The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1916-01-28


six eventful months" he was the editor of
newspaper In a southern town. whose locality
I shall give here. because of certain cfrcum-
stances connected with the There 1t was
another crusade against municipal! ring and
another of being compelled to edit with
revolver in the hand and also to walk with a gun
exceedingly handy The ring eventually was
broken into bits, but meanwhile Mr. Woolley had
lost his newspaper.
For short time thereafter Mr.. Woolley
the editor Of the San Antonio Light In Texas.
Then he went back to New York and entered
upon really notable career a magazine writer.
He sent many assignments throughout
the country for some of the best magazines IN
the United States. and then he became one OF
the Washington correspondents of the New York
World a position which he held for about two
years. Then again Mr. Woolley turned to maya
zine work. and in the year 1911 he became the
chief Investigator OF the congressional commit
tee appointed to look into the affairs of the Unit
ed States Steel corporation This committee was
known as the Stanley committee.
Because OF its widereaching effects, 1t is prob
able that a magazine article entitled. THE Plum
derers of Washington" the most notable
contribution to the news and Information OF the
day" which Mr.. Woolley ever wrote. This article
was preceded by an intimation that anyone men
toned and who chose SO to do might know that
he had recourse in the courts. In other words,
the Information upon which the article was based
was tested in advance. This article was called
press
some of Washington's big bankers and real es-
tate men and with a good many ofhcials.
Woolley was writing just as he wrote when he
attacking municipal rings in smaller towns
of the country. 1t is not too much to say. per-
haps that the article largely responsible
for a complete change IN the manner OF men ap-
pointed to positions OF high trust in the NUM-
cipal government OF the city of Washington, for
Washington In a way has municipal government.
being under the rule. of course. OF congress, out
having a board OF District commissioners as
responsible heads.
In the year 1912 Mr.. Woolley was the editor and
compjler of the Democratic Text Book" and was
chief of the campaign of publicity bureau OF the
Democratic national committee He also COM
piled the text book of 1914. His political amlia-
lions at this time, however, newspaper men De-
leve did not have anything to do with his ap-
pontment to office. His efforts along liberal ana
progressive lines had attracted the attention OF
woodrow Wilson. Mr.. Wooley was appointed
first as auditor for the interior department, an
office which despite its name, is under the control
of the treasury department Then he was given
bis present nositton as director OF the mint. He
is filing 1t.
I am writing this article with feelings Of per-
sonal admiration and liking. perhaps even OF ar
lection. for l have known Woolley Tor years. ne
is a tried man. He is one Of the newspaper IRA
temity and after nearly a quarter OF century OF
close acquaintance know that can say that he
ia an honor to it. Robert Wfckline Woolley lives
lust outside of Washington IN FAIRFAX va. -
this little town which has possession Of the wills
of George and Martha Washington and some
parts of the bill of rights of George Mason It
ia good place for Democrat OF strongly pro-
gressive tendencies to live.
Mr.. Woolley married Marguerite Trehom OF
Winchester. virginia They have four children.
all girls. The family life is OF the KIND &C.
counted ideal In the books Mr.. Woolley Is put
down as Robert Wicklfe Wooley. but newspaper
men from coast to coast and from the Canada line
to the Gulf know him much better as Bob