The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-06
WILEY NJ. ROGERS.

For ten years nave been associated
Intimately with Mr.. Wiley M. Rogers
on the News and Observer. During
those years / never knew him to be
other than cheerful, considerate OF
others, honorable and as true as the
needle to the pole to his convictions
and to his duty. He had a faith and
optimism that was contagious. His
zeal, his energy, and his industry were
beyond his physical strength and an eX-
ample to all his associates. He was
the soul of honor, loyal and loving to
his friends, clean of life and, as near
ly as any who has lived, he shaped his
conduct by the Golden Rule.
Stricken in the very prime of life
by a hopeless malady, his cherry
heart his hope, his faith. his trust in
God were beautiful. He did not fear
to die, though he wished to live 81
do not see why L should die" he said
when he knew that his condition was
serious and that his chances for recov-
cry were few. Il am not afraid to
die. l trust in the mercies and good
ness of God. But / am going to make
q fight to live. And he did make a
| fight which would have won if the
/ malady had not been necessarily fatal.
He looked death in the face without
! fear No man was more reticent about
| himself or the deeper feelings that
| SllrfGQ
talked little-his strength did not per-
NIT it-but he gave every assurance
| that he was prepared for the Better
| Land to which all are Fastening.
When | organized the News and OBJ
server Publishing COMPANY in 1894,
| Mr.. Rogers was employed on the pa
| per as travelling Representatives. My
acquaintance with him was slight.
When / returned from Washington to
ID, of hn ma w 9
not long before l found how much he
was worth.
The first seven years of the paper,
under its present management, were
"lean years" 1t required the hardest
work and economy that 'cut to the
bone" to make both ends meet. More
than once / looked into what seemed
blackness of hopeless night and Sc
riousIy doubted whether it would be
possible to attain success. In every
dark hour, the faith of Mr.. Rogers
| was an inspiration and a comfort be-
| yOnd expression. And his faith was
| backed by his works, for he had a
genius for getting new subscribers. for
| PLEASING old ones, for removing frlc-
Ltion, for smoothing over rough places.
| never think of him-and | shall
| never cease to have him in loving re-
membrance-except to rejoice in his
friendship and his affectionate regard.
Next to his own wife and children, he
loved The News and Observer. He
never called it by that name, but al
ways gave it the name of THE Old
! Reliable" He was proud of its every
victory. Any word of criticism of its
fcourse cut him to the quick, and l
never knew him to show resentment
except when he felt that somebody
had reflected upon the paper he loved.
Mr.. Rogers did not write much for
| the columns of this paper, but he al
ways wrote we'll and Sensibly. He
had an unerring instinct as to how a
certain policy would take with the
subscribers. No man in the State felt
| the popular pulse so accurately lie
| seemed to know intuitiVely whether
/ this or that policy would be approved.
In important policies / was often
| helped by his good Judgment. More
| than once he would say: THAT course
will lose some subscribers, but it is
| right and we OUGHT to do what is right
| And then he would exert himself, often
beyond his strength in other ways, to
| please those subscribers who disap-
! proved the policy of the paper. He
counties he visited. 1t was keen
pang to him when any old subscriber
| for any reason stopped his subscrip-
/ ton to the paper. Until he got him
| back on the list he never rested salts
| fed.
He had no special department of
work, though ne devoted most of his
time to the subscription department.
| He kept the books of the company,
| he suggested editorials and news stor-
| les, he wrote when he had something
to say, he did anything that came to
hand with cheerfulness and efficiency.
] other men will do well the work per-
| formed by him, for God has so ordaln-
! ed it, but his place can never be filed.
He was as much a part of the paper as
it's franchise and its very soul. He
had the affection of every one in the
| office and his death has brought tears
| to every eye. His example of brave
courtesy, cheerfulness and helpfulness
/ is one that has been a benedictOn to
all about him.
While never taking any active part
in politics. he was devoted to the ten
cts and cause of his party, always
ready to defend it and to advance its
interests. Many a hit in the News
and Observer that the public applaud
ed was inspired by him.
| In his family, he was an ideal IA
Their and husband, and in that home
which he had made he is enshrined il
the hearts of his devoted wife and
children. Burns did not describe 6
SWeetef or napier nome imam Int
home of Wiley Rogersi
| l have known for ten years how
much / leaned upon him and how
much | loved him, but, until l realized
| that he had been called from Labor tC
Refreshment, it was was not possible
to measure the depth of my affection
and my regard. AS | reflect upon his
life-croWded with hard work, lovins
service, willing helpfulness-a thous
land memories of how many evidence:
he gave me of regard rush in upor
me and cause me to wish that | may
emulate his virtues and meet him face
to face in the Better land.
J. d.
New York. N Y, Sept. 2, 1904.
pAccTNrCEn rAnnrNrnr1D ~