People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1897 — THE PILOT SOLD [ARTICLE]

THE PILOT SOLD

TO SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF A FEW ALLEGED BEFOEMERS, WHO WANTED DIVIDENDS MORE THAN REAL REFORMS. After Sucking the Political Juice Out of it for Six Years They Want Their Money Back. True Reformers, Who Bought Stock That a Genuine Reform Paper night be Established and Maintained, are thus Betray* ed and the Object for Which They Patriotically Paid Their Money, Without Thought of Reimbursement, Is Defeated.

A STATEMENT. This issue terminates the existence of the People’s Pilot under its present management. Mr. Leslie Clark, who was formerly connected with the Pilot as editor has purchased it and will assume control next week. He expects to conduct a paper, so he informs us, independent in politics and representative of the interests of the wnole community. The Pilot from the day of its establishment has been a failure as a financial enterprise. Its friends have been compelled many times to come to its relief to rescue it from bankruptcy. There was ho promise of anything better so far as could be seen for the future. Its business has steadily fallen off and it was encumbered with some debts of longstanding which could not be liquidated without a resort to an assessment of stock. Such a i measure would not have met the i approval of the stockholders. The directors were finally forced to choose one of the three following propositions: Ist. To continue to run the paper on a losing basis with the certainty of getting deeper in debt instead of getting out. 2nd. To discontinue publication and lock up the company’s property until such time as the conditions for success would seem more certain than now.

ceaslessly. Receiving the contempt of both democrats and republicans in the beginning, it soon compelled recognition as a factor in crystalizing the new movement since evolved into the powerful party of the people. As theaPeople’s Party assumed proportions and prestige that indicated success for the principles it advocated, the Pilot won the respect accorded a worthy foeman by those who professed to dispise it. It could have received no higher testimonial of its power than the magnificent opposition which it engendered.

A CONSOLING REFLECTION. It is indeed a consoling reflection for those who, in the conduct of the paper, had to receive the contumely so generously heaped upon them by both democrats and republicans, each vieing with the other in ridicule of the principles of the “crazy pops’', jeering at the very idea that such idiotic propositions could ever be recognized as real issues in a campaign, or seriously treated as questions for public consideration, ah, surely it is consoling for them to know that the former of those two great political parties discovered that its own salvation from utter rout and absolute dissolution depended upon the repudiation of its previous declarations and history, and the theft of the Populist platform and prestige, thus forcing upon the tepublicans the humiliating necessity of abandoning its time honored tariff for protection hippodrome and entering the arena of a defensive campaign, the most stubbornly contested and flagrantly corrupt ever perpetrated on a trusting but deceived people. FROM RIDICULE TO VINDICATION. The vindication of the Pilot’s long contention came when at Chicago the democratic party appropriated so large a slice of the populist platform, that what remained of it resembled a piece of pie after a hungry boy has had three good bites out of it. The democrats made three bites into the populist platform finance, land and transportation planks with a little salt. Of course it choked a little, being so hungry and swallowing such large bites without mastication, and it is possible that even yet it lies heavily on its stomach, undigested and liable to make it sick to be spewed up at the next great gathering of the clans.

3rd. To sell the company’s property. The Board of Directors after long deliberation and upon consultation with the holders of a majority of the company ’s stock decided upon the latter course. A sale was accordingly affected as before stated to Mr. Clark. He agrees to send his paper without cost to all prepaid subscribers of the Pilot for the term of such prepaid subscription. Thus no one who has subscribed to the Pilot will lose. The debts of the Pilot Publishing company will first be paid and its stock will receive such dividend as can be paid after debts and necessary expenses are settled. This settlement will probably begin next week and proceed as rapidly as possible to the end. The Pilot Publishing Co. By its Board of Directors.

A WAR NECESSITY. For six years the People’s Pilot has been published in advocacy of political reform. It was a revolution of thought upon political lines that brought it into existence, and its influence in moulding public opinion has been forcibly felt in this and adjoining counties. It was a war measure and from the first issue the battle has waged fiercely and

ITS CAUSE RECOGNIZED. Possibly the mission of the Pilot has been accomplished. Certain are we that its founders may be proud of the work it has done and of the advancement of the principles it has championed,

and ip the suspension of the paper they have just cause to be proud of their undertaking. For nearly two and one-half years the writer has had editorial and business charge of the paper, having leased the same Jan. 1, 1895, and because of this relation he desires to review some facts in the history of the paper and of his stewardship. A NEWSPAPER MURDER. The impression prevails that the paper has been a financial failure, and that is the reason for its suspension. That it was an Ixpensive and burdensome venture until we leased it Jap. 1, 1895, is true, but that its sale now was made necessary because it was not self sustaining is absolutely false . To be real plain the suspension of the People’s Pilot is the direct result of its prosperous career during the years 1895 and 1896. We hoped to be spared the necessity of criticising the acts or motives of any of our friends, who have had charge of the Pilot Publishing Company’s affairs but the statement of the board of directors published in this issue compels us to place ourselves in the true light before the public.

