Clark came in, feeling that the paper was at a crisis, and prepared for almost anything after his Monday morning experience.  This was Thursday.

“Clark,” said Norman, speaking slowly and carefully, “I have been looking at our advertising columns and have decided to dispense with some of the matter as soon as the contracts run out.  I wish you would notify the advertising agent not to solicit or renew the ads that I have marked here.”

He handed the paper with the marked places over to Clark, who took it and looked over the columns with a very serious air.

“This will mean a great loss to the news.  How long do you think you can keep this sort of thing up?” Clark was astounded at the editor’s action and could not understand it.

“Clark, do you think if Jesus was the editor and proprietor of a daily paper in Raymond He would permit advertisements of whiskey and tobacco in it?”

“Well no—­I—­don’t suppose He would.  But what has that to do with us?  We can’t do as He would.  Newspapers can’t be run on any such basis.”

“Why not?” asked Norman quietly.

“Why not?  Because they will lose more money than they make, that’s all!” Clark spoke out with an irritation that he really felt.  “We shall certainly bankrupt the paper with this sort of business policy.”

“Do you think so?” Norman asked the question not as if he expected an answer, but simply as if he were talking with himself.  After a pause he said: 

“You may direct Marks to do as I have said.  I believe it is what Christ would do, and as I told you, Clark, that is what I have promised to try to do for a year, regardless of what the results may be to me.  I cannot believe that by any kind of reasoning we could reach a conclusion justifying our Lord in the advertisement, in this age, of whiskey and tobacco in a newspaper.  There are some other advertisements of a doubtful character I shall study into.  Meanwhile, I feel a conviction in regard to these that cannot be silenced.”

Clark went back to his desk feeling as if he had been in the presence of a very peculiar person.  He could not grasp the meaning of it all.  He felt enraged and alarmed.  He was sure any such policy would ruin the paper as soon as it became generally known that the editor was trying to do everything by such an absurd moral standard.  What would become of business if this standard was adopted?  It would upset every custom and introduce endless confusion.  It was simply foolishness.  It was downright idiocy.  So Clark said to himself, and when Marks was informed of the action he seconded the managing editor with some very forcible ejaculations.  What was the matter with the chief?  Was he insane?  Was he going to bankrupt the whole business?