The state herald., 1900-03-16
MIR. SHEhDON'S DAILY
ATTRACTING MUCH ATTENTION
The First Issue VIII Be Novelty-A
Prayer Heads the First Page-No
Theatrical Notes, and the Advertise
mcnts Are Carefully Selected.

mayor hcAue tne rhut EhBo-No
Theatrical Notes, and tho Advertise
ments Are Carefully Selected.
Topeka, Kan, March 12-"The main
purpose of the paper will be to in
huence Its readers to seek first the
Kingdom Of God"
The Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon, who
to-day assumed editorial and business
control Of the Daily Capital, which he
will retain one week, will make this
announcement in his editorial leader
outlining his policy tomorrow morn
ing. The Capital during this time will
be newspaper" the word news"
being defined by Mr.. Sheldon as any
thing in the way of current events that
the public ought to know for its moral
and spiritual development. The paper
will be absolutely non-partisan. and
partisan political news will be given
scant notice.
All editorial and important local mat
ter will be signed by the writer's.
There will be no Sunday paper, but
instead Saturday evening paper suit
able for Sunday reading.
May God bless the use of this paper
to the glory ef his kingdom on earth,"
says Rev. Sheldon in concluding his
| leader.
The first itim on the first page to-
morrow will s II prayer written by
Bishop John k.Vincent of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church.
Editor Sheldon went to the office at
$50 O'Clock this morning and will be
on duty until the paper goes TO press Mt
o'clock tomorrow morning. At 10
| o'clock he had n conference with the
correspondents for eastern papers and
promised to meet them each evening
at 1880 o'clock and givelOu certain in
formation concerning his work. At II
o'clock he met the local force of the
paper and gave out the assignments
for the day.
A page will be devoted to local news.
| and the leading features for tomorrow
will be the reports of n temperance re-
vival and an anti-cigarette meeting.
| Mr.. Sheldon instructed the police re-
porter, in case of murder or other
crime, to write bare statement of the
facts. If he had the space to spare, in
stead Of following 1t up with the usual
| details. he would go into n discussion
Of the causes leading up to the crime.
During the conference the sporting
editor remarked that there would be
n bowling contest at the Y. NJ. G. A.
rooms tonight.
Il think" said Mr.. Sheldon. "that
that is good, clean sport. You may
print it,"
The dramatic editor asked for in
structions about theaters, I'VE shall
not want anything of that kind" Mr..
Sheldon said.
One page has been reserved for tele-
graph news, which ordinarily occupies
about three times that space. The As
sociated Press report is necessarily be-
ing "blue penciled" with vengeance.
The market reports will be cut from
four columns TO one. All quotations on
stocks on bonds. grain options and 9TH
or matter involving transactions in fu-
lures have been consigned TO the
waste basket. and only the actual cash
prices of grain, produce, etc, will be
quoted.
A notable feature of the paper will be
the method OF handling advertise
ments. They will be banished from
the news and editorial pages and will
be punched In places reserved for
them. The censorship here Is even
more rigorous than In the news col
umns. and large quantity of this class
Guiding all relating 10 patent medicines.
The familiar corset advertisements of
the magazines, accompanies by cuts,
have sought In vain for space. No re-
tail ads from Kansas City or other out
of-town tradesmen will be accepted.
Mr.. Sheldon holding that this would be
an injustice to home merchants.
"The $50 suit OF clothes for Sl5.I5
style OF advertising is also barred.
Mr.. Sheldon said TO the reporters of
the various local and outside papers:
My first editorial VIII sci forth the
scope of the paper. Without being dis
courteous to you. would rather be
dumb myself and let the paper do all
the talking for Itself. This week means
everything TO me. II is serious work,
not play.
Mr.. sheldon gave these additional In.
structlons TO his reporters:
only clean sports are desired. In
dealing with crime, make little more
than n bare announcement, leave out
all horrible details: give the cause OF
the crime. Find out whether liquor or
something else brought It about. Avoid
all scandals. They win not be printed;
waste 10 time ON them"
In the first batch of copy submitted
TO Mr.. Sheldon tonight by the tcle-
graph editor was the Associated Press
account OF the army estimates submit
ted TO the British Parliament by the
government. In a short time II cam2
back with an editorial comment TO the
effect that such news was u terrible
commentary upon our Christian civil.
ization. II Is Mr.. Sheldon's policy 10
follow important news stories with
editorial matter.
Besides this comment on the news
from London. there viii be- a cartoon
ON the editorial depicting the horrors
OF war.
AT II y. IN. Il seems probable that the
war news Will bc the feature OF the
telegraph page. the rumors of enrly
peace being considered by Mr.. sheldon
ns the best possible news that can b.
obtained.
RUMoRS OF PEACE PROPOSALS.