USA > Washington > Walla Walla County > An illustrated history of Walla Walla County, state of Washington > Part 34
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selections, and was followed by representatives of the Grand Army of the Republic, Army and Navy Union and veterans of the Indian wars. As these honored old men went plodding along trying to keep in step with the music they presented an impressive spectacle.
"In direct contrast with these white haired veterans were the young volunteers who, so recently returned from the scenes of war, marched with quick, determined step and were received with a great demonstration.
"Then came the most novel feature of the parade, the Chinese squad. Attired in rich colored costumes and bearing silk banners and big umbrellas thirty Celestials marched in the triumphial procession. The Chinamen ex- pended several hundred dollars towards their demonstration, which was voluntarily done not only as an evidence of their appreciation for the gallant heroes but the action was prompted by a spirit of loyalty to their adopted country."
CHAPTER XXI.
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 where is the American who would exchange the universal floods of light assured by a free press, in spite of tran- sient 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, be- fore some of them began to consider the advis- ability 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 the first printing press ever ised upon the Pa- cific coast found service in Walla Walla. This
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printing press was of the kind known as a Ramage printing, copying, and seal press, No. 14. This press was sent from Boston by the American board of commissioners for foreign missions, to their missionaries at Ilonolulu in 1819. After 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 trans- lations of portions of the Bible and other re- ligious literature in the Nez Perce tongue. In 1848 this printing press was moved to Hills- boro, 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 ca- reer, 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 1860.
The pioneer newspaper of Walla Walla and eastern Washington was
THIE WALLA WALLA PRESS.
This was inaugurated by William N. and R. B. Smith. Smith Brothers had purchased a newspaper outfit of .\sahel 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 Orego- nian, was brought to Walla Walla by N. Nor- thrup and R. R. Rees. The two outfits arrived within two days of each other, but neither firm had had any knowledge of the other's inten-
tions. 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 ap- peared November 29, 1861. This was a week- ly 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 1861 W. N. Smith made a horseback tour throughout Umatilla and Walla Walla coun- ties, 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 Novem- ber 10, 1865, when William H. Newell became editor and proprietor of the paper. The name was changed at that time to
WALLA WALLA STATESMAN.
Mr. Newell was in many respects a remark- able 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 Sep- tember 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
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busy life of William H. Newell. He died sud- denly on the 13th of November following.
Mr. Newell was probably the strongest journalist in the early history of eastern Wash- ington. He was a man of very strong, pos- itive character, with warm friends and bitter enemies. He was not in the habit of mincing matters or wearing soft gloves when he tin- dertook 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. Fel- low citizens, I have got to skin a skunk here to- night. 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 recog- nized 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 ex- pensive for the patronage of the sparsely set- tled 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 ever used in Walla Walla.
Colonel Parker was in control of the daily and weekly Statesman, with short intervals of absence, until June, 1900. At 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 news- paper, has been rewarded by 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. Various attempts have been made hitherto to reach this desirable end, but, by 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 perma- nent 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 con- nected 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 Tribune, that Cap- tain Johnson has been to the Union.
The Union was founded by a company of Republicans, in November, 1868. The first number appeared on April 17, 1869. H. M.
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Judson was editor, though the paper was un- der the control of a general committee com- posed of P. B. Johnson, E. C. Ross and J. D. Cook. R. M. Smith and E. L. Herriff be- came the owners soon after the inauguration of the paper and retained their ownership for ten years. E. C. Ross succeeded Mr. Judson as editor, which position he held for some six or seven years, when, in 1876, Captain Johnson became editor. A few later Captain Johnson purchased Mr. Smith's interest, and a few years later still became sole owner and pro- prietor.
As a journalist Captain Johnson became noted for his vigor and energy and uncom- promising position on most questions of pub- lic concern. Ile was a Republican of the stalwart order. Under his energetic leader- ship. Republicanism in the county became ag- gressive and well organized, and the heavy Democratic majorities which had marked the carlier history were succeeded by equally en- phatic Republican majorities during the last two decades. In 1890 Captain Johnson disposed of his interest in the Union to Charles Besserer, who was then conducting the Walla Walla Journal, and for some time it was published under the name of the Union-Journal. Walla Walla has had the satisfaction of possessing newspaper men of ninque and strongly marked traits, but of all the peculiar and original char- acters that ever appeared in Walla Walla jour- nalism, it is safe to say that Mr. Besserer heads the list. Nature broke the mouhl after making him, and never created another such. A Ger- man by birth, of Spanish descent, well educated in his native country, a soldier in the Crimean war, as also in the American Civil war and in Indian warfare afterwards, acting as manager at various times for a bakery, a distillery, a hotel, postmaster, justice of the peace, a sheep
man, a farmer, and lastly an editor, Mr. Bess- erer preserved his own unique personality throughout all his changes in circumstances. He was a writer of marked ability, and under- stood well the requirements of the newspaper business. No one could ever tell, however, what he might produce, 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 of the de- parted.
