Wisconsin State Journal from Madison, Wisconsin • 39

wmmm Jess New. Home. Edition II A Fact-rindingMewspape; VOL. 127, NO. 169.

87th YeaY. MADISON SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 1926 mm New Home -Edition -j mmms MME ilrlsliNJllliNJ JV Newspaper Plant Is One of Most Modern in the Middlewest History of Journal Also History of City of Madison Publisher Tells Facts About the Lee Syndicate New Editorial Headquarters tnritnWtOTfi i iltitu ttpw iwMf 'fey EUSSELL PYRE OK 'every member of the family there's a relaxation, flavored with a feeling of when, after completion of the "new home," with every modem. convenience installed, it moved in, laid lie last rug, hung 'the last "picture and placed the last chair. That's the feeling, of The State Journal family, finally settled in its new hom after years of dreaming, months of planning and more-months of shifting about, doubling rp and "making 'the best of it," carrying on with the "housework" incidental to getting out a daily newspaper while-the excavator, the concrete squad, the bricklayer, the carpenter and the' other brethren of the build ing trades toiled around, abc-ve and below it. Done at Last.

At last It's done and if there's anything new t'o save -time and add to the convenience, of, getting out a newspaper that is not fo', be found in The Journal's new plant it's probably because it is so. new that it. yet attracted the notice of th newspaper' world. Intimate Story cf Men and Methods Which Have Built Great Chain cf Papers, ST i. M.

BB ATTOS OME time orlor to the year JlmTowell "fired" one' Manny Adler as an "aKltator." That was' the beginning of a friendship that would have resulted In the in Tentlon of the word "pal," even had- Damon and Pythias never existed At that-time Mr. James F. Powell was foreman of the composing room of the. old Ottumwa (la.) "Daily Courier." and Mr. E.

P. Adler was compositor. Both were union men, but a head.of a grievance tommittee Mr. Adler' aeemed to Mr. Powell to be a little bit too persistent.

State Journal Fhoto I mention this Incident because It has had something to do with the building of the Lee Syndicate, and it is about the Lee Syndicate that I am give State Journal readers Ihe Wisconsin State JonrnnV editorial rooms provide for the comfort and convenience of fhe' slaff and expansion for 4 lie future. The glass enclosed room at the front" Is the society editor's headquarters. The tables In the center are for reporters and enpyrearters, and the desks at "the Bides of the room provide tor special writers and department, heads. The managing editor, news editor and city editor are at the frontof the room. The copy carrier system ronnlng'from the I'nHed Press room to the news-editor Is seen.

In the right of the picture eeslde lie tit lie system for pumping copy to the composing room, i their first news. To begin' 'with, the Lee Syndicate is a trade name, nothing more. "started without any idea. of being a syndicate at all. Just the outgrowth of a newspaper expansion which came about, because Mr.

Lee, -publisher of the Ottumwa Courier, The Friendly Road" First of all there's room, enough for everybody fn every department, there's plenty of light, plenty of fresh air made available by medcrn ventilation equipment and other facilities which make the plant a saaitary place for its workers. The max. imum of convenience and efficiency has been' the governing facto'r in planning each "department. Construction of a new addition, two atorjes-ln height 'and covering in asea 27 by 8 feet, to house Hie editorial, press and stereotyping departments was "first step- In evolving The. journal's moilejn home.

Early last May the jays of the big steam excavator operated by George Fitton and Son began biting into the ground adjoining the old plmnt, scooping ont a big-hole for the base of the felnfprced concrete and brick structure, planned br J. R. and E. J. Law as engineers and architects and erected Under 'direction of H.

Findorlf and Son as gen-. eral contractors. In Before Christmas Shortly before Christmas the editorial, department vacated its quarters on the secomi floor -of the. main building for its new "shop" across the corridor and the partitions of the old room were removed immediately to make way for a' larger and lighter composing department, which the 'second floor. Then came' the big new.

Duplex, octuple unit vretn and'when It Was installed on the around floor. had -learned something about- how to make small-town newspapers pay which, from the history -of things, it appeared the average run of country editors did not know. In The Beginning Mc Lee was the founder of the Lee Syndicate. I met him only upon few occasions, as he went on. hit lo'ng way shortly after I became associated with the Syndicate.

I re-" member him as a quiet man whose gentility was the first' Characteristic to- strike one. Ha was of light com plexlon. Inclined to be sandy per- haps, dressing with care and excel- 'lent taste, who stabbed through one with a piercing but kindly gaze. He had' a quick sense of new. people.

-and it his intuition accepted you, at once you "belonged. But while my personal knowledge of Mr. Lee. is limited, I- feel that I know him with intimacy, because I have absorbed from 'Mr. Adler and Mr.

Powell, through many conversa tions as the years have come and gone, much of their conception of the eharming leader and generous friend under whose genius they grew into the task of carrying forward the big idea that he had conceived and Probably Mr, Lee's belief In men was at the bottom of his sue for through ascociation he had a way of making of men what he felt they were capable; of being. And I know nowhere of more reverential loyalty to a memory than that which his prcteges and successors pay to that of Mr. It was. Mr. Lee was publisher of the "Courier" at Ottumwa that Mr.

Adler and Powell entered his employment in' the -mechanical department. Mr. Adler was first to emerge from the composing reom becoming city editor and finally business manager. And as -success attended him, it was natural that his old comrade, Jim Powell, should loin. him- in the new field.

