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About The Oregon statesman. (Salem, Or.) 1916-1980 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1931)
1 1 Rancid J By Leslie Treasurer Oreaon PIONEER publishers sougnt to.De leaaers 01 puDiic opin ion, rather than makers of profit; to be champions of . party or factions rather than neutral mediums of news. Modern politeness was unknown. Editors were savagely abusive, denunciatory, vituperative, sarcastic, rancid and uncourteous. They hated and they spread venom and they splattered ink. Editorial duello was a fine art. Thi .atvle was more highly developed in Oregon than anywhere else in the west. Yet there was no physical com bat. Enemies did not get even with fists or guns or a-.and-fpathers or libel suits. The only reprisal was to whet words the sharper, or to make the 1 compound more sour and bitter. Modern refinements and the soft answer were unknown. The editor who could not go one better was downed. Papers Suppressed; Held Treasonable That was the style the readers wanted, in the narrow, local field of pioneer Oregon. All public questions were acutely controver sial. Nowadays, in times more po lite readers seek other treatments as of prizefights, murders, sex tangles and booties. Such things then were frowned upon. Maybe the early style was better. At least It was peculiar and was a product of distinctive pioneer conditions. Fire of the most fiery newspaper were excluded from the mail or otherwise suppressed by the gov ernment In 1862-63 for treason able utterances: Albany "Inquir er," P. J. Malone, editor; Jack sonville "Gazette," James O' Meara; Eugene "Register," An thony Noltner and C. H. (Joa quin)' Miller; Portland "Advertis er;' Corvallis "Union,? James H Slater. Spectator First Paper! It Began in 1846 The first printing In the Pa cific Northwest was done for mis sionaries at Lapwai, Idaho, in 1839, by Rdwln O. Hall, soon fol lowed by Cornelius Rodgers, and in 1844 by Medare G. Foisy and Charles Saxton. The texts were translations of the Bible and hymns in Indian tongues of the Nes Perces, Cayuses, Spokanes and Flatheads. This printing continu ed until 1846, when the plant was moved to The Dalles. In 184 8 the .missionaries again moved the equipment to Tualatin Plains, near Hillsboro, where they pub lished eight numbers of "The Ore gon American and Evangelical Unionist," edited by J. S- Griffin, the second newspaper In Oregon. The second print shop was that of a weekly newspaper at Oregon City, "The Oregon Spectator," is sued February 5, 1846, first news paper published west of Missouri River. W. G. T'Vault. editor, who was postmaster-general ot the provisional government. The edi torial salary was (25 a month. The editor styled himself "a Democrat of the Jeffersonlan school." He was a scourger of Whigs; also of the "aristocracy," which was composed of tradespeo ple headed by George Abernethy, u.- l i-a-mudiSi missionaries as op posed to the farmer settlers, who disliked merchants and mission aries generally. As the aristocracy wned the "Spectator," the Inev itable occurred, and T'Vault held the sanctum only three months. Then came to the chair H. A. G. Lee who announced that he would discuss politics as a science of government, but not effervescent partyism nor the "noisy froth of spoutinc demagogues." Again broke the wrath. This time the British came in to reinforce Aber nethy and Lee was sent packing after tour months ot antagonism Journalism Politeness Was Unknown; Editors "Abusive, Denunciatory, Vituperative, Sarcastic, Uncourteous ; Many Small M. Scott Historical Society j i . t i toward the "aristocracy" and Jojhn Bull and favoritism toward the American farmer settlers. Rush to Gold Fields Causes Suspension Next in line was George Law Curry, who held the job nearly two years, until 1848. Then he. too, was sent packing by the Aber nethy ownerB, but came back with a newspaper of his own, "Free Press," the printing outfit for which he obtained from Catholic missionaries. Curry continued publication only seven months in 1848, and suspended because of the rush of his subscribers to the California mines. Curry's successor on the "Spec tator" was Aaron E. Wait. Inter mittently the "Spectator" contin ued publication as a Whig organ until March, 1855, when succeed ed by the "Oregon Argus, edited by "Parson" W. L. Adams. Fourth of Oregon newspapers was the "Western Star," publish ed November 21, 1850, at Mil- waukie; owned by Lot Whltcomb, founder of that town, and edited by John Qrvis Waterman, "gov erned by the princlple'srof Jeffer sonlan Democracy, advocating measures, not men," said