The Connecticut labor press., 1920-04-17
SERIES OF ERRORS
FINALLY PUTS END
TO THE REPORTER
Newspaper Started During
Writers Strike Now a
Dead Issue.

Died-In New Haven April 10,
1o20-The Reporter, born in
glory, Sept IS, 1919, only child of
so odd New Haven newspaper men,
lated adopted by John T. Flynn
and The Reporter Publishing Com
pany. Funeral private.
Thus endeth the dream of not only
the professional newswriters of this
city but the hopes of countless resi-
dents, that decent newspaper would be
published in New Haven. The cause
was too much theory, not enough prac-
ticality and gross mismanagement in
equipping the plant which finally led to
the cutting off of the pledged financial
support and the final sale of the plant
to others.
The Reporter was issued simultane-
Gus with the strike of the newswriters
last September and Immediately made a
tremendous hit. 1t attracted the notice
of Boston capital, a company was or
ganized to make it permanent and John
T. Flynn was made president, of the
company and put in charge locally.
While number of the striking report
ers were retained and placed on par
tial weekly salary pending the date of
publication, the interests of the Report
ers Association ended there, except for
a sale pledge of 100 shares of the stock
of the company which was never deliv-
cred to them by Flynn.
The equipment of the plant was a
series of delays, financial losses and
other interferences due to lack of
practical knowledge. Although the
hearty assistance of number of the
highly skilled men in the printing trades
here was offered, and in some cases re-
jected things went from bad to worse
until finally Boston shut down on the
finances and the plant was up for sale.
Attempts were made to unload it on
several of the political factions inc1ud-
ing the national committees but without
success and finally to meet overdue bills
a loan of $1,000, covered by a mortgage
on the equity in the plant, was secured
through Paul Barnett and Bernard Gut
ler When this, too, became long over
due foreclosure was started but the
plant turned over to them without
further action. Immediately on this
becoming public others who have
alleged claims against the establishment
got busy and early this week there was
a procession of deputy sheriffs winding
tach writs. Mr. Barnett was able to
stave these off temporarily until he has
time to look over the sstuatien and the
end is not yet. The machinery in the
plant was covered with chattel mortg
ages with a large number of claims
outside and it may yet be necessary to
put the proposed publishing company
through bankruptcy to straighten out its
affairs.
While the newspaper was in allegiance,
the reporters and other well wishers
made a canvass for subscriptions and
more than 5000 were secured large
number of them for six months and
year and paid in advance. Organized
Labor had an especial interest in it,
inasmuch as the various locals onened
their meetings to Flynn and others and
many subscriptions were secured from
the individuals. The new owners of the
plant have agreed to refund these sub
scription payments but that will take
come time and perhaps much difficulty,
inasmuch as according to reports made
to them, a complete list is not available.
At any rate The Reporter is dead.
Requiscat in pace.