Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-07-25
CHARLES r. MILLER.
Interesting Sketch of Famous News
paper Editor.


than thirty-nine years. died yesterday
in bis home, No. 635 Park avenue, aft
er an illness of two months, says the
New York World of Wednesday. He
was 73 years old.
Mr.. Miller had suffered from chron-
ic illness for many years, but two
months ago he was forced to remain
in bed. A few days ago his condition
became grave. With him when he
died were his daughter, Miss Madge
Miller, and a son, Hoyt Miller.
Mr.. Miller was born Jan. IT, 1849, in
Hanover, N. H., son of Elijah n. and
Chastina Hoyt Miller. He was edu-
Gated in the local schools and then
went to Dartmouth college, where he
was graduated with the class of ~.
His early ambition was to become 4
professor of Latin. A fear of having
fpiled to gain his degree at Dartmouth
changed his career. Although near the
head OF his class, e-graduation ac-
| tivities had taken so much of his time
he believed the faculty would not
grant him the honors of graduation.
He was not present on graduation day
George Fred Williams, a class mate,
was sent to bring him back. He found
young Miller in the composing room of
q local paper enjoying his first con-
tact with ncwspaperdom.
Becomes City Editor.
That contact led him to start his
journalistic career with the SPRING
field Republican, where he learned the
secrets Of the profession from Samuel
Bowles. In three years Mr.. Miller had
risen to be city editor an honor Of
nomenclature rather than office in
those days. For the staff consisted of
one reporter and the city editor, The
reporter covered half the news. The
city editor covered the other half, ed
tied the reporters copy and his own
as well.
July 7. 1875, Mr. Miller came to New
York and joined the staff of The Times
where he became assistant to the tel
egraph editor. Later he was given
charge Of the weekly edition of the pa
per, and after its suspension he be-
came foreign exchange editor. In
those days The Times was Republican.
Mr.. Miller had Democratic tenden-
cies. But Republicans in New York
were becoming disgruntled. He be-
gan to contribute to the editorial page
His writings were Of such character
that in 1881 he was made a regular ed
itorial writer. Two years later in
April, 1888, upon the resignation of
John Foord, Mr. Miller, who was then
only "a years old, was made editor in
chief.
Upon the death of George Jones,
owner Of The Times, the heirs were
un:.ble to carry the paper successfully.
Mr.. Miller was one of group of Times
editors who, with friends, formed
syndicate which took over the proper
ty April 13, 1893.
Mr.. Miller was the principal stock
holder and editor. That New York
Times company became involved in
the panic of 1893. For n time it
weathered the storm, but in 1896 the
present New York Times company was
formed, with Adolph S. Ochs rs con-
trolling owner and publisher.
Mr.. Miller was continued as editor
and his policies governed the paper.
He was the second largest sharehold-
er in the new company and served as
first vice president and a member of
the board of directors until his death.
He maintained control over all the
writings of the editorial page and did
much of the writing himself.
Favored Free Press.
The editor was an assiduous advo-
cate of the editorial freedom of the
press.
He had also "a firm belief in having
only editorial writers of fitness In an
address before the students of the Pu-
liter School of Journalism, Columbia
university, October II, 1912, he said
that IAN editorial writer should read
much, think much, and travel when he
can" and that editorial writing for
which preparation is made by reading
newspapers. is pretty certain to be
without background, without much
depth"
Mr.. Miller believed that the edito-
rial writer should be forceful and write
what he believed. He was wont to
quote with approval Joseph Pulitzer's
remark that no editorial writer was
worth his salt who didn't find some
thing in the paper every morning to
make him damned mad"
The editor was married October 10,
1876, to Miss Frances Daniels OF
Plainfeld. N. H., who died in 1906.
That same year Dartmouth conferred
upon him the honorary degree of Doc
tor Of Laws. In 1915 Columbia gave
him his Doctor of Literature. He was