The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-03-18
Letter from +. E. Smith.

The following letter, sent US for pub
location, calls for little comment, further
than to say that we have learned no
facts which really contradict Mr..
Smiths statements, and which would
therefore justify the talk of some who
probably know less about the affairs of
the Journal than be does. We have al.
ways regarded Mr.. Smith as bright
and pushing business man, who would
have made financial success of the
Journal If any one could. His misfor-
tune was simply trying to run a second
paper.in a one-paper town. AS Mr..
Smith remarks in private note to the
editor, in tone of satisfied conviction
"whoever takes the Journal has got 10
be smart man and have some capital
In order to succeed, and then he had
better employ his capital and talent in
some other direction"
HARTFORD, Conn.,, Feb. Is, 1881.
EDITOR REGISTER;
Az 40 Vtth hAaSh lOAA0t tunt i IcATu
that l am charged with acting dishon-
orably. The parties who make these
charges are entirely unacquainted with
the circumstances. ! have endcavored
to act strictly honorably.
have not asked person 10 sub.
scribe for the journal or renew their
subscription for at least three months,
and have not wanted to accept any
such renewals when rendered, but
did not wish TO refuse them, hoping
there might be some means provided
for the continuance of the paper. As
long ago as early last November, l told
MIR. Fuller, the principal owner, that
should retire from the business in the
spring. l at that time hoped that the
business could be left in q good bust
ness shape, and IL had made the exer-
sions which usually have at that time
Of the year I might have avoided the
present suspension the journal, but
on considering the matter my con-
science would not allow me to ask new
subscribers, when knew / was going
to leave and had great fears for the
future OF the paper, and very few have
either subscribed or renewed their SUBJ
e,riptons for several months.
told Mr.. Fuller several times that
we were liable to be shut up at any
time and have been for two months,
Four weeks ago took him over to Mr..
Tupper's Office and made q statement
Of the case to thcm both, and offered TO
step ont OF the concern with practically
nothing, and in fact nothing. Mr.. Full
Ter wanted time to think Of it. After
twenty-four hours, confederation /
asked him what he would do, and no
said he had not had time enough.
Two weeks Afterwards consulted Mr..
Eldrodge as to the means to pursue, and
/ have substantially followed his I'D.
vice In the most important matters.
l put several hundred dollars into
the Journal. take out nothing, I
even surrendered to creditors some ar
ticles ct my house which belonged to
the company, but which might have
bold easily enough, or turned over TO
Mr.. Fuller.
I have lived on less than I would
have thought possible. To some par
ties who were owing tho Journal, and
whom was owing, l gave credit on
the journal books and charged to my
sell: II the journal can be advantage
ously disposed of Mr.. Fuller will lose
but very little moro than /, and that he
can charge to the account of my work.
ing on an average four hours a day
more than he has since the first year of
the paper. ! have worked 80 hard the
lest year that itaffected my heath, and i
have got all the newspaper work II
want with short capital, an old fash
Toned hand press and In opposition to
another paper In as small a place as
Aiddlebury.
II there is anything criminal or dis
honorable connected with these state
ments, then am guilty, other wise not.
1t was absolutely necessary for me TO
90 something to earn my daily bread,
and for some weeks had been CORES
pondtng with parties In need of help,
aud three days before i left Middle
bury, accepted situation here.
Yours very truly,
F. E. SMITH.