Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-28
History of the Chicago Times.

Chicago's history for the last half cen
fury Is reflected in the chronology of the
three great newspapers, one separate, but
now included in the new Record Herald
| The old Times was ono OF the journalistic
pioneers OF the city and had a remark
able and varied career of nearly fifty years.
1t was founded in 1854 by Isaac Cook
James W. Cook James W. Sheahan and
Daniel Cameron Cyrus II. Mccormick.
owner at that time of a paper called the
Herald purchased the Times in 1869 and
united the papers under the name of the
Heraid-TimeS. intending eventually TO drop
the name Times. The new paper was put
in charge of r.. w. McComas, a Nirginian.
and politically it represented the views of
the southern democracy.
Wilbur +. Storey. owner of the Detroit
Free Press at that time, came to Chicago
that year and on January 1, 1861. bought
the Herald-Times and dropped the first
half of the title. This was just before the
outbreak of hoStilities between the north
and south. The policy of the paper was ag-
SreSsive and attracted much attention Its
attitude toward the administration was one
OF independence and criticism. When the
question of freeing the slaves became more
prominent than that of saving the Union
the Times became more hostile toward the
administration and Mr.. Storey himself
came to be regarded by some as inimicaI
to the safety of the country.
So intense was this feeling that General
Ambrose f.. Burnside, then commander of
a
order suppressing the Times as seditious
publication June g. 1851. the day follow
ing, detachment OF soldiers entered the
press room and took forclble possession.
About 5000 had already been printed and
most of these were destroyed.
Great excitement was created by this ac-
ton on the part of the government and Mr.
Storey appealed to the courts Meetings
were held in the afternoon and evening to
protest against what was caAed an attack
on the liberty of the press. President Lin
coin was appealed to and the order was re-
voked June I.
By the end of the war the Times had be-
come one of the most prosperous papers in
the city. In 1866 a new building was erect
ed for its use at the northwest corner of
Dearborn street and Calhoun place. 1t was
five stories high. with a stone front A
Werden of Michigan. who had been a part
ner OF Storey, withdrew and Henry r
Chandler was taken in, but the latter re-
tired in 1870. Up to 1868 the Times had
been a strict party organ. After that il as
leaning toward democracy
The fire of 1871 destroyed the entire
Times building and plant. Mr. Storey made
up his mind not to attempt to re-estabish
the paper, but he was diSSuaded from tb;s
resolution by Franc B. Wilkie and other
members of the Times staff. An office was
| rented at 1G5 Randolph street and October
Is the Times was again issued In March
nue. and Washington street was completed
ana the paper moved in.
HarrisOns Secure the Paper.
Mr. Storey's health began to fail in 1876
In August. 1884, he was declared by the
probate court to be of unsound mind He
died October % 1884. Horace A. Hurlbut
was appointed receiver of the estate and
the Times continued to be published by
him until January 4. 1888. when 1t was sold
to syndicate consisting of Clinton W.
Snowden. j. j. West and others. The late
Carter III. Harrison. father of the present
mayor. purchased the paper in December
1891. and after his election as mayor for
the fifth time his sons, William Preston
Harrison and the present mayor, became
publishers, the former being managing edi-
tor and the latter editor in chief. Their
policy in taking sides with the Pullman
strikers and the railroad employees during
the labor troubles in 1894 gave the paper
much notoriety and made IL popular among
the wage earners.
Late in 1894 Adolf Kraus and Charles
Fewley bought out the interest of the Har-
rison brothers. The Harrison girls, Mrs
ton Owsiey and Mrs. Barrett Eastman.
ned their stock. March 5, 1885, the