Middletown transcript., 1899-12-23
BY Charles M. Sheldon.

lie could not grasp the meaning OF i
all He felt enraged and alarmed Ell,
was sure any such policy would ruiz
the paper as soon as it became GENERALLY
known that the editor was trying to d.
everything by such an absurd mora
standard What would become of bust
ness if this standard were adopted? II
wOaid upset every custom ana 1nTro-
duce endless confusion It was simply
foolishness. it was downright idiocy,
SO 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 chief3 Was
ne insane3 Was he going to bankrupt
the whole business2
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 a 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 andall, as Sunday necessity
Edward Norman now faced this fact
and put to himself the question. .'What
would Jesus dor" If he were editor of
paper, would he deliberately plan to
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
ly, 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 no 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
Sunday morning paper, no matter
it paid3 That was not the
question. AS 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
had paid for a 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
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 ct was early in the
morning. and they were not all in), to
come into the mailing room. This was
a large room. and the men camo in,
wondering, and perched around on the
tables and counters 1t was very un.
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 let you know
my plans for the future of The News. /
propose certain changes which I believe
are necessary. / understand that some
things I 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 a conclusion
which viii no doubt cause some sur
prise. have decided that the Sunday
morning edition of The News shall be
after next Sunday issue.
/ 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 double
number on Saturday. as is done by very
many evening papers that make no at
tempt at Sunday edition am con-
vinced 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 it If he were in my place
today. It win 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 lis one that will take
place So far as can see, the loss viii
fall on myself. Neither the reporters
nor the pressmen need make any par
~ aT11are nhquOae II. 81 ~. y.I.--.