The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-01

! some very nara Lh1nK1ng
eve won't run this in today" be
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 say?
leave it out We won't use it. >
But The managing editor was
simply durnfounded He stared at
Norman as if the editor were out Of his
mind
II think, Clark. that it ought not tc
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 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
'.po you mean that the paper is to
90 to press without word of the prize
fight in it2'
"Yes; that's just what mean %
"But it's unheard Of. All the other
papers will print it. What will our
subscribers say? Why. it's simply
Clark paused, unable to find words to
say what he thought.
Edward Norman looked at Clark
thoughtfullyl The managing editor
was member Of a 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 a minute, Clark, and
shut the door. said Norman.
Clark came in. and the two men faced
each other alone. Norman did not speak
for a minute. Then he said abruptly:
"Clark, if Christ we're editing daily
paper, do you honestly think he would
print three columns and half of
prizefght in it?''
Clark gasped in astonishment. Final
" he replied. "No: don't suppose he
would. .
"Well, that's my only reason for
shutting this account out Of The News.
I have decided not to do a thing in con-
nection with the paper for whole year
that I honestly believe 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 M. 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 thinkf" asked Edward
Norman, with a keen glance
~ think it will simply ruin the pa
per, replied Clark promptly. He was
gathering up 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 can't
make it pay. Just as sure as you live.
if you shut out this prizefght report.
you will lose hundreds Of subscribers.
It 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. It 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 probable action of Jesus?
Would you -ay that the highest, best
law for a man to live by 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 edl-
tors question.
"Why. yes. 1 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 to conform to the customs
and the recognized methods of society.
We can t do as we would do in an ideal
world. -
.sDo you mean that we can't run the
paper strictly on Christian principles
and make it succeed
"Yes that's just what l mean 1t
cant be done Well go bankrupt in 80
days.
Edward Norman did not reply at
once. He was very thoughtful