The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-10-23
A NEWSPAPER SCOOP
HOW IT WAS OBTAINED WITHOUT
ANY DEPARTMENT LEAK.

the Alert and Quick witted Corre-
spondent Is Always Ready to Take
Legitimate Advantage.
EVERY once in awhile one reads in
the newspapers of the determination
of some one ofgfthe high government
officials to discover the source of the
leak Of piece of news which 1t was
not desired should be given out at that
particular time," remarked an old
Washington correspondent, land with
out giving the solution to the secret
escapes of public information, as they
vary, l will tell you of one instance
which serves to show how news ap-
pears in print In what is considered by
all concerned to be very mysterious
manner. Like all mysteries, when un-
raveled 1t is wondered that it was not
thought of before. My story is en-
tirely part of the secret sources of
information which Ill correspondents
have more or less ut their disposal
ind which often comes from the out
side and not from the inside of the
departments.
"Some time ago-the precise time is
not essential to the story-a very i'm
portant public matter was up for de-
termination by the president. All Of
the larger metropolitan dailies were
particularly interested. us it did not
have to do especially with Washing
ton. and the entire correspondents
world ut the capital was OH the qui
vive to get It, including myself. All
channels which were usually tapped
by the initiated We're found to be as
barren as a desert stream in midsum-
| mer. kilograms from the home offices
poured into our various bureaus here
couched in imperative language that
the news must be obtained, evidently
in the belief that all correspondents
have to do Is to go out, ask officials
for the desired information and re-
ceive it. coupled with good cigar and
| a bottle of wine. AS q matter Of fact,
when officials wish to keep secret a
piece Of information, all possible loop
holes of escape are securely padlocked.
| and 1t is the exception that it gets out.
Il had about given up hope of secur-
| Ing beat in this particular instance,
though was. Of course. as vigilant Ills
ever. The time for the maturing Of the
| project was close ut hand. and any day
| it might by official announcement be-
come public property. One night as
was sitting idly in the lobby of an up
town hotel, half doing in my chair
waiting for the appearance Of Il senator
with whom had an appointment on ar
inconsequential matter. overheard one
of two gentlemen who were sitting be
hind me drop the words the president.
The high backs of our chairs nearly
touched. and by instinct my drowsy
senses became clear and l woke up.
""The PRESIDENT remarked one of thu
| gentlemen. said that it was his inten
ton to adopt that course irrespective
of the consequences either to himself OF
the party
but you pointed out to him what i
meant to us-that he was clearly in err
ror% replied the other gentleman.
'Elaborately.' responded the first
speaker. but the president said that he
was convinced that accruing results
would prove that we. and not he. were
| in error
"Then we may as well go back TIC
| New York tomorrow was the answer
and both gentlemen arose and walked
toward the cafe. apparently in very
Respondent frame of mind.
~ was an involuntary listener to this
scrap of conversation. in which. it will
be observed, not a single word was
dropped as to the subject matter there
Of l at once jumped to the conclusion
that the government. through the presi
dents action. intended to take the af
firmative of the proposition. the news
side of which the correspondents ha6
so long and earnestly endeavored t.
ascertain. With straight tip as to the
course of the government the CORE
spondent could do the rest. while witt
the wrong tip he could not only make
his paper ridiculous. but would in al
probability lose his position; hence the
care in making aascare head, page wide
story.
'In the furtherance of my conclusion
my paper had the beat of the season
the following morning, as I stated the
facts as though they came from oficia
sources, as. indeed such | considered
them. To my mind. as correspondent
it was as clear as If the president him
self had given me the information. Two
days after a member of the cabine
gave out officially whatsI had wireG
over and with it the announcement thai
the leak had occasioned much annoy
| apco and ifs Sourop would no invoSti
gated thoroughly 1t is here given cor
rectly for the first time."-Washingto
Star.