Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
CIRCULATION.

j CIRCULATION.
The Ottumwa Courier has a larger
circulation than any Ottumwa news
paper ever had. Larger in the city
\ and larger outside.
NOT AN ORIGINAL EXPERIMENT.
According to the Chicago Inter
Ocean Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon's plan
Z of running a newspaper upon so-called
Christian principles" is not a new one.
/ Neither will his management Of the
Topeka Capital next week be an orig
4 inal experiment.
The Inter Ocean says that for fifty
( four. years Montreal (Ganada) has-had
a daily newspaper with circulation of
nearly a quarter OF a million conduct
s ed upon the same lines as those laid
i down by Mr.. Sheldon. This is the
Montreal Witness founded by John
Dougall in 1886. Altho in none of the
speeches and interviews accredited to
DIR. Sheldon has he mentioned the
Montreal Witness, DR.. Sheldon has
been aware of the existence of such a
4 paper for long time, as is shown by
4 q letter from him to the editor com.
4 amending the paper and wishing that
there were one like it in the United
States.
Turnout the country DIR. Sheldon's
idea has been accepted as original
from the time of the publication of
his now famous book in His Steps"
II No millionaire Christian coming for
ward to employ DR.. Sheldon TO edit a
paper, he availed himself of the cour-
stesy of the opposition. The Topeka
sCapital decided to give Mr.. Sheldon, a
: full and unhampered chance to re-
allie his Utopian ideals.
- According to the terms of the agree
mlent the entire plant is placed entire
1y at his disposal for one week, COM
,1nencigg March IL. The author of "In
His Steps, Will assume the entire edi-
Sorial and business management. The
Capital turns over its presses types,
franchises, and advertising con-
/ tracts without reservation. 1t becomes
simply a plant for the publication Of
the paper The experiment will be an
nnfettered one and in an open tield.
And yet the so-called experiment,
which DR.. Sheldon will make has been
carried on, not for one week, but for
tifty-four years by one of the most re
spected newspapers Of Canada, \ paper
with a circulation SO large that DR..
Sheldon in Topeka, Kan, got 4 copy.
Undoubtedly the Montreal Witness
5 was an experiment; its editor had to
I face and overcome infinitely greater
obstacles than those which will assail
Mr.: Sheldon in Topeka.
The population of Montreal was
polyglot, curious mixture of French
and English. AT that intemperance
and laxity Of morals was general. and
when twas announced that the hardy
Scotch teetotaler, John Dougall, would
publish a paper which should be abso-
lutely patterned after its editors con.
ception of what the Christ idea of d
Christian paper should be storm OF
derisiop, eontumely and abuse arose
which would have driven a less deter
mined man from the field. From it's in
ception the witness. progressed. Its
original description list was aboutasOo
and within two years it was firmly ess
taplished on a paying basis.
VI was not religious paper in the
marrow sense of the word, but was alb
e Eolutely zlon-sectarian and maintained
an up-to-date news service, which even
to the present time remains acceptable
IN many ways. Indeed it introduced
q many innovations which up to that
time were almost unheard of in The
dissemination of news.
The principles Of the Witness present
q curious and almost incongrtous com
bination Of business skill and enter.
prise with religious idealism. 1t is en-
tlrely free from petty personalities,
scandals, betting news and undesira Bile
advertisements, and such an important,
% other papers, fstic event as a Shar-
!: Key-Je1rries contest never receives no.
tice by the publication of even single
close to 100000. : ss ..' y
1t is estimated that the Witness
yearly refuses, on principle, $30,0OO to
$5o, 900 worth Of advertising Of a char.
acter which is gladly accepted Nv even
the most reputable Of papers all over
the country. If an advertisement is
tainted by the least suggestion Sof in
decency it is vigorously excluded and
no offer can suffice to induce its nSllibli.
cation. The plant of the Witness IS
5 valued at about 100000 and is modern
an every particular, including linotypes.
the latest and most approved press,
illustrating department, STRENGTHENING
room, and all the other time-savilig de.
vices which make possible the printing
ora modern newspaper 1t has alarge
staffG OF employees, numbering over $50,
with weekly pay roll of over So 900.
SHOULD NOT PASS.
The bill now before The state fIegis-
dature, requiring that the saloons at
Iowa City shall be removed to a point
q live miles distant from tha Stat "a n Tn;