The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-01-11
SATURDAY....JANUARY IL. 1902
Weather forecast for Fred
ericksburg and Vicinity:
Partly clOudy Satu' dry.
THE FREE LANCE UNDER NEW
MANAGEMENT.

MANAGEMENT.
The coming week will see the close
of the 10th year that The FREE
LANCE has benin existence. With its
new year will come "a new manage
ment, Mr.. W. Mcdonald Lee having
sold to Mr.. Charles /. Stengle, OF
Richmond, his interest in the plant
and good will OF THE FREE LANCE
Newspaper, Book and Job Printing
Company. Still retaining a sufficient
interest in the business to entitle
the retiring manager TO a position
on the Board of Directors, he will con-
tinue as a member of that body.
Mr.. Stengle will assume the active
management of the plant, and with
the present efficient corps OF helpers
which has for more than two years
aided Mr.. Lee, the continued pros
perity of thepaper is assured. Upon
Mr.. A. P. Rowe, who has so ably
filled the position of assistant mama
ger and treasurer of the company
and who still retains his interest
in the plant, like duties will be con-
ierred. In addition to Messrs. Stem
gle, Lee and Rowe, the Board Of
Directors willnumber Mr. II. q. Ches-
ley, President; Capt. 5. j. Quinn.
Secretary, and Mr. W. E. Bradley.
In no boastful spirit it may be
said that The FREE LANCE has for
years been steadily growing in popu-
larity. Numbering from its birth
such able newspaper men as Col. Jno.
". Volt, Hon. W. Seymour White
and Judge Jas. B. Sener, the former
two OF whom have passed into the
eternal shades, it is small wonder
that the influence OF the paper
should have steadily expanded. Nor
is it strange that with such ground
work to build upon it should have had
such phenomenal growth and infu-
ence as have come TO it within the
past two years. Within this recent
time the work has been one OF pleas
ure as we'll as emolument TO the re-
firing manager, and his severance is
in no whit an evidence OF lack OF APP
probation. Such be abundantly feels
but his many duties in other fields
have not afforded him the oppOr-
tunity to devote such attention to
the paper as its sphere OF influence
demanded. Failing to see how he
could give it more of his attention
he has reluctantly been forced to the
conclusion that the paper deserves
the direct attention and talents
which the exigencies deny his giving
it. With this explanation he surren-
ders the tripod, scissors, pencil and
paste to one who has the time to
meet the requirements and measure
up to the demands OF so important a
task.
Under Mr.. Stengle The FREE
LANCE will remain, as from its birth,
independent in party politics. This
does not.necessarily mean assuming
always a neutral position, for the
task OF the knight who yields free
and independent lance is to seek to
right wrongs wherever they may be
found, and cleaving to that which he
believes is right no matter where
found, in the councils OF the high or
in the communiOns of the lowly. The
new manager comes TO us highly rec
commended as man Of moral in
tegrity, honor and talent; his elo-
Quence has shown forth on the ros-
trum and for ten or more years his
gifted pen has moulded opinions III
some OF our leading papers. He is
no novice in the work he has under
taken, though newer fields are opened
to him. With his family he will be
an addition to this city which will
now claim him through adoption,
and we commend them and his work
to the people OF fredericksburg.