The gold leaf., 1909-10-21
Brave MIR. Block.
Raleigh News and Obrerver.

Estate, Wnlcn OeplcLs brave euitoI
standing against social and political
and financial wrong. Finally, under
terrible temptation, he stands firm
and exposes aiudicial CRATER, though
not supported by the owner. The
struggle is hopeless, and, after this
great service, he commits suicide,
leaving a note saying that he cannot
stand single-handed against contln-
ued journalistic prostitution.
There are in real life brave journal
lists who do their duty, stand firm,
and keep on fighting. Such an one
is Mr.. Rudolph Block who holds q
position on Mr.. Hearst's paper in
New York. Some days ago, when it
became known that Mr.. WINS and
other Republicans had induced Mr..
Hearst to become a candidate for
Governor, Judge Gaynor stated that
the report could not be true because,
without solicitation. Mr.. Hearst had
urged the Judge to become a candl-
date and promised him his support.
Mr.. Hearst admitted that he had at
one time favored Judge GaynOr, but
denied every material statement
made by Judge Gaynor. At that
point, the Judge called on Mr.. Block,
WHO held pasition with Mr.. Hearst's
paper. and Mr.. Block wrote this
letter.
"New York, Oct. 8, 1909.
"My Dear Judge:-I have received
your letter and | cannot tell you how
distressed | am over the course that
matters have taken. l regret ex-
ceedingly to be drawn into the affair,
but, inasmuch as | was instrumental
in bringing about your meeting with
Mr. Hearst and urged you SO often
on his behalf to run for mayor. feel
that, since you ask for it, and put
the matter up to me, you have a
right to my testimony.
'Shortly before Mr. Heart left for
| Europe last summer he asked me to
bring you to his house. think this
was the second Or third time you had
ever seen him. He asked you if you
would not run for mayor in the fall.
You asked him why he did not run
himself, and said that If he desired to
run, or would run, you would not
get in his way. He answered that
under no circumstances would he run
and urged YOU to run. You asked
him on what ticket. He responded,
i don't care what ticket you run on,
I'll support you on any Ticket
Il suggested then that perhaps
Tammany might nominate you. He
! answered, 1T makes no difference
what party nominates him And he
added: 1 am not opposed to Tam
many, but to Tamany methods, and
when it does right, it is entitled to
| credit.
"You thanked Mr.. Hearst and said
that you might go to Europe in Au-
gust. and that you would think the
matter over He expressed a wish
that you would see him in Europe,
and asked that you let him know
your decision after you got back. He
said that if you wanted any article
favoring or leading to your candi-
| dacy published in the American dur
ing his absence | was to see that it
went in.
| ''Sincerely yours.
RUDOLPH BLOCK"
Hon. VIM. J. Gaynor,
| "Brooklyn, n. "
That letter, written under most
embarrassing circumstances, bears
the truth in every paragraph, and
proclhims that it's author is man
who has more regard for his integri-
ty and truthfulness than anything
else. That is the supreme test for
any man; will he tell the whole truth
when it is to his interest to have a
good "forgettery" or tell what is not
true? Mr.. Block has shown by his
eternal test that he is a man to trust.
| Mr.. Hearst's answer to Mr.. Block
is unworthy of the rich New York
editor. The first part OF his answer
is taken up with an argument that
he favored Gaynor until Gaynor de-
serted his principles, saying, 81 have
never pledged myself to support
Judge Gaynor, but if / had, would
have felt myself relieved when Judge
Gaynor accepted the Democratic
nominhtion.' and he added
at is not true that | ever asked
Judge Gayuor to come to my house
in order to urge him to accept a
nomination. He came hnmbly up to
my house, once, twice, thrice, hat III
hand, of his own accord, and in his
own inter,s ST. And | have no doubt
that he had previously visited Mr.
, Mnrphy's house in the same abject
attitude. 1t is not true that told
} Rudolph Block or Judge Gayno,
himself or any one that | would sup
: port Judge Gaynor under any anG
all conditions.
:, "As to Mr.. Block, the distinguished
editorial associate to whom Judge
E Gaynor so respectfully and ludcrous
l.y refers, he is the editor of the comic
3, supplement of my Sunday paper, th,
$ sponsor for Happy Hooligan, tn.
; katzenl ammer Kids and Judge Gay
! ! nor. His interest evinccd SO pecu
: liarly in Judge Gaynor's candidac,
I merely goes further to prove that h,
has a sense of humor, if not n sens
= of honor
The statements contained abov,
s are fatty denied both by Judge Gay
: nor and Mr.. Block, and the con
temptuous references to Judge Gay
nor and Mr.. Block are what yo,
i might expect of a purse-proud MAJ
who lacked proper appreciation of ,
e worthy man on his staff no matte
, whether he was q news carrier or
;. pressman or an editorial writer.
man who shows the stuff of Mr.. Blocl
?, Is worthy OF the respect ofevery goo'
n man in America
u Letter to H. Thomason.
4