davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
JENNErr AND HI HISTORY MAKING WORK

habit, the steady increase in population
and wealth. the return to POLITICAL
sanity and good government guaran-
Iceing peace and quiet and cUntri!-ut-
ing to prosperity-ali these things
plus hard work and conservation TO
the interests OF The News and ObSe''r-
or and the cooperation OF the best
friends with which anv newspaper wa
ever blessed gradually turned the tide.
1t is with a great sense of thank
fulness and gratitude. that the man
agement reports that at the close 81
the tenth year the company is anSn
lutely free from debt. This is the frs;
time the stockholders have really own
ed their property since a debt of six
teen thousand dollars WAS incurred IL
purchase Mergenthaler Linotype Ma
chimes, a perfecting nreSS and othe>
equipment. In addition 10 paying thu
last cent of debt and burning the
mortgage which has long nung Owe
the paper there has been expended
during the past wear a considerable
sum for permanent improvements. Tho
wiping out of the mortgage was al
event that gave great pleasure anC
satisfaction 10 the manaG2Inent, anc
the stockholders VIII be graufIed to
know that free from debt the way Is
open for further Improvement of the
paper and enlargement or the plant
The circulation OF The News and OBJ
server continues to grow gratifyingly
The past month has been one OF the
best in the papers history. che FOL
lowing statement tells the story of the
growth of circulation better than any
words could do:
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

poisonous at it's source.
The News and Observer has had the
pleasure during the past year of re-
cording wonderful educs tional and
temperance reform. The hope of the
State is in an educated and sober citi-
zenship. To practical and effective
temperance reform the PAPER has
given its earnest support and helped in
the mighty strides that have greatly
lessened the saloon evil in tina State
1t has been active in support IF the
progressive education policy that has
given North Carolina prlmacy among
Southern States. The paper viii con.
tinue to battle for these, as we'll rs pc-
litical reforms and industrial progress.
and every good cause that makes fo :
the glory and prosperity of II is good
Commonwealth.
The closing year has been marked
in the life of the editor of The News
ana Observer by an important incl
dent that served the GOOD purpose o.
showing that the love of liberty still
burns brightly in the hearts of Nort!.
Carolinians and that they are as ra-
solved to preserve the RIGHT of frea
speech and liberty of the press as their
fOrbears who shed their blood To Sc
cure it for all future generations. IT
served also to show the confidence the
faith in it's devotion to right and jus
uce. No matter what it may have
cost in other w2ys, the attempt Ia
destroy the liberty of the press has
resulted in making clear that no pub
lie official is above honest and Main
Anglo-SaXon criticism. When the press
is afraid to speak. or is dumb for any
cause, in such a crisis as that which
confronted the State in May of this
year. it becomes unworthy of the re..
spect Of 'freemen. I wish to convey
my personal gratitude to the stock
holders of the paper and through YOU
TO the people OF the State for the
manifestation oe friendship and the
support given ir the most critical
period of my editorial career. During
those days when the right of an editor
20 criticize a judicial office hung in
the balance, the staff or The News and
Observer showed a spirit Of devotion
TO the principle at stake that is be-
yond words to describe.
The future of the paper, if it keens
true to the right, as God gives it to
see the right, is assured 1t needs i'm
provements not hitherto made because
the payment of the debt requifeC
ciosest economy. With that all pal
the management hopes to make me
paper better in every way and 70 max"
it more worthy of it's great constltu-
ency.
I wish to express thanks to c"er|
employs of the company for the rastp
rul service they have rendered. ais"
wish to convey my grateful appreole-
ton to the stockholders for their COT
tinued support and confidence mani
tested so peculiarly during the ras'
year I can show my appreclat.o''
best by consecrating my life to IN.
uppuilding OF the great paper that
owes a sacred DUTY to the people 81
North Carolina. Fully conscious Oh
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

and best men in the State had worn
ont their lives in the struggle or daily
Journalism at the States capital. NOT
one of them had long made the paper
pay except when enjoying political
patronage. but they haG made news
oapers worthy of the largest measure
If success and gained the lasting gra-
titude of the State tor their consplcu-
ans service. which had been poorly re-
,luite0.
The first year OF the life of the pa
DER under the present management
we're years of hardship, or loss. o.
struggle of hopes ana fears. 1t re-
.ruired the expenditure of nearly every
dollar of the cash capital stock paid IN
20 meet the expenditures over anc
above the receipts and even then both
-ndS were made to meet only by an
economy thai cut to the bone. But
with the introduction Of type-Settin9
machines and perfectng presses. the
new and greater Industrial activity in
North Carolina which the policy OF
the paper did much to encourage and
promote. the more general diffusion of
knowledge and growing reading
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

chiefly desired from Il business stand
point because 1t guarantees large ad.
.vertising patronage. With The News
and Observer 1t is Different. A large
circulation is chiefly desired because
It adds to the influence anc usefulness
of the paper and brings In =. large in,
come. The cash receipts from adve
Using have more than doubled since
1894 but thew are still not 81 large as
the constantly growing receipts FROM
subscriptions. There are few daily
papers which do not look more to adj
Vertising Tor fhelr income tnan to SUBJ
scriptions. 1t is not SO with our paper,
but l am grarified to state that With
the rapidly increasing circulation OF
The News and Observer the adyertis
ing patronage mas steadily grown, the
rates nave bean increased and success
full advertisers are using the adVertis
ing columns more Freely sI M I'D ,
Vanced rate.
Ihe caSh receipts from GuDscrir-
tons during the past yea were the
largest by S3.042.5I than in any ,r,-
vious year i'm Inc history OF the paper.
and the advertising receipts were
S403.5S larger titan in any previous
year. With the promise of large
crops and good business this fall il
is hoped that the coming year will
1t had long been dounteG in North
Carolina whether a daily newspa per
With small capital, with no source O..
income except from subscribers anG
advertisers could be maze 10 pay m
Raleigh. The past ten years expert
ance answers the question liz the attlr
native. 1t is true that the experiment.
has succeeded only by close economy
4 Ia I.acf
employed on 81 paper of like size ANA
circulation anywhere in the country.
But the experiment has been success
full and the growing circulation q:
the paper warrants ~the hope that q
growing income will permit improve
ments to the paper that will make ii
more and moro worthy of the patron
age of the people of North Carolina.
The paper lS blessed in every depart
ment with a force of bright loya. and
efficient employees who take q pride in
the paper. rejoice in its every victory
and contribute greatly to all the good
it is able to do. They work together
tremendously and / do not believe
from the devil down to the aditor-ir
chief there IS a worker on the paper
who is not happy that the tenth ami
versary affords such substantial cause
for cheer and thanksgiving.
F1nanclallV the paper has done WeH
during the year just closed, but that is
only a necessary incident The only
desire of the management for large
revenue is that it may be spent IL
making the paper a mighty engine for
the betterment of the educational, po-
'itical, industrial and moral condition
Of the State. The question: "WilI il
lose an advertiser or drive away sub
Scribers?" has never been permitted
70 have weight in controlling the edi-
torial policy of the paper. 1t has fol-
lowed the course which seemed right,
even when the loss of business was
certain to follow. A subsidized news
paper is a harlot of journalism, a
newspaper edited from the counting
room Is dominated by commercialism
that destroys its largest usefulness
and newspaper that is published ana
supported nv corporations having an
Interior purpose is a spring that is
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

relative of mine to the remoteSt an
cestor of whom 1 have any knowledge
ever got printers ink on his fingers"
l loved to read newspapers before I
knew school books, and | loved to
go into printing offices as a boy bet
ter than to play. In the early days
after the war, when l was a little
barefooted boy too young to recollect,
Wilson had some brilliant men Who
after editing in Wilson, made reputa-
ton in journalism at the State capital.
Among them were VIM. A. Hearne,
II. j. Lee, r. T. Fulghum, E. c..
Woodson, and the brilliant John w.
Durham, who was lawyer, legislator
and editor l knew these men we'll
as we'll as a small boy who loved the
very atmosphere of a printing office
could know men in a small village, but
/ was not old enough to consciously
gather any inspiration from them.
The first editor / ever knew well
was Col. "Dick" Singletary, editor of
the Wilson Plaindealer. He had re-
turned from the army, where he made
reputation for courage of high order,
and tried to make a living farming
near Wilson. He then combined
editing the Plaindealer with farming.
and as diversion became a member
of the Legislature and of the Consti-
tutlOnaI Convention. he was Il man Oh
strict integrity, and deeply
versed in the old-time Democratic
doctrines. His paper had strong edi-
torials on public questions, but very
little local matter, and, as for the bust
ness end he did not know how to get
and the only sub
scriberS on his books were those who
ordered their names en-
rolled. He was editor. bookkeeper,
mailing clerk, proofreader-every-
thing. He never made any money and
had no easy time to make both ends
meet, and yet, as a boy, | had more
admiration for that man and secretly
put him on a higher pinnacle than
any man / knew. Why was this!
never studied psychology and do not
know. 1t is one of the mysteries that
cannot solve. The first recitation
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
The NEWS And. OBSERVER
Story of the Paper During the Ten Years Has Been
Under the Control of the Present
Management.

