Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-24
Star Veteran Calls Sc Convention
His Last, But He Said That in IA
BY MARY McGRORY

1CEAO, OF1N TIbfA1NN4ONOs mug.
ga man around here re-
members meeting Gould Lincoln,
The Stars political reporter. for
the first time in 1914 at a Re-
publican convention.
This will be my last one"
Mr.. Lincoln said.
Noting Mr.. Lincoln's white
hair and seniority, the reporter
nodded. In 1852. however, he
met Mr.. Lincoln at another Re-
publican convention.
Mr.. Lincoln took the pledge
once more.
In 1856. to the surprise of no.
body in the Washington press
corps, he was back. Yesterday
he said, 1--WE had enough"
First Was in 1920
Mr.. Lincoln, in repose. looks
like Roman senator. He is tall
and spare and strong nosed. He
Joined The Star staff almost so
years ago. and covered his first
convention in 1920. Speculation
as to his exact age among his
juniors tends to trail off at the
sight of Mr.. Lincoln sprinting
along at the head of the pack to
the nearest news.
He walks with a Springy tread.
like a young man on a morning
in May
The Democratic gathering in
Chicago was Mr.. Lincoln's 10Th
convention, my first.
The first convention is apt to
be a slightly pulverizing expert
ence. In Mr.. Lincoln's company,
1t is not only tolerable but high
ly educational, like being tutored
by a dean.
I asked him when I arrived
at the bustling Conrad Hilton in
Chicago if he had any advice for
q beginner at this sort of thing.
Don't Expect to Sleep
Ever kind. he said, "Why, yes,
I have. You won't get any sleep.
Eat every chance you get"
Following his advice, I was as
sluggish as a well-fed boa con-
strictor. Mr.. Lincoln. on the
same regimen, simply became
leaner and keener.
Mr.. Lincoln always knew what
time it was at the Swirling con-
vention doings. His old-faShioned
gold watch was, however, always
set at Washington time. Here it.
was always three hours earlier,
but Mr.. Lincoln wanted to be
sure of his headlines. He met
them all.
Mr.. Lincoln's patriarclal APP
pearance has the effect of max
ing younger reporters want to-
be helpful, to spare him.
In my case, this took the
form of bringing him rumors.
In Chicago. anyone who stepped
into the great human tide that
surged through the Conrad Hill
ton and across the street to the
Blackstone, could pick up fat
piping item every feet. There
was nothing to it.
Hao-s Al. D:rL,t Do..
Happy as a retriever. I would
hasten back and lay an asSort-
ment at Mr.. Lincoln's feet. His
smile was a pat on the head.
1t was not long before L
realized none of them appeared
in his stories and that I was
about as useful as a puppy COL
lecting old bones.
"Mr. Lincoln" I said, you
hear rumors;. I hear rumors.
You hear the right ones"
WELL" he said, 'the thing is
I have known a lot of people
for a long time"
And they know him.
1t was palpably true. Mr.. Lin
coin was welcomed as a brother
by the politicians. He has prob |
ably never asked a loaded or
needing question in his life.
Simply and without malice, he
would ask them, whats going
on" They told him.
When the rumors were rising
that Harry Humans announce
ment for Gov. Hartman had
broken the Stevenson ranks. Mr..
Lincoln called up a few people.
He ran into a high Hartman
lieutenant in the elevator.
Big Talk Didn't Impress
At that time, the Hartman
forces were talking very big to
other people.
But this man said to Mr.. Lin
coin, "it's Stevenson on the first
ballot"
Mr.. Lincoln at 3 o'clock on
Tuesday morning strobe in his
jaunty fashion into The Star
workroom.
"Mr. Stevenson will be the
nominee" he said.
Mr.. Lincoln's courtliness does
not stop with referring to all
characters in this back-slapping |
business as Mr." In his lexicon.
there is no such word as news
paperwoman." All members of
the opposite sex are ladies to
him to be treated solicitously
at all times, to be ushered safely
to cars through human walls.
The idea Of a lady. even one on
an expense account. paying her
own check is unthinkable.
Like the politicians among
whom he has spent his life. Mr..
Lincoln never tires. He's always
looking forward to the next de-
velopment. He spends none Of
his time complaining about con-
ditions. II the elevator is slow
he simply bounds up the STAIR
case.
Writes Amid Hubbub
He never chases rabbits. Dur
ing the Democrats civil rights
crisis he sat on the platform in
the glare and stir. imperturbably
fNrtnitnn ,r,ifh lnic indn,, Atnnnrn A.