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when we called on him. Charlie and I both agreed that publicity would be beneficial and agreed upon a plan.
   He and I had registered at the old Victoria Hotel. We telephoned the newspapers and soon had a dozen reporters in our room. As I talked with these men, I could see doubt in their faces. No doubt every stunt under the sun had been tried on them to get publicity in their newspapers and it was their business to get honest news, not bunk. I told them I wanted to publicly challenge Leo Stevens, through the columns of the press, for an airship race, the time and place to be settled after he accepted. These men wanted proof of our ability and we showed them the photographs and newspapers from St. Louis and Toledo. After conferring together, they decided to give us a stick, meaning an article about two or three inches in length. We thanked them. We expected some interested promoter would make us an offer that would be attractive to Stevens as well as ourselves but none did.
    Shortly after the reporters left the hotel, I was called to the phone and asked if I would call at the office of the New York Journal on the following afternoon. Charlie had made the acquaintance of Arthur Hopkins, a New York booking agent, who called with us at the Journal office.
    We were introduced to Mr. Fred Eldridge and in a business like manner he explained that he wanted us to make two high flights over the city of New York for the New York American. We discussed the matter from all angles and then agreed upon the price.
    I was particularly impressed with the importance of the plan when it was pointed out that Mr. W. R. Hearst, owner of