St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-09-06
CONTINUED from last week.

Edward Norman now faced this fact
and put to himself the question, "What
would Jesus do?" If he were editor Of
a paper, would he deliberately plan tC
put into the homes of all the church
people and Christians Of Raymond such
a collection Of reading matter on the
one day of the week which ought to be
given up to something better and holi-
err He was of course familiar with the
regular argument for the Sunday paper
that the public needed something OF
the sort, and the workingman especial
II, who would not go to church any
way, ought to have something enter
tanning and instructive on Sunday, his
only day of rest. But suppose the Sun
day morning paper did not pay. Sup
pose there was NJ money in it. How
eager would the editor or the proprietor
be then to supply this crying need of
the workingman? Edward Norman
communed honestly with himself over
the subject. Taking everything into
account, would Jesus probably edit a
Sunday morning paper, no matter
whether it paid? That was not the
question. AS n matter of fact, The Sun
day News paid so well that it would be
a direct loss Of thousands of dollars to
discontinue it. Besides, the regular
subscribers had paid for u seven day
paper. Had he any right now to give
them anything less than they had sup
posed they had paid for2
He was honestly perplexed by the
question. So much was involved in the
discontinuance of the Sunday edition
that for the first time he almost de-
clined to be guided by the standard Of
Jesus probable action. He was sole
proprietor Of the paper. 1t was his to
shape as he chose. He had no board of
directors to consult as to policy. But as
he sat there surrounded by the usual
quantity of material for the Sunday
edition he reached some definite con
illusions, and among them was the de-
termination to call in the force of the
paper and frankly state his motive and
purpose.
He sent word for Clark and the other
men in the Office, including the few re-
porters who were in the building and
the foreman, with what men were in
the composing room Git was early in the
morning, and they We're not all in), to
come into the mailing room. This was
a large room, and the men came in,
wondering, and perched around on the
tables and counters. 1t was a very IN
usual proceeding, but they all agreed
that the paper wa being run on new
principles anyhow, and they all watched
Mr.. Norman c%uriously as he spoke.
81 called you in here to let you know
my plans for the future of The News. |
propose certain changes which | believe
are necessary. l understand that some
things | have already done are regarded
by the men as very strange. / wish to
state my motive in doing what | have
done. Here he told the men what he
had already told Clark, and they stared,
as he had done, and looked as painfully
conscious.
''Now, in acting on this standard Of
conduct | have reached q conclusion
which will no doubt cause some sur
prise. | have decided that the Sunday
morning edition of The News shall be
discontinued after next Sundays issue.
l shall state in that issue my reasons
for disseminating. In order to make up
to the subscribers the amount of read
ing matter they may suppose them
selves entitled to, we can issue a double
number on Saturday, as is done by very
many evening papers that make no at
tempt at u Sunday edition. | am con-
WINGED that, from a Christian point Of
view, more harm than good has been
done by u Sunday morning paper. l
do not believe that Jesus would be re-
sponsible for it if he were in my place
today. 1t will occasion some trouble to
arrange the details caused by this
change with the advertisers and sub
scribers. That is for me to look after.
The change itself is one that will take
place. So far as | can see, the loss will
fall on myself. Neither the reporters
nor the pressmen need make any par
ticular changes in their plans"
Edward Norman looked around the
room, and no one spoke, He was struck
for the first time in his life with the
fact that in all the years of his news,
paper life he had never had the force of
the paper together in this way. "Would
Jesus do that? That is, would he prob
ably run a newspaper on some loving
family plan where editors, reporters,
pressmen and all met to discuss and de-
wise and plan for the making of a paper
that should have in view
He caught himself drawing almost
away from the facts of Typographical
unions and Office rules and reporters
enterprise and all the cold businesslikt
methods that make a great daily sue.
cessful. But still the vague picture
that came up in the mailing room
would not fade away, even when h
had gone into his Office and the mer
had gone back to their places with won
der in their looks and questions of al
sorts on their tongues as they talked
over the editors remarkable actions.
Clark came in and had a long serious
talk with the chief. He was thorough,
reused, and his protest almost reached
the point Of resigning his place. Nor
man guarded himself carefully. Ever,
minute of the interview was painful t,
him, but he felt more than ever the ne