the Ore gon City "Spectator," which was the only other existing newspaper. This new publication continued until June, 1851, at Milwaukie, when Waterman and his partner, William Davis Carter, moved it to Portland to become the "Ore gon Weekly Times," flat-footed Democratic and pro-slavery. In 1860 the "Times" became a daily, suspended in 18 64. Alonzo Leland was the most noted editor of the "Times." As the "Star" this pub lication printed the correspond ence of McLoughlin, Wyeth and Thurston, in the spring of 1851, which , has much historical value. Fifth of Oregon newspapers was the "Oregonian, which began publication December 4, 1850, at Portland, published and edited by Thomas J. Dryer, Whig, Repub lican, anti-slavery; now the old est newspaper of the west, ex cept "The Deseret News" of Salt Lake, six months older. Dryer was editor ten years. In 1861-65 the "Oregonian" had five succes sive editors, until in the latter year Harvey W. Scott took the editorship, brought fame and greatness to the newspaper and outdistanced all competitors. Statesman Sixth In Line of Papers Sixth of Oregon newspapers was the "Oregon Statesman" first published at Oregon City, March 28, 1851, edited by Asahel Bush, ablest editor of his day, 1851-63; newspaper moved to Salem, 1853; to Corvallis, 1855; soon returning to Salem where it has been since published. Other notable editors were D. W. Craig and Samuel A. Clarke. Under Bush, the "States man" was the leading newspaper, the recognized organ of the Dem ocrats and the leader of the Un ion alliance of Douglas Demo crats and Lincoln Republicans in the Civil War. His chief adversar- Iam were Adams and Dryer, Whig- in Early Papers Suppressed Republicans; T. B. Odene'al and James H. Slater of the Corvallis "Messenger, Democratic ' Crisis and , Weekly Union"; Delazon Smith and P.' J. Malone of the Al bany "Democrat and Inquirer"; Anthony Noltner -of the Eugene "Herald," Register and -Review',; William J. Beggs, of the Jackson ville '"Herald"; W. G. T'Vault of the Jacksonville "Intelligencer and. Sentinel"; James O'Meara of the Jacksonville "Gazette"; Alon zo Leland of the' Portland "Ad vertiser and Times." The Influence of Bush was more potent than that of any other man in holding Oregon to the Union, in connection with that of his partner in the "Statesman," Senator James W. Nf smith. Bush could outdo any adversary In sar casm and invective and was the spokesman .of the "Salem clique" as the ruling power of Oregon pol itics. He had remarkable breadth of vision and gift of foresight; was endowed with outstanding courage; used his ..influence for the obvious advantage of Oregon in national affairs. His breach with the Breckenrldge secession Democrats split his party but up held Oregon as a Urfion state. "Columbian" First in Northern Area Seventh of the newspapers In Oregon was the Olympia "Colum bian,"" founded by T. F. McElroy and J. W. Wiley, who bought of Tom Dryer the old Ramage print ing press of the "Oregonian" and first issued the "Columbian" Sep tember 11, 1852. Oregon terri tory then included the area later Washington and Idaho. In De cember, 1853, Wiley and A. M. Berry changed the name to "Washington Pioneer," and in 1 - " Years Add to By Harry B. Editor, Morning Enterprise, OregbnlCity fTlHE entire personnel of X Enterprise joins with and congratulations on this the venerable Statesman. statesman, growsjn value experience. ' What can one sav on been tritely said of newspapers in general &i one man ner or another over and over again? The! Statesman needs no generalized eulogy Down through the years it has forcefully and eloquently spoken foi itself. Established prior to state admissio: i,it watched over the birth of the constitution, and rebelled the cra dle of Oregon. It guided its first. falteri 13 steps; has grown with it, suffered , with it, rejoice vith it; ad vised, cautioned, scolded ; encouraged, de: elded, prais ed until today a great newspaper and )a jgreat state go forward day by day with jhat understanding that comes only from long, honest, helpful association. In 1854 we find The Statesman a4vcating the holding of a convention to form the state constitution. , It urged that this was the only way to ge:t needed har bor improvements, lighthouses and raflrlads. The printed sheets of its historic files, transp oft one as it were a fairy carpet of an Arabian. Wii hi moistened eye of emotional reminiscence we behold onf every scale every human quality; everything that pfonpts exal tation ; piques to bitter resentment and chagrin"; every thing that inspires pity, dread or anger; Jexcites the lense of mystery and