The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-06

the Gems ever gathered together
shall expect you to prove this state
ment this afternoon. Not even in the
eating line shall The Spy be scooped
This occasion is unique. We come
to testify by our presence, our hand
shakes and our voices if not our appe-
titles, our friendship and appreciation Of
a co-worker. We may properly con-
slider, however, the reason for his sue
cessful career. No man forgets The Spy
(Who has ever worked for It, We all
feel that The Spy with its wonderful
1S1 years of history is greater than any
of us. It will live after we are gone
II will grow with the city. 1t will hold
its place in the confidence and affec-
ton of the good people Of Worcester"
William j. Larkin, for IA years a
member of The Spy staff, although for
a short period with another local paper,
was introduced as the best among the
i excellent newspaper men of this city. -
Mr.. Larkin said:
| Mr.. Pratt is a living example to us
| and to all newspaper men and women
i that virtue brings its own reward-even
IN the newspaper world. During my IA
years connection with The Spy it has
Deen my privilege to respond for "The
Press at many banquets. l have al
ways maintained as do now, that the
w lNPitotuL is more tdr-
reaching in its influence than the
preachers, teachers, doctors and law
yers' The newspaper Of today breaches
10 larger congregation than anv pul-
PIT orator in the land and the people
VINO look to 1t daily for their education
could not be crowded into all fbe
schools and colleges that ever were
rounded. The doctors and lawyers IooI,
10 IT Tor their own advancement and
enlightenment and without its advertise
ing columns the merchant would do a
starving business.
AND after all, what fools we news
paper men are, always doing some
1hlhg Tor somebody else, working like
IroJans TO build up the politicians who
seiuoIn says so much as THANK Won
blily Pratt Is the exception that proves
this rule. / believe there is no other
business so apt to make man cynical
as the newspaper business. The world
ls seen by the newspaper man in ali ito
tsi .- with Its pretences stripped
from IL. Its falseness, its selfishpaee
and Its jealousies are ali uncovered ne
tore him. But while there are nanv
unattracttve features in our life n &,
equaIly true there are compensa tine
iedt ures and the newspaper man cast
IN the right mold is a power for COL
IN community. While there are some
VINO use their opportunities for base
purposes,it must be said good characto,.
counts Tor as much in the newspaner
Saai' as IL does anywhere else. Fair
tbat ~ honesty and truth are virtues
, mat prlng their own reward ana nc
nave an example of it I'm nm ~
we work for. OH the paper
fro lily messenger Pratt, in going ont
IIoli US onto the turbulent noiitt.,I
sea, l Know l voice the sentiment az
everyone at these tables when 81 VI
you you Iodspeed and a safe anchorae" 10
cal sbi.s linn the canvas Of your politt-
na,,o,. p,s az you nave that in your news
he CO... az, SO tnat the mainsails shall
D -'.i, iair dealing, honesty and truth tber
VIII II be said of you as vae e. e., Si'en
your predecessor: We'll done goo VI
ana faithful servant" Won eood
t{Sduy received your reward for - o.
mem EN- as newspaper man. % U9iHs
me demonstration ACCORDED ~
IA idlt when he was called nno,, b WI;
i Ie ring OF loyalty in it, and HE t 90
e,,,sI,,,, ~ AeIs iet the pride in hin,
SD 0siiiIs 70 the surface. His sneecb
was granted liberal applsuee r,' anu ne
Mutt POSTMASTER
Another display Of ,rions,,.
marked marked, the greeting extended Ma',es,
Fhlilp j. O'Connell, who snote o ot
ieHsth on the part Mr.. Pratt has tat,e,
IN FOCAL newspaper work as tbe 90.
nan reporter on The Spy. He noirteS
out the grandeur Of Mr.. Prattss ~.
sonal character. as evidenced bv bic
dealings with members Of ali pojiticai
parties. In the opinian of his honor
no newspaper man ever gained a high.
er, place in the regard of all with
Whom he came in contact than did
Bill Pratt as Spy reporter. Mayor
- Connen saw only a bright future
Tor City Messenger Pratt.
Capt. John s. Baldwin, for many
years owner Of The Spy. said. in part:
4 am thankful for the opportunity to
add to the congratulations on the ad-
vancement OF Mr. Pratt. / can say
for him that as a suburban reporter
his work invited favorable comment
and he was naturally advanced to
other and more responsible positions.
He invariably showed a spirit of
liberation and the facility OF COM
mending himself TO others. His news
gathering ability was Of a high char
acter. ] am reminded Of Spy men OF
former years who have been elevated
to positions Of prominence. Col. For
tContinued on Page Two,)