The news & observer., 1905-06-08
PEACE ON PIE Basis
Republican Newspaper
War Settled, One Paper
Only.


few days ago the proud prospective
landlady of three lusty Republican in
dustriaI dailies, is bereft of two of her
offspring.
After all the racing after charters,
after all the treats, the squaring OFF 70
fight the talk about Office-holderS and
rings" and the passage of challenges
between Chairman Rollins and the
Congressman from the Eighth DIS
trict after all the interviews as TO the
immense sums paid the Associated
Press for news service, the Hoe presses
contracted for, the exploitation OF
stockholders and the general Scrlm-
mage for public notice. and the gen
eral moving by the flank by both arm
les to the newspaper war, Peace-Wfth
a bandage on her head-broods in
silent meditation over a single politi-
cal, industrial purity-in politics and
down with the office-holder sheet.
Tucked up to the ears and with ex-
preSSionS of brotherly love do Rollins
and Blackburn lie in the same crib,
each looking forward through sweet
dreams TO cake for breakfast.
And over it all, like a benignant ad-
vertisement of the latest dentifrlce'
smiles Theodore the Terrible, lullaby
In his grin.
Much noise made Rollins and Black
burn, and greatly did they reVlie ana
much did they threaten. 1t was a
merry play while the contention Wageu
In the backyard. The boys were 1uil
of exploits of a sanguinary sort.
Grimy fist shook in front OF grlmy
nose Newspapers waved In the air
like cudgels. Associated Press con-
tracts shook i'm blood-red faces IL
was war to the death. But before the
first blow was stricken appeared the
motherly form of the President, and,
before the arbiter of bread ana putter'
the tumult stilled.
So Greensboro must worry along
with one paper. 1t has been spoken
thus. and Blackburn and Rollins must
occupy the same bed. This is the de-
cree. And they must no kick. ,That
also appears to be decree. There is
a silence in the family. The heavenly
twins are asleep.
Over the ''grape vine" 1t comes that
Mr. Blackburn went to see the Presi-
dent. and the newspaper situation was
discussed Mr.. Blackburn. smartlns
under his injuries strutted up and
down. The President smiled. When
the Blackburn wrath had in meas
ure spent itself. the President stated
that he would be delighted to see
Republican daily in Greensboro-but
that he really could not permit chill
dren to fight in the family. Else could
the children go supperless to bed. Ana
so was Mr.. Blackburn persuaded SO
that he goes to Asheville to See MS
brother Rollins. and, with finger in
his mouth. said he excuse me Tom.
And Tom, with finger i'm his mouth
said "excuse me Spencer
And so were they made even as
those dear old heroes of antiquity,
the lamented Alphonso and CASTOR.
And peace, with a black eye, as is
her habit when she presides at Re
publican gatherings. reigned
The grape vine is truthful. but negli-
gent of details Hence the above out
line sketch ofwhat happened to indus
try as exemplfied in the newspaper
business. 1t may be said. however.
with assurance that Rollins and
Blackburn have made up; that there
will be but one paper. and that Presi-
dent Roosevelt was the mediator.
After the conference at Ashev1lle on
Tuesday, Blackburn called a meeting
of his stockholders for Greensboro 70
morrow. At this meeting undoubtedly
the details of the truce will be patched
up and by the end of the week the
newspaper tangle and the future OF
the States industrial progress viii
have been settled. 1t has been
merry race while lit lasted. In view
of the fact that three papers would
have lasted about as long as one, it Is
a pity that hostilities might not have
been opened with ammunition that die
not have to be borrowed. Much was
expected of the Yellow Jacket. Peo-
pie waited for the word of j. Vile
Shook to shake the battlements of the
pie entrenchments. 1t is all cream
too bad.
OF course nothing Republican car
happen in the State till it is voiced
from Washington. Hence it is not
surprising that the President should
have taken a hand even in small fry
newspaper skirmish The theory or
which the settlement was worked on
is said to have been the old idea nj
dividing the peach. Blackburn ha:
one-half. Rollins the other. The of
fees are slated. the cake is In the
oven. OF course this removes The
chief topic of interest to be served III
by the proposed papers. but 1t set:
some uneasy minds at rest, and makes
some heads uneasy lie that own job
Inst what will be the division mar
cannot yet say That is a feature whicl
will transpire as terms come to al
end. Mr.. Hoton is no doubt up j.
the air" as far as the District At q
torneyship. He has been "pernicious
ly active in revenue matters anyway
And there are others who want III
lob. Several others, also, are stateC
TO be already tucked into their to
boggans for the long slide into private
life. There will be shake-up of oil
mensions, slowly consummated. And
at Greensboro, the "Industrial' sheet
if il lasts that long. will print 1T all a
news with quite an air of surprise
1t was a pretty fight while it lasted
The President should not have med
died. Soon come the dog-days. am
the fun was a need of the land.
Ca,c;Ha