USA > Nebraska > Douglas County > Omaha > History of the city of Omaha, Nebraska > Part 27
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The Omaha Daily Herald, Democratic, was established by Dr. George L. Miller and Daniel W. Carpenter, in 1865. Three years later the paper was purchased by Lyman Richardson and John S. Briggs, though Dr.
THE BEE BUILDING.
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NEWSPAPERS NOW PUBLISHED.
Miller retained the editorship, and soon af- ter bought Mr. Briggs' interest; and the firm of Miller & Richardson, as proprietors, con- tinued until March, 1887, when they sold the paper to John A. McShane, who con- trolled it for a year, and it then passed into the management of R. A. Craig, and in March, 1889, the paper was purchased by G. M. Hitchcock. Under the management of Miller & Richardson, though published in a State that was overwhelmingly Republican in politics, the Herald took high rank, and attained great popularity. Indeed, its popularity was not confined to Nebraska, or the West, but assumed a national charac- ter. Dr. Miller was a writer of nnusual vigor, and possessed strong convictions on all important topics, with a courage to de- clare them. The Herald was an earnest and persistent advocate of the benefits of tree culture in Nebraska, and to its efforts in this direction is due much of the develop- ment that has been made in forest culture in Nebraska during the past twenty-five years.
The Daily Evening Tribune was the out- come of a desire on the part of certain citi- zens of Nebraska to defeat General John M. Thayer in his aspirations for re-election to the United States Senate in 1871. The first issue appeared July 20, 1870, the necessary funds being furnished chiefly by John I. Redick, Wallace R. Bartlett, Clinton Briggs, Charles F. Hickman, and Phineas W. Hitch- cock, small amounts being subscribed by a large number of Omaha people of both po- litical parties, though Mr. Redick was the main promoter of the enterprise. Mr. Hitchcock, being elected to the senate in January, 1871, defeating General Thayer, was induced, soon afterwards, to take $20,- 000 worth of stock in the paper. The Trib- une was a handsomely printed, spirited pub- lication, edited by C. B. Thomas, who came from the East to take charge of that depart- ment of the paper. It was said that he had formerly been a clergyman, but that fact was never betrayed by the character of the
editorial columns of the paper. Joseph B. Hall was president of the Tribune Company, and brought with him, from the State of Maine, the greater part of his working force. The paper was Republican in politics, and waged bitter warfare upon the Daily Re- publican, which was responded to in kind, but that fact did not interfere with the con- solidation of the two papers in 1871.
The first issue of the Evening Bee, Repub- lican in political faith, appeared June 19, 1871, starting out with the bold announce- ment in the first issue, that it was " the best advertising medium in the city." H. H. Geralde was the ostensible editor and proprietor. July 27, the following editorial was printed: "The popular favor hereto- fore accorded the Bee as a gratuitous adver- tising medium, and the general desire ex- pressed by a large number of our citizens for its enlargement as an evening journal, warrant the hope of its future success as a thoroughly fearless and independent expo- nent of public opinion. Mr. Harry Geralde will continue as the editor-in-chief, assisted by gentlemen of journalistic experience. It will be the aim of the publisher, from the outset, to make the Bee a newspaper in the true meaning of the word." This was signed by Edward Rosewater, as publisher and proprietor. The growth of the paper from that date, has been continuous and rapid, though many were the obstacles with which it was forced to contend. Starting as an evening paper, it has, for many years, printed a morning edition also. In 1878, a stock company was formed to manage the business, Mr. Rosewater retaining the con- trolling interest and remaining in charge of the editorial department. In June, 1889, the establishment was moved to the new building erected by the Bee Building Com- pany, on Farnam and Seventeenth Streets, seven stories high, and covering an area of 132 feet square, the largest newspaper building, as to ground covered, in the world. It is a strikingly handsome and substantial
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
structure, costing nearly half a million dol- lars, and is one of the chief points of inter- est pointed out to strangers visiting the city. Edward Rosewater is president of both the Bee Publishing Company and the Bee Build- ing Company, George B. Tzschuck being secretary and treasurer of the first named organization, and N. P. Feil, a son-in-law of Mr. Rosewater, secretary and treasurer of the second company.
