56
Tells of Staff of Yesterday
Roland Jones Finds Man Well Known Names Upon List
BY ROLAND M. JONES.
The newspaper reporter and editor fill a dual role. Daily they inform or enlighten or amuse a news hungry world with a recitation of current event served hit off the griddle. At the same time they are compiling a record of inestimable permanent value.
Undertaking the pleasant but difficult task of resurrecting the reportorial past of The World-Herald this writer found the clipping "morgue" of the newspaper plethoric with information of people and events within its purview, but singularly sterile concerning the shifting staff of writers who recorded this information. This reportorial past is unrecorded. It lives chiefly in tradition and faulty memory.
Early Reporters.
It didn't take a very hefty staff to man the new Evening World, when Mr. Hitchcock brought it into existence in 1885 as a four-page newspaper. Still it had to have a staff. Even a four-page daily was a good deal more than one-man job. The manning editorship was handled by W. V. Rooker, a minority stockholder, who sold out after a few years and left Omaha. Sands F. Woodbridge left the old Herald to become city editor, a job which evidently included gathering and writing a good deal of the news also, John M. Tanner, known far and wide as "Doc," was one of the first reporters.
Will Gurley, another minority stockholder, and Lucien Stephens, a dashing young man about town in those days, appear to have done some of the early reporting for The World. But their real love evidently wasn't with printing ink and presses. Gurley sold his stock to Mr. Hitchcok and became a shining legal light of Omaha while Stephens turned to business. They linger in the memory of old time newspaper workers as dilettantes of the art rather than as full fledged journeyman reporters.
Woodbridge Permanent.
Within the next two or three years the paper had acquired a more or less permanent staff with Mr. Woodbridge as city editor, "Doc" Tanner, R. L. Metcalfe and Lee Hurley as reporters. There was also a chalk plate artist who filled the multiple role of cartoonist, dramatic critic and exchange editor.
Of this group Woodbridge only was really permanent. As city editor and assistant managing editor he remained with the paper through its vicissitudes and its successes until physical infirmity forced his retirement. He would have died with the harness on had not his family physician almost forcibly yanked him out of it. When he did pass away some years later, he was still in spirit, in the minds of his old associates, at least, still a member of the staff.
He had been chosen, Mr. Hitchcock once recalled in reminiscence at a social meeting of the staff, because of his sobriety and reliability. That was in a day when flashes of brilliance were more the hall mark of the reporter than plodding diligence. Members of the staff used often to wonder if he ever slept. His scent on the news trail was unerring and his pursuit of it unflagging. As city editor he was an easy, kindly, gentle boss who got diligence out of his reporters because of the love and respect he inspired in them.
One Becomes Judge.
Metcalfe wanted to be always a reporter, specializing in the personalities of the men and women who make the news. It was his fate to become associate editor, editor in chief of The World-Herald, then editor of Bryan's Commoner, civil governor of the Panama Canal Zone, mayor of Omaha and finally co-ordinator of federal activities under the new deal. "Doc" Tanner graduated into publisher on his own hook of a South Omaha newspaper with a side line of politics which sent him to the state senate for several terms. Helsey became a police judge of Omaha.
The purchase of the Herald and its merger with the World as The World-Herald added a morning edition and necessitated of course an enlargement of the staff.
List Is Long.
Among the reporters who live in recollection of the youthful days of The World-Herald in the '90s are Gene Mayfield, now in retirement; Will M. Maupin, state railway commissioner; Colonel Ray C. Eaton, now living in Denver; John Becan Ryan, who helped promote the city Auditorium; Roger C. Craven, who retired a few years ago as telegraph editor; H. E. Newbranch, now editor-in-chief, and Ernest C. Hunt, who typified the star reporter of romance. He abominated routine, but Lord how he could work on a big story! And how he could write!
Then there was T. W. McCullough, who was a night editor of The World-Herald before entering upon his long service with the Bee and the Bee-News where he still occupies and editorial chair, the late J. H. Van Dusen, South Omaha reporter who later became a leading lawyer of Omaha, and Alber Fetterman, who engineered a great scoop on the return of this First Nebraska from the Phillippines, became a homesteader and lawyer in Grant county and died in service in France during the world war.
The succession of managing editors included, after Rooker, Fred Nye, Robert B. Peattie, Carl Smith and finally W. R. Watson whose management grew from the comparatively simple staff of the '90s to the organization of the present including subeditors, copy readers, rewrite men, reporters, camera men and artists.
With Managing Editor Peattie a member of the staff was his wife, Elia Peattie, who became a celebrated pen woman. She was engaged as a woman's editor and editorial writer. An anecdote of those days concerns her work in association with Al Fairbrother, also an editorial writer.
