The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-01-23

All Harris wants out Of a reform page
is TO advertise the paper I'm allhos'
sure Of IT, ma!
.probablv" said Barton dryly. al
t,o same time YOU can be getting ii
com. reform work through a paper
tbot Is read 10y the very people you
want TO help
"Brt Il is not read nor believed IN D!
the yer. people who have It IN then
mower to help the people. David the
LOST ueople In the city don't care foi
me news. They laugh at It's editorials
aud don't care FOR It's influence. 1t real
Ia has no influence with them
For the first time David Barton
seemed disturbed. The frank criticism
az his friend concerning the News In
respect 10 its printed matter had not
moved him. But this last statement
| touched a tender spot. Barton's pale
checks flushed. and he struck the table
with his clinched fist.
BETTER not tell Harris that. lie has
an idea that his paper runs the town.
re thinks his editorials make public
sentiment
Hes wrong John Gordon spoke
decidedly. Ills editorials have no such
power. They are rated along with the
rest OF the paper. The fact Is the vel
low Journalism works ont it's de.
%struction Inevitably. Its days are al.
ready numbered
"Our circulation is increasing
"All the bigger fall when it comes,
replied John Gordon briefly, and then
they we're both startled 10y a voice iron.
the doorway Of the room adjoining
beg pardon. Barton. I couldn't make
YOU hear, though ! knocked twice
Barton turned his head as q maj
came into the room and exclaimed, Mr.
uarrls.' at the anne time sending Z
questioning fash 10 Gordon, "WondcI
how much lac hcardF'
Harris walked UP 10 the table aht
coolly helped himself to a cigar from 4
utuc Chinese pot ana lighted IL at the
cigar jet.
"Nir. .Johl Gordon. Mr.. Harris salt
Barton. who had fully recovered hi
usual Indifferent attitude 10y this time
Glad to meet you, MIR. Gordon,
said Harris, putting out a very Ion
white hand. John Gordon took IL, a
{ though instantly lac felt a most intens
/ dislike for the man.
lie was Of u thin, wiry physique
smooth faced, n hloodlcss complexion
|, styaight lips and cold gray eyes. Ill
. mannor was perfectly self possessed
[ and neither Gordon nor Barton coul'
detect il sign ON his face that he ha'
Z overheard q syllable Of their talk he
, fore he entered. lie was faultlessll
: dressed and had the general appear
D NICE of a man who has exhausted .
p J large part of his interest I'm life ON nc
, count of a large number Of intense OK
, pcr!cucos. At the same time there wa
n serious alcrtncss about him that Wa
4. very noticeable. lie was not blase j
the ordinary Use Of that word. lie ev.
IDENTITY had |boundlcss faith in himself
y John Gordon had no dinlculty in tellin
why the man produced such a dislik
n I'm him. Il was because OF his absolut
. cgotism.
, "NIr. Gordon Is my friend; the on
\ / mentioned TO you the other day as
+, possible contributor In Il new depur.
o mcnt." Barton said as Harris stll n
I NAMED standing near the table.
I Harris looked az Gordon aud sal
. carelessly:
2 Il understand YOU are going TO ca
pertinent down Ia the slums aroun
4 Bowen street
. Il may live there, / don't know
D about experimenting" said John GoI
/ don cOldly. lie was rapidly beginnin
( In have Miss Andrews dislike Of th
word "slums' as he had already grow.
. to have a hatred Of the idea OF "expel
imentug" with the people.
Harris walked over To- a chair at th
q other end Of the tails, and after a 81
I lence which neither Barton nor Gordo
seemed inclined % break he said, lear
lag a little forward and speaking wit
. careful emphasis:
Mr.. Gordon, ! am prepared to max
q you a proposition that hope you wi
at least th|oughtfully consider. Tn
News now has a circulation or 10000
copies a day. That means that pract
cally 100000 people read II. At lea'
, half the population Of the city read m
paper. II is especially tru Of IN
a wOrkingmen, the poor and the peOpl
OF the street and the shop. The boulD
~ ward may not take the News, Gran
!. ed"
!. Gordon. looking at the newspape
owner, thought he could detect Just
"a shadow OF resentment under the al
parent indifference. But the slul
takes il aud reads, Ia rather have Ga
~ stun reader any time The bouleyar
does not make anything but itself, bu
A the Stun makes conditions. Now, theI
this is my proposition; l viii give 20
the entire control OF a page OF ID
News 10 write mp the conditions OF th
city where you expect TO live or worl
May I ask whereg Mr., Barton has ma
g., informed me-"
Il expect 20 live as a resident I
H.. H..