Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-10-13
How | Won
By GROVER S. GRIFFIN
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.


soon found that the principal ingredi-
ent in the success of newspaper man,
while on the lower rungs of
the ladder, is getting ahead of the
other fellows. 1 soon tired of the
routine work of collecting news and
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 de
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 /
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 it
could be published before any other
paper published it 1 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 or
the Russian representatives He had
with him a number Of attendants, con-
sisting of secretaries, stenOgraphers
and servants l made the acquaint-
ence of several of the suit, and it oc-
Cured to me that I might possibly
make a deal with some one of them to
give me the news for consideration.
I doubt if I should have attempted to
get anything out Of Japanese in that
fashion, but / knew that a Russian
was much more amenable to the per-
suasion Of funds.
l fell into conversation with one,
whom I shall call Potsdoff, a copyist.
I gave him a cigar and several drinks
from my flask. l explained to him
my desire and found a willing listener.
l ended by offering him $50 if 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-
nails.
It may seem remarkable that
should have offered so small sum for
such a valuable prize. The truth is
offered him all the money that had
been given for my expenses after pay
ing for my tickets, and he had no
knowledge Of where he could sell his
information elsewhere. Besides this,
when the deal was made neither OF us
dreamed that there would be any sue
cess in our efforts. We had plenty or
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
convention once met and proceeded
with it's deliberations any possessing
it's 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
its deliberations Potsdoff and l did
not have any need to change hats till
the articles Of the treaty were being
brought up for discussion. Then as
soon as an article was written out nay
man, who was engaged in the work,
would put copy Of 1t, written on
thin paper. In his hat, and l would
soon after be it's possessor.
I was in a continuous state OF anx-
iety lest the plenipotentiaries should
fail to agree and 1 should have all my
trouble for nothing. Besides, fancied
that if a treaty were made and I Of
fered it at a telegraph office in Ports
mouth in advance Of it's release I
would not be able to get it through. I
therefore resolved, if l did get it. I
would take a train for some small
place distant from Portsmouth and
telegraph it from there.
Finally the convention began dis
cussing the articles one by one. Every
time an article was agreed to the same
evening would find it written out
within the lining Of the hat I would
put on on leaving the hotel dining
room. 1 was getting anxious for the
convention to end. I had not informed
my paper that / was reserving all my
money for purpose and was In debt
for everything l required.
At last the final articles were signed