Evening star., 1936-06-12

where, in partnership with John A
the Leader
Under his close personal attention
the Leader, a morning paper, t1our-
ished against keen competition.
II was inevitable that Knox should
extend his field Of activities in news
paperdom. AS the Leader continued
10 live up TO its name, Knox and
Muehling bought out two opposition
papers and branched out in the eve
ming field as well as the morning.
The Union was their evening paper.
Joined Hearst Forces.
William Randolph Hearst was
attracted by Knox's demonstrated
ability as an organizer and manager
of newspapers and in 1927 he induced
Knox 10 become publisher of the
Hearst Boston American. A year OF
aggressive administration in that post
convinced Hearst that Knox had wider
possibilities, and he was made general
manager of the entire Hearst news
ps per system. AT salary reported 10
have been Sl50000 a year.
In 1880 the Chicago Daily News was
offered for Sale-and Knox won out
in the competition 10 buy it. The
News had been a valuable property
and a leading journal for years.
Walter A Strong with the aid Of
Chicago financiers, paid $13,500,0 900
for ii in 1925, following the death OF
Victor Lawson That was said 10 be
the highest price ever paid Tor a
newspaper.
When Strong died he left provision
in his will for an option 10 Daily News
employees on his stock. valued at $2-
900 900 and constituting a controlling
interest in the paper. He gave the
employees seven months after his death
TO make use of this option. When
they failed 10 act within The specified
period, the property went on The mar
ket. Among others who bid for 1t
were the late Cyrus H. X. Curtis.
Philadelphia publisher. and Frank
Gannett. head Of the newspaper chain
of that name.
S29, ,0OO, eco Orsa nt~a ton.
Knoxs bid was made in COL
Iaboration with Theodore T. Ellis, q
publisher and business man Of
Worcester. Mass. Ellis left active
management Of The paper TO Knox.
The deal included not only the paper
itself, but It's building and radio
station. Assets totsled SAG, ,000, 600.
Knox proceeded TO instill in the
Daily News the same crusading spirit
he had brought 10 every other paper
with which he had been connected.
One OF mis- first campaigns in the
Daily News was against gambling in
Chicago He assigned a staff Of re-
porters TO investigate vice conditions
and published series Of stories critical
of police administration. The stories
we're illustrated with actual charts and
sketches disclosing location and opera
tion of gambling houses.
His paper opend FIRE early on the
New Deal.
In addition TO news stories revealing
'RooseveItian waste" at Washington.
Knox published long series OF front
page editorials aimed at reckless
spending" bureaucracy and ''pana-
ceas."
VitrioIic Attacks.
He criticized. one by one, many Of
the New Deal measures for recovery,
in their stead sound prin-
ciples" OF Americanism. His editorials
were vitriolic. oftimeS sensational In
their charges Of efficiency.
He was tireless In mis- supervision Of
the Chicago paper, spending mahy
hours each day in the news and edi-
toriaI rooms-directing policies, sug-
eesting or giving assignments and scan
ming proofs of leading stories sched-
uled for each edition.
Knox has called the modern news
paper the greatest educational force
the world has ever known" whose duty
is "unflinching pursuit Of the facts"
Given a good clean paper" he said
"that is honestly edited and efficiently
and success follows as sure
ly as night follows day" The business
REQUIRES courage and idealism," he
has pointed out.
Knox has expressed himself force
fully regarding methods used by some
modern papers. He believes many
papers engage in much idiotic and
wasteful combat" over circulation, and
that metropolitan dailies issue too
many editions.
Devised Accountancy System.
While with Hearst he instituted an
accounting system whereby he was able
to see at glance all operating details
of the system, the country over. He
founded the New England Newspaper
Alliance and has been active in the
American Newspaper Publishers As
sociation.
BY reason of his vigorous editorial
assaults on the New Deal, Knox be-
came widely mentioned as q presiden-
tial aspirant At first he smiled at
these suggestions. but later it became
apparent he would welcome the NOM
ination if the Republicans saw ct 70
give it to him.
He made numerous speeches assail-
ing the present administration and
calling on the people to repudiate The
New Deal in favor OF constructive Re-
publicanism" His remarks were sp-
plauded by many thousands of persons
in scattered parts of the Nation.