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268 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTY, OHIO CHAPTER IV. THE PRESS. American journalism has been passing through a crude, unstable, and experimental period. Whether it has yet reached a permanent plane and become an established system we leave to the future historian to record. The system, however, as it exists, is no longer crude. It is the product of development according to the law of adaptation, and is in perfect accord with the character of civilization as it exists. The transatlantic press differs widely from ou1 own, and is led by journals far surpassing in excellence any published in this country. Larger, better, and cheaper papers are made in London than in New York, because they have a more extended sale. They circulate and are read all over England. The same may be said of the capital journals of other advanced and enlightened nations. All law emanates from the capital where the nation's most vital interests are centered so completely that papers devoted to strictly local affairs are supported only in the larger provincial cities. But the American journalist is governed by conditions entirely different. Every community in the United States is a component part of the Nation, and has a voice in all its .affairs. It is therefore desirable and essential that each should have a mouthpiece through TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 269 which its interests and opinions reach the public at large. The true American journalist makes his own town the center of the universe, and spares no effort to make the influence of his paper felt. Local pride and local feeling support a paper in almost every village, and no party feeling or other influence should interfere with its support of such measures as would be of advantage to the region or element of society of which it is the recognized organ. On all general questions public opinion is divided, making an organ for each party necessary. The local paper has nothing to fear from its larger city contemporary. Americans are not content to know the leading news, but want details concerning their own neighborhood, and they want them presented in the home familiar spirit by some one with whom they are acquainted and in whom they have confidence. The impersonal character of city papers does not admit 0f such a spirit. The complete files of Warren newspapers fur. nish an excellent example of the mutations and gradual development of the rural press. The first paper issued in the .Western Reserve made lts appearance June 16, 1812, with a pretentious name, Trump of Fame ; Thomas D. Webb, editor and publisher. It was a folio sheet, with pages little large1 than the pages of this volume, and was set in small pica type. News from Washington was just then of absorbing interest, and three-fourths of all the reading matter consisted of speeches in Congress and discussions relating to foreign affairs. No 1eader of the first issue would have been led to anticipate the declaration of war two days later, for it took Washington news more than a week to reach Warren, and when we remember that the editor depended upon Washington weekly periodicals for his information, the Trump of Fame needs no apology for publishing news two weeks old. The local historian wh0 consults the files of this paper with the hope of finding current reports of important local events will be disappointed. People at that time were supposed to know everything going on around them. Even the great excitement following Hull's surrender, described in a previous chapter, receives in Mr. Webb's paper only an incidental notice, written with less energy and occupying less space than one of the present enterprising journals would devote to a dog fight, or a big pumpkin. During the war no effort seems to have been made to collect news from the field where soldiers from the Reserve were engaged. The entire file contains less than a dozen references to military affairs of a strictly local character. David Flemming was Mr. Webb's printer, and considering his limited facilities did neat and commendable work. A heavy kind of paper was used, and ink was distributed on stuffed balls, one he d in each hand. A small quantity of ink was dipped up from the ink-board and evenly distrib Red over the surface of each ball by rubbing them together, and then patting them vigorously on the form. At a later day the inking was cone with a had roller. The editor in those days had no correspondents, did little writing, and had few exchanges, but Congressional speeches and diplomatic overtures, reprinted from capital organs, were no doubt appreciated by people hungering and thirsting for knowledge. James White became associated with Mr. Webb as a partner in 1813, and the following year Samuel Quinby purchased an int :rest, Mr. Webb retiring. The paper struggled along and increased in circulation under the firm name of James White & Co., until 1816, when Fitch Bis sel became proprietor. Bissel was an energetic fellow, and gave considerable attention to his publication, yet its appearance was out of all proportion to the high sounding name which it bore. This is evident from an incident connected with the change of name. It is not strange