Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1900-07-21
HOW A STENOGRAphER
!, SECURED A SCOOP
I 4 is not my purpose to name tn

act. but TO a stenographcr Is due the
credit. IL credit il may be termed. of
obtaining scoop" of the platform at
the national convention of the popu-
list party. which convened in ST. Louis
in 1896. How 1 became possessed of
the facts makes no particular differ
ence. so far as this story Is concerned.
but that it is true is within my knowl-
edge.
This particular shorthand writer.
who, for convenience we viii call Mr..
Forest. was in the employ of one of
the two grea; press associations then
in existence. He was called to st. Louis
by wire. and on his arrival at the head
quarters OF that news association was
taken aside by the man in charge, who
said 10 him:
Forest. l have called you here. not
SO much 10 work on tho convention
itself as for another reason. know
YOU desire 10 make reputation for
yourself in the newspaper world. and
that you have a good deal OF hustle and
nerve about YOU. want scoop" OF
that platform. and that is your as
Segment. Use your own judgment in
the matter of getting IL. but get it."
To the uninitiated. il may be well 90
explain That scoop" or beat" or
an exclusive" consists of securing a
piece of news in advance of competi
tors. and many reporters on metropol~
itan papers owe their continued en-
ployment 20 the fact that at some time
or other. during their career. They
have been successful in securing for
those papers an important scoop" II
may also be well TO explain that when
il comes to landing that precious thing.
the rule that "all is fair in love and
war" is extended 10 embrace land in
obtaining exclusive news"
So that was not particularly cheer
ful assignment. The shorthand man
realized that there we're about 100
trained newspaper men in ST. Louis.
whose business IL was TO get the news.
az bent on the errand OF procuring ex-
elusive news. and that the greatest
news 70 obtain in advance az a national
political convention was the platform.
lie also knew that even though he
should be lucky enough to hide himself
in the room in which the resolutions
committee met, the chances were one
hundred 10 one against his securing a
position in which ne could write short
hand. and while the rather vulgar term
"knocker" was not then a part of the
slang voca bulary, he foresaw that in
the event he should endeavor TO get in
the room by strategy. the newspaper
reporters. knowing him. would imme-
diately apprise the members OF the
committee of his business and foil his
plans. But be had been given the as
signment. and this is the manner in
which he went about the filing Of IL:
The chairman Of the resolutions
committee was ex-Gov. Weaver. OF
Iowa. who four years before was the
presidential nominee of that party and
the secretary was Robert Schilling. or
Milwaukee The latter the shorthand
man had met some years before. but
not when he was identified with any
newspaper or press association. The
committee was 10 meet at four O clock
the next afternoon al the Linden ho-
tel, while the Offices OF the press as
ISOLATION were in rooms in the floor
above.
Forest outlined his plan and fol-
lowed il 10 the letter. An hour before
the committee was 10 meet. he took
his typewriting machine 20 the room
OF the committee. placed il on a table,
and spread his paper and carbons
around the table. lit cigar and waited
| for the members 10 arrive. When they
did begin TO arrive. he looked at them
eondescendingiy and in reply to their
| questions told them be had been de-
/ tailed to do the shorthand work and
| typewriting for the committee. AS
soon as CT. irman Weaver made his ap-
| pearance. Forest called him aside, and
the following conversation took place:
Your name is Gen. Weaver" asked
Forest.
"Yes."
You are the chairman OF the credsn-
| tails committee, / believer
NO. the resolutions committee" an
swered Weaver.
"Yes, yes, knew IL was some com
mittee," rejoined Forest. WEI, was
sent here 10 do the shorthand work and
typewriting for the committee"
who asked your"
| why, the secretary, Mr.. Schiller"
'Oh. yes; you mean Schilling. All
right. Take q seat. We will need you
after awhile"
Before long Mr.. SchiIIing appeared.
Upon his arrival he asked Forest who
had sent for him. 10 which question the
answer Gen. Weaver" was sufficient 10
ailay any further questioning on that
point. But Schilling's memory was
good. and soon ne asked the question:
Didn't you formerly live in Milwau-