The Washington herald., 1914-06-02
HISTORY BUIDERS.
How Charles A. Dana Became Editor
of the Sun.


| written Expressly for The Herald.)
BY On. e. ,. EDWARDS.
The late John Swinton was for years
associated with Charles A. Dana In the
editorial management Of the New York
Sun. Mr.. swinton was sometimes called
the chief of the star. although he used
to say that he had no title and that he
had been selected by Mr.. Dana for SER
vice at the Sun once from tho time of
Mr.. Dana's departure each day until the
paper went to press chiefly because Mr..
Dana relied upon him to use exactly such
Judgment in any given case as Mr.. Dana
himself would have used had he been at
the Office
In his moments Of leisure, which were
not infrequent in the early evening. Mr.
swinton was fond of telling any one in
whom he had confidence how high an
opinion he had OF Mr.. Dana's editorial
Judgment and how marvellous Mr.. Dana's
I learning was. especially in matters not
at all associated with editorial work.
/ was chatting with Mr.. Swinton one
evening when he suddenly changed the
--''N Va obi NouNtf5dltoh Dg sdylHS.
Dana has recently received final payment
for his services as one Of the editors of
a standard encyclopedia. George Ripley
Of the New York Tribune, was the other
| editor. This editorial work lasted a good
many years. At one time, but for a brief
period only, IL was Mr.. Dana's chief
source of income"
I ventured to ask Mr.. Swinton if he had
ever heard why Mr.. Dana SO suddenly
gave up his association with the news
paper which he established in Chicago
shortly after his service as Assistant
Secretary of War ended.
Yes. I know all about that" Mr. Swim
ton replied. THE venture was a good
thing from one point Of view, and from
another not so good a thing for Mr.. Dana
He was persuaded to become the edi-
tor and part proprietor of a newspaper
which was to be established for the pur-
pose OF voicinG Reublican opinions espe-
cially in the West. He went TO Chicago
full Of enthusiasm, but he lost that en-
thustasm before he had been there six
months. The city then was not a very
large community and its business men
had little time or disposition to cultivate
anything but intense business activity.
Mr.. Dana found himself a little bit
out of the kind of environment which he
liked. Moreover, he did not agree with
those who were associated with him on
his paper as to certain feature of edi-
tOrial policy.
''At last he had an opportunity to give
up his interest for a consideration Of
$4,000 in cash. He accepted the chance
He never had had so much money at one
time in his possession. When he returned
to New York and consulted with his
friends about the best investment for
this money. one man in whom he had
great confidence warmly advised him to
buy a house, saying that a comfortable
home could be bought for that sum. in
addition. possibly. to a small purchase
money mortEage.
That is the way Mr.. Dana got his
first domicile in New York. Soon after
ward. some warm friends of his. Roscoe
Conkling's brother, Col. Fred Conkling.
being one of them. organized a company
and bought the Sun newspaper property
Of Moses Beach. That is the way Mr.
Dana became editor of the SUM-
Copyright, i5!i b. Dr. E. J. Edwards All rights
Tcsaryedl
Tomorrow DR. Edwards will tell of
The Presidential Candidate Who Knew
How to Take Defeat"