The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-28
a Kansas TR1RurE.

lfTOm the LeaVenWOrth T1meS.I
Mr.. Van Benthuysen. late editor New
York World, years ago came into the
Office of the Times applying for situa-
ton. We had had some little acquaint-
ance with him and were very glad to see
him and accepted his proposition for
subordinate position on the Times at
very reasonable salary. That salary
was increased until it was the largest
salary that has ever been paid to an
employee of the Times
Mr.. Van Benthuysen was the greatest
worker in the Office and by his special
request his proposition to take charge
of the business of the entire office was
accepted and during the whole term of
his work he never limited his work to
the mere editing of the paper but work.
ed with the same fidelity and the same
interest as he would had he been the
owner of the Times. We do not remem-
Der that we ever had a difference of
opinion upon any material question, but
we were constantly indebted to him for
suggestions which added to the interest
of the office. His advice was Uniform
ly accepted to the extent that the man.
agement of the office was left with him
and the bookkeeper for months at a
time.
Never at any time was there a sus-
picion entertained against Van Benthuy-
sen by the editor of this paper. There
was at the time of his employ another
man in the office who did do things in
opposition to the policy of the editor
and the paper. 1t was through the clear
headed Van Benthuysen that this man
was discharged.
When Mr.. Van Benthuysen desired to
leave the office he told us of his ambi-
ton and of his wish to get upon the
Chicago Tribune. He asked for letter
of introduction to Joseph Medill which
was given. to which Mr.. Medill replied
by saying that such a recommendation
would secure him place. Mr.. Van
Benthuysen never failed to give US
greater credit than was due and we
never after leaving this office met
him but that he referred to the Tact of
our securing him a position on the
Tribune.
Probably no man ever employed by
Mr.. Medill had greater influence with
him than Mr.. Van Benthuysen because
of his recognized ability. We never
visited Mr.. Medill during his life time
but that he referred to the ability and
integrity of our former employee
With the death of VIII Vanbenthuysen
there passed away one of the best news
paper men this country has ever pro-
duced. He was newspaper genius.
From The Times he went to Chicago
and was employed on the Tribune by
Joseph Medill. He rose rapidly in his
Chicago field and became the managing
editor of the Tribune. He was paid
$4,000 a year by Medill,. but by this
time he had attracted the attention of
other newspaper owners and Joseph
Pulitzer of the New York World offer
ed him $4,000 year to accept an edi-
torship on the World which he did. He
expanded as his field of labor expand
ed and it was not long until he was
made managing editor of the daily and
Sunday World at a salary of $4,000 a
year. which he was receiving at the
time of his death, the highest salaried
newspaper man in this country.
A short time ago his years of work
began to tell on him and he began to
fail. Later Addison's disease became
apparent and his recovery was hope
less. Some time ago he went to one
of the hospitals in New York for treat
ment, and there he died.
DO HlSH Was the IGSdIu III winch he
was held by the Chicago Tribune that
for the last few weeks some one of his
former associates has been with him
at the hospital at the expense of the
paper.
Vanbenthuysen was an example of
what boy can do if he puts his mind
to his work. There was never anything
impossible to him from a newspaper
point of view. This was proved on
many occasions, beginning when en-
ployed on The Times. He scooped all
competitors wherever his advice was
followed in matters of news. Probably
the most noteworthy being performed
while on the Chicago Tribune
In his death the field of journalism
has lost one of its most brilliant minds.