Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/180

Rh Unhappy Epoch in the Career of a Belgian in Florida." Fourth section—"Discussion on the Sunday Railway Operation—The Amalga mated Steel Workers Resolve to Strike—Gambetta Dying." This carrying of several telegraphic news stories under the same heading was quite general in those earlier days.

Incidentally, one gets a line on the kind of news judgment exercised by editors of the day—a Florida suicide of some unknown Belgian played up above Sunday railway operation, the imminent steelworkers' strike, and the expected death of a world figure. The basis of selection, apparently, was the unusual (bizarre) method selected It was the "human by the distant Belgian for his self-destruction. interest" against the intrinsically important. This choice is less frequently made in these days.

The editorial salutatory promised that the paper would be the "organ of no ring, party, or corporation" and "absolutely free from entangling alliances." It was not long, however, before the Oregonian accused it of being the organ of a Portland political ring. The paper claimed 5,000 "actual subscribers and as handsome a list of advertisements as ever graced a new paper."

Notwithstanding the assertion of the News in its salutatory that it was independent of any political ring, the Sunday Welcome was quoted in the Oregonian as saying that "Republican had long believed that a new Republican paper would either wipe out the Oregonian or at least compel it to do the bidding of the party leaders."

Much of the News support came from the Oregonian's political antagonists, particularly the friends of Senator John H. Mitchell.

Commenting on this, the Oregonian said (January 8, 1883):

It (the Oregonian) has always upheld the cardinal principles and commended the general objects of the Republican party; but it refuses to make itself the mouthpiece of politicians who "organize" and combine for their own advantage and benefit, presuming upon the devotion of Republicans to party as a cause, to enable themselves to carry away the honors and rewards.

The "modern local department" of the News was brightened up some with rather precarious matter. For instance,

Passing lightly over the fact that this is the only dynamic, active-verb head in the paper, let us proceed with the story:

Mrs. Mollie Wiseman, wife of George Wiseman, the