Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-09

Tom Watson. the Wall street editor
lot the Globe, sat in the private office
lof President Matthews, of the United
States Railway Corporation, waiting
/ for the head OF the greatest railway
lsystem in the world to return from the
directors meeting in nearby room.
Watson was chagrined and desperate.
But short time before he had asked
President Matthews for the detailed
Istatement of the plans OF the big cor
4 poration-plans that charged the whole
railway map of the United States and
meant the swallowing up OF score OF
Ismaller railroads. To secure that In
advance OF the other daii,es of the me-
|tropolis meant the biggest beat or
years, and Watson had instructions
/ from his chief to get that beat. Presl-
| dent Matthews had refused Watson.
The newspaper man had tried every
thing in his power to coax the state
lment from his friend. but President
/ Matthews was unmoved No. Wat
Ison,' he said, II can't DO it,-not even
for you, friendly as I am toward you
personally and to the paper which you
Irepresent.'
AS Watson. crestfallen, left the mag
mates office, that captain of industry
Ipressed a button which summoned one
los his managers.
Van Remsen,' said be, you know
young Watson of the Globe, the son
Of the old friend of my boyhood days g
Yes
"Well, I'm interested in him: I've
been studying him lately and I've con-
tIcluded that he's A No. j. He's re-
sourceful chap, too. Do you know his
history
Cant say that do, was the reply.
"He wanted to be an actor resumed
the railway preside,~. He is, his IA
Their used to tell me. phenomenal
imimic-can reproduce anything he
hears. Initiates mans voice so that
the owner himself is amazed. AT col
Ilege / understand. he frequently
startled fellow students engaged in
some contraband delight by suddenly
Tutoring admonitions in the wellknown
tones of tbs grave and somewhat
dreaded dean Of the faculty..
..Why isn't he on the stage, then,
drawing crowded houses. instead OF
roofing as a lone reporter for a living
asked the hard-headed, practical man.
lager.
That's just the story the railway
magnate went on to explain. lh-
young fellows ambition was along that
Hire. Knew he was cut cut for II, pus
The comes from unyielding puritan
stock, and his parents, n.tho convinced
THAT fame awaited him behind the loot
lights, violently opposed such career
for him"
HE hardly escaped theatrical life
" hen he went into yellow Journalism,
Twas the managers comment.
The railway president smiled. Il can't
/ saw that I am altogether opposed te
strenuous newspaper methods, ne con-
lt;nued. THE young fellow was might
s|iiy discouraged at first, but instead OF
sulking he took up reporting, and is
making a go of it, like his spirit. His
energy, determination and ingenuity
] would make him valuable man In our
business, and 1 have about decided to
appoint him my confidential secretary.
Are you certain you can trust him.
asked thu manager
Several times he has had valuable
inside tips on our affairs and has been
honorable about holding the matter
until gave him permission to print it,
replied President Matthews. Il guess
we can train him into our high standard
ct probity and give him a chance to use
to substantial advantage the energy he
is expending in newspaper work.
4 The manager bowed and smiled, and
the head of the greatest railway corpo-
ration in the world made memoran
| dunn intended to transfer an obscure
| reporter from the street to the coveted
i and confidential circles of millionaires.
ii was billet that meant $4,000 year
with a certainty of promotion to finan-
| cial independence and possible Leaders
ship.
| Meanwhile Watson WAS on his way
to his chief to report failure to secure
! the much coveted statement. Dennis
Markham, editor of the Globe In those
days, turned to Watson. Get that re-
port" he blurted, and don't come back
till you do"
Mechanically Watson walked from
Park Row down Nassau street to Wall,
bordering all the while what he should
do to secure the railroad beat and the
commentator of Markham. Almost
before he knew it he was again in this
cutter office of President MATHEWS, and
with a nod to the clerks at the gate
way leading into Mr.. Matthews private
rom he passed in uncha.lenged. Wat
son, they knew, held the friendship of
President Matthews. They knew, too,
that Toms father had been one of MIR.
Matthews dearest boyhoca friends, and
thus his second visit caused no surprise.
The presidents private room was
temporarily deserted. Watson dropped
into a chair and began to piece together
a plausible excuse for his second call
on the same mission, but none that he
quickly framed seemed to justify his
remaining, for he was certain President
Matthews would repeat his refusal.
Set against that polite but ultimate
refusal to disclose the asked for infor-
nation was the city EDITORS laconic and
mandatory order to stay out until he
got it, Watson had been singularly
successful in landing elusive sensa-
lions. and altho he had gone into jour-
nalsm as a makeshift, In difference 10
implacabla parental objections to the
stage he had, when once fairly plunged
Into the Park Row maelstrom. struck
Tout yaliantly. In fact. he had forced
his way with such determination ana
| thoroughness that 1T had become say
ling at the Globe office that II Watson
| couldn't get thing the thing sought
didn't exist.
AS he sat Illuminating in the railway
/ presidents office and conjuring schemes
for obtaining some clew to the great