THE PILOT PUBLISHING CO. SUNK S9OO IN THREE YEARS. Previous to our coming here there had been invested in the actual operating plant of Pilot printing office about $750. The books show that the company had paid out in excess of all the receipts of the business of three and one-half years nearly $1650 or about S9OO more than the plant cost. That was the condition of affairs when we were installed in the manager's chair Jan. 1, 1895, to discover that a new press was an immediate necessity and other new equipments sorely needed.

PROMISED TO GIVE THEIR STOCK FOR A HOT POPULIST PAPER. And ,as a side remark, let us mention that the Pilot Publishing Co., was real glad to lease their property to us at $1 for one year, and the good friends who held large blocks of stock, smiled encour agement and said, “Tak’er, make a hot paper, the hotter the better, and if you can make ’er win you can have my stock; all we want is a hot paper, never expect any return on the money invested, just want a humming sky rocket, and if you can do it she’s yourn.” Did any one give us their stock? Not even a few. It seems to have been overlooked in the shuffle. But we were uot disappointed for human nature can be depended upon with unvarying certainty. If the stock of this company was liable to be assessed occasionally, why human nature would prompt the holders to give it away, give it to some one else to pay the assessments. If on the other hand there was a prospect of dividends, you could bank on the fact that human nature would not give the stock away.

• $llOO NEW PRESS. Alone and unaided we purchased a fine new cylinder press, engine, and other fixtures, and when the same was all nicely in place the total expense footed up to over 81100, or considerably more than twice the value of the entire Pilot property, good will and accounts included. We had iucurred a heavy debt but felt able to work it out. THE WIFE WORKED TOO. Ably aided by an energetic wife we have struggled through two years of oppressive debt until now less than one third of the

original debt remains unpaid, the expenses of the paper and our living, an example of scientific economy, have been paid, without aid from the Pilot Publishing Co. A few kind friends have occasionally loaned us a few dollars, very little of which remains unpaid, and we feel exceedingly grateful for it. RAISED THE RENT FIFTY FOLD. At the end of the first year we were refused a further lease of the paper unless we would contract to pay 150 a year, and buy the subscription account? at SIOO. Human nature sprouts quickly in Jasper county; some one had demonstrated the faot that the Pilot could be made to pay expenses and a little better. The deluded stockholder thought it was their property that was doing the earning, forgetting that there was an element of brain and muscle in the deal which they did not own, and which may have contributed all the earning capacity there was. IN SHYLOCK’S GRASP| There was but one thing to do, and that was to agree to the terms offered or get out and turn our new press and fixtures over to another fellow, who stood ready to assume the burden of our debt. We doubted our ability to pay the company $l5O and meet the payments on the press, but we had but to try or sacrifice what we had already paid. The year 1896 being that of a presidential campaign, and proving one of unusual interest, we were kept very busy, and having accepted certain positions in the party we attempted to faithfully perform the duties devolving upon us, using our own money and spending much time that jve could not afford. KREDGER EVEN FORGOT. It might not be amiss to state that it would take SIOO to balance our account for printing of bills and money advanced for speakers, etc., to carry on the “silver” campaign, not one candidate for any office on any ticket, or any committee of any party ever paid us a dollar toward these necessary expenses, though various items were to have been paid by different high dignitaries, but even the candidate for congress refused our draft for ten dollars, the miserable stipend he volunteered to

repay us for expenses incurred in his behalf. " REFUSED A LEASE FOR 1897. - Jan. 1, 1897, came and we wore unable to pay the Pilot Pub. Co. its S>ls<o. We were asked to give them a mortgage for S2OO on our equity in the press and printing material. We declined, and the directors concluded not to lease it to us* again, especially as we signified a disinclination to pay rent for it this year, having come to the conclusion that it amounted to the same thing as paying for the privilege of working for some one. As a result the property has been sold and the paper as an advocate of reform suspended, that a fraction of the money-invested in the enterprise six years ago may be drawn back by the stockholders. A dividend of 20 cents on the dollar may be realized, but a few • dollars to the greatest stockholder, the aggregate being less than the loss thus inflicted on the man who took the paper when about? to be abandoned, in fused, life, respect and prosperity into it, and carried it creditably through a long and bitterly contested campaign without cost to them, and who now must sacrifice the value he had budded into the reputation and business of the paper, and sell his property at a discount.

