The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-04-06

At 80, Uncle Bob Paine Completes
60 Years AS Scripps Paper Writer
Not as Much Fun Now
He Says, But News
papers Better
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SAN FRA <CiS &C o.
whats all the fuss about =
busters Uncle Bob Paine.
Il decided wanted TO 60 10
work for T.. ". SerippS. |
wrote him a letter. He hired
me as n reporter - and |
haven't missed a pay check
since. Lots of other news
papermen in the same boat"
Robert Finiay Paine. however.
has held his job : llltlr longer than
the average ncwspaperman. ON
April g. 60 years VII have elapsed
since he went 10 work as = reporter
on the old Penny Press In Cievc-
land, q.
Paine was q young lawyer
about the time the Penny
Press started In lssa. Hui he
decided that the aims aud psl,-
eies Of the Penny Press were
more 20 his liking than law.
Il had the waterfront beat
five miles 81 lsvees. river boats,
and tough joints IL cover every
day" he says. The day was ~
or II hours long. and there were
no telephones. no trelleys nor
taSis, No rewriios either you got
around and got your story, and
then YOU came in and wrote It,"
LATER BECAME EDITOR
Rob liked this. hut he felt n real
promotion when he went TO the
city hall beat. where reporters
rode around on fire engines and
patrol wagons, His city hail serv-
ice led 10 the editofship Of the
Press. where his vigorous ieadet-
ship guided that paper upward for
many years. lie stlll Is It's editor
emeritus
But the Cleveland Press editor
ship was just one Of his jobs he
helped In tho founding of other
+. W. Scripps newspapers
He bound together two or three
small Geographic news services ss
the nucleus of what now is the
United Press, He was first prrAi-
dent and general manager of NEA
/. Service.
DEVELOPED FEATURE IDEA
Miss Ellen serlpps. sister OF
y. w. was on the Press STAFF. She
turned In feature articles OF vary
ing length. with unusual sldellghts
ON events OF the time. After prais-
ing this material and It's possibill-
ties 10 Scripps, Bob was ordered
TO spend part Of the editorial budget
developing the idea for all the
scripps papers. And from this
came NEA worlds greatest nows-
paper feature service.
When fire and earthquake razed
San Francisco In April, 1905. Paine
was In Sacramento. He walked
most OF the way back and helped
his boys In reopening the first
newspaper plant. using livery
stable In Oakland.
He set up various other gcrlpps
enterprises. announced his retire.
ment several times. But he's stu
on the job.
At NJ. STILL ACTIVE
He's 81 now. He maintains his
office In the San Francisco News
editorial quarters, where he's In
contact with the staff and with
world affairs. lie. contributes edl-
torials and editorial page material
to the News and other Scrippa-
Howard newspapers.
Six decades have shown Editor
Paine a vast change IN newspapers
mostly for the better, he says.
They are mare diversified
than In the old days. They
provide interest for the whole
family. Pictorial nrss cover
age adds much Ia ihe modern
newspaper - and pictures are
due for even greater use"
Bob sees . steady procession Of
youngsters starting In the game.
or just plnIng for chance to get
started. Looking baek 10 his
waterfront days in Cleveland --t the
bnrly battles without benefit Of
telephones. radio. planes. fast
working cameramen. or pictures
by wire Bob feels pity for them.
There's no fun Ia n nov, COM
+ pared 10 when ! started no thfiIi
OF riding a caresnlng fire engine
M is horses galioped. no pulling a
10" boat II necessary. Bat guess
to the newcomers Il does seem ~
glamOroiih AZ ever"