Linn County, Missouri - Chapter 13, 1912

The Press of Linn County - In 1875 There Were But Two Papers - In 1912 There Are Eleven - High Character of Puhlications - H. J. Wig glut on on "Journalism" - Bishop Marvin's Terse Description of a Friend - Faults of Some Newspaper Men - Sketch of Linn County's First Publisher - A Pioneer Editor and Printer - Worked Alongside of "Mark Tioain"' - Went on a "Frolic" That Lasted Four Years - Original Country Correspondent Lives in Linn County - Reported Sensational Murder Case - The Brookfield Gazette - The Linneus Bidletin - The Linn County News - The Linn County Budget - The Brookfield Argus - Marceline Papers (See History Marceline).

According to an old history of Linn county there were but two papers in the county in 1875, the Linneus Bulletin and the Brookfield Gazette. The former was established by Thomas E. Brawner in 1859, and the latter paper by R. Channing Moore on April 23, 1867. Both papers are in successful operation today under their original names. But there are more competitors in the field now. In Brookfield there are the Gazette, Argus and Budget. In Linneus the Bulletin and the Linn County News. In Marceline are the Mirror and the Journal. Then there are the Bucklin Herald, the Laclede Blade, the Meadville Messenger and the Browning Leader-Record - eleven in all.

These papers evidence the growth of the county, and reflect the enterprise and ambition of the people. Nearly all of them were started under primitive conditions, and lived for years on hope, a hope that has been abundantly realized by those who worked and waited with patience.

The Linn county press stands at the head of its profession. Nowhere in the west are there more ably edited or better printed papers. Brookfield and Linneus have set the pace for handsome typographical arrangement in their papers, and the press of the other towns have followed. The truth is, there are few metropolitan newspapers that equal the mechanical style of the Linn county publications. The printer who examines them will readily admit that.

Bulletin, wrote an editorial on journalism, which so well illustrates the idea of the profession in Linn county that some extracts are reproduced here:

"I wish to say by way of introduction, that the people of Linn county are a reading people, intelligent, prosperous and happy. In addition to their liberal patronage of libraries, periodicals and the daily press, they give substantial support to eleven weekly newspapers, and recognize them as valuable factors in the promotion of the common good. Concerning the profession of journalism, I take pleasure in here presenting the following opinions:

"There is dignity in all honest labor, commensurate with its usefulness to humanity. That journalism is labor can be proved by a host of witnesses experienced in the profession. There is not, perhaps, a member of the profession in Linn county who would not modestly admit that it is honest labor and that two of the leading characteristics of the journalists are honesty and truthfulness. In none of life's avocations are the truth and purity of one's words more safely guarded than in the field of journalism. The orator may change the color of former utterances. The talebearer may flatly deny, the pulpit, in the absence of a reporter, may escape rigid adverse judgment, but the journalist, by means of the 'art preservative,' puts his opinions down in black and white to stand the scrutiny of friend and foe alike.

"From the printed page there is no appeal. All journalists well understand the meaning of that old hero of sacred history who, when pressed hard by his accusing enemy, and seeking some means of recourse, cried out in bitter extremity of soul, ' 0, that mine enemy would write a book!'

"It is dangerous for bad men to write books or issue newspaj^ers. Type cannot afford to lie. When it does, the evil consequences recoil upon its own head. I believe that in most cases when the journalist lowers the dignity of his profession by misrepresentation or otherwise, the fault is of the judgment and not the heart. In this fact alone, however, there is little comfort ; because successful journalism is born of the virtues of both heart and head. Industry, honesty and truthfulness are invaluable material in the temple of journalistic dignity, but they alone can never make a journalist. Combine them with common sense, keen discernment and discretion, and a heart that beats in sympathy with the great heart of struggling humanity, and you will have a tower of dignity and strength against which the prince of error himself eaimot prevail.

'He is as good as lie knows how to be, and he knows how as well as any man God ever made.' The knowing how accounted, perhaps, for the biggest end of the goodness. The journalist must know the real dignity and worth of his work, and he must know how to impress them upon the community in which his paper circulates.