The publication of the Evening World was commenced in August, 1885, G. M. Hitch- cock, Frank J. Burkley, Alfred Millard, W. F. Gurley, and W. V. Rooker being the pro- prietors, with the first named as editor-in- chief and principal stockholder, Mr. Burk- ley, business manager, and Mr. Rooker as managing editor. In March, 1889, the Her- ald was purchased, and the two papers merged under the name of World-Herald. A building on Farnam Street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth, three stories high, was purchased in 1889, and fitted up in the most convenient manner for a first-class newspaper office. The paper is now in a strong financial condition, is ably edited, and rapidly increasing its subscription list. Mr. Hitchcock is still the chief owner, with Mr. Burkley in charge of the business de- partment, and Mr. Robert B. Peattie as- managing editor.
October 27, 1888, Major J. C. Wilcox be- gan the publication of the Evening Dispatch, a Republican paper (or, rather, resumed its publication, as he established a paper by that name in 1873, but discontinued it after a few months' experience). October 13, 1889, he purchased the Omaha Republican, and for a time continued both publications, but in December, 1889, he ceased publishing the Dispatch, and gave his entire attention to the Republican. On the 1st of July, 1890, the paper announced itself as favoring the adoption of the constitutional amend- ment prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors in Nebraska, which announcement created a decided sensation
throughout the State, as the paper had pre- viously opposed the amendment, and tlie question at issue was one which was then attracting great attention.
The Omaha Democrat, an evening paper of Democratic faith, is the successor of the Inter-State Herald, formerly the Council Bluffs Herald, which latter paper was estab- lished in Council Bluffs by R. E. Ingraham, S. T. Walker, and W. A. Spencer, in 1882. It was purchased by W. R. Vaughan, Octo- ber, 1888, and was at once removed to Omaha, where its publication was continued for a time as the Inter-State Herald, then as the Inter-State Democrat, and on October 1. 1889, the name was changed to the Omaha Daily Democrat. It was owned by a stock company, M. V. Gannon being president, W. R. Vanghan, vice-president and manag- ing editor, William McHugh, treasurer. and B. A. Fowler, secretary. They sus- pended publication early in 1891.
The Nebraska Tribune is a German daily and weekly which has built up a large circu- lation. It was established eight years ago by F. C. Festner, recently deceased, and was for many years edited by Frederick F. Schnake. Otto Kinder and Joseph Wortenberger are the present editors.
The Danske Pioneer is a Scandinavian weekly of much influence with that class of citizens. It has a large circulation, and is ably edited by Mr. Sophus F. Neble, the present owner. The paper was established in 1871, by Mark IJansen.
The Pokrok Zapadu, edited and owned by John Rosicky, is a weekly printed in the Bohemian language. The paper has been under the control of Mr. Rosiscky for many years, and has attained a wide circulation. It was founded in August, 1871, by Edward Rosewater, and published bi-monthly.
The Swedish Tribune and Swedish Post are both well conducted weeklies, which cir- culate extensively among the Swedish peo- ple. The former is edited hy Claes Algotel- men, and the latter, by C. A. Jacobson.
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WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS NOW PUBLISHED.
The Westliche Courier, a German weekly, edited by Mr. Bruno Tzschuck, formerly Sec- retary of State for Nebraska, and, later, Con- sul to Vera Cruz, Mexico, after several years' existence, was sold to Mr. Frederick F. Schnake, formerly of the Nebraska Tribune, who changed its name to the Ne- braska Banner, and still publishes it.
The Dannebrog, a Danish weekly, is edited by Otto Wolf.
The Omaha Weekly Mercury was estab- lished by F. M. MacDonagh, at Plattsmouth, Nebraska, in 1871, under the name of Ne- braska Watchman, and moved to Council Bluffs in 1878, and to Omaha in 1879. Mr. MacDonagh died in this city, June 5, 1885, and the following year the paper was pur- chased by A. L. Pollock, who sold it to John T. Bell in the latter part of 1888. In January, 1890, Messrs. Victor E. Bender and Frederick W. Taylor purchased the pa- per, the latter selling his interest to Mr. Bender in May, 1890. It is devoted more to the legal interests than any other, and is the recognized organ of the bar of this city.
The Omaha Excelsior was established as an amateur paper about fifteen years ago, by Clement C. Chase, then a boy at school. It has since developed into a paper of consider- able influence, under the management of its founder, and is the chief society paper of the city. It is published weekly, and has con- nected with it a valuable job printing es- tablishment, of which Mr. Chase and George B. Eddy are proprietors.
