Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-28
A Paper 100 Years Old

/. CThe Register. New Haven't
Two great New England news.
papers within the last five month.
have celebrated the completion ot
100 years of service. "The Story OF
an Independent Newspaper" by
Richard Hooker. published last fal
and commented upon in these col
umnS at that time told the history OF
the Springfield Republican. On Jan
uary s. 1925, four months to the day
after the founding of the Springfield
Republican, there was established ir
Augusta, Maine. the Eennebec Jour
nal. Its centennial edition records
the history of its growth and also
prints interesting historical details oil
the various activities of its commu-
nifty.
Unlike its contemporary in Massa :
chusettS, the Kennebcc journal has
been always a strict party organ,
supporting first the whig faith, and
clinging closely to the republican
fold since the foundation Of that
party Its most nationally known
editor was James G.. Blaine, who in
1891 went to Augusta from Philadei-
phla, at the age Of "a. to buy an
interest in the paper and become its
political editor. 1t is recorded that
Mr.. Blaine's first editorial was upon
the principles and position of the new
republican party. His work was an
important factor in the formation
and consolidation of the party in that
region. He was made delegate to
the first national republican conyen-
ton. Mr. Blaine withdrew from the
journal after three years. but re-
turned for a. few months during the
first Lincoln campaign. He claimed
that the Journal was the first paper
TO mention Lincoln's n;.me for the
Presidency.
Russell Eaton and Luther Sever
ance We're the founders Of the Ken
ncbec Journal Since their admins
tration the paper has had a number
of owners and editors the control
ling interest now being held by
Charles +. Flynt whose service of
two score years on the Journal has
witnessed and in large part been
responsible for its growth into a
great modern daily newspaper.
The bulky papers Of today, filled
with columns of news of events that
happered only a few hours before in
places all over the world. are q strik-
ing contrast to the small four page
Weeklles that often found it hard to
survive century ago. In the first
issue of the kennebec Journal there
appeared such uninspiring matter as
an article on the Mexican Constitu-
ton. long dissertation on gardening.
the translation of a lengthy poem BY
Il Spanish ecclesiastic, a half column
81 foreign news several months old. a
summary Of the Presidents message
Of a month before, some notes about
proceedings in Congress and other
matters, but very little local news.
1t must be supposed that the news
OF the local community was then
easily transferred by word of mouth.
A newspaper that mas had a con-
tnuous existence of 100 years during
which the business of newspa Der
making has been completely rcvolu-
tlonlzed, newspaper that has kept
pace with the times thr ugh CEN
fury of journalism, served well it's
constituency and made its influence
felt beyond the borders of its own
community, must in the nature of
things look forward to a long and
great future. Such a paper is the
hcnncbcc Journal. The Register.