The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-10-25


what l have promised to try to do for
year, regardless of what the results
may be to me- l cannot believe that by
any kind of reasoning we could reach
a conclusion justifying Jesus in the adj
vertisement in this age of whisky and
tobacco in a newspaper. There are some
other advertisements of a doubtful
character l shall study into. Mean
while feel conviction in regard to
these that cannot be silenced. t."
Clark went back TO his desk feeling
as If he had been in the presence of
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 1t
would upset every custom and intro
duce endless confusion. 1t was simply
foolishness, it was downright idiocy,
so Clark said 10 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 chief? Was
ne insane? Was he going TO bankrupt
the whole businessH
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 30 or 40 pages
of sport, theater gossip, fashion, So
ciety and political material. This made
very interesting magazine Of al sorts
of reading matter and had always been
welcomed by all the subscribers, church
members and all, as a Sunday necessity.
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 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 holt
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, wo1ta Jesus probably edit a
Sunday morning paper, no matter
whether it paid? 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 1t. Besides, the regular
subscribers. had paid for a seven day
paper. Had he any right now 20 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 were not all in), TO
come into the mailing room. This was
large room, and the men came 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.
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 conclusion
which will no doubt cause some sur
prise. I have decided that the Sunday
morning edition of The News shall be
discontinued after next Sundays issue.
shall state in that issue my reasons
! for discontinuinQ. In order TO make up