Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1916 — Page 2

Busy Newspaper Man

COPYRIGHT BY WESTERN. . r 'NEWSPAPER union p / A\ X X. yv Sketch of \ robertxx / WICKLIFFE WOOILeY/DIREC- / TOR OF THE MINT, BY EDWARD j B. CLARK, HIS OLD JOURNALISTIC. SIDE PARTNER>NOW DEAN O£jjj| WASHINGTON

By EDWARD B. CLARK.

fNE of Washington’s humorists de-clared-once upon a time that the reason so many newspaper men are appointed to positions in the United States treasury is that the scribes' heart desire is for once in their lives to get next to a lot money.' One gets next to much money in the building containing Uncle Sam’s strong box, but he doesn't get hold of any great amount of it, although the salaries paid are in a general way more than fairly comfortable. Robert Wickliffe Woolley is one of the latest of America's well-known newspaper men to be appointed to a position in the treasury department. As someone else has put it, Woolley makes more money than any other man in the United States, but the personal difficulty is that he is not allowed to keep the proceeds of his manufacture. He is the director of the mint, and everybody knows that the province of the mint is—to turn out money for the multitudinous uses of the people of these United States. There are not many newspaper men in the country who are better known than this present official of Uncle Sam s government. Woolley looks about thirty years old but he can add quite a number of years on to that and give no lie to the date of his birth. He has been a reporter, a sporting editor, a managing editor, an editor, and a writer of magazine articles, and today he can pick up any one of his old jobs and do it justice, and If the whirligig of politics in time shall thrust him forth from the portals of the treasury department, he probably and very naturally will turn to tread in the old accustomed ways. The writer of this has known Woolley for a good many years, and worked with him side by ■fde fnr a considerable length of time on a great Chicago daily. Woolley was then a sporting editor. He is an outdoor man, who loves the things which all" full-blooded Americans love, and, moreover, he knows how to write about them, whether it be as a close finish on a Kentucky track or a 14 innings “so far” 0 to 0 at the National league grounds in New York city. Woolley loves sport for sport’s sake, but It must not be supposed for a minute that sport ever occupied the major part of his time. From boyhood until this day the present director of the mint has been a student of sociological conditions, of economics and of the ways and means of legislation to get tor the people what —seems to the progressive-minded the things which they ought to have. Convictions that certain Tines of procedure were the right ones to follow, and a determination to follow them, have given Robert W. Woolley many strenuous and exciting hours during his long newspaper career. It is not necessary to explain to the people of the United States what a political ring is, nor is it necessary to explain what an invisible government is. Certain brave spirits in newspaperdom have been fighting rings and Invisible government for years, and it has made no difference to the courageous ones whether the ring was composed of men of their own party, or whether the invisible government likewise was tinged with a partisan color of a hue ordinarily deemed admirable by the crusaders. The director of the mint is a Democrat, but he has fought Democrats when they were trying to exploit the people for selfish ends. Not long after he entered newspaper work the director of the mint had a “time of it,” which tested his courage and the sincerity of his convictions. I am not going to mention the name of the, place where a certain thing happened, but unquestionably the scene of it will be recognized by many and the | details will be remembered by men who have, not yet arrived on the borders of middle age. Down in the South, and not very far in the Routh, either, Robert W. Woolley was once managing editor of a newspaper of prominence In a city of considerable size. The chief editor qf his paper and the mayor of the town were engaged in a row, for the mayor, it was believed, was connected with a municipal political combl«a*Mn An the editor Jyjeygwd . from being an institution intended to benefit the people of the community. Finally the lie was passed, and the He is, or was\ anyway, a sure fighting word in certain communities. ?One morning Mr. Wooliey went down, to the newspaper office and found the mayor of the town •fid Ws son, each with a gun in hand, holding the

