St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-16

Paper read by II. P. Hall before the Min
nesota State Editorial association at Mime
apolis, Feb Is, 1891
To the President and Members of the
State Editorial Associations:
The topic, Early Journalism in
Minnesota" which has been assigned
to me, is SO prolific that, while it
might not be very difficult to
begin at the beginning. it is de-
cidedly difficult 10 determine the
scope of such a paper, and when and
where to stop. All this Northwest is so
closely interviewer with Journalism,
long prior even 10 Minnesota statehood.
that 10 write its history is 10 write the his
tory Of the rise and progress of one Of The
greatest cOmmonW eaIthS in the nation.
Ia reStarchug. | have been almost ap
palled at the magnitude of the task be-
fore me, and soon became entirely salts
fed that it WAS impossible, within the
limits OF a single paper, to make the
work complete. Death and the failure
to preserve data have placed beyond
reach much that would be of great
value, and it is greatly to be regretted
that this work could not have been be-
gun quarter of century ago, when
events were com par2fiyely fresh in the
minds of the few now living, and when
those who are long since dead could
have furnished the Information for
record of Invaluable data. the oppor-
tunity for obtaining which is gone for
ever.
While the date Of the issue of the first
paper in Minnesota was close race, the
Minnesota Pioneer was beyond and
above all others in BENZ the first abso-
uteiY printed on Minnesota soil. lis
first issue was Saturday, April 2S. 1919,
and it WAS edited and published by
James NJ. GoadlIue. lie had announced
i'll his prospectus that he was going to
issue 1.-THE Epstle of st. Paul." and he
did His paper was sheet Of six col
umnS to the page, the columns fourteen
ems plea in width, and nineteen inches
lii length. The terms were 81 in adj
vance, $3.50 if paid within the first six
months, and s. at the end of the year.
The square was twelve lines of nom
pareil, and the terms 81 for the first
insertion and % cents ror each addi-
tional insertion. Business cards were
published 1T So a year. which was so
much cheaper than square rate it is
surprising that every one did not use
business card instead of square The
motto which Mr.. G00dhue flung to the
breeze at the head of the paper was.
''SOUND PRINCIPLES, SAFE MEN AND
MODERATE MEASURES"
His salutatory was headed. s'The
Press in Minnesota" and | give three
brief paragraphs, as follows:
But little more than one week ago
We landed in ST. Paul, among crowd
OF strangers. with the first printing
press that has ever rested on the soil of
Minnesota"
1--WE shall steadily advocate the prin.
cipleS of morality. virtue and religion,
and seek for truth. without which
nothing is excellent"
''In politics we design 20 have no cou-
cealments, but to embark in no ultra
isms. Our political relations to the
Union not only exempt us from the
necessity. but preclude us from the
propriety OF enIistinS in the great war
fare in national politics.
This was certainly quite a wise plat
form, as it made the original paper in
Minnesota devoted more 10 religion
than to politics, devotion which, l am
happy 10 say, has largely characterized
the more modern newspaper work of
Minnesota.
CONTENTS OF TIE FIRST ISSUE.
TO show some OF the vicissitudes
hhder which the paper started the ed.
itor published this among his editorial
paragraphs:
1--WE print and issue this number OF
the Pioneer in building through v hicl
out of doors is visible by more than Sd
aperturcs; and as for our type. il i,
not safe from being pied on the galieys
by the wind"
1t IS curious to look over this first
issue of paper printed Gil Minnesota
SOIL and see how far removed the worId
at large was from Minnesota at thai
time. Though the paper was dated
April Is, under the heading of 1.-The
Very Latest News From California. u
more Clipper of Feb. 3. There was hall
column of foreign news, and, witt
much shrewdness, no date was given
and consequently it was Impossible fo
the reader to tell whether it was tina
year or the next. Taylor was elected
president Nov. 4. 1913. but all item il
this initial number said that the new.
did not reach st. Paul until the follow.
ing January. The paper also contained
the act establishing the territorial gov
eminent of Minnesota. which had beef
approved on the Sd of March, 1S49.
Perhaps one OF the most unique Dor
tons of the table of contents of tbi
very interesting sheet was letter from
Harrisburg, dated April 4, to the Phila
delphia Ledger, which told of the al