The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-02
A MUGWUMP EXPERIMENT..
Experience of Two Yale Professors in Run.
ming n New Haven Newspaper.

hibk u Y y
NEW HAVEN. April 1.-The absorption OF the
New Haven Morning Ne7rs by the Palladium
brings to an end an interesting newspaper ex-
pertinent. The Morning Ne'rs was founded in
1882. In the seventeen years OF its existence
t has had thirteen editors and almost as many
publishers and has represented nearly every
shade OF opinion. 1t has been a labor organ.
has represented Democracy OF various types.
has been the mouthpiece of local Mugwumps
and upholder OF the Chicago platform.
The most interesting phase OF the Nercs's
existence was as the organ OF the New Haven
MuGwumps when II was managed directly
from the halls OF Yale University itself. One
Of its owners was Judge Simeon +. Baldwin
ofthe Connecticut Supreme Court, professor Of
constitutional law at Yale. Another was Prof.
Henry W. Fnrnam OF the economic depart
ment OF the Scientific School. who is. by the
way. a prominent candidate for tn. Yale Presi-
dcncy. Both Of them were contributors at
various times to the editorial columns OF the
Np,rs. The paper was started in 1882 by a
number OF striking printers. and next came
INTO the hands Of a number OF local newspaper
men. who reduced the price to two cents
something previously unknown in Connecticut
and. for a short time. was a wonderfully sue
cess!ul venture. Its circulation ran up to
$1,000. and its owners were making money.
" WAS hIDuI tHlS llue Una 1TOI. fdTnIm,
Prot. Baldwin and one or two other university
men stepped in. Their" was then a controversy
in when tho New Haven water company was
involved, and the purchasers wanted to pro-
vide an organ in which the peoples side OF tho
ease might he presented. The main financial
support camo at this time from Prof. Farnam.
TheCle veland- Blaine campaign was in progress
andin the acknowledgements in favor ofthe
former citizen of Buffalo the NerS naturally
took part. That was one Of the thing. il was
bought for. II became a MuEwump paper Of
the most pronounced typ". But its troubles
began early. The .News felt itself obliged to
run against the Knights Of Labor movement.
which was then at its heigh hit. The result was
that the college professors and the printers
got into trouble ut the start. Matters
went rom bad 10 worse, and llna.ly the 'nevi-
colt. lroi. farnam may hav" been IN the right.
but IN" wornlnG people, were Wild over the
NNn ME-. % om Lanrt' 1mn w nmJ GItSu,atiTn o! the
result OF the trouble tho l5.OOO circulation be-
gan 70 tall. IT. wSnt down and down: mn,ti no
Yale University organ. in his possession. 1t
was an expensive year for the professor Of po-
Grover Cievr and Ike a good fellow. but it
cost troi. haTnhm a pretty penny
to a friend. All men have their hobbies; let
M, have mine, pp, It all | to the account Of
- ''F $3.50 80 HHaAAA ~ 'NAhA
he had had experience enough. lie doomed
his paper and advertised it extensively. The
result of a years hard work. he iImscli said
attcrward, was the acqui.it on of Just one new
subscriber. This was his own brother. And
= did not subscribe from any unconpueratle
desir" to road the Iaper. but simply to record
his diSapproval Of the knights OF Labor and to
encourage the APTS in its fight against their
organization
i'rot. taInam sold the paper to Baldwin. He
Is sad 10 have made a good bargain. at least to
have got out with a total loss Of only 10000
on the entire transaction. Prot. Baldwin i'm
ported o new editor who hogan to make things
hum. The paper had made some progrcSS ia
the last year of Prot. Farnam'S ownership. and
thrr', seemed some chance that II might re-
ga n its feet. Tn" new editor was very radical
H. his views. lie first devoted him self to study
ing out all The soamy spots in the social and
political life of New Haven. and then
h'Lan to attack things right and left.
II was very interesting while IT lasted. but it
didn [ ray, AZ the. time the imported editor
lett New Haven the papers circulation had
been reduced from 1000 to 900. there were
seven libel suit pending against il and Judge
BALDWIN wrote down to his experience account
the sum OF 100000. The rroI, ssor gained
some slight satisfaction by for"closinG on the
paper and taking all its property.
This was practically the end OF the papers
career as Il Mugwump organ. Judge Baldwin
Kept II for some time longer. until he could
dispose OF II at terms satisfactory to himself.
and after he parted with 1t it had varied for
tunes. I'LL now it has been absorbed by another
Newspaper.