Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-08-25
Wonderful Enterprise Displayed
BY Newspapers in Cover,
inc Draft Drawing
(From the Editor and Publisher

story--is q big story in itself - .
Never In the history of American
Journalism have newspaper men han
died q bigger story. Every numbef
was q big story. The war was reach
ing out into the American home and
no person, no matter how disinterest
ed, escaped the influences Of the great
human lottery.
Never in the history Of teiegraphy
were operators called upon to perform
such great task. And one might add
that In the history Of typography few
instances can be recalled where print
ers were put to such severe test.
Change Made at Last Moment.
For weeks Washington newspaper
correspondents displayed remarkable
Versatility in writing stories about
when the draft would take place. The
big day was postponed and postponed,
and finally when all but few states
had reported. plans were made by
press associations and newspapers to
handle 1000 numbers. How, at the
last moment, 1t was found necessary
TO draw 10000 numbers instead, Is to-
day an old story. But the story has
not been told of how press associa-
tons modified their forces during the
night, completely changed plans, and
when the first number was drawn the
next morning, were prepared for and
did perform truly Herculean task.
The press associations had special
wires .unning from room 226 OF the
senate office building in Washington,
where the drawing was held, and near.
,ly 100 correspondents wrote special
stories describing the scene of the
drawing. Every facility was given the
members Of the press.
Similar Methods Used.
= The Associated Press, the United
Press association, THE international
News service and the Central News
used similar methods IN handling the
draft story. In the room where the
lottery was staged each press associa,
ton had about three men One OF these
put down the numbers in groups OF
from ten to twenty-five. At his side
second man checked the numbers with
the tally board. The third took the
sheet and rechecked II with the board
and delivered II to the tables Just out
side where the operators we're located.
There the numbers were written, IN
The order drawn, on q huge tally sheet
to see that they checked correctly.
One hundred numbers were written on
each sheet. In the downtown offices
the press associations kept duplicate
tally sheets to serve as still another
check.
As the order in which the numbers
were drafted was important, the Asso-
ciated Press inserted q check to show
the proper sequence Each tenth num-
Der was therefore designated In its or
der. intervening numbers taking care
Of themselves through the tenth mum
her designations. In this way 10.b0o
numbers were despatched without q
single error as to sequence. The OPP
orators were cautioned to maintain a
moderate speed. Part OF the time four
trunk wires were in operation between
New York and Chicago. Due to the.
capable work OF the operators. the ten
thousand flve-hundredth number was
sent from Washington within seven
minutes from the time II was drawn.
Many operators worked continuously
on the figures from $3.50 a. m. Friday
until forenoon the next day.
The first number was drawn at
AS u N. Friday The last number
as drawn at 2:1S a. m. Saturday,
lore than sixteen hours later.
credit Due Operators.
To comprehend Just what tremen-
don0 task telegraph operators per
formed, IL Is necessary 70 remember
hat ordinarily operators transmit
words which bear some relation and
which come in sequence. The average
operator usually copies about six or
seven words behind the sender. But
a the case Of the numbers. the receiy-
er and the sender had.to keep to-
aether. The numbers bore no relation.
Operators were compelled to concen-
trate npon each number. They worked
for long hours with nothing before
Nhem but the eternal groups Of figures,
and knowing that mistake Of a single
figure would be q matter Of utmost
concern to thousands of men and tens
81 thousands among their friends and
relatives. For that reason no attempt
Al UNUSUAL speed could be made, with |
the result that errors were kept at a |
minimum.
The press association kept their
.ires open all Friday night and Sat
urday morning. One association broke |
into the wire five times with short
Bulletins. Another association used
one wire for numbers and one wire
for news.
How Newspapers Handled Story.
How the newspapers handled the
draft story. particularly the long list
81 numbers. is another interesting an
&c OF the story. The most remarkable /
bit Of enterprise was performed BY the
Chicago Examiner. which in presenting |
the news of the draft. established a
record In newspaper achievement that
q likely to stand unsurpassed for
years to come.
The Examiner printed in all Of the
regular city editions Saturday morn
ing, In alphabetical form. the name.
address, draft and division number Of
f'1(,slly every man in Chicago who