Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-13
How the Century Was Founded.

"You have been with the Century since
its beginning. Mr.. Glider; will you please
tell me how the magazine was started?'
What is now called the Century Maya
zine" replied Mr.. Glider, was, during the
first ten years of its existence, known as
S~crihner's Monthly. II was founded by the
S~cribners, J. G.. Holland and Roswell Smith.
The idea originated will the Scribners.
They had been publishing an illustrated
monthly under the title Of Hours at Home.
Then Mr.. Scribner proposed to DIR. J. G.
Holland that he should come to New York,
with Illustrations. J. G.. Holland had been
very successful as one OF the editors OF the
Springfield Republican, and his books had
had a : wide sale, The Timothy Tit
comb ers, which first appeared in the
KepubI al. had been published in book
form by the Scribners and had had an enor-
Hollands Life of Lincoln had been
very widely read, and so also had his
asked DIT. Holland to join him in the
founding OF a magazine, DR.. Holland re-
piled that he would do so, provided Mr..
Scribner would allow him to choose a
and DIR. Holland chose Mr.. Roswell Smith,
who took a third of the stock and became
the business manager of the new enter
prise. Before DIR. Holland died Mr.. Smith
bought a hrge part Of his stock, having
already bought out the Scribner interest.
The principal workers on the magazine
and on St. Nicholas also became stock
holders. The name Of the magazine was
changed to the Century,"
Should n Magazine Have OpinionsR
1 here referred to the editorial features
of the Century. It is, you know, the only
magazine in the world which takes sides
upon leading questions and which aims to
discuss the great movements in art,
science, society, politics and religion. /
asked Mr.. Glider where this feature Of the
Century originated. He replied:
There were editorials in the magazine
from the start. DIR. Holland had a DEPART
ment entitled Topics of the Time which
a~HHaanl1 HhA -AnFasA~a - NhA AFf uNma-
things which were uppermOst. We have
the same department to-day"
DO you think such editorials have much
weight, Mr.. Gilder?"
II think that a magazine like this can
do a great deal to help along in the work
of reform. The Century has done what 1t
tory for sound money. l think we accom-
plished something in aiding in the over
throw of the Louisiana lottery. The war
series and the Life of Lincoln have lone
much to moderate the feeling between the
people of the North and South. and there
are other similar things 1 might men
ton"
Down With the Bosses.
what do you consider the leading issue
before the country today" / asked.
I'VE believe" replied the editor of the
Century, that one, of the, greatest move
ments going on in Christendom is the grow
ing interest in the government of cities.
We are helping TO arouse public sentiment
in this matter. We have published papers
bg IL " hFAAAAAHtoh tAANNkEis III GlidN ant
others relating to 1t with a view to in
c~reasing civic patriotism among the people.
We are advocating the separation of city
politics from national politics. and we
shall oppose the political machine wherever
IL inteTferes with civic development"
what success are you having2"
81 think" replied Mr.. Glider. that the
people are now beginning to realize that
our cities are behind those of the rest of
the world In honest. efficient and progress
I've municipal government. The bosses
already discovered that their selfish
and m~Onopolistic distribution of patronage
Is being interfered with, and they are now
making their last attack upon civil service
reform"
D you mean by that. Mr.. Glider, that
the days OF bOsSism are numbered?"
"If by numbered you mean that bossfsm
is about TO die. l would say that | be-
that il viii he a long time before the
will entirely pass away. I do think.
that our people are beginning 10
wake up to the fact that the political ma
chimes are mere labor bureaus. each hav-
ing its respective clientage, the members
of which IL tries to keep in official work
without regard to merit. If on the other
hand it Is said that the merit system NAV
also be called a labor bureau. It can be as
serted that 1t Is one working for the In
.terests of the whole people, and especially
for those of the poor man."
FRANK G. CARPENTER.