entire business office force of the newspaper prisoners behind their counters. The intruders were threatening to shoot anybody who attempted to leave. Woolley had no gun. He entered the office and proceeded to address some remarks made up of words ordinarily considered of the fighting kind to the armed intruders. Woolley reached for a telephone, took it off the -receiver and was laughed at by the gunmen, who told him that they had cut the wire. Woolley stood there with the receiver in his hand for a minute while red-hot verbiage was exchanged. Then Woolley walked straight by the two armed men and went out of the door, and neither one cared or dared to interfere with him. Later it developed that while the receiver was off, although the wire had been cut, the chief editor of the paper at his home had taken off his own receiver to call up the office, and found he could not get it. But as only one wire was severed he heard a large part of the conversation in the office by means of the uncut wire connected with the office telephone. What he heard afterwards was used in evidence, for court proceedings were brought. Now, it is just here that an ordinary newspaper man would have become disgusted with the profession txhlch he was trying to follow and would have thought that the whole world was out of joint. The mayor of the town and his son were of a rival newspaper. This rival stood, of course, for the municipal ring, and it was things which appeared in Its columns which had caused the other editor, Mr. Woolley’s chief, to put the lie in print. While things seemingly were still at white heat between the two. camps the mayor and his rival editor, whom he was ready to shoot, or be shot by, made up their differences, combined the two papers, and thus Woolley, who had dared everything for his chief, was forced out, and in the parlance of the street, was “left to hold the bag.” In other words, Bob Woolley stood for right and principle and then lost his job. There was a celebrated law case in Kentucky that attracted world-wide attention. After the municipal ring episode and Mr. Woolley had lost his place as managing editor, he became a reporter and he handled this case. There came down from Chicago at this time two newspaper men who since have become widely known —Eugene Bertrand, now of the New York Herald, and William E. Lewis, the editor of the New York Telegraph. They had been sent down from Chicago to work on the matter Woolley had in hand, and they became acquainted with him. They found out a lot of things about him which appealed to their newspaper sense. ' They also discovered that he was fond of American sports. They went back to Chicago and a short time thereafter Woolley, who knew nothing about their Interest in him, received an offei* from the Ch|f ,cago Tribune to become a reporter in the sporting department of that paper. He went to Chicago, and it was not long before he became the sporting editor of the newspaper whose staff he joined. From Chicago the present director of the mint, went to New York, and,for a long time was employed on'the New York World. A little later, as somebody else has put it, “he yielded to the temptation of a beautiful fruit plantation in Texas." The fruit was not altogether golden, as far as the proceeds from the sale of the crops were Concerned, and Mr. Woolley went back into the newspaper profession. __ ~ J . —~X

THE EVENINC REPUBLICAN. RENSSELAER, IND.

For six months, which he has described as “six eventful months,” , he was the editor of a newspaper in a southern town, whose locality I shall not give here, because of certain circumstances connected with the case. There it was another crusade against a municipal ring and another case of being compelled to edit with a revolver in the hand and also to walk with a gun exceedingly handy. The ring eventually was broken into bits, but meanwhile Mr. Woolley had lost .his newspaper. For a short time thereafter Mr. Woolley was the editor of the San Antonio Light in Texas. Theh be went back to New York and entered upon a really notable career as a magazine writer. He was sent on many assignments throughout the country for some of the best magazines In the United States, and then he became one of the Washington correspondents of the New York World, a position which he held for-about two years. Then again Mr. Woolley turned to magazine work, and in the year 1911 he became the chief investigator of the congressional committee appointed to look into the affairs of the United States Steel corporation. This committee was known as the Stanley committee. Because of its wide-reaching effects, it is probable that a magazine article entitled, “The Plunderers of Washington,” was the most notable Contribution to the “news and Information of the day,” which Mr. Woolley ever wrote. This article was preceded by an intimation that anyone mentloned and who chose so to do might know that he had recourse in the courts. In other words the information upon which the article was based was tested in advance. This article was called by the press of the time “fearless.” It dealt with some of Washington’s big bankers and real estate men and with a good many officials. Wooliey was writing just as he wrote when he was attacking municipal rings in smaller towns of the country. It is not too touch to say, perhaps, that the article largely was responsible for a complete change in the manner of men ap pointed to positions of high trust in the municipal government of the city of Washington, for Washington in a way has municipal government, being under the rule, of course, of congress, but having a board of District commissioners as responsible heads. In the year 1912 Mr. Woolley was the editor and compiler of the “Democratic Text Book,” and was chief of the campaign of publicity bureau of the Democratic national committee. He also compiled the text book of 1914. His political affiliations at this time, however, newspaper men believe, did not have anything to do with his appointment to office. His efforts along liberal and progressive lines had attracted the attention of Woodrow Wilson. Mr. Woolley was appointed first as auditor for the interior department, an office which, despite its name, is under the control of the treasury department. Then he was given his present position as director of the mint. He I am writing this article with feelings of personal admiration and liking, perhaps even of affection, for I have,known Woolley for years. He Is a tried man. lie is one of the newspaper fraternity, and after nearly a quarter of a century of close acquaintance I know that I can say that he is an honor to it. Robert Wickliffe Woolley lives just outside of Washington in Fairfax, Va. It is this little town which has possession of the wills of George and Martha Washington, and some parts of the bill of rights of George Mason. It is a good place for a Democrat of strongly progressive tendencies to live. Mr. Woolley married Marguerite TrehoTm o Winchester. Virginia. They have four children, *all girls. The family life is of the kind accounted ideal. In the books Mr. Woolley is put down as Robert Wickliffe Woolley, but newspaper men from coast to coast and from the Canada line to the Gulf know him much better as ‘ Bob.

