New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-10
A TOTCHING TALE.

Our distressed contemporary THE New-lork
Sun" has seldom published a more pathetic
narrative than that which appeared In its
Thursdays issue over the signature OF Franklin
Bartlett Mr.. Bartlett is not only stakeholder
In THE Sun" but one OF Its most favored con-
tributors For him It violates one Of Its most
cherished traditions. The blue pencil Of con-
densation Is never applied 10 his literary or
oratorical efforts His speeches when mem
Der Of Congress were invariably printed with
stenOgraphlc fulness in THE Sun" Moreover,
1t has always been understood that fondness for
Mr.. Bartlett and resentment Of Grover Cleve-
lands refusal to appoint him on his military
staff when Governor were at the bottom or our
contemporary bitter and implacable hostility
to that gentleman during the whole OF his sub
sequent career. 1t was doubtless partly because
Of its fondness for the writer and partly be-
cause it was a recital Of its own woes that this
story, five columns long. was printed in full,
with great amplitude Of detail and what would
seem to the casual reader many unnecessary
repetitions Of legal verblage To persons IN
terested in the story 1t is an interesting story,
though it must be admitted that to the average
reader It's interest chiefly lies In the fact that
1t s the reverse Of story without words, being
words without story.
The story Is In the form OF two complaints
drawn by Mr. Bartlett, who is also solicitor for
the complainant" One Of these complaints re-
cites that a considerable number Of persons
scattered all over the country from Massachu-
sets to California, and organized under the
name Of the Associated Press, have combined
"and conspired between and among themselves
land Others" "to deprive the plaintiff Of its
right to sell its news to the public in the open
market" The painful details Of this con-
spiracy are set forth to the extent of three col
umns. The names Of newspapers In various
parts Of the country which were willing to help
THE Sun" along by buying what 1t calls sits
news" at fixed and remunerative prices are
given. Blu. the narrative goes on to say that
the conspirators actuated by spite and malig-
nity," forced and compelled these newspapers
not to buy news" Of "The Sum- BY this high
handed proceeding Mr. Bartlett says "The Sum-
has been damaged in its business and its prop
erty "in the sum Of many thousand dollars"
and he accordingly asks the United States Cir
cult Court for this district to interpOse In It's
behalf and enjoin these conspirators from pre-
venting the sale OF ''its news" TO the newspa
pers named. The second complaint Is two col
umns long, and is taken up with a narrowing
recital OF the same offences In slightly different
FORM but charging the cOnspiratOrs with viola
ton Of the law Of Congress against trusts This
story tells how much Mr.. Bartlett thinks 1.-THE
Sun" has been damaged up to date by the wide
spread and powerful conspiracy to prevent its
selling sits news" AS compensation therefor
he asks the Circuit Court to grant Judgment
against the coEspratOrs for little matter Of
$225.0OO.
1t Is all very pathetic. 1t has been known
for some time that THE Suns" desertion of
Tammany and enlistment In the service Of
Plat last year, followed as 1t was by the Sc
cesson from the Republican organization Of
thousands Of Republicans who could not stom-
ach the arrogance Of the Boss or the alternate
bullying and patronizing manners of his new
organ had turned out to be a disastrous blum
der. 1t was also known that the role Of Ish-
maelite which The Sun" was playing against
every newspaper In this city and nearly all
the respectable journals in the country had
arrayed the press Of the country almost solidly
against It, In addition to this ''its news" for
which 1t sought a sale hal become utterly I'm.
trustworthy and worthless. SO the disclosure
of financial distress by Mr.. Bartlett is not a
surprise. That It should attempt to recoup It.
self from the treasures OF the newspapers
throughout the country which will not buy Its
news is triAe ludlcrous. So, also, is Its re-
sort to the law against trusts, which ii has
always derided as q means for getting even
with the consprators. We should be glad to
think that the financial distress into which
our contemporary has fallen was undeserved.