Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-19

everyday editor he had too much re-
gard for his personal ease to fill his col
umns with strong editorial writing.
Not that he lacked ability, but think
he preferred not to exercise mental
energy oftener than three times a week.
1t was in 1862 that the paper was con-
verted from a weekly to q try-weekly,
and Heath, Taylor g. Co., became its
owners, Mr.. Mcclure retiring. General
I'll. I'll. Heath was major and brigadier
general in the Seventh Iowa volunteer
cavalry and commanded the garrison at
Fort Kearney during part of the time
of my stay at that post. | forgot to say
in connection with Mr.. Taylor, before
the coming of General Heath, that the
late Mr.. John Tatfe was associate editor
with MIN, and in regard to him desire
to say right here that he was one of the
strongest men that was ever on the Re-
publican as writer. Peculiar IN his
temperament and makeup, some
even with the best of his
friends, sharp and acidulated as Il
writer, gifted with great power of
of satire he seemed sometimes
to be most severe when best
natured. He was largely and best
known in our territory and section. He
was appointed register of a land Office
under Grant, as | remember and con-
tinued at North Platte, to which place
he was appointed, until his death,
which was deeply regretted by a very
wide circle of friends without regard to
political color.
General Heath came down from
Fort Kearney fired with political
that he was military martinez. kind
hearted, vain and not large enough to
ever hope to be great. He was not
strong as writer, gave the Republican
no standing that it had not before and
put in an early disappearance. | be-
lieve that he died in Peru, where he
was appointed to an obscure consulate
by the favor of some administration.
1t was at this time that Mr.. Taylor
and Mr.. Taffe withdrew, Mr.. Mcclure
being partner of Mr.. Taylor. In
1886 Messrs. Taylor and Mcclure re-
sumed control of the paper, and not
long afterwards Major st. A. d. Bal
combe, our present chairman of the
board of public works, became half
owner of the paper, and the finn was
Mcclure and Balcombe. Mr.. Balcombe
became sole editor not, long afterwards
in 1867.
should have stated that in April,
1867, the paper became morning
paper. and Mr.. Sorenson tells the story
that the Herald became morning
paper at the same time after hearing
that Major Balcombe was to make the
Republican a morning paper, and on
this account. 1t is immaterial about
this matter, lut | think that Mr..
Schultz, the old foreman of the Herald
would sustain me in saying that this
story ought to be told in reverse order,
so to say.
Major Balcombe became sole editor
of the paper soon after his ownership
was effected, and conducted IL with
great vigor and energy for consider
able period. Major Balcombe, think,
had not had experience either in
writing for or managing paper. He
was from Wisconsin, where he had held
Office, and came here under appoint
ment OF Mr.. Lincoln TO an Indian
agency, from which he came to reside
in Omaha. A man OF very positive
opinions and Independent judgment, AS
he is now, it may be said that the Re-
publican lost no ground under his man
agement.
Mr.. Taylor seems, after all, to have
been behind. the Republican during
these trying years, for we lind him re-
appearing as editor and owner from
1863 to 1870, when he was succeeded by
Mr.JohnH. Teasdale, an Ohio man who
was brought out here with consider