ishing its bright men to richer news
papers or to other callings.
The editorial staff has in these ten
years embraced men who have done
work unsurpassed in brilliancy and in
effectiveness. Mr.. w. e. Christian,
whose stories upon the most common
place subject scintillated. is now a sue
cessful official OF the Seaboard Air
Line Railroad: Mr.. Fred l.. Merritt,
who grew into the best managing
editor North Carolina has produced
in this generation, is Washington cor
respondent for great New England
daily, the Providence Journal and
The News and Observer: Mr..
John w. Jenkins, after graduating on
portant position on the Baltimore Sun y
Mr.. Chas p. Sapp, after work Of a
high order on this paper, is now edi-
tor of the Norfolk Virginian-Pilo
Mr.. F. b. Arendell, who was on the
business local and editorial staff and
whose contributions were always one
of the best features of the paper, is
now with great book publishing
house; Mr.. P. r. Hoyle, who did good
work here, is now with a New York
tobacco journal, capable and reliable;
Mr.. Numa r. Hoyle is with the Rich
mond Times-Dispatch; and Mr.. Sanford
l.. Rotter, capable and conscientious
journalist. is still engaged in newspa-
per work on a Raleigh paper. OthH>
young men of talent have for a short
time been on the staff of this paper
and rendered good service.
Jennett's Cartoons.
In addition to these men who con-
tributed so much to the success of
The News and Observer. one other
name must be mentioned-that OF
Norman e. Jennett now holding q
good position in the art department
of the New York Herald. We called
him 1.-THE Sampson Huckleberry"
when he first made crude cartoons in
1896. He was working in a little print
ing office at Clinton and one day took
his pocket knife and made a wood
cut Of Marion Butler, then at the
zenith of his political power. 1t was
as good as anything Davenport ever
did-that is in it's conception and the
execution, while crude. showed that
the mind behind it was a fine one.
Governor Elias Carr showed the cut
to the editor of The News and Obser-
YER and said that he believed there
was something in the boy. After
some correspondence with the editor,
Mr.. Jennett came to Raleigh as 'as-
sistant mailing clerk and cartoonist"
at the munificent salary of five dollars
week. The paper couldn't afford an.
artist, even at that salary, and so Jen-
nett packed papers at night and made
pictures in the day. He walked right
into the hearts of every man on the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

force and he will never walk out. Sum
NY tempered, pure as a girl, cour-
ageouS as any man, modest as he was
industrious and worthy he soon be-
came the favorite OF the office and
made more reputation than any man
of his years in North Carolina in the
same number of days. He read the
editorials in the paper, caught on to
the spirit of the campaign, and made
cartoons that pilloried every leading
Re-pop-li-can in the State. Daven~
ports Mark Hanna was not better
than Jennett's d. l.. Russell. In the
campaign of '9S, though he had in the
meantime gone to New York, Jennett
returned to Raleigh, and every day
illustrated the red-hot campaign with
cartoons that are yet found pasted
upon many a cabin door in North
Carolina His cartoons contributed
as much to success as Aycock's and
Glenn's eloquence. Simmons man
agement. and the News and Observers
editorials and stories.
How he came to go to New York
and his early struggles and success
there would be interesting But that's
another story"
Business Department..
In the Business Department there
have been changes. Mr.. f. b. Aren-
dell and Mr.. w. P. Whitaker, who at
first constituted the business force, as,.
sisted by Capt. Heflin, are in other
lines. Mr. Richard Battle is in Il
distant State. Mr. H. A. Chappell is
engaged in another business.
During the first five years of the
paper, Miss Ethel Bagley was cashier
and stenographer. She was succeed
ed by Miss Isabel B. Busbee, who still
carries the keys. The business has
grown and now in the business office
Miss Mamie Horton has charge of
the advertising business. and Miss
Maria Robbins has recently been added
as assistant. It is an open secret in
women in the office direct the whole
establishment and have done SO for
nine years. The paper is fortunate in
having such government.
Mr.. j. S. Fulghum. long book-keep-
er and city circulation manager, was
succeeded by Mr.. Horace Dowell. That
position is now filled by Mr.. V. c..
Moore, and was never better filled.
Mr.. w. H. Bagley became business
manager of the paper nearly three
years ago, and at the recent meeting
rector of the company.
In the Field.
The News and Observer has always
been strong in the field. and that's one
great reason of it's big circulation. The
present field staff is composed of H. B..
Hardy who has been with the pres
ent editor on the Wilson Advance,
and State Chronicle almost continu-
ously since 1888: w. M. Rogers, who
has been with The News and Observer
over twelve wears. Mr. D. A. Jordan
who has been on the road for the
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

