Walla Walla County, Washington - Chapter 21: The Journalism of Walla Walla County, 1901

Chapter 21: The Journalism of Walla Walla County

Journalism is an especially strong American idea. Free speech, free press, and free men usually go together. Some glaring evils of American journalism are plainly to be seen. The sensationalism, the advertising dodges, the policy-mongering, the partisanship, the slippery ethics, - all these are easily seen and justly criticized, but w-here is the American who would exchange the universal floods of light assured by a free press, in spite of transient abuses, for the censored papers of Russia or the lethargic calm of Turkey. Democratic

America would not be, without her free press. The journalistic history of Walla Walla has been essentially like that of other frontier American communities. Hardly had the first settlers secured the necessities of existence, before some of them began to consider the advisability of starting a newspaper. It should be remembered indeed that a printing press was not an unknown thing even long prior to the beginnings of permanent settlement. In fact tiie first printing press ever used upon the Pacific coast found service in Walla Walla. This printing press was of the kind known as a Ramage printing, copying, and seal press, Xo. 14. This press was sent from Boston by the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, to their missionaries at Honolulu in 1819. Alter nearly twenty years service in the Hawaiian islands, the press, with type and paper, was sent by the missionary board to the Whitman mission. After a short period of service at the mission, it was moved again, this time to Lapwai, the mission in charge of Rev. H. H. Spalding. Mr. Spalding used it for nine years, and a remarkable use, too, he made of it. For he employed it to print translations of portions of the Bible and other religious literature in the Nez Perce tongue. In 1848 this printing press was moved to Hillsboro, Oregon. After use for some time in Oregon it found a permanent resting place in the museum of the Oregon State University, and there after its unique and adventurous career, it remains on exhibition for the amusement of later generations. Such was the pioneer printing press of the Inland Empire. No others were introduced into the country until after the beginning of settlements in i860.

The Walla Walla Press

This was inaugurated by William N. and R. B. Smith. Smith Brothers had purchased a newspaper outfit of Asahel Bush, among the material being the old press of the Oregon Statesman, a paper published by Bush. Rather curiously, at that very time another old press, this one having belonged to the Oregonian, was brought to Walla Walla by N. Northrup and R. R. Rees. The two outfits arrived within two days of each other, but neither firm had had anv knowledge of the other's intentions. As soon as they recovered from their surprise they decided to unite and form what in modern times would be called a newspaper trust. As a result of the combination the first issue of the Washington Statesman appeared November 29, 1861. This was a weekly paper, independent in politics, although Union in sentiment during the Civil war. One interesting thing to remember in regard to the launching of this paper is that in December of 1 86 1 W. N. Smith made a horseback tour throughout Umatilla and Walla Walla counties, and secured two hundred subscriptions at five dollars a piece, this number constituting nearly all the adult residents of this region. Smith brothers seemed to have made a success of their enterprise, considering the condition of the country. In July, 1862, S. G. Rees became a partner in the enterprise. The greatest step in the history of the paper was taken November 10, 1865, when William H. Newell became editor and proprietor of the paper. The name was changed at that time to

Mr. Newell was in many respects a remarkable man. Although a Union man in politics, he supported President Johnson in the great struggle with Congress. The paper became from that time Democratic in politics. Quite early in the history of his connection with the Statesman, Mr. Newell undertook the policy, so often afterwards renewed, of establishing something more than a weekly paper. On September 7, 1869, he began to issue a tri-weekly. It proved to be somewhat in advance of the times, however, and he was obliged to return to a weekly issue. In October, 1878. Mr, Newell started the daily Statesman, the first daily paper published in eastern Washington. This proved, however, to be the last act in the

Mr. Newell was probably the strongest journalist in the early history of eastern Washington. He was a man of very strong, positive character, with warm friends and bitter enemies. He was not in the habit of mincing matters or wearing soft gloves when he undertook to reform an abuse or ventilate what he considered to be fraud or trickery on the part of his political or journalistic opponents. It is related by old-timers that on one occasion when he was stumping the country against Judge Caton he began his speech in this wise : "Fellow citizens, it is always a disagreeable task to skin a skunk. But sometimes this has to be done, and when the duty devolves on me I do not flinch, hard as the job may be. Fellow citizens, I have got to skin a skunk here tonight. I propose to skin N. J. Caton." Caton, who was sitting on the platform, began to reach for his hip pocket, and the meeting broke up in general confusion.

Following Mr. Newell in charge of the Statesman came one who was his match in unique and original qualities, and long recognized as one of the foremost journalists of the state. This was Colonel Frank J. Parker. Colonel Parker was born in England, and has had about as varied an experience as miner, scout, soldier, correspondent, and politician, as often falls to the lot of man.