SAFETY FIRST IN ALL THINGS.

“Why do you always carry your umbrella, even when it is not raining?" ■ . “So someone else won’t carry It when it ratning.''—PeQßsylvama-PuPch BowL -

A MARINE JOY RIDE.

Motor Boater (to passenger) e-Did you see me cut down that fisherman in the skiff? Passenger—Sure! Say, this is almost as much fun as automobillng. ...... ._±—. —-U-

Kin Hubbard Essays

Miss Fawn Lippincut on the “Menace of Good Housekeeping’’

By KIN HUBBARD

A little smatterln' o’ th’ Home Makers’ Club met In ordinary session, yisterday, in th' Queen Anne room o’ th’ New Palace hut-tel. After some-seventeen er eighteen receipts fer rhubarb had been tabled th’ question as t’ what sort o’ a girl made th* best housewife wuz thrashed out. Th’ shop girl, th’ college girl, th’ girl with th' business education, an’ th’ tired fiction lovin’ girl with th’ yeller neck an’ big eyes were all free-

"After Some Seventeen er Eighteen Receipts fer Rhubarb Had Been Tabled th' Question as t’ what Sort o’ a Girl Made th’ Best Housewife Wuz Thrashed Out.”

ly discussed till th’ last cheese straw wuz gone an’ th’ tea wuz cold. Th’ sensation o’ th’ afternoon came when Miss Fawn Lippincut in a ringin’ address flayed her sex in round bell like tones that penetrated clean int’ th’ pool room. Miss Lippincut had not spoken an hour until her retreatin’ chin ah’ red nose were entirely fergotten an’ th’ club members wuz completely carried away on th’ wave o’ her eloquence. Among other things Miss Lippincut said: “Ther’s all th’ difference in th’ world between a good dirt chasin’ housekeeper an’ a home maker. I don’t care whether a girl has had a happy, care free lawn tennis college career er not, - writin’ a tall vertical hand won’t make a happy home. A girl kin be up on Greek Mythology an’ understand sanitation an’ utterly fail In boilin’ an egg. A girl with a thorough business education is Jist as likely t’ miss a cob web er bungle up a eight-egg filbert tart as a pampered daughter o’ th’ rich. She may be able t’ cope with th’ corner grocer’s double entry system o’ chargin’,

By KIN HUBBARD

Ron. Wick Peel, o’ Bloom Center, Ohio, addressed th’ members o’ Bald Knob Grange, Number 28, at Melodeon Hall last night, takin’ ter his subject. “Education, Plowin’ an’ Problems o’ th’ Day.” After orderin’ th’ gallery windows raised he said: “I will say without fear o’ successful controversy that there is no longer any doubt that th’ pilin’ up o’ tremendous fortunes an’ then bequeathin’ ’em t’ colleges an’ libraries is doin’ much t’ breed a dangerous sentiment

“Ever’buddy Seems t’ Be Figgerin’ on th’ Day When They Kin Lay Down th Shovel an’ th’ Hoe an’ Pick Up Ther Suit Case an’ Go. Ever buddy That s Got a Job Considers It Qnly Temporary—That a Fine Position Awaits ’Em.’’

