Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 19, 2025
That Banneker was specially fitted, through his familiarity with the ground, to handle it, the city editor was not, of course, aware. At Sippiac, Banneker found the typical industrial tragedy of that time and condition, worked out to its logical conclusion.
"If I controlled the news columns of the paper, I'd make another Sippiac Mills story of this." No sooner had he said it than he foresaw to what reply he had inevitably laid himself open. It came from Io's lips. "You control the editorial column, Ban." "It's a subject to be handled in the news, not the editorials," he said hastily. The silence that fell was presently relieved by Edmonds.
One thing of which the managing editor of The Ledger was not tolerant was interference from without in his department. Before allowing his man to leave, Mr. Vanney read him a long and well-meant homily, full of warning and wisdom, and was both annoyed and disheartened when, at the end of it, Banneker remarked: "I'll dare you to take a car and spend twenty-four hours going about Sippiac with me.
Suppose you go down to Sippiac, New Jersey, where our factories are, spend three or four days, and report back to me your impressions and any ideas you may gather as to improving our organization for furthering our interests." "What makes you think that I could be useful in that line?" asked Banneker curiously. "My observations at the Manzanita wreck.
On the theory that two minutes, while important to his stomach, would not greatly matter to the managing editor, Banneker consumed the rest of his soup and returned. He found Mr. Gordon visibly disturbed. "Sit down, Mr. Banneker," he said. Banneker compiled. "We can't use that Sippiac story." Banneker sat silent and attentive. "Why did you write it that way?" "I wrote it as I got it."
"My principle in business is to determine whether I want a man or an article, and then bid a price that can't be rejected." "Sound," admitted the veteran. "Perfectly sound. But I'm not specially in need of money." "I'm offering you opportunity." "What kind?" "Opportunity to handle big stories according to the facts as you see them. Not as you had to handle the Sippiac strike story."
"Descriptive, I should call it," returned the writer amiably. You have pictured Sippiac as a hell on earth." "It is." "Sentimentalism!" snapped the other. His heavy visage wore a disturbed and peevish expression that rendered it quite plaintive. "You have been with us long enough, Mr. Banneker, to know that we do not cater to the uplift-social trade, nor are we after the labor vote." "Yes, sir.
I understand that." "Yet you present here, what is, in effect, a damning indictment of the Sippiac Mills." "The facts do that; not I." "But you have selected your facts, cleverly oh, very cleverly to produce that effect, while ignoring facts on the other side." "Such as?" "Such as the presence and influence of agitators. The evening editions have the names, and some of the speeches."
Whatever The Ledger's shortcomings, it at least stood first in its field. But was there any future for him there, other than as a conspicuously well-paid reporter? In spite of the critical situation which his story of the Sippiac riots had brought about, he knew that he was safe as long as he wished to stay.
You have, I believe, a knack for handling a situation." "I can always try," accepted Banneker. Supplied with letters to the officials of the International Cloth Company, and a liberal sum for expenses, the neophyte went to Sippiac.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking