Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1898 — A BIT OF NEWSPAPER HISTORY. [ARTICLE]

A BIT OF NEWSPAPER HISTORY.

There seems to be some disatisfaction among certain of the county officers and their immediate friends regarding the conduct of The Democrat in political affairs. Many of these worthy gentlemen during their lucid periods—unwittingly no doubt—associate The Democrat with the now defunct People’s Pilot. In this these gentlemen greviously err. There was a “Democrat” started years ago—in 1888—but it is dead and was laid to rest before Benjamin Harrison became Presidentof these United States. A resumesof the “Democrat” of 1888 and the Pilot will not be inopportune at thin time. “The Rensselaer Democrat” of 1888 was founded during the Presidential campaign of that year by some of the leading democrats of that day, among them Geo. H. Brown sr. and Jas. A. Loughridge, both since deceased—long may their memories remain green among the democrats of Jasper county —with James H. Sickles, (a portegeof C.P. Wright,) late of the Chicago Times as editor, and Horace E. James as compositor. Sickles was nothing, if not a good judge of whiskey, and insisted on passing judgment on Mike Halloran’s stock of old rye so often that he found little time for any thing else—except, possibly to sleep off his drunk. It is needless to say that the small sum guaranteed to start this paper was soon wasted, and 10, one night Sickles, having had a conference with the republican central committee, “departed into outer darkness.” At this point Horace E. James took up the work of spreading the light among republican heathen of this county. As a republican he had become acquainted with their needs, and he proceeded to administer to them to the best of his ability. He had invented some very choice epithets which, as a republican, he had used effectively on democrats and knowing the weak points of his new adversary, he proceeded to viciously attack them, much to the discomfiture of his former political aseociatee* While James meant well, as his present political affiliations prove, everything democratic went down in the landslide of 1888, and the “Democrat” was soon a thing of the past. This left the opposition to republicanism without an organ, and a man named Butler made a proposition to start a paper. The name of the paper he would not divulge. When press day came the People’s Pilot was started on its devious journey, and Butler was its first editor. As might have been expected he and Geo. E. Marshall were at it in no time. Marshall posed—as very much becomes him —as a great moralist. Butler was not particular how he posed, so he posed, and he was always posing. He could easily out-pose Marshall. He was becoming dangerous. He threatened to divulge some secrets about county affairs. That settled it, and filling his belly with republican whiskey and his pockets with republican money, he, in the night time and without warning, departed hence. A week passed by and no tidings of Butler. Apprehension gave way to fear, yet Butler came not. Something must be done. The Pilot’s train was running wild. A stock company was hastily formed composed of men of both parties. But the paper had no editor. The breach must be filled, and on all great occasions great men arise at the right time to fill them. This occasion was no exception to the rule. The occasion was present and answered to it’s name. So did the man. His name was Leslie Clark. He was well acquainted with the town and its highways, and by-ways, also its needs, which in his new position he had excellent opportunities to minister to. After a time it was discovered that his most effective argument in subduing the opposition was one that could not be publicly endorsed, neither could its secret use be tolerated, and so one day he, too, turned tail to the enemv, admitting he had been greviously mistaken on a great many subjects, not wholly relating to politics, and if not interfered with

too much he would get out of town., and he got. Another great occasion had suddenly loomed upon the horizon and another great man loomed up also. This man was C. B. HarolcL His first act was to place the Pilot on neutral grounds. He was & very neutral man on all subjects except one. Upon this he had very positive opinions. The President of the Pilot Co., soon became aware of this fact. Quite a number of times, as much as twice a week he was made aware of the extent to which this opinion had. taken possession of the new editor A very decided opinion took possession of the President, but it wasn’t like the one which held Harold in its vise-like grasp. The President’s opinion prevailed however, and Harrold ascended downward from his lofty position as editor to sweeping out the office and like menial services, and he soon proceeded to find a new place to graze. Changes in editorial management had brought the Pilot in diadisrepute. The campaign of 1894 was on. A Moses was needed to lead the hbsts out of the wilderness. L. E. Glazebrook was selected to do this work. Before he had warmed up the editorial tripod* Geo. E. Marshall began to show symptoms again, and an old man. by the name of Clark, who used to work some at the court house, readjusted his spectacles and prepared for the ordeal he felt sure would come soon. Lee warmed up to the work like an old stager. Week after week he poured the hot shot of truth into the ranks of the enemy. The battle soon became general. There was firing all along the line. Charles E. Mills was then County Assessor. He was soon in the thick of the fight. Between writing denials to Lee’s red-hot propositions, and explaining about taxes, he had scarcely time to eat bis meals. The battle was lost by a scratch and Lee, tiring of writing editorials, retired and was succeeded by F. D. Craig, a monstrosity from Wisconsin. If Craig was anything he was not an editor, and and after due reflection we decline to name him. He and the Pilot trotted along together until after the disastrous campaign of 1896 when Craig and the Pilot came to the jumping off place. The Pilot lapsed into innocuous dessitude and Craig into oblivion. xx