Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-27
n. Y. WORLDS PASS
TO Scripts CHAIN
Evening Paper Merged With
TeIegram-Morning Edition
Dies Today.

IL
which, in the present crisis, may be
exercised by the trustees. hold
further that the proof presented to me
as to the financial condition of the
Press Publishing Co., its diminishing
assets and increasing loss of revenue
in it's business operation, create q duty
by the trustees to act for the protec-
ton of the beneficiaries Of the trust"
The task of sending the World to
press for the last time went forward in
the gold-domed building on Park Row
as the news of the sale came in.
The 1857 workers paid their fare
wells in silence, tears and song. Gather
ed around James w. Barrett, city editor
for 10 years, the editorial staff sang to
the tune of GOOD Night, Ladies'" an
improvised swan song. "Good-by, World,
We're Going to Leave You Now" swept
through the paper-littered room and the
last staff meeting became history.
Thus passed a newspaper acquired by
Joseph Pulitzer in 1883 and developed
by him into an institution.
PuIitzers Explain Sale.
The Pulitzer brothers issued this
statement:
"The World, the Evening World and
the Sunday World have been sold to the
- 49,
New York Telegram.
1.-The three papers will be merged
with the New York Telegram under the
title of the New York World-Telegram.
1T is the intention Of the trustees of
the newspaper trust to set aside from
the proceeds of the sale the sum Of
$500, 900 to be distributed among en-
ployes under the terms of a plan to be
announced later.
1.-The trustees of the newspapers to
whom Joseph Pulitzer intrusted the
duties Of carrying on the institution
which he had founded, made every pos
sible effort to avoid sale of the World
newspapers but economic conditions
have proved memorable.
Had Heavy Losses.
Had the World been nothing more
than a commercial enterprise the sale
might possibly have been undertaken
years before. It has now become COM
pulsory. But its publication continued
year after year with heavy losses.
For As years it has done its duty
as it saw its duty without fear or favor,
without private. propaganda or special
privilege.
ITO its army of readers, the World
under its present management says
Good-by' They have shown a great
faith in the Worlds prosperity and ad-
versity.
ITO ignore that faith by transferring
it to other ownership would seem to be
a poor return If any other choice were
open.
The trustees cannot pretend that it
is anything but a painful duty to pass
the World newspapers into other hands.
But there is a fortunate mitigation in
i~t& NF in vuhf
is thoroughly hospitable to the Worlds
tradition.
May it carry on that tradition with
the fullest measure of public service and
success"
Walter Lippman, editor of the World,
issued a statement in which he said
that his personal plans had not been
affected by the merger. He said his
contract with the World was almost
completed.
Statement by Howard.
Roy w. Howard issued the following
statement:
THE thought uppermost in the minds
of our associates, Robert P. Scripps and
myself is that the consolidation means
not the death of the New York World,
but its rebirth.
Along with our pride in the staff
of the Telegram, whose successful ef-
forts over the past four years paved
the way for this consolidation, is a
deep sense Of responsibility to the loyal
readers of the World. We realize that
they Will look to us for a continuation
OF the policy which has made the World
respected not only in New York, but
throughout the Nation-in every quar-
ter where liberality of thought, indie
pendence and freedom from entangling
alliances are appreciated as journalistic
virtues"
With the passing Of the New York
World the last of the great group of
newspapers has departed from Park
Row.
The World carried the following edi-
torial:
"VALEDICTORY.
This Is the last appearance of the
World as its readers have known it.
Yesterday the ownership of the news
paper passed from the heirs of Joseph
Pulitzer to the publishers Of the Scripps-
Howard chain of newspapers. With this
sale the responsibilities of the present
editorial direction come to an end.
ON page l of this issue the trus-
making the public announcement of the
action they have taken. On this page
1t remains only for us to say grateful
farewell to the readers of the World,
to pay tribute to the long line of dis
tinguished newspaper men who over a
period of nearly half a century have
made the World what it has been and
to salute those who now become the
owners and directors of the newspaper.
I'VE have striven, subject to the linn
itations of our own abilities and of or
binary human frailty, to carry out the
solemn injunction of the founder that the
World should be conducted as a public
institution, from motives higher than
mere gain, and at all times in a spirit
Of independence. We believe that the
readers of the World have shown their
faith in the genuineness of this pur-
pose by the loyalty with which they
have supported the paper. For such
support by its readers the World Is
deeply grateful.
ITO the newspaper men who have
worked for the World we pay affection
ate homage. They include many men
who will long be remembered in the
history Of the newspaper craft. They
include an even larger number OF those
who, working in the proud anonymity
of a great institution, have given their
devotion and all their strength to its
service. The obligation to them does
not end this morning.
ITO the new owners Of the newspa-
er, the Scripps- Howard organization,
and to the editors and staff of the
Telegram we offer our best wishes for
the future. They are seasoned news
paper men. They are public-spirited.
intrepid and generous. They are COM
petent enterprising and successful.
May good fortune attend them.
FAREWELL Let the last words Of the
World be those of Mr.. Valiant-for-
Truth In The Pilgrims Progress:
Though with great difficulty I am
got thither, yet now do not repent
II IL l.