MAY SAVE A LITTLE. We were accused of poor financial management by some of the directors. Well, since the first of January we have been withdrawing our financeering from the Pilot and concentrating it on Craig, in the attempt to save a little from the wreck, and if our friends will pay us the small amounts due on back subscriptions we shall not come out of this wholly without remunera tion. „ DEMAND*THEIR POUND OF FLESH We desire to say that our re--1 lations with the Pilot Publishing Co. have always been the most amicable, and while we have differed with the ruling majority of the bqard in business opinions we have been treated in a thoroughly honorablenand businesslike manner. But, like Shylock, they demanded, and still demand, theirjpound of flesh, like other people with human nature. TO RUIN OUR CREDIT. So valuable has the Pilot been considered by certain Populist stockholders aof exclusively demo-silver proclivities, residents of Rensselaer, that they have for* months been conspiring to ruin theferedit of its publisher and prevent patronage and financial aid* from coming to him, that he would thus be unable to meet expenses and be compelled • to abandon his|mortgaged press to their generous mercies.

POLITICAL lICONSPIR ACY. I It may seem’incredible, but it i is nevertheless true, that we F were, last year, compelled through * remonstrances by one of the largest and wealthiest stockholders, to retain in our employ for two months a printer who was absolutely incompetent, and with whom this said stock • holder was conspiring to secure the Pilot| in [violation of our lease, andfturn it into a democratic paper. EMPLOYEES APPROACHED. Our presentjforeman was approached butja few weeks ago by a democratic stockholder, who one year ago was an ultra gold-standard apostle, and of* I sered inducements to financi ally cripple us, with*the promise of a permanent job in this office as soon as we should be turned out land this ex-gold democrat and his partners|should be installed. ||; This same gang also induced ! other of our employees to leave p under promise of future jobs. WANTED THE MORTGAGE. ||* Emissaries have been sent by p parties unknown to us to the m ■ ■ > ' ■ ;

rCottrell press company to buy the mortgage they hold upon o\ir press, that the same might be foreclosed and our equity in it liquidated in the simple manner common in Jasper courts and elsewhere. But thanks to the honorable consideration of~6ur creditors they refused to even consider such a proposition. This emissary was given this answer: “We have known Mr. Craig for twenty years, and have never known him to do a dishonorable act in a business transaction or otherwise. His interests will be protected by us to the fullest extent. The fact that you are endeavoring to purchase this mortgage without Mr. Craig’s consent is evidence that we do not wish to have any transaction with you.”

“ABOUT WINKED OUT.” In spite of all the opposition and.contemptible tricks of a well organized gang, who wished to steal our property and the value we had, by two years of hard labor, builded into the Pilot, that they might control its political policy, we have gone steadily on, paid our bills, sayed our mortgaged property from foreclosure, knd faithfully surrendered to Pilot Publishing Co., the property this gang would also have stofen had it ever passed into their possession. Within the present week an honorable (?) stockholder and director advised a delinquent subscriber not to pay what he justly owed us. For months men have industriously circulated the report that the Pilot was “about winked out,” for the purpose of getting hold of it themselves. Well they did not get it.

LANDLORD INFLUENCED TO SUE. Developments show that there was more gold democracy than saloon in the effort of our landlord last January to get possession of the building occupied by the Pilot. ALARMED AT ARCHERY.

it has been amusing to behold with what persistency a certain job lot of “silver” politicians have opposed the instituting here of the order known as Plato’s Archers. They have stood on the streets and attempted to frighten people from making an investigation of the merits of the society, though acknowledging that they knew nothing about it themselves. The potency of their influence can be measured by the fact that there are over 100 Archers already enrolled here.

WHO HAS BEEN EDITOR? It has been 'hinted that some one besides the ostensible editor was doing the editorial work for us. Just how it leaked out we do not know, but it is due to. thank that “some one” for his many favors and for dishing up this final contribution to the editorial columns.. Perhaps “some one” will now come forward and reveal his identity. Fraternally and affectionately,

FRANCIS D. CRAIG.