that a recent arrival should be first to notice and speak of this incongruity, for old settlers had become accustomed to it. One day in September Benjamin Stevens, recently from Vermont, met the editor at the post-office, and conversation turned upon the paper. Mr. Stevens thought a less high sounding title would be more appropriate for a paper in this new country, and advised the proprietor to "call it the Western Reserve Chronicle, or Gazette, or something of that sort." Editors are characteristically self-willed and love to appear original, but at the same time are always watching for suggestions from which to profit. Mr. Bissel repudiated this suggestion, but three weeks later the paper came out headed Western Reserve Chronicle, "Vol. 1, No. 1," "October 4, 1816." At the head of the first column was the announcement in italics: The Western Reserve Chronicle is printed every Thursday 270 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. at $2.00 a year if paid in advance; if payment is neglected till the end of the year, $2.50. Papers transmitted by mail are at the expense of subscribers. Letters and communications addressed to the editor must be post paid or they will not be attended to. On changing the name it was enlarged to a four-column, four page paper, the whole sheet being 18 x 22 1nches. The file for nearly a year contains no local news and very few editorial items. The contents averaged about as follows: Advertisements, six columns; congressional speeches and national news from Washington, six columns; foreign news, two columns, and one column of State Legislative news. In 1817 the Chronicle changed hands again, being purchased by Samuel Quinby and Elihu Spencer. Editorial work devolved upon the latter, who was in every way qualified for the task, being a gentleman of liberal culture. He introduced the practice of devoting a column, more or less, to comments on public affairs, and occasionally to local events of importance. Mr. Spencer was not spared long to his task. He died in 1819 and was succeeded by George Hapgood. Mr. Hapgood was a native of Brattleboro, Vermont, where he served an apprenticeship at the printer's trade, then came west in search of his fortune. He first found employment as compositor in the Chronicle office until the death of Mr. Spencer left the editorship vacant. A printing office cost very little in those days, making it possible for any industrious fellow to earn a partnership in a year or two. Mr. Hapgood brought to the place excellent qualifications, having decided convictions and the ability and stamina to maintain them. Short editorials on political affairs appeared from time to time after the presidential election of 1824 divided the country into contending factions. The first vigorous political writing appears in the Chronicle during the campaign of 1828. Mr. Hapgood had defended the administration of John Quincy Adams and opposed the popular wave which carried Jackson into the Presidency. The Chronicle's position during the canvass, and strong prejudices of its editor committed it to anti-Jackson principles. It supported Harrison in 1836 and again in 1840. So strong and pronounced had the editor's course been that the Jacksonian Democrats started in 1830 an organ devoted to the administration, called the NEWS-LETTER. T. J. McLain, editor, and J. G. McLam, publisher. The News-Letter was not a venture, for fidelity to the party gave it a sustaining patronage. It was larger than the Chronicle, and being the only Democratic paper on the Reserve, acquired a paying circulation, and was extensively quoted as the Jackson organ of Northerh Ohio, and was made an official medium for the publication of United States laws. The Messrs. McLain sold out in 1839 to Christopher C0lumbus Seeley and William Baldwin, who changed the name to Trumbull Democrat, and continued its' publication. During the Jackson and Van Buren administrations, the News-Letter and Chronicle.frequently discussed public questions from the standpoints of their respective parties. Opposition seems to have had a good effect upoh both journals, for the Chronicle, as soon as an opponent entered the field, began to show more vigor. It was about this time that we begin to find local items, not details or trivial pleasantries, but a brief summary of important occurrences. Mr. Hapgood's fidelity to Whig principles was recognized by General Harrison after his inauguration in 1841, by an appointment to the postmastership. He retired from the paper in June, 1841. His associates in its publication during the twenty-two years of his editorship, were Otis Sprague, E. R. Thompson, William Quinby, John Crowell, Calvin Pease, Jr., and A. W. Parker, who purchased an interest in 1832, and became editor on the retirement of Mr. Hapgood. After the death of President Harrison the old Whig editor lost the post-office. He was subsequently. offered the nomination for county auditor by the Free-soil party, but his strong Whig affiliations and feeling prevented his acceptance. Mrs. Matthew Tayler, the editor's oldest daughter, worked at the case on the Chronicle for a number of years, and had the reputation of being the fastest compositor in Warren. Between 1845 and 1861 was a period of intense political