The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-04
MIR. JADlSINs' EXPERIMENT.
a Newspaper ReminfScence by the
Reporter.
docking Glass, Atlanta. Ga1

Did ever tell you about Jadkins
and how he tried to iun a daily?" asked
the old reporter leaning back in his
chair and putting his feet on the table
No?-rcally; well. it was like this:
Jadkins was retired banker and lived
in Detroit. He had a sneaking notion
oil running for Congress some day, and
thought ii would be a good idea TO have
a newspaper work up his boom. SO
when the Star-B erald busted back in
me ,oS, he jumped in and bought the
plant at sheriff's sale. The force hadn't
time to scatter. SO he engaged 'em all.
ana they started her off again as tho
morning Chronicle
For about month";" continued tho
9id reporter refcctively. fittings went
along "a smooth as greasc;i Old Jadllins
was tickled to death with his new TOW
and used TO drop in every day and sill
around in the different departments
tapping his teeth with his big gold
headed cane and drinking In everything
mat was said. You see 1t was all new 10
MN ana he wanted to get posted He
seemed an innocent old duffer, and little
any OF Us dreamt that these visits OF
ms We're going 10 put us ali in the soup"
Why, how was that" asked the
snake editor
IL began" replied the old reporter,
WIN Jaaklns noticing that there was
lach OF cordially. so to speak, between
the business office and the editorial
rooms. The business manager had no
hesitation in declaring that the whole
upstairs force were chumps and were
uoiis ther best 10 ruin the paper. This
sentiment was shared by all his STAFF.
from me typewriter TO tire ianitor In
the editorial rooms, on the other hand
me business department was referred TO
III terms OF scorn and pity. and all hands
.ook delight in telling Jadkins what
oush 10 be done to make the Chronicle
hoWling success financially.
These stories set the cd man 10
thinking, and at last he arrived at the
conclusion that big blunder had beer
ihaue Ill organizing the staff 1t was
evident he argued. to himself that the
risht men had all been put i'm the wrong
pitre' mat the people who were he
Ihos' competent 10 do the fine editorial
WORK were wasting their time on the
icuSers, ana that the real commercial
schluSes of the establishment VEG
coopea up in the editorial room. The
consequence was that he came in one
s suoi n't r ana gave orders for a general
swap from top To bottom The business
i,ldhaScr was made editor in chief and
thc o!d editor installed as boss of the
SGnht.nE room. 1t happened that tho
advertising man had criticised the To-
usparfment with unusual severity
b;r, M. ms MADE him city editor and told
ni'ii 10 take his pick of the book-keeners
ana solicitors for reporters The nniicn
iiiaH' VINO was never oyerdrawn move
tnah Iour months salary. was appoint-
eu cashier, and the religions editor
was gwen charge of the circulation do
psr:iheh,. When the changes were nII
an.ahsed' Jadkins rubbed his hands
" an ray pack TO see the Chronicle aston
lsh the natives" as 'oh-
editor. w II asked Snake
a., IL u pet we did. On the first night Of
tne new management there vas n sanso
tlohal murder right on tho mar ...,.ea.
Oh me town. The city editor left ont oil
lIieHsioh OF ii because a brother of thn
.l". ucrer ran three-inch ad @ o Il neyt
~ pu's reading matter That causnd
nan our local subscribers TO anti
MeS' uay the Mayor of the town d.. Il
- nv INV cdiior sent around to the
n n,M an" 40 offered to print an obituary
ont or ~ ~ cthts line net and run in a
M, tiic corpse at regular space rates
ms ms aked ont. and our esteemed con.
.I,nIpnIi!ieS promptly denounced us as
sHouIisH o!ackmaitYs Meanwbi1, NO
NJ M having lively time downstairs
= ne new advertising manager sent word
~ our patrons that unless they learn
Gu 10 write their copy in decent EnpIish
We u'uh . want 1t. He said he proposed
~ cieNhte the tone of the advertistnc
departm MT and in reply received ordarS
~ u.ScohtInue most of our ads The cir
cuiation man. who had been relir;nuc
euitor; discovered iha; his predecessor
nau Claimed about nine times as many
papers as we really printed and came out
IN card apoloG:Zing for his wicked
i I'd ana promising 10 tell the truth
IN future. AT that the balance of oi,r
advertising was promptly ordarad o,,s
w nile this was going on the "a shier Nd
mead bookkt eper got into tv,o a..