DIY History | Transcribe | World War I Diaries and Letters | Conger Reynolds correspondence, April-December 1919 | 1919-06-12 Jay N. Darling to Conger Reynolds Page 1

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Conger Reynolds correspondence, April-December 1919

1919-06-12 Jay N. Darling to Conger Reynolds Page 1

The Register and 
Tribune Co.
Des Moines
Iowa
Dear Conger -
June 12, 1919
Your letter was most welcome.  I figured that we would not get any kind of a hearing with you for our proposition after your rather speedy experience in the big league."  I don't think the wage scale is going to be one of the serious problems between us - But you know no one, particularly Mr. Cowles, is going to just open his safe door and tell you to walk in and help yourself, but I want to assure you of this: that if a mutual agreement on the work to be demanded and the work to be delivered could be arrived at between us, I don't think your figure is too high.  In fact I think that one of the calculations which would enter into Mr. Cowles' mind would be that the man who successfully filled the position which he has in mind would be put on a salary basis which would make the ordinary reportorial or city editors job back clear off into the creek.
When you start looking at the door and whispering Mr. Ingham's name my sympathy arises but not my hopes.  Hope is dead, though some day (and I do not think that is so very distant in point of years) Mr. Ingham is going to give up the strenuous daily editorial grind and spend some of his inherited wealth. He is showing more inclination in that direction now but not sufficiently to allow me to indulge in any debauch of rejoicing.  There will be plenty to do though without that for quite a little while.  Our papers have never been thoroughly organized on a news basis.  We have skimped along and paid the Associated Press and a few mediocre reporters and slung together a paper with what they throw in at the door.
We realize the necessity of putting our editorial department on a higher plan.  I don't think we have had a local story that could rival the interest of even a poor doughnut at the breakfast table for several years.  Now you know it isn't possible that all that time has elapsed without lots of good stories passing right by the door.  The trouble is we are not organized to go out and get them and bring them in.  Furthermore we hope some day to get beyond the diction of the police reporter in handling our big stories.  President Taft was here the other night and gave a most logical address before an audience of Republicans who were most of them biting nails and spitting sulphur fumes.  It was a chance for a great story but when it came out the next morning it sounded as if Taft might have been arrested for speeding and the audience was made up of police court habituates.  You know well enough our problem and what we want is to get someone to straighten it out.
I don't expect you to do it right away or to make up your mind right away.  I wouldn't if I were in your place.  You are getting experience which no other job in the world could give you and I certainly would not advise breaking away until you have squeezed the situation pretty dry but sooner or later you will want to get into a position of command I would think and a substantial one and I believe we have something that will interest you.

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The Register and Tribune Co. Des Moines Iowa Dear Conger - June 12, 1919 Your letter was most welcome. I figured that we would not get any kind of a hearing with you for our proposition after your rather speedy experience in the big league." I don't think the wage scale is going to be one of the serious problems between us - But you know no one, particularly Mr. Cowles, is going to just open his safe door and tell you to walk in and help yourself, but I want to assure you of this: that if a mutual agreement on the work to be demanded and the work to be delivered could be arrived at between us, I don't think your figure is too high. In fact I think that one of the calculations which would enter into Mr. Cowles' mind would be that the man who successfully filled the position which he has in mind would be put on a salary basis which would make the ordinary reportorial or city editors job back clear off into the creek. When you start looking at the door and whispering Mr. Ingham's name my sympathy arises but not my hopes. Hope is dead, though some day (and I do not think that is so very distant in point of years) Mr. Ingham is going to give up the strenuous daily editorial grind and spend some of his inherited wealth. He is showing more inclination in that direction now but not sufficiently to allow me to indulge in any debauch of rejoicing. There will be plenty to do though without that for quite a little while. Our papers have never been thoroughly organized on a news basis. We have skimped along and paid the Associated Press and a few mediocre reporters and slung together a paper with what they throw in at the door. We realize the necessity of putting our editorial department on a higher plan. I don't think we have had a local story that could rival the interest of even a poor doughnut at the breakfast table for several years. Now you know it isn't possible that all that time has elapsed without lots of good stories passing right by the door. The trouble is we are not organized to go out and get them and bring them in. Furthermore we hope some day to get beyond the diction of the police reporter in handling our big stories. President Taft was here the other night and gave a most logical address before an audience of Republicans who were most of them biting nails and spitting sulphur fumes. It was a chance for a great story but when it came out the next morning it sounded as if Taft might have been arrested for speeding and the audience was made up of police court habituates. You know well enough our problem and what we want is to get someone to straighten it out. I don't expect you to do it right away or to make up your mind right away. I wouldn't if I were in your place. You are getting experience which no other job in the world could give you and I certainly would not advise breaking away until you have squeezed the situation pretty dry but sooner or later you will want to get into a position of command I would think and a substantial one and I believe we have something that will interest you.