The Washington herald., 1910-04-09
Largest Morning Circulation.

Really. sir. We protest. What are our
young millionares coming to? Simply
because they are millionares, are they 10
corner the worlds supply Of genius?
Here is young Joseph Medin Patterson,
not content with having monopolized a
generous share of the publicity limelight
for the last five or six years, ex-war
correspondent, ex-s0ciety favorite, ex-
legislator, author Of a celebrated novel
that made the world think for twenty
four hours. actually writing a play. And
what is more to the point. getting it pro-
duced with every evidence that it will be
a popular success says the St. Louis
Republic
Chicago loves young Mr.. Patterson be-
cause he is a man who does things Not
only does he do things, but he denounces
them. He wrote "A Little Brother Of the
Rich to denounce society
Social position?" declared Mr.. Patter-
son. What is ii but the chance to go
to the garish, vulgar houses of sure-thing
gamblers. 10 puzzle yourself stupid and
talk putrid pseudo-sentiment TO empty
pated doll women?"
has moved IN the best circles, has had
entree 10 the most exclusive New York
and Chicago homes. has sampled the
caviar and the champagne of the 400.
and led the life which he denounced so
vigorously in his novel that society actu-
ally paused a moment in its eVer-elusiVe
pursuit for new sensation.
What are we to think of this millionaire
Socialist who has found such excellent
material for plays and stories from the
inner circle of that alleged society which
he affects to scoTn. Perhaps the testi-
mony of his own father viii be interest
ing and instructive.
The boy is a fanatic" says R w Pat
terson, editor-in-chief and publisher of
the Chicago Tribune. but he IS a harm
less fanatic"
Now Thirty Years Old.
Joseph MediH Patterson, who bids fair
TO become one of the most important fig
ures in theatrical and literary life in this
country. is now 80 years of age. He is the
grandson of Joseph Medill, one of the
founders of the Republican party, the ia
nous editor who made the Chicago Trib-
une the greatest paper in the Middle
West a generation ago. And, as just
stated he is the son of the present editor
of that paper. He is reputed millionaire,
and therefore writes not because of the
prospects of box-ofiice success. but be-
cause ne sincerely and earnestly advo-
Gates that for which he laboTs. No hope
of pecuniary reward can mold his. work
to standards of baser nature. TINS rich
young man left Yale to take up editorial
work on the family newspaper in Chi
cagO, and in the excellent training school
of the Tribune. he learned the rudiments
of newspaper work and the use of news
paper English.
Here are a few Of the things this re-
markable young man has done in the
past few years:
Graduated from Yale with the class Of
1900 was voted the most popular man in
his class, and pulled the strongest oar
in the college crew.
Spent a year as a cowboy on the Medin
ranch in Wyoming.
When the Boxer troubles broke
out in China, young Patterson,
though but twenty-one, was as
signed by the Tribune 10 cover
the disturbance, ana, Ieaplng on a horse
rode sixty miles TO railroad station
caught train, and left for San Francisco
and the Orient. whence he sent long cable
dispatches from the thickest of the fight
on the march TO Pekin. that won him
further fame.
Goes 40 State Legislature,
When Mr.. Patterson returned to Chi
cago he interested himself in politics.
and after a whirlwind campaign, in which
ne spoke personally to almost every voter
in his district. he was triumphantly
elected TO the State legislature, where he
served a term with distinction
While al Springfield, young Patterson
amazed every one by coming out for mu-
niclpal ownership of all government util-
tiles. with the result that his party
refused TO renominate him.
In 1902 he married Miss Alice Rigging
botham. assumed an editorial post on
the Chicago Tribune and rose rapidly
He was assigned to visit Russia at the
outbreak of the riots there in 1905, and
again proved equal to the task that was
especially difficult and dangerous.
In April, 1906, the public was interested
and startled by the announcement that
Joseph Medill Patterson had resigned
from his fathers paper. the Tribune. bs-
cause he had embraced the doctrines OF
socialism. He took the stump for Dunno,
the municipal-ownership candidate in
Chicago, and helped to elect him.
Judge Dunno appointed Patterson COM
missioner of public works. although Pat
teTson was only twenty-six years Of age at
thetfme But Patterson found the place 50
beset by politicians and red tape that he
could not put his radical ideas into prae-
tice. In resigning. he. praised Dunno as
the best mayor Chicago ever had, but
not radical enough in bis ideas.
Then Mr.. Patterson became q novelist.
He wrote "a Little Brother of the Rich
as protest against the sinful gambling,
debauchery, rottenness and wiekedness of