A great controversy was then raging over the abolition of hoop skirts. Mrs. Peattie cam to their defense in The World-Herald with an editorial, the last line of which read, 'As for us, we shall continue to wear them," Fairbrother, one of the old school dignified type of gentlemen, came down the next morning in a towering rage. Had she written that editorial? She had. Would she please read it again? She wouldn't. But finally at his insistence she read aloud the last line. "Madam," he exploded, "you may continue to wear them, but I'm dammed if I will."
Boyd Mayor 50 Years Ago; City's Lawyer, Connell
James E. Boyd was mayor of Omaha in 1885. His term as governor began in 1891.
William J. Connell, widely known pioneer lawyer, was city attorney in this administration. City treasurer was Truman Buck, city clerk, J. J. L. C. Jewett. Other officers were: Marshal, Thomas Cumings; police judge, Gustave Bencke; engineer, Andrew Rosewater; street commissioner, Michael Meaney; chief fire department, John H. Butler; city physician, Peter S. Leisenring; sealer of weights and measures, Joseph Redman.
The city in 1885 comprised six wards. Six councilmen were elected at large and six by wards, as follows: By wards, C. C. Trane, John F. Behn, P. Ford, W. F. Bechel, Ed Leeder and J. B. Furray. Councilmen at large were: C. Kaufman, Isaac C. Hascall, J. B. Redfield, P. F. Murphy, C. D. Woodworth and William Anderson.
57
Editorial 'We' Created Sensation As Wearing of Skirts Was Defended
Records indicate that Mrs. Elia Peattie was the first woman writer employed by The World-Herald. She later became a celebrated author.
Her husband, Robert Peattie, was managing editor of the paper in 1891. She was hired as a woman's editor, and also wrote editorials.
This caused some raised eyebrows because writing of editorials was considered strictly a man's job. But she wrote well, and everything was peaceful until one editorial comment got into the morning paper.
In those days, the women were arguing about the abolition of hoop skirts. The controversy raged on all sides. Mrs. Peattie defended the hoop skirts in an editorial.
The last line read: "And as for us, we shall continue to wear them"
Alfred Fairbrother, also an editorial writer, came to the office in a towering rage. He scowled at Mrs. Peattie. Had she written that editorial? She had. Would she please read the last part out loud? She wouldn't.
He insisted. Mrs. Peattie, perhaps guessing the reason for his anger finally read aloud the last line.
"Madam," Mr. Fairbrother said, "you may continue to wear them. But I'm damned if I will."
There are seven Omahas in the United States. The other towns are in Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Illinois.
FREMONT WOOL CO. CASH BUYERS OF WOOL HIDES FURS PELTS
FREMONT, NEBRASKA
58
World-Herald History: Part I- WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG
Continued from Page 2
pretty well, if not promptly.
Richard L. Metcalfe was the editor in 1892. At his own request, he became a political writer for a couple of years. He recommended William Jennings Bryan for the editor's job.
Mr. Bryan became editor in 1894. He resigned in 1896 when he was nominated for the presidency. The excitement of that campaign added to the paper's circulation. But its income was cut sharply by a heavy loss in advertising. This was due to a boycott of anti-Bryan business interests.
Mr. Metcalfe then resumed the editor's chair. He was a little reluctant to do so. He liked being a reporter, and wanted always to be a writer, specializing in telling about the personalities of the men and women who were in the news.
But fate had stacked the cards in a different way for him. He was editor until 1905. Then he became editor of Bryan's Commoner. In later years he was civil governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Mayor of Omaha, and co-ordinator of Federal activities under the New Deal.
Some Famous Names
William R. Watson, who was destined to become one of the great officials of the paper, was a night reporter in 1895. He was 23 years old. During the first year, he almost decided to look for another job. The paper owed him 80 dollars on his salary of 15 dollars a week.
Mr. Watson was a political writer during the Bryan campaign. He rose to telegraph editor and night editor. About 1900, shortly after his marriage, he was shifted to the dayside as an informal managing editor. He was in charge of the Sunday paper. He was formally named managing editor until he retired in 1935.
Harvey E. Newbranch, 23, came to the paper as a reporter late in 1898. He was to become one of the valuable members of the organization. His clear thinking and level-headed judgment proved exceedingly valuable to Publisher Hitchcock.
His first job was to cover the State Legislature. Then he came to Omaha and wrote some editorials. He was placed in charge of the editorial page in 1905, and was named editor in 1911.
