The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-23

N, D. c., SUNDAY, 0CTOBI
Chicago Tribune. and vas rushing home
to help Mckinley in lis campaign for
the Presidency at mis- a. - lection. The
major was naturally Pat. If not
skeptical, but he let ae ship after
/ had promised TO Pay my meals
made the journey across the Pacific for
s2l. At San Francisco I telegraphed my
father for funds"
After being graduated from Yale you
went on the Tribune with the purpose.
| suppose. OF making journalism your
profession" l said
II had thought of being lawyer
an oratorical lawyer. might say. How
ever, am glad / didn't study law. Split
ting hairs or fussing about the Consu-
tuition is dull business. What did the
fathers know about railways? They
Travelled In stage coaches or on horse
back. Yet we see learned men OF the
law stand up in Congress L. explain the
Constitution In It's alleged application 20
railroads. Still l am ambitious TO be a
lawyer inasmuch as I was inexperienced
ana young Ny father vigorously ar
gued for journalism and I was persuaded.
therefore. TO listen to him.
What was your first work as a re-
porter
II chased after photographs for some
time Then was given small assign
a fFaaNatraqf fGr
the Sunday issue-the usual stuff about
pretty girls, monkeys that behave Ike
human beings. and men who purpose TO
swim across the Atlantic Ocean. ! got
so yellow that my father changed my
work.
About that time I thought I should
Ike to be a member Of the legislature.
My father communicated my desire TO a
political boss and ! was nominated easy
enough. I went on the stump. and while
I was neither a Daniel Webster nor a
Henry CLAY. nobody tried 10 chase me
of OF shut me up
Goes to Springfield.
so I went 20 Springfield and was
initiated into the tricks Of law making.
bill came UP giving Chicago the right
to operate its own street railroads The
bill was not obligatory on the people. you
understandable were 10 vote on the
proposition. favored The suggestion.
The politicians didn't Our minority was
turned into a majority but the speaker
OF the house wouldn't permit a vote
Then one day some one threw an ink
stand az the speaker Immediately there
was riot was not a leader, but I
was in the rush. The speaker was physi-
cally thrown from the house His friends
followed. Those OF us who remained
passed the bin by a unanimous vote.
What became Of it?" I asked
"Oh. IL was declared 20 be unconstitu-
tlonal by the courts could have been
returned 10 the legislature" Mr. Patter-
son continued 10 say. "but was ;tcough
being a statesman, and went back 70 the
Tribune, writing editorials for a year or
so and then controlling the editorial page
under my fathers direction I was so
employed when Dunno ran for mayor. I
left the Tribune. campaiened for Dunno
IS hard as 7 could, and took office under
his administration. only 70 resign for the
reason | have already stated"
And at once w~ote book" 7 said
Yes; I had nothing else 20 do al that
time. Oddly enough, I had never cared
for novels myself and don't now. I put
in a shopgirl and an actress as leading
characters, even If I didn't know any
thing about shopgirls, or actresses either,
Persons who do know have said that
am reasonably good guesser. The story
was written In eight months. TWO pub
fishers declined 1t: the third accepted"
Making some money. no doubt " re-
marked
I hope so" Mr.. Patterson replied.
Anyway I did"
did smart society resent your can
dor?"
Il have been asked that question be-
fore. II the story actually caused Of
Tense I was not told or il by word or
action. Il was dramatized at the sug-
gestion Of a theatrical manager, but
failed at first because I was ignorant Of
stage methods. Harriet Ford. a former
actress and clever adapter, helped me
TO make II over. on the second presenta-
ton It ran for thirteen weeks. but. tech
nically, ii was not a dramatic success.
! was then urged 10 write something
else. My second play, treating Of politics
and newspaper life, was written in less
than two weeks from the scenario had
previously sent 10 my manager Again,
Miss Ford assisted me Ally father liked
the play and so did the public. / am now
az work on another"
Copyright. 1910. BY james Z. Mo5Tos.l