sions of Congress, are highly priced.
Printing Department..
The printing office of 1894 bears
little resemblance to that of 1904.
Then it was a printing office. Now it
is a machine shop or foundry. Ihe
Mergenthaler has wrought wonderful
changes. Mr.. Samuel Bogasse is fore
man of the office. He was devil on
the old Raleigh News. He is an artist
in makeup" and stands foremost
among the first in his calling. Mr.
l.. F. Afford is machinist and mead or
the Mergenthaler department. He is
equally at home on the intricate type
setting machine. writing an editorial
or news story, or I'm any departments
of the paper except the telegraph de-
partment Sam Bogasse and Leroy
Afford are the light and life zap
stairs" but don't try to hurry them
when they are already running at
Maud S. gait. The management has
never thought what it would do if it
should lose either, for they are as
much part of the paper as the edv
tor or Ben Hardy. In the Mergen-
thaler branch Mr.. Afford is assisted by
Frank M. Glenn. John Knox. James
Parham and George Mitchell, expert
operators and true men. In the
mechanical department Mr.. W., c.
Huffman sets the advertising in a way
to win praise abroad; Mr. Joe
Smith, who has gone up from devil"
sets the heads and assists the fore
man as makeup; and Hubert Arnold
is "deviI'--a name as foreign to his
beautiful character as possible.
In the Press Room.
When The News and Observer IN
stalled ifs Cox DUPLEX press Mr.. Fred
St jacques, of New Haven, Conn,
came to the paper as pressman. He
returned North after a few years, but
three years ago returned to Raleigh
on 1.-THE Old Reliable has since
married lovely Raleigh lady and is
fixture in Tar-heeldom He knows
a press from "a to z" and knows how
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
The Presidents Report.

Tha annual report of the PRESIDENT
was Rad and ordered printed. 1t is as
follows:
TO tho Stockholders Of The News anu
Observer Publishing Company:
Ten years ago this week Inc news
and Observer passed into the owner
ship of thu present company, ana II Is
proper to look hack upon those years
at this milestone period in the history
of the paper and to thank Goa ana
take courage The present company
was organized in the dull summer ol
1894 when business depression had
touched it's lowest point. Inc unpfe-
cedented low price of crops in that ana
previous years had brought TINS state
to distress and poverty not hltherto
known except in war and reconStruc-
ton. Many men. long accustomed 70
their daily paper, were Iorceu 20
economic and cnt off the luxury OF
the daily visits Advertising was al
most stagnant Within Few months
after the purchase of the paper by
the present COMPANY, the poltlcaI par
ty, to which The News ana observer
was devoted, suffered q crushing de-
feat. Over forty thousand voters, VINO
in other years had been IN pontlcal
sympathy with the paper had joined
new party, and they We're the Vlolehl
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

