Connecticut western news., 1914-07-09
OLD TWISTED PAPER
First Issue of Winsted News, Edited
 by Henry A. Bills.

| " FlCHi y Hs DhiSs
 A copy of the first number of the defunct Winsted News, dated June 29, 1875, preserved by state treasurer E. $. Roberts, is loaned to The News. Ii was edited by the late Henry A. Bills, and was started as democratic organ. MT. Bills managed the paper for some time, then sold it out to the late w. A. MacArthur son of the late John M. MacArthur, of Salisbury, and at one time an attache of The Connecticut Western News. The paper died many years ago.
 By way of salutatOry, Editor Bills wrote: Can another paper succeed in ] Winsted?' is a question which we have often been asked since we first pro- jected the publication of the News, and we have invariably answered then, as we do now-yesl We think we know the people of this section of Connecti- cut, and we know that they are public spirited enough to give a liberal support to such a paper as we intend to make the News. Our neigh bor, the Herald, has grown rich and lazy on the monopoly it has so long en- joyed, and the general interest requires a friendly rivalry to brighten matters up and keep the public pulse in a healthy condition. Yes, the Winsted News is certain of success.
 In another article along the same line, Editor Bills said: "Our friends ask, Who is going to take the News?' We answer, most everybody. Again, Do the politicians give you encourage ment?' No! Indeed we don't care whether they do or not. Their number is few, and their pay small. Most men who have had little political atten- tion, really think if they consent to take a paper, they are entitled to it free, on account of the great personal influence they have with the masses, and should be allowed to dictate the precise line of thought to be pursued in its management; all of which amounts to very little. Our confidence is in the PEOPLE. Pro Bono Publico. And if we succeed in furnishing such a paper it will be "the climax of our ! ambition. The day has gone by when few small-minded men, with no qualifications except assurance, are to dictate to the hard-headed people of this age, who they shall support for their rulers and the question is brought to our attention, every day, relative to the incompetency of the men who manage our affairs ill nearly all the positions, at the present time. We vastly prefer the people themselves, to the few that only want to use the people for personal aggrandizement.
 The old sectional" feeling was hot, in Winsted, at the time, anl the new paper deplored it. Concluding an editorial on the subject, Bills wrote: "Let's have a public meeting, and all go, and have suitable Whereas; and then Resolved, there is no West, no East, no Flat; but that there is Win sted, one and inseparable. We should all go home feeling as did the North and the South the other day at Bunker Hill when they shook hands across the bloody chasm.''
 The local column relates that Father Leo one of the faculty of the College Saint Bonaventure, Alleghany, N. Y., Ilco JuSO IOOIuhOu HUH US COulIl6uC6- ment, and we learn with pleasure that our Winsted student, William J. Slocum, carried off one of the first honors on examination Father Leo died twenty years ago, and Father William J. Slocum who rose to the rank of Monsignor in the Church and was pastor of St. Mary's in Waterbury and founder of the splendid hospital in that city, died about five years ago.
 Another news item: "The jewelry and music store in Music Hall block is now owned and managed exclusively by MT. Benjamin, MT. Frary, the &C., complished pianist, having retired from the business some weeks ago." MT. Benjamin, who was the father of Ros- COG Benjamin, the auto merchant, died many years ago. MT. Frary is still very much alive.
 Among the Winsted advertisers in the Winsted News were many firms long since dissolved and many business men long since dead. The advertising columns bear the names of William Kirk, jeweler; Baird 6 Renouff, drug gists; Charles s. Norton, grocer; H. R. Adkins, harness; George W. Ram say, painter; Munson, furniture; Alexander Waters, plumber; F. Wood ruff & Sons, flour and grain; Gibson, Nellis 6 Co.,, timers; Enos Sage, grocer; Edgar Dutton, coal and livery; J. A. Bushnell, tailor; H. L. Hunt 6 O., clothing; George M. Darlington, in- surance; Dickerman 6 Jopp, hardware; Watson 6 Burwell, lumber; Miss Brasie, dressmaker; Watson 6 Catlin, drugs; Beach 6 Hunt, insurance; D. 6 w. B. Phelps, drugs; Mrs. s. A. Granger, millinery; o. D. Hunt 6 Co.,, dry goods; Mortimer E. Dutton, lumber; George W. Kinney, market; Henry Barreuther, teacher of music and German; s. B. Forbes 6 Co.,, furni- ture; Ashley 6 Fordyce, painters; Smith & Gross, candy store; Wilbur F. Coe, groceries, etc., etc.