Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-18
Pathos and Nostalgia
Mark Final Hours
OF The Times-HeraId

the Capital with one morning
newspaper today.
The resulting combined news
paper made its appearance on
the nevsstands with the name
plates of both on top Of the first
page. that Of the Washington
Post being above.
The Times Herald Building at
1917 H street NV. was empty
today. except for Offices rented
to news services. Private detec-
tives were guarding the property.
The combined paper was
printed on the presses Of the
Post in its new building at 1915
L street NV.
$S.S. Million Reported Price.
The, purchase price was re-
ported to be $8.5 million. Col.
Robert r. cCormick, president
Of the TimeS-Herald, gave illness
as his reason for the sale.
The Times-Herald had 1857
employees, including substitutes;
1,138 regular employees. Nearly
all of them were out of jobs
today. The blow to many Of
them was cushioned by severance
pay which, in the case of editorial
employees Of 10 years service or
longer. amounted to SO weeks
pay under a contract with the
Newspaper Guild. The current
week will be paid in full to all
employees.
OF the $50 editorial employees.
only S had been offered jobs at
the Post by the close Of BUSH
ness yesterday.
Jesse Manbeck, president Of
Columbia Typographical Union
101, said he was waiting for
word from the Post as to whether
the combined paper was a
merger or an outright sale. In
case Of q merger Of his POT mem
bers In the composing room.
those with the longest years OF
service would have Jobs.
4.Week Severance Pay.
Otherwise they would get four
weeks severance pay and seek
jobs in the printing industry.
where the situation. as Mr.. Man
beck described it. is static"
The typography Of the COM
bined paper was that Of the
Post, with the makeup familiar
to Post readers.
"This is the first edition of the
Washington Post and Times
Herald" an announcement on
the front page Of the combined
paper read.
I'VE wish to express to Col.
Robert r. Mccormick and his
associates our appreciation Of
the friendly manner in which q
potentially complicated negotia-
ton has been handled.
1.-THE discussions held by off,
GERS and associates of both
newspapers were m r K e d
throughout by a common con-
Germ for the public responsible
ties of journalism in this COM
munity and for the fair treat
ment Of all people involved"
THE conclusion of these nego-
cations presents this newspaper
with its greatest opportunity for
public service to this community.
A statement by Col. McCor-
mick read:
1T has been known to the en-
ployes, and a great many readers
and advertisers Of the Times
Herald, that I have had severe
illnesses in the last year. My
doctors told me that would
have to do less work.
Accordingly, as soon as
could assure the employees, read
ers and advertisers of the best
treatment possible, I sold the
newspaper to Mr.. Eugene Meyer.
Mr.. Meyer needs no Endorsement
from me, but I bespeak for every
body the fullest possible CO.
operation"
The announcement of the
sale was made shortly after l
pm. yesterday by Mr.. Meyer and
Mr.. Graham. Mr.. Meyers offer
had been accepted by the board
Of the TimeS-Herald on Mon
day. The TimeS-Herald was
owned by the Chicago Tribune,
so q meeting of the board of
that paper was called for 10 am.
in Chicago on Tuesday. The
Tribune board, whose member
ship is almost identical with
that Of the Times-Herald, like
wise accepted the offer.
Meanwhile, Col. McCormick's
niece, Mrs. Garvin Tankersley,
who had been editor of the
Times-Herald before her divorce
from her first husband, Maxwell
Peter Miller, tried to get Texas
money" to purchase and con-
tinue the paper. She failed.
Negotiation in Secret.
The participants were success
full in keeping the negotiations
secret until yesterday morning.
Reporters, copy readers, re-
write men, photographers and
editors clustered in the city room
of the Times Herald last night
with a mo place to go'' attitude
and told their stories of the last
day-the day that ended with
no paper to put out.
The Associated Press, Interna-
tional News Service and Chicago
Tribune tele-typewriters were
clacking away in a side room.
The telegraph copy from them
was winding in spirals on the
floor. because no one was bother
ing to tear it off and take it to
the desk.
There was a card game going
on the horseshoe shaped copy
desk, which had been manned
around the clock for years.
Clue Fails to Click.
George Clark, day city editor,