Evening star., 1925-08-30
BY HENRY JUSTIN SMITH.

CHICAGO, August 29.-Under the
low roof of the Chicago Daily News
Building there has dwelt for years a
newspaper family of most remarkable
harmony and sympathy. Like fam
lilies OF the ordinary sort. Like fam
to say it's good-byes to venturesome
members fancying they saw a greater
world elsewhere. But 1t has welcomed
new members, too; and l dare say that
it's more eccentric, If not more bril-
liant. units have stayed longer with
the Daily News than they would stay
anywhere else
People curious about such things
have often said. How is it that the
Daily News has been such q school
for genius? How did 1t happen that
or--stayed there so long?"
The right answer was, 1T was due
to the head of the institution" Vic
tor +. Lawson managed this part Of
his business with the same unobtru-
siveness that he directed everything
else. He did not command talented
writer's by familiarity with them. He
did not play Bohemia with the Bohe-
mians, nor reach out with words of
fiattery.
Always Kept i'm Touch.
Adhering with a good deal of strict
ness to the method of dealing with the
staff through departments, he still
conveyed TO every man, however he
might rank in the scale of fame, the
fact that he, Victor +. Lawson, was
there. observant, encouraging when
ever he could be, critical when occa-
sion arose.
He was there. Behind the door
marked Publisher" the door which
in a corridor generally full of hurry
ing printers or editors or grinning
copy boys or excited visitors, implied
secluston and dignity, everybody knew
that there sat a man steady as a rock
They knew, either directly or second
hand, that he was not lavish on prom
ises. but that he kept those TO the
letter. They had become convinced,
through their own experiences or
a man until heard. They had seen it
proved that in a question OF veracity
between a Daily News employe and
an outsider the former had the
shade" because he belong to the
Daily News. They had talked to edi-
tors who exhibited jubilantly a note
from the chief saying You We're
right; l was wrong" I recall one
such note to which he added the hu-
morous postscript: It's the first time
[ ever made a mistake. too
SO the stars" Of the Daily News
knew. like every one else there, that
their feet rested upon granite. And
more than this. they We're conscious of
comparative freedom to do their work
their own way. Not that everything
went" No, indeed. The instinct of
these erratic, passionate or daring
writer's told them that some things
would be very offensive to the calm,
vigilant person who kept his eye upon
things, one scarcely knew how. On
the other hand they knew that If they
would stay this side of certain line
he would never find fault with their
artistic bent. nor try to tell them to
reorganize their sociology, nor get
temperamental himself. He really ap-
preciated temperament. and he had
some Of it, but he did not permit him
self the luxury Of letting it explode
Gave "Star" His Raise.
There was a man on the paper at
one period who suddenly became a
rage" and at the same time. as very
often happens, grew eXtravagant in
his needs. The case was put up to Mr.
Lawson, who, for a moment, was
breathless at the proposal. Then he
laughed and said. Better give IT to
him. You have to take these prima
donnas as they are" However he
did not see fit to single out the stars"
for personal attention. He was just
as sparing in praise of their brilliance
as in commencing the duller members
of the company. His adjectives, in
characterizing positive bursts of ge-
MUS, were the same he used for a
good headline or an effective page of
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