The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11
COVERING THE RETURNS.
Plan Pursued In the Once of the New
York World.

From the Fourth Estate
The New York Worlds preparations for
the gathering and handling of the election
returns were probably the most elaborate
ever undertaken by a single newspaper.
Work was begun Tearly month before
hand. a general plan of procedure was
adopted. the details of its development be-
ing left to the heads of departments.
When everything was family settled an
eight-page pamphlet embodying general
and specific orders was issued for the sole
use OF the staff on election night in the
World office.
The infOl nation contained therein was
minute and exact Every reporter. editor
and correspondent found outlined therein
his duties for the night. The first page
starts off with the following:
Make-up-Mr. Van Hamm. assisted by Mr.. Rog-
ers. will have entire charge Of getting the World to
press on Tuesday night When either OF Them an
that he wishes any particular piece Of copy
expedited, or issues any other request, or order.
Il is 10 be explicitly carried out without question.
An Office boy will be detailed to serve Messrs Van
Hamm ana Rogers.
CoDy-Mr. Wood will be stationed at the copy
desk in the composing room. All copy will first
so hin. He will have charge Of it until the copy
I
It's proper order, and endeayor, by having it run
Out correctly. to prevent the use Of "adt'' lines
and thus furnish all necessary information to Mr..
W0Odl
Clearing -house-Mr. Cloak will act as the clear
ng-house for all election copy coming into the
once through the wicket or tube by the telegraph
loops He viii assoft the copy and send 1t TO the
various desks. Mr.. Anderson will assist Mr.. Cloak
An ONCE boy will be detailed TO them
Tables-The following is a list of the tables q
be published wednesday morning November Z:
One two-oolumn table showing the electoral vote
in the several States with pluralites
One four-column table showing the pluralities II
New York counties for the Presidential ticket anC
for This table is made up SO that il ma,
De divided into two tWO-cOlumn tables In the event
| thar the vote on governor is late.
One tWO-cOlumn table Of total vote by assernbl,
| districts and wards in Greater New York by bor
oughs. This table Is made up so that ii may be di
Yided into i've One-column tables in the event thai
| the vote on governor Is late.
A tWO-cOlCmn- wide story with table showing re
suits as 10 legislatures that elect United States
| Senators.
The list Of members elected to the lower house o
| congress with table giving the political divisions
| Fl the Fiity-seveDth aud Fifty-sixth Congresses
/ Electoral vote-Mr Martinez will have charge O
The table giving the result OF the electoral vot,
IN the various states. Give him all possible assist
ance and advice
| Congress-Mr. Hawkins will have charge Of all RI.
| turns on congressman and legislatures that cleo
| UEited States Senator's
Messis. Grout and Justins will assist Mr.. Haw
| kins.
city rett rns-MT. Thoens will have charge of IN,
returns for New York City. He will have a two
column table dealing with the total vote on Presi
dent and governor
Following the above is a list of the cor.
respondents, with their addresses. who
We're 10 have charge of the returns fror
| each county in the State Detailed i'm.
strucuOns were given as TO the prepara.
uon or bulletins and the filing of copy.
Then came list of the candidates n
be voted for in the several States outside
OF the national ticket and the Correspond.
| ents who were TO cover the election ont.
side of New York
Indeed, not an item of information nee.
eSsary 10 the guidance of the editors O.
reporters was omitted.
As the result of all this preliminary
work and the care devoted 10 il. fhS
worlds story of the election as publish,
ed on Wednesday morning was one OF :h4
best ever put forth in the city.
The forms went to press at / o'clock ar
hour carrier than usual. At 2:S0 O'clock >
ualn loaded with Worlds left the Grand
Central depot for Boston, at which city
II arrived shortly after I. This is said ~
be the earliest hour at which a New York
morning newspaper has been delivered al
the Hub on the day of its publication