Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-12-14

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 sun
day edition. and it had always been re
markably successful financially There
was an average Of one page Of literary
ana religious items to 80 or 40 pages
Of sport theater gossip, fashion, so
ciety and political material This made
u very interesting magazine Of all sorts
If reading matter and had always been
welcomed b. all the subscribers, church
members and all, as a Sunday necessity.
Edward Norman now faced this fact
md put to himself the question, What
would Jesus dor Il 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 holi-
er 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
", 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 workingmanf Edward Norman
communed honestly with himself over
the subject. Taking everything into
account, would Jesus probably edit a
Sunday morning paper, no matter
whether it paid? That was not the
question. As II matter Of fact, The sun
day News paid so well that it would be
a direct loss of thousands of dollars 10
discontinue it. Besides, the regular
subscribers had paid for a seven day
paper Had he any right now to 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
discontinaance 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
clusions, 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 We're in
the composing room (it was early in tho
morning and they We're 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
'I called you in here to let you know
my plans for the future of The News. i
propose certain changes which / believe
are necessary. | understand that some
things / have already done are regarded
by the men as very strange. l 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 rs painfully
conscious.
"Now, in acting ON this standard of
conduct / have reached conclusion
which will no doubt cause some sur
prise / 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 discontinuing. In order TO make mp
to the subscribers the amount of read
ing matter they may suppose them
selves entitled to, we can issue double
number ON Saturday. as is done by very
many evening papers that make no at
tempt at n Sunday edition. | am CON
vinced that, from Christian point Of
view, more harm than good has been
done by our Sunday morning paper. /
do not believe that Jesus would be re
sponsible for il if he were In my place
today 1t will occasion some trouble to
arrange the details caused by this
change with the advertisers and sub
scribers That is for me to look after
The change itself is one that will take
place So far IA | can see. the loss will
fall on myself Neither the reporters
nor the pressmen need make any par
ticular changes in their plans "
Edward Norman looked around the
room. and no one spoke Ho was struck
for the first time in his life with the
fact that in all the years OF his news
paper life he had never had the force uf
the paper together in this way. "Would
Jesus do that That Is. would lac prob
ably run n newspaper ON some loving
family plan where editors, reporters
preasmen and all met to discuss and de
wise and plan for tho making Of a paper
that should have in view
He caught himself drawing almost
away from tho facts OF typographical
unions and office rules and reporters
enterprise and all the cold businesslike
methods that make IA great daily sue
cossful But still tho vague picture
that came up in the mailing room
would not fade away, even when he
had gone into his Office and the men
had gone back TO their places with won
der in their looks and questions of all
sorts on their tongues IA they talked
over the EDITORS remarkable actions.
Clark came in and had "A long serious
talk with the chief Hewas thoroughly
reused, and his protest almost reached
the point Of resignins his place. Nor
man guarded himself carefully. Every
minute Of the interview was painful "a
him. but ho felt more than ever the no
cessity Of doing the Christliko thing
Clark was n very valuable man. IL
would be difficult TO fill his place But
he was not ablo TO give any reasons for
continuing the Sunday paper that an
Bworcd the question, What would
Jesus dog" by letting Jesus print that
edition
at comes 20 this. then T." said Clark
finally. "You will bankrupt the paper
In 30 days We might as well face that
future fact -
II don't think we shall VIII you
stay by Tho Ncwa until il is bank
rupty" aal,cd Edward Norman. with n
strange smile
"Mr Norman | don't understand
you You are not the same man this
week that | ever knew "
'I don't know myself either. Clark