The daily edition of the Statesman was continued for a short time afer Colonel Parker became proprietor, but was found to be too expensive for the patronage of the sparsely settled region of that time, and was discontinued. But in February, 1880, Colonel Parker again determined to attempt a daily. At that time he obtained the first steam-power printing press used in \\^alla Walla.

Colonel Parker was in control of the daily and weekly Statesman, with short intervals of absence, luitil June, 1900. .\t that time the paper passed into the hands of the Statesman Publishing Company, Dr. E. E. Fall being the chief owner. The paper was increased to an eight-page size, and is now the largest daily in the eastern part of the state or east of the mountains outside of Spokane. The present editor is Frederick R. Marvin, formerly of Spokane. The enterprise of the Statesman, in doubling its daily matter and in securing the complete Associated Press dispatches, and in providing in general a complete modern newspaper, has been rewarded b)^ a great increase in both its subscriptions and advertisements. It has long been felt by citizens of Walla Walla that the time had arrived for a first class paper in this portion of the Inland Empire. V'arious attempts have been made hitherto to reach this desirable end, Ijut, b)- reason of the proximity of Spokane, Portland, and the Sound cities, it has not hitherto been possible for an ambitious modern newspaper to gain financial support in Walla Walla. The present effort of the Statesman bids fair to meet with permanent success, and is hailed with satisfaction by the citizens of this county.

Walla Walla Union

This paper has been the opponent and rival of the Statesman throughout its career. A number of able newspaper men have been connected with the Union, but the one name which is at once suggested in connection with it is that of Captain P. B. Johnson. What Horace Greeley was to the Trilnme. that Captain Johnson has been to the Union.

As a journalist Captain Joimson became noted for his vigor and energy and uncomproniising position on most questions of public concern, lie was a Republican of the stalwart onler. L'nder his energetic leadership, Republicanism in the county became aggressive and well organized, and the heavy Democratic majorities which had n\arkeil the earlier history were succeeded bv ecjuall}' emphatic Republican majorities during the last two decades. In 1890 Captain Johnson disposed of his interest in the L'nion to Charles Resserer, who was then conducting the Walla Walla Journal, and I'or .some lime it was published under the name of the Union-Journal. Walla W'alla has had the satisfaction of possessing newspaiier men of uinque and strongly marked traits, but of all the peculiar and original characters that ever appeared in Walla Walla journalism, it is safe to say that Mr. Besserer heads the list. Nature broke the mould after making him, anil ne\-er created another such. A German by birth, of Spanish ilescent, well educated in his native country, a soldier in the Crimean war, as also in the .\mcrican Civil war and in Indian warfare afterwartls. acting as manager a* various times for a bakery, a distillery, a hotel, postmaster, justice of the peace, a sheep man, a farmer, and lastly an editor, Mr. Besserer i)rcser\-ed his own unique personality throughout all his changes in circumstances. He was a writer of marked ability, and understood well the recpiirements of the newspaper business. No one could ever tell, however, wh.it he might pnduce, especially if it was a notice of a death. It used to be said that death had a double terror in Walla Walla, lest Mr. Besserer should write an obituary o"f the departed.

^Ir. Besserer retained control of the l'nion until 1896, when he sold out to Herbert Gregg and Harry Kelso. These gentlemen conducted the Union with vigor and success, as a bedrock, simon-pure Republican paper, having strong opinions of its own, and vet amenable to reason when party necessity seemed to render it judicious. In 1899 Messrs. J. G. Frankland, Loyil .\rmslrong and ISert La Due purchased the Union and conductetl it successfully for a year. In 1900 it again changeil hands, Levi Ankeny being the purchaser this time. J. Howard Watson, noted all over the state as the brilliant correspondent of the Seattle Post- Intelligencer, became editor iluring the political campaign of 1900, and he is still acting in that capacity. Mr. Watson is an editorial writer of exceptional \igor and intelligence, and has "made things hum" since he took up his abode in Walla Walla.

Since the Union is a morning paper and the Statesman an evening, their rivalry is not quite so intense as it might otherwise be. The very great improvements in both papers during the jiast \"ear or two have caused a marketl falling off in the number of subscribers to the papers in the large towns of this state and of Oregon. The Union and Statesman have both profited in like ratio. At the present time their good natnrcil ri\alrv and occasional editorial

Although the Statesman and the Union have been emphatically the papers of Walla Walla, there have been a number of others of shorter life, hut wliich, in their own held are deserving of notice and commendation. Among these was the

Founded in 1872 by J. W. Ragsdale. Charles H. Humphries was one of the editors, followed by L. K. Grim and Charles Besserer. Li 1877 Mr. Besserer became proprietor of this paper, and clianged its name to the Walla Walla Watchman. A few years later the name was again changed to that of the Walla Walla Journal, which ultimately became merged into the Uni(jn-Journal, as has already been stated.

