The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-10-18
How | Won
By GROVER S. GRIFFIN
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

iession l did so because had literar,
tastes and facility for writing.
soon found that the principal ingredl
ent in the success of a newspaper man
especially while on the lower rungs o
the ladder, is getting ahead of thu
other fellows. soon tired Of tht
routine work Of collecting news ant
was thinking of giving up journalism
when something happened in other
words, my opportunity arrived.
The president Of the United States
proposed to Russia and Japan, who
were then at war, to settle their DIFF
ferences. A meeting was called be
tween the representatives Of the two
nations to meet at Portsmouth. Our
American newspapers are not used as
they are In Europe to getting ahead
Of one another in news Of matters per-
tanning to government and diplomacy
or my opportunity would not have oc-
Cured at this time. for / was very
young. had no acquaintance calculated
to give me advance news and had not
distinguished myself in my profession.
The managing editor OF an obscure
paper sent me to Portsmouth simply
to transmit the news as it came out,
with comments on the crowds and de
scriptions Of the distinguished partici-
pants.
But a wild dream came into my
head. 1t occurred to me that If l
alone among several hundred newspa-
per correspondents could get at the
treaty of peace. If one were made, and
telegraph it to my paper so that 1t
could be published before any other
paper published 1t | might make my
self famous as newspaper man. And
here opportunity came in again to help
me. On my journey to Portsmouth
Travelled on the same train as one of
the Russian representatives He had
with him a number of attendants, con-
sisting of secretaries, stenographers
and servants. | made the acquaint-
ence of several Of the suit, and it oc-
CURED to me that might possibly
make deal with some one Of them 10
give me the news for a consideration.
/ doubt II | should have attempted to
get anything out Of a Japanese in that
fashion. but / knew that Russian
was much more amenable to the per-
suasion of funds,
l fell into conversation with one,
whom l shall call Potsdoff. a copyist
] gave him a cigar and several drinks
from my flask. ! explained to him
my desire and found willing listener
Tended by offering him $50 IL he could
get me the treaty, should one be made
in time to send it to my paper for
publication ahead Of all other jour
mails.
1t may seem remarkable that /
should have offered so small a sum for
such a valuable prize, The truth Is | /
offered him all the money that had T
been given for my expenses after pay
ing for my tickets. and he had no I
knowledge of where he could sell his
information elsewhere. Besides this,
when the denl was made neither Of us
dreamed that there would be any sue
cess in our efforts. We had plenty of
time on the train to concoct any
scheme that might be necessary for
the transmission Of information from
him to me. This was the most deli
cate part OF our work, for after the
once met and proceeded
with its deliberations any possessing
Its secrets would be watched carefully.
The plan we adopted was this:
would take one meal day at the ho-
tel where Potsdoff's master put up.
would wait outside the dining room
until saw Potsdoff go in, then go in
myself and. going out before him. pick
up his hat instead OF my own, he later
taking mine. At the next meal we
would change hats back again.
Well. the convention met and began
It's deliberations. Potsdoff and | did
not have any need to change hats till
he articles Of the treaty were being
up for discussion Then as
,oon as an article was written out my
nan, who was engaged in the work.
would put copy Of it. written on
hin paper, in his hat. and would
Don after be its possessor.
l was in continuous state of anx-
ETY. lest the plenipotentiaries should
an to agree and | should have all my
roube for nothing Besides. fancied
hat IL treaty were made and | Of
cred 1t at a telegraph Office in Ports
Mouth in advance of its release 1
Fould not be able to get 1t through. 1
resolved, If | did get it.
youId take train for some small
lace distant from Portsmouth and
elegraph it from there.
Finally the convention began dis
ussinG the articles one by one. Every
me an article was agreed to the same
vening l would end ii written out
'lthin the lining OF the hat would
ut on on leaving the hotel dining
'om. was getting anxious for the
invention to end. / had not Informed
" paper that ! was reserving all my
oney for a purpose and was In debt
II everything required
At last the final articles were signed
ID a time appointed for giving the
eaty to the newspaper representa-
yes The evening it was signed ]
u the last article from Potsdod. took
train for a near station. and the
me night M II os~taaty a 4of,orerb