The Somerset reporter., 1909-09-02
Observation-Disclosures Next Week.
Merging REPORTER with the SOMERSET INDEPENDENT
Marks Important Epoch in Somerset County Journalism

printed from week to week the town,
county and grange news together
with brief resume of news of
Statewide Importance, still 1t has
found for itself large place and has
filled that place in most admirable
manner. 1t has gained for itself an
enyiaDle reputation for accuracy in
reporting the news of the passing
day. a reputation largely due to the
efforts of Mr.. Patten,
the local editor. Undoubtedly the
familiar sight of the Reporter will
be missed by a large number of its
older readers, and this fact would be
keenly regretted by the former as
well as the present owners were 1t
not that in it's stead a new and bet
ter Reporter will hereafter be sub
stituted
The Union Advocate. the second of
the papers to be merged, is the local
paper for North Arson and printed
in conjunction with the Reporter.
1t, too, is an old newspaper. having
already passed its 53rd birthday.
The patrons of the Advocate will
now receive a much enlarged paper
and one which will contain many
times over the amount of matter
which it has ordinarily carried
AS for The Independent, the
third paper to be merged, little per-
haps need be said. And yet we can
not refrain from saying something
concerning it. Our readers, many
of whom have been with us from the
opening issue on May 10 of the pres
ent year, know how successful has
been its history. Starting in field
which, as pointed out in the first
issue, was already well filled but in
which it was believed an independent
paper might find an important Of
fee to fill, it has in it's brief career
of four months established a record
of growth that Is without parallel
among the newspapers of Maine. Its
aim was to give the news of Show
hogan and the county first considera-
ton, that of the State and Nation
second. Its publisher believed that
it should carry a strong editorial
page in which should be found out
spoken comments on men and meas
ures.s He further believed that its
general appearance should be the
very best that the most modern ma
chinery and expert printers could
produce.
In all these respects the pub
Usher has lived up to his promises.
We have carried third more news
than was at first intended; we
have conducted an editorial page
that has brought forth comment from
individuals and the press, and that
has given the paper prestige at
home and abroad that would not
have been possible otherwise; and
we have been able to present to our
readers a paper Witch, for mechani-
cal efficiency as shown IN its gen
eral makeup, has elected wide
spread approval.
The success of The Independent
has been due almost entirely to the
magnificent support which has been
given it and it's job printing plant
by countless well-wishers and read
ers throughout the county. This
support has been a source of great
qualification to Mr.. Smith, the owner
and publisher, and he has frequent
ly referred to 1t as beyond his most
ardent expectations" And now 1t
is pleasant to feel that all of our
warm-hearted friends, those who
have simply written to order the pa
per and those who have taken oc-
casion to drop into the office and
wish us we'll, all of whom have
royalty aided us in our undertaking.
it is pleasant to feel now that, as
a result of the merging of several
papers into one, and under the new
name of The ependent-Reporter
these friends are to go forward with
us into the larger field in which
greater and grander service are to
be found.
For the publication of the new
paper and for the carrying ON of the
general job printing business, new
business corporation has been form
ed, to be called The Independent-Re-
stock issued in equal number of
shares to Elmer E. McNeelie, Edna
Page Smith, and Clyde H. Smith.
These three stock owners will form
the directorate of the new company,
of whom Elmer e. McNeelie will be
the business manager, Edna Page
Smith, the treasurer, and Clyde H.
Smith, the president. While the
general management Of the business
will be in the hands of Mr.. McNeelie,
the general news and editorial po-
Icy of the paper will be under the
direct charge of Mr.. Smith. The fore
manship of the press and composing
room will be in charge of Mr.. Cecil
II. Tilton, who for twenty years was
connected with the Reporter office,
and since the organization of The
Independent has been foreman in its
Office With Mr.. McNeelie, who has
conducted The Reporter for many
years in a most successful man
ner, as a business manager, apd with
Mr.. Tilton, undoubtedly one of the
most expert printers in New Eng
land and now at the head OF the lin
est equipped and managed printery
in Maine, as foreman, the new
corporation has nothing before 1t but
a splendidly successful future.
AS for the general policy or the
new paper, something will be said In
the first issue to be printed next
Thursday noon. That no anxiety may
be felt by advertisers and subscribers,
n should be stated here that all con-
tracts entered into by either or the
former publishers will be carried OUT
to the letter, and that subscribers 10
both papers will receive The lnde-
acknowledgements for the combined
lengths of their unexpired subscrlp-
tons.
When there is a popular visitor at
the house, there is great fuss among
the children as to which shall "sit by
her at the table,"
Every time country band goes out