History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 37

Author: John W. Mason
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 765

USA > Minnesota > Otter Tail County > History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 37

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The newspaper history of Fergus Falls and Otter Tail county would not be complete without specific mention of the l'anguard, a small folio sheet which was issued only ten times, but which caused more discussion in the county than any other paper for the length of time it was being issued. Undoubtedly it was the most unique newspaper ever published in Otter Tail county or in the state of Minnesota; this paper issued during the campaign of 1874. It bore the name of Vanguard, and, according to its initial issue of September 8. 1874, it intended to "Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may." In the seventies politics were taken more seriously than at the present time and the press during campaign years printed material which, in its more sober moments, would have been relegated to the waste

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basket. More than forty years have passed since the ten numbers of the Vanguard came off the press of the Fergus Falls Journal, and very few of those who figured in its columns are now living. It was a hot political cam- paign : there appears to have been the usual so-called ring: there also appears the crowd who wants to establish another ring; so it has always been and so will it always be-those who are out want in, and no doubt those in often would rather be out. It is not for us of the present day to pass judg- ment on our fathers of two score years ago. It was out of the 1874 cam- paign that the l'anguard was born and "Published by the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Otter Tail County." The excuse for this unique sheet may be seen in its salutatory: "Today we launch our little monitor, The Van- guard, upon the political waters of Otter Tail county, laden with a cargo of truths for the people." The ostensible purpose of the Vanguard was to advocate the candidacies of Henry G. Page for the state Senate, R. L. Frazee and Iver Christiansen for the lower house of the Legislature, and D. P. Hatch for county attorney as against the candidacies of Ole Jorgens for the Senate, Soren Listoe and I. W. Chambers for the lower House, and E. E. Corliss for county attorney. The candidates of the Vanguard were all elected on November 3, 1874, and the stanch little sheet which had been so prominent a factor in the victory takes leave of the public by saying that "This is the last issue ( November 7, 1874) of the Vanguard in 1874, and in this we bid goodbye for the present to our readers and friends, taking this occasion to assure them that in the future should circumstances require. out little sheet will be promptly published." The paper ran about a thousand copies to the issue and was distributed free of cost-"without money and without price. Like salvation, it has been free." The V'anguard issued one number in 1875 (April 6), but this issue pertained solely to local affairs in Fergus Falls. About the most important fact mentioned in this last issue of the paper was the statement of the expenses of the village for 1873 and 1874, the expenses for the former year being $656.02 and for the latter $272.56. With this issue of April 6, 1875. the Vanguard made its last appearance; its work was done. As it says, "We have fought the fight."

There have been more papers published in Fergus Falls than in all other towns in the county together. There have been papers published at various times in Battle Lake, Henning, New York Mills, Parkers Prairie, Perham, Pelican Rapids, Richville, Deer Creek, Otter Tail City, Ottertail and Bluffton. An effort has been made to secure a history of all of these papers, but in many cases no copies have been found of discontinued papers and their owners and editors have disappeared as completely as have the products of their presses. Most of the papers of the smaller villages of the county are devoted primarily to the news of the village and the immediate

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vicinity. Unfortunately, the editors of some of the papers in the county have not responded to the request for information and in some cases have given such meager data that it has been impossible to prepare a complete history of the papers.

The Battle Lake Review was established by Bronson Strain and made its first appearance with the issue of May 19, 1884. It was on this same day that the Otter Tail County Farmers' Alliance was organized by Charles Lane, John B. Hompe, N. E. Nelson, Haldor E. Boen and a few others. Strain was succeeded by Harvey Johnson, who was followed by his brother, W. L. Johnson. The paper still continues under the same name.

The first paper to appear in Perham was the Perham News, which was announced as being just out by the Fergus Falls Advocate in its issue of July 29, 1874. X. S. Burke was the owner and editor and averred that he intended to run a Republican paper. It is not known how long this paper was published.

The Perham Independent appeared on the newspaper horizon of Otter Tail county with the issue of May 2, 1877. Its editor and publisher, Frank M. Geoghegan, thought it necessary to offer his readers the formal saluta- tion which the initial issue of papers usually contains. He informs his readers that the paper is independent in politics and that "we reserve to our- selves the inalienable right to support the man and not the party." He also makes a special promise to pay particular attention to farming. The paper started out as a six-column folio, but the whole of the first issue has only five columns of local news, the remainder being plate material. .

