Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-03-21
REDEYE'S DEEP GRATITUDE.
How the Editor of Paper Won Him as
Life Long Friend.

Life Long Friend.
The great truth that position in a news
paper, as in life, is everything, was brought
home to me very forcibly several years ago,
while acting as editor on a frontier daily
which had the largest circulation and chattel
mortgage in the territory, which latter fact
has never been successfully contradicted to
this day. The fall crop of local nominations
were Just in, and the nominee for sheriff on
the opposition had a reputation so tough that
A bullets would hatten against it. felt it
incumbent on me as q newly laid editor to
point out wherein he was not suitable man
for the office. told in caustic double lead
ed editorial how he had, while previously
holding some office, taken money from crimi-
mails who were amateurs compared with HIM
self, and allowed them to escape to Manitoba
or the Northwest territory.
showed him up as thief, blackmailer
and gambler, and stated that if rumor is
not hopelessly wrong he had long had the
run of the ranges as an unconvicted horse
thief As a man with whom murder was
pastime, and all round crime a mere relief
from the monotony Of dispensing poison over
bar, believed him unworthy of the con-
fdence of our best people, and therefore urged
his defeat at the polls. As the editorial was
a little strong ventured to show it to the
proprietor He read it, and said: Him; you
can run this if you choose, but you must as
sumo all personal responsibility"
"Certainly," | answered. II will do 50,
but in view of Redeye's record 1 don't think
there is any libel suit in it,"
81 am not afraid of that and will take all
financial responsibility, but you must shoul-
der the personal responsibility" He empha-
sized the word personal" SO much that
wondered. He then shook hands with me In
fervid though mournful manner proceed
ing that was unusual, and quietly went out,
as l learned afterward, and telegraphed back
east to st. Paul to have another editor sent
on at once. He was a prudent proprietor,
and trusted that tho new man would arrive
in time to handle my obsequies and make
good story out of it. We met the next morn
ing at the office, much to his surprise He
grasped my hand again and asked if I had
heard from Col Redeye yet. There were
several others of the force present At that
instant the colonel's voice was heard in the
hallway. 1t was moment of sprightly
activity. The meeting dissipated itself with
suddenness only equaled by the adjourn
ment of female convention when a mouse
takes the floor. Every one believed it was
CAST Ol UIle QUICK Vi uedl, duu pI0-
ferred to indulge in the former. All remem-
bered some overdue appointment, to miss
which might cause great monetary loss, and
one in his haste took the window sash with
him. was left alone in innocent tenderfoot
calmness and the colonel entered.
"You the editorl"
had that honor.
"Well, young feller, you're a friend Of
mine, and I'm not so low down as to forgit q
friend or forgive an enemy, as the poet says
OF course you had to say something ag'in me,
not being of my party, but you put your lit
tie game of talk on the inside of an editorial.
If you had put it on the front page, with
black type for starter, might have felt il
my duty to kill you. But as it is, appreci-
ate the favor, and nothin' in my place is too
good for you. Come down and see u.s."
This little event opened my eyes to the
value of the front page as an advertising
position, something which Gen. Boulanger
must appreciate by this time, and for which
he has been working for years.-Chicago
Inter Ocean.