The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-10-25

absence from The News of the account
of the prizefght. Two or three of these
letters may be of interest.
Editor of The News:
Dear sir-I have been deciding for some time to
change my paper l want journal that is up to
the times progressive and enterprising, supply
ing the public demand at all points The recent
freak of your paper in refusing TO print the ac-
count OF the famous contest at the Resort has
decided finally TO change my paper. Please
discontinue it. Very truly yours, - -.
Here followed the name of business
man who had been subscriber for
many years.
Edward Norman, Editor OF The Daily News, Ray
mond:
Dear Ed-what is this sensation you have given
the people of your burgY Hope you don't intend
TO try the reform business" through the avenue
OF the press. It's dangerous to experiment much
along that line. Take my advice and stick to
the enterprising modern methods you have made
80 successful for The News. The public wants
prizefghts and SUCH Give it what 1t wants and
let some one else do the reforming business.
Yours, -.
Here followed the name of one of
Norman's old friends, the editor of
daily in an adjoining town
NV Dear Mr. Norman-I hasten to write you a
note of appreciation for the evident carrying out
of your promise. IL is a splendid beginning, and
no one feels the value of il better than do.
know something of what it will cost you, but not
all. Your pastor, HENRY MAXWELL.
One letter which he opened immedi-
ately after reading this from Maxwell
revealed to him something of the loss to
his business that possibly awaited him.
I'll. no;I
Dear Sr-At the expiration OF my advertising
limit you will DO the favor not TO continue as
you have done heretofore | inclose check for
payment in full and shall consider my account
with your paper closed after date. Very truly
yours, -.
Here followed the name of one of the
largest dealers in tobacco in the city.
He had been in the habit of inserting a
column of conspicuous advertising and
paying for it very large price.
Edward Norman laid this letter down
very thoughtfully, and then after mo-
ment he took up copy of his paper
and looked through the advertising col
umns. There was no connection inn
piled in the tobacco merchants letter
between the omission of the prizefight
and the withdrawal Of the advertise
menr lat he could not avoid putting
the two together. In point of fact, he
afterward learned that the tobacco deal
er withdrew his advertisement because
ne had heard that the editor of The
News was about TO enter upon some
queer reform policy that would be GER
tain to reduce its subscription list
But the letter directed Norman's at
tention TO the advertising phase Of his
paper He had not considered this be-
fore AS he glanced over the columns
he could not escape the conviction that
Jesus could not permit some of them in
his paper What would Jesus do with
that other long advertisement Of liquor
Raymond enjoyed system of high Ii
cense, and the saloon and the billiard
hall and the beer garden were part Of
the city's Christian civilization He
was simply doing what every other
business man in Raymond did, and it
was one Of the best paying sources of
revenue What would the paper do if
it cut these ont? Could it live? That
was the question. But-was that the
question, after all what would Jesus
DOR That was the question he was an
swering, or trying to answer this week.
Would Jesus advertise whisky and to-
bacco in his paperY
Edward Norman asked it honestly,
and after prayer for help and wisdom
he asked Clark 70 come into the Office.
Clark came in feeling that the paper
was at crisis and prepared for almost
anything after his Monday morning ex-
perience This was Thursday.
"Clark, /" said Norman, speaking
slowly and carefully, II have been
looking at our advertising columns and
have decided to dispense with some Of
the matter as soon as the contracts run
out. / wish you would notify the adj
vertising agent not TO solicit or renew
the ads / have marked here.
Re handed the paper with the marked
places over TO Clark, who took it and
looked over the columns with a very
serious air.
"This will mean great loss to The
News How long do you think you can
keep this sort of thing up2" Clark was
astonished at the editors action and
could not understand it.
"Clark. do You think if Jesus were
the editor and proprietor of daily pa
per in Raymond he would print adver-
tisements of whisky and tobacco in it 2"
Clark looked at his chief with that
same look of establishment which had
greeted the question before.
"Well, no; don { suppose he would.
But what has that TO do with us2 We
can't do as he would. Newspapers can t
be run on any such basis.
"Why notS' asked Edward Norman
quietly.
"Why notH Because they will lose
more money than they make; that s
all. !" Clark spoke out with an irritation
that he really felt 1--WE shall certainly
bankrupt the paper with this sort of
business policy"
EDO you think so3" Norman asked
the question not as if he expected an
answer. but simply as if he were talk
ing with himself. After pause he
said
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