Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-07
Col. w. E. Sanders Held
In High Regard by EARLY
Day Residents of State

storm would interrupt communication
for as long as two weeks when the
miners would be as ignorant Of things
in the outer world as Dr. Cook or
Admiral Peary in the far north. The
cry for copy in such times was a
terrifying appeal to the editors ears.
However, Nov 2, 1856, Virginia City
by a telegraph line and from then
on The Post was able to keep its
readers in closer touch with events
i One of the first messages sent over
the wire was from Gov Green Clay
Smith to President Andrew johnson.
The line was built by E. Creighton Of
Omaha and he was sent long con-
gratulatory message signed by a large
number Of MOntanans, who extended
/ an invitation to him to attend cele-
bration in honor Of the lines COM
1 pletion.
( Troubles In the Print Room
The most pleasant relations existed
between the printers and the editorial
sanctum and many Of the early print
erS on The Post became well known
Montana journalists, among the num-
Der being Hugh McQuaid, afterwards
editor of the Helena Independent:
Harry Norton, city editor of the New
Northwest at Deer Lodge, when 1t was
founded by Capt. j. H. Mills, who
succeeded Blake as editor OF The Post; I
Peter Roman, who helped establish the
Montana Democrat at Virginia City
and was later an Indian agent on the 1
Flathead reservation for whom the 4
town Of Roman is named, and H. 7. /
Brown, later one Of the founders Of /
the Butte Miner in conjunction with /
Capt. James H. Mills and associates.
AS a member of the editorial and
reportorial staff during its most siren
uouS period II. N. MCGUIRE, who es-
tablished the Montana Pick and Pillow
at Bozeman in 1869, being the first
newspaper published in eastern Mon
tana, gained distinction.
Harmonious relations existed be-
tween the wielder of the editorial pen
and the members of the black room
q journeyman had to be able to do
almost anything-go out and get the
news, hustle q few ads, set them up,
make up the paper, put 1t on the press
and print 1t and then assist in mail
It was in the office of The Post
that the first labor union In Montana
was organized The printers held the
initial meeting of union there in {
the fall of 1857, Just 70 years ago, and
appointed a committee on constitution
and bylaws, who employed Judge Blake
10 draft them. For it he received his
first fee for legal work in the territory.
This organization afterwards declared I
4 strike on the Montana Democrat. :
The Posts local contemporary, getting /
nut dodgers calling it unfair and print Q
ng thereon a large picture Of a ro- +
lent, declaring the Democrat q rat L
,ffice." Thus from the office Of The o
lost also came Montana's first strike :
bulletin. !
food Wages for Printers
In those days printers received as
Ugh as 500 a week In wages, but
he lure Of the game table and the
reedom of the west usually had the
fleet Of taking care of their wages
o that by the time Monday arrived
heir Saturday nights pay envelope
7ould be almost, If not entirely. emp
Y. Printers used to have some very
xciting games among themselves, the
takes being pretty high on some oc-
asions. While they played the usual
ard games. roulette and dice at the
aiming houses, in the print shop the
rincipal game was jeffing q1ads, the
ne who had the most hicks turned
D winning the pot. Sometimes several
undred dollars changed hands on
ngle throw Of the quads.
AS a rule, however, these early day
rMyCIH were QlH>ScoS<Q Cl ulEu luGdB
nd q keen appreciation Of loyalty
nd friendship. The ability Of some
them was proven in later years
hen they took high rank IN the po-
teal industrial and journalistic life
the state.
Ills Becomes Editor
Editor Blake wrote his farewell edi-
rial Dec. 20, 1867, and the first Of
lie year opened law office. He rose
a very distinguished position SIS
Iunselor and 1urist and occupied
ointment position in the subsequent
story Of Montana. He was succeeded
editor by Capt. James Fl. Mills,
no had recently arrived In Virginia
ty from Emigrant gIlch, and TO
hom the owners of The Post had
en- drawn by an article he had writ
q for publication I'm an eastern paper
without previous experience, he soon
ct ON TO the ropes" and IN a short
ne had made for himself q name
q brilliant writer and Journalistic
,ht. In many ways be may be re-
rced as the father Of Montana jour ~