"There are some coimtry newspapers that insist upon putting the profession before their readers in the attitude of a hugh joke. They prate about the journal's lack of veracity, of his half-clothed, halfstarved condition imtil many of their readers actually believe that the whole profession is made up of liars and mendicants. I once saw the following in an exchange : ' Friends, a little help would be appreciated very much - can 't you bring us some sweet potatoes or corn An editor once choked himself to death trying to eat grass.'

' ' Such pleas are painfully pathetic ; only because of the utter failure of their attempt to be humorous. The sooner this style of journalism 'chokes down on grass' the better for the profession. Published appeals to delinquents for pay in either cash or produce are in bad taste, especially if persisted in. They usually annoy the good patron more than the class for whom they are intended, and they also make the business appear cramped and unstable. It is true that no man under heaven comes nearer earning one hundred cents on the dollar for his time and investment than does the faithful country journalist ; but he should collect those earnings in a businesslike way, by individual statements, and without afflicting his paper with a perpetual begging for that which is due him.

"Another menace to the dignity of the press is its too frequent abuse of its privilege to compliment and censure. We forget that every editorial opinion should bear upon its face the stamp of cool, deliberate thought and earnest, honest conviction; and that for neither love nor money can an editor afford to let the sincerity of his opinions be questioned. We forget that there is lack of dignity in flattery. Every compliment unworthily bestowed by a journalist weakens his power to compliment the worthy. The journalist who persists in 'roasting' those Avhose rights to differ from him he holds in question, soon paralyzes the power of his own pen to do further injury, and, if he escapes the shotgun, falls a victim to the venom of his own words. There is beauty in dignified discussion; but newspaper quarrels are detestable. Bitter words and harsh insinuations indicate jealousies and kindred weaknesses. Such journalism is self-destructive and on the decline. With the coming age of journalistic schools, such as we have now at the Missouri University, let us hope that it will become practically extinct.

The true journalist enters bravelj- and heartily into the work of assisting humanity onward and upward and speaks his words of courage and counsel from a sympathetic and generous heart. He recognizes the fact that the lives of individuals and nations are moulded by the quality of their thinking ; and that it is the high privilege of the journalist to train the tastes of his readers away from the morbid contemplation of life's dark pictures and help them to see the beauties and the glories of the bright side of things. With his pen he draws the pictures that are to be ideal suggestions to young and old alike. He begins with the impressible mind of the child and continues to influence its thought until, dim-eyed with age, it lays aside its glasses to listen with eager ear while children and grandchildren read aloud to him the family newspaper. It is an influence that reaches from life's opening dawn unto its evening twilight.

"Today journalism stands upon the summit of its past achievement and, looking eastward, heralds the dawning of that still grander day when the peace spirit shall pervade the entire earth - when, indeed

Linn county's pioneer newspaper man, Thomas E. Brawner, was born in Richmond, Kentucky, in 1836, and came with the family to Missouri when he was only a year old. In 1850 Mr. Brawner entered the office of the BntnsivicJcer as an apprentice. The paper was conducted by John H. Blue. While learning the printing trade, young Brawner also attended the seminary at Brunswick. In 1852 he went to Columbia and secured emplo^inent ^vith the Statesman, a paper founded by the late Col. William F. Switzler, one of Missouri's best known journalists and historians. It was the association with this eminent man, then in the prime of his powers, that inspired young Brawner to take a step higher in journalism. He went to Milan, Sullivan county in 1857 and started the Milan Farmer. After demonstrating his capacity as an editor and publisher at Milan, Mr. Brawner was induced to move to Linneus, then the leading town of the county in all matters. He established the Linneus Bulletin, of which paper he was editor and puh^sher until his retirement from journalism, on account of ill health, in 1888.

When the Civil War came on Mr. Brawner severed his connection with the Bulletin in order to enter the army. In 1871 he resumed the publication of the Bulletin, and continued until Ms retirement, in the vear mentioned.

