The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-07
OWNERSHIP OF CHICAGO TRIH.
ltNE

/ - v SPoP~A III tl1l0 WAlCu
| Is equivalent to saying that it is the
greatest in the world. Considerable
public interest therefore attaches to
It's ownership. The matter was
brought to the front at recent pub
lie meeting In Burlington in opposi.
ton to the commission form of city
government now under discussion
there. Mr.. G. o. Holly OF Des Moines
made an argument against the adop-
ton of the plan by the city of Bnrling-
ton. When he had finished President
A. G. Oberle OF the Burlington Com
rercial Exchange made shorr re-
ply in which he asserted, among
other things. that the Chicago Trib-
une in an editorial about week ago,
urged the members of the Coos corn-
~ delegation at Springfield To sup
port legislation which would enable
tie smaller cities OF iLmois 4, PIT the
commission plan Of 4. government into
operation in plate CT the present I'M
satisfactory council method of govern
ing cities; the Tribune adding further
that while Chicago could not have 1t,
! 1t hoped that the members from Cook
county would support it anyway In
reply Mr.. Holly declared: why, of
course, the Chicago Tribune is in
| favor of the commission plan of gov
eminent. Why? Because it is owned
by British capitalists. " With view OF
getting at the truth of the matter
Mr.. Oberle wrote the managing edi.
tor of the Tribune, inquiring II Mr..
Holly's statement was correct or not
I'm reply he received letter from
Managing Editor Kelley which is a
fine specimen OF vigorous English
Mr.. Kelley goes directly to the point
and does not hesitate to use the
Shorter and ugiier'' word. The full
/ text Of his letter, printed below vi.
be read with general interest and ap
/ probation:
CHICAGO, H., June 4, 1909. "A. g
Oberle, Esq. Burlington, Iowa.
My Dear Sir: You may say Il
Mr.. C. o. Holly, and to anyone inter
ested publicly, privately, at any time
at any place and in any manner tina
seems fitting to you, that the state
ment made by Mr.. Holly that the Chi
cago Tribune is owned by British car
italists is lie. 1t is lie in Who'll
and in part. 1t is a lie old enough t
be the father of a multitude of false
hoods
The stock of the Chicago Tribun
company is owned by the estates {
three former editors and owners G
the Tribune, all Americans and a
Chicagoans; by former editor {
the Tribune now engaged in newsp;
per work in New York; by two form
er editorial writer's, and by tn
estate of foreman of the Tribun
i press room; the three last named Is
; / am told) having secured sma
amount of stock when there We
some little difficulty in meeting til
weekly pay rolls. One or two share
: are owned by relatives of the late NJ
g Medill.
J These stock holdings of the Tri
: une have been maintained for, |
e these many years twenty-five, thirt
I or more, l believe); the only tran
fer of stock in the last fifteen yea
! has been that one share from or
: member of Mr.. Medill's family to a
other.
r Betting is not much of an arg
It ment, but am willing to wager M
y Holly any reasonable amount
Q money up to $4,000 or $4,000, at al
: reasonable odds, say ten to on
7 that he is liar, and that his stat
! ment is a lie, and that there is I
foundation for the allegation that Il
Tribune is owned by British capits
l. lists. And | am in dead earnest {
C this proposition because, although
= is considered unethical to bet on
: sure thing, judging from the positiv
u ness of Mr.. Holly's statement, he
thoroughly convinced of the corret
/, ness OF his position that he W
2. absolve me from wagering on &C
e tainty. Yours sincerely.
If ~. KELLEY, Managing Editor"
y AS the matter stands Mr.. Hol
a is presumed to be entitled to all Il
.ss rights, titles, privileges, immu
= tiles and distinctions of a full-fledg'
i. member of the justlr-celebrat'
N Ananias Club.