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talk .and saloon' confidences ex changed between newspaper editors, reporters, printers, etc. Most news paper men are saloon patrons many of them excessively so. Many of them unburden suppressed news to one another under the mellowing influence ' of amber fluids news which otherwise their prudence would thrust into the skeleton closet. She could hear enough right in the newspaper offices, however, to con evince her that se his a sadly bun koed woman. Not only did I acquire a great deal of unpublished information in news paper circles. Throughout the whole of my Chicago citizenship I was keenly and actively, though incon spicuously, interested in politics and public affairs. .At one time I went to much trouble investigating the matter of school books and the boafd of education's connection therewith. So it is with confidence that I claim that only once within 30 years or more has Chicago had a school board that merited confidence and respect. This was the brief period when the Dunne school board was in power. Even it was not without sin, But it was an angel of light compared to the others. My information satisfies me that the majority of appointments to Chi cago's school board have been dic tated by powerful business1 interests, newspaper publishers and politicians excepting Mayor Dunne's ap pointees. I have first-hand information that a Chicago millionaire was asked as a personal favor to influence the board of education to certain action of vital (; importance and benefit to the public school system. He consented; it was done. He was not on the board, but "his man" was. This was severaf years ago. If anything of impor tance is wanted from Chicago school board members, save time by going to" the men who had them aDnointed. Why havea exorbitant prices been 'paid for school sites? How have cer- ; tain contractors made fortunes by erecting school buildings? Is "Citi zen" so guileless as to think that powerful newspapers and business interests occupying school laad have no influence in school board appoint ments? Why do the Daily News and Daily Tribune occupy school land at about half-price rentals? The relations or activities of the book companies with y Chicago's boards of education have beeifalone enough to give mal de mer to a really patriotic Chicagoan. What forced the retirement of Sup't Cooley very "patriotic" and very friendly to the book companies? How innocent to suppose furniture companies, coal companies, plumb- , ing and heating manufacturers,' etc., stand about quiescent and trustfully await contracts on the bases of the merits of their wares and the '"pa triotism" of school board members? Some years ago police raided a Chicago glum bawdjs, house. One of its patrons arrested was a "patriotic" and flag-waving orator and "reform er" (fake) of national reputation a Chicagoan. Almost certainly he is one of "Citizen's" pet idols. News suppressed. . What a fine newspaper scare-head he would have gotten had he been Mayor Dunne, Aid. Kennedy, Aid. Rodriguez, John Fitzpatrick or Margaret Haley! Kemember now the facts about the death of Marshall Field II. were sup pressed. These are only two minor in stances of a personal nature, though involving public characters.' Yet they are indicative of the larger and more important news suppressions those involving public welfare. Some time in the near future I will writer for The Day Book a narrative of an interview between Charles T. Yerkes and a union organizing dele gation. It may interest "Qitizen" and others like her. Yerkes, it may be recalled, was the pet street rail road devil of Chicago newspapers. In Chicago I learned that Samuel ass..a - - mm A t"J"AilAtAAiAi:tAiUAijl