The leader., 1900-03-21
4 CHRIST DAILY PAPER.

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Just now everyone is encouutering
notices of the newspaper adventure of
the Rev. Chas. Sheldon the current
American fad in, fact. This reverend
person is Congregational minister of
Kansas, of course. At the annual Chris
tian Endeavor Convention. in Detroit,
he asked for a million dollars to estab-
lish newspaper in Chicago; to be
conducted las Christ would There
was a forceful suggestiveness in the
mere expression of such an idea, of the
Saviour of mankind running Chicago
million dollar daily, that shocked some,
startled others, and arrested the atten-
ton of all by its entire originality. 1t
did not bring forth the million dollars,
but paper of Mr.. Sheldon's own home,
the Topeka Capital, offered him the
use of it's plant and publication for a
week This, in brief, is the history of
an unique departure in journalism
which has so captivated the popular
fancy.
As announced, Mr.. Sheldon's paper
has for its main purpose the influence
of its readers to seek first the Kingdom
of God" While news will not be omit
ted, sensational accounts of crime and
vice will be barred-bare accounts will
be followed by a sermon, or discussion
of the causes of the same. Telegraph
news will be briefed theatre and stock
quotations excluded. All use of tobac-
co, slang and political partisanship, are
forbidden the reportorial force and re-
ports. Interviews must be written and
published as spoken. All shady and
disreputable transactions of public
or private nature must be printed re-
CARELESS of the money or standing of
the offender. This will probably guar
antee good behavior, or extra circum-
spection in Topeka while Brother Shell
don is on the Capital deck. 1t will
also supply the patronage which dis
pensing with other things might lose;
general news, etc, will be sought in
other papers.
The leading feature of the Capital
during the week will be editor ials by
Mr.. Sheldon, discussing the important
questions and issues as he "believes
Christ would do The first thought of
many will be that the editor might have
chosen lesser, but still lofty model:
st. Paul or st. John, for instance. Or
he might have descended still lower
and still have fixed his mark inetfably
above the common level. But he has
made hit beyond all expectation
Orders for the paper soon over run its
capacity, and it will be reproduced in
thousands both in London. New York
and Chicago. Advertising was rigidly
censored liquors, tobacco and patent
medicines were all banished, but every
inch of space has been engaged at S3G
per inch. No model could improve on
that rate.
That question of the predominance OF
material good or bad in the Rev. Mr.
Sheldons scheme admits OF no end OF
controversy, to the controversialists
Measured by its work and effects, The
Herald doubts if it will rise above the
sensational. 1t has come and will &C
and leave no perceptible trace behind
-reaping a golden harvest for the
shrewd newspaper which has taken il
up. A weeks run will be phenomenal
but month would prove a drag
Newspapering is business much like
other forms of barter and sale things
are printed which conform to the tastes
habits and pursuits of the reading
world as it is today. And these are
things not to be changed in a day, or
to be disregarded without the isolation
of the ever ready and radical reformer
But this comment is no reflection upon
Mr.. SheldOn's motive that is above re
proach. His stipulation was that there
should not be dollar of compensation
for him only that half of the profits
should go to charity. lickSbTg Her.
dM.
In whatever else DR.. Sheldon may
have fallen short in demonstrating the
feasibility of running Christian
daily, he certainly succeeded in get.
ting the Topeka Daily Capital better
advertised than any paper ever was be
fore on this continent