St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-09-01
CONQUEST OF CHINA.
It Has Been Planned for Years bv
the European Powers.
Present Trouble May BE the Degin.
ming Of q Gigantic Conni That
Will End In Victory for
the Heathcn.
Especial Washington Letter.l

Especial Washington Letter.l
NNE of the first things to be
~ thoroughly learned BY the
young men who are seek
ing to enter upon the profession Of
journalism is that they must have alb
soiute and complete respect for the
condolences reposed in them, and they
must never betray The source of their
news. Unless this lesson is learned the
young men who enter the profession
will never achieve success.
George Rouzer was clerk in the war
department, and he was also a newspa-
per man. He was working his way
slowly, hoping to become successful
and prominent, and that he might be
able to leave the civil service and de-
vote all of his time to journalism. On
one occasion he received valuable in
formation from an army officer, and
printed it. Senator Proctor, of Ver-
mont. was secretary of war at that
time. and he sent for Mr.. Roazer to as
certain the source of his information.
If Mr.. RouZer had given the name of
the officer who had given him his news
he might have been dismissed from the
army. The army officer had no idea
that the dissemination of the news
would cause such stir, and he had in
nocently given the news to hep Mr..
Rouzer in his ambitious work. Mr..
Rouzer declined to name the man.
''Ifyou will not tel me where you got
your Information, l will order your
discharge from the war department"
said Secretary Proctor.
"Then you will have to discharge
me-" was the brave reply of the young
man.
He protected his friend, and thereby
lost his official position at a time when
he could i'll afford to be thrown out of
employment. However, he very soon
received valuable newspaper work
which paid him better salary than
that which he received in the war de-
partment. and for number of years
he was in charge of the Washington Of
fee of one of the greatest newspapers
on this continent. The story Of his
sturdy character and conduct became
well known in the capital city. and he
had the confidence of all public men, re-
gardless of their political affiliations.
In September. 1898, the correspond
ent of Philadelphia newspaper had an
interview with Senator Blackburn, of
Kentucky, in which Secretary Carlisle
was vigorously criticised and de-
In February, 1896. Secretary
Carlisle used copies of the Philadelphia
paper containing the interview to in
duce his personalfriends to defeat Sen
ator Blackburn, wko was a candidate
for reelection. At that time the Wash
ington correspondent wrote Senator
as follows: "The interview
was written from memory. No short
hand notes were taken, and hence you
might technically deny the interview,
if you want to protect yourself" Ever
since that time Senator Blackburn has
been stanch friend of the CORE
spondent, although he did not deny the
Interview.
These examples are mentioned not
merely to show the necessity of having
the confidence of public men, and the
Importance of respecting their conf
dence, but to show the reader that at
this time it is necessary for the pres
ent writer to protect the confidence of
i certain senator, and to give his
views without mentioning his name.
You must understand that there are |
occasions of great national and inter
Importance when public men |
must necessarily be reticent and Sc
rretive. At the present time, when this |
republic seems to be drifting into en-
alliances. all senator's and rep
are careful not to allow |