fear. Eighty years f gripping history chronicled under the inspiration f . the mo ment. . , ' . So much for the past, which is said jt be always secure. But what of the future? Whoeveri is content with the ideas of yesterday, the journalist must be equipped with the ideas of tomorrow, klading The" Statesman as I do daily, to me there isf np question that the octagonarian is yet vital and avLke. to pre sent day demands ; and when the advancing world re quires new standards it will be one of thfe first, judg ing by the present, to step from the ideas jof tomorrow to the ideas of day-after-tomorrow. Again! congratu lations and best wishes! I regon in 60s;. Spectator First 1 -' j" February, 185J4, Jo "Pioneer ana Democrat." a frat; "neutral in politics, the 1'Columblan soon de clared Itself 'la 4tralght-cut, rad- 4 leal Democratic Hournal.r. This was the earliest! newspaper in Washington established as part of the movement for separation from Oregon knd of the Salem- Oregon City aptal controversy The second . newspaper In Wash ington was - ie "Puget Sound Courier" of Steiacoom," founded by W. B. Affleckand E. T. Gunn, May 19, 1854I'"i'hig,, in politics and short-lived. Scottsburg Galette Beerun in 18544 South of Salem the earliest 1 newspaper was "Gazette," first 1854, by Daniel the Scottsburg asued April 23, Jackson. Lyons, its Value Cartlidge the Oregon pity Morning me in heartiest greetings anniversary occasion to A newspaper! Eke a true in proportion toiits ripened ' this occasion that has not j '-' I -fT J ; lESUi it- SCOTT IT i Paper editor, scottsburs; was then a riv al of Portland tor trade growth, but soon faded out and the "Ga zette" plant In 1855 was moved to Jacksonville for publication of the "Table Rock Sentinel W. G."1 T'Vault, editor, who was a hard boiled pro-slavery Southern De ocrat, and a foe' to Bush's, Salem clique and the Salem "States man" in the conduct of the Dem ocratic party. T'Vault had been the first newspaper editor in Ore-' gon, of tl "Spectator" in 184C; was vigorous but never conspicu ously successful In any important endeavor. James O'Meara took the editorship in 1859 as a pro slavery radical, but the- Union, cause was too strong for iim In 1862 and Orange Jacobs then was put in as editor by new owners, who" changed' to Union politics. The most noted owner was B. F. Dowell, Republican, who publish ed the "Sentinel" in 1864-78. Two other contemporaries were the Portland "Democratic Stand ard," founded July 19, 1864, 1 and the Oregon City "Argus,": founded April, 21, 1855. Alonzo Leland! was publisher of the "Standard" and - William L. (Fighting Par son) Adams, of the "Argus. Le land opposed Bush and Oregon statehood. "Later in 1859, James O'Meara was editor, prior to his Jacksonville exploits on th "Sentinel.- . . .- '. ' -Adams Bitter Foe of Bush's Policies j Adams was the most energetic and effective of Bush's editorial antagonists, a militant Campbel lite preacher, Whig, prohibition ist, antislavery, later a Republi can; of ruthless sarcasm, unyield ing dogmatism, cutting epithets I and terrific invective. Billy Adj ams and Asahel Bush led' the list of fighting editors -in the, 1850's and each fought' harder than the other. David W. Craig became publisher of the "Argus" in 1859, but retained Adams as editor un til 1863. The "Argus" then unit ed with the Eugene "State Repub lican" of II. R. Kincatd, which later j iunited ; with the Salem "Statesman." Kincaid then found ed the "Oregon State Journal" at Eugene and conducted that paper more than 45 years. Adams was rewarded by Lincoln by appoint ment as collector of customs, at Astoria in 1863. Four Democratic organs of In tense Southern ; bias should be noted as belonging to the late 1850's: ' Corvallis "Occidental Messepg- er June. 1857, owned by J. C. Avery, founder of Corvallis, and edited, by T. B. Odeneal, termed by Bush "Avery's Ox." Jacksonville "Herald," August 1, 1857. owned by William . j. Beggs and B. J. Burns. Eugene "Democratic Herald," March, 1859. published by Alex ander Blakely and then, by An thony Noltner. Albany "Oregon Democrat, November 18, 1859, -published by -Delazon Smith, who early that year had been Oregon's short term senator and was defeated for reelection In . September, 1859;. name changed-to "Inquirer" in 1861, P. J. Malone, edltpr. These newspapers represented the southern sesesslon wing of the Democratic party, which in 1860 followed Breckenrldge and Joe Lane against Douglas and Lin coln. The ''Occidental Messenger." later the "Oregon Weekly Union" of James A. Slater, was the most defiant and radical advocate ia (Continued on Page 11, Col. 2) 4eJLal