The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14


reset in Raleigh early in the seven
ties, and occupied the old buildings
adjoining the Marlborough House,
that noted hosiery. on whose regis
ters have been written. during the
past forty years. the names of perhaps
every prominent citizen of North
Carolina.
My connection with the paper began
about the year 1873, as accountant
then business manager. then manager
finally lessee and publisher and prin-
ter to the State. all during term of
six or seven eventful years, fraught
with teeming political events and ex-
treme struggle. the enterprise having
been handicapped from the outStart
with heavy debt and bitter competi-
ton
The Hon. Josiah Turner, and his
Raleigh Sentinel. both long deceased
but then in power. were the chief
competitors during the early stages.
Mr.. Turner charged us with being
allies of the late George w. Swepson.
Milton S. LittIefield. and others of
their kind, and under the pay of what
Mr. Turner termed the ring" an
influence that was about to ruin the
State. The Sentinel gradually failed
and The News began to prevail espe
tutional Convention, but more pow
erfuI competitor arose in the Raleigh
Observer. published by the late =. M.
Hale and the late Col. w. l.. Saun-
ders Secretary of State. bringing to
bear the strongest political and social
influence in North Carolina.
Despite all this the Raleigh News
held it's pace, but The Observer, un-
der Hale and Saunders. finally made
an assignment. with liabilities, as.
recollect. covering about $35. 900, pass
ing into the hands of Capt. S. A. Ashe
and his friends. and remained. / be-
lieve. until the reorganization which
COMPRISED The News and Observer,
under its present able management.
/ started in at less than 1wenIy-one
years OF age. and closed out at about
twenty-seven. and all during my
experience there was not a week when
we were able to pay in full our prin-
ters. or meet our current expenses
without the utmost 6neSSe, for at no
time did we receive any outside finan-
cial help. and the earnings We're quite
limited. as may he appreciated, for
there was not then. If indeed there be
now room enough for two expensive
morning dailies in Raleigh.
The struggle for existence was SO
great that we We're forced to use rigid
economy. and among other things had
to employ non-union printers. because
they were cheaper but it was impos-
sible to pay even them promptly. and
they would occasionally lose heart and
take to drink and leave me- with the
work unfinished. and ali all-night
struggle to get out the paper by morn
ing. and there were times when it
looked as if I would fail.
On one occasion, during Fair
Week" l was forced to stay the
office eighteen out of each twenty
four hours during the entire week be-
cause my presence was required to
keep together the few printers L could
command, in order to get out the
paper each morning, and II 1T had not
been for Mr.. John Collins, our fore
man. his brother and friends who
stuck TO me like heroes. and truly did
heroic work, there would have been
times when the Raleigh News would
have skipped a day. hut strange to
say. that in all those years of intense
daily strain and insolvency. the paDer
never failed to appear on time; and
finally when my physician. the late
DIR. Il. Burke HAYWOOD a Christian
gentleman and expert. advised me 10
give up the struggle, 1 surrendered :"
combination presided over By Ed
wards, Broughton & Co., and others
ana did not owe q dollar of current
Indebtedness, my only obligations hn-
ing some $1,000 to the type founders
for the final balance on all the pur-
chaSeS during the career of the papar
which amount l assumed as NIX lease
Indebtedness and subsequently paid