Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-08-23
Observation-Disclosures
/ HOW A STENOGRAPHER s
3 SECURED A SCOOP s
9p~u~u~u%p&u@pap%u~p~n~p~S
BY Robert T. Rose,

1T IS not my purpose to name the
stenographer who performed the
act, but to a stenographer Is due the
credit, II credit II may be termed, OF
obtaining scoop" Of the platform at
the national convention Of the popu-
list party, which convened in st. Louis
in 1895. How 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 Will call Mr..
Forest, was in the employ Of one OF
the two great 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 to him:
Forest, have called you here, not
SO much to work on the convention
itself as for another reason. L know
you desire to make a reputation for
yourself in the newspaper world, and
that you have a good deal Of hustle and
nerve about you. 1 want scoop" OF
that platform, and that is your as
signment. Use your own judgment IN
the matter of getting 1t, butt etit."
To the uninitiated, It may be well to
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 TO the fact that.at some time
or other, during their career. They
have been successful in securing for
those papers an important scoop" 1t
may also be well to explain that when
it comes to landing that precious thing,
the rule that "all is fair in love and
war" is extended to embrace land IN
obtaining exclusive news"
so that was not particularly cheer
full assignment. The shorthand man
realized that there were about 100
trained newspaper men In st. Louis,
whose business it was TO get the news,
all bent on the errand OF procuring ex-
elusive news and that the greatest
news to obtain In, advance at national
political convention was the platform.
He 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 to one against his securing
position in which he could write short
hand, and while the rather vulgar term
"knocker" was not then part of the
slang vocabulary, 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 he had been given the as
signment, and this is the manner IN
which he went about the filing Of IT.;
The chairman OF the resolutions
committed was ex-Gov. Weaver, OF
Iowa, who four years before was the
presidential nominee Of that party, and
the secretary was Robert Schilling, OF
Milwaukee. The latter the shorthand
man had met some years before, but
not when he was identified with any
newspaper or press association Inc
committee was to meet at four o'clock
the next afternoon at 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 1t to the letter. An hour before
the committee was to meet, he took
his typewriting machine to the room
of the committee, placed 1t on table,
and spread his paper and carbons
around the table, lit cigar and waited
for the members to arrive. When they
did begin to arrive, he looked at them
condescendingly, and In reply to their
questions told them he had been de-
tailed to do the shorthand work and
typewriting for the committee. AS
soon as Chairman Weaver made his ap-
pearance. Forest called him aside, and
the following conversation tool, place:
"Your name is Gen. Weaver9" asked
Forest.
Eyes"
"You are the chairman Of the creden-
tials committee, believer"
mo, the resolutions committee" an
swered Weaver.
eyes, yes, knew It was some COM
mittee," rejoined Forest. "Weu, l was
sent here to do the shorthand work and
typewriting for the committee"
"Who asked your"
"Why, the secretary, Mr.. Schiller"
"Oh. yes, you mean SchillinG. All
fight. Take O seat. We Will need you
after awhile"
Before long Mr.. schilling appeared.
Upon his arrival he asked Forest who
had sent for him, to which question the
answer Gen. Weaver" was sufficient to
allay any further questioning on that
point. But Schiling's memory was
good, and soon he asked the question;
Didn't you formerly live in Milwau-
KEEP"
"Yes."
isn't your name Forest?"
eyes"
Haven't you brother by the name
of - ForestP"
eyes"
"What are you doing here"
ooh, I'm court reporter here in st.
Louis"
"What court?"
"Why, report all the inquests at the
morgue for the coroner"
And then for awhile all went well.
The preamble Of the platform was de-
termined upon and given to Forest to
copy.
"How many copies do you wish"
asked Forest.
He was directed to make one car
bon, but managed to slip in carbon
for his own use. AS page was fin
ished, the extra copy was allowed to
~ 4 o4f ride NybiIA