Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-08-10
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10. 1918
Another Notable Newspaper Change.

Announcement was made. this week
Of the sale of the louisville Ky, Courier
Journal and the Louisville Times, both
owned by the 1Ialdcmans and Colonel
Henry Watterson to Judge II. W Blng-
ham of louisville 1t is said, and is
entirely probable, the sale represented
more than a million dollars, for the news
papers and their publication properties.
The Courier-Journal has long been
one of the leading newspapers Of the
country, noted for the ability of
it's editorial management, and the
manner IN which the personality OF
the editor was directly associated with
the general character and reputation Of
he paper, something exceedingly rare
these DAYS The journal was established
In 1880. by George Dennison Prentice,
q leading Whig Of Kentucky and great
friend of Henry Clay lie made il the
albest exponent Of Wing principles in the
country, and one Of the brightest OF news
papers his wit being keen, caustic and
ever apprcciative Of points TO be made
against his political advcrsarics. Prentice
was known BY the Louisville Journal as
Horace Greeley was known by the New
York Tribune, James Gordon Bennett,
the elder. bv the New York Herald. Henry
]. RAYMOND BY the New York Times,
Samuel Bowlcs, the elder, by the Spring
field Republican; and later, Charles 4,
Dana bv the New York sun But hat
striking personal element has been almost
eliminated from the newspaper field in
this country. The papers arc what their
owners and workers make them, and TO
the outside world the principal makers
arc'comparatively unknown
Colonel Wattcrson Is probably the last
of these great editors who made such an
impress upon their papers as to bring about
a natural association Of he name of the
editor with the name Of the paper He
came to the Courier-Journal-thc old
journal having meanwhile been consoll-
dated with the Louisville Courier hortly
after the Civil War, and for years made II
conspicuous in American journalism by
reason of his ability as an editorial writer,
and his firm support Of the Democratic |
party, as capable, vigorous and consistent |
as was the support of the Wing party an |
the columns of the Journal by Prentice !
An interesting announcement in con-
nection with the sale of the papers is that !
Colonel Watterson Will be continued in the /
service Of the Courier-Journal as editor
emeritus His age entities him TO this
distinction, as well as his long and brilliant
service, as he is now in his seventy
eighth year, and in the ordinary course Of
events cannot be expected con inue in
harness much longer But he has dis !
played wonderful vitality, both physical
and mental, and in his position as editor
emeritus of the newspaper he so long
actively conducted, making IL familiar
and popular with readers all over the
country, will no doubt continue, as long
as his physical and mental forces remain
TO make his impress upon its
editorial columns, so that old readers will
continue to fondly allude to it as Waiter
sons Courier-Journal
But when he departs, probably the last
strong editorial personality in the country,
the last of what were called great edi-
tors, will have gone. But there will
still be great editors, although the world |
outside of their offices viii not be familiar
" arftIaipted with them