Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-14

move this great curse of the saloon2
Why don't we all act together against
the traffic? What would Jesus dot
Would he keep silent? Would he vote
to license these causes Of crime and
death ?"
Henry Maxwell was talking to him
self more than to the others. He re-
membered that he had always voted for
| license, and 50 had nearly all of his
church members. What would Jesus
/ dor Could he answer that question:
Would Jesus preach and act against the
saloon if he lived today? How would
he preach and act2 Suppose it was not
popular to preach against license. Sup
pose the Christian people thought it
was all that could be done--to license
the evil, and so get revenue from nee
essary sin Or suppose the church mem
bers owned property where the saloons
stood. What them He knew that these
were the facts in Raymond What
would Jesus do2
He went up into his study the next
morning with that question only partly
answered. He thought Of it all day. He
was still thinking of it and reaching
certain real conclusions when The
Evening News came. His wife brought
it up and :; down few minutes whilo
he read it to her.
Tho Evening News was at present
the most sensational paper in Raymond
That is to say, it was being edited in
such n remarkable fashion that its sub
scribers had never been so excited over
n bod 10
ticcd the absence Of the prizeight, and
gradually it began to dawn upon them
that The News no longer printed ac-
counts Of crime with detailed descrip-
tions or scandals in private life Then
they noticed that the advertisements of
liquor and tobacco We're being dropped,
together with certain other advertise
ments of a questionable character. Tho
discontinuance of the Sunday paper
caused the greatest comment of all, and
now the character of the editorials was
creating the greatest excitement A
quotation from the Monday paper OF
this week will show what Edward Nor
man was doing to keep his promise.
The editorial was headed:
1.-THE MORAL SIDE OF POLITICAL DUES
TONS.
"The editor Of The News has always
advocated the principles Of the great
political party at present in power and
has therefore discussed all political
questions from standpoint Of e1pedi-
ency or of belief in the party as opposed
to other organizations. Hereafter, to
be perfectly honest with all our read
ers, the editor will present and discuss
political questions from the standpoint
of right and wrong. In other words,
the first question will not be- is it in
the interest of our partyt' or is it ac-
cording to the principles laid down by
the party but the question first asked
will be, Is this measure in accordance
with the spirit and teachings of Jesus
as the author of the greatest standard
of life known to men?' That is, to be
perfectly plsfn, the moral side of every
political question will be considered, its
most important side, and the ground
will be distinctly taken that nations as
well as individuals are under the same
law to do all things to the glory of God
| as the first rule of action.
1.-THE same principle will be observed
. in this Office toward candidates for
places of responsibility and trust in the
republic. Regardless of party politics,
| the editor of The News will do all in
his power to bring the best men into
power and will not knowingly help to
support for office any candidate who is
unworthy, however much he may be
= Endorsed by the party. The first ques-
q tons asked about the man, as about the
? measure, will be: is he the right man
/ for the place? Is he a good man with
. ability?' "
5 There had been more Of this, but we
Q have quoted enough to show the char
I acter of the editorials. Hundreds of
5 men in Raymond had read it and rub
r bed their eyes in amazement A good
f many Of them had promptly written to
{ The News, telling the editor to stop
4 their paper. The paper still came ont,
n however. and was eagerly read all over
t the city. At tho end Of the week Ed
, ward Norman knew very well that he
4 had actually lost already large num-
o Der of valuable subscribers. He faced
= the conditions calmly, although Clark.
! the managing editor, grimly anticipa ted
i ultimate bankruptcy, especially since
n Mondays editorial.
a Tonight las Henry Maxwell read to
his wife he could see in almost every
IL column evidences of Nori'an' conscien-
l. tious obedience to his promise There
e was an absence OF slangy, sensational
o scare heads The reading matter under
II the headlines was in perfect keeping
= with them He noticed in two columns
= that the reporters names appeared,
? signed at the bottom, and there was a
/ distinct advance in the dignity and
( style of their contributions.
t $50 Norman is beginning to get his
g reporters to sign their work He ha;
: talked with me about that. 1t is a good
n thing. 1t fixeSresponsibility for items
t where it belongs and raises the standard
=, of work done a good thing all arounc
Il for public and writers.
t Henry Maxwell suddenly paused. Hi
l. wife looked up from some work sh,
r was doing He was reading something
t with the utmost interest.
y Listen to this, Mary" he said afte,
o moment, while his voice trembled:
2 This morning Alexander Powers
o superintendent of the L. and T. r. r
shops in this city, handed his resigna