Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-09-22

a1sconunuauce cr the Sunday edition
that for the first time ne almost de
clincd to be guided 10y the standard Of
Jesus probable action. He was sole
proprietor Of the paper. 1t was his to
shape rs he chose. lie had no board of
directors 10 consult rs 10 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 ana the other
men in the oiicc including the few re
porters who were in the building and
the foreman, with what men were In
the composing room it was carly in the
morning. and they were not all i'm, to
come into the mailing room This was
large room, and the men came in.
wondering, and parched around on the
tables and counters. 1t was very I'M
usual preceding but they all agreed
that the paper was being run on new
principles anyhow, and they all watched
Mr. Norman curiously as he spoke.
Il called Won in here to let you know
my plans for the future of The News.
propose certain changes which l believe
are necessary. | understand that some
things have already done are regarded
by the men rs 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, III acting on this standard of
conduct | have reached a conclusion
which will no doubt cause some sur
prise. have decided that the Sunday
morning edition Of The News shall be
discontinued after next Sunday s issue.
| shall state in that issue my reasons
for disseminating In order to make up
10 the subscribers the amount of read
ing matter they may suppose them
selves entitled TO, we can issue double
number on Saturday. as Is done by very
many evening papers that make no at
tempt at Sunday edition. l am con
WINGED that, from a Christian point Of
view, more harm than good has been
done by our Sunday morning paper
do not believe that Jesus would be re-
sponsible for il 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 il 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 newspaper on some loving
family plan where editors, reporters
pressmen and all met to discuss and de-
wise and plan for the making of 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 businesslike
methods that make great daily sue
cessful But still the vague picture
that came mp in the mailing room
would not fade away, even when he
had gone into his Office and the men
had gone back TO their places with won
der in their looks and questions of all
sorts ON their tongues as they talked
over the editor remarkable actions.
Clark came in and had "A long serious
talk with the chief. He was thoroughly
reused, and his protest almost reached
the point Of resignin2 his place. Nor
man guarded himself carefully. Every
minute of the interview was painful TO
him. but nc felt moro than ever the ne
cessity Of doing the ChristlilIe thing.
Clark was very valuable man. 1t
would be difficult to fill his place TT
he was not able TO give any reasons for
continuing ~ c1nGay E-pcr that an
swcrcd Co. "a. "N hit woatd
Jesu, 3)e Je.ds pint th..t
edition
ED