The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-08-29
HOW NEWS IS GOTTEN
FROM PROMINENT MEN
How The Big Men Talk to Reporters
in New York.
MANY ARE HARD TO REACH
Some lien Talk, Some Talk Some
times, and Others Will Talk Any
time p. 1organ, the Champion
Sphinx.

NNN%NSS~S NAAN 1911 VIM StAN "OA III
while interviewing: First, men
who never talk; second men who
will talk if the matter is
of great moment; third, men
who will talk anytime about any
thing-this last is the politician
class. The classification was made
for New York but is good any
where.
Of the New York men in the
public eyes just now Gov. Charles
E. Hughes is in the brightest
spotlight. He is very approach
able to newspaper men. At AL
bany each day at noon he meets
them all. They troop into the
executive chamber and one, who
has been selected to do the talk
ing, puts categorically to the gov
ernor the questions agreed on.
He answers them quietly and
clearly, but rarely volunteers any
information not asked for. He
prefers to make his big statements
in speeches. He does not give
out prepared interviews. His
publicity interests are in charge of
Robert H. Fuller, his secretary,
who was formerly a member of the
New York Herald staff. Edward
H. Hartman was for years the
sphinx" to newspaper men. Since
his controversy with President
Roosevelt he has grown approach
able. The reporter must send his
card and a short statement of the
subject he wants to talk about.
II Mr.. Hartman considers the
subject important be will admit
the reporter. He now talks on
many subjects and talks clearly
and well though rapidly He is
courteous to the interviewer
H H. Rogers is in the same
class with Hartman He is more
brusque in manner, though he
will sometimes crack Joke with
the reporter.
J. P. Morgan is one of the
never talk" class. 1t is about
as hard for a reporter to see him
in his Office as to see the king of
England.
John D. Rockefeller has been in
terviewed several times in tie past
year, but he is still in the never
talk" class. Curiously, the in
terviews given by Mr.. Rockefeller
were granted purely because he
liked the young men who were as
signed to get him to talk.
William R. Hearst has a fine
sense Of the news proprieties, He
knows exactly when and how to
talk. He had been a sphinx until
his campaign for mayor two years
ago. A crowd of newspaper men
caught him in the lobby of the
Gilsey house one afternoon and
bombarded him with questions.
He answered quietly, coolly, and
his language was clear, forceful
and elegant as the writing of Ar
thur Brisbane. The report ers
were surprised. Since then he
has been interviewed by many
newspapers opposed to him and the
reporters like the assignment.
He talks best in the library of his
own home on Lexington avenue.
A stenographer could interview
him as well as James Creelman.
She would only need the title of
her subject and a note book to
take what he speaks.
Assignments to see William
Travers Jerome, the district attor-
ney, are given to the reporters
whom he knows personally. They
81 straight into his office and fire
at him point blank. IF he is in
the 1ood he will talk breezily for
an no.. At other times no man
living N get a word out of him.
during &c Thaw trial he would
not speak word on any subject
to a newspasr man. He rarely
gives out a ty.written interview.
In the beginqg, Police Com.