Mr. Brawner was always a Democrat of pronounced type, even during his service with the U. S. army. He was a man of unusual energy and ability and labored night and day to make the Bulletin a power in the upbuilding of Linn countj^ and the state. Mr. Brawner was married three times.

Among the pioneer editors and printers of Rorthem Missouri was Maj. Frank M. Dalton, who, until quite recently, came to Brookfield once a year to visit his sister-in-law, Mrs. Mary Dalton, and his nieces, Mrs. N. E. Wanamaker and Mrs. Sue Crainer. Major Dalton was born in Ralls county, Missouri, May 27, 1832, and at the time of the publication of this history was operating a country paper in Rector, Arkansas.

On one of his visits to Brooktield Major Dalton described his long experience as a newspaper man, and told some things which are illustrative of early day journalism.

"Some of the more important county seat papers in Missouri before the Civil War had only about 300 circulation," said Major Dalton. "It took a long while to get off even that small an edition on the old hand pressi. Every page of the paper was rolled by hand. A roller boy would stand between his ink slab - which was sometimes the reverse side of a tombstone - and the press. And as each paper was 'pulled' he would jjut on a fresh supply. The pressman laid on the sheets, and pulled around the big lever. Crude as the method was, it was regarded by the people of the old days as a most interesting sight, and they would often ride to town on press day to see the machine work and to take home a copy of the paper. We got $2.00 a year for the paper in those days, and would take anything for it that we could use - cord wood, corn, potatoes, tobacco, yarn gloves - anything. In one office where I worked we sent the paper for two j^ears to a man who furnished us a large, smooth tombstone which he had taken from the grave of one of his relatives, who, he said, wouldn't need it any more."

Like most Missouri printers of his time. Major Dalton had worked at Hannibal with Mark Twain, and after he became famous Mr. Clemens sent his old comrade of the print-shop a copy of every book he wrote. Speaking of his career in Hannibal Major Dalton said:

"I never saw anything in particular about Sam that made me think he woujd be a great man. He and I worked together on the old Hannibal Union, which was run by Orion, Sam's elder brother. I was a typesetter there and saw a great deal of Sam. If I were asked to pick out the brightest one of the boys it would have been Henry. Sam was a rollicking, devil-may-care sort of fellow, more given to pranks and jokes than to work. A large part of the copy that was handed in to us printers was reprint from Eastern magazines. I remember now that they were turning out some excellent literary matter in those days, and I set a lot of it up in the Union office. It may have been that Sam received an inspiration from some of these magazine articles which were passed to him as copy. If we had only known it there was a world of material for humorous country stories in those days, but Sam was the only one who seemed to remember it, and he put those stories on paper long afterwards and became famous.

"The only original matter in the Union, outside of a few personal items, was the leader or chief editorial. Orion always wrote that himself. As I recollect it Orion was a very serious writer, and I presume he carried a certain amount of influence in Hannibal.

"In those days of early journalism the editor and the printer were about the same thing. The editor generally set up his own copy, and often he would change it a good deal at the case. He was afraid that if it would go into the hands of some journeyman printer it might not measure up to what he had intended. The editorials were the big feature with the editor. He thought that everything he wrote was acted upon by the big wide world, and the truth is, I think the people did pay more attention to editorials than they do now. There were not so many things to divert their minds and the country newspaper was read and seriously pondered by every member of the family."

The only interruption that ever occurred in his life as editor and printer was when the war came on. Major Daltou was publishing a paper at Edina, and doing fairly well. He was a Southern sympathizer, but never regarded himself as a fighting man. It so happened, however, that in his town there were two companies of soldiers drilling daily. One of these companies intended to join the Union army and the other was organizing for the purpose of going South. The people were very much concerned for fear that the two companies would get to fighting with each other before they left town. A^Tien Col. Martin Green organized a regiment over in Lewis county, the Edina Confederate company was ordered to report to him. As soon as the company left the Union company, under command of Col. David Moore, set out to prevent its joining Colonel Green. Major Dalton learned of this and he managed to convey to the commander of the Confederate company the trap that was being laid for him. The Confederate captain was so well pleased with the lad for bringing him the information that he prevailed u})on him to join the company, stating that they were only going out for a little frolic and that the war would soon be over.

