The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-02-06

Y y the unprovoked attack
made by Mondays
Times upon The Tribune for
an expression of opinion upon q topic
OF public moment that in no way re-
tiected upon the Times or had any par
ticular bearing upon that paper, the
proprietor and editor of the Times,
Mr.. Edward J. Lynett, in a personal
statement in yesterdays issue, offers
certain assertions, as follows:
In the fall of 1895, il became necessary for me
to change my business account OF the death
OF Hon. +. A. Beamish, and the determination OF
his heirs to conduct the Sunday Free Press,
which I had managed Tor many years. At the
same time the Times was in a bad way, Its
publishers were not making ends meet. Its
owner, Mr.. d. J. Campbell, had offered the
property for sale to me and to others. As The
Tribune was. then now, doing portion Of the
mechanical work on the Times, the attitude Of
The Tribune company towards new owner was
OF some importance. At this juncture Hon.
William Connell, president OF The Tribune com
pany. called upon me. He offered 10 me on the
part of The Tribune exactly the same contract
was in force with the then publishers Of the
Times. lie stated that the publishers OF the
Times were already in default OF their bills to
being able TO meet the obligations in the future
and that he would not continue the arrangement
with the then owners He had confidence how.
ever, that II I were the owner OF the Times !
could make it pay and be able TO meet the bills
Of The Tribune. He therefore urged me TO pur
chase the property. That was the part played
by Mr.. Conncll in my purchase OF the Times
II is proper to state here that not one dollar
used in the purchase Of the Times was advanced
by any one but myself and the credit of no
man but myself was pledged to the extent of
one dollar The confidence expressed by Mr..
Connell in my ability 10 make the Times
profitable venture and meet the bills OF The
Tribune has been fully justified The contract
entered into with The Tribune at that time has
existed every since with such changes Of prices
as conditions warranted from time to time. II
might have continued indefinitely, but for a
demand for increased price which ! considered
cXorbitant 1t has unqucstionably been very
profitable arrangement for The Tribune COM
pany, which is many thousands OF dollars better
off by reason OF it. The Tribune did
bit OF work for me for which it was not paid
promptly, fully and at price which yielded it
q good profit.
1t Is proper and fair to Mr.. Lynett
to say that he has met every bill of
The Tribune promptly. 1t is proper
and fair to him to say, also, that his
statement of the facts leading up to
his purchase Of the Times is true so
far as it goes. He omits to say that
the contract existing with Bell and
Watkins, which was continued with
him, referred to composition only ana
was at rate made low by Mr.. Con-
nells generosity. A contract for press
work followed; and here, again. the
liberal spirit Of the president of The
Tribune Publishing company prevailed
over the advice of the editor and busi-
ness manager, both of whom, then and
since, contended that as business
proposition it was too low The profit
ableness of this arrangement to The
Tribune may best be inferred from the
fact that upon the expiration of the
existing contract it will be Cancelled,
the decision to cancel having the
unanimous approval of every proprie-
tary interest in this paper.
We confess frankly that Mr.. Lynett
is not to be blamed for getting as low
a rate from The Tribune as he could
get nor does it behoove The Tribune
TO squeal, Yet as an illustration of
human nature it is interesting to note
that Mr.. Lynett's recognition of the
favorable terms secured through Mr.
Connell's liberal disposition has repeat
sdly taken the form of mendacious
abuse of Mr.. Connell, and has been
shown in what seems like a studied
and persistent attempt to malign and
belittle this paper, particularly before
the. laboring element of the commun.
ity, for no provocation whatsoever
This has been borne in patience, but
the limit of patience has been reached
Long life and renewed prosperity tC
the New York Sun. now freed from al
entanglements with organized labor
The sun is far and away the most in,
teresting daily paper published.