agin’ plowin’ an’ other manual labor. Ther kin never be anything in common between enlightenment an’ drudgery, an’ th’ less we know th’ more bountiful will be th’ yield from our fertile valleys. Surely th’ young man who is educated an’ reads th’ advertisin’ pages o’ our current literature haint goin’ V plow new land an’ blow stumps very long when he kin take a few lessons by mall an’ then hunt a fine position in a great city where ther’s life an’ excitement. “Ever’buddy seems t’ be figurin’ on th’ day when they kin lay down th’ shovel ,an’ th' hoe an pick up ther suit case an’ go. Ever’buddy that s got ft Job considers it only temporary that a fine position awaits ’em. “You can't expect a feller that’s diggih' a cellar er drainin’ a farm, an’ who sinks int’ a chair ever* evenin’ at th’ close o’ a hard kidney rackin’ day. an’ reads o' th’ allurin’ opportunities t' make great fortunes by learnln’ this er tbit, t’ keep from bein’ restiveSomehow a feller never likes t’ hop right out O' college an; go,t’ work.’He seems t’ want t’ look around fer a few years. An' it's gittin’ so fellers without any education are gittin’ th’ same inclination from list lookin’on. Ther seems t’ be a growin’ tendency 'mongst young men t’ step aside till somethin ihat jist suits ’em comes along. That a

Education, Plowing and Problems of the Day

but th’ average feller hain't lookin’ fer a business partner when he goesafter a wife. A girl that peels t’maters in' a cannery er sews buttons on four dollar coats is jist as ’ liable t’ make -a happy home as- th’ gushin’ dame that meets her husband with open arms »an’ a dressin' jacket. Show me a first class housekeeper an' I’ll show you a gilt edged billiard player, er a husband that belongs t’ all th’ lodges. Show me a wife with her head filled with receipts fer fur-

niture polish t’ th’ exclusion o’ ever’thing that’a beautiful an’ wifely an’ I’ll show you a -husband that’s tryin’t’ git a travelin’ position that’ll him away from home as much as possible. No, matter what a wife has been she must understand those little touches that make married life tolerable even if th’ curtains do hang crooked an’ th’ windows need washin’. An’ 1 intellectual girl should remain single er not be heard. Th’ average husband has a hard enough time tryin’ t’ argue in th’ corner drug store without havin’ some one at home t’ show him up ever’ time he offers an opinion. No matter how inferior a~ husband may be he should be allowed th’ freedom o’ his own home if he shows th’ least disposition t’ provide. “That love an’ companionship so necessary t’ an endurin’ marriage ’ll -alius be absent in a home where th’ rollin’ pin gathers no moss —in a home where tn’ evenin’ meal is served on doilies. No husband likes t’ feel like he wuz eatin’ off o’ th’ Thousand Islands.” (Protected by Adams Newspaper Service.)

th’ way we git our solicitors an' politicians. With knowledge comes discontent. T’ be poor an’ educated is even worse than bein’ rich an’ dyspeptic. A fine education is like a fine tourin’ car. You should not have either unless you are able t’ take care o’ th’ upkeep. ■ ‘I wish I had his money with my brains’ is a common expression, an’ every man with a fortune would give it all to be young agin, an’ in a nickle the-ater. “But th’ great question is, who is goin’t’ do th’ work after we’re all edu-

cated an' holdin’ positions? After our Poles and Hunyaks git educated an’ discard their hobnailed shoes an' garlic an’ loaf around our great public libraries whose goin’t’ take th’ kipks out th’ street car tracks an’ do th’ thousand other things that th' commonest American has long since passed up? "As long as we educate people t’ ~ bettef’things they’ll try t’ git ’em. Th’ young man o’ t’day hasn't got time t’ wait fer th’ natural course o’ events. No bottom o’ th’ ladder fer him. He wants t' git on from th' roof. JTh* _ farmer that talks glowin’ly t' his son o’ th’ beauties o’ Nlagary Falls an' educates him V believe iVs- th' greatest—sight in th’ world needn’t be surprised if he gits up some bright mornin’ an’ finds that his son has flown instead o’ plowin’ fer oats. All knowledge o’ Nlagary Falls should be withheld from a son until he is well on in years. “But, my friends,’’ said th’ speaker, as th’ applause began to d windle.."ln spite o’ any legislation er educational processes tb’ ole reliable Jaw th’ survival o' th’ fittest cannot be repealed. It will be with us long after ther’s a library on ever' hill an’ a college near ever 1 legislature, an' th’ nonproducer will continue t’ be a Pon* sioner on thrift an’ contentment.’’ (Protected by Adame Newspaper Service.)