Among other newspaper ventures of the earlier time we may mention the Morning Journal, of 1881, and the Daily Events, of 1882, both published by M. C. Harris. In 1882 also appeared the Washingtonian, edited and publislied by W. L. Black.

Among the papers of a later period may be mentioned the Garden City Gazette, established in April, 1894, by W. F. Brock, and tlie \\'atchnian, which was developed out of it, by J. J. Schick, both of which were conducted with much vigor and general success. During this period there were several short lived campaign papers, which produced no permanent effect on the journalistic history of the place. We present a more extended notice of the papers published at the present writing, in addition to those already described.

The Saturday Record

Among the newspapers the Saturday Record stands apart as being the only distinctively local and society publication in the city of Walla Walla. Established in y\pril, 1894, by Wilbur Fisk Brock, under the name of the Garden City Gazette, it was two years later sold to J. J. Schick, who changed the name to the Watchman, and watched over the destinies of the [japer until the early fall of 1900, wdien Bert Eugene La Due and J. (i. iM-ankland, late owners of the Union, came into possession of the plant. The name of the publication was changed to The Saturday Record and material improvements were made. The plant was at once moved to commodious (juarters in the Bingham building. Alder street, and the old Watchman merged into an eight-])age weekly ; a typesetting machine was installed, and a complete job plant, besides other requisites to make an up-to-date office, purchased. The plant is equipped with one of the most modern dynamos, and every piece of machinery in the establishment is run by electricity.

The Record enjoys a large circulation, both ^ in the city and also in the country, the subscription list having doubled inside of a few months under the new management. The paper is aggressive in the interests of home and home u])l)uilding, seldom touching upon other than local issues. The owners and publishers have in view, in addition to the many improvements already made, the bettering and enlarging of the paper and plant from time to time as conditions warrant.

The Weekly Argus

The latest aspirant for journalistic distinction is the Argus. This was founded on September 22, 1898, by Walter Lingerfelder and (". H. Goddard. The active and aggressive ]jolicy of the .\rgus, its fearlessness in attacking anybody and everylwdy whom it believes to be alnising the confidence of the people, soon made it a marked force in the county. In February, 1899, J. E. iMulhnix acquired the interest of Mr. Goddard, and he in turn sold out to Walter Lingenfelder, who thereby became sole proprietor. The Argus is published weekly and is independently Democratic in politics. The Argus has been edited with marked literary ability, and in pursuance of its avowed policy has not scrupled to attack evils both high and low, thus incurring the enmity of many politicians as well as gaining the interest of the general reading public.

The Inland Empire

Among the very creditable productions of the past year, published jointly at Walla Walla and Spokane, is a monthly magazine, known as the Inland Empire. This is published by A. H. Harris. It is a magazine of twenty-four pages, and is a publication of which any community might well be proud. It contains elaborate articles, of both historic value and high literary merit, upon the great resources and educational and other institutions of those portions of Oregon and Washington east of the Cascade mountains, together with the great state of Idaho.

1 he papers of Walla Walla county, outside of the city, have of course not been numerous, inasmuch as Waitsburg is the only newspaper town in the county, outside of Walla Walla itself.

This has been the leading and most of the time the only paper of Waitsburg for a period of twenty-four years. This paper originated in a joint stock company formed in 1878, for the ])urpose of "booming" that part of the county. The first publisher was B. K. Land, and the first issue appeared in March, 1878. It was leased for a short term to D. G. Edwards, and later to J. C. Swash. In 1880 it became the property of C. W. Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler has been for many years one of the marked characters of the county. He was first a teacher by profession, and served as superintendent of schools in Walla Walla county, and also as territorial superintendent. After entering upon the management of the Waitsburg Times he devoted himself unremittingly to journalism. In 1900 his two sons, E. L. and Guy Wheeler, assumed entire charge of the paper, giving their father a much needed rest. The Times is provided with an excellent brick building, excellent modern presses, gasoline engine, and all the other conveniences of present day journalism. In politics it is uncompromisingly Republican.

Waitsburg Gazette

This newspaper was founded in 1899, the first issue appearing on the 29th of June, of that year. R. V. Hutchins was editor and proprietor. On the 7th of March, 1900, the paper passed into the hands of C. W. McCoy. On January i, 1901, he in turn sold out to J. E. Houtchins, who is conducting the Gazette at this writing as an up-to-date paper in an upto-date town. As already indicated, this paper is Democratic in politics. It has already acquired a large circulation throughout Walla \\'alla and Columbia counties.

In concluding this survey of the newspapers of Walla Walla, we may say that in no feature of the life of the county has there been a more marked elevation of standards, within the past few years, than in journalism.