Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-07


terday's prizefght at the Resort. 1t
will make mp three columns and half
1 suppose it all goes in p
Edward Norman was one of those
newspaper men who keep an eye on
I every detail of the paper. The manag
ing editor always consulted his chief in
matters Of both small and large impor-
lance. Sometimes, as in this case, it was
merely a nominal inquiry.
'Yes-no. Let me see it. "
He took the typewritten matter just
as it came from the telegraph editor
and ran over it carefully Then he laid
the sheets down on his desk and did
some very hard thinking
1--WE won't run this in today" he
said finally.
/ The managing editor was standing
| in the doorway between the two rooms.
He was astonished at the editors re-
mark and thought he had perhaps mis-
understood him.
What did you sayf"
Leave it out. We won't use it. -
"But"- The managing editor was
simply dumfounded He stared at
/ Norman as if the editor were out of his
mind
81 think. Clark, that it ought not to
/ be printed and that's the end Of it.
said Edward Norman. looking up from
| his desk
| Clark seldom had any words with the
chief. Norman's word had always been
law in the Office. and he had seldom
been known to change his mind. The
circumstances now. however, seemed to
be so extraordinary that Clark could
not help expressing himself.
''Do you mean that the paper is to
/ go TO press without word of the prize
fight in it,"
Yes; that's just what l mean"
But it's unheard Of All the other
papers will print it. What will our
subscribers sayy Why, it's simply
CLARK paused, unable to find words to
say what he thought
| Edward Norman looked at Clark
thoughtfully. The managing editor
was member of church of different
denomination from that of Norman s.
The two men had never talked together
on religious matters although they had
been associated on the paper for several
years
Come in here minute, Clark, and
shut the door, said Norman.
Clark came in, and the two men faced
each other alone. Norman aid not speak
for a minute. Then he said abruptly:
CLARK, if Christ We're oditing a daily
paper, do you honestly think he would
print three columns and half of
prizefght in it %
Clark gasped in astonishment Final
" he replied, mo; don t suppose he
would. "
well, that's my only reason for
shutting this account ont of The News.
| have decided not to do a thing in con-
nection with H. paper for a whole year
that | honestly Heliove Jesus would not
do "
Clark could not have looked more
amazed if the chief had suddenly gone
crazy In fact, he did think something
was wrong, though Mr.. Norman was
one of the last men in the world, in his
Judgment. to lose his mind
What effect will that have on the
paper?' he finally managed to ask in a
faint voice.
"What do you Think" asked Edward
Norman, with a keen glance.
Il think it will simply ruin the pa
per, replied Clark promptly. He was
gathering mp his bewildered senses and
began to demonstrate. why it isn't
feasible to run a paper nowadays on
any such basis. It's too ideal, The
world isn't ready for it. You cant
make ii pay. just as sure as Won live.
if You shut ont this prizeiight report,
you will lose hundreds Of subscribers
1t doesn't take a prophet to say that,
The very best people in town are eager
to read it. They know it has taken
place and when they get the paper
this evening they will expect half a
page at least. Surely you can t afford
to disregard the wishes of the public to
such an extent. 1t will be a great mis-
take if you do, in my opinion. -
Edward Norman sat silent minute.
Then he spoke gently, but firmly.
"Clark, what, in your honest opinion,
is the right standard for determining
conduct? Is the only right standard for
every one the probab BILE action of Jesus?
Would you say that the highest, best
law for man to live 10y was contained
in asking the question, What would
Jesus do?' and then doing it regardless
of results? In other words, DO you think
men everywhere ought to follow Jesus
example as close as they can in their
daily lives"
Clark turned red and moved uneasily
in his chair before he answered the edi
tor question.
why yes. | suppose, if You put it
on the ground Of what they ought to
do, there is no other standard of con-
duct But the questions are What is
feasible? Is it possible to make it pay?
To succeed in the newspaper business
we have got 70 conform TO the customs
and the recognized methods of society
We cant do AS we would do in an ideal
world.
do You mean that we can't run the
paper strictly on Christian principles
and make il succeed p
"Yes; that S Just what I mean. Il
can't be done. Wen go bankrupt in 80
days.
Edward Norman did not reply at
once He was very thoughtful.
I'VE shall have occasion to talk this
-