Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/419

410 countryside, with railroad expansion in the immediate future, a chance for another newspaper.

Its expressed policy is of interest:

"To serve. To give all sides a hearing. To cater to no organzation or clique. To be independent."

The nuclues of the News plant was a Model 14 linotype owned by Mr. Otterbein, an old-time printer with experience on several papers, including the San Francisco Examiner. A bit of equipment immediately added was the first Ludlow typograph used in eastern Oregon, guaranteeing new, clear display type for every issue. A 2600-an-hour Babcock press was to run the paper. The News at the outset was tabloid—and it kept the five-column format throughout its twice-a-week and thrice-a-week days (it became a tri-weekly June 2, 1924); but on becoming a daily on its first anniversary (November 12, 1924) changed to the seven-column size. The paper has had wire news service from the first few months of its existence

The News got out its first extra November 5, 1924, to announce the election of Coolidge and Dawes. News editors of the paper were, successively, F. C. Nickle, Charles Rood, J. W. McDonald (now a prominent sports writer in San Francisco), Edwin Rose.

Bruce Dennis of La Grande, who a short time before had purchased the Herald, announced April 21, 1927, his purchase of the News and the consolidation of the two papers. It was the hope of Mr. Dennis to keep the papers competitive, though produced in a single plant. Each had its own individual staff.

Otterbein remained for a time as city editor, then was followed successively, by Howard Winnard, U. of O. journalism student, a promising writer, who lost his life in an automobile accident in 1928; Bert W. Holloway, another former student at the school of journalism, who moved on up to Boston; and Robert H. Galloway, from the same school.

In June, 1932, Mr. Dennis sold the papers to Frank Jenkins, Ernest Gilstrap, and Eugene Kelty, all formerly of the Eugene Register. After a time Mr. Kelty withdrew from the association, known as the Southern Oregon Publishing Company. The Jenkins-Gilstrap direction continues (1939) with Malcolm Epley, formerly of the Eugene Register, as managing editor.

The Klamath Basin Progress, now occupying the weekly field in Klamath Falls, was started in 1924 by Tom W. Shaughnessy, formerly a printer on the Oregon Journal, as the Malin Progress; it was then published in the town of Malin. The next year the paper was purchased by the Farmers' Publishing Co., which installed A. M. Thomas as editor. The paper was at the same time raised from a six-column folio to a seven-column. The subscription price was $2. The paper was moved to Klamath Falls in 1928. In Sep-