The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-10-24
TALES OF "vETS"
Topeka Newspaper "Old Tim
erS" Before Press Club.
journalism in the
Making Is Reviewed.

Topeka and Kansas newspaper days
from Sc until the present time were
pictured to the younger generation at
Pelletier's Tea Room Monday night,
when the older members of the To-
peka Press club took charge of the
progra m at the first dinner of the sea-
son. Frank p. MacLennan, proprie-
tor of the State Journal, was toast
master introducing the several speak
ers by incidents in their careers.
z James L. King. state librarian and
FORMER city editor of the Common
wealth, related stories of early day
newspaper men in Topeka. Mr.. King
acted not only as a reporter and edi-
tor in the early days but was part
owner of a few early day newspapers.
H is a brother of the late Henry
Gins. veteran Kansas newspaper man.
and for wears managing editor of thu
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.
d. A Valentine. for years clerk of
the supreme court and part owner OF
the Clay Center Times, told of his ex-
periences as the first state house re-
porter in Kansas. n the early days
none of the papers had reporters at
the state house and Valentine first
opened this now productive news field
when he sent news items to Kansas
City and Topeka newspapers and re-
ceived in return copies of their pa
pers.
Told of Politics.
Fred L. Vandegrift. for twelve years
Topeka representative of the Kansas
City Star. read an interesting review
OF those days. dwelling mostly on the
politics and politicians. He told of
the good, old days" when newspaper
men and politicians rode over the
Country on passes. One interesting
story had to do with James w. Orr of
Atchison. still a very lively politician,
1111 Of
large to a national convention. Orr
pave some of his supporters passes to
the city in which the convention was
held but withheld the return tickets
until he had learned they had voted
right"
One of the best talks of the evening
was made by Judge w. r. Smith of
the Santa Fe. He Landed the newspa-
per men and consequently drew the
Greatest applause. THE Newspaper
Reporter" was the subject of a paper
read by Judge Smith.
Came Into Their Own.
II shall say something of newspa-
per reporters" said Judge Smith, for
the reason that they rarely say any
thing for themselves. OF all profess
eional men who contribute to the in
formation and gayety of nations, there
are none whose labors are more i'm
personal.
THE reporter may write for his pa
per better scrmOn than the preacher
can preach, or a better play than the
actor adopts for the display of his
genius. yet his product goes out dis
associated from its creator. and ap-
pears anonymously. with no intima-
ton OF the identity of the author.
THE editor of a newspaper of any
considerable circulation is generally
well known. 1t is usual for his name
to appear somewhere on it's pages. The
reporter gets no publicity. and l have
not heard that he demands or expects
IT While he makes newspapers, en-
riches proprietors. and exploits two
py-fOur politicians until they become
statesmen in public estimation. he re-
mains "a youth to fortune and to
Tame unknown
'. C. Wood, accurate Reporter"
J. C. Wood. who had been referred
70 by an earlier speaker as the "most
accurate reporter Topeka had ever
Known" told of numerous early-day
Newspaper incidents. He served as
old Commonwealth and later as tele-
graph editor of the Capital. He told
the inside" about what is admitted
to have been the greatest scoop" in
scident to Topeka newspaper history.
Election day in 1872 was about the
worst day 1 ever saw in Topeka" said
AIR. Wood There was terrific
storm in progress all to the east and
the wires went down one after an
other. Along in the afternoon every
wire had gone ara my employer came
TO me with long face. Woody he
said, what are we going to do about
the election returns tonight?' I re-
piled that L didn't know but that ]
would suggest that he go over to the
Kansas Pacific station and make ar
Engagements with the operator to get
the Rocky Mountain press service ever
the wires from the west.
That he did. He paid the opera
tor $40 for his nights work. Kansas
avenue was mortar bed. There was
no paving then. Our office was in q
building just north of the present fed
eral building. The boss and 1 alter
mated thru the night driving over tC