BILE. Those stockholders who have
crossed over the river are remem-
bered with grateful affection by the
management of the paper. They are:
DIR. Francis Il. Fuller, of Raleigh.
Gen. Rufus Rarringer. OF Charlotte.
Col. Thomas G.. Fuller. of Raleigh.
Capt. j. S. Payne, of Washington,
ID. G.
DR.. John Manning, of Chapel Hill.
Hon. Henry Clay Wall, of Rocking
ham.
Hon. Nj. Ill. Pinnix, of Lexington.
DIR. George l.. Kirby. of GoldsborO.
DIR. X. w. Thomas. of Townsville.
MIR. "A. II. Page. of Aberdeen.
Col. Thomas NJ. Holt. of Haw River.
Mr.. John w. :Hanes. of Winston.
Col. S. Med. Tate, of MOrgantOn.
Hon. j. e. Black, OF Carthage.
These sixteen distinguished and
honored North Carolinians who were
among the earliest to become stock
holders in The News and Observer
Publishing Company were men who
served their day and generation with
signal usefulness. No good cause
lacked their assistance. and when they
were invited to take part in the Or
ganization of the present company they
each subscribed to as much stock as
was issued to any one stakeholder eX-
cept the president and the late Col.
Holt, who sold the State Chronicle
to the company for $1,000 in stock.
These distinguished men. with their
associates, gave the weight of their
names and other valued assistance to
the new enterprises. and all men who
believe in the creed and spirit OF
The News and Observer owe them
debt of gratitude. With the editor of
this paper, their memory will forever
be kept green. He esteems it and
will ever esteem it a high honor to
have been deemed by them worthy of
their confidence, for it would be diff
cult to name sixteen North Carolinans
who during the last half of CEN
fury have done SO much for North
Carolina in every field of activity. Their
places have been taken by younger
men whose highest ambition is to be
worthy to wear their mantle.
Officers Of The Company.
There have been few chances in the
officers of the company. They have
given their time. their valued coun-
sci, their cooperation. their assist
ance in manifold ways to the up
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14
The Illness of Mr.. Rogers.

Lie llIHeSS Oh MI. Rogers.
The following resolution waA
adopted
Resolved, That the stockholders
nave learned with deep regret OF the
illness of Mr.. w. M Roger, long one
OF the most efficient men in the bust
ness department of the paper They
are greatly cneered to learn today OF
MS improved condition. Much of the
success OF the paper Is due to Mr.
Rogers. and the company desires to as
sure him both of their appreciation
of his devotion to the best interests
CT the paper and OF their earnest wish
that ne may soon be restored to health
and to active SERVICE
The Directors.
The following were elected dirsc-
tors r. 4. stray G. NJ. Busbee. w. n.
Jones. n. r. BrouGhton, Carey j.
Hunter. II. w. Jackson and w. H.
Bagley.
The Officers.
The officers of the company are:
Presidert-Josephus Daniels
ce-Pr"sident---W. N. Jones.
Secretary and Treasurer-H. w.
Jackson.
Attosney---R. T. Gray.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

to make her hum on big editions and
tn catch mails on a close margin. He
is assisted by Mr.. Charles Beavers,
Who has heen on the paper ten years,
who soon takes charge of press of
another paper. Mr.. Beavers successor
is Mr.. Joe Barbee, a Raleigh boy who
has a fine mechanical turn.
Mailing Department.
Mr.. w. II. Jones is the efficient
mailing clerk In the matter of keep
ing the lists and otherwise he is assist
ed by Mr.. Ed. Marlborough Jr.,
bright and capable man. and in mail
ing and packing by Mr.. W. III. Putney.
They have capable heln in Lunceford
Davis a faithful colored man who has
been with the paper long time
Rev. Garland Hinton.
The janitor of The News and OBJ
server and messenger is Rev. Garland
Hinton, a colored man of character
and intelligence who has been with
the paper half dozen years or more.
Last year he. thought he would like TO
try his fortune in New Jersey, but he
couldn't get along without The News
and Observer and The News and OBJ
server couldn't get along without him.
This brief and hurried sketch of
The News and Observer as it is today
on the tenth anniversary under its
present management will interest
newspaper workers. and it is hoped it
will not be without interest to the
more than forty thousand people who
read it every day. 1t is a mere glance
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

buildino of the paper. To Robert 4.
Gray, Charles M. Busbee. Wesley N.
Jones, Needham B. Broughton, Her
bert w. Jackson and Cary j. Hunter,
who have been on the board OF dlrec-
tors all the ten years, every stock
holder and reader is indebted more
than will ever be known to any ex-
cept the editor who has leaned upon
them in many a time of trial or per-
plexity. They have given this service
without compensation and solely be-
cause their heart has been in the work
of building up great and usefu. daily
paper at the capital.
The Staff OF The Paper.
There are only six men now on the
staff of the paper who were with it
I'm August, 1894, when the first issue
appeared under the present manage
1nent-Josephus Daniels. of the edi-
torial staff; H. b. Hardy and w. M.
Rogers who represent the paper in
the field; Foreman Samuel Bogasse.
Frank NJ Glenn, linotype operator.
and Joseph Smith. then devil now
assistant to the foreman. Change has
followed change. The paper has lost
efficient men because it has been
regular College Of Journalism, furn-