The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-01-22
Herald Editor Completes Half
Century in Newspaper Profession
6y Asa M Wallace Editor Herald.
BY Asa M. Wallace, Editor Herald.


BY Asa M. Wallace Editor Herald.
Jan. d. 1881, bunch of lively kids broke
furniture in of the school rooms at the little
vened for the afternoon session the teacher inquired
to who guilty. Several of the boys in the
gang piped up at at once: ASA Wallace"
We were as guilty as the rest but the idea of
having the buck passed on did not appeal at that
12-year old age There was escape because there
was half a dozen or more against one
The teacher gave note to take to the prn-
cipal as the superintendent called in those days
Several years before this a cousin James L. Wal
lace, the printer editor of the Marble Rock
Weekly, for time. We spent much of our va
cation hanging around the print shop the nayster
les of the Art Preservatve had strong appeal. AT
the time this yarn begins H B. Mes was publisher
of the Weekly, and postmaster.
The superintendent was famous for the larrup.
ings he gave those who were sent to him. Previous
visits to his offices had left a painful impression
with u.s. Dad believed in upholding the dignity of
the school and another trouncng usually followed at
home.
Instead of delivering the note the few clothes in
the hallway gathered and hasty getaway
was made with hurried call at the print shop
where job "devir Immediately secured for
the munfcent salary of $4,000 for year. including
board. To keep out of mischief during the eve
nings kept the postoffice open until $50 p. M.
Father not overly joyed at our quitting
school but when the furniture breaking experience
was truthfully explained he decided to let keep
the job That completed our education in schools of
any sort.
those of the average kid the most irksome of which
linking" the old Washington hand press for
the weekly run of about three hundred papers. The
paper was set in loaded Long Primer and in a few
months were doing all of the composition of
seven and eight galleys weekly.
Mr.. Mics hard taskmaster If we climbed
a stool before 400 o'clock in the afternoon
severely reprimanded he insisted that
could not attain speed typesetter sitting
stool.
At the close of the year connections with Mr.
Mics severed probably to the satisfaction of all
concerned For this years labor $1,000 collected
In few weeks another job was secured in the
office of the Mitchell County Press at Usage Here
was an office equipped with drum cylinder press
and operated with small upright steam engine
This shop of the best equipped in northern
Iowa The paper all home print. Boiler
Plate just coming into but of it
used on this paper which set in loaded Brewer
A run-in was had with new foreman at the Press
office after little over year at Usage. am not
whether fired quit, probably the
former. We were broke and did not like to return
to Marble Rock without any money job roust-
about was secured at the Cleveland Hotel, Usage
July g. 1888 at midnight Iowas first Prohibition
law went into effect. Things pretty wild and
we hung around the outskirts of the crowd to wit
the excitement. Usage celebrated the next day.
One of our duties at the hotel to get up at 400
A. M rouse the cook that she could have break
fast ready for the travelling who desired to go
east on mixed train which left FOR Charles City at
$50 A M.
slept but discovered we had enough time to catch
the train. Any money we had coming from the land
lord had been collected the day before for Fourth of
July expenses. We were the only passenger from
Usage leaving that morning and we were mighty
glad when the train pulled out.
The conductor good natured and after in
quring destination he allowed us to ride to
Charles City. Another permitted ride to Nora
Springs where we arrived Saturday afternoon too
late to catch train for Marble Rock Is miles away.
Cousins residing a few miles out of Nora Springs
had unexpected visitor Sunday. Monday
they brought us to town in time for the train. We
did not like the idea of telling them without
figured We
down beside good natured man. When the con-
ductor along he asked the gentleman if we
his boy and of course he said mo-" After some
questioning permitted to complete the
trip to Marble Rock. One of the very first questions
father asked after reaching home was show much
money have you saved?" It was very embarrass-
ing moment
In the fall of 1883 employment was secured on
the old Rockford Qowa) Reivile, edited by Mont"
Whitney long since dead. The salary to be $500
per week and board with his parents During the
winter Mont" would dig up nickel each morning
and we were sent to coal yard short distance
away for scuttle of soft coal. When this
sumed the days work was finished
The Presidential campaign of 1884 between
Blaine and Logan Republican candidates and Cleva-
land and Hendricks, Democrats, most vscious.
The Reivlle staunch Republican paper and
the people of that part of Iowa could not compre-
bend there possibility Of a Democrat being
elected President Although the Civil War had
been over nearly 20 years the bloody shirt" was
waved at every opportunity
In these days of intensive party politics JUS
tice Of the peace or constable was elected either
because he was Republican was not, usually the
former.
Early in the campaign the Republican committee
had sent Whitney half page line eectrotype of the
Republican candidates. Half tone cuts did not come
into use until many years later.
Dawned Election Day, the movies might say.
Mr. Whitney succeeded in getting his small pack
age Of ready prints out Of the express office and
prepared to give the waiting world complete results
Of the election. Confident that his favortes would
be elected the hafpage cut Of the Republican candi
dates placed in position at the top Of the front
Ind h tho ont in mica fxyno
placed the words "Our Countrys Choice" Thursday
press day and the election Of Mr.. Blaine was
not certain. Late Friday news of Mr.. Clevelands
election beyond doubt was received With char
cut changed to read "Not Our Countrys
Choice" and we went to press.
In those days almost any little hamlet would
have a newspaper for few weeks prior to election
day. group of politicians would pool few hun
dred dollars secure an Army or old Washington