A RANCHMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS 



lowing out a consistent plan of helping writers in 

 general to a story in or out of my business when- 

 ever opportunity permitted. He was among the 

 ablest writers whom I have known, and had a keen 

 scent for news, never yellow and never a gorilla, 

 but having written stories in our plant in connection 

 with army rations he knew of my association with 

 supplies, and spotted me within an hour of my 

 arrival. 



They were all waiting for the first move, and 

 restive ; there was no material for a story, and I am 

 sure that only my long association with Whelphly 

 saved his jumping at a conclusion story. I think 

 that it was the most difficult interview that I have 

 ever had. I told him that my advent meant abso- 

 lutely nothing to any movement; that it was the 

 result of two things: First, to keep in touch with 

 things from our own standpoint; second, to get defi- 

 nite instructions from Gen. Weston to prepare sam- 

 ples of several products in various forms, which 

 meant nothing for immediate use. I said that I had 

 absolutely no lines on any plans that the Govern- 

 ment might have. He took me at my word, gave 

 the line to the journalistic fraternity, and not a single 

 item went out of Tampa as to my appearance there, 

 nor was there any justification for any. 



I have devoted these paragraphs to Whelphly by 

 way of vindicating his eventful article. I am sure 

 that while he of course knew its value as a story 



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