It will be a matter of some interest to those who weekly read the county letters in the newspapers to know that the originator of that custom is a resident of Linn county. His name is I. Jeff Buster, and he still retains keen interest in all that the boys of the press are doing today. The inspiration for Mr. Buster's idea came in 1866. In those days, as Major Dalton said, the average newspaper editor thought the important thing to print was heavy editorials, literary clippings and foreign telegrams. As a. rule but comparatively small space was given to happenings around home - they were too trivial.

In his young days Mr. Buster was a regular attendant at the Friday night lyceum in the district school at Kaseyville, Macon county. The general program was to debate on all sorts of big subjects, just as the newspapers were eternally soliloquizing on something far beyond them. Mr. Buster decided one night to vary the rule. He prepared a paper which he called "The Neighborhood News." Every event, large or small, that had occurred in the vicinity during the week was found in Mr. Buster's paper. It told about the new babies, the deaths, weddings, crops, the new bell on the village church, or the recent damages to the farmers' crops on the creek bottoms, about the wreck of a rail fence by the wind, the old cow that "had its leg to get broke," and which, if you are still a reader of the county news letter, is happening regularly every week just as it was in I. Jeff's time.

That paper created a sensation. It did more. It made Mr. Buster the leading man of the community. Kaseyville voted the production the most interesting event that had ever occurred in the history of its lyceum.

Following the natural trend of things, it occurred to Mr. Buster if the paper was good to read to the community at Kasey^dlle, it might be of still greater interest if printed in a newspaper. He mailed his manuscript to Macon. Col. Clark Green was rimning the Macon Times. The colonel read the news from Kaseyville and promptly pigeon-holed it until Mr. Buster should send him stamps to pay the freight back home. He didn't intend to load up his paper with a lot of neighborhood gossip. What he wanted was wars and rumors of wars ; what they were doing over there at Washington; stories of earthquakes in the Sandwich Islands and the revolutions in Chili and Peru. In other words, the

Mr. Buster went over to Macon and hunted up his friend, the editor. Colonel Green extended the glad hand, and then gently chided Mr. Buster for sending in such tommy-rot. He really couldn't think of printing it, you know; his subscribers wouldn't stand for it.

"Colonel," he said, "if you will print my Kaseyville news letter - that tommy- rt)t as you call it - I'll wager a new hat that I can put half the people in my township on your subscription list."

That was entirely satisfactory to Mr. Buster and the news from Kaseyville got in. It is said to be an historical fact that that was the first real county news letter printed in the state. At least Mr. Buster says it was the first one he had ever seen.

Colonel Green sent Mr. Buster a stack of papers, and the man from Kaseyville set out to make his wager good. When he showed the people that the news letter was in the paper, that was all he had to do. Nine out of every ten men put down their names.

The result established the news letter. It has been found to be an absolute asset of every up-to-date country paper, and this is what some of the great metropolitan editors seem not to know, that people are more interested in reading about what is going on in the home locality than things that are happening across the high seas.

It became Mr. Buster's interesting duty while engaged as neighborhood correspondent for the Times to report an unusually sensational killing in his neighborhood.

He was on the spot with several other men near a bridge. It seems that one of the workmen - they were all farmers - had offended a man of the vicinity who had started out with a double-barreled shotgun and a six-chambered Colts revolver to seek a bloody vengeance. The armed man rode into the crowd and began blazing away at his victim, who ran some distance, though badly wounded. The merciless assailant got off his horse and completed his deadly work with the revolver. Then he turned to the horrified spectators and remarked:

Mr. Buster took that story up with the instincts of a trained journalist. He wrote a graphic introductory, which was followed by the report of the coroner's inquest. The Macon Times printed it, but not on the first page, as it should have done or would do now. One head was deemed sufficient to identify the story. Curiously enough, no St. Louis paper seemed to be interested in the matter, and as far as known not a line was printed about it outside of Mr. Buster's contribution to the Times. Today such story would have occupied first page position in every city newspaper in Missouri, and every picture that could be obtained of the parties and of the scene would be printed.