The Pelican Rapids Press was established in 1897 by C. Cranston, but no less than seven different owners had charge of the paper between the time of its founding and 1908, when the present editor, E. L. Peterson, acquired it. The early newspaper history of Pelican Rapids is shrouded in more or less mystery, but it is certain that one Rathbun established the first paper. Early sheets in the village bore the significant names of Pioneer and Rustler, but definite information concerning these first papers has not been ascertained. The Press is a Republican paper and is devoted primarily to local news and advertising. It has a circulation of eight hundred, most of which is in the village and immediate community.

The Henning Advocate was established in March, 1891, although it was then known as the Alliance Advocate. Frank Hoskins was the editor of the Alliance Advocate during most of its career, and gave the paper more than a local reputation while he was in charge of it. During the first five years of its existence the paper labored under difficulties and no less than half a dozen editors tried to make a success of it. The present editor. Man- ley Johnson, has been at the helm for about twenty years, which is sufficient

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evidence that he has made a success of it. The plant is well equipped for newspaper and general job work, and has a Cottrell cylinder press and two modern job printing presses. The paper is Democratic in politics. The cir- culation is six hundred and fifty.

The Parkers Prairie Independent was established by J. C. Simpson on April 11, 1902. Simpson died shortly after the paper was started and the plant was then sold to Meyers & Branham, who, in turn, disposed of it to P. L. English. The latter sold it to R. S. Meyers, the present owner, in May, 1910. The office of the paper is in the basement of the State Bank of Parkers Prairie. The paper is Republican in politics and has a circulation of six hundred and fifty. The plant is well equipped with presses, a type- setting machine run by electric motor and all the necessary equipment for a successful paper in a village of this size.

The Uusi Kotimaa, published at New York Mills, was established at Minneapolis in September, 1881, and removed to New York Mills in 1884, where it has since been published. It is published in the Finnish Inaguage and is one of the most prominent papers of this language in the United States. At one time it had a larger circulation than any Finnish paper in the whole country outside of Chicago. The circulation at the present time is seventy-five hundred and fifty. The present editors and publishers are J. W. Lahde and Felix Nylund. The plant is equipped with a Miehle press and linotype machine. In politics the paper is independent Republican.

Other papers of the county now in existence are the following: Per- ham Enterprise-Bulletin and Deer Creek Mirror. Among other discontinued papers which have not been mentioned in the discussion of the various papers of the county may be mentioned the Richville Leader, the Pelican Rapids Sentinel, the Pelican Rapids Times and the Bluffton Enterprise. The latter sheet was running in 1883, with B. F. Mckay as owner and editor, but suspended in October of that year.

LEGAL, NEWSPAPERS OF OTTER TAIL COUNTY.

An act of the Legislature, passed in 1893. defined a legal newspaper as one having a bona fide circulation of two hundred and forty and a continuous existence of at least one year. Papers fulfilling these qualifications are designated as "legal" and entitled to bid on county printing, publish official notices or do job printing of any kind for the county. Since this law went into effect the following papers in Otter Tail county have qualified as legal newspapers. (The dates are those on which the papers filed their statement of legality with the county auditor) : Fergus Falls Weekly Journal, April 29. 1893; Fergus Falls Daily Journal, April 29. 1893; Perham Bulletin, April 29. 1893; Fergus Falls Ugeblad, May 3, 1893; Fergus Globe, May 6, 1893: New York Mills Uusi Kotimaa. May 15, 1893; Battle Lake Review.

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January 9, 1896; Wheelock's Weekly, September 14, 1896; Henning Advo- cate, January 8, 1897; Pelican Rapids Press, April 4, 1898; Fergus Falls Free Press, September 23, 1901; Perham Enterprise, December 17, 1901; Parkers Prairie Independent, April 6, 1903; Richville Leader, October 23, 1905; Deer Creek Mirror, November 13, 1906; Pelican Rapids Press, March 15, 1909.

