Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-10-20
James o'DcnnelI, Of jackson, Sells
His Newspaper.
NOTABLE CHANGE TAKES PLACE
Ralph n. Booth Buys Citizen ard
Press-Papers Will Be Consolidated
Patriot Also Absorbs News and
Industrial News.

Jackson, Mich, Oct. 1S.-James
O'Donnell. proprietor and editor of
the Jackson Daily Citizen, will retire
Nov. l from the editorial chair of his
paper.
Ralph ii. Booth, proprietor of the
Grand Rapids Herald, has bought the
Citizen and the Press, the two after
non papers of that city, and will con-
solidate them with as little loss OF
time as possible. Mr.. Booth mas fur
Their Strengthened out the newspaper
situation in Jackson by the purchase
of the News, the morning paper re-
dustrial News, a semi-weekly, and SELL
ing both to the Patriot. This will
leave one morning and one afternoon
paper In Jackson.
Mr. Booth holds the controlling in
terest in the consolidated Citizen and
Press, and will have associated with
him John George, Jr., who, as part
owner, will act as general manager for
the consolidated paper Some years
ago Mr.. George was the owner OF the
Patriot, and subsequently operated the
Citizen for Mr. O'Donnell. The con-
s0ldated paper will represent an in
vestment OF about 100000.
Nightly Stirred.
Politicians and citizens were might
ily stirred up when it was announced
that m. O'Donell would retire. Er-
forts have been made to purchase his
paper i'm the past, and 1t was generally
believed that It would be impossible
TO induce him to sell-that he wanted
TO die in the harness. For many years
Il was acknowledged that no paper IN
Michigan, outside of Detroit and pos
sibly Grand Rapids, exerted a stronger
influence on Michigan politics and af-
fairs than did the Citizen under the
editing of Mr.. ODonnell.
Mr.. ODonnell personally has been
a factor in Michigan politics, and in
1900 was one of the strongest candi-
dates in the running for the republi.
can nomination for governor. He was
born in NorwallI, Conn, in 1910; came
to Michigan at the age of s years
when his parents settled in Jackson;
learned the trade OF a printer and ed
ucated himself in a newspaper office;
fought as a private in the ranks OF
the First Michigan infantry in the
civil wars established the citizen in
1865: was elected recorder OF Jacksons
ond was a presidential elector in 1872
and was mayor OF Jackson in 1876 and
1877 He has been member OF the
national congressional committee and
always an active partisan. He will
probably spend some of his leisure
now in travelling abroad
Bury the Ratchet.
The recent establishment OF the
News in the morning field in Jackson
was the outcome OF the differences
that have existed for some years be.
tween Mr. CDonnell and the friends
Of Congressman Townsend. many Ct
whom organized for the purpose Of
protecting the congressman against
the attacks Of other papers, and
tlON.ul lile NtNS iIio 'Ni'''N g -NN"'
through the Intervention Of Mr.. Booth.
from a purely business point Of view,
both Townsend and ODonncll bury
The Ratchet as FAR as the public prints
are concerned, and Jackson will be
give an afternoon oaper that will re-
feet the ingenuity and enterprise that
has marked Mr. Booths efforts in the
newspaper field in other places.