Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-16
Geo. B. Winship Recalls Incidents
mn Of Early History Of Grand Forks
M Herald and Various Other Papers

blamed sight "gooder" than I wanted
to be. 7 always thought that Murphy
was in the same boat-he had to be
tougher than he wanted to be, IL he
gave satisfaction to his principles.
I have always been a moderate re-
former. and have tabooed radicalism.
lin matters of reform there is q medi-
um ground that is more practicable
to stand upon than extreme radical
ism in either direction. AT the out
set Of the temperance agitation in the
Territory ] was not a prohib!tiolist;
I was for high license and strict state
control. My work along temperance
lines was in that direction. The mis-
cradle saloon outfit. however, had no
sense. They classified the liberal and
sane reformers with the 'long-hairs,"
and forced them to take a more ad-
vanced position than they Thought
| practicable. The Herald advocated
high license and local option and won
out in Territorial elections. IAteDt
when prohibition became the para
mount issue. and the question was
alternative but to cooperate with the
prohibitionists.
Prohibition. railroad and elevator
control, division of the Territory, and
the capital commission. were the
chief issues before the people in 1882
"a. There were a lot OF newspapers
started. and controversy was warm.
OF Alex. Mckenzie. dominated poll
tics. n the band-wagon was loaded
| to repletion. 1t was the vogue at that
time to jump on when one got licked
good n plenty. and 20 home and tell
how gracefully he had made the leap
and how gratefully the gang appreci-
ated his surrender. promising all
Ls~I~ ~ -o,p-~1 ~ 49, 49, -,
ton. This damphool fad actually got
to be fashionable. n many were
the heroes who won enconiums on re-
turning home. because they jumped
the bandwaEon at an opportune time.
That was an acrobatic feat. however,
that l never seemed to perform.
When I didn't have a b~and-wagon of
my own I chose the hearse: and many
we're the funeral professions that I
trailed along with after a shar1p and
decisive engagement with tho McKen-
zie forces in Territorial and state
conventions.
This subject of politics and politi-
clans is an interesting one to me. and
I am prone to dwell at'length upon
it: but I set out to write something
about the youthful days of The Her
aid, and I must not diEress:
For nearly a decade the newspaper
business. and all other kinds for that
matter. was good. There was rapid
and substantial DEVELOPMENT along all
lines, n everybody ''r1ade hay so
to speak. I sold my homestead and
tree claim out near Emerald to Sem
ator Mitchell of Pennsylvania, for
$4,000 cash. n put the whole
amount into The Herald plant and
building; bought a Prouty press. a
new dress for the paper. brick-ven-
eered the old building. Ind slicked
up generally. The Plaindealer, also,
was progressive. It had a bad fire.
and was literally burned up, not even
its files and o accounts were saw
ed. Some insurance was carried, but
mot enough to restore the plant.
Murphy went to st. Paul. where al
most everybody vent when in trou-
BILE, and in due time a fine outfit Of
printing machinery. including a book
bindery. was shipped to Grand Forks.
Rumor averred that James j. Hill put
up literally for the outfit. and babe
Murphy return to Grand Forks and
tan the hide of The Herald.
At that particular time The Her
aid was not persona grata at the Hill
railway Headquarters. Railroad rates.
elevator management. and kindred is
sues separated us. Later. however,
when we got to understand each
Others public attitude. we. became
warm friends. and no legitimate ia
vors from either side were withheld.
My attitude on the Louisiana lottery