded IN Just about
the same way as n the purchaser had ben
q rank outsider and the young man buckled
down to earn the money and make the pay
ments as required. This ne did In the eight
years. which had been specified.
With his adver. as successor Of his
father a number Of changes were inauRu-
rated. and the paper took on some remark
able features. As an illustration, tho En-
aulrer performed the then amazing feat
of publishing daily a stenograph!c report
Of the Henry Ward Beecher trial with all
It's scandal.
An instance Of Mr.. McLeans interest In
people he meets was furnished recently in
the outcome OF an attempt by newspaper
man to get an interview with him. During
the talk. which was mainly along lines
which Mr.. Mclean suggested rather than
on those which the interviewer introduced.
mention was made OF popular book
which the visitor regretted he had not yet