The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-31
Norman Z. Mack

The atmosphere was bitter with political oicker-
inR and 10000 human beings were packed in the hail.
A Young man Of striking figure. but almost IN
known in the great assembly. arose and was recog-
nized by the chairman.
He vent forward and mounted the platform
In voice that was low but more musical than
the Dipes Of great organ. he began Something
happened to the audience The restless rustlng and
the conversation stopped One Of the great orauonS
Of all times was being delivered.
The speaker continued to the climax
oThey shall not press down upon the brow Of labor
a crown Of thorns. They shall not cruelty mankind
upon cross OF gold
A. the end came the hush that follows only great
orauons-the hush Of an audience transhXed. And
then Inc applause
young delegate from Me- York leaned over to
his nearest neighbOr.
That man viii be the nominee" said Norman E.
Mack 10 David 3. Hill.
Out Of the nomination Of William Jennings Bryan
came Macks first great test as journalist
The Buffalo Times was a small struggling paper.
Monev was scarce Bryan was radical The re-
dictionaries we're seeing red. Leaders all over the
country we're boiling. The pressure on those who
remained was intense When Mack returned to Buff
falo he felt that pressure in no uncertain ways 1t
came from many and from highly influential sources
including financial
Whether The Buffalo Times should live or die
was at stake.
The easier way would have been to Yield. That
was the safe and sure path Of least resistance.
But Norman E. Mack had chosen to make his
paper a party paper. His party was the Democratic
So he stood his guns and by his party. He risked
everything he hac 10 hat decision
Every newspaper man must face that sort Of
crisis sometimes 1t is the true test Those who
Weld NAV succeed But they never become great.
Those who do what Mack did attain greatness.
So Norman E Mack became great in the eyes of
his community and Of his nation.
Accordingly, the members Of the Scripps-HoWard
organization feel more than the usual Of pride
and of responsibility in taking over what Norman E.
Mack built up. The Buffalo Times is more than a
newspaper It is life work. 1t is journalistic in
stitution in both the professional and the personal
sense.
At almost the identical time that Norman E Mack
started his Buffalo paper (. w. Scripps started what
became the Scripps Howard organization.
The Journalistic ideals were different. Mack be-
ueved in the party paper. Scripps believed in the
independent paper. But that quality of courage
which characterized Macks decision following the
BRYAN nomination was a dominating factor also in
the growth of what E w. Scripps founded.
Buffalo owes a great deal to Norman E. Mack
No other man IN the city is so widely known. The
political part of his career is unique. For twenty
eight years he has been Democratic national COM
n1itteeman for the state of New York. He has been
a member of and chairman OF the Democratic Ma
tionaI committee and chairman Of the state commit
tee simultaneously-an honor never before or since
conferred by the party on one man.
But it is not to Norman E Mack the political
leader that We pay tribute.
It is to Norman E. Mack. the journalist.