The morning call., 1895-01-15
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.
San Jose Herald.

Sun VOSt no ttttt
c. NJ Shortridge, the editor of. the Mer-
curry, has purchased The SAN FRANCISCO
CALL for $500, 900. He has put up the sum
demanded for a deposit and announced
that he is ready to pay the balance as soon
as the sale can be confirmed by the court.
This if we only think of it, is tremend-
Gus achievement, and shows something of
the possibilities of American citizenship in
the hands of men of courage and ability.
Mr.. Shortridge owes nothing to the acct
dent of birth nor to the assistance of rela-
tives. He bega on the lowest Tung of the
ladder of life, and has in very few years
climbed to the highest by his own unaided
eXertions. Fifteen years ago he occupied
the lowest position in the Office of the Mer-
curry, but he soon showed himself worthy
of trust and was promoted from one posi-
ton to another until he became the editor
and publisher of the paper. And every
body knows what ne has done since-how
he has transformed the Mercury from a
very ordinary country newspaper, without
even telegraph dispatches, to one of the
foremost newspapers on the coast and made
himself a power in the business and poll
tics of the State.
And now he steps to the head of a great
metropolitan journal, apparently with I'M
limited capital behind him, in the prime
of manhood and with the purpose and
ability to place himself in the very front
rank Of the journalists of the United
States. For there is no doubt in the
minds of those who know him that he will
make The CALL in a very short time the
first of the three great newspapers in San
Francisco instead OF the last, as it is now
Every improvement known in modern
journalism will at once be utilized to the
utmost, and every feature that appeals TO
popular sympathy or that tends to evoke
popular admiration will at once be brought
into operation for the benefit of THE CALL.
And its circulation under such manage
ment will increase with a bound. The
paper has heretofore been kept aloof from
all that savored of sensationalism,
and, indeed, from all that makes
a newspaper specially popular and profta-
bic, and he will at once change its policy
In this respect. But even in this he will
avoid the mistakes that have been made
by his rivals. The CALL, under his man
agement, will publish the news in full, no
matter how sensational it is, but there will
be none of those fake articles that have
made its rivals the byword and. the scorn
of all who regard truth as the essence of
good journalism. He will also extend it's
circulation by facilitating it's delivery in
every direction. 1t would not be at all
surprising to see THE CALL at any time
delivered in San Jose before Z o'clock in
the morning.
And there are very few people in San
Jose or Santa Clara County who will be-
grudge or belittle Mr.. Shortridge's success.
He has his enemies, of course-no man who
is worth his salt is without them-but he
has hosts of friends who will rejoice with
him in his present good fortune, and wish
for him the highest success in the future
And even those who have not agreed
with him-who have, indeed, deemed it to
be their duty to oppose the policy of the
Mercury under his management at every
point-will not withhold their good wishes
now that he has left the county. The Herald
itself has always opposed the Mercury, but
it has never failed to appreciate the great
ability and undaunted courage of Mr.. Short
ridge, and he now has our best wishes for
his success in his new venture.