Mr. Besserer retained control of the Union until 1896, when he sold out to Herbert Gregg and Harry Kelso. These gentlemen conducted the Union with vigor and success, as a bed- rock, simou-pure Republican paper, having strong opinions of its own, and yet amenable to reason when party necessity seemed to ren- der it judicious. In 1899 Messrs. J. G. Frank- land, Loyd Armstrong and Bert La Due pur- chased the Union and conducted it successfully for a year. In 1900 it again changed 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 during the political campaign of 1900, and he is still acting in that capacity. Mr. Watson is an editorial writer of exceptional vigor 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 past year or two have caused a marked 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. AAt the present time their good natured rivalry and occasional editorial
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"scorchers" on each other, have afforded en- tertainment to their readers, and have increased business for themselves.
.Although the Statesman and the Union have been emphatically the papers of Walla Walla, there have been a number of others of shorter life, but which, in their own field are deserving of notice and commendation. Among these was the
SPIRIT OF THE WEST.
Founded in 1872 by J. W. Ragsdale. Charles H. Humphries was one of the editors, followed by L. K. Grim and Charles Besserer. In 1877 Mr. Besserer became proprietor of this paper, and changed 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 Union-Journal, as has already been stated.
AAmong other newspaper ventures of the carlier time we may mention the Morning Jour- nal, of 1881, and the Daily Events, of 1882, both published by M. C. Harris. In 1882 also appeared the Washingtonian, cdited and pub- lished by W. L. Black.
Among the papers of a later period may be mentioned the Garden City Gazette, es- tablished in April, 1894, by W. F. Brock, and the Watchman, 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 cam- paign papers, which produced no permanent effect on the journalistic history of the place. We present a more extended notice of the pa- pers published at the present writing, in addi- tion to those already described.
THE SATURDAY RECORD.
Among the newspapers the Saturday Rec- ord stands apart as being the only distinctive-
ly local and society publication in the city of Walla Walla. Established in April, 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 paper until the carly fall of 1900, when Bert Eugene La Due and J. G. Frankland, 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 quarters in the Bingham building, Alder street, and the old Watchman merged into an eight-page 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 subscrip- tion list having doubled inside of a few months under the new management. The paper is ag- gressive in the interests of home and home upbuilding, seldom touching npon 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 con- ditions warrant.
THE WEEKLY ARGUS.
The latest aspirant for journalistic distinc- tion is the Argus. This was founded on Sep- tomber 22. 1898, by Walter Lingerfelder and C. H. Goddard. The active and aggressive policy of the Argus, its fearlessness in attacking anybody and everybody whom it believes to be abusing the confidence of
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HISTORY OF WALLA WALLA COUNTY.
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the people, soon made it a marked force in the county. In February, 1899, J. E. Mullinix acquired the interest of Mr. Goddard, and he in turn sold out to Walter Lingen- felder, who thereby became sole proprietor. The Argus is published weekly and is inde- pendently 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. 11. Harris. It is a magazine of twenty-four pages, and is a publication of which any com- munity might well be proud. It contains elab- orate articles, of both historic value and high literary merit, upon the great resources and educational and other institutions of those por- tions of Oregon and Washington east of the Cascade mountains, together with the great state of Idaho.
The 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.
THE WAITSBURG WEEKLY TIMES.
This has been the leading and most of the time the only paper of Waitsburg for a period of twenty-four years. This paper orig- inated in a joint stock company formed in 1878, for the purpose 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. Ed- wards, and later to J. C. Swash. In 1880 it be- came 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 superin- tendent of schools in Walla Walla county, and also as territorial superintendent. After enter- ing 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 pres- ent day journalism. In politics it is uncom- promisingly Republican.
As is necessary to the life of newspapers, the Times has a Democratic rival, in the form of the
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 propri- etor. On the 7th of March, 1900, the paper passed into the hands of C. W. McCoy. On January 1, 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 up- to-date town. As already indicated, this paper is Democratic in politics. It has already ac- quired a large circulation throughout Walla Walla 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 ยท
marked elevation of standards, within the past few years, than in journalism.
CHAPTER XXII.
BENCHI AND BAR OF WALLA WALLA.
