Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1935-11-21

Mr.. Joseph H. Fucker of the
Cleveland Plain Dealer, and one of
the leading newspaper men in the
country, addressed the Malta-Mc
Connelsville Rotary club Friday
night at the Kennebec hotel. His
address followed a fine three-course
dinner. Mr.. Fucker is not only a
reporter and writer of marked abil-
ity, but is an attorney, and is coun-
sci for the Plain Dealer His ex-
cellent address was devoted largely
to reciting experiences and incidents
he has encountered in his 20 years
experience in the newspaper buSi-
ness. Those not familiar with the
newspaper game on the big city pa
pers, have but little conception of
their inside workings, and to what
extent they go to furnish news. To
be a successful writer, one has to
be also a detective-that is to know
how to ferret out the news. Scoops
are what every newspaper and ev-
cry good reporter strives to get
that is to beat the other fellows to
first after a big piece of news
that papers must have two classes
of people, one to furnish the news
and those who put the news across
He said that many people have the
wrong conception of newspapers
that they don't know how sincere
papers are in trying to publish the
truth, and stated that if papers stay
in business long they must tell the
truth; that papers for the most part
try to get best people elected to Of
fce-men and women who build up
q city.
In relating one Of his scoops, Mr..
Fucker stated that one telephone
call alone cost sc3A Often they
run up against those who have
nothing to do with the newspa-
per reporters" and he told Of many
incidents in dealing with this class.
He stated that he had never found
a man who would not talk on the
telephone, and gave experiences and
methods which he has used to get
them to talk.
He said one way he employed to
get people to thaw out, and to get
under their hides, is to try to make
them believe they are inferior to
what they are. How to elude the
other fellows who are after the
news is also a part of the game, and
Mr.. Fucker related a number of in
cidents telling how he kept the 9TH
er fellows from ''beating him to it"
He stated that in his earlier days he
had to fight with the police fire.
quently to get the news. He said
newspaper stories are measured by
the persons involved and what hap
pened. The speaker, in addition to
his experience in newspaper work,
told of several libel cases in which
he was counsel.
Mr.. Fucker was introduced by
Rufus K Brown, chairman of the
program committee. Mr.. Ed Nash,
who has been very ill for some
weeks, was able to be at the meet
ing Friday night, and several guests
were also present.
HI. HI. Hughes Speaks
Prior to Mr.. Fuckers address,
H. H. Hughes who is working in the
interest of the proposed Sunday
Greek valley : project, spoke for a
few minutes. He told of how that
locality which Is rich in coal, has
been badly handicapped because of
insufficient water and said that that
section Of country has been going
back for years-not on account of
depression, but because of lack Of
sufficient water. He stated that for
many years the New York Central
railroad has been hauling water by
train to Corning for the railroads
use. He said that residents of Corn
ing and other places in that local.
ity trying to drill down deep for
water, struck salt water, and said
that because of the meager water
supply, insurance rates in places
were so high as to be almost pro-
hibitive. He mentioned that every
stream in the Sunday Creek valley,
excepting one, is polluted. He brief
1y told of the benefits to the coun--
ties of Morgan, Athens and Perry,
the proposed dam would afford
that the lake would benefit many
people-even those whose land
would have to be bought for the
project. The lake would cover H.
$50 acres, and of this territory one
single tract of 600 acres is avail
able. The dam which would be 100
feet in length, would make lake
so feet deep in places. He asked
for the cooperation here of citizens
in putting across this proiect-one
from which would be derived great
benefits.