The Railway News and Reporter, Daniel B. Honin, editor and proprietor, is a weekly, devoted especially to the interests of rail- road men.
The Omaha Times, a weekly, published by Blackman & Garton, II. G. Boluss, editor, was established in September, 1890.
Progress is the name of a weekly pub- lished by the colored men of Omaha, and which shows considerable ability. The first issue appeared during the latter part of 1889.
United Labor is a weekly publication,
which was commenced in October, 1890. It is devoted to the interests of the local labor associations. William S. Sebring is the business manager.
The Knights' Jewel is published in the interest of the Knights of Pythias, by Will. L. Scism.
The Omaha Original, Mrs. IIelen A. Van Camp, publisher, is a weekly family paper which made its first appearance on Easter day, 1891.
There are several trade papers published in Omaha, among them being The Omaha Furniture Journal, a monthly, devoted, as its name implies, to the interests of the furniture and kindred trades, edited by Mr. A. Spitko; the Western Merchant, owned by Mr. A. Il. Comstock; and the Western Printer, published by the Great Western Type Foundry in the interest of their business.
The Western Newspaper Union, George A. Joslyn, manager, supplies " ready prints " to over three hundred outside papers, and this matter is ably edited by Mr. Cal. Shultz, an experienced newspaper man who has been connected with the Omaha press for nearly a quarter of a century. The Auxil- iary, a monthly publication issued from this office, is a very handsome publication, devoted to furthering the interests of the honse. The American Press Association. M. G. Perkins, manager, also does a large business in furnishing stereotyped matter for weekly papers.
Omaha, like all other cities, can point to a long list of newspaper wrecks: The Nebraska Daily Statesman, which was born July 17, 1864, and died three days later; the Evening Times, started in 1869, as the result of a printers' strike, by Charles Collins, P. F. O'Sullivan, William E. Cook and Jolin lloward, and which lived about six months; the Daily Union, also the outgrowth of a printers' strike in 1873, and which publica- tion was discontinued after ten months on the part of Cal. D. Shultz, Billy Edwards, Thomas Wolf, George W. Frost, E. N. Sweet
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
and others; The Independent, which T. H. Tibbles commenced to publish in September, 1877, and which lived less than half a year; the Commercial Exchange, published for a year or two by W. C. B. Allen previous to 1880; the Evening News, established by Fred Nye in May, 1878, and discontinued in June, 1880; the Evening Telegraph, by S. F. Don- nelly and H. S. Smith, which lived for nearly two years from May, 1880; Center- Union Agriculturist, published by George W. Brewster, discontinued about 1882; the Agri- culturalist, published for many years by Jeremiah Behm and discontinued about fifteen years ago; Nebraska Journal of Com- merce, Taylor Bros., proprietors; The Vesten, published by O. R. Nelson and Halfdan Jacobson previous to 1882; the Omaha Post, by Charles Bankes, discontinued about 1884; the Evening Dispatch, first known as the Union, was a printers' paper, afterwards owned by Frank Sweezey and Leonard Live- sey and, later, by George C. and Robert Wallace, was established in the fall of 1883, and lived about a year; the Sunday News, owned and edited by Harry Merriam, was established May 10, 1885, and survived for ten months; the Sunday Mirror was owned by Daniel Shelley and Frederick Benzinger, but they discontinued its publication after issuing half a dozen copies, in 1889; the Chronicle, Thomas Cotter, proprietor, and G. M. Crawford, editor, was published for several months in 1887 and 1888. The fore- going list of newspaper enterprises which have not proved profitable is not given as a complete list, but it is sufficiently extended to show that the business is a precarious one, in which the failures far exceed the successes.
The High School Journal was first pub- lished, commencing December, 1872, by an association of pupils of the High School, styling themselves the High School Publish- ing Association. Henry D. Estabrook was editor-in-chief; Miss Stacia Crowley, assist- ant editor; Miss Kate Copeland, " culling"
editor; Charles R. Redick and John Creigh- ton, local editors; Miss Josie Ord, and Lucius Wakeley, exchange editors; Martha Crary, Frederick Knight and George Jewett, business managers; Arthur C. Wakeley, Miss Etta Hurford, Miss Claire Rustin, Miss Blanche Denel, Arthur Remington and Cas- sius Gise, directors. Although it was issued only once a month, the work evidently proved too much for this editorial and business force, for within half a year the paper passed into the management of James F. McCartney (afterwards city clerk), who ceased its publication in December, 1881, having in the meantime changed the name to the Omaha Home Journal. Mr. McCart- ney died September 4, 1883, at Denver.
