The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-01-28

For six months, which he has described
six eventful months" he the editor OF
newspaper in southern town. whose locality
I shall not give here. because of certain circum
stances connected with the case. There il
another crusade against a 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 Mr.. Wooley had
lost his newspaper.
For a short time thereafter Mr.. Woolley was
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 was 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 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 it's wide-reaching effects, 1t is prob
able that q magazine article entitled The Plum
derers of Washington was the most notable
contribution to the news and information OF the
day" which Mr.. Woolley 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
by the press of the time fearless. It dealt with
some of Washingtons big bankers and real es-
tate men and with 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-
haps, that the article largely was responsible
for a complete change IA the manner of men ap'
pointed to positions of high trust in the muni-
cpal government of the city of Washington, Tor
Washington in way has municipal government,
being under the rule of course, Of congress, but
having a board of District commissioners as
responsible heads
In the year 1912 Mr.. Woolley was the editor and
compiler of the Democratic Text Book" and was
chief Of the campaign OF publicity bureau or the
Democratic national committee. He also com
piled the text book of 1914. His political aftlia-
tions at this time. however, newspaper men be-
lieye did not have anything to do with his ap-
pointment to Office. His efforts along liberal and
progressive lines had attracted the attention OF
Woodrow Wilson. Mr.. Woolley 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 IL.
am writing this article with feelings of per
sonal admiration and liking, perhaps even OF az
fection, for | have known Woolley for years. lie
Is tried man. He is one of the newspaper ira
ternity, and after nearly quarter ol century VI
close acquaintance know that can say that he
Is an honor TO It, Robert Wicklife Woolley lives
lust outside of Washington in Fairfax. Va. II 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. II
Is a good place for Democrat of strongly pro
gressive tendencies to live.
Mr. woorey 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.. Woolley is put
down as Robert Wicklire Woolley, but newspaper
men from coast to coast and from the Canada line
10 the Gulf know him much better as Bob.