Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-02-25

Office. For this service, as well as for
any other extra labor involved, we shall
be pleased to pay at whatever fair price
you may fix, either in advance OF by con-
vention time. Twill, If you desire, send
you such copy and cuts as / am already
furnishing to many other papers under a
similar arrangement, and you may use
such of them as you think best.
Allow me to urge an immediate answer
and to pray for favorable one-in our
common interest.
Very truly.
E. G. Armstrong.
Manager Granger Literary Bureau.
7 Two days later, Mr.. Armstrong. at
Granger headquarters, opened and read
the following reply
Pittston, Vt, May 10.
Mr.. E. c. Armstrong,
+ Lotus, VT.
/ My Dear SIR
Your favor Of the sth inst. at hand. |
have carefully read your message several
times and given the subject such consid-
GRAFTON as time has allowed
/ As to my attitude toward the Hon.
Prentiss Changers candidacy, / do not
feel prepared to announce a Judgment
Earlier in the year it seemed to me that
Mr.. Granger had the best claim to my
support, and that of the Star-whatever
they are worth-and 1 am not altogether
OF different mind still. But as the situ-
alton develops am free to admit a less
ening enthusiasm for Mr.. Granger. To
be frank, do not like the abundant use
OF money evidenced thus early in his can
vass, nor the political deals apparently
effected with view to promoting his
chances. As a Vermonter, / consider
these things degrading to the manhood Of
our state, and deserving Of defeat and re-
Duke at the hands of an outraged people.
have little knowledge of Mr.. Spencer,
and not very high opinion Of his abili-
y, but II he stands for purity in politics
and appears to be worthy Of so high an
office, as the trend of my mind now is,
may conclude to support him.
Having said this. perhaps it is unneces-
sary for me to refer to your business pro-
posal, but cannot refrain from SO doing.
as it involves what regard as the person
al honor OF every editor thus approached.
Formerly, l followed the common prac-
tiee, as you have outlined il. When the
Star supported anybody for office I sold
copies Of the paper for political use by
The parties whose praises l sung. But
never felt proud OF this proceeding, and
when heard people who received papers
for which they had not subscribed specu-
late on how much Miner was getting for
booming So-and-So pondered the matter
further. ] began to realize that all my
readers and il did not take long for
them to observe what was going on
would infer that my vigorous work in So
and-So's behalf was not wholly because I
believed in his especial fitness, but be-
cause ! was taking his shekels. That
was throwing away whatever influence
the star had for a few paltry doIlars-for
as matter OF fact the public invariably
over-estimated many times the compensa-
tion received. 1t appeared that my ut
terances would always be under more or
less suspicion Of sordid motive, il con-
tinued the practice and even from the
candidates standpoint / doubted how
much real benefit | was to him under
such a handicap.
Still further, / found that the extra
copy arrangement embarrassed me edito-
rally. / was conscious, when preparing
my weekly matter, that so many hundred
or thousand copies of my paper were to
be circulated and paid for in so-and-so's
behalf, and l said things in a different
way than l otherwise would in order to
earn the few dollars I was getting.
And further it occasionally happened
that after a candidate had patronized me
in this way to the extent that be felt en-
boldened to remind me Of the earned oblI-
CATION, he would undertake to suggest, or
outline, or even prepare my editorial
matter for me in his own behalf. which
would be served up to my readers as my
own. More than once have acceded to
the request that l would furnish proofs
OF my editorial matter before publishing
IN order to suit the man whom / was
serving.
From this hateful and debasing thral-
dom, thank God, have shaken myself
free. Six years ago l announced in my
paper that henceforth | would not know
ingly sell extra comics for political use to
any person, nor take pay in any other
way for editorial support. 1 have seen
no cause to regret my action. II the
Stars influence is, as you are kind
enough to aver, worth something, 1 feel
sure that it is largely because its views,
however poorly conceived or expressed,
are known by every reader to be honest
views, untainted by the purchasing pow
er OF the dollar
Thanking you for your warm words of
appreciation and regrettinR that l can
make no more satisfactory return at
present, ] am,
Very truly.
G. R. Miner,
Editor Pittston Star.
Ed. Armstrong read this missivs |
through twice, first hastily, then slowly.
Then be beckoned "Phi'' Annis into the
sanctum sanctorum, waved him to a seat
and whistled down the speaking tube
twice. 1t meant two hot Scotches to the |
bartender. Armstrong needed a bracer \
and rightly guessed that "Phi'' would |
also when he heard that letter read. They 1
came up just as Annis was gasping,
"Good Lord, what ails the pesky fool9 /
He's too honest to live.n
"But how are we going to cover that /
ieldP asked Armstrong, despairingIy.
''Sample it with other papers. Sow it a |
foot deep with 'em. Well show this lit 1
tie cuss thst he can't block us of. Wen |
carry Pittston over his head il we have to /
draw on the boss for million to do it" /
And the order went bv 'phone at once