In 1876, Henry D. Estabrook and James Ross began the publication of a monthly, styled the Miscellany, which was soon after- wards purchased by John H. Pierce, and the name changed to the Western Magazine. It was a publication of decided merit but suc- cumbed to financial pressure after a year's experience.
In 1888, the Rising Tide, afterwards the Omaha Leader, was established as the organ of the temperance associations. It sus- pended in the fall of 1890, upon the defeat of the prohibition amendment. George H. Gibson was editor and proprietor.
With respect to the first issue of a morn- ing paper in Omaha the following account, from the pen of Mr. Cal. D. Shultz, editor of the publications of the Western News- paper Union of this city, was printed in the World-Herald March 2, 1891. Mr. Shultz has been connected with the Omaha press for a quarter of a century and is excellent authority on newspaper matters. He says:
"In a recent issue of the World-Herald reference was made to its being the oldest paper in the city and some interesting remin- iscences given of its pioneer days and its perplexities and difficulties under which it labored at that time. In the article alluded to no reference was made to the fact that
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EARLY MORNING PAPERS OF OMAHA.
the World-Herald printed the finest morning daily ever given out in Omaha, as well as that it is now the oldest paper in the city. Its old-time manager and editor, Dr. Miller, made this claim some months ago, in a series of articles contributed to the Omaha Bee on the subject of early journalism in this city, and the writer hereof adds his testimony to the correctness of the doctor's conclusions. John S. Briggs, who is still a resident of Omaha, could tell the story about the first morning daily publication in the Nebraska metropolis, as its writer heard him tell it nearly twenty-five years ago. He was an important factor about the Herald building, on the corner of Thirteenth and Douglas in those early days. He it was, I think, who officiated as 'make up' of not only its first daily, but the first weekly forms of what has now grown to be a powerful and widely circulated journal in this prosperous and progressive city. But not to digress from the original thought-that of the first morn- ing daily paper in Omaha-the fact is now recalled that the Republican appeared as a morning daily the same day the Herald did, but its inspiration came from the indom- itable energy and push of the editors and managers of the democratic paper, who were constantly on the alert for new fields to con- quer, and, as a consequence, was a little behind that sheet in getting before the pub- lic in its new form, accompanied with the announcement that it would hereafter issue in the morning instead of evening. Both the Republican and Herald had for many months been putting forth daily evening editions, but Dr. Miller, alive to the signs of the times, saw there was a demand for later and more satisfactory news, such as could only be secured and properly put in shape in a daily morning edition. The thought came with such force that the doctor at once determined upon the change.
"The contemplated new departure was communicated to Foreman Briggs, and that gentleman, after the evening cdition had
gone to press, notified the compositors (of which there were less than half a dozen in those days) to be prepared to represent their cases at an early hour in the evening, explaining that the Herald henceforth and hereafter was to be a morning daily. In the meantime arrangements for lighting had been perfected, the pressman notified of the new order of things and other preliminaries arranged for inaugurating the change that was about to take place in publication hour. It is surmised, too, that the foreman cau- tioned the printers not to mention out of the office the information that had been com- municated to them. There is good ground for the supposition, for the proprietor of the Herald had in view the surprising of the public, as well as the publisher of the Repub- lican.
" The scheme worked well enough so far as readers of the paper were concerned, but Major Balcombe ' got onto the racket,' so to speak, either by seeing operations going forward in the Herald building, or through information communicated to him by some of his printers, who had been given a ' pointer' by brother workmen doing the night act on 'the sheet over the way.' Then there was a hurrying to and fro, print- ers were hunted up in various parts of the city, some of them called out of bed, it may be, and told to present themselves at the office without delay. They obeyed promptly, and thus the Republican was enabled to present a morning daily on the same date of its contemporary, though, perhaps, not as early in the day or in quite as good shape. It is due to say of the Republican, however, that it ' got there' in very good shape, for Major Balcombe, although not the aggressor in journalistic innovations, was capable of doing some tall rustling when about to be distanced by some rival paper.
"Thus was inaugurated daily morning journalism in Omaha, and credit must be given the Herald and its energetic publishers of that day, not alone for having issued a
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
little in advance, but for having furnished the inspiration that called two Omaha morning dailies into the field almost simul- taneously. The World-Herald is still on the ground, being now issued every day in the year, instead of six days in the week, as was the case when the change was made and for many years thereafter."
