In addition to writing " More Truth Than Poetry , " Montague was keenly interested in the politics of his day . He covered New York City and New York State events for many years , including the 1913 impeachment trial of Governor William Sulzer and the 1915 libel case between '' Albany Times-Union '' owner and publisher William Barnes Jr. , and former President Theodore Roosevelt . Because Montague worked for Hearst , who had no liking of Roosevelt , he had to exercise caution when covering the trial . In Eugene Thwing 's 1919 book '' The Life and Meaning of Theodore Roosevelt '' , the author wrote : " At the Barnes-Roosevelt libel trial in Syracuse I came across James J. Montague , a hardened reporter on a highly anti-Roosevelt newspaper , walking up and down and cursing . I asked him what moved him to these expletives . ' Roosevelt , damn him , ' said Montague ; ' I ca n't keep hating him if I get anywhere within twenty feet of him , and I 'm always accidentally doing it . He 's spoiling my story . ' " Working for Hearst 's publications and wire service , Montague covered the national political conventions of 1912 and 1916 . Despite his reputation as a " hardened reporter , " Montague had friends in all the political parties of his day — Democratic , Republican , Bull Moose , Socialist and Farmer Labor . " Although Hearst 's editorials bitterly denounced most of the principals in these organizations from time to time , the victims never held it against Montague . " After World War I , Montague served as an international correspondent for the Hearst publications when required . In 1918 he covered the armistice with Germany and the following year he attended the Paris Peace Conference . In his first cable , dated January 17 , 1919 , Montague signaled that the authorities appeared ready to exclude all newspaper representatives from the conference . " America has come here seeking nothing but an open agreement , " Montague wrote . " If she is to persuaded to play the European game of secret and underground bickering she is certain to lose not only her initial advantage but all her objectives . " Other , less serious events at the conference also contributed to the legend of his having been the " star " of the press corps : " After the conference a group of American correspondents , including Mr. Montague , shared a luxurious dinner , featured by a tremendous turkey . About to leave for England , Mr. Montague remarked that since it might be a long time before they had another such meal it might be worth while taking the remains of the turkey along . But when they arrived they were rushed to Buckingham Palace and the man with the turkey in the shoebox still had it under his arm . Over the protests of an equerry , he — Montague — is alleged to have still carried the box when presented to His Majesty George V. Having jumped to Pulitzer 's '' New York World '' in 1919 , the following year Montague covered the U.S. presidential election for them . " A big convention without ' Jimmy ' Montague at the press table would seem scarcely legal , " the '' World '' magazine wrote in 1919 . Montague also covered the 1924 conventions and election , which was notable for the split within the Democratic Party . In it , front-runners William Gibbs McAdoo and Al Smith fought a war of attrition until , 103 ballots later , John W. Davis was selected as the compromise candidate . Filing daily under the byline " the Looker-On , " Montague chronicled the battle with stories such as " 16 Candidates Trying to Pick Least Unpopular : Like So Many Jack Horners , They Dig Their Thumbs Into Convention Pie Containing One Plum . " While Montague was never interested in personally entering politics , he occasionally provided assistance to friends in their campaigns . He had known Franklin Delano Roosevelt since he was a New York state senator in 1910 , and in those days " often helped the young legislator with his speeches and with political advice . " He provided similar assistance to Al Smith at various times during his campaigns for New York State governor . In 1932 he traveled with William J. Donovan as an " adviser and campaign critic " when he was running for governor of New York
1924 conventions
1924 Democratic National Convention
James J. Montague