The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-08


business policy"
"Do you think so9" Norman asked
the question not as if ho expected an
answer, but simply as if he were talk
ing with himself. After q pause he
said:
"You may direct Marks to do as /
said believe it is what Jesus would
do. and, as told you. Clark, that is
what / have promised to try to do for a
year. regardless of what the results
may be to me. I cannot believe that by
any kind Of reasoning we could reach
conclusion justifying Jesus in the ad-
vertisement in this age Of whisky and
tobacco in newspaper. There are some
other advertisements Of a doubtful
character / shall study into. Mean
while l feel Q conviction in regard to
these that cannot be silenced."
Clark went back to his desk feeling
as If he had been in the presence of a
very peculiar person.
He could not grasp the meaning of it
all He felt enraged and alarmed. He
was sure any such policy would ruin
the paper as soon as it became generally
known that the editor was trying to do
everything by such an absurd moral
standard What would become of bust
ness If this standard were adopted2 It
would upset every custom and intro
duce endless confusion. 1t was simply
foolishness, it was downright idiocy,
80 Clark said to himself, and when
Marks was informed Of the action he
seconded the managing editor with
some very forcible CALCULATIONS. What
was the matter with the chiefP Was
ne insanef Was he going to bankrupt
the whole businessP
But Edward Norman had not faced
his most serious problem.
When he came down to the Office Fri.
day morning. he was confronted with
the usual programme for the Sunday
morning edition. The News was one of
the few evening papers to issue Sun
day edition. and it had always been re-
markably successful financially. There
was an average of one page of literary
and religious items to 80 or 40 pages
OF sport. theater gossip, fashion, So
ciety and political material This made
very interesting magazine of all sorts
OF reading matter and had always been
welcomed by all the subscribers, church
members and all, as Sunday necessity
Edward Norman now faced this fact
and put to himself the question. "What
would Jesus doT" If he were editor of
a paper. would he deliberately plan to
put into the homes Of all the church
people and Christians of Raymond such
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
ly. who would not 60 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 no money in it. How
eager would the editor or the proprietor
DO then to supply this crying need Of
the workingman9 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 paid9 That was not the
question. AS a matter of fact, The Sun
day News paid so well that it would be
direct loss Of thousands Of dollars to
discontinue it. Besides, the regular
subscribers had paid for seven day
paper. Had he any right now to give
them anything less than they had sup
posed they had paid for?
He was honestly perplexed by the
question. So much was involved in the
disccntinuance 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-
clusions. 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 u very I'M.
usual proceeding, but they all agreed
that the paper was being run on new
principles anyhow. and they all watched
Mr.. Norman curiously as he spoke.
II called you in here to lot You know
my plans for the future of The News.
propose certain changes which I believe