The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-14
THIS MORNINGS CAPITAL.

or Mr.. Sheldon'S issue of this morning,
the editor of the State Journal wired
the following at 10 p. M:
Special to the Herald, New York:
Early proofs show that Rev. Mr..
Sheldon has made several improve
ments in his Christian daily over the
first issue distributed Tuesday morning.
The first page has, decidedly, more ed
itorial aspect than heretofore, In fact
the articles appear to have been made
prominent for the purpose of attaching
to them editorial comments. In other
words Mr.. Sheldon seems to have been
casting about over the entire country
from the East Indies to Massachusetts
in the endeavor to find matter to go
ahead of his editorials. In doing this
he sacrifices the value of his paper as a
news purVeyor. I think he should have
taken the important dispatches and To-
cal happenings of the day, instead, if he
intended to work in the comment in the
same place; that would have made the
editorial timely. Instead of this, prom
inent on the first page is an article on
New Zealand taken from advance
sheets of a forthcoming book. In this
article Mr.. Sheldon advocates his the
ory on municipal control and govern
ment ownership.
Another first page article is an es-
say on the progress of socialism in the
New England state which has a social
istic mayor at Brockton. On this same
page Mr.. Sheldon presents a strong plea
for insurance for church members,
along the lines of the fraternal orders.
think that these matters separated or
confined to the editorial page would
give the manor 7ooT-a xyeioh
1.-THE page is decidedly more interest
ing to the general reader than was that
page this morning.
Governor Stanley's contribution
thereon covering reform in the penal
institutions is a stroke of enterprise
which would be a good feature on the
inside of any Kansas newspaper.
Mr.. Sheldon apparently sees the i'm
portance of putting news to the front
as he has, understand, almost decided
at this hour, 10 o'clock. to put on the
first page tomorrow morning a local re-
port of a Millers' convention in session
in Topeka The millers are going after
the railroads, and Mr.. Sheldon seems to
be approving them for it, taking posi-
tion which is surely not without rea-
son, that the railroads have been dis
eliminating in freight rates.
THE fact that the news boys could
not readily dispose Of their papers this
morning seems to have convinced Mr..
Sheldon that he must put something
besides magazine and encyclopedia ar
ticles where the public can see the pa
per without asking the news boy to
unfold his wares.
IAN article on Grimes in Kansas and
their cost to the state, contributed by
a local criminal court reporter, presents
some statistics which are not so stale
as some of the articles in this mornings
paper.
In the advertising department to-
morrow mornings issue is known as
the clothing issue. IN this paper are
the advertisements of five clothing
merchants ranging in space from 10 to
20 inches. Mr.. Sheldon asked these ad-
vertisers to avoid any extravagant or
unreasonable assertions in the large
black type in which they are set. The
merchants seem to have followed his
suggestions but apparently did so be-
cause they were afraid if they did not,
space would be refused them. Nearly
all of these clothing men wished for
larger space than Mr. Sheldon could
give them. On the street a clothing
dealer said he would not advertise be-
cause the Capital would not put his
advertisement in on the day he wanted
it. Not liking to discriminate Mr.. Shell
don told the clothing men that they
must all come in today. I think this is
very poor policy for a newspaper to
pursue. although probably under the
extraordinary circumstances Mr.. Shell
don knew not what else to do.
Thursday will be dry goods day I
do not think paper should attempt to
say on what day a particular merchant
shall advertise. 1 think such a policy
is disastrous and unbusinesslike.
"On the first page tomorrow morning
will appear a cartoon on the Horrors
of War taken from the Rams Horn.
Mr.. Sheldon has improved this morn
ing's issue in putting the cartoon on
the first page instead of placing it on
the inside He apparently has a high
opinion of the Rams Horn cartoonist.
I think he should have drawn from an
other source for tomorrow morning,
particularly as he is careful to divide
up the honors in advertising space on
different days to different people,
Mr.. Sheldon today again makes prom
inent the Famine in India; a signed ar
ticle by H T. Chase being the first on
the page. Mr.. Sheldon IS truly indus
trious for those unfortunate people.
Another article on the first page, sent
from Washington March 10th, is about
Sunday observance, and advocates the
absolute abandonment of Sunday
trains. Mr.. Sheldon Ndoes not say how
he expects to circulate his Sunday
substitute" to be printed Saturday
night, without the running of Sunday
trains. Does he expect the sacks of
newspapers to be thrown off one min
ute before midnight fifty miles west of
Topeka, where the trains would be,
leaving Topeka at ten o'clock Saturday
night
On the editorial page is a splendid
signed editorial, by Mr.. Sheldon, upon