The Trade Journal of the Business Men's Association of Nebraska, which was published for a couple of years as a small paper, has recently been enlarged to a twenty-eight page royal quarto, and is published weekly. It has a large circulation. It is devoted to the interests of the business men of the State, and gives very full market quotations.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC - EARLY PROHIBITION IN NEBRASKA - THE HIGH LICENSE LAW OF 1881 -PROHIBITION BATTLE OF 1890.
In these later days of prohibition, it is in- teresting to note that the first Territorial Legislature passed an act prohibiting, abso- lutely, the manufacture and sale of intoxi- cating liquors. Following is the full text of the law:
SECTION I. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives, of the Territory of Ne- braska: That from and after the first day of April, A. D., 1855, it shall not be lawful for any person to manufacture, or give away, sell, or in any way, or by any manner or subterfuge, traffic, trade, exchange, or otherwise dispose of, any in- toxicating liquors within this Territory, to be used as a beverage.
SECTION II. The places commonly known as dram shops are hereby prohibited and declared public nuisances, and their establishment shall be presumptive evidence of a sale of intoxicating liquor, within the provisions of the foregoing sec- tion.
SECTION III. The establishment, or the keeping of a place of any description, whatever, within or without a building, coming within the spirit and intent of this act, and the establishment, or the keeping a place of any description where other persons are accustomed to resort, providing their own liquors, of the prohibitory character, pur- chased elsewhere, and drinking the same there, shall be taken to be within the meaning of this act.
SECTION IV. Every person engaged in any of the acts above prohibited, or in any way aiding or as- sisting in such illegal acts, whether as principal or clerk, bookkeeper, or otherwise, shall be subject to the penalties herein provided.
SECTION V. Courts and juries are required to construe this act so as to prevent evasion and subterfuge, and so as to cover the act of giving, as well as of selling, in the places above pro- hibited.
SECTION VI. Whoever is guilty of violating any of the provisions of this act, on conviction there-
of, shall be fined in a sum not less than ten, nor more than one hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not more than ninety days, or both, in the discretion of the court; and may be prosecuted therefor either by indictment or by in- formation before a justice of the peace; the pun- ishment shall be fine only.
SECTION VII. Any person being convicted for a second or any subsequent violation of this act shall be fined in a sum not less than one hundred dollars, or be imprisoned not more than one year, as provided in section six of this act.
SECTION VIII. An information or indictment un- der this act may allege any number of violations of its provisions, by the same party, and he may be found guilty of, and punished for, each offence, as under separate information or indictment, but a separate judgment must be entered in which a verdict of guilty is found.
This act was approved March 16, 1855, and was so completely and absolutely ig- nored by the residents of the Territory that the fact that such a law was passed is prob- ably not remembered by a score of the old- est of Nebraska's old inhabitants. In no portion of the Territory was the slightest attention paid to its provisions, and on the 4th of November, 1858, a license law was approved by the Governor, which repealed the act of March 16, 1855, and provided for the issuance by county commissioners of licenses to sell malt, spirituous and vinous liquors to responsible applicants, npon pay- ment of a fee of not less than twenty-five dollars, or more than five hundred dollars. A bond of not less than five hundred dollars, or more than five thousand dollars, was re- quired; the selling to Indians, minors, idiots and insane persons was prohibited, and liq- uor dealers were held responsible for the
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HISTORY OF THE CITY OF OMAHA.
support of all persons who became a public charge in consequence of intemperate habits. Suits for liquor sold in quantities of less than five gallons, except in cases where it was used for medicinal, mechanical, or sac- ramental purposes, could not be instituted. Cities and incorporated towns were author- ized to increase the amount of the annual license fee to one thousand dollars.
In 1881 the Nebraska legislature passed what has since been known as the " Slocumb " law, for the regulation of the traffic in in- toxicating liquors. This law was the out- come of strong efforts which were made at that session of the Legislature, and the ses- sion of 1879, to pass a prohibitory law. In the preparation of the Slocumb bill some of the best legal talent of the State was en- ployed, and in its operation the law has so commended itself to all but uncompromis- ing prohibitionists that it lias served as a model for many other States in legislating upon this subject. Briefly stated, the law provides as follows:
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