Some twenty or twenty-five years ago Mr. Buster removed from Macon to Linn county and located at Marceline. There be acted as correspondent for the Linneus Bulletin for nearly twenty years. It might be said that his experience as a newspaper correspondent covers some forty years altogether. - But he is not an old man by any means. Mr. Buster is just as young as he ever was and if he cared to could take hold of any end of a country newspaper and run it successfully. Newspaper readers were familiar with his signature, which was always "L Jeff."

The Brookfield Gazette was the first newspaper established in the city which forms a part of its name. In the year 1867 R. Chanuing Moore, a young physician, and A. C. Buffington, a practical printer, decided that the time was ripe for the publication of a newspaper in the young railroad town. Besides being a very good printer, Mr. Buffington had had some experience as a countiy newspaper publisher. Dr. Moore assumed charge of the editorial and business departments, while Mr. Buffington was the mechanical superintendent. The first issue was dated April 23.

After conducting the paper a short while Moore and Buffington disposed of it to W. D. Crandall and Henrj' Ward, two young lawyers. Later on Mr. Ward retired and went to Denver. Mr. Crandall, a scholaj'ly and interesting writer, and a man of broad information, successfully operated the paper alone after the retirement of his partner. He gave to the Gazette a reputation for enterprise, fairness and reliability, a reputation that has abided with it through all the years.

The Brookfield Gazette has at all times advocated the principles of the Eepublican party, and has always given its support to the candidates of that organization, except in one instance. Then it declared for what was termed the liberal Republican ticket, headed by B. Gratz Brown, instead of the one headed by Joseph W. McClurg for governor.

In 1891 George W. Martin purchased a half interest in the Brookfield Gazette, and the paper was published under the firm name of Martin & Jones until 1905, when Mr. Jones retired. His interest was purchased by J. V. Martin. Since that time the paper has been successfully operated by George W. and J. V. Martin and has steadily maintained its prestige as a thoroughly conservative, courageous and efficient journal. Editorially the Brookfield Gazette has always led. It clings to the old-time idea - one founded on excellent judgment - that editorials are yet considered by a paper's constituents and that they wield an influence. The greatest care is taken in the preparation of the matter for the editorial page of the Gazette and its typographical arrangement is always attractive. The Gazette's paragraphs have become a feature of the paper, and are oftentimes reproduced by the metropolitan papers. The "Missouri News Department" presents a good natured, though sometimes satirical resume of happenings all over the state, and have made that department of the Gazette what "Starbeams" are to the Kansas City Star.

Printers all over the state commend the handsome typographical appearance of the Gazette. This is mainly due to the skill of Mr. Fred E. Culler, who for many years has occupied the position of mechanical superintendent, and who has not only made the Gazette one of the most beautiful papers in the state from a tj^Dographical standpoint, but has turned out some printers who have made splendid reputations for ability in the printing offices of Missouri, where skill is appreciated. The Missouri Press Association in May, 1880, declared the Brookfield Gazette, the best printed paper in the state.

As has been stated, the pioneer newspaper of Linn county was the Linneus Bulletin, which was originally started by Thomas E. Brawner in 1859. AVhen the Civil War came on Mr. Brawner went into the service on the Union side, and shortly after the close of the struggle resumed the publication of the paper. The history of the Bulletin from that time is thus given in an issue of May, 1912 :

"Volume Forty- Two. It was in May, 1871, that Capt. Thomas E. Brawner, after a brief rest from his arduous struggle in behalf of the Union, witnessed the triumph of his idea to found a Linn eoimty Democratic newspaper at Linneus. Prior to the appearing of the first number of the Bulletin numerous citizens of the county, in order to warrant the establishment of the enterprise, subscribed for the paper, many of them paying as much as five years in advance for it. The new paper came out with flying colors and for nearly twenty years was successfully conducted by Captain Brawner - Col. George W. Tyler being associated with him in the business a portion of the time.

