The Washington herald., 1918-05-22
EXPERT TALKS
OF .Y.HERALD
Holland Writes of Contro-
versy Between Bennett
and Gould.

. In many of the editorial comments
upon the career of the late James
Gordon Bennett kindly and apprecia-
tive references were made to his TIL
umphs. but there appeared to be also
some mental reservation, as though
the belief prevails today that in the
latter years of his life Mr.. Bennett
did not fully accept his extraordinary
opportunities with the New York
Herald. In fact some of the most
sympathetic OF the comments con-
tained references to what was called
the decline of the Herald as an influ-
ence in American Journalism.
II may be opportune at this time
to report what has hitherto been un-
recorded history associated with Mr..
Bennett and also with Jay Gould,
with whom Mr.. Bennett carried on a
very bitter personal controversy IN
the columns of the Herald.
Loss of Good Manager.
The impression commonly held was
that the decline OF the influence and
enterprise of the New York Herald
begin when Mr.. Bennett parted COM
pany with hIs chief executive or man
aging editor. Mr.. Connery. Frederick
Hudson. who was the CHIEF executive
uIlueT lne SENIOR bennSll anu vas
responsible for much of the Herald s
success in its early days. was not a
Greater or more forceful or fdr-seelEs
newspaper than Mr.. Connery was un-
der the younger Bennett. What vas
the occasion for the rupture OF the
relations between Mr.. Bennett and
Mr.. Connery has never Eeen accurate
ly known Presumably 1t was due to
one of those somewhat eccentric
whims which were characteristic Of
Mr.. Bennett.
At the time Mr.. Connery and Mr..
Bennett parted. Jay Gould was the
owner of the New York World. 1t
is permitted now to report exactly
how Mr.. Gould came into possession
Of that newspaper, for not until this
rerort IS published has there ever
been an accurate statement respect
ing Mr.. Gould's ownership of the
World.
In Railroad Trade.
CoI. Thomas y. Scott, whose exec
utive ability. energy and foresight
while connected with the Pennsylvania
Railroad and also while associated
with the administration of President
Lincoln have caused his name and
achievements to become traditional
across Texas. His plans were ex-
cellent but his financing was curtailed.
Negotiations were entered into with
Jay Gould and in the course of them
as part of the consideration for a con-
tract Col Scott. who was then the
owner of the New York World insist
ed that Mr.. Gould take over that
property. This was reluctantly done
by Mr.. Could as he had no thought,
no desire to become identified with
journalism.
When Mr.. Connery was free Mr..
Gould sent for him and made n pro-
position to him which, had it been
accepted. would undoubtedly have en-
abled Connery to have taken nigh
rank among the most successful Amer
lean journalists.
s2So.OOO Proposition.
Mr.. Gould valued the New York
World at $4,000. He was willing 10
part with it upon that basis. He
therefore determined to turn over to
his son. George Jay Gould, a one
quarter interest and to his partner,
Washington E. Connor. a one-quarter
interest and then to offer to Mr.. Con-
merry the half interest. Furthermore,
az MS Will MI. NOn-
merry. Mr.. Gould said that he would
guarantee to Mr.. Connery a salary of
$4,000 a year for ten years for his man.
agement of the World property and he
would Furthermore give MIR. Connery
ten years in which to pay for his half
interest II he could gain profits enough
to make such payments. The salary
offered by Mr.. Gould was in MIR. Con-
nery's view ample. Furthermore he
looked uron the proposition that he
should have ten years in which to pay
out of the earnings of the World or out
of his proportionate part of those earn
ings. for the half interest which Mr.
Gould offered to turn over to him, as
generous.
Lost Opportunity.
In spite of these attractive propo-
sitions Mr.. Connery seemed to hold
back a little as though there was
something in the arrangements that
did not quite suit him.
At Mr.. Gould's suggestion Mr.. Con-
merry and Mr.. Connor held several
conferences. At last Mr.. Connery
said that he would accept Mr.. GoulG's
offer provided 100000 in government
bonds were placed with some respon-
SIole trust company as security Tor
the payment of his salary of $4,000
year for ten years.
To this suggestion Mr.. Connor re-
piled that he did not deem it advisa-
BILE even to put before Mr.. Gould the
proposition that there should be de-
posted 10000 in government bonds.
because if Mr.. Gould's word was not
suflcient guarantee for payment of
the salary it would not be sufficient
to maintain the other provisions of
the contract.
With this complete refusal to en-
tertain Mr.. Connery's proposition the
negotiation was ended.
instead OF Mr.. Connery. Joseph Pu-
liter obtained shortly afterward from
Mr.. Gould the ownership of the
World upon very favorable terms, Mr..
Gould allowing ample time for the
payment OF the purchase price. which
was presumably the same sum which
in his view the World property was
worth when he made his proposition
to Mr.. Connery. HOLI,AND