Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-02-20
This II the seventh OF q series
Of "Reminiscences ~ early news
papefexpeftcnce n Grand Forks,
coupled with the development Of
tHB Icaty axSdg county. f&
By GnB Wtnship.

san Diego Feb 11.---In l. preceding
article / referred; to thcatempestneus
career Of the P~laindealer, telling aOf
its vieissitudes, Its interlnittent illness
es, and its final demise. While on
this subject, I may as well complete
the chapter, at this sitting, by relat-
ing some incidents connected with the
Northwest News, Ind its ultimate
fate. AS previously stated. after Mr..
Bierfy surrendered control. the paper
was banded about from pillar to post.
Its reputed owners were too nuner-
GUS to mention, but the last one fof
substance was John p. Bray. Johnny
tried various and sundry editors,
whom. he imported from st. Paul and
elsewhere. Finally he corraled an
idea which hlied him with JOY UNI
alleged, and he proceeded to carry
1t OUT ~, Ne %t5 /,
At that time the Herald had on its
staff a very good cartoonist, who also
was a ,paragrapher OF no mea abil-
ity, w. L. rStraub.& Mr.. Straub vas the
originator Of some very clever con
ceptions in the line OF ~caricature, and
got to be web known and popular In
the state. Mr.. Bray coveted the GER
vices OF Mr.. Straub. With such a
clever fellow in charge Of the North
west News the paper would be
come the great popular state weekly.
With ingenious cartoons, jabbing par
agraphs and incisive editorials. the
great Northwest News would NOW a
mighty swath into the prestige and
popularity of the Herald, and cause
it, possibly. to sue for peace. 1t was
a grand n glorious feeling" that
possessed the genial Johnny.
X + =
nnn IL nvyarioy S1 To rD0rv- fQC fnl-
lowing Mckinley's election as pres
ident, Mr.. Straub entered the LOB
room on the front orner second
floor, and told me that he had receiv-
cd a letter from Mr.. Bray asking for
conference at Hotel Dacotah. Straut
said he suspected that Bray wanted
to make him a proposition. I'll pay
no attention to the letter." he de-
cided.
why not?' 1 asked. DO and talk
with him; tQd out what he wants;
you don't have to comply with his
wishes unless o want to-"
"Al1 right" said Straub, Il viii
make q date with him for tomorrow
evening"
The conference was held, and late
that evening Straub returned and re-
ported the details of Bray's plan te
me; adding, somewhat p%etulantly
that he would pay no further atten'
ton to it.
The next morning, when alone il
the inspiring atmosphere of the afore'
mentioned Job room" l ruminatet
upon Bray's proposal, and thought
saw good Fishing" in that pike hole
The matter was again discussed will
Straub, and he decided to get a def
mite proposition from Bray, based up
on a salary of $500 per month. ant
ultimate ownership of the plant. Al
this talk was of a tentative nature
as, a basis, as it were. to find out jus
how liberal-a deal Bray would cnte
into.
The second conference was held
and when Straub related the extra
ordinary terms conceded by Mr.. Bra,
! was dumb with amazement. Salar,
$500 per month";. three months in ad
vance; bill Of sale of plant TO b
~"escrowed' and effective after tw
years service; Straub to have all tn
earnings. but Bray to control editorla
policy; Straub to lind himself to fur
nish cartoons n issue the pape
every week. etc, etc.
What do you think of it," querie
.Straub. Grab it, said I. Have tn
papers executed at once" In shor
order the papers were prepared. bot
signed up, and the plant formal
turned over to Mr.. Straub.
1t was an astounding transaction
n l have never ceased to wonde
at it. The essence Of the asreemer
on Mr.. Straub's part was his obliga
tion to issue the paper weekly Tor
period Of about two years; and l ha