September 2nd Toronto, ON
After World War I, news gathering services, such as CP (Canadian Press), AP (Associated Press), UPI (United Press International), Reuters, would buy strands of information from people known as ‘stringers’, quickly filter out the chaff, and then flash the raw stories over the wires to media outlets, such as CBC, New York Times, London Times, who would then edit the stories for presentation to their audiences.
Of the thousands of stories that come in to CP, AP and UPI, only a few make it onto the wires: those that make it past the front line gleaners. Two such editors for Canadian Press were Len King and Leslie Karlisle.
Vic Rathburn, senior editor of CP Wire Service, called Len and Les into his office that Tuesday morning, after the CBC special on the "SR’, which is what the news media were now calling the Saskatchewan Referendum.
"Okay, you two, here’s the deal. The stringers are going nuts. They’re sending ten times what they usually do. With everything coming in on the SR events – I have decided you two should team up. Your combined by-line will handle the local colour stories that emerge."
"Now, Vic," Len went first, "I’ve covered financial and industrial far too long to go back to folksy stuff. I do the cold heartless stock market slant. It does sound like it would be perfect for Leslie, though."
Leslie barked: "Oh no it doesn’t. First, I work alone. Second, I don’t relate at all to Mr. and Mrs. small town, nothing-story, nobody."
He could have mixed oil and water and obtained better results, but stirring the pot was one of Vic’s little pleasures in life. "Look, both of you. This is a done deal. You either get along and do this gig – or – you sit on the sidelines and edit copy. Am I clear?"
They left Vic’s office, both totally depressed even before their first cappuchino, and grumbled their way to the news room floor. Len sagged into his chair. ‘I don’t need this. I can’t work with miss junior priss.’
Leslie entered her cubicle and leaned against her desk with her head in her hands. ‘This ain’t gonna work at all. What’s the matter with Vic? I can’t work with some over-the-hill loser. Lenny’s gotta be at least 40. Maybe I should just quit.’
Ten minutes later, she stuck her head into Len’s cubicle. He looked up, "Yeah, what?"
"Listen, Lenny, if this has to happen – we can’t keep running over to each other’s space. We need to do this in a common area. Call it neutral ground if you want. You know what I mean?"
He looked at the piles of stuff covering every inch. "Yeah, good idea. I’m going to need lots of wall space for maps, sticky notes…"
Her eyes brightened, "Hey – let’s go tell Vic we need more working space, big desks and some new chairs, lots of supplies and phone/fax/internet stuff. Let’s demand it. Maybe he’ll change his mind about the whole thing."
"Another good idea." Len’s mood improved.
They marched back to the editor’s office and together made their demands.
Vic looked up at them. "Sure, whatever. You can use the small conference room, it seats about 20 people – take out the long tables – we’re not gonna need it anyway. I’ll send a note to Supply and the moving boys downstairs. Whatever you need, go for it. And hey, it’s nice to see you working together already."
Stunned by Vic’s agreement to everything, they left his office. She was disappointed that her plan didn’t work, but Len put it in perspective. "Hey. Last time I asked him for a new phone, he went through the roof."
She agreed, "Yeah, maybe we’re on to something."
It took them only an hour to reach their next agreement: how the by-line would read. The first raw handful of local colour, edited by "LLK", flashed over the wires later that day.
****
Havre, MT CP Wire- LLK- Sask Referendum 02Sep
Farmers and Ranchers from places like Havre, Billings, and Miles City, Montana – from Sheridan, Buffalo, Casper and Laramie, Wyoming – from Weyburn, Estavan, and Moose Jaw Saskatchewan, gathered together over last weekend in an old fashioned town hall meeting to usher in a new era of co-operation and enterprise in support of a yes vote on Saskatchewan’s Referendum on joining the U.S. as the 51st State.
Visiting dignitaries included Mayors, Legislators, and representatives from the agricultural and meat-producing industry. Common interests and goals were brought together including: their western spirit of freedom and independence; new initiatives to re-vamp and re-build rail lines and roads that head north and south, instead of east and west; bold new plans for pipelines that would transport water from the vast lake and river resources in north Saskatchewan to the parched southern half and on down to Montana and Wyoming. When asked if the pipeline would freeze up in the winter, several attending pipeline experts said that could easily be avoided. "All we’d have to do is pump a few hundred tons of wheat through that line – the technology’s easy – it would keep it nice and dry."
"The days of hay lotteries and donations from eastern farmers to ease the plight of Saskatchewan farmers are gone forever," offered one farm co-op (referring to the rail and carload donations of last year). "That was a great gesture of friendship – we know they did what they could – the problem was just too big. We’ll end the drought with massive water irrigation – we have just doubled our size and our economic power out here." The meeting ended with a western cook-out and festive dances that lasted well into the star-filled prairie night.