It was some time after this, and the Courier had become an established financial success, that Mr. Lee assumed charge of the Mus catine (la.) Journal. This in 'way was accidental, having come about through the death of a relative of Mr. Lee which left the Mud- Daily Paper Founded In 1852 Developed With City and Recorded Its Signifi- cant Events Thi? Wisconsin state journal as established by David Atwood In September, 1852. The historians credit it with an existence of some 13 years longer, inasmuch si men who -were Interested in preceding publications -also had a hand in the development of tha new paper.

But tha first copy of a paper. bearing' this five-column affair greeted the Madison public In 1852. The books also tell that the office was entirely new and the purchased expressely fpT the purpose. It was first Issued as a Whig pa per but on the- reorganization of-par ties, became an advocate oi tne principals and measures of the Republican "party. Horace Rublee was connected as associate editor in 1853 and in 1854 was -lntrested as a partner.

George Gary canre in" May 1, 1855, but-retired in 1856. Harrison Reed was Interested In Its publica-tion -lSS retiring in 1861. since which date the paper was published by Atwood Rublee and Atwood and the latter gentleman purchasing- the Interest of Mr. Ru blee on his receiving the appointment of minister resident at Switzerland, Twentieth Birthday On September 2. 1872.

The Wis consin State Journal observed -118 20th birthday. Editor David At- Wood. In an article published In 'that issue, outlined. the accomplishments nf the vears. That tells vividly tne history of the first 20 years of The instance Journal's existence: "Yes.

reader. The Daily State Jour nal is 20 years old, and this number bright and clear the rst Impres sion upon new type is uie nrst. issue in the 21st year of its.existenca. While 20 years is not an old age for a newspaper, it. is a long time for a Dally to have lived in Wiscon sin, and especially In a city he age apd size of Madison.

It la with leei- mixed slightly wun prioe; no, not pride, satisfaction, that the writ er of this article points to tne career of the Journal during -long series of vears. It has not made rapid advancement; irelther has our beloved cily. It has gone straignt forward, enlarging and improving as necessity required, and'as means would permit, without ever, taking one step backwara. maaison na done the thing. Remembrance of The State Journal as it was 20 years ago, compared with what it now is, and of Madison' as if then was, compared with what it now Is, will show that Both have steadily improved in size and in value; and that the advancement' has- been, about equal.

Twenty years Madison was a small village; and at that time The State Journal vas issued on a small sheet, with large type. Today, Mad ison Is a small but beautiful cltyr and we think The State Journal a- beautiful newspaper in appearance at The Journal has ever endeavored to keep up the reputation Madison and we acknowledge with pleasure and gratitude thaf the people of Madison have sustained The State Journal with equal- fidelity. Jiot. Free Irom Donht "'W'hen, 20 years the first number of The State Journal was issued, Its proprietor was not free from doubt, as to'its-permanent success. Well does he remember with what anxiety and fear, mingled with he 'threw to the breeze hi's first number.

His fear' was slightly indicated: in a' short business ao-neuncementt contained therein as follows: commence with a Daily. Our past support would hardly Justify such a step; but we cannot restntih ourselves from making an 'attempt in this way. We feel that such an enterprise ought to be supported, and we nave too much confidence in iho enfernrifie and liberality of Our cltfzehs to allow anything which it Is'their interest to sustain, to. wither and die for want of patronage. Our Daily is therefore presented as a candidate-for- public favor, and will be continued as-long as the sup port It receives shall cover cash "Here was an expression of doubt, as to the success -of the enterprise; a zeal on tha subject of embarking in it, and an entire confidence in the 'enterprise and liberality 'of our It fs with a degree of pleasure amounting to happiness that the same writer who penned the above extract can now state, that his confidence then reposed In the good people of Madison, is not diminished or weakened.

the slightest degree, but Is greatly incseased and strength ened. We have realized an ana much more from our enterprise in the last -20 years Jban we had hoped to dare for wlwn It was undertaken in 1852. "In a general article In the same number, in alter speaKing oi the circumstances that had brought of the new section, on Jts own foundation laid Independent of the rest of me Dunning to avoid vibration, the old press on the corresponding- floor of the main structure removed. This made way fot a larger business office and during the weeks while its new reom, 50 by 75 was in the process of remodeling, the busi ness ataff'doubled with the-edl- torial crew on the second floor. Th'e editorial rooms, first to be completed aside from changes' made in the enlarged composing depart ments include one large room, 26 by 77 -feet, for the general staAVwIth commodious private offices at the rear for the publisher, his secretary and the 'United Presa bureau, and at the front a- separate office for the" society editor, "assuring complete privacy for visitors coming on busi Former Editors, of Journal Were en Belonged to Period of Forceful Personal Journalism; Many Picturesque Characters BY ILLIAM J.

AXOKRSOK DAVID ATWOOD who by virtue of his having given The State Journal its name in 1852, and having for four years previously edited and abrprbed papefB which Were merged in it. is of course the real pioneer or The Mconsin State journal. I did-not hare intimate acquaintance with Mr. Atwood, though I came, to know him through calling occasionally at his office and through, meeting, him in political convections in the eighties. His first partner.

Mr. Back, I did not" know, but his later rartner and- associate editor, Rublee, I knew intimately. I recall very distinctly my first meeting wltti Mr, Atwood, I had come to Madison one day in the early eighties to attend- a legislative committee meeting and called at The State Journal-office. After a pleasant visit with Reuben G. Thwaites, then managing editor, and' O.

D. Brandenburg, editor, Mr. Thwaites asked' me to step into