agitation and frequent change.. The Chronicle, under Mr. Parker, energetically condemned Tyler's apostasy and opposed with vigor in 1844 Polk and the annexation of Texas. It condemned every measure calculated to provoke war with Mexico, and when the war was actually in progress, severely criticised the manner in which it was conducted. TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 271 In other words, it was consistently and radically Whig, and found little outside of politics worth its attention. The year 1848 dates the beginning of the political catastrophe which ultimately ended in the disruption of one party and paralyzation of the other. The cause was a conflict between a strong, healthy anti-slavery sentiment on one side and the avarice of the slave power on the other. General Taylor, a conservative Whig, General Cass, an aggressive Democrat, and Martin Van Buren, a Democrat, but an opponent of the extension of slavery, were the Presidential candidates. The latter was the nominee of an independent party styled the Free-soilers, made popular on the Reserve because of its advanced position on slavery issues. The Chronicle deserted its old moorings and espoused Van Buren and his Free-soil platform. The old line Whigs, indignant at what they called apostasy, erected a press, purchased type, and before their wrath had cooled THE TRUMBULL COUNTY WHIG made its appearance, filled with enthusiastic praise of Taylor, and repeating the story of his achievements in Mexico. A triumphant Whig victory that year gave this paper considerable prestige, while the Chronicle was practically without a party after election day. There was, however, a strong element in the Reserve opposed to both old parties, which sustained it during the doubtful period of political shifting. E. D. Howard purchased the paper of Mr. Parker in 1853. The Whig had in the meantime changed its name to WESTERN RESERVE TRANSCRIPT. It was conducted with fair ability, but found itself in a more dangerous condition after the election of 1852 than the Chronicle had held since 1848. The repeal of the Missouri compromise by the passage of the Kansas and Nebraska bill in 1854, effected a union of Northern sentiment. Both Chronicle and Transcript were brought upon the same political platform, and were soon united under the name of Western Reserve Chronicle and Transcript. James DeMars, edito1 of the Transcript, continued to edit the consolidated paper for a short time. In 1855 George N. Hapgood and C. A. Adams purchased the establishment and restored to the paper its time honored name. We shall now have to turn back a few years to trace the fortune and fate of contemporaries. While the compromise measures of 1850 were pending, a small weekly, named the Liberty Herald, made its appearance. Its editors were J. B. Tait and A. B. Walling. It was a weak experiment and soon failed. We left the Trumbull Democrat in 1839 in the hands of Messrs. Seeley and Baldwin, neither of whom were printers. Mr. Seeley had built the Hope cotton factory at Pittsburg, and after coming to Warren devoted his attention to general business. William Baldwin, upon whom the management of the paper devolved, was a son of Eli Baldwin, Democratic candidate for Governor in 1836 against Joseph Vance. He came here a young man from Meadville college. He died in Warren. Dr. D. B. Woods and Sharon Cotton were Democratic managers at that time, and purchased the paper not so much for the profit in it as for the good of the party. During their proprietorship John M. Edwards was editor and manager, and the paper had considerable vitality. Frequent changes followed. Mr. Harrington owned the paper for a short time; then J. B. Bottles and E. B. Eshelman became joint proprietors. The former was a young lawyer, the latter a practical newspaper man, who has since acquired a State reputation in politics. Mr. Eshelman retired from the management after a short period. Mr. Bottles was appointed warden of the penitentiary, and disposed of the paper in 1854 to Messrs. Ritezel and Mills. The latter retired after a short connection. Mr. Ritezel was a practical printer, and soon developed , editorial ability which brought his paper into favor among all classes, and satisfied his party friends until secession, treason, and rebellion forced upon the North questions before which party affiliations and associations dwindled into insignificance. The sense and sentiment of the North was for saving the Union at all hazards, but there were honest differences of opinion as to how that end was best to be accomplished, and as to the constitutionality of the methods which the party lately come into power proposed to employ. When complications resolved themselves to the question of peace and disunion, or war and union, there was practically but one party on the 272 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. Reserve, however much the elements of that party may have differed concerning those measures which led to the dread question. As the vicissitudes of general politics had united the Chronicle and Transcript in 1854, so the new Chronicle and Democrat were united in 1861. We see in this how intimate is the relation between papers and parties. When some great issue effects a union of sentiment, and