"In February, 1888, Captain Brawner 's health having failed, he sold the Bulletin to Messrs. Wigginton & Conger. At that time, while the paper ranked high as a county newspaper, the office equipment was somewhat crude compared with what it is today. The office was located in the rear end of a rented upstairs room. The paper was printed upon an antiquated Washington hand press. The type was old and rather scarce. The force of printers was small but efficient. The new management, thanks to an increasing patronage, soon put in a new power press, better job presses, new type - much larger in assortment - and, later, purchased a home for the plant - a brick building 40x60 feet in dimensions - the building in which the plant is now housed. In the summer of 1909, the present publisher, H. J. Wigginton, became sole proprietor of the Bulletin plant. By means of a vigorous campaign for more business and a cordial response from the good people of Linn county, the Bulletin's subscription list has been almost doubled during the past three years, and its advertising and job printing business has been substantially increased. But with this increase of business the expense of conducting the plant has also increased. Our office foreman, for instance, who ranks with the most proficient in the state, commands a salary double that we paid a foreman some years ago. Our pay roll is larger than it has ever been before and printing materials of all kinds have soared higher in prices. But we are not complaining. We could expect nothing else in this era of progress. We like to pay good prices for labor when we have sufficient increase of patronage to justify it. We believe in progress all along the line. And while it has ever been our purpose to promote the best interests of the community in which we live we doubtless have, like other members of the human family, made many mistakes of judgment which we hope may be converted into stepping-stones to higher achievement in the future. We have learned to love the people of Linn county, and it is our chief ambition to make the Bulletin an effective factor in building up the material, intellectual and moral aspects of the community. In the future we may make errors ; we do not expect to please everybody, but we shall express our honest opinions editorially in a straightforward, conservative manner, with no intention of offending those who honestly differ from us. Politically we shall continue to advocate Democratic measures and men. As to local progress, aside from politics, we shall know no party lines, but shall always be on the side of progress, pulling for what we believe to be the best interest of our local towns and county. Leaving the past efforts and attainments of our paper to be adjudged by its readers and pledging them a renewal of effort to be more useful in the future than we have in the past, we enter upon Volume Forty-Two, enthused by higher ideals, which cannot fail to bear fruit of their own kind. The Bulletin begins the new volume with good will to every member of the human family."

H. J. Wigginton, editor and publisher of the Bulletin, was born in Boone county, Missouri, January 17, 1863. His father was the Eev. W. E. Wigginton, a pioneer Baptist preacher well known throughout Missouri.

Mr. Wigginton acquired his education in the public schools of Audrain county, and at his graduation from the Mexico High School was awarded the Orator's Medal. He became one of the proprietors of the Linneus Btilletin in February, 1888, and became sole owner in 1909. For several years he served as chairman of the Democratic Central Committee of Linn county; also as secretary of the Second District Congressional Committee and as a member of the Sixth District Senatorial Committee. Mr. Wigginton has frequently been chosen as delegate to state and district conventions by his party, but his most lasting reputation has been achieved by his conscientious devotion to high journalistic ideals, and his unfaltering ambition to make the Bulletin one of the very best country newspapers in the state. He has been a member of the Missouri Press Association for twenty years. For a long period the Bulletin has been the official paper of Linn county.

Politically, the Missourian was stalwart Republican, and during its short life it was a power in the councils of that party, which at that time was in entire control of the county's administration.

Mr. Nicholas - "Nick" - they mostly called him - had been a preacher previous to his adoption of the newspaper profession. Out in West Virginia, from whence he came, he became noted for his earnest championship of the national cause and its flag, and when he came to Linn county and founded the Missourian he continued preaching the same doctrine he had so earnestly advocated in the east - the only difference being he now had a newspaper to present his views, where formerly he gave them from the pulpit or platform.

