The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-23
GEORGE NIL. SMITH
OF TRIBUNE DIES
Ptomaine Poisoning Fatal to
Managing Editor of That
Newspaper.

George Mcleod Smith. mana cling
editor of the New York Tribune since
November Z. 1919. formerly managing
editor Of THE EVENING SUN and night
editor of THE sun. died yesterday morn
ing at his home, 521 West ll2th street
following an attack of ptomaine poison
ing lie had been troubled by mild
form of bronchitis, and expected to sail
on November 81 on a vacation trip to the
West indies. He went home last Tues
day feeling Ill. The seizure was severe.
but he was thought TO be recovering
when his heart rallied.
To the men Of THE SUN and THE
EVENING SUN he was known as Boss"
Smith This desienat on in the old shop
at Nassau and Frankfort streets and the
newer Sun building. block further
south. was high distinction. II meant
that the executive held the affectic: as
we'll as the respect of the staff. Three
men OF TIE SUN were hailed as Boss"
when George Smith went to that news
paper They were Chester S. Lord. the
managing editor; S. NJ Clarke. night
city editor, and the late Francis T. Fat
ton, who had the Jersey desk" In time
the staff set TO calling George Smith
Boss and, as was true of the others
he liked 1t.
Mr. Smith was born in Orange. y. J..
on July 3. 1859. of Revolutionary an
cestry. His first newspaper work was
as a New Jersey correspondent for THE
EVENING SUN. He served as a reporter
in Philadelphia and Newark, and Joined
the staff OF the New York Tribune in
1894 as copy reader. Thereafter he
was with THE SUN three years, and after
two years as managing editor of the
Philadelphia Press. he returned to THE
SUN in 1902. In 1904. when Carr Van
Anda went to the New York Times as
managing editor. George Smith sue
ceeded him as night editor of THE SUN.
In 1913 he became managing editor of
THE EVENING SUN, n position he held
/ until he went to the Tribune.
AS a newspaper worker he was noted
not only for quick thinking, resourceful-
ness, sound judgment and ability to get
the best out of his staff, but for calm
ness as well, be the conditions ever so
trying. This last quality he attained by
means of self-discipline. for Boss Smith,
as his friends knew, had a very human
temper which he kept under iron con-
troll. Quiet. well poised. clear headed.
efficient and reasonable. he won without
effort personal loyalty which always
worked for the good of his paper.
His manner OF handling story on the
copy desk brought him into the notice Of
the higher executives in his early days
on THE Sun. and later. before he become
an executive himself. he edited and head
lined without assistance many OF the
biggest stories OF his time--stories that
required n special staff of editors in
other newspaper offices
He was a W de reader. and when he
was THE SUNS night editor nothing de-
lighted him more, when the first editions
had gone to press. than to sit until 4
~ NJ in the office debating with an
associate the comparative merits Of
Thackeray ana Dickens. lie was stu
! dent OF Shakespeare and had made a
/ special study of Macbeth" He also
was fond of music and art, and fire.
/ quently attended the opera and visited
picture galleries.
/ Mr.. Smith is survived by his wife. who
was Miss Grace r. Voorhis a son, Or.
( Alan De Forest Smith, who went to
! France with the American Expeditionary
( Forces and attained the rank Of major.
and by a daughter, Mrs, Gordon Lindsay
Of 533 West 112th street
The funeral Will be held at 10 as
: o'clock tomorrow morning in the Church
Of the TRANSPORTATION. The services
&, will be conducted by the Rev. Or. George
c. Houghton. who married Mr. and Mrs.
Smith and also officiated at the we'd
dings Of their two children. The pail
bearers will be Wesley l. Lowrie, Major
William Tumbridge. Beauvais Fox. Jo-
seph villa. Chester S. Lord. Ogden Reio.
William G. DcWart. Carr Van Anda
and William Brown Meloney, Burial
{ will be in Woodlawn Cemetery.