Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-08

on Tuesday, Thursday and Satur-
day mornings. An arrangement was
reached in 1S4l whereby the Age,
which also issued a tri-weekly edi-
ton during the session, appeared on
the alternate mornings. At times,
before the Daily Kennebec Journal
was established. both daily and tri-
weekly editions were issued during
the legislative season.
Retirement of Mr.. Eaton-Severance
& DOrr
In June, 1888, the firm of Eaton
& Severance. which had. continued
since the establishment of the paper
eight and a half years before, was
dissolved. The Journal now had
about 500 subscribers. Mr.. Eaton,
who had been the senior partner and
business man of the firm, disposed
of his interest to Mr.. Severance.
Mr.. Severance. with the issue of
July ), 1888, became owner, pub
Usher, editor and business manager
of the Kennebec Journal. and as such
he remained until 1889. 1t was not
long before the absence of Mr.. Eaton
was felt in the business department.
Mr.. Severance, who will always rank
as one Of the greatest editors of the
country, was SO entirely devoted to
the discussion of the great political
questions of the day, that even If he
had possessed the tact he had not
the time to manage the financial
concerns of the establishment. At
sundry times he found himself In
volved in very considerable pecuni-
airy embarrassments, and at no time
did he make the paper pay.
At the beginning of the XVIII vol
ume, 1889. he sold one-half of the
paper to John Dorr, who came from
Belfast, where ne had conducted the
waldo Patriot" during the presi-
Dental campaign of the preceding
year. Mr.. Dorr was shrewd, prac-
teal business man, who at once In
troduced into all the business de-
partments of the paper rigid and
systematic economy, and by his I'M
wearied attention soon had the Jour-
nal again on the high road to finan-
cial success, and made it profitable
to both proprietors. Severance &
Dorr" continued the firm name for
a dozen years, and the association
was at all times one of mutual re-
spect and confidence.
In the meantime the popularity of
Mr.. Severance was becoming so
great among hts fellow citizens and
his ability was becoming so widely
recognized that he was not allowed
to remain quietly at his desk in the
editorial rooms. He was naturally
a political leader, aggressive, fear
less and brilliant, and the editorial
battles in which he engaged soon
brought him into prominence, result
ing in a wider field of political ac-
ton. In 1885 and again in 1896 he
was elected to the Maine Senate.
Three times, in 1889, 1910, and 1872,
he was chosen by Augusta to repre-
sent it in the Maine House of Rep
resentatives. Then there was opened
to him an enlarged opportunity of
exhibiting his resources as political
economist and his sagacity as a
legislator. In July, 1913, he was
nominated for Congress by the
Wings of this district.
Mr.. Severance triumphed over his
competitors by q majority of OOU
votes, and became the first citizen
Of Augusta to sit as q member of
Congress. 1t Is of interest to note
that the next Augusta citizen who
went to Congress as the representa-
tive Of this district was also Ken
nebec Journal editor, James G.
Blaine, who served in the National
House from 1868 to 1875 inclusive.
Edwin c. Burleigh of Augusta, the
principal owner of the Journal dur
ing his lifetime was also q member
Of the National House from 1887 to
1907 inclusive. Both Mr.. Blaine and
Mr.. Burleigh were promoted to the
United States Senate.
Editor Severance earned wide