South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-07-15

japan and make a real trip OF IL. The
only question was whether the Japan
csc government had extended an invt-
tation for the feet TO make the visit.
All sorts OF questions were put up
TO the State Department but the de-
partment just blinlSed and said not a
word.
One bright morning Robert o. Bail
ey Of the Associated Press-later an
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
met Elmer Murphy OF the New York
Tribune in the State Department, and
says he:
Murphy. here's a scheme. Will you
do the talking7"
IF talkings' all I have 10 do. 1 can
make good, replied Elmer, but
what's the scheme
Baily told him
A few moments later Elmer went to
anese Embassy. Being personally
acquainted with the Ambassador, he
was able to get him to come to the
phone.
which japanese port is the fleet
To visit ?" inquired Elmer, casually,
just as If that's what they had been
discussing over their coffee.
',Oh, nothing has been said about
any particular port" replied the Am
bassador. Amy Port"
At THAI Elmer made his adieus and
hung up. Turning TO Bailey, Of the
Associated Press, he said with much
quiet dignity:
Sir / am able to announce at this
time that the fleet will positively visit
Japan"
And that was the way the news was
learned.
George NJ. Smith, managing editor
Of the New York evening sun. first
won recognition IN newspaper world
by an Unborn knack of observation.
He was working as a young reporter
on one of the Newark, n. J., papers
back in 1894. when a man by the
name Of Julius A. Lebkeucher was
mayor of that town. IT was learned
that the Mayor was about 10 be mar
ried, but he wished TO have a quiet
wedding, and refused to tell when or
where the marriage would take place.
Now the average wedding, even of a
mayor, dsn't particularly hot stuff for
a newspaper. but just because this
mayor was so secrettve about the time
and place. the people Of Newark got
II into their heads that they must
know all about IT. Hence 1t was up
to the reporters TO enlighten the peo-
pie. One Of young George Smith s
assignments was TO see the Mayor
every day and try to inveigle him into
telling his secret. The mayor would
mt tell, but Smith did manage TO learn
that the marriage would probably
take place at a certain address in
Brooklyn. 1t seemed impossible to
learn the appointed day.
Now the Mayor was a man who
dressed plainly. He always wore a
black cutaway coat. black trousers
and a black necktie. One morning
he appeared at his'office dressed pre-
cisely as usual, except that the black
necktie he wore was brand new. and
his shoes were also new. The change
in his garb was so slight that no one
noticed II except young Smith. II oc-
CURED to Smith that the new shoes
and new necktie might indicate that
IL was the mayors wedding day. With
out saying anything Of his suspicious,
he took a chance and fastened over
to the address in Brooklyn where the
wedding was expected to take place.
There he found great activity about
the house, and he knew his guess was
right. The story he landed was not
Of much consequence in itself, but 1t
served to call to the attention of
Smiths' boss the young mans power
Of close observation, ana it was not
long until Smith was able to make
real capital OF IL.