Evening journal., 1899-06-02

For several weeks past rumOrs Of the
sale of the Evening journal to Peter J.
Ford have been rife. These rumors have
not heretofore been denied. but have
rather been encouraged by Ford, and the
Evening Journal management has not
been in a position to deny them
Now that the bottom has dropped out
Of Fords rascally scheme to secure for
himself a newspaper for a song, the Even
ing Journal believes that it is due to it.
Teh, its patrons, and to the Democratic
arty of which Peter j. Ford assumes to
be a leader, to make such denial in a
manner so emphatic as to leave no shade
of doubt in the mind Of anybody as to ex-
actly what position Ford does occupy in
the premises.
For the past ten or twelve years Peter
J. Ford and Charles W. Edwards have
been close friends. In years gone by
when Ford was ION his uppers," more
than once has he borrowed the check Of
M. Edwards to save what credit he then
had. And as Ford progressed in politics.
he has always had the support of this pa
per freely and unstintedly. To our recol-
lection. never but once was Ford denied
anything he asked for which was in our
power to give. That vas in the Bancroft
campaign when he sought to silence the
opposition Of this paper to Samuel Ban
croft, Jr. When Ford was asked for a
reason why he was so earnest in his sup
port OF Mr.. Bancroft, he replied that Mr..
Bancroft had stood by him in his trou-
bles; that he was for Mr.. Bancroft not
on political but on personal grounds that
no would be for Mr.. Bancroft were he
running on the Republican ticket; that
his support Of Mr.. Bancroft was because
of his gratitude to Mr.. Bancroft for past
favors of business nature.
Ford was told that many others had
been asked to advance a good reason for
supporting Mr.. Bancroft, but that his was
the only good reason so far given; that
We respected him for his fidelity to a man
who had befriended him. but that we were
sorry that we had to deny his request
1t was during that interview chat Ford
remarked III l ever get into position
where ! can, I'll have a newspaper, and
I'll mako men and break men" These
recolections come to us in view of Ford's
recent notion that he had gotten into a
position where he could have a news
paper
The public generally will recollect the
generous support given Ford by this paper
in his aspiration for the gubernatora
lNAhlAuAl0u AuANt years uHNs III Jul bAAhN
belief in the integrity, courage and trust
Torthness of Ford, this paper committed
itself to Ford, against all comers, before
the nomination convention was held
something we have since admitted we hat
no right, as a party newspaper, to do. Blu
we did it, and. in quoting a remark o.
Hon. Whitelaw Reid's, on one occasion
made to the writer, Charlie, the bes
men sometimes make the worst mistakes,
we acknowledge our error.
After years of such friendship for Ford
we felt no hesitancy in going to him 70
relief in a time of need. A suit wa
brought against us in the Superior Cour
of this county wherein we were require
to give bond for S3,OOO Ford went o.
that bond. While the real debt was some
thing over 81, 100 against which we still
believe we have a just reason for With
holding judgment an unconscionable yer
dict of $4,000 was given against us fror
which an appeal was taken to the Su
preme Court. In taking this appeal
was necessary to bond in the Suprem
Court in the sum of "a 900. the latter bon
taking the place Of the first bond of S.OOl
Fordlgas applied to togo on the new bond
and the proposition was made to secur
him, in case the suit went against us. b
giving him a mortgage on the Who'll
plant of the Journal Printing Compan!
In the course of the negotiations detaile
statement Of the company's affairs wa
voluntarily made to Ford. which Shove
the chief liability to be S4,S00 due to tn
Union National Bank, for the payment {
which was pledged $4,000 of the con
pany's bonds and 800 shares Of the capiti
stock of the company.
Ford thereupon said: "Why not let n
pay of the bank and get that S4,S00 OF
Of the way?"
The reply was. "The bank has not ash
ed for payment and the loan can be ca
ried at the bank by reducing it from tin
to time"
Then Ford asked IF l go on the boz
in the Supreme Court, wouldn't my 81