Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-04-18


in Boston history-making event
J which gets but scant II any men,
ton at all In our schoohook his
fWwr-70 tories yet 1t marked the beginning
III V>hlD i'll OF an institution which for the
I9Y9 next two centuries was to exert
III pnN n vital influence In shaping our ma
C,zA...J ton For on April a. 1104, John
Campbell, postmaster OF Boston,
issued the first number of the Boston NeWs-Let-
ter the first successful American newspaper II
was only little single sheet, six and one-fourth
by ten and onehalf inches In size. with two col
umns of news matter on each page and printed
on both sides. There not single advertise
ment or illustration of any kind In It. The news
which 1t contained was taken from London news
papers Of more than four months past ana the
small quantity of local news was OF slightly less
ancient vintage. Not a very impressive begin
ming for American Journalism was this little hand
BILL yet from 1t there has grown profession EN-
poying hundreds OF thousands OF workers, an
industry which ranks high up among all the 9TH
er Industries In the country in point OF capital In
vestment and annual earnings and commodity
which has become to the average American as
much necessity OF his daily life as the food he
eats or the clothes he wears.
In calling the Boston Newsletter the "hrsf
American newspaper" that adjective must be
somewhat qualified. AS a matter OF fact the
first newspaper issued In the United States also
appeared In Boston some fourteen years earlier
On September IS, 1890, Benjamin Harris, an ex-
lied newspaper publisher who had settled In Bos-
ton as book seller and proprietor OF coiIee
house, brought forth four-page newspaper lonly
three of which, however, bore any printing, the
fourth being blank which he called Publick Oc-
currences Both Foreign and Domestick. His pa
per- however, promptly suppressed by the
governor OF Massachusetts Bay Colony and the
council because 1t contained Reflections OF a
very high nature and "sundry doubtful and un-
certain reports" Accustomed as we are to the
freedom OF the press which has been In exist
ence since this nation was founded, 1t may seem
strange that newspaper could be thus sum-
marily disposed OF by the authorities. But II
must be remembered that these were the days
when human liberty, as now think OF 1t, was
practically nonexistent when there was system
OF licensing for nearly everything including print
Ing. Every colonial governor sent to America to
rule the English colonies here between the years
1886 and 1870 was given the right to regulate the
press. SO this first newspaper venture IN what
lis now the United States died a-bornng because
Benjamin Harris neglected to secure a license
and because In this paper he made reference
to the French king and the Maquas (Mohawk In
dians) which the authorities believed might cause
trouble between France and England.
Postmaster Campbell was more careful not to
run afoul OF the powers that be. BY waiting on
his Excellency or Secretary for appreciation for
what Is Collected" lie. news he was able to print
In a conspicuous place under the heading OF his
paper, "Published by Authority" and thus feel
no fear OF interference from the law. As a mat
ter of fact, he seems 70 have been simd soul
who was never much In danger OF getting Into
trouble on that account. For rs Bleyer says In
his Main Currents In American Journalism:
Campbell edited hs paper In pasnstak'ng but
conservative and nnlnspIred manner He was
scrupulously accurate even to'the extent or point
ing out In issue Ythat comma had been mis-
placed In a preceding Issue. On another occasion
he@exp planned that, account OF nre a.
Plymouth in tho preceding issue, whereas II "
said Flame covering the Barn, II should he said
Smoak." Occast1naiiy he would point the mora
OF a piece Qf~news When, for example woman
had committed suicide, he expressed the hope tina
.the inserting OF such an awful Providence hers
may not be offensive but rather Warning 70 al
Others to watch against the Wes OF our Crane
Adversary" Again. when man was punished
with severe whipping for selling tar mixed witt
dirt he explains ihnt the account rs hers onl'
Inserted to ceveat TO others. OF doing th
like least worse thing befal them" Such brie
comments were the only editorial utterance@ u
the News-Lette
with metlcuaur campbal undertook In tn