The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-06-11
AN EDITORIAL DUEL.
HOW AN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER MAN
DOUBLED" IN CANADA.
a Lively War Between Rival Journals on
the Subject of Annexation to the United
states-After the Last Shot the Dueiist
Fled the Country.

fled the country.
Clinton j Kurdish, who for many years
was leading member OF The Times edi.
torial staff, began active newspaper work
so long ago that 10 encroaches upon the
field of ancient history, but the circum-
stances surrounding his journalistic debut
nre worth recording.
IL occurred just after the great oil excite
nent which drove western Pennsylvania
into a speculative frenzy and sent prices
skywaTd New oil wells were being dis
covered every day, and fortunes were made
and lost In an hour. The development of
the Pennsylvania oilflelds had only begun
when oil was discovered In Canada A
wild rush for the new speculative field CO.
sued. Young Kurdish had little money
and fastened 90 invest every dollar of it
i'm Canadian leases. In a short time the
marvellous discovery of oil in that terri
tory fizzled out completely and the bot
tom dropped out Of everything. Kurdish
was left in Canada to try TO straighten out
matters for himself and for several friends
whom he had induced 10 enter the enter
prise.
1t took considerable time Co do this, and
In the meanwhile the young speculator
found that bread and butter had become a
serious problem There were two after
noon dailes in the place. One day the
editor of the conservative paper called up.
on young Kurdish at his hotel.
"You undoubtedly are aware, - he said,
"that a lot of hot headed, irresponsible, ig-
norant politicians over here have started
another agitation for annexation to the
United States. Now, of course, that would
be suicide for Canada. Being from the
United States, you probably are in posi-
ton TO speak intelligently from that stand
point. Can II you write a strong editorial
for my paper tomorrow in opposition to
the annexation movement
Kurdish demurred. But his board bill
was pressing and he must eat; so, half in
desperation, he undertook his first news.
paper work The Bugle next day contain
ed double loaded editorial thunderbolt |
against annexation.
The author of il had barely had time |
enough TO read his work over carefully in |
print and TO felicitate himself upon his |
success as an anonymous writer when an
other visitor called to see him.
Il am Mr.. Dobbs, " the newcomer an.
nounced. 81 am the editor and proprietor
Of The Bazoo. You probably are aware
that there is a strong movement on foot
here TO further the annexation of Canada
L
are straining every nerve 10 stem the tide
that is setting in against them. You know
the United States side of this question bet.
ter than we do over here. Why can't you
write strong editorial for my paper to.
morrow in favor of annexation
The young man could and did The next
day the editor of The Bugle called upon
him. The visitor was greatly excited.
q See" he cried, exhibiting a copy of The
Bazoo. "Our shot took effect 1t has stir.
red them up. They see that their cause Is
desperate and are dying hard What we
need now are few more mastery charges
like that of yesterday and they II be utter.
ly routed. Go for EN-, my boy. Take all
the space you want, and II pay you well
for your work
Ii is needless 70 say, perhaps. that the
next issue Of The Bugle contained another
double loaded plea for Canadian integrity
This brought another call from Editor
Dobbs Of The Bazoo. Dobbs was elated
Have you read what that chump down
the street has tried TO sayY" he asked
Balderdash. Rot a schoolboy could
have done better than that tell you
we We got EN- on the run. Go for EN-, my
boy. Take all the space you want and III
pay you well for It,
During the next two weeks journal
site duel TO the death ragged lercely Ev.
Try day Furnish would tear 10 pieces In
me paper the arguments he had previous.
y set forth in the other. Excitement ran
nigh. Everybody in town was discussing
pro and con, and on every
hand Kurdish heard his own arguments
used TO defeat or to sustain other views
which he had expressed
IL was "A OloriOuS fpht but rho p,op |
who was solely responsible for it all at
asst made most unwelcome discovery
His landlord was again pressing him for
money, and the newspapers were paying
him now in promises. AT first he exacted
)ay for each days work when the manu-.
cript was handed In, but there soon came |
everal lapses, and this speedily drfted in.
o absolute suspension of payments. OF !
curse as the payments became fewer the |
Promises grew more frequent, but at last
here came day when Kurdish found he
ould no longer pay hotel bill with good
Intentions and diplomatic language He |
leeded money, pleaded for even a portion
f what was due him and was again put
If. Is 1t strange that he should have felt ,
ggrieved when he had to pawn his watch
nd his trunk
The next issue of The Bugle, as usual
obtained double loaded editorial over "a
olumn in length So did The Bazoo The
wo papers came out simultaneously, and
9th contained the same editorial word |
Or word. In The Bugle it appeared under /
he headline Annexation Farce, while {
he Bazoo's caption was Annexation the J
Iope of Canada |
Five minutes later two wildly excited
ditors, each clutching a newspaper In his I
and, rushet into the office of the little {
anadian hotel G
Where's Furbish9" shouted one j
Mr.. Furnish has gone said the clerk L
almly. O
Gomez" echoed the other editor. Gone J
7here9" b
He left for New York this afternoon
y way of Buffalo. think " replied the 3
Jerk. h
Two thunderstruck Canadian editors {
BOXED at each other few moments In h
peechless amazement. Then they shook o
ands without saying q word, walked Il
cross the street and sat down together on h
salt barrel In front of a grocery Chi. i