Mask For Treason

[Rob Wick]

Quote:Rob - Wasn't Ray Stannard Baker one of the journalists in the same league as Ida Tarbell?

They were, although I misspoke earlier and need to correct something. The book mentioned is actually a reprint of Byron Baker's lecture that he gave throughout the Midwest and is reprinted by the Lansing, Michigan historical society and is not the McClure's article. I should never try to rely on my memory without my notes present.

As for Tarbell and RSB, both worked together first at McClure's Magazine (where RSB took his father, Joseph Stannard Baker's notes and memoir and his Uncle Byron's notes and speech) and wrote the article concerning Byron for McClure's in May of 1897. Both then went to the American Magazine, where both were co-owners along with John S. Phillips, William Allen White, Finley Peter Dunne, Lincoln Steffens, and Albert Boyden.

Joseph Stannard Baker's memoirs are interesting and a vital source of information regarding Conger given that JSB believed he should have been placed in charge of the First District of Columbia Cavalry instead of Conger. JSB also had very little good to say about Lafayette. Of course, very few people did, so in this case blood wasn't much thicker than water. Steve Miller kindly furnished me with a copy of the memoir, which is available in various libraries throughout the country.

Best
Rob