The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-29

Econtinued from Page One.l
ans Corner" Tom Thompson. Howard
Courant. The Story Of the POtpourri:
anna Carlson. Linds6org News; The
State Journal. by the Way" Q. w.
Weaver, Sedgwick Paragraph Para
graph writing" Jay E. House, Topeka
Daily Capital, ION Second Thought"
C. 8. Elliott. president OF the Tope-
ka Commercial club will preside at the
banquet Saturday evening, and will de-
liver a brief address Of welcome. e. e.
Kelley. president Of the association.
will respond to the toast. The Folks
Of Yesterday."fa Fred L. Vandssriis:
wooden Legs" Herbert Cavaness Of
the Chanute Daily Tribune. will re-
spOnd to the toast, This Is the Lie
for Me-" Mrs. Ralph Tennal Of the Sa-
betha Herald will speak on The Ear
tors Life" w. Y. Morgan. lieutenant
governor, will comment upon THE New
Administration"
- Railway Publicity.
Railroad publicity is the result. OF
an attack made on the transportation
companies by newspaper editors on
account Of the policy OF railway ON
Gals in withholding news from the
public, J. r. FARRELL, Sar Fee public
ity man, told the members of the Kan
sas State Editorial association this ant
ernoon in a discussion Of the subject,
"Railro.-d Publicity"
Even as late as a dozen years ago
1t was necessary for a reporter to take
al ng q dark lantern and . Jimmy
wher he started after a railroad
story" said FARRELL. 1.-THE railroad
man did not keep back information
because he was mean, but because he
had no authority to talk. If the re-
porter could locate the president. or
the general manager, or some other
of the higher officials, he could get
the item he wanted: but that usually
was not possible. and the official on
the ground perhaps knew nothing
about the subject brought to his no
tice, and was not in position to get
the information needed.
Newspapers Made Fuss.
1.-The newspapers began to make a
fuss. I don't know just where or
when the trouble started: but about
six years ago the criticism came to
the attention of President Ripley Of
the Santa Fe, who has a habit Of put
ting an ear to the ground occasional
ly. Mr.. Ripley made inquiry, and
found that the newspa- ers all over
the country were berating the rail-
roads for what they termed their
'tightwad' rolicy of not letting go Of
legitimate railroad news. Mr.. Ripley
decided that there was merit in the
position taken by the newspapers, and
oredred a change in the Santa Fe's
pc icy.
That's how 1 happened to spoil a
good newspaper reporter to make q
poor railroad man. I was employed
by the Santa Ee 4 In response to the
demand of the newspapers for rail-
road news. NY instruction was to
give the newspapers all the informa-.
ton they called for about any phase
Of railroad management, and to send
them, on my own motion, information
which, in my Judgment as q working
newspaper man. would be of interest
to their readers. 1 h:-~e discharged
my duty to my employer and to the
editors along the Santa Fe to the best
OF my ability: and if have come
short of giving the editors the news
they want. 1t is an error of the head
/ and not OF the heart. D.
IT do not refer to the Santa Fee for
the purpose OF getting next to pure
reading matter, but because I am
more familiar with that road than
any other. While the Santa Fee was
the pioneer in the publicity field, prac-
tically all the railroads are taking the
public into their confidence to a
greater or less degree.
Public Sentiment Changed. .es
Il want to take this opportunity of
saying that there has been a change in
public sentiment favorable TO railroad
interests I'M the last two years, and
this change is reflected to a remark
able degre by the newspapers. Edi-
torials now ring with something be-
sides railroad regulation, and the leg
islature for the first time in history
is asked by the people in petitions of
great volume to refrain from enacting
drastic and expensive anti-rai1road
laws. The change. no doubt, resulted
from the modern policy Of railroads to
show the people that the railroad Is
subjected to the same conditions that
confront all other classes of business.
and the people are fair enough, now
that they understand the case, to de-
mand that there be no discrimination
against railroad business. The rail-
roads have been treated very nicely by
Fe directs me to express it's apprecia-
! ton.
/. Fishing Will Be Good.
The story OF my life as a railroad
publicity agent Is done. I shall always
consider myself a newspaper man, and
this association can not help itself
My heart is with you, and my children
are all growing up in the profession
The boys are going to buy a paper in
the near future, and have promised
me job when I get too old to work
for the railroad. They have agreed t.
buy paper close to a creek where
fishing will be good. I will establish 6
summer camp. and you are all invited
~ visit me. AS my VIE is a part Of
the scheme-in fact. the originator Of
. 1.-THE lady editors are especially in
vited."
"a Stick and q HALF"
The sphere of influence of a news
/ paper man is greater than that of the
doctor OF teacher. according to ]. L
Fapes of the Mulvane News, who spoke
! before the Kansas editors this after.
noon on "A Stick and a Hail. Aftel
. having tried to solve the problem oj
now he happens to be in the country