Mr. Newbranch, now editor-in-chief, is in his fiftieth year of continuous service with the paper as this edition is printed.
Sandy G. V. Griswold, famed sports writer, came to the paper in 1896. "Sandy's Dope" was one of the first columns. His Sunday Stories "Forest, Field and Stream" won wide interest. He was nearly 8- years old when he died in 1929.
Guy R. Spencer, widely known cartoonist, joined the staff in 1899.
Eugene O. Mayfield was a reporter in 1890. He later conducted the first Childrens Page under the name Rex. M. He and a reporter named E. H. Hemming worked together in helping to solve the Cudahy kidnapping case in 1906.
(IMAGE) William R. Watson, later the managing editor, was a reporter when he started to work in 1895.
Other able writers of these times included Ernest C. Hunt, John Becan Ryan, Albert D. Fetterman, Frank P. Gallagher, Raymond Austin Eaton, Fred Nye, Carl Smith, Robert B. Peattie and his wife Elia W. Peattie who became famous as an author.
Beginning of Supremacy
William G. Grounse, a brother-in-law of Mr. Hitchcock, had joined the business staff in 1887. He was now an officer in the company and had charge of the business office and the circulation department.
(IMAGE) An early picture of Harvey E. Newbranch, who is the editor-in-chief. This is his fiftieth year with the paper.
Two big events helped the paper grow in 1898. Because of them, the circulation increased. And as more and more people bought the paper, the costs increased.
The paper met the situation by spending more money to improve its services.
One event was the great Trans Mississippi Exposition in Omaha. The world's fair attracted national attention. It drew thousands of visitors. Total attendance was more than two million persons.
At great expense, The World Herald pioneered in using half-tone cuts, or engravings. These were reproductions of photographs of the exposition. The pictures were bought, because the paper had no photographer. The cuts were made in a local shop. The paper did not have an engraving plant of its own.
The second event was the Spanish-American War.
By straining his credit to the utmost, Mr. Hitchcock contracted with the New York Herald and the New York Journal for their entire war news by telegraph. The World-Herald was able to print a great war newspaper.
This coverage was costly. The wire tolls ran into staggering amounts. But the venture paid bid dividends in another way.
Providing this news of Nebraska's fighting men in Cuba and the Philippines cemented a great and growing friendship between the people of the state and the newspaper.
This was the beginning of World-Herald supremacy. It was leadership founded on service.
End of the Century
The leader, however, had patches on its pants.
A little joke printed on the editorial page told the story. It said: " We haven't had time to read the new book. The Editor's Purse. We know this much about it-it's flat."
As the century neared its end, there were rugged financial hurdles ahead. And a new competitor entered the field.
In 1899, a syndicate established a new paper in Omaha. This was the Omaha Daily News. Within a year, this paper occupies a new building at Seventeenth and Jackson Streets.
The News, publishing an evening and Sunday paper, could operate more cheaply than its opposition. The World-Herald and the Omaha Bee published morning and evening papers.
The new paper was backed by Eastern capital. Its entrance into the Omaha field meant a newspaper "war." There was to be price curring and a scramble for business. There was the threat, to the competitors, of a considerable loss in circulation and in revenue from advertising.
Could The World-Herald weather the storm?
At the turn of the century in 1900. The World-Herald was 15 years old. It was in debt about 100 thousand dollars.
The Creighton University
Founded in 1879 with 120 boys in attendance
1948, after 70 years, nearly 3,000 students
11,270 degrees conferred by Creighton's 9 colleges. from 1891 to June, 1948 3,085 alumni in Omaha 4,815 alumni in Nebraska 1,246 alumni in Iowa
College of Commerce D. Floyd E. Walsh, Dean
Creighton College Rev. M. B. Martin, S. J., Dean
University College Rev. M. B. Martin, S. J., Dean
School of Dentistry Dr. H. E. King, Dean
School of Law Mr. James A. Dolan, Dean
School fo Medicine Dr. Charles M. Wilheimj, Dean
William H. McCabe, S. J. President
College of Pharmacy Dr. William A. Jarrett, Dean
Graduate School Rev. Henry W. Casper, S. J. Dean
School of Nursing Rev. G. H. FitzGibbon, S. J., Dean
Carry On World-Herald!
We, Too, Shall Carry On... With the Finest in Motion Picture Entertainment
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Arbor 29th and Leavenworth
Coming Soon...State Theater Clark Gable--Lana Turner in "HOMECOMING"
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MINNEAPOLIS-HONEYWELL REGULATOR COMPANY OFFICE: 106 N. 15th St. Phone: Webster 4500 OMAHA, NEBR.