At times the Missourian seemed a shade too severe in dealing with men who could not see things from the same point of view that its editor did.

Mr. Nicholas was a forcible writer, you might say a strenuous one, in coming back at a contemporary who was incautious enough to hazard a criticism of the Missourian or its energetic editor, or who dared assail the good old Eepubliean party.

The editor of the Missourian did not seek newspaper controversies, but when somebody had developed a causus belli he seemed to enjoy the resultant fight. His literary ammimition box was always well stocked up with burning English, which he applied liberally to his adversary's cuticle in the laudable endeavor to bring him around to see the error of his ways, the, editor said.

Notwithstanding his frequent acrimonious political combats, Mr. Nicholas was a most agreeable gentleman personally, and was generally liked and respected.

The Linn County News was founded by J. H. Brunnermer, and thefirst number was published at Laclede in June, 1881, where the office of publication was maintained imtil the 14th day of September, 1882, when the plant was purchased by C. W. and B. F. Northcott and moved to Linneus. For a time it had quarters in the old court house building and later was moved to the upper rooms in the Perkins building, now occupied by the F. D. Bates Drug Co. Having secured an appointment in the railway mail service, C. W. Northcott sought a purchaser for his part of the plant and D. B. Ormiston entered the firm on the 18th day of September, 1884, and the firm became Northcott & Ormiston, the senior member being Col. B. F. Northcott.

Time rolled on and on the 25th day of December, 1884, Mr. Ormiston married the youngest daughter, Miss Nellie, of Col. and Mrs. B. F. Northcott, the marriage ceremony being performed by Eev. J. 0. Taylor, the young pastor of the Linneus Methodist Episcopal church, now superintendent of the Brookfield district. About a year later the senior member of the firm sold his interest in the paper to N. Fenstemaker and the firm name was changed to Ormiston & Fenstemaker. This partnership lasted not quite two years, when Mr. Ormiston

In 1889 the plant was moved to the Greer building, where now stands the opera house block and there it remained until the fall of 1893, when it was moved into the new building on the south side of the square, where it has enjoyed the delights of being at home. The building was originally a one-story brick, 21x60 feet. A few j'ears thereafter twenty-one feet were added to the length of the building. The building was planned and erected specially for the Neirs and it is now one of the best country newspaper offices in the state.

The policy of the News has always been to advocate every movement calculated to improve the condition of the people socially, morally, intellectually and commercially. In politics the Neus has been consistently Republican at all times, but never bitterly partisan. It concedes the right to every man to believe whatever he pleases ; hence its advocacy of Republican policies has never led it to attack the individual who sees things differently. The News stands for education and sobriety and therefore has always advocated temperance. The News stands for Linneus first, because this is its home, and for Linn county and the state of Missouri because Linneus is a part of both.

In October, 1909, the News issued a Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition under the management of Mr. Ormiston. This splendid example of newspaper enterprise comprised thirty-two pages, in which thei'e were over 100 columns of handsomely displayed advertisements illustrating the progress of Linn county's merchants and industries of all kinds. There were a great number of engravings and some able articles contributed by special writers.

The Linn County Budget appeared in the local field of journalism in 1895, with A. L. Crosby as editor and proprietor. From an humble beginning, and in spite of well-established competition, it grew steadily and rapidly. Its policy was and has ever been to champion the cause of the people rather than to be the organ of any clique or party. This characteristic won for it such a wide popularity that at the end of ten years its name was changed from the Brookfield Budget to The Linn Coiinty Budget, expressing more correctly its relation to the large community.

Within this scope it aims to give the local news and to discuss both local and national matters that affect the interests of its readers. Republican in politics, still it refuses to blindly subscribe to the dictates of party leadership when they are inconsistent with the editor's understanding of those principles as applied to the people, for and whom they were formulated. On the other hand it is broad enough to acknowledge that there is often much good in the contentions of others who may in general think differently in matters political or religious, or concerning the various minor questions that are constantly coming up in the life of any people.

