The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-05-27
Many Publications Spread the
Glory of The Great North
Star State.
BY L. C. HoDGSoN
Mayor of Saint Paul

influence of the press, and supported
''the freedom of the press" with a
fervency never known in any other
period. Under such conditions the
newspapers of this country received
an impetus, and achieved a power and
independence which made possible a
newspaper development unknown in
any other land,-a development that
in turn made possible a dominance of
public opinion such as no other coun-
try ever knew.
Minnesota has had newspaper
history that is as worthy and gloriors
as that of any other American state,
and to-day a study of the newspapers
of this country will convince any in
vestigator that the Minnesota press
stands close to the top in character,
ability and power.
Pioneers Were StaIwart
The pioneer newspaper men of Min
nesota were stalwart and fearless
thinkers and fighters, and they gave
to the profession of journalism in this
state a tradition of leadership that
ever since has made the Minnesota
newspaper man prevailing power in
every social and governmental activ-
fly.
Today in this state the newspaper
fraternity, represented by a progress
sive state organization and by thriV-
ing district organizations covering the
entire state, is carrying on the tradi-
ton of the founders and making the
craft more and more important as a
chief factor in community building, in
political leadership, in state develop
ment. and in the creation of larger
business ideals. If there are today
fewer papers than there have been,
they are better papers, and newspaper
work is no longer merely game,
but business, established on founda-
tons that guarantee prosperity.
Today the daily newspapers of Min
nesota have daily circulation of 804.-
900 copies.
The weekly newspapers of Mime
900 copies.
Every year in Minnesota there is
turned out total of 301, 1885, 900 copies
of daily and weekly papers.
There are two daily papers for
every family in the state, and almost
two weekly papers for every family.
The circulation of Minnesota papers
represents 11S papers a year for ey-
cry citizen of the entire state.
The papers printed in this state rep
resent total each year of 4,240, $780,
600 printed pages, containing over
thirty-one billion columns of matter.
These papers represent a valuation
now of more than twelve million dol
lars, and an annual pay roll of more
than ten million dollars.
The newspaper profession has been
represented in the governorship of the
state five times; and editors too many
to mention have filled the highest Of
fetal positions in the state govern
ment.
Many Editors In Public Eye
At the present time the craft is
largely in the public eye through the
large number of important positions
filled by editors, Theodore Christian
son being governor; Julius Schmahl,
state treasurer; Ray Chase, state audi
tor; Henry Rines, budget commits
sioner; Gunnar Bjornson, tax COM
missioner; Sam Y. Gordon, state
printer; Grace Kaercher, clerk of the
supreme court; o. p. B. jacobson,
sioner; Charles w. Henke, assistant
game and fish commissioner; N. A.
Nelson, secretary to the tax commits
sion; ]. G. Matchitt, clerk to the gov
ernor; Herbert c. Hotaling, tourist
commissioner; Mrs. Bess M. Wilson,
regent of the state university, and
others in numerous minor positions.
Merely to mention some of the out
standing editors of former generation
is to realize how large part they
played in Minnesota's development.
Such men as w. B. Mitchell, Joseph
A. Wheelock, Henry A. Castle, B. B.
Herbert, Charles G. Whitney, Liberty
Hall, Harlan P. Hall, j. K. Moore,
Irving Todd, Granville S. Pease, Joel
p. Heatwole, James Gray, Robert C.
Dunn, Sam Langum, Daniel Sinclair,
John A. Johnson, Alvah Eastman,
Frank A. Day, Charley Mitchell, Tams
Bixby, c. F. Mcdonald, and many
others of like calibre, gave to the pro-
fession an inheritance of noble SER
vice and efficient leadership which
forever glorifies the newspaper activ-
flies of this state.
John A. Johnson left his newspaper
ernor in the states history, and it is
generally agreed that his untimely
death kept him from the Presidency
of the United States.
Best loved of all Minnesota editors
was Mike Bowling whose fame was
worldwide, and whose service in
spired thousands, and in whose
memory a great hospital is saving to
usefulness the crippled children of the
state.
The First Newspaper
The first Minnesota newspaper was
the Minnesota Register" printed
early in the spring of 1S49 in the city
Of Cincinnati and sent on to Saint
Paul for distribution. 1t was dated
April 9th of that year, and was edited
by DR.. Andrew Randall
The first paper actually published
and printed within the territory Of
Minnesota was "The Minnesota Pho
neer", issued the same year, and be-
coming a regular publication the fol-
lowing year. 1t was published by
James M. Goodhue, a leader among
old-time editors. On the way to Saint
Paul he lost his chase and had to have
q new one made by the village black
smith, William Mobiles.
In 1S49 Goodhue became State
Printer. and enlarged his paper. He
died in 1852, and was succeeded by
James r. Brown. In 1854 the plant
moe houpht nv Earle Goodrich of