The Ronan pioneer., 1917-10-26

printers on the Post became we'll
known Montana journalists, among
the number being Hugh McQuaid,
afterwards editor of the Helena Inde-
pendent; Harry Norton, City editor
of the New Northwest at Deer Lodge,
When 1T was founded by CAPTAIN ] !.
ii. Mills, who succeeded Blake as edi-
tor of the Post; Peter Roman, who
helped establish the Montana Demo-
crat at Virginia City and was later
an Indian agent on the Flathead re-
servaton for whom the town of Ro-
nan is named and II. T. Brown, later
one OF the founders of the Butte
Miner in conjunction with CAPTAIN
James II. Mills and associates. AS
member of the editorial and re-
portorlal staff during its most stren-
uous period H. N. Mcclure, who es-
tablished the Montana Pick and
PloW at Bozeman in 1869, being the
first newspaper published in eastern
montana, gained distinction
First Union Organized.
Harmonious relations existed be-
tween the wielder of the editorial
pen and the members of the back
room chapel. In order to qualify as
a printer a journeyman had to be
able to do almost anything-go out
and get the news, hustle a few ads.
set them up, make up the paper, put
1T on the press and print it and then
assist in mailing it.
1t was in the office of The Post
that the first labor union in Montana
was organized. The printers held the
initial meeting of a union there in
the fall of 1867, just SO years ago,
and appointed a committee on CON
stltution and bylaws, who employed
Judge Blake to draft them. For it
he received his first fee for legal
work in the territory. This organ
lzation afterwards declared a strike
on the Montana Democrat, The
Posts local contemporary, getting
out dodgers calling it unfair and
thereon a large picture of a
rodent, declaring the Democrat
rat office" Thus from the office
of The Post also came Montana's
first strike bulletin.
Good Wages for Printers.
In those days printers received as
high as 800 per week in wages, but
N-AS AuA VI lhS 6dluC tdOlC anu IuC
freedom of the west usually had the
effect OF taking care of their wages
so that by the time Monday arrived
heir Saturday nights pay envelope
would be almost, il not entirely,
empty. Printers used to have some
very exciting games among them
selves, the stakes being pretty high
On some occasions. While they play
ed the usual card games, roulette
and dice at the gaming houses, in the
print shop the principal game was
|efflng quads, the one who had the
most hicks turned up winning the
pot. Sometimes several hundred dol
lars changed hands on single throw
Of the quads.
AS rule, however, these early
lay printers were possessed of high
deals and keen appreciation of 10y
llty and friendship. The ability of
ome of them was proven in later
ears when they took high rank in
he political. industrial and journal
site life of the state.
Mills Becomes Editor.
Editor Blake wrote his farewell
ditorial December %, 1867, and the
lrst Of the year opened a law office.
ie rose to very distinguished posi-
ion as consellor and jurist and oc-
upled a prominent position in the
ubsequent history of Montana. He
7as succeeded as editor by Captain
ames H. Mills, who had recently ar
lved in Virginia City from Emigrant
ulch, and to whom the owners of
he Post had been drawn by an ar
Gle he had written for publication
an eastern paper,
without previous experience, he
)on got on to the ropes" and in
lort time had made for himself a
anne as brilliant writer and jour-
allstlc light. In many ways he may
? regarded as the father of Montana
'urnalism. He piloted The Post
lfely along placid sea until after
S removal to Helena.
The last copy of The Post issued in
irginia City was printed March %,
sos, and the first copy published
Helena came out April 25, 1868,
e interval having been required to
owe the plant, in which Benjamin
Dlttes had purchased the interest
his partner, ID. w. Tilton. At that
hS lllC puDllCdllOu uhQ ClFCuld-
IN Of $500 copies and it's subscrip-
IN price was $500 per year for the
eekly. A stock company was Or
nized to conduct it and Captain
Ills remained as editor until it's
spension in May, 1869.
In the following July Captain
lis started the New Northwest at
er Lodge and continued as editor
til 1891, playing a most important
rt in molding public opinion for
Cd in territorial days. In conjunc-
n with James H. Brown, who lad
rked on The Post, and Harry c.
ssler, June 1, 1876, Captain Mills
lnded the Butte Miner.
In 1871 Hugh McQuaid, who had
an in the composing room of The
st, when Captain Mills was editor,
rchased the Independent, and was
competitor until the destruction