Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-30
WILLIAM M'LEAN, :.
PUBLISHER, DIES
Philadelphia Bulletin Owner
and A. P. Director Had 4
Been N Year. "a
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, July 30-William
l.. Mclean. publisher of the PhiladeI-
phia Evening Bulletin and a former
director of the Associated Press, died
today. He was 10 years old.
Mr.. Mclean, whose son, Robert
Mclean. succeeded him as a director
Of the Associated Press seven years ago,
died at his home In Germantown after
being III year.
Death came to the publisher at $50
am, surrounded by the members of
his family. He had been confined to
his home six months.
Born in Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Mclean was born at Mount
Pleasant, in Wastern PENNSYLVANIA. He
first manifested an interest in news
papers when outside of school hours
he acted as newspaper carrier for the
Pittsburgh Leader. He was 20 when he
OBTAINED place in the circulation de-
partment of the Leader, becoming
travelling circulation representative
later. One Of his early tasks was pre-
pairing the first newspaper almanac
published in Pittsburgh Years after
he began publishing on a more COM
prehensive scale the Bulletin Year Book.
Mr.. Mclean served in every depart
ment OF the Leader. This varied ex-
perience gave him an insight of news
paper problems and grasp of editorial
and business management that was to
make him one of the leading news
paper publishers of his time
In 1873, Mr.. Mclean came to Phila-
delphia as the secretary and treasurer
OF the Press Co., Ltd, publisher of the
Philadelphia Press, which had been
purchased by Calvin Wells, iron manu-
facturer of Pittsburgh. Later he was
made the business manager.
Buys Bulletin Control.
Mr.. Mclean struck out for himself in
1895 and purchased controlling in
terest in the Philadelphia Evening Bull
which had a circulation Of only few
thousand. The paper prospered steadily.
The new owner of the Bulletin was said
to have been the first publisher in the
United States to adopt the automobile
as a means for the rapid distribution of
the paper.
Mr.. Mclean was elected a director Of
the Associated Press in 1896 and served
on the board continuously for % years,
retiring in 1924: During that period he
was active in all phases of the develop
ment of the Associated Press. He was
also for a number of years director OF
the American Newspaper Publishers
Association.
Freedom Business Policy.
He would never accept public ONCE
or a dictatorship in another business,
on the ground that such connection
might hamper his newspaper in print
ing the news or commenting on the
events of the day.
In conducting his newspaper, MI.
Mclean avoided scare heads" If you
use big headlines every day, you viii
have nothing in reserve to emphasize
the big news when it comes" he would
say.
He married Miss Sarah Burd Warden.
daughter OF the late William G. Warden,
in 1889. She died in 1921. They had
four children, of whom three survive.
They are Robert Mclean, vice presi-
dent of the Bulletin company and As
ISOLATED Press director; william l. Nc
Lean, jr., treasurer of the Bulletin
company. and Mrs. John S. Williams
of Hewlett. Long Island, N. Y.
Their eldest son, Warden Mclean,
vas killed in the military training camp
at Fort Ogelthorpe, Ga, in 1917, when
his horse bolted.
Two Brothers in Firm.
Mr.. Mclean had associated with him
on the Bulletin two brothers, Robert l..
Mclean. former treasurer and now cir
culation manager, and Charles V. Nc
Lean.
His newspaper was Mr.. McLean's
principal hobby. He devoted long hours
to its development. but when he could
get away he enjoyed the woods and
streams. He took a keen interest in
city affairs and was q contributor TO
or sponsor of many local projects.