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In a managing editor's office a telephone rings. Editor Luce points out the peculiar significance of a resolution passed by an Episcopalian convention in Denver. The M. E. flips a switch on the dictograph before him and makes sure that the Religion editor has not missed the point. The telephone rings again. A TIME correspondent in Washington says that a new Supreme Court Justice is going to be appointed next day. It will be Casper Zinkowitz. The M. E. is unconvinced, but the correspondent insists, gives his sources, explains the details. "All right." Bang goes the M. E.'s telephone. The National Affairs editor, the head of the correspondents, the picture editor are each notified. In ten minutes a telegram is on its way to Casper Zinkowitz' hometown, the picture editor is giving instructions to a photographer by long distance. Next morning the National Affairs editor will find on his desk a report of interviews with Zinkowitz' former law partner and boyhood friends. Meanwhile duplicate photographs of the justice-to-be are flying air mail to the printers in Chicago and editor in Manhattan.
As the press deadline approaches, the doors of the teletype rooms get left open, the thumping gets louder. A United Press machine, pounding out scores of the amateur golf championship, suddenly falls silent. Ding ding, ding, ding ding, rings a bell and the machine begins to thump again: BULLETIN PARIS—THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES TONIGHT UNEXPECTEDLY VOTED NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CABINET OF PREMIER BOUILLABAISSE.
Thump, thump, the machine resumes its golf scores, an attendant tears off the bulletin and rushes it to an M. E. The M. E. flips a switch for the Foreign News editor:
"Drop everything. The French Cabinet is out. We'll kill the Yugoslav story to make room."
"Swell," answers a hollow voice from the dictograph. "I've been waiting for it."
"Brrr" goes the box. Picture Editor:
"Do you want the French cabinet?"
M. E.: "No! Get me the opposition. . . ."
Foreign News researcher comes in: "If we don't run the Yugoslav story their consul general will be brokenhearted.
He's worked all week to gather facts for it. . . ."
M. E.: "Can't be helped."
The telephone jangles. Editor Luce:
"Anything happening?"
M. E.: "Bouillabaisse is out."
Editor Luce: "Hey! I want to be in on that; I'll be right down."
Ding, ding, ding, rings the bell. Thump, thump, thump, starts the machine: PARIS—PREMIER BOUILLABAISSE AND HIS CABINET DROVE THIS EVENING IN A POURING RAIN TO THE ELYSEE PALACE TO PRESENT THEIR RESIGNATIONS TO PRESIDENT. . . .
The raw material of history keeps pouring in.
* Members of TIME'S working staff and their immediate families retained control with a majority of the common stock. They still do.
* Such as the omission of the heading "Congress" which should have appeared at the top of column 1, page 2 of the first issue (see supplement).
† Gumchewers are referred to, Homer quoted, both on page 23 of the first issue of TIME (sec supplement).
* Who promptly turned editor, in devising first the radio and then the motion picture MARCH OF TIME.