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Wednesday, July 31, 2019

End of the Road for French Broad Hustler, Hendersonville's Newspaper, July 31, 1919

From the editorial page of the French Broad Hustler, Hendersonville, N.C., July 31, 1919

Announcement by M.L. Shipman

With this issue of the paper my holdings in the French Broad Hustler, Inc., pass into the possession of Mr. N.M. Hollowell, secretary of the corporation and second largest stockholder in the company. I regret the apparent necessity for this action, for it seems like parting from my best friend.

I have held a long time hoping that a capable newspaper man, willing to accept permanent employment, might be secured to represent me at the home base in the conduct of the business. Have been fortunate in securing from time to time, but for brief periods, the services of some first-class newspaper men, and for the past three months no paper anywhere has been more favored in this respect than the Hustler. But the present arrangement is not permanent, and I realize that frequent changes in the personnel of the office has become a source of embarrassment. Prior to the call to service on foreign fields, newspaper men were generally available; since that time it has been practically impossible to locate a man worth while who could be interested in the business for any considerable length of time.

The condition recited alone prompts the action I am taking, which comes as a matter of necessity, rather than one of choice. For 12 years I have been spending my Saturday afternoons and evenings here in the preparation of the editorial and other matter for the paper, purely as a labor of love, and would have gladly continued the service if I could have counted on the cooperation of a competent man as a permanent fixture at the home office. But more inviting fields of endeavor open to them have finally upset my calculations and I feel impelled under the circumstances, to retire from the newspaper field in Hendersonville, since no time is allowed me for its development.

My successor needs no introduction to the readers of the Hustler. With the exception of two brief intervals, he has been connected with the paper in some capacity since 1908. Capable, reliable and energetic, he is well fitted for the task which he now voluntarily assumes. With the facilities incident to the production of a first-class newspaper at his command, he will doubtless meet the need for a bigger and better paper for the good of the county of Henderson and the progressive city of Hendersonville.

I bespeak for Mr. Hollowell the same generous support from the enterprising business and professional men of Hendersonville that has been accorded me during the 23 years of my connection with the Hustler. They all love—and will support—a booster, and I have never found any good reason to resort to any other practice since “opening shop” in the old State Bank of Commerce building during the time Mr. Bryan was running for president of the United States for the first time. I have a very high regard for the town and its high-class citizenship and shall continue to find pleasure in watching the rapid growth of the finest little city in North Carolina.

In conclusion, I want to say that this announcement need not be considered as my swan-song. I am not bidding Hendersonville goodbye. It is still my home and I am not ashamed to admit to the fact anywhere on earth. I have had no experience in writing valedictories and do not want any. Should the people of the State become indifferent to my services of a capable official the loss to North Carolina is most likely to result in a distinct gain for Hendersonville. Now, what d’ye think o’ that?

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