eclipses factious interests and minor divisions, a union of papers, which are organs of opinion, may be expected. The union of the Chronicle and Democrat took place in February, 1861, the name of the former being retained. It was published and jointly edited by Messrs. Adams, Hapgood, and Ritezel. Mr. Adams retired during the war, and Mr. Hapgood died in 1865, leaving Mr. Ritezel sole proprietor and editor. It was during the war that the paper developed to the vigor and usefulness which it has since retained. It adopted and followed the policy of giving its readers such information as they sought most anxiously. It sifted out and published such news from the field as pertained to Trumbull county soldiers, and at the same time vigorously and courageously exerted its influence in support of the Government. Since the war the Chronicle has been the organ of the Republican party, steadily and faithfully supporting its candidates and upholding its policy. Its local columns have been well filled. In 1877 Mr. Ritezel associated with himself as partners, B. J. Taylor and F. M. Ritezel, William Ritezel & Co. being the present style of the firm. Mr. Taylor, upon whom the manageagement now chiefly devolves, learned the printing trade in the office more than twenty years ago, and has been connected with the establishment in various capacities ever since. The senior proprietor represented Trumbull county in the Legislature two terms-1868-69 and 1870-71. In 1862, Jefferson Palm, Esq., encouraged by his Democratic friends, brought out the Warren Constitution. Mr. Palm had been a compositor on the old News-Letter, and in 1840 started, for John G. McLain, a small periodical named the Mercury, mainly devoted to light literature. On the accession of Tyler to the Presidency, the type, fixtures, etc., were removed to Youngstown, to be used for printing the Olive Branch, the first paper in Youngstown. The Mercury was discontinued. Mr. Palm, however, became known as a Democratic leader. Through the campaign of 1861 the party had been without a paper, in consequence of the coalition .of the Chronicle and Democrat. Early in 18b2, a subscription paper was circulated and more than a thousand names entered on the list. Thus the Constitu tion had an advance assurance of success. The Democratic party at that time consisted of several factions, ranging in opinion from outright Southern sympathizers to loyal Union men who opposed the Administration party's measures, but were at the same time in full sympathy with its object—the restoration of the Union. The Constitution carried at the head of its editorial. page during the war Crittenden's famous resolution, introduced into the "peace convention" at Washington in 1861: Congress, banishing all feeling of passion or any resentment, will recollect only its duty to the whole country. That this war is not waged on their part in any spirit of oppression, or for any purpose of conquest or subjection, or purpose of overthrowing or interfering with the rights and established institutions of these States [slave States], but to defend and maintain the supremacy of the Constitution and t0 preserve the union with all the dignity, equality and rights of the several States unimpaired, and that as soon as these objects are accomplished the war ought to cease. The Constitution was purchased in 1867 by Judge Matthew Birchard and Erastus H. Ensign, both lawyers. It was subsequently transferred to William Birchard, who continues publisher and editor. THE WARREN RECORD was established at Warren on the 14th of Jan: nary, 1876, at the solicitation of a large number of prominent Democrats in the county, who entertained the view that the establishment of a Democratic paper was a political necessity to maintain party organization in the county. Its editor, S. B. Palm, is a son of Jefferson Palm, Esq., the founder of the Constitution, who was connected with the first Democratic paper published in Trumbull—the Warren News-Letter. The Record enjoys a good circulation, and pays considerable attention to town and county affairs. THE WARREN TRIBUNE is the most recent applicant for public favor. Mr. W. S. Peterson, the editor-in-chief, is a native of Indiana. After a proper course of TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 273 study he was admitted to the ministry of the Congregational church. In the year 1874, having retired from the ministry, he purchased the Canfield (Mahoning county) News, which he published for nearly two years until the removal of the county seat seriously crippled his patronage. He then removed to Warren and established the Tribune. The first number made its appearance in August, 1876. 0. M. and A. M. Peterson have lately been associated in its management. The Tribune makes a specialty of local county news. Politically it is in accord with the Republican party, hut reserves the right of exception to local candidates. The aggregate circulation of Warren newspapers is about five thousand. This number is more than fifteen hundred in excess of the aggregate circulation in 1870. It appears from this that the local press is not greatly influenced by the increased enterprise of neighboring dailies, but is gaining patronage in proportion to its development in efficiency.