Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-01
HOW NEWS LEAKS OUT"

Frank Mack, superintendent of the eastern division of the Associated Press talked to the Mems club of the Bedford Presbyterian church recent ly. on ''Some Newspaper Experiences.
 The most. interesting portion of the narrative was his reminiscent de- scription of the men who made the Paris treaty. NIr Mack was the rep resentative of the Associated Press at the French capital, and his account of the news gathering difficulties which then beset the press correspondents was vivid in the extreme.
 ..The ten members of the commis- sion," he said, five from this country and five from Spain, swore solemnly to each other that they would dis close nothing that happened at their sessions, and, of course, to one who had travelled over 5000 miles to tell what they did, this was somewhat em- barrassing.
 II remember one dismal afternoon. when all Paris was dripping wet with mist and rain, 1 went into the suite of the Spanish commissioners and there met their president. He talk ed freely about this and that, and l joined in rehearsing points that had nearly lost all interest, but occasion ally lighting on some brand new fea- ture. I would have given $1,0OO,O0O q minute for pad and the privilege of taking notes, but the sight of a note book and pencil would have scared my Spanish companion to death. Among other things he mentioned, in q fragmentary way, the exchange of prisoners. That was news, indeed, then All the way back to my hotel turned the matter over in my mind. What prisoners of Spain has the United States? None to speak of, ex- cept the garrison at Manila, and they were in the hands of the Philippine insurgents. How was 1 to find out hotel, sought some of the American commissioners and found Senator Frye.
 Anything new" he asked.
 "'No,' said carelessly.
 "'What did you come for, then? he inquired.
 "'Oh, just as an evidence of good faith I laughed back. ~
 What do you think of things" asked the senator.
 "It would be more interesting to know what you think, I answered. He smiled and for a while he talked and smoked. Finally, l got up to go, but reaching the door, 1 stopped and re marked: By the way. senator, the commission has decided upon an ex- change of prisoners. This will mean the release of the Spanish soldiers at Manila I'd like to settle a point in my mind as to how the Cnited States government can release those men when they are in insurgent hands? "'Why, we've got to release them, cried Senator Frye. We must. The United States cannot confess to the tribunal of nations that 1t has no Jurisdiction over the islands. We had to agree to the release with this and few odds and ends of l information that had been hanging on the hooks, I wrote my dispatch. Then | I sought out Judge Day and asked per | mission to read 1t to him. He grant e,l it and listened to the reading in silence. When had finished he spoke. | ".Mack,' he said. where did you get it?'
 {" Judge replied, every word of l it Is composite
 1 Nonsense, he said. | Seriously. I mean it, and unless 1 some good friend of mine takes me by the arm and tells me not to, I'm going down to the cable office and put 1t on the wire.' [ thank you for your con l firrnation,' he added.
 "'Hold on,' cried Judge Day. T did not confirm it
 "sYes you did I answered, per l haps you didn't mean to, but you con armed 1t when you asked me whers | got It.