The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-01
SOME PUBLIC MEN WHO
WRITE FOR NEWSPAPERS
Others Who Do Not-The Late DR.. Hammond
and Reformer Who Is Still Reforming.

views and experiences reach the pub
lie press in this way receive no pay
for them, the money compensation
going to the professional writer in
volved. He certainly earns all he gets
in such cases generally, for his task
is almost always long drawn out, tedi-
GUS and annoying in the extreme and
the putative writer often feels well
repaid for his trouble by the person.
al prominence the publication of his
name as writer will give him.
There have been instances, how
ever, when the public character in
sisted on getting a part of the finan-
cial rewards as well as the publicity,
and there are not a few prominent
physicians and other experts in New
York and elsewhere who will not give
an interview for publication in
any medium without getting a fee
for 1t.
1t is said that the late DR.. w. A.
Hammond, long famous as a surgeon,
and at one time Surgeon General of
the United States army, was the first
american surgeon or medical man to
insist upon being paid for an inter-
view.
To DR.. Hammond. one day, went
reporter who had been told to get
up a special article answering the
question, Can person be scared to
death?" The writer had already Sc
cured answers from generals. adj
mirals, eminent physicians and many
others, and foresaw no trouble with
DR.. Hammond. But the latter took a
marole-hearted view of the situa-
ton.
mo one can answer properly such
question as that" said Dr. Ham
mond, unless he has given wears of
study ana observation to the mental
and physical makeup of his fellow
human beings. 1 will furnish the de-
sired opinion for $50, which I shall
consider professional fee. Unless l
receive the $50 1 shall not help
you"
The reporter recognized the Justice
of DR.. Hammonds demand from his
view point, but had received no am
thority to pay out $50 or even so
cents, and so the subject was drop
ped.
There is a different story with
certain newspaper correspondent and
certain young reformer as CHIEF
characters:
AT the beginning of the young re-
formers career the great world knew
little or nothing about him, In his
writings the correspondent doomed the
reformer and his pet schemes. both
because ne believed in them and be-
cause articles about them found a
ready sale. After a while the CORE
spondent was gratified to see that the
reformer and his schemes were at
tracing much attention. not only in
this country, but abroad as well.
Moreover, a certain millionaire. in
terested by the correspondents arti-
cles in the reformer's schemes, nut ND
lot of money to help carry them ont
and the reformer. originally much
straitened for money. became prosper
Gus. Then, one day, when the CORE
spondent called upon the reforrner To
ask IL there was anything new to write
about, the latter exclaimed:
Yes, there is, MIR. Correspondent
but see here: You have made a good
deal of money out of your articles
about me, and that's all right so far
as the past is concerned, of course.
But In the future it will have to he
different. I'll give you the information
as have. but Little .Iimnle'-mean-
ing myself-will have to get half the
proceAdsl"
1t NAV interest the reader to know
that the correspondent couldn't see
the matter in that light and that since
then there has been nothing doing
between the correspondent and the re-
former.
Duane.