The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-11-23


In no other place can a young man
so quickly attain wisdom as in a
newspaper Office. There the names Of
the good and great are playthings.
and the bubble reputation Is blown
lightly. and as readily extinguished.
as part OF the days business.
HarwOod's connection with the Cou-
rier brought him in touch with poll
tics, which interested him greatly The
Courier was the organ OF the Demo
cratic party IN the State, and though
his father and brothers In the coun-
Try were Republicans. Dan found him
seslf more IN sympathy with the views
represented by the Democratic party.
even after It abandoned its ancient
conservatism and became ageressively
radical About the time OF HarwOod's
return to his native State the news
paper had changed hands. At least
the corporation which had owned ii.
for q number If years had apparently
disposed of It. though the transaction
had been effected so quietly that the
public received no outward hint be-
yond the deletfon Of published by the
Courier Newspaper Company" from
the head Of the editorial page. The
policy OF the paper continued IN
changed; the editorial staff had not
been disturbed; and in the counting
room there had been no revolution.
though an utterly unknown man had
appeared bearing the title of general
manager, which carried with It au.
Jhortty in all departments.
sent the unknown proprietor, about
whom there had been the Hveliest
speculation. The 'Courier's" rivals
gave much space to rUmors, real and
imaginary, as to the new ownership,
attrfbuting the purchase to a number
Of prominent politicians in rapid sue
cession, and to syndicates that had
never existed 1t was an odd effect OF
the change IN the "Cour1er's" owner
ship that almost Immediately mystery
seemed to envelop the editorial rooms.
The managing editor, whose humorS
and moods fixed the tone Of the Of
fec, may have been responsible, but
whatever the cause a stricter disci-
pine was manifest, and editors. re-
porters and copy-readers moved and
labored with q consciousness that an
unknown being walked among the
desks, and hung over the forms to
the very last moment before they were
hurled 10 the stereotypers. The ed
itOrial writers-those 6stute counsel
Ors of the public who are haIf-revered
and haIf-despised by their associates
on the news side OF every American
newspaper@wrote uneasily under a
mysterious. hidden censorship. 1t was
possible that even the young woman
who cleaned society news might, by
some unfortunate slip. offend the In
visible proprietor. But as time passed
nothing happened The imaginable
Opaque pane that separated the owner
from the desks OF the ''Courier's" re-
porters and philosophers had dis
closed no faintest shadow. Occa-
aspnaIly the managing editor was sum-
seemed below by the general manager.
hut the subordinates in the news
department were unable. even by
much careful study Of their subse-
Quent instructions. TO grasp the
slightest thread that might lead them
u the concealed hand which swayed
saA "CourIer's" destiny. Il must be
confessed that under this ghostly ad.
ministration the paper improved
Every man did his best. and the cir
culation statements as published
monthly indicated a widening con-
stituency. Even the Sunday edi-
ton, long g forbidding and Jepress-
Ink hodgepodge Of ill-chosen and i'll
digested rubbish. began to show or
der and intelligence.
In October following his visit to
Professor Kelton. HARDWOOD was sent
10 Fraserv1lle. the seat Of Fraser