The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-05-04
A TRUE PIONEER
Editors of Kansas Meet Where
First Paper Was Founded.
Nearly 30 Years Ago in Law
renee @PiOneero Began.
PRINTED PAPER IN OHIO
Anti-SIavery Editors Had a
Hard Time to Start.
Memoirs of Old Battles Are Re-
called at Meeting.

Lawrence KAN May 4.-Newspa-
per men gathered here today and to-
morrow for the annual convention of
the Kansas Editorial association have
only to recall the history OF the ear
lest pioneer newspapers to be remind
ed that their convention this year is
cast on hallowed grounds Here in
Lawrence. nearly seventy years ago,
the first ''free-state" paper in Kansas,
The Pioneer" made its appearance,
on October Is. 1854 1t followed only
a month the establishment of the first
Kansas newspaper, pro-slavery or
gan. The Kansas Herald at Leav-
enworth. September is. 1854.
In those pioneer times. Lawrence
vas the editorial storm center of Kan
sas. Plant after plant of these hardy
editors was inaiicIously wrecked. But
tenaciousiS they carried on to final
victory. 1t was on the turbulent
Kansas nev-sI apers were launched.
Serves as a Bomb.
Appearance Of the first issue OF
newspaper in Kansas, the Kansas
Herald at Leavenworth. an pro-
slavery publication. served as the tx
plosion of bomb in the ranks Of the
aoolitionists who were quick to coun-
ter in like fashion with a whole string
of newspapers devoted to the anti
slavery cause
with a fully equipped newspaper
plant. The pioneer scribes OF the op
position were not so favorably en-
dowed with print shop requisites
John and Joseph Speer at once were
determined to establish a free-state
paper. but they had no type or press.
They prepared copy for their proposed
newspaper. to which they gave the
name Of The Pioneer"
They sought 10 have it printed in a
Kansas City shop, but its proprietor.
Judge Story. was n stanch pro-slav
cry man. and he refused TO print It.
Next they sought to give the Kansas
Herald the job. but again met with
rejection Then John Speer went to
hiF old home. Medina, Ohio, where
the paper was printed. altho it car
ried the date line of Lawrence. Kan,
oct Is. 1854"
Started tho Pioneer Again.
Upon return to Kansas he found
tsiat meanwhile the pro-sfavery back
crs had started a newspaper at Kfcka-
poo called the Pioneer. SO he changed
tho rame of MS sheet to Kansas Trib-
ur" the first number OF which was
~ 'ished at Lawrence. dated Janu-
- y. 1855 In November OF that
tf@~ the Tribune was moved to To-
l'c n. where its publication was con- |
tIrucd under a number OF ownerships
81 1868. when II suspended publ |
a. on.
The Herald Of Freedom. by G. w.
1;rov-n. appeared in its first issue on |
october 81. 1854, dated TVakarisa.
olsho it was printed in PENNSYLVANIA |
A second issue was printed at Law |
renee, January s. 1855. As to whether |
this publication or the Kansas Free
State which first appeared January, |
1855. published by Josiah Miller and /
r. G. Elliott. was the first published |
in Lawrence has been a matt ar OF dis |
pute among historians.
The offices OF both these publica-
tons were destroyed by border raiders.
May 81. 1856. The Herald OF Free
dom was revived. however. in Novern- |
Der. 1856 and was published without /
internission until it suspended publi-
cation in 1869. The Kickapoo Pioneer.
pro- slavery. which started publication /
at kickapOO. in November, 1854. an /
propriating the name the 1ntf-slaNerN.
champions had selected for their
newspaper. continued for some three /
years when Il suffered a common i
fate of newspapers In those DAYS
died from lack OF support.
Wcro Many Others.
other newspapers which sprang up |
We're: The Squatter Sovereign, pro- |
slavery. at Atchison. February 3, 1855. 1
IN the spring of 1857 under new man.
agement it was changed 10 a free state l
paper and in 1883. after thrice having /
changed hands the name was changed 1
to the Freedoms Champion. by John I
A. Martin, who later became the tenth /
governor of Kansas. serving from 1855 4
to 1889. His debut as an editor was |
made at the age OF Is years. when he |
purchased the "Squatter Sovereign" in |
1857. This became the Atchison I
Champion, now extinct.
The Kansas Freeman appeared on /
July 4. 1855, published in Topeka by /
T. c. Garvey, who issued a daily eve |
ming edition during the session of the /