Serving Greater Omaha for
FIFTEEN YEARS "Everything for the HOME" FURNITURE--APPLIANCES SOLO FURNITURE CO. 1915 FARNAM JA 1895
A Centennial Celebration ....that YOU made possible!
100 years of service! We of the North Western are proud of this record; pleased to point to our growth from a few miles of strap-rail line with a single locomotive, to a 9,600 mile rail network serving nine states.
But we know well that the real credit for our progress must go to you, the traveler, the shipper, the farmer....to the generations in your family and community who had faith in this railroad, who stood with us through hard times and good in the realization that community development and good transportation go hand in hand. So in marking our 100th birthday, our thanks are to you-- whose vision and assistance have made this event possible.
R. L. Williams, president
CHICAGO and NORTH WESTERN SYSTEM
PIONEER RAILROAD OF CHICAGO AND THE WEST--SINCE 1848
59
Fine Pieces on Wildlife
Sportsman's Country by Donald Culross Peattie. (Houghton Mifflin, $3.)
Sensitive writing about nature is always a treat and it is a pleasure to report that Mr. Peattie is near the top of his form in this little book.
There are 12 chapters in the volume. They begin with "Bob white Country" and run through gray squirrels, trout, jack rabbits, Valley quail, woodchuck, white-winged doves, bass, mule deer, red fox and hawk to "Marsh Country."
Every sportsman--and nature lover--will have his favorite, I'm sure, but because I admire the bobwhite quail above all other game birds, the opening chapter is the one I like best.
Let's look at that chapter:
Mr. Peattie examines Bob's ornithological background at the outset (deciding he is more partridge than quail), comes out strong for Bob as the "sweetest game bird" of all, records the bird's calls (and there are amazing variations), studies his habitat in minutest detail, discusses conservation practices and then goes into Bob's personal habits. And when he gets through you have read one of the handsomest essays now in print on this feathered jet.
So it goes throughout the book. Mr. Peattie probably has taken a closer and longer look at more game birds than any other naturalist in America and these chapters are the clotted cream of his observations.
America's sporting literature has grown marvelously in recent years and this volume (though not a shot is fired in it) deserves a place on the shelf with any sportsman's favorites. I am providing room on my shelves for it beside Col. Harold Sheldon's superb "Tranquility" books and I couldn't pay it a higher compliment.
There is a felicity of style, an awareness of the place of wild creatures in our supercivilized world and an implied acknowledgment of the shotgunner's and angler's viewpoint of them that should endear Mr. Peattie to every sportsman who had tried to explain the fascination of hunting or fishing to people who deplore both pastimes. --VPH
"Retirement without the love of letter is a living burial." --Seneca.
60
Did You Know That - Clover Once Was 'Noxious Weed?' -- By Will Maupin
NEBRASKA statutes once declared sweet clover to be a "noxious weed?"
THE Protestant Episcopal Church has furnished more presidents than any other religious denomination?
IF Congress were a unicameral body and the membership were put on a population basis, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois would have more representatives than all the states west of the Mississippi River?
WILLIAM Howard Taft weighed more than any other president of the United States?
LISLE thread hose were once as popular as nylons are today?
MORE than 50 years ago Mrs. Elia W. Peattie of The World-Herald staff won a prize of one thousand dollars offered by the Detroit Free Press for a story, "The Judge," published in book form?
WHEN W. J. Bryan established his weekly paper, "The Commoner," his political enemy, J. Sterling Morton, immediately founded an opposition weekly, "The Conservative?"
THERE ARE only three places where the American flag is legally permitted to fly both day and night? They are at the grave of Francis Scott Key, the National Capitol in Washington, and the war memorial in Worcester, Mass.--Mrs. Elizabeth Sharp, Sparks, Neb.
THE Governor of Nebraska can reach his office in the Capitol by private elevator, to which he alone has the key? It is an automatic elevator.
A WELL preserved set of first edition McGuffey Readers is worth more than the salary of Nebraska's Governor?
FREMONT, Neb., was given that name because a rival for the county seat was the town of Breckenridge on Shell Creek? Mr. Breckenridge was a democratic candidate for president and Mr. Fremont was a Republican candidate. Dodge County was overwhelmingly Republican.-- C. C. Cushman, 230 North N Street, Fremont.
MRS. Jessie Rent- from of Ashby, Neb., slipped up on a feasting coyote and clubbed it to death?--Mrs. Eugene Chrisman, Scottsbluff, Neb.
The World-Herald pays $1 for each item selected by Mr. Maupin for this column, Address Did You Know, The World-Herald, Omaha 2, Neb.