In going over the county records in search of data for this summary of the most import- ant events in the legal history of Walla Walla county one is struck with the many changes that have taken place in the style and manner of pleadings and the form in which they are now and were then presented. Just as in the appointments of the court room with its con- venient arrangement and commodious apart- ments there has been a remarkable advancement in forty years, so in the manner of preparing and conducting a case and keeping the records there has been great progress. In the time of the old District court, when the First Dis- trict comprised practically all of eastern Wash- ington, holding sessions at Colville, Colfax, Yakima and Walla Walla, about all the lawyers made their homes in Walla Walla as did the Associate Justice of the Territorial Supreme court. It was customary in those days for the judge to take a light wagon and a camping outfit and start out in company with the lawyers to hold sessions in the other parts of his district. Each county or sub-division of the district had its own local officers, as sheriff, clerk and prosecuting attorney, who in matters of im- portance were assisted by the district attorney for the territory. Those who took part in these legal journeys tell many amusing stories of the times they used to have. Though par- taking of the nature of an outing they were by no means pleasure trips, as at each town where
a session was held, business had been accumu- lating for from four to six months, and the train of lawyers who followed in the wake of the judge were under the necessity of getting up their pleadings and bringing the causes to issue in the short time alloted for that term of court. There was no time for dilatory meas- ures, demurrers, and motions to delay pro- ceedings, but every one had to get down to business. Sometimes as high as thirty or forty cases were disposed of, most of them be- ing actually tried. This necessitated night and day labor on the part of the attorneys and they had to swim hard or sink under the loads im- posed upon them. .
In Walla Walla the court used to be held in the building where Betz's Brewery now is and the site of the present court house was a pub- lic square where executions took place. When we go into the offices of the lawyers now prac- ticing in Walla Walla and see their well fur- nished rooms, large law libraries with com- plete sets of State and United States reports, encyclopedias and digests : with their stenog- raphers and typewriters and other modern con- veniences ; when we see all these appliances for doing accurate and expeditious work, we can- not help contrasting them with the days when Frank Dugan was wont to read citations to fit any case out of the sole book that comprised his library, and Colonel George carried his briefs in the top of his silk hat, and all the legal
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knowledge he needed in his spacious head. Then, too, as we listen to the orderly carrying forward of a trial in the presence of Judge Brents we are reminded of the contrast pre- sented by a tumult of jangling attorneys, and Judge Oliphant vainly endeavoring to main- tain order by shouting: "Gentlemen, the row must stop! This court is getting roused, and when this court is roused, it's roused, and there's an end on't." Or we may be reminded of a scene in Judge Strong's court, where the attorneys are sitting with their feet cocked up on chairs and benches and the air is dense with smoke. Suddenly the court becomes aware that proper decorum is not being observed and he declares : "There is too much smoke in this room. If you lawyers want to smoke you can go outside. but since the court has got to stay here it can smoke." Nor has there been in recent years such an exciting event as the run- ning fight with six-shooters between Judge Langford and the Mullen Brothers, attorneys who practiced in Walla Walla fifteen or twenty years ago.
The good old times when everyone wore red-flannel shirts and long six-shooters have passed away, and with them have gone the days when all legal documents were written with pen and ink on foolscap paper, when pleadings were short and formalities were more honored in the breach than in the observance. But there was a sturdy manliness in those days, bred of the rough surroundings, that atoned for many shortcomings, and was distinguished by a sense of justice, untrammeled by prece- dents and hairsplitting legal distinctions. This trait was strikingly illustrated in one of the familiar sayings of Judge Wyche. Whenever the distinction was between a close adherence to precedent and ethical right, he would decide in favor of the latter by the remark: "If I am
not technically correct, I think I am giving you substantial justice." So while we are rejoicing in the vastly improved general conditions, we must not sneer at the primitive methods of those who went before, nor overlook their ster- ling virtues.
Court was opened in the First Judicial dis- trict of the territory of Washington, and the first order was signed on the ist day of June, 1860, with Associate Justice William Strong on the bench. The first order was one admit- ting Edward L. and Otis L. Bridges to prac- tice before the court. Edward L. Bridges was appointed first prosecuting attorney for Walla Walla county, and James Galbreath was the first clerk of the court. Judge Strong held the position until the 21st of October, 1861, when Judge J. E. Wyche was appointed. Under Wyche, Galbreath still continued as clerk, and J. J. McGilvra was appointed prosecuting at- torney. Wyche was succeeded on April 4, 1864, by Judge Oliphant, who appointed B. N. Sexton as clerk and B. Fargo, prosecuting attorney. Oliphant only held until April 10, 1865. when Judge Wyche came back to the First Judicial district. In May. 1867, P. B. Johnson was appointed clerk and Frank Dugan prosecuting attorney. J. K. Kennedy was ap- pointed judge in 1869. on August 14th of that year. Under him R. P. Reynolds was clerk of the court and .A. J. Cain held the office of prosecuting attorney. On April 29. 1872. J. R. Lewis was appointed to succeed James K. Kennedy. Judge Lewis's appointment to Washington Territory was the result of a pe- culiar circumstance. He had been on the su- preme bench of the territory of Idaho without any expectation of making a change. Some of his political enemies put up a job on him to oust him from his position. They made out a resignation, forged his name to it and sent
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