The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-27

its place was born the World.
dedicated to perpetuations of
of Americas greatest liberal j
Joseph Pulitzer Sr.
This consolidation was ac-
complished in the early hours
of the day, shortly after Sur
rogate Judge James A. Foley
ruled favorably on a petition
filed by the Pulitzer trustees
to alter terms of the Pulitzer
will by selling the Mourning,
Evening and Sunday Worlds.
Foley held, in substance, that it
was not only the right, but the duty,
of Pulitzer's sons-Ralph, Joseph
and Alberto dispose Of the flnan-
cially improbable newspaper prop
critics to conserve the estate as
sets for the Pulitzer heirs.
Long IN EullbZeT f1du0S
Formal acquisition of the World
papers by the Scripps- Howard in
terests, publishers of the New York
Evening Telegram, was made just
before NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. mans
symbol for the end-was written on
the World
The newspaper, which had
achieved a reputation as one of the
pre- eminent liberal and crusading
journals in, the country, had been
operated continuously by the
Pulitzers since the family acquired
it in the latter half of the last
century.
100000 Paid Down
Upon taking over The World
assets, Roy w. Howard, chairman of
the board of Scripps- Howard, paid
as first installment $500 900, said to
be the largest such payment ever
made in a newspaper deal in this
country.
The Pulitzers, meantime, an
nounced they would set aside from
proceeds of the sale 100000 ito be
distributed among employees under
the terms of the plan TO be an
nounced later"
Howard already had agreed that
a second payment of 100000 would
be forthcoming in ninety days.
Total purchase price, it was under
stood, was $5,000000.
The sale came as the climax of a
dramatic f1fty-six-hour struggle on
the part of various interests, backed
by millions Of dollars, to acquire The
World papers.
Paul Block Withdraws
Paul Block, chain newspaper pub
Usher and advertising man, with
drew as bidder Thursday, while
David Stern, publisher of the Phila-
delphia Record, and Frank Gannett,
who owns group of eastern papers,
entered as contestants for the pur-
chase.
In the background, fighting to
keep alive the papers to which they
had devoted many years Of service,
employees Of the World, in a CO.
operative association, vainly sought
delay Of the sale.
They announced that they had
pledges from employees and other
sources totaling 100000, exclusive
Of the promise of one prominent
man to aid with S1,00O,00O and of
others to give 100000.
After Foley rendered a decision
adverse to them, representatives of
the 1890 World employees appealed
by letter to the Pulitzers and How
ard for a stay of sale until they
could mobilize their finances.
Employees Wage Fight
They said their appeal was based
not primarily upon legal grounds.
put upon the moral right" to fight
for their own welfare and to avoid
increasing the seriousness of the
unemployment problem.
James w. Barrett, longtime CITY
editor Of The Morning World and
leader Of the militant employees
group, announced there would be
today a conference. with the asso-
cations attorneys to determine
whether any legal recourse re-
manned for them.
Howard saw in the founding of
The World-Telegram not the death
OF The New York World, but its
rebirth." He pledged a continual
ton of the policies which have
made The World respected not only
IN New York, but throughout the
nation-in every quarter where lib
erality of thought. independence
and freedom from entangling ALI
ances are appreciated as journal
istic virtues"
It is obvious" he said, ''that the
need for Independent editorial ut
terance and effort never was great
el' in the days Of E. w. Scripps and
Joseph Pulitzer ST."