Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-08-29

pOilLlCb. mIb. LdyCS q 49,
what she thought along the same line
by adding:
"And DR.. Hayes doesn't have to at
all. you know. He says he does it for
the good of the party"
This would have been all very in
~teresting to Kendall If he had had the
entire evening to spend inssuch pleas
ant company. Time was pressing,
however, and in the few minutes still
at his disposal he wished to sound
Wright at greater length about the
Belmont News.
Kendall looked closely at the young
man whom he had already set down
as an opponent. Physically Wright
seemed no shirker Of a combat. His
shoulders were broad and his body
well developed. Led to believe from
his knowledge Of the reformer type
that he would find Joe Wright a long
haired theorist and Utopian dreamer.
the lawyer found instead a self-pos-
sessed, well-balanced young man. The
newspaper owners manner. even In
repose, was judicial. To kendalrs
thinking he had the air OF a man who
would not be swayed by prejudice or
liking. 1t was his part. however, as
a special pleader, to make Wright
think himself too much an idealist-
IL he could-in opposing the just
claims of the ~stock-yard company.
II suppose you found the News
somewhat run down when you took
hold Of it," Kendall remarked casually.
Yes, the name was about all l
bought"
II thought the paper had a pretty
good mechanical plant" inter5ected
Gilbert.
Instinctively Wright felt the con-
certed action masked under the inno-
cent question and the remark by Gil
bert. Just what Kendall had to gain
he did not know, but since he recog-
nized him as a representative Of large
interests he thought best to let him
know what stand the News might be
expected to take. 1t was just as well
that Gilbert should have 1t clearly IN
mind also. If the clients of these men
were playing the game fair n
square they would welcome his kind
Of newspaper. If they weren't, n
Wright knew there had been lapses
from grace on the part Of some OF
them, he hoped they would recognize
in the paper the power which would
first seek to prevent, and. failing IN
this, then try to correct. Judge Gil
bert's allusion to the good mechanical
plant he seized upon for a text.
That's true, the News has a good
mechanical plant" He paused to let
that sink in before he continued.
Somehow or other when ! think OF q
newspaper l never think Of that side
Of 1t. l have In mind only the feel
ing Of confidence with which a news
paper inspires its readers"
What do you think the ideal news
paper Is like?" asked Judge Gilbert.
He wanted to know to what kind OF
star this young man had hitched his
wagon.
1.-THE ideal newspaper is n which
has no ak to grind, and no personal
animus in the discussion Of private az
fairs or public questions, but only a
constant regard for the truth and the
lasting welfare of the state"
Kendall went to what he considered
the heart Of the matter.
Aren't you leaving out Of consid-
Grafton, Mr.. Wright, that everything
this government, events but a com
promise?"
mo, l recognize that, and l believe
in compromise. Without 1t we would
still be cave jewellers. 1t Is exactly
because Of this everpresent compro-
mise that an honest newspaper Is SO
valuable. 1t must see to 1t that this
compromise Is open and above board.
It mustn't be the give-and-take trade
of low politicians in the back room OF
a saloon or the far more dangerous
trades of men higher up and powerful
interests; not that kind of compro'
mise. which after all is a sale of some
thing one does not legally own to one
who cannot or will not secure 1t hon
estly. l tell you that the majority
must rule fairly and with a proper
difference for the rights Of the minor
ity, that's where a newspaper a bt
of service"
Having decided to deliver a broad
side, Wright had gone about 1t will
great enthusiasm. The sight of Mrs
Hayes gazing wonderingly at him, foI
she did not understand what h
meant. caused the editor to break OF
with a laugh. He recognized tina
Judge Gilbert's drawing-room was no
} the proper place for a lengthy exposi
{ ton of his views.
I'm afraid I'm preaching" he apo
ogized. "and there's nothing hat
+, more than that"
s'Not at ALL" protested Kendall
7 Your views interest me greatly, Mi
Wright. When l come again am &c
ing to see how far along you are O
a the road to the ideal"
With this Kendall announced tina
he must be going, and made hi
l adieux. To have q few last word
I about Wright, Judge Gilbert accom-
panied the visiting attorney even t
a the front gate. His very last assel
ton was that he himself would hav
-.AA~~ 81 40 with tho nrOnOaed frQI