Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-01-04

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 sat down few minutes while
he read it to her.
The Evening News was at present
the most sensational paper in Raymond.
That is to say, it was being edited in
such a remarkable fashion that It's sub
scribers had never been so excited over
a newspaper before. First they had no
ticed the absence of the prizefght, 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 were being dropped.
together with certain other advertise
ments of questionable character. The
discontinuance of the Sunday paper
caused the greatest comment of all, and
now the character of the editorials was
creating the greatest excitement y
quotation from the Monday paper Of
this week will show what Edward Nor
man was doing to keep his promise.
The editorial was headed;
"THE MORAL SIDE OF POLITICAL CUES
TIoNs.
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 expedi-
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 partyY' 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 menT That Is, TO be
perfectly plain, the moral side of every
political question will be considered, its
most important side, and the ground
will be distinctly taken that nations as
fell 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 Cf1ice any candidate who Is
unworthy, however much he may be
indorsed by the party. The first ques-
tions asked about the man, as about the
measure, will be: Is he the right man
for the placer Is he a good ma1 with
abilityT
There had been more of this but we
have quoted enough to show the char
acter of the editorials. Hundreds OF
men in Raymond had read it and rub
bed their eyes in amaZement. A good
many Of them had promptly written to
The News. telling the editor to stop
their paper The paper still came out,
however, and was eagerly read all over
the city At the end of the week Ed
ward Norman knew very well that he
had actually lost already large num-
Der of valuable subscribers. He faced
the conditions calmly, although Clark,
the managing editor, grimly anticipated
ultimate bankruptcy, especially since
Mondays editorial.
Tonight as Henry Maxwell read to
his wife he could see in almost every
column evidences of Norman conscien-
tious obedience to his promise There
was an absence Of slangy, sensational
scare heads The reading matter under
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
distinct advance in the dignity and
style of their contributions
$50 Norman is beginning to get his
reporters to sign their work. He has
talked with me about that. 1t is good
thing. 1t fixes responsibility for items
where it belongs and raises the standard
of work done, a good thing all around
for public and writers.
Henry Maxwell suddenly paused. His
wife looked up from some work she
was doing He was reading something
with the utmost interest.
Listen to this, Mary" he said after
moment, while his voice trembled:
"This morning Alexander Powers,
superintendent of the L. and t. r. R.
shops in this city, handed his resigna-
ton to the road and gave as the reason
the fact that certain proof had fallen
into his hands Of the violation of the
Interstate commerce law, and also of
the state law, which has recently been
framed to prevent and punish railroad
pooling for the benefit OF certain ia
vored shippers. Mr.. Powers states in
his resignation that he can no longer
consistently withhold the information
he possesses against the road. He has
placed his evidence against the COM
pany in the hands OF the commission,
and it Is now for them to take action
upon it.
1.-The News wishes to express itself
on this action of Mr.. Powers. In the
first place he has nothing to gain by
It. He has lost valuable place volun-
tarily when by keeping silent he might
have retained it. In the second place,
we believe his action ought to receive
the approval Of all thoughtful. honest
citizens who believe in seeing law
obeyed and lawbreakers brought to JUS
tice. In case like this, where evidence
against a railroad company is generally
understood to be almost impossible to
obtain, it is the general belief that the
officers Of the road are often in posses
sion of eliminating facts, but do not
consider it to be any of their business
to inform the authorities that the law
is being defied.
1.-The entire result of this evasion OF
responsibility on the part of those who
are responsible is demoralizing to every
young man connected with the road.
The editor of The News recalls the
statement made by prominent rail
road official in this city little while
ago that nearly every clerk in certain
department of the, road who understood
how large sums Of money were made by
shrewd violationsof the interstate com
merce law was ready to admire the
shrewdness with which it was done and
declared that they would all do the
same thing if they were high enough in
railroad circles to attempt it. This was
actually said ip one of the general of
fees Of great western railroad, to the
authors knowledge
at is not necessary to say that such