The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-24
DANA'S SUCCESSOR.
The Coming Struggle for the Control
OF the New York Sun.

| with the death OF Charles A. Dana news
paper men all over the world and the peo-
| pie OF the United States are interested
| In the question az to what will become
OF the paper which was made by his strik-
! Ing and powerful individuality. Will tho
virIlity which the young old man OF rs
| threw into its editorial columns he con-
| tlnucd, be maintained as far as possible?
! Who can I'LL the place OF Charles A. Dana?
These are natural questions which are
now being asked.
A COMING STRUGGLE FOR CONTROL
! Already 1t 10 expected there will DO .
tremendous struggle between Paul Dana,
the editors son; William NJ. Laffan, the
| second In command, and the Wall street
| interests for the control Of the paper.
| Charles A. Dana borrowed on his stock
and J. Pierpont Morgan may have much
| to say regarding the future management
OF the paper.
/ The veteran editor. whose life had
! travelled the gamut OF experience and who
| had learned the variety and depth OF hui
| man Joy and suffering had long warn
| ing that his end was near. He was un-
| ton, anu though he had laid down the
pen for all time. yet 1t was he who die
tated the editorial support by the Sun Of
the republican ticket in Greater New
York.
The progress OF the disease, however,
was not to be stayed. When the beginning
| OF the end was on he expressed a desire
that he should once more pass among
his magnificent collections OF art and curio
and literary gems and enjoy them to the
fullest. His wish WIS granted. Supported
by his nurses and accompanied by his
children and children In law, he was taken
through the great rooms he had loved so
well and had labored with so much devo-
ton to make beautiful. The exertion
proved too much. however The disease.
apparently ready to seize upon any sud
cen Weakening OF the heart. overcame his
fancied strength. and he tainted
From that time uStil he passed away he
was conscious only at short intervals.
few moments before he breathed hi,
last he opened his eyes and seemed to rec
ognize his children, though he was so weak
that he did not artlculate above the most
ind@tinct whisper. His death was nearly
painless. and with his children kneeling
beside him he passed away.
Characteristic OF his policy regarding his
paper, the Sun will only print a two line
announcement OF Mr.. Daua's death. There
VIII be no mention whatever OF him or his
life work in his own paper.
THE FUTURE OF THE SUN.
The future OF the Sun will be watched
With great interest. One thing. however.
can be said with certainty-the Sun will
not be Mr.. Dana's monument. That fond
Illusion of the great editor will be shat
tered. and he probably knew months axo
that 1t must be so. There was time when
Mr.. Dana believed that his personality
would pervade the columns OF his paper
long before his body had crumbled to dust
but the best that he could do was +, keen
n firm control OF the helm to the last
moment. 1t was following his Instructions
thht MS ieath was announced wIthout thu
usual obituary notice.
FOR at least six months It has heen
known that Mr., Dana was approaching Ma
end, ana, anticipating that event. gossIn
nas peen rife concerning the control OF the
Gun, ~ Is known that the paper will
Immediately pass from the central ~ tho |
Dana family, and whoever secures control
OF II must make terms with J. Plernont
Morgan. the banker.
Thomas Hitchcock (Matthew MarshaIn
Is the heaviest individual stockholdsr
though he lacks many shares of a con.
trolling interest
FINANCIAL LOSSES SINCE 1894
AZ ono time Mr.. Dana had absolute cor-
tfoi OF the Sun, either owning outright or
haVihg an option upon a majority Of Tho
STOCK That was previous to 1884. In which
year ne made what is called this greatest
mistake OF his life. bolting the nomination |
swinging the Sun to the support OF C;ensr'i
benjamin Butler. Before thai fisas,rnr.
move the sun was a power in demncrs,Ic |
pohucs In this State. and was earnino |
large dividends. During the comna,on -, |
i s ana the four yeare that followed tho |
.u'ei noefauc clientele was alienated from, |
deficits 0'N '"'neu INTO |
MIR. Dana, who was never Of a nrao,t,,,
Turn continued his worship OF arr ann
literature, spending great sums To pratI,,.
nus tastes Tho result was that ne ~
snoruy heavy borrower, with hIs s,o"L
Iosteu as collateral When IL beramo an
parent that there was possibility Of his
oS NJ ., .ne Stock, ne obtained, by means /
Wiz ~ p' s ana holdings a life contract
win the sun by which he securei m h,n,
sen inc editorshlp OF the paper nj ar
nual salary OF $50. 600. ~ an an-
mere came RESUMPTION n, nro.,..,..
~ the gun, but not enough money wos
nauc 10 counterbalance the d1mands ~ az
~ W. .Hteu irtSS. Of which orgo,i,.
,,oh MT Dana and William NJ. Laffsn W.
smu ruling spirits, and which LOST vas,
suns suns IN It's disastrous Ito itself, wor,aro
IsalnS, the Associated Press. So wb,la NJ
lana did not lose the title 10 H., ho,d,s sr
81, ~" e'och, No was never able IN radear,
h tneh ana his death leaves them IN w.
nanas OF wan street bankers. :" tug
only 100 shares OF stock were ,,s,., =,
hue hue gun Publishing company. Thee a,oS
nave na nominal face value of $1,000 hui =,
,,n have been and are worth monv
homas Hitchcock. who Is A well krnw,
,sa OF this city. holds twenty share. =,
Sun s. s HIS first connection with the
na n was almost coneident with that OF Mr.
"a the two having for many years bssn
s sn1 closest OF friends, Mr.. Hitchcock h.
a nau = leaning toward journalism ana bn.
nvst me signature OF Matthew Ms,.bam. ~.
written concerning the market AMI inwn.,
m ments Matthew Marshall' in the SIM
i've Fam, mornings has long been distinct,
we feature Of the paper.
s, snou'a ne desire he certainly could imna
10y assume control OF the sun mi w.
other man liz So wall 49, "ui no