River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-09-18
The Daughter OF David Kerr
BY HARRY KING TO OTLE
by Ray Walters
T O O 7 L Il

. special pleader, to make Wright
think himself too much an idealist-
if he could-in opposing the just
| claims of the stock-yard company.
Il suppose you found the News
somewhat run down when you took
hold of it, Kendall remarked casually.
Yes. the name was about all |
bought
Il thought the paper had pretty
good mechanical plant" interjected
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 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 it clearly IN
mind also. If the clients of these men
were playing the game fair and
square they would welcome his kind
of newspaper. If they weren't, and
Wright knew there had been lapses
from grace on the part of some or
them. he hoped they would recognize
in the paper the power which would
first seek to prevent, and, failing II
this, then try to correct. Judge Gil
bert's allusion to the good mechanical
plant he seized upon for text.
I 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 a
newspaper / never think of that side
of it, | have in mind only the feel
ing of confidence with which 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.
''The ideal newspaper is one which.
has no AK to grind, and no personal
animus in the discussion of private al
fairs or public questions, but only
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 com
promise?'
mo, l recognize that, and | believe
in compromise Without it 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 it that this
compromise is open and above board.
1t 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 it hon
estIy. l tell you that the majority
must rule fairly and with a proper
deferer>ce for the rights of the minor
fty. that's where a newspaper can be
OF service.
Having decided to deliver d broad
side. Wright had gone about it with
great enthusiasm. The sight of Mrs.
Hayes gazing wonderingly at him. for
she did not understand what he
meant. caused the editor to- break OIL
with a laugh. He recognized that
Fudge CiIhert's drawing-room was not
the proper place for lengthy exposi-
tion OF his views
.I'm afraid Fm preaching" he apOb-
ogized, ard there's nothing | hate
more than that,
Not at all" protested Kendall
your views interest me greatly, Mr..
Wright When come again i am go
ing to see how far along yor are on
the road to the ideal"
With this Kendall announced that
he must be going. and made his
adjelx To have a few last words
about Wright, Judge Gilbert accom-
ranied the visiting attorney even to
the front gate. His very last asser-
ton was that he himself would have
nothing to do with the proposed fran
chise grab and that he was morally
certain David Kerr was Of the same
frame of mind
GRO BE CONTENUED.1