Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-28

word ut the capital was on the Qui
vive to get it, including myself. All
channels which We're usually tapped
by the initiated We're found to be as
barren as 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 it 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 as
ever. The time for the maturing of the
project was close at 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 an
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 | woke up.
1.-The president remarked one of the
gentlemen. said that it WAS his inten
ton to adopt that course irrespective
of the consequences either to himself or
the party
But YOU pointed out to him what ii
meant to us-th:lt he was clearly in er-
ror| replied the other gentleman.
'ElabOrately,' responded tile first
speaker. but the president said that he
was convinced that accruing results
would prove that we. and not he. We're
in error
"'Then we may as well 20 back to
New York tomorrow was the answer,
and both gentlemen arose and walked
toward the cafe, apparently in very
Respondent frame Of mind.
II was an involuntary listener to this
scrap of conversation. in which, it will
be observed. not single word was
dropped as to the subject matter there
of. at once jumped to the conclusion
that the government. through the presi-
dents action. intended to take the af
hrmative of the proposition. the news
side Of which the correspondents had
so long and earnestly endeavored to
ascertain. With il straight tip rs to the
course Of the government the CORE
spondent could do the rest. while with
the wrong tip he could not only make
his paper ridiculous. but would in all
probability lose his position: hence the
care in making scare head, page wide
story.
'ln the furtherance Of my conclusion
my paper had the beat of the season
the following morning. as | stated the
facts as though they came from official
sources. as. indeed. such considered
them. To my mind. as Il correspondent,
it was as clear as if the president him.
self had given me the information. Two
days after IL member of the cabinet
gave out officially what | had wired
over and with it the announcement that
the leak had occaSoncd much annoy.
ance. and it's source would be investi.
gated thoroughly 1t is here given cor.
rectly for the first time Washington
Star