Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1949-08-26

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for a decent living; where, II they
could not at first attend the pub
lie schools, were given an educa-
ton of some sort and could learn
of the vast world about them;
where, II they could not live in
the best" neighborhoods, could
at least own their own homes:
they did not at first feel the need
Of an organ to fight their cause
for freedom.
The freedom Minnesota gave
was such n far cry from the
Southern shackles that they ut
first felt safe and secure.
But, as the state progressed, as
migrants Of all nationalities be-
gan to fill the vast Minnesota
territory, and as more Negroes
came into the state seeking free
dom. the Negro began to feel the
pressure on him. Only then did
ne seek some course to fight in
his behalf.
Thus, 1t was not until 1885. al
most IS years after the Negro had
begun settling in Minnesota that
the first Negro newspaper was be-
gun.
This first paper, issued on June
13 of that year, was a six column
sheet, selling at five cents per
copy. 1t was printed every Friday
by +. D. Parker, J. T. Burgett and
S. Z. Hardy.
These crusading men, some
what idealistic at first, stated the
paper was to serve as a Negro
organ, to give advice, rebuffs,
criticisms and see that justice was
done all.
This paper, The WESTERN
APPEAL, was a strict Republican
sheet. In each issue was a column,
Almost about Everything" in
which. even though It did not have
the use Of Associated Negro Press
or other news service, IL printed
news about churches, education,
and civil rights from all over the
country.
The first issue Of the paper
had advertising In the two hight
hand columns ON the front page,
n practice not uncommon In
other papers OF that period.
With neat printing that was
easy to read, this early newspaper
had no streamer headlines. but
used long paragraphs, much COM
ment in news stories, and sold for
two dollars a year.
On the top Of the front page,
stretching over all six columns.
was a picture Of q traveller plod-
ding YEARLY toward the North
Star.
The inside pages had little white
space, few heads, and much north
western news outside Minnesota,
and some news outside the United
States.
The Editors column, Notes Of
the Times" was chiefly comments
criticisms or compliments Of CIV
ic leaders, both Negro and white,
the legislature or any other news
worthy events.
There were often long poems in
the paper, a short story, columns
such as Northwestern news"
The Old World" History OF the
Week." and the like, and local
news. using initials Of persons dis
cussed.
There was q directory for
churches and dIfferent social
and civic organizations In the
community.
In the fighting for the cause Of
the Negro, the editor often blast
ed the Minneapolis TRIBUNE for
the use Of the words "darkies, :"
"coOns," ''Niggers" In It's COL
umns.
One very interesting column
was that Of q detailed report on
The Markets" with reports Of
the price of food. meat, eggs, corn,
oats and the like.
The first picture 10 appear in
the APPEAL was that Of James
Kidd HiIyard in the July IS edi-
ton, 1855.
Most Of the advertising Of the
paper was that Of business estAb-
hshments. such A. dressmakers.
restaurant owners. barbershOps,
rooms for rent. carpenters, hotels
and the like, some Advertising
from department. stores Most Of
the national advertising concern
ed the sale Of herbs, cough syrup.
remedies for catArrh, mAtrimon-
iAl papers, and vegetable pain
Destroyer
FIOwsry. unnecessary words
characterized many OF the social
items women's dreases were des-
cribed fully and many Sentimental
and . few sob stories appeared
BY 1887. the Newspaper had .
rnR1ilar buninens place on Lam