Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-20
O'Brien Recalls
Blaine and Munsey
In Old A. p. Days

Describing him as the hub around
which revolves the most important
public service in the State" Edward
A. Cronin writes of William ii.
O'Brien, chief of the telephone and
telegraph division of the Massachu-
sets department of Public Utilities,
in an article published in the Law
renee Sunday Sun, March IA.
Many of the Journals readers re-
call BILLY" O'Brien of the Western
Union in this city. For several years
he took the Associated Press, writing
it out, four to six thousand words of
night news, in clear "long hand,
scorning the use of typewriter and
easily keeping up with the swiftest
sender. During the years Of his SER
vice at the Augusta Office he had
opportunity for wide acquaintance.
1t seems he is now in great demand
as speaker before fraternal societies,
lunch clubs and forums. Among the
experiences he recounts are those Of
the days when he knew Mr.. Blaine
and the Kennebec Journal, and he
has vivid recollections Of the scenes
at Augusta in the stirring times Of
the Blaine campaign.
BILLY" was a Gloucester boy and
says he never got Gloucester out of
his blood. He was accustomed to
accompany his father, a fisherman
and skipper, on many Of his short
trips. Then he went to Boston and
making progress in biography was
sent to the Portland Office and little
later to Augusta to relieve the Asso-
ciated Press operator on the Journal.
That operator was Frank Munsey,
then resigning to go to New York.
While in Augusta Billy was af-
forded an insight respecting the bril-
liancy of Mr.. Blaine's mind and the
delightfulness of his personality. He
says of him: when Mr.. Blaine was
at home, and while working on the
special edition of his legislative, dip
, lomatic and popular addresses, ne
would take a long walk late at night
and fetch up at the telegraph de-
| partment of the Journal to see what
| had happened the world over during
| the day. What is going on at Wash
| lngton? What is heard from Eu-
rope? Who has died?' were his most
frequent questions. He would peruse
various dispatches, and in each case
would make some enlightening and
interesting comment. In the case a
persons of note of his acquaintance
| he would always have some story OF
that acquaintance and friendship.
| His defeat coming as it die
| through f1uke in the very closins
hours of the campaign affected hin
very deeply, but no one ever heard
him utter an unkind word or bitter
thought concerning it. On Thurs
day following the election. and while
waiting for the official count to be
held at Albany, the following night
alone with him for awhile, speak.
ing of the Burchard incident, he saiG
he could not have heard the re.
mark, as he surely would have an
sWered it. He had just returned
from his swing around the circle tC
the west and northwest, and was very
tired mentally and physically. Be
side that, he was thinking of what
he was to say in response to the
address of welcome by the ministers
of New York state for whom Docto,
Burchard was speaking, and wher
he rose to respond, it was evident tc
the newspapermen that he had not
noticed the statement, and did not
refer to it in his address, which
created CONSERVATION among his fol.
lowers, and oh! boy! what a job they
did of him. in the next 4S hours. The
campaign in New York practically
closed on Saturday night and or
Sunday and Monday, the state was
| Hooded with stories of Burchard's
break, and Mr.. Blaine was defeated
! He would have made a great presi
dent. The man who defeated him
Mr.. Cleveland, made one of our
| greatest of presidents"