The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-11-27
UNvARNISHED TALE OF
ASTORIA HERALD
ITS FINANCING AND sPoN-
soRs AND HISTORY DURING
IT'S LATER YEARS.

Wednesday with reference 10 former
City Attorney A. MI Smiths reia-
ton 10 and responsibility for certain
things inseparable thereirom, and to
indicate that much as be processes
to despise the profession Of journal
ism, he came mighty near posing al
least as neophyte in the business;
and to remind him that printers ink
and free press measure fairly up II
the standards 81 his own profession.
and that any derogation Of either,
depends largely on whose OK is
goredl'
Astoria, Or Nov, %, 1903,
Editor Astorian: -Apropos Of an
article published in the Astorian OF
Wednesday, in which the publisher
took occasion to roast with consid.
cradle tenability. A. NJ. Smith asI
sponsor and fnancier' Of the late
lamented Astoria Herald, permit me
to give brief history Of the Herald
II waa Incorporated about 20 years
years ago by funds subscribed bv
prominent Republicans and for
long time advocated the principles Of
the G. o. P. Later the Citizens party
came into power and there being
no newspaper published in the city
with the temerity to advocate their
cause, the Herald passed into the
hands OF the unterrifed, with the
same editor under a contract that
the publisher was to have the net
profits of the business in lieu Of adj
vocating the principles Of the citi-
zens party. During the time It
switched several times and finally
suceumbed to the fate Of many ire
sponsiblc journals by reason of a
mortgage.
and control of w. c. Curtis, now
editor and manager Of the Ketchikan
Miner. From that 1t went into
partnership with the Astoria Daily
News and was christened the Astoria
News-Herald under the manage
ment of Robert Gibson, B. P. Soyey
and w. c. Curtis, with the under
standing that il was to secure the
city printing on a stand in PROPOSE
ton, Owing to a misunderstanding
with the members Of the company,
| A. NJ Smith, who held a mortgage
on the Herald plant, foreclosed and
the property was sold and bid in by
him, After being out of commission
three months, it became necessary to
have a newspaper to support the
coterie Of politicians in control Of the
city government and Mr.. c. J. Curt:
took charge Of the plant and repnb,
lished the paper, under a lease from
A. NJ, Smith, backed by three or foul
5 prominent Democrats, who gave
! their notes for the amount of the
mortgage to secure Mr. Smith
claim,
when the city printing contrac
was let about two years ago, ! wa!
foreman on the paper and an ar
rangement was entered into whereof,
n the Herald was to be awarded th
4 contract, conditioned that dali,
paper was started, The plant wa
I moved to the Carruthers building oi
S Duane street and Gus Carruthers an,
c. J. Curtis established the Dali,
4 Herald, They received the cit
]. printing contract and ran the pape
for about three months, when it wa
S discovered that the funds were ex
!. hausted and the Daily Herald wa
n discontinued,
II "0n the 18th day OF April, lo0i
the plant was leased by Am, Smit
+ to c, ] Curtis, Another lease for
cylinder press was. also made bC
a tween Mr.. Curtis and Robert Cal
r ruthers, he having advanced abor
$500 for the purchase Of the pres
E What the agreement or understand
d ing beween the owners and tn
lessee were, aside from the politics
o policy Of the paper, | do not knov
k, but It was supposed to be kept rui
ming for the city election Of 1908,
ii Being desirous Of retiring froi
le the newspaper business and continl
y ing the practice Of law, Mr.. Curt
retired from the management Of IL
: paper and on September |, 1908, M
A, M. Smith and Robert Carruthei
sold the entire plant to r. NJ. Wa
IS son of Seaside and it was moved
that town and was absorbed by II
Seaside Signal l have been inform
ed, that when the plant was lease
to Mr. Curtis, the city printing co.
tract was assigned to Frank Split
as trustee with the understands
that the Budget was to carry on Il
contract and pay Mr., Spittle 20 p
cent OF the amount received, 10 b