"What Doth It Profit..."

In little New Hampshire, Publisher William Loeb has a big voice: he owns the Manchester Union Leader, the state's only daily morning newspaper, and he runs it to suit himself. A rock-ribbed conservative Republican, who once called Dwight Eisenhower "that stinking hypocrite in the White House," Loeb for years was a devoted admirer of New Hampshire's G.O.P. Senator Styles Bridges. When Bridges died last month, Loeb publicly urged Governor Wesley Powell to appoint Bridges' widow, Deloris, 45, ta her husband's Senate seat. But Powell, himself a longtime Loeb favorite, decided instead to name his own protege. Attorney General Maurice J. Murphy Jr., 34.

Last week Loeb's wrath was echoing throughout New Hampshire.

WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT A MAN, headlined a front-page Union Leader editorial, signed by Loeb, accusing Powell of "disloyalty and ingratitude" to Bridges' memory. "Disloyalty and ingratitude are two of the worst of human traits," wrote Loeb. "We firmly believe that the reason for Governor Powell's decision was based on a peculiar streak that runs through his nature . . . a vindictive streak. It also is highly egotistical . . ."

Then, in the capital letters that the Union Leader reserves for matters of gravest import. Loeb concluded:

IT IS NOT EASY TO CONFESS A MISTAKE OR TO SAY THAT ONE IS WRONG, BUT THIS NEWSPAPER FRANKLY SAYS THAT WE HAVE WASTED ELEVEN YEARS OF EFFORT ON BEHALF OF GOVERNOR POWELL. FOR A BRILLIANT MIND, A GOLDEN TONGUE OR A GREAT AMBITION AVAILS A MAN NOTHING, AND NEITHER SERVES THE NATION NOR THE STATE, IF IT IS NOT WEDDED TO GREATNESS OF CHARACTER AND HUMILITY OF SPIRIT. AGAIN WE QUOTE FROM ST. MATTHEW: 'WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIS SOUL?'

Powell's comment: "Bill Loeb is entitled to his opinion."

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