Prominent among those who have served in an editorial capacity on this publication are W. M. Malone, whose business ability pushed it to the front rank among the country weeklies of this state; Judge A. L. Pratt, who left journalism to devote himself to pohtics, and who is now serying his second term as probate judge of Linn county ; and A. C. Pettijohn, whose appointment as superintendent of State Hospital for the insane No. 2 at St. Joseph, Missouri, made it necessary for him to sever his relations with the newspaper.

The present editor, H. C. Myers, has been connected with the paper for the past five years. He succeeded Dr. Pettijohn in the editorial chair, April 1, 1910; at which time, also, he acquired a twothirds interest in the paper, while his present partner. Miss Nellie E. Hannan, purchased the other third. Under this management the paper became a semi-weekly publication, the only paper in its territory issued oftener than once a week.

Mr. Myers is a native of Brookfield, having been born in the house at the northeast corner of North Livingston and West Woods streets July 3, 1867. His father. Col. A. W. Myers, was one of the pioneer residents of that city, a prominent member of the Linn coixnty bar and representative in the state legislature from 1870-72. H. C. Myers received his preliminary education in Brookfield academy, and afterwards graduated from the academic department of the University of Wooster at Wooster, Ohio. As athletic director and assistant teacher of Latin and mathematics in the preparatory department, he was employed in that institution for five years. In 1896 he was elected president of Brookfield college, which position he held until that school was purchased to become the local high school. Afterwards he taught for several j'ears in the public schools of Brookfield as principal of the Hickman school. Mr. Myers was united in marriage with Miss Clara B. Bradshaw, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edmund Bradshaw, of Linn county, in Augaist, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have four children, Finley B., Harriet L., Helen E. and Katherine B.

The Brookfield Argus was founded by Charles W. Green in 1882, and the paper has been under Mr. Green's control ever since. From the day he began the publication of the Argus it has been Mr. Green's ambition to issue a model newspaper. During the long period the Argus has been going to the people of Linn county, it has each week reflected the tireless ambition of its editor. So well has the paper championed the cause of Brookfield and Linn county that it has a fixed place as one of the institutions of city and county, and is recognized as a real and growing asset.

^Vhen it comes to exploiting any enterprise that promises well for the people's good, not only has the Argus been found most generous in the space placed at the disposal of the movement, but its editor gets out and works for it. It is in recognition of the valuable service so long given the interests of Brookfield that Mr. Green was honored with the presidency of the Commercial Club, a position which adds considerably to the effectiveness of his labor for the town.

The Argus has long been recognized by the printing fraternity as a model newspaper. It is made up on a perfect t^iDographical system, which is apparent at once to the artistic eye, and is pleasing to the general reader. No advertisements are run on the first page, which is reserved exclusively for the more important news and articles of interest.

Each class of matter, news, editorial, society, literaiy and local, has its own particular place in the paper, and the subscriber always knows which page to look into to find what he wants. The paper is eight pages, seven columns to the page, and every one of the fifty-six colimms contains something of interest.

The tone of the Argus reveals the greatest editorial care over every department. It is the family's newspaper, and there is never an issue that cannot be safely placed in the hands of any boy or girl. By this policy of pure reading, the elimination of offensive details in news-stories, and unceasing labor for the uplift of the people the Argus has acquired an immense cii'culation throughout Linn county, and has held to it. The editor lielieves in the plan of extending a newspaper strictly on its merits, knowing that is the only true way of making a pennanent subscriber.

fitted up for tlie accommodation of the paper, being well-lighted, with substantial floors and ceiling, tile lobby, furnished with sofas, writing tables and every convenience for patrons as well as the people who get out the paper.

In its handsome new home the Argus has a broader opportunity of serving the people than ever, and as it is dedicated to that mission there is every reason to believe that all the hopes of its enterprising editor for the good of his constituency will be fully realized.