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History: Part I-Chapter II... |
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PART 1 You hardy could expect a boy of sixteen to have much stability if, during the course of his young life, he had had seven guardians. Such was the predicament of The Forest News first and later The Jackson Herald. From the time Malcolm Stafford put out the first issue on June 12, 1875, until John N. Holder became editor on July 10, 1891, no less than seven men had charted the editorial course of the paper.
John Holder It was natural that the paper be Democratic during this period. In 1872 the Democrats had secured control of the state.1 The corruption of Grant's two administrations had become so brazen that many Republicans were sickened even unto a determination to vote for Samuel J. Tilden, the Democratic nominee for president in 1876.2 The outstanding newspaper, according to Coulter, was The Atlanta Constitution. "In 1876," he said, "Evan P. Howell secured control of it and attached it to Henry W. Grady and Joel Chandler Harris, two men on the watch towers who first spied out the New South and began telling about it."3 By 1877 the political control of Georgia had fallen into the hands of an element in the Democratic party known as the Bourbons.4 Their program embraced the philosophy of Grady. He held that the New South should wear a halo and absorb the romance of the olden times, but it should get away from the retarding philosophy of the Old South. It should embrace the new industrialism; it should build towns and cities and develop mines and construct factories; it should do the things which had made the North rich and powerful.5 From the restoration of Democratic control until the rise
of the small farmers in the early 'nineties, John B. Gordon,
Joseph E. Brown, and Alfred H. Colquitt ruled Georgia. Colquitt
and Gordon were governors during most of the period, and one
of the three was constantly in the United States Senate.6 Only the death of Dr. J. D. Long, the president, had brought a change in organization of the Jackson County Publishing Company. Mr. Stafford still was editor of the paper. Commenting on the anniversary, he said: However The Forest News was to begin its second year of publication, it was to begin it in trouble. Mr. Stafford's year-end statement continued: ...There is nothing more disagreeable to the writer of these lines than to dun people in any way at all; but to be compelled to do so publicly--through these columns--is the "feather" that comes very near "breaking the Camel's back." Still, it appears there is no avoiding the issue; therefore, we earnestly and most respectfully ask all who are indebted to the office, for subscription or on any other account, to call and try to settle in some way. Please remember, kind reader, if you have been taking the paper and have not paid for it. YOU ARE THE PERSON WHOM WE ARE ADDRESSING NOW. WE MEAN YOU.8 "A Word to Subscribers" two weeks later gave further evidence that The Forest News needed bolstering financially. It pointed out that, with this issue, "the 'subscription year' of a goodly number of our patrons will expire," and then added: All who are in arrears know without any lengthy admonition or appeal from us, what is expected of them. We have done the best we could, under the circumstances, for the past twelve months. Many of our readers have expressed themselves highly pleased and satisfied with the paper and its management; and we mention the fact in no boastful spirit, for we are vain enough to believe we know what kind of a paper we have tried to give the people; good, sound, wholesome, "food for thought" has been our chief and only aim. Compliments...are gratifying and pleasing in their way; but...there is something more substantial now needed.9 The Forest News, in that it had no advertisements on the front page, resembled a modern newspaper at first. But with the coming of the first number of volume two, ads occupied the two left hand columns on page one. One of the ads was a proclamation by Governor James M. Smith. The Governor said his department had received information that a band of horse thieves had been operating in Jackson and Oglethorpe counties. "I thought it proper, therefore," he continued, "to issue this my Proclamation, hereby offering a reward of Two hundred and Fifty Dollars each for the apprehension and delivery of said thieves..."10 Evidently the proclamation did not bear fruit immediately, for it ran through the issue of July 8, 1876.
