Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-01-28

For six months which he has described
six eventful months" he the editor of a
newspaper in a southern town. whose locality
l shall not give here. because of certain crcum'
stances connected with the There 1t was
another crusade against municipal ring and
another case of being compelled to edit with a
revolver in the hand and also to walk with a gun
exceedingly handy. The ring eventually was
broken into bits, but meanwhile MIR. Wooley hau
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 n really notable career 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, position which he held for about two
years Then again Mr.. Woolley turned to maga.
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 was the most notable
contribution to the news and information or the
day." which Mr.. Wooley ever wrote This article
was preceded by intimaton 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
some of Washingtons big bankers and real es-
tate men and with a good many officials.
Woolley writing just as he wrote when he
was attacking municipal rings in smaller towns
of the country. 1t is not too much to say, per-
hans that the article largely was responsible
for 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. but
having board OF DlStflct comthlSslouers do
responsible heads
In the wear 1912 Mr.. Woolley the editor and
compiler of the Democratic Text Book and was
chief of the campaign of publicity bureau OF the
Democratic national committee. He also COM
pled the text book OF 1914. His political aiiilia-
lions at this time however. newspaper men be-
lieve did not have anything to do with his ap-
pointment to office. His efforts along liberal anu
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
his present position as director OF the mint. he
is filling it.
am writing this article with feelings OF per-
sonal admiration and liking. perhaps even OF af-
fection for have known Woolley for years He
is a tried man He is one of the newspaper ira
ternitv and after nearly quarter of century OF
close acquaintance | know that can say that he
Is an honor to it, Robert Wickitfe Woolley lives
i,st outside of Washington in Fairfax, Va. 1t is
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. 1t
"a n good place for a Democrat of strongly pro-
gressive tendencies to live.
MIR wooley married Marguerite Treholm OF
Winchester Virginia They have four children,
all girls The family life is of the kind ac-
counted ideal. In the books Mr.. Wooley is put
down as Robert Wick1iffe Woolley. but newspaper
mon from coast to coast and from the Canada line
to the Gulf know him much better as Bob"