People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-10-26


sarily sufferers through the action he
had taken. Why should they lose money
by it? They were not to blame He was
rich man and could afford to put a
little brightness into their lives if he
chose to do it. He believed as he went
on his way home that Jesus would have
done either what he did or something
similar in order to be free from any
possible feeling of injustice He was
not deciding these questions for any
one else, but for his own conduct He
was not in position to dogmatize, ard
he felt that he could answer only with
his own Judgment sud conscience as to
his Interpretation of Jesus probable
action The falling off in sales of the
paper he ha6 in certain measure fore
seen, but he was yet to realize the full
extent of the loss to the paper if such a
policy should be continued.
During the week he was in receipt Of
numerous letters commenting on the
absence from The News of the account
of the prizefght Two or three Of these
letters may I've of interest
Editor Of The News:
Dear Sir-l have been deciding for some time to
change my paper. ! want journal that is up to
the times, progressive ana enterprsing, supply
la, ,,,,I,T; n o. all
freak Of your paper in refusing to print the ac-
count Of the famous contest at the Resort has
decided me finally to change my paper. Please
discontinue it. Very truly yours, --.
! Here followed the name Of a business
man who had been q subscriber for
many years
Edward Norman, Editor Of The Daily News, Ray.
mond:
Dear Ed-Wbat is this sensation you have given
the people OF our burg? Hope YOU don't intend
to try the reform business through the avenue
Of the press Is dangerous to experiment much
along that line Take my advice and stick to
the enterprising modern methods you have made
SO successful for The News. The public want
prizefghts and such. Give it what It 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 a
daily in an adjoining town.
Ny Dear Mr.. Norman-I hasten to write you
note Of appreciation for the evident carrying out
Of your promise 1t is a splendid beginning, and
no one feels the value Of it 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.
Mr. Edward Norman, Editor Of The Daily News:
Dear Sir-At he expiration Of my advertising
limit you will me the favor not to continue as
you have don heretofore. ! inclose check for
payment in fun 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 hecr in the habit of inserting a
column Of uspicUous advertising and
paying for il very large price
Edward Norman laid this letter down
W. t4au;;,;,-...y, ana ;hcn after mo-
ment he took up a copy of his paper
and looked through the advertising col
umns. There was no connection i'm
piled in the tobacco merchants letter
between the omission of the prizefght
and the withdrawal Of the advertise
ment, but he could not avoid putting
the two together. In point Of fact, he
atterward learned that the tobacco deal
er withdrew his advertisement because
he had heard chat 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 IL
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 outH Could it liver 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 paperl
Edward Norman asked it honestly,
and after prayer for help and wisdom
be asked Clark tc 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, Il have been
looking at our advertising columns and
have decided to dispense with some of
the matter as soon as the contracts run
cut. ! wish You would notify the ad-
vertising agent not to solicit or renew
the ads. have marked here ="
Ee 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 a great loss to The
News How long do you think you can
keep this sort of thing upf" Clark was
astOnished at the editors action and