Evening journal., 1899-06-03

fOr several weeks past fumOrS OF the
sale Of the Evening Journal to Peter ].
Ford have been rife. These rumors have
Aot heretofore been denied but have
rather been encouraged by Ford, and the
Evening Journal management has not
been in position to deny them.
Now that the bottom has dropped out
of Ford's rascally scheme to secure for
himself a newspaper for a song, the Even
ing Journal believes that It is due - it.
self, it's patrons, and to the Democratic
party Of which Peter J. Ford assumes to
be a leader, to make such denial in a
manner so emphatic as to leave no shade Y
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
he 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 a business nature.
Ford was told that many others had
been asked to advance a good reason fol
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.
It was during that interview that Ford
remarked: If l ever get into a position
where 1 can, I'll have a newspaper, ant
I'll make men and break men" These
recollections come to us in view of Ford.
recent notion that he had gotten into &
position where he could have a news.
paper.
The pablic generally will recollect th'
generous support given Ford by this paper
in his aspiration for the gubernatoria
nomination three years ago. In our binS
belief in the integrity, courage and trust
Horthiness Of Ford, this paper committed
itself to Ford against all corners, before
the nomination convention was held
something We have since admitted we hal
no right, as a party newspaper, to do. Blu
We did it, and, in quoting a remark o
Hon. Whitelaw Reds, on one occasion
made to the writer, Charlie the bes
men sometimes make the worst mistakes,
we acknowledge cur error.
After years Of such friendship for Ford
we felt no hesltancy in going to him 70
relief in a time OF need. suit wa
brought against us in the Superior Cour
Of this county wherein we were require
to give bond for $4,000 Ford went o.
that bond. While the real debt was some
thing over $500, against which we still
believe we have just reason for With
holding judgment, an uncomfortable 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 10 bond in the Suprem
Court in the sum OF 1000, the latter bon
taking the place Of the first bond Of 50, OOl
Fordlwas applied to togo on the new bond
and the proposition was made to secur
him, in case the suit went against us, b
giving MIN mortgage on the Whol
plant Of the Journal Printing Compan!
In the course Of the negotiations a detaile
statement of the company's affairs wa
voluntarily made to Ford. which Shove
the chief liability TO be $500 due to III
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 $4,000 OF
of the way?"
The reply was: "The bank has not asl
ed for payment and the loan can be cal
ried at the bank by reducing it from tin
to time"
Then Ford asked: IF 90 on the bon
in the Supreme Court, wouldn't my S,
curity be better if had the Union Ban
loan. too?"
The answer was: Undoubtedly
would. because you would have practical
all OF the liability, aud all OF the cola
erals in your own hands; but the bar