The Washington herald., 1913-12-25
Statesmen, Real and Near.
By FRED q KEIJY.

t"O 10 1oSoiulely eb5enIldi.
"Of course" explained Burns, we
don't call 1t lying, but fnesse, which
may be the same thing though II GER
tainiy sounds more polite and genteel"
Burns cited a couple of Illustrations IN
proof. as he declared. Of the Justification
of lying.
Some years ago when Burns was In the
United States Secret Service, one OF MS
most important cases was that OF the
famous Monroe head counterfelters. IL
was particularly important case mas
much as the counterfeit bill was one OF
the first ever issued that practically de-
fed detection even by the experts. for
several weeks Burns and his assistants
had worked in Philadelphia on that case
and finally had brought things TO z
focus. One more day and they would
have their victims but 1t was necessary
to go to Lancaster, Pa, to make the ar
rests, and moreover II was essentiai 10
proceed with extreme caution. The least
suspicion that they were being watched
would have driven the counterfeiters 70
the great uncharted land OF Whereabouts
Unknown.
Just at that stage Of the game a
young reporter from one OF the Pnnadel-
phia afternoon papers popped into Burns
Hotel room Win this
ton:
"Mr. Burns" said he, 1--WE found out
what you're doing here!'
Now, II the young man really did know
what Burns was doing there and should
say anything about 1t, Burns was dis
tinctly I'D against a distressing SITUATION
and the intricate work Of several weeks
would go for naught. Whether the young
chap knew or did not know the truth,
Burns was well aware that for him to
show alarm might be fatal So he merely
inquired, casually:
"An right, Ill bite. What Is 1t I'm
doing here?"
You're here" replied the reporter, with
conviction, ION the trail Of the Monroe
head counterfeiters.'
II Burns had been afflicted with weak
heart he would doubtless have died right
there. Or, If he had merely given one
convulsiye move of an eye winker, 1t
would have confirmed the young mans
suspicious.
So the detective did neither. He threw
about himself a great fake cloak Of un-
concern -, puffed his cigar. and asked:
Very we'll then, since you know, what
is it you want to see me about?
"Oh, I simply want to get a few facts
from you to embellish the story" replied
the youth. guilelessly.
''Naw, naw," laughed Burns, keeping up
his disinterested air. I'm perfectly will
ing for you to print whatever you want
to about me, only of course l can't be
quoted in the matter-inasmuch as there's
no truth in it. Go ahead and print it.
though, and l won't say anything about
II. That is. 1 won't deny IL. In that way
you can get the credit and there will be
no harm done"
Yes, but don't want to print II unless
it's so.' declared the young man.
We'll, then" observed Burns. in his
winning, fatherly way, better leave it
alone. son. Do as you think best,
And he began to ply the young man with
questions about street car routes, polit-
ical scandal and other topics. for the
sake OF changing the subject. Then. sud
denly remarked Burns:
DO you know, I've half A notion to tell
you what really am doing here. You're
young and full of enterprise and ginger,
and without throwing any salve, there's
something about you that / like. II I
could just trust you to keep a secret for
another twenty-four hours or So"
It'll be just like putting your secret
down in WELL" exclaimed the young
ster.
II really have no right to give it out"
said Burns, but Chief Wilkie is going
to be here from Washington this aft
ernoon, and I'm going to try to talk him
into giving the story 20 you. All you'll
need to do then will be to sit tight for a
day or a day and a half and then you'll
have an exclusive yarn that'n shake the
town"
When do I get it?' asked the reporter,
eagerly.
oh, come back here at 4 O'Clock, or
half past" suggested Burns with a
yawn.
The moment the visitor was gone, Burns
rushed to the long distance phone and
called up Chief Wilkie in Washington.
He told him that something frightful had
happened and to come to Philadelphia
on the next train. WiIkie did. Burns
laid the situation before him and they
began to. grope for a substitute story to
give to the paper, in order to drive the
papers mind. For an hour or more they
sat there trying TO hit on something
plausible. and at last they dreamed just
what they wanted.
That was the year of the Spanish
American war, and this was the story
Burns and Wilkie thought up: A coterie
Of wholesale coal dealers in Philadelphia
were known to be secretly selling coal to
the Spanish government 1t was believed
that when the facts came out the public |
would be SO incensed over such an un-
patriotic and traitorous proceeding, that
the men would be in grave danger of
ynching. The thing would have to be |
handled with great 'care to avoid blood |
shed They expected to make public the |
names of the wicked coal dealers the |
next day.
With the assurance that he would have |
he exclusive information on the details |
If this great story when it BROKE" the |
reporter with the tip about the counter
letters went his way Until the morrow. |
That night Burns and his men captured
he counterfeiters- Burns says he is Ger
ain the lies were justifiable.
When he was working on the San Fran !
,isco graft cases, Burns received a
similar call from a reporter who had
heard that he was about to arrest some
aldermen. And that was exactly what
lie was fixing to do. But II the report got
,ut the aldermen would have covered
heir tracks. Burns looked the reporter
n the eye and said, in hurt tone:
81 wish you would tell your managing
,ditor for me that don't like his jokes"
What do you mean?'
simply this, don't like to have a thing
'ubbed in. I'll admit that we haven't
lone much here yet, but we've been work
ng hard and we're going to turn some
ricks before We get through, we hope.
We're not arresting any aldermen, though,
md yod can tell your editor not to send
my more such sarcastic messages to me"
But he's a great friend Of yours" de-