The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-17

ment that Mr.. Popenoe, owner of the
property, intended to continue the
Capital as a Christian daily.
Il have never been in sympathy with
the idea of religious daily newspa-
per- continued General Hudson. There
has been no secret about this. A year
ago / said so editorially, and recently
have said so to Mr.. Sheldon and in in
terviews. 1 don't believe such a paper
as Mr.. Sheldon has made the Capital
this week fills the bill of this day and
age. What the present demands is q
newspaper that gives all the news eV-
cry day in the week and reaches sin
ners as well as saints. The editorial
page of a daily newspaper may be
whatever the people in charge desire to
make it, but the news columns should
be devoted to the news of the world.
I could no more edit a Christian
newspaper than I could edit a Populist
or Democratic newspaper. 1t would be
hypocrisy for me to attempt to edit
such a paper as Mr. Sheldon has made
the Capital the same as it would be
hypocrisy for me to attempt to edit the
Kansas City Times along the princi-
pies it now advocates I have my ideas
as to what a daily newspaper should be.
and am too old to change them.
Religious, scientific and agricultural
papers have each a province, but the
fields they cover are outside of that
covered by daily newspaper. Mr..
Sheldon stated this week that he did
not find it necessary to censor a single
local item. This was not because the
local men of the Capital were writing
for Mr.. Sheldon, but simply because
they are in the habit of writing articles
that might appear in such a paper as
Mr.. Sheldon believes in. BY advocating
decent methods and sound principles is
the way newspaper can elevate the
people.
MAY BE POWERLESS.
It would appear that Mr.. Keizer and
General Hudson NTT-
Popenoe not only controls a majority of
the stock of the Topeka Capital COM
pany,but all Of the directors and stock
holders, with the exception of Mr..
keizer, favor his proposition.
The directors of the company are F.
o. Popenoe, Colonel A. S. johnson, Dell
keiZer, Harold T. Chase, and Charles
L. Holman. All of the stock in the COM
pany is also held by these parties, so
declared and understood, except
that which has recently been pur-
chased by Mr.. Babize. Colonel johnson
and Mr. Holman are associated with
Mr.. Popenoe in the Accounting Trust
company, and share his views with ref
erence to the future conduct of the
Capital. Mr.. Chase, who has been as
SOciate editor of the paper under Cen
eral Hudson, has been writing much of
the editorial matter while Mr.. Sheldon
has had charge of the paper, also IA
vOrS Mr.. Sheldons general plan, and
while he has been associated with Mr.
INGILCL Ou llie paper IOT several years,
he will follow the lead Of Mr.. Popenoe
in this matter
If General Hudson sticks to his re-
fusal to edit a paper along the lines
which the directorate of the paper de-
sire, new editor-in-chief may here
after occupy the editorial chair of the
Capital.
"The details of the management have
not yet been decided on" said Mr.. Hol-
man. you can put it in your pine
and smoke if that the will
tain more news than it has during this
week, but in general it will follow Mr..
Sheldon's ideas as ne has promulgated
them. Mr. Sheldon has had a great
mass of general matter which he has
considered of great Importance, and
he has attempted to crowd it all into
six days, and the news features have
had to suffer in consequence.
Il think as Mrs. Bowman said to-
day-she said she would be glad to see
the paper continued as a Christian
daily, along the line of Mr.. SheldOns s
general ideas. but she would like to
see more news in it and less of the
general matter which lies uppermost in
Mr.. SheldOn's heart and mind
Colonel johnson said he would not
cross the bridge before he got to it, but
in general he approved of what Mr..
Holman said.
DO the majority of the directors IA
vor Mr. Popenoe's idea?" was asked
Mr.. Holman.
Yes, they do.
Mr.. Babize said:
1T is true that I will become the
managing editor of the Capital, but the
details of the management have not
yet been worked out. A meeting of the
stockholders will be held Monday at
which the matter will be discussed. The
paper in the future will contain more
news than it has under Mr.. Sheldon's
management, but an effort will be made
to maintain the standard of a high-class
Christian daily
f'Will you print the telegraph news on
the first page?" he was asked.
Il most certainly shall"
t.Wiu there be any change in the staff
other than that you will become manag-
ing editor?"
None that I know Of"
MR.. POPENOE TALKS.
With reference to the trouble in the
directorate Mr.. Popenoe said today:
1T would not be fair to my co-owners
of the paper to make any statement re-
garding its future conduct further than
l have already indicated. We will have
a conference of the stockholders on
Monday and I believe we can arrive at
a common understanding on the subject.
1 have not seen General Hudson and do
not know what his views may be, but
L do not believe any change in the staff
will be necessary. There is none con-
templated at present rurther than that
Mr.. Babize will be managing editor
MR.. SHELDON SILENT.
Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon completed
his editorial labors early this morning,
but when he walked into Mr.. F. o.
PopenOe's office shortly before noon a
blue pencil still protruded from his vest
pocket. Mr.. Sheldon was clsseted with
Mr.. Popenoe and the other stockholders
of the Topeka Capital for some time,
but when he came out refused to say
anything about the conference.
Il have studiously avoided being in
fprK7iayVp1 dnriner the week - said Mr.
Sheldon. "and 1 don't care to say any
thing now"
But the State Journal is willing to
submit for approval any interview you
may give out before it is printed" said
a representative of this paper.
THAT is very kind and courteous on
the part of the State Journal" said Mr..
Sheldon, ''but 1 don't care to be inter-
viewed"
~ 1T would be simply carrying out your
own idea in reference to interviews" ="
suggested the State Journal reporter.
I know, but 1 don't care to say any