All of these papers are still (1910) being published with the exception of the Fergus Globe and Richville Leader. The two Perham papers and the Richville Leader are now consolidated as the Perham Enterprise-Bulletin. The Leader was bought by the Enterprise in 1909 and the Enterprise later bought the Bulletin after the death of its editor and owner, L. E. Davidson.

THE AMENITIES OF THE PRESS.

Custom, habit and character change with the years. As the rigidity and intolerance of the Puritans of New England softened and ameliorated with time, so the press of the frontier has been subject to the same human- izing spirit, indicative of more civilizing tendencies, as the mental and moral horizon grows broader; as enlightenment expands, and brotherly love sup- plants brotherly hate. This spirit has gradually worked its way, silently and persistently until now the editors of Otter Tail county are reasonably pacific, and speak as they pass each other. The present conciliatory modus vivendi existing among the editorial fraternity gives no hint of early condi- tions; and a statement, unaccompanied with authorities, as to the early belligerency of the pioneer editors would be discredited. To meet such skepticism it is deemed wise to give herewith some extracts from the early journals, illustrative of the amenities as they existed and were practiced among the editors of rival sheets in those days that have become historic.

The first paper in the county, the Fergus Falls .Advocate, was established in 1871, with Orange S. King as editor and proprietor. He was a brother of Hon. William S. King, of Minneapolis, a famous politician of that day. He was wealthy and owner of a large blooded stock farm in Hennepin county. In his herd was the celebrated bull, "Duke of Hillhurst," concern- ing which animal more is to be said.

The second newspaper printed in the county was the Otter Tail City Record. It was started in September, 1871, with W. F. Ball as its editor. The proprietors of the paper were E. G. Holmes and Colonel Johnson, of Detroit, Minnesota.

In 1874 W. S. King was nominated and elected to Congress from the third congressional district of Minnesota. His campaign was one of the most famous-his enemies said infamous-campaigns of the state, before or since. Eugene M. Wilson, also of Minneapolis, was the Democratic candi- date for Congress against King.

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The third newspaper of the county was the Fergus Falls Journal, owned and edited by A. J. Underwood. This paper was generally supposed to have been established or induced to come into the field by George B. Wright as a rival of the Advocate, as the latter paper was an exponent of the Austin faction and opposed to the Wright faction.

These preliminary explanations will make plainer the editorial extracts to follow. All three papers were supposed to be Republican in politics, but the Journal in 1874 bolted the party and supported Wilson for Congress. The extracts will speak for themselves. Nor is it necessary to say anything about King's ability to use the English language. That, too, may be judged from his editorials. The writer owns the only extant files of the Advocate. and has not a like access to the files of the Journal: hence the more liberal extracts from the former.

The following key to names used in the editorials will serve to make them more comprehensive: Pecksniff and Uriah Heep, Advocate's name for A. J. Underwood: Man Friday, Advocate's name for W. F. Ball: Orlando. Journal's name for O). S. King: Thing of Beauty, Missing Link and Darwinian End of Journal Menagerie, some of Advocate's names for C. J. Wright: Educational Editor of Journal, J. P. Williams; Journal Menagerie. Journal staff: Duke of Hillhurst. W. S. King's blooded bull; Managing Editor Journal, George B. Wright.

All that follows, and much more of the same sort. has been published before and is to be found in newspapers in the early days. The bringing together here of these extracts is simply a reproduction, placed in convenient form, to enable the curious to read them without the laborious search of voluminous files :

Look Out For Them.

The soreheads of the west end of the county. who failed in securing a full set of nominations to suit themselves, are now straining every nerve to secure success for the County Division movement. -- Otter Tail City Record.

The above is decidedly rich. coming as it does from a paper owned In part by E. G. Holmes, an ex-candidate for the position of state senator. and a man who carries the sorest head of any man in the whole county. east or west. Would it not be better taste for the Man Friday to refrain from such sluss until his master's head has recovered sufficiently to do away with the necessity of a cooling poultice?

-- Fergus Falle Advocate. October 28. 1871.

During the past summer and this fall, a great deal of dirty work has been done in this county in the interest of a few men whose positions would not permit of their doing it themselves. -- Otter Tail City Record.

That's right. Friday. "Open confession is good for the soul." and we're glad to see that you propose to take the benefit of it. The whole county is aware that in the line of "dirty work" you have. so far as your ability will permit. done your share. It is to be hoped you will get your dearly earned wages, for the little conscience which your confession wond indicate you had left. must be troublesome to yon'at times.

-Advocate. November 25. 1871.

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A Cheap Tool.

E. G. Holmes' $25.00 Friday who dishes up a column or two of slops each week upon the patent insides of the Otter Tail City Record, takes occasion to go out of his way to slur Fergus Falls and its ladies. We would simply suggest to him that he will make more money and less cuffs if he confines himself in the future to his advertising business. -Advocate, January 20, 1872.

A $25 F. F. V. on the Rampage.

Friday wants to Strap his Revolver on his Hip. Women and Children to be Sent to Safe Quarters.

The F. F. V., yelept "Friday." imported from Alexandria by E. G. Holmes to preside over the columns of his "patent inside" advertising circular, and do his dirty work gen- erally, is on the warpath. Now, while the ordinary F. F. V. can be purchased on his native soil for a quart of common whiskey, "Friday" demanded and received $25 in greenbacks, because he don't drink whiskey any more, though he is apt to make mistakes when he counts his change by moonlight. He hasn't had a chance to sell since Holmes imported him. as his lack of brains rendered it impossible for him to give a consideration for more than twenty-five cents (and dear at that) and he is consequently short of filthy lucre.

The officers have failed to grease his itching palms with greenbacks, and he waxeth wroth, lubricates his soapy locks with another bottle of fish off, and wildly throwing his disheveled hair bebind his ears, opens the vials of his wrath and wastes a whole column of the "patent" Record in malicious slanders upon our county officers, and giving our county the reputation abroad of being a paradise for murderers, thieves and highwaymen. He goes on and cites a number of instances where crimes have been committed, and stys that none of the perpetrators have been punished, through the efforts of our county officers. neither have they attempted to bring them to punishment, which he knew at the time to be totally false. We propose to take the matter up next week and prove the falsity of each and every allegation. -Advocate, February 10, 1872.

A Highway Robber's Opinion.

We hear it intimated that there is some talk of starting a newspaper at Fergus Falls in this county. As Fergus Falls is rapidly growing and already a thriving and prosper- ous place. her business men must feel the need of a reliable home organ and advertising medium. An honest. respectably conducted newspaper at that place would doubtless be a paying institution from the start.

-Otter Tail City Record.

In order to secure an "honest. respectable" organ, according to Ball's idea of pro- priety, is for a man who has swindied a confiding friend out of the last dollar he had in the world to purchase the printing material necessary, and then secure the services of a tool like himself, who while attorney for one county deliberately compounded a felony for the pitiful sum of $25. and was forced by an indignant community to leave the county. A man, who, acting as deputy county attorney of our own county, and acting in that capacity as attorney for the man O'Conners, who had been robbed by Johnson of $90. deliberately robbed him of fifteen dollars more, of the money that had been recovered from robber No. 1. A fit-subject himself, for state's prison. prating of honesty and respectability is simply the mouthing of words that practically he never knew the mean- ing of, nor never will. unless a great miracle is wrought with him as with Saul of Tarsus. -Adrocate, March 16. 1872.

Pecksniff's Biography.

The little Darwinian end of the Journal menagerie spreads himself out over four columns of that paper, last week. in a biographical sketch of the editorial career of Pecksniff. while he labored upon the Detroit Record. To somewhat relieve it of its egotism he has used assumed names for persons and places, but the character is drawn too naturally to be mistaken.

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We heard at the time of the occurrence that a cloud bung over his departure from the editorial chair of that paper, but was not aware that he had rendered himself so obnoxious to that people, or that he was so summarily treated. and we think that even now he could bring an action against the leaders of the mob for cruelty to animals.

We are pleased that the vealy biographer has at last given the public the exact position which Pecksniff fills upon the Journal, but we bardly think it fair that he should make such sarcastic allusions to his feet. as they are clearly outside matter, and no patent has been applied for on them, although there is sufficient ground for one to be issued upon. -Fergus Falls Adrocate, June 10, 1874.

Worms or Colic-Which?

This week's Journal looks as if the whole menagerie bad worms or a severe attack of wind colic. We are sorry to see that Pecksniff's stock of "conscientiousness" gave out at the court house, and that he indulges in the same class of statements which forced Ananias to turn up his toes. Forbear, Pecksniff. Don't try to act the character of Uriah Heep, too. You haven't the necessary brains; and besides that you are hypo- critical enough without that.

We will try and relieve your pain with a worm lozenge. next week. -Fergus Falls Advocate, June 17, 1874.

GREAT EXCITEMENT AMONGST THE ANIMALS.

The Journal Menagerie on the Stampede! The Keeper's Arrival From Minneapolis. One Finc Specimen Yet at Large.

As the Mexican bull becomes enraged at the display of the red scarf in the arena, so do some of the animals in George B. Wright's great Hippodrome become angry at certain sounds. For instance, the mention of the "Duke of Hillhurst" in an audible breath, within the enclosure produces the wildest demonstrations of rage and disorder. This was probably caused by a certain unpleasantness that took place some time ago between the owner of the "Duke" and Wright's principal specimen. Pecksniff. What that difficulty was we will not now stop to mention, but suffice to say that it became necessary to remove the animal from Minneapolis, out of sight and hearing of the "Duke's" keeper.

Last week while the Hippodrome was filled to overflowing and the animals were being fed. some thoughtless spectator inadvertently cried out "Hurrah for the Duke of Hillhurst." The effect was magical. The principal specimen gave his peculiar wail. which seemed to craze the whole collection. The keeper was absent at his home in Minneapolis, and it seemed as though our village were left to the mercy of the saguinary animals. The keeper was at once telegraphed, "to come." He came looking as much like the poorest of his collection as possible. But there was magic in his touch and the glance of his eye compelled obedience. The keeper was not long in quieting the animals and restoring order and confidence in our midst: but one of his finest speci- mens-that intelligent monkey which was soon expected to "evolve" into manhood thereby verifying the Darwinian theory-had broken loose and escaped. Strict search was made and every effort put forth to secure him to his keeper. but all in vain. The keeper returned to Minneapolis during the latter part of the week, much depressed in spirit feeling sure, as he says, that it will be years before he can again secure a speci- men similar to the one he has lost.

P. S .- Since writing the above, we learn that the Darwinian end of the Journal Menagerie is in the woods west of Minneapolis, and hopes are entertained of his capture. -Fergus Falls Adrocate, July 1. 1874.

Pecksniff's pharasaical conscience prompts him to indulge in a contemptible fling at two-thirds of the citizens of our village who witnessed the races on the 4th of July.

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for being present at the only portion of the exercises which were a success. Under which conscience was the Pharisee laboring when he wrote the insult?

-Fergus Falls Adrocate, July 8, 1874.

Pecksniff last week howls like a coyote, because he hears the owner of the Lyndale herd proposes to visit Fergus Falls. His Otter Tail conscience fairly loathes Lyndale bulls, and his stomach revolts at the thought of the juicy steak. just out of his reach. In the meantime his Wilkin county conscience itches to sample the paper mill soon to visit our village. Those two consciences are a terrible strain upon Pecksniff's tender constitution. -Pergus Falls Advocate, July 22, 1874.

That unique specimen of the Journal's menagerie, named in natural history the Ourang. but in the Journal collection labeled "A Thing of Beauty." gives vent to a feeble wail of lament, last week, at the slowness of its development. The "Thing" should not grow discouraged. It takes ages for that class of animals to develop, and of course the improvement of three short years would be imperceptible in so unpromising a specimen as the one in the Journal menagerie.

-Fergux Falls Advocate. August 5, 1874.

George B. Wright says that Pecksniff "has made an ass of himself by going over to the Anti-Monops." Oh no! He is only trying to improve upon the ass his maker made him. That's all. Don't be unkind to him George. He tries his best to do your dirty work acceptably. It isn't his fault that his ears are so long.

-- Fergus Falls Advocate, August 12, 1874.

Journal's Name for Advocate-Pukeville Carrion.

Orlando's writing was never the best and his written account has been misinter- preted, and from the bold headline of every sheet flashed the startling intelligence that this was the "Pukeville Carrion." -Journal, June. 1874.

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History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota: Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 37

Author: John W. Mason Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Number of Pages: 765

Author: John W. Mason
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 765