Mr and Mrs John Holder in Jackson Herald office In the paper of a week earlier Editor Stafford announced under a heading of "Latest News" the nomination of Tilden for president. Mr. Stafford's comment was that "...The otherwise crowded state of our columns precludes lengthy comment, even that deemed essential."11 But he added: ...Under the circumstances it is not at all necessary. The lines have long since been plainly drawn; there is no neutral ground. On the one hand the issue is VICTORY: on the other it is DEATH--politically, financially and commercially. Death to prosperity--death to all that is worth living for: And as an humble sentinel on the watch-tower of American, and more especially Southern liberty, we can only exhort Georgians who have their whole country at heart--who love their own native State and their own glorious sunny clime--to resolve from this good hour "whom they will serve:" Tilden and Hendricks: They can, they must be elected:12 The following week Tilden was covered in detail. Two columns on page one gave a biographical sketch of the candidate. Nearly three columns on page two were devoted to "The Democratic Platform." On August 5, 1876, Mr. Stafford reported that A. H. Colquitt had been nominated for governor, and The News supported the DeKalb countian all the way. The paper's slate of candidates was completed on September 16. In that issue there appeared these words: "It is with profound gratification and pleasure unalloyed, that we announce the nomination, unanimously, of Hon. B. H. Hill, as the Democratic candidate for Congress..."13 Until after the election The News ran the names of them all in boldface type at the top of the editorial page. On November 11 Mr. Stafford was able to write, "The great political contest is over..."14 He continued: While they were "awaiting," the management tried once again to collect a few honest debts. "Pay Up, Now!" was the headline over this notice: All persons who owe The Forest News office, either for subscription or for advertising, will please come NOW, while there is some money in circulation, and pay up. We have indulged you till this time, and by so doing have incurred heavy obligations that must now be met. This cannot be done unless you pay up promptly. We are obligated to urge you, all, friends, to settle up now, as we can not continue business on credit.16 The item was signed "Respectfully, but urgently," by W. C. Howard, R. J. Hancock and G. J. N. Wilson, the executive committee of the Jackson County Publishing Company.17 Editor Stafford had to wait a long time for "further and more reliable developments" on that election. Not until March 3, 1877, did he have the displeasure of writing this headline: "The Infamy Complete."18 Under it he said, "The electoral vote of Oregon was given to Hayes and Wheeler by the 'Grand Commission'....It now...is a settled fact that these men are to be President and Vice-President...."19 Despite the fact he had declared earlier that defeat of Tilden would be "death to all that is worth living for," Mr. Stafford also wrote on March 3 that "it is useless to cry over spilt milk."20 Here is what had happened: Tilden had defeated Rutherford B. Hayes, the Republican presidential candidate. But complications in counting the electoral vote led to the appointment of an electoral commission, which counted Hayes into office. 21 Coming to the December 29, 1877, issue in the files, one could sense that something had been amiss at The News office, even before he noticed the announcement of a stockholders' meeting scheduled for that day. The two inside pages of the paper were blank. They contained nothing whatever. Evidence of what went on at the stockholders' session is found in the issue of January 18, 1878. In it are the "Valedico, Valedictus" of Mr. Stafford and the "Salutatory" of G. J. N. Wilson. Thus begins the exit and entrance of editors at The News. In the course of the next thirteen years there were to be six more "Valedictories" and five more "Salutatories." And the next ones were not long in coming--just ten weeks. Mr. Wilson, who had been on the executive committee of the Jackson County Publishing Company from the outset, did not wish to become associated with the working press. Commenting on the shake-up of the nineteenth, he said, "... The change has not been effected in accordance with his own desires, but at the solicitation of friends for whose opinions he has more respect than he has confidence in his abilities to meet their anxious expectations."22 Neither did Mr. Wilson know very much about the working press. Additional comments on January 19 were these: It is...with no small degree of diffidence that the writer comes before the public in this new role. Being almost wholly unacquainted with the practical details of a printing office, his distrust...is materially increased by a full knowledge of the fact that he succeeds a gentleman who...has...faithfully and ably conducted the Forest News.23 What the Southern Watchman, of Athens, had said about Mr. Stafford being well qualified to conduct any department of newspaper work may have been true. But evidently the first News editor found it difficult to conduct all departments at once. Reasons for the change in editors were given by Mr. Wilson in the issue of January 19. He said: As formerly published, the business of the office was too complicated and the duties of the Editor too varied and laborious to bring out a paper with that bold and independent tone, that concert of action, that unity of sentiment and freedom of expression which the Publishing Company desires, and which the present organization seeks to secure.24 Mr. Stafford agreed with this. In his "Valedico, Valedictus" he wrote: For some time past...the impression has been gaining strength,
that the "varied duties" of his station as Managing
and Business Editor of this paper were so burdensome and attended
with so much responsibility, that to discharge them with full
satisfaction, either to himself or the public, would be out of
his power. Under this conviction, he suggested...a change....25 Not only was the editorial set-up of the paper changed at this time. under the headline "To The Public," W. C. Howard and R. S. Howard announced that, "...By arrangement with James E. Randolph, the present lessee and publisher of the paper, they have become Business Managers of the office and paper, exercising a general supervision of the entire business."26 Mr. Stafford remained as printer. Although Mr. Wilson did not stay at the helm long enough to put any kind of policy into effect, he said at the beginning of his editorial career that the paper "...will be unflinchingly Democratic....The farmer and the worthy teacher shall receive the first and best attention of the News."27 No one likely was so relieved as he when, on March 30, 1878, the next change in editors was effected. Mr. Wilson wrote in that issue: ...My short editorial career comes to a close, and I now appear...to
bid...an affectionate farewell. Duties in other fields of labor
impel me to this course....In my humble efforts to furnish a
paper that would be acceptable to its friends, I have simply
done the best I could do...and in those instances where I have
failed, a generous public will forgive and forget. 28 Mr. Wilson was to return later to do something about keeping that promise to do something for teachers. On April 22, 1882, after The Forest News had burned and been re-established as The Jackson Herald, an educational department was started, with him as editor. This feature ran in The Herald for many years. But back to March 10, '78. Mr. Wilson's successor as editor was Robert S. Howard. Along with W. C. Howard, the new man still was listed as business manager of the paper also. Mr. Howard's "Salutatory," one of the less wordy of the seven to appear in the paper, was as brief as his editorial career was long. He said simply: In assuming the Editorial management of the Forest News, I have no professions to make except one--that is, to make the News acceptable to its readers; and to this end, I shall strive in every legitimate way. The policy of the paper shall be free and independent, and upon all occasions for the good of the people. And in conclusion, I desire and expect a hearty co-operation from all the readers of the paper.29 One thing Mr. Howard's editorship did was to slow the pace of the "Valedictories" and the "Salutatories." For nearly seven years he remained editor of the paper. He brought the sheet through fire--literally. At first there must have been those who thought Mr. Howard had too little "fire" in running a newspaper. On June 8, 1878, he wrote: "We have of late had several inquires as to why we did not write more for our paper; why we do not make it spicy; why we don't have more local news; why we don't give 'em fits; why we don't go heavy into politics, etc., etc."30 In reply the editor felt compelled to say: To our many short comings we have no plea, as we know we are deficient in a great number of the essentials of the "make up" of a first class newspaper man....You cannot make an editor in a week or two....Journalism is a profession, and one that takes years to arrive at anything like perfection, granting that it could be reached in the short space allotted to our existence. Every day opens our eyes to the magnitude of the undertaking, and impresses upon us our inability to reach the top round at one leap. Then, bear with us in our infancy, in this new undertaking. We do not ask to escape your criticism, but let it be covered with the mantel of Charity.31 Regardless of what the paper's patrons might think, Mr. Howard believed as he started the fourth volume of The News on June 15, 1878, that progress was being made. In fact, he said, "...The management of the News have steadily progressed, until now the paper is a fixture among the people--one of the institutions of Jackson County...."32 One recalls that Mr. Stafford called the paper a "fixed institution" in the very first issue three years earlier. Mr. Howard admitted that the paper had not, at all times, met with that great degree of success wished for it by its originators and supporters. He added, though, that it had succeeded far beyond the expectations of many of its friends and admirers. The editor continued: ...And now, with better and increasing mail facilities through
the county, (brought on to a great extent, through the efforts
of friends of the paper) the News launches forth on its fourth
year's voyage under favorable auspices, notwithstanding the generally
depressed state of affairs in the country as to financial matters,
with a larger number of bona fide substantial subscribers than
the paper has ever had since its establishment.33 Thinking perhaps that progress could be stepped up if he owned
the paper, Mr. Howard became publisher as well as editor with
the issue of January 17, 1879. And with this paper the publication
day was changed from Saturday to Friday. On June 6, 1879, The Forest News completed its fourth volume.
From that date until June 17, 1881, papers are missing from the
files, both at the office of The Jackson Herald and at the county
courthouse. Sometime during this period the paper burned and
emerged from the fire with a new name. The June 17, 1881, issue is number seventeen of volume one
of The Herald. John N. Holder, who has lived in Jefferson all
his life and has owned The Jackson Herald since 1891, said the
paper missed only five numbers because of the fire. That being
the case, The Forest News must have burned around January 20,
1881, and re-appeared as The Jackson Herald about February 27,
1881.34 While the paper's original name did not survive the blaze, its editor did. Mr. Howard was to edit the publication for four more years. There are no appreciable differences between the earlier editions of The Herald and the later numbers of The News. By September 30, 1881, Mr. Howard had narrowed the columns on page two and page three, and was running seven columns on these pages rather than the customary six. The next week all four pages carried seven columns. With the August 18, 1882, Herald, the pages became eight columns wide. Notice that Mr. Howard was leaving the paper did not come until January 16, 1885. In the paper of that date was this notice: "With this issue my interest in the Jackson Herald, as proprietor, business manager and editor ceases. I have sold out to parties who will have matters so arranged that they will be able to make the proper announcements next week."35 The announcement the next week was made by John L. Asbury.
"In making my appearance as editor and proprietor of the
Herald," he said, "I shall make but few promises."36
He determined to make the paper one of the best weeklies in Northeast
Georgia. As usual, it would be Democratic. Of more value than Mr. Asbury's announcement to the field of journalism was the "Valedictory" of Mr. Howard. The following quotation from it perhaps is longer than generally appears in a thesis, but this writer believes it is warranted by its timeliness and applicability. The most of people make two great mistakes about running a newspaper. The first is that only certain individuals can edit and manage one. They are mistaken. Good English, facility of expression, and horse sense, are all that is needed to make an editor. Don't think that because a certain man starts a paper that it will stop when he does. A newspaper is like any other business--as long as it is run on business principles it will last, but no longer. If properly managed, the Herald will live to weather many storms and ride safely into port staunch as ever, and no one will give a passing thought to the man whose hand grasped the helm, during the fury of the gale. In the second place, the general impression is that they can be run on wind and water, with nothing for ballast. A newspaper, especially a county paper, is peculiarly a public enterprise, and should have the earnest and substantial support of every liberal minded and patriotic citizen It matters not who is the editor, or what his particular notions or religious opinions may be, as long as he gives you a clean sheet, devoted to the material advancement and enlightment of mankind, you should uphold his hands to the fullest extent. Subscribe yourself, make your neighbors do so, see that the
debt is promptly paid, then make your merchants advertise. Don't
be afraid that the editor will get rich or proud--there is no
danger of either. He will pay you back ten-fold for every dollar
that you spend with him. The good editor never gets rich; he
soon learns to live in poverty and clothe himself with humility.
And above all things, let your support be constant, and not spasmodic.
Don't be content with a subscription for one year, and then think
you have done your duty for all time to come. There are no off-years
in the expense account of a newspaper office--they go on forever.37 There is no evidence that Mr. Howard's "plug" did
his successor much good. Except for Mr. Wilson's, Mr. Asbury's
editorial reign was the most short-lived of any during the history
of the paper. His departure came July 10, 1885, with these simple words:
"With this issue of the Herald our relations as editor and
proprietor ceases."38 The "Salutatory" in the same issue was signed "The
New Man." Perhaps shame over the poor manner in which the
piece was written caused the editor to refuse to give his name. Mr. Asbury sold The Herald to J. P. Thompson, G. W. Mabry
and Jeff D. Pike. "Who will edit the paper," they said,
"has been a conundrum to which the public has not as yet
received an answer."39 Nor was the public to receive one during more than a year
the paper remained under their ownership. When Messers. Thompson,
Mabry and Pike sold out to John N. Ross on July 30, 1886, no
name had appeared in the paper as that of the editor. Whoever "The New Man" was, he said at the beginning of his editorial career: ...The paper will contain the current news of the day, and
such locals as can be gathered, and in which its readers will
take an interest. They intend to publish communications--short,
sharp and crisp--from every part of the county, if they can get
correspondents, and an occasional from neighboring towns and
other places, which will be of interest they hope. This "New Man" was, in fact, one W. I. Pike, the
father of one of the paper's owners, Jeff Pike. John N. Holder
told this writer that the elder Pike edited The Herald for more
than a year, and for some reason never permitted his name to
be given as such.41 John N. Ross was joined in ownership by his father on January
21, 1887, and under the nameplate on page one there appeared
this inscription: "By T. L. Ross & Son, Publishers and
Proprietors." On May 4, 1888, this was changed to "Ross
Bros., Publishers and Proprietors," but the masthead on
page two still read "Ross & Son, Publishers." Not
until June 15, 1888, did the brothers, John N. an Robert O.,
get around to changing the masthead. John N. Ross continued to edit the paper until March 22, 1889, when he and his brother sold out to J. H. Williamson and W. H. Craig. Said the Ross brothers: "Neither hard times, lack of patronage, nor piled-up fortunes have caused this change, but simply a disposition to sell property whenever the price asked for it is given."42 Under the new owners Mr. Williamson was manager and Mr. Craig editor. They opened their "Salutatory" with, "Fellow-citizens, we salute you: and this morning make our bow as publishers of the Jackson Herald."43 Continuing to read, this writer noticed a new enthusiasm for politics and sensed that all was not calm on the political front. Said Messrs. Craig and Williamson: The Jackson Herald will be uncompromisingly Democratic in principle and practice. It will devote its every effort and concentrate its every talent to the service of Bourbon Democracy in its purity--Democracy unafflicted with any "New South" heresies--the Democracy of Jefferson, Jackson, Calhoun and Toombs--the Democracy that saved the South in her hour of peril, when thieving carpet-baggers were rifling her treasuries and brutal negroes were threatening with violence her very hearthstones--that rescued her in the starless night of Reconstruction, when ignorance and vice were vested with American sovereignty and intelligence and virtue were disfranchised. We must have Democratic ascendancy in the South. A solid South is politically necessary. Every variation from the royal standard of Jeffersonian Democracy is a step toward Republicanism. We must cling to the faith.44 Until July 10, 1891, this was the battle cry of The Jackson Herald. On that day opposite editorial opinions were voiced in the same paper. For sixteen years, with seven different men at the editorial wheel, the paper could not be sure which way it would go. From July 10, 1891, though, it has been on a straight course. That is when John N. Holder became editor. For 59 years he piloted the paper, and to his day owns it.
1. E. Horton Coulter, A Short History of
Georgia (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press,
1933), p. 355
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Thumbing through
the files one sees no appreciable difference in the reign of
each editor--just merely small variances in style, which, in
the final analysis, probably make a paper great. While the editors
may have differed on matters of style, there was one thing on
which they agreed: the paper should be Democratic. However, in
the late 1880's and early 1890's, there was some difference of
opinions as to whether the Alliance swallowed up the Democratic
party, or vice versa.