Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-30
A CITY EDITORS REVENGE
How We Evensd W on a Slight to
His Society Reporter--coI. Nee.
hans History Of the 18th oi.
vision--col. spansler on
state Politics
By GEORGE non Mccain
state Politics


six months after the fathers death. That
was in 1915.
lie Is now twenty mine years Of age. He
is trying to get back some Of the money he
spent on his stepmother- wife.
It's mess anyhow and q sordd story.
The grandfather. Jacob J. vandergrift-
they called him Jake in Pittsburgh in the
old days--amassed q fortune in the Ale-
gheny River oil fields.
He was a short. squat. bewhiskered.
reticent man.. and pcmpous. but very wise
IN the way OF making money. He was the
STANDARD OILS representative in Pittsburgh
Captain" vandergrift. after his rise
from poverty to wealth. had dislike of any
reference to his past; the days when he was
not millionaire.
GEORGE II. wELSHONs was at the
~ time city editor of the Pittsburgh Times.
Hc was one Of the most versatile writer's
flttsburgh ever produced.
\ graduate of Washington and Jefferson
College, hc united with hysical dcformity
winning personality and u rarely gentle
manner.
II so happened that some member Of
Captain Eandergrift's family was mar.
ried about this time.
vnndergritt. In his early days he was
Captain on a canal boat--or a Hatboat--
on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers.
young Woman-.women reporters we're
unique in Pittsburgh then---was sent out
to the magnificent Vandergritt home TO re.
port the wedding.
IT was a great event in the newly rich
circles Of the city Just then emerging into
its cycle of millonaircs.
She returned to the Office almost in tears
At the Nandergrift residence. she reported
they had compelled her TO enter by and
remain in the kitchen.
After obtaining list of the guests she
was escorted out the same way. being
time. refreshments in the kitchen.
on. all right. Don't worry. They
didn't know any better said Wclshons TO
the indignant girl. Write your story and
leave II with me-
-. By the way. make fine story OF IT,
we can't permit your personal feelings. YOU
know. TO interfere with the facts
7hlE young woman wrote an admirable
story.
She described everything in excellent
taste; fine piece Of society reporting.
Wclshons read it and then. without alter.
ing it in the least. added three or four lines
at Tho bottom something like this
NO doubt. as Captain Vanderyr;ft sur.
vey'd the beautiful scene HIS memory re-
verted to the old days when bare footed and
with linsey- woisey breechcs rolled to his
Nh'fS. Nv trOu tnc deck OF his noble craft
on III" raging canawl.
Welshons aftcrward said reports were that
me clerks in Captain Nandergritt's Pipe
Line ONCE on Fourth avenue walked around
In silence and on tip. toes for n week after
the account OF the wedding was published.
CoIuNEL THOMAS +. MEEHAN. the
- historian OF the famous .'Iightninr''
DIVISION. tell, some wonderfully interesting
n irnI1
eighth division in the World War
IN" book was completed at Colonel
Meehan'S hand just year ago today.
II is one Of the World War histories that
"Iii I'VE because OF IN" human element the
author has injected into its pages
Colonel Mechan. by the way. is chairman
of the Central Campaign Committee Of the
American Legion in its membership drive.
How many OF US at home knew that there
were lost battalions other than the one
headed by the heroic Whitllescy:
Not perhaps missing so long or sought
so persistcnt!y. but lost till such time as The
command could make its way 70 safety.
Colonel Meehan tells the story of Saint
Mihlrl. I.Im"y Sector and the Meuse-
Argonne offensive.
HERE is story of the kind | have re-
IL fcrrcd to-
Companies and D. 3l0,h Infantry,
went along the western side Of the woods
TO III" northern edge during the night Of
October 17-lS.
They expected Ia connect M with COM.
panies A and in the morning. but morn.
ing found Companies \ and e hold nm
midway through the woods. 50 that and
d found themselves alone with Germans an
three sides Of them.
They were cut of from communication
and were unable 10 move all tay. bur duriny
the early hours of darkness made thelr WV
back TO the road at In" southern edge Of tho
woods.
''TT WAS during an ATTACK tina, SUNNY
Sergeant Sawelson, OF Company n.
3l2th infantry. won the Cungre, ,sional
Medal of Honor.
Sergeant Sawcson went 20 the aid of
badly wounded conrad" who was living
exposed to terrific machine gun fire far in
advance of his company'S line. Finding
that he could not carry the man in to she,
tor. Sawc.son returned 10 get water for him
and on his secoud trip out he was killed
just ns he handed his comrade the canteen,'
Th" work is full Of such stories.
COLONEL JACK SpANGLER. Of Belle
~ fontc. has been one of the wheel horses
of Democracy for many Years
There used TO be talk about those Sio
mesc twins of p"ItticS---J. Hay Brown and
". {. IIcns"l Of Lancaster: one a I,cpub
!can and the other b"mocratr
\ similar partnership existed between
Colonel Spanger and the late Governor
Hastings. In Center County As in Ian-
, caster. nothing much got away, politically
| speaking. from this we'll ordered arrange.
mCnt.
To-day toIonc Spauglrr seeks The ouic,
walks Of political 'lf", He look on from
the side lines.
What h" secs. however. is ap,cntv--
through his Democratic npectaclcs.
The Democrats never have had surh an
opportunity TO elect n Governor" he said
the other night in tho lobby of the Bellevue.
| Stratford
''There's a lot Of soreness over the Re-
! publican situation in Washington. j isn't
! anything. though. TO the bitterness over rho
| sitnation in Harrisburg.
| eve talked with men from all over tho
| State and If there ISM wholesale slash
ing of the Republican ticket this fall. then
my experience Of forty years is at fault. 7"