The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-12-19
THE FORTUNES OF THE SUN


Samuels had turned Austin down,
sayihg that the company had decid-
cd not to use the Sun the coming
year, and, at three o'clock that at
ternoon the Sun had appeared with
the Charlie Longman story in it. OF
course the Longmans saw right away
that It was q plain. straight case of
big stick.
Could you imagine q more ironicai
example Of fate's irony?
Advertising With n String to 1t.
S8muels was smooth. oily gentle-
man with puffy cheeks, beady eyes
o confidential smile. a pudgy, moist
palm, fancy vest and four-caret
scarfpin. He was delighted to see
Austin. He was charmed to know
me. He was glad two such fine young
men had come to manage the Sun.
He knew we would be friends. He
was q practical business man. always
got along well-with the papers. liked
the boys Business was good with his
firm: 1t was a beautiful spring; the
crop outlook was excellent. After
about ten minutes of that kind of
talk he seemed to have an inspira-
ton.
by the way, Austin" he remark
Cd, as II the thought had just oe-
Cured 10 him. about that contract
for another year. I've been think
Ing It over since you were In to see
me this morning; In fact I wired
Mr.. Longman In Chicago this after
noon, suggesting that we reconsider.
You know I've always wanted to re-
new. Well. I had a telegram from
him Just before We closed. telling me
to use my own Judgment. You see
I'm for you: I'm a good friend Of all
the Newspaper men, I'd like to use
the Sun another year on the same
terms we used it last year--same
space, same rate and everything.
How about it?''
We'll be very glad to have your
business, Mr.. Samuels" said Austin.
"and I'm sure you'll find 1t a good
Investment We're going to make
the Sun q good paper and our cir
culation In bound to increase. The
rate you're paying now will be dirt
cheap by tho end Of the year. Shall
come down in the morning and
make out q new contract and take
up the old one?"
why not do 1t now7 I'm ready
to sign
"AlI right. That's agreeable to
me-"
The man had me puzzled. couldn't
believe he was going TO sign UP for a
year without mentioning the Charlie
Longman case, merely assuming that
we would understand that we were
to suppress the story In the future.
made UP my mind he shouldn't
leave with any such impression and
awaited developments.
Austin flied In the blank spaces in
the contract specifying when the ad-
vert1sing was to run. how much was
to be used each week, what the rate
was to be. when bills were to be paid.
and so forth. Then he signed the
document and pushed 1t across the
table to samuelA Samaels dipped
the pen In the Ink, stretched his
arm to draw his cuff back, touched
the pen to the paper and paused.
"Of course. Mr.. Austin" Ne said
and this time there was no pleas
antry in his voice-''we want it I'M
derstood that II we sign this contract
the Sun will drop this Charlie Long
man story"
There II was at lastl That was the
basis upon which he proposed to do
business. and ha was as confident that
he would make the deal a. he was
confident that he was sitting In our
ONCE. It was tho first time I had
ever had man tell me was a black
mailer. II sickened me and then it
made me mad. but before could
speak Austin said:
THAT rests entirely with the edi-
tor. I have nothing whatever to say
about what the paper prints and what
1t doesn't print"
I'm sure ycu'n agree to that.
won't your" said Samueia turning
TO mo with a hard, cold gIeam m hIs
eye.
The EducAeton OF MIR. Samuels.
The break had given me time to
get hold Of myself. I didn't want
to quarrel. I wanted this advertising,
but wanted II on an honest founda-
ton ] could afford to overlook the
insult. the mtsinterpretation Of our
motives. There was no reason in my
code OF honest journalism why we
shouldn't have the Lonxman bust
ness and print the Charlie Lonyman
story. / determined to try to con-
vert 6amuelA
mo. l can't agree to that, Mr..
aAmuslA" replied. The Sun is
going to print AL the newa Tho
Charlie Longman case IL news, ana
It u going into the paper. whether
you advertise with W or not"
His face gradually became the In
carnation Of blank astouishment.
Here was something brand-nsw In his
experience
''Why-why-" he stammered; II
don't understand. supposed Of
course you printed that story to-
day for-that II we'd make a new
contract you'd be glad to do VI the
favor OF supprsssing the Charlie
Longman case. I-I-why-nsws-
papers always protect their adver-
tiserA It's . give-and-take PROPOSE
ton never had anybody refuse be-
fore. What's the mattsrf Amt the
contract big enough? Do you want
more space? IL the rate too low? 1t
20. don't hesitate to say 20. Wen
agree to anything reasonable"
Look herr. Mr.. Eamuels," I said,
leaning over the table toward him ana
speaking earnestly. space. rates and
contract have nothing to do with It.
We are going to print things about
the Charlie Longman case Whenever
there's news In 1t because our sub
sortbers are entitled to the informa-
ton. When . man walks into our
ONCE and shoves . dollar across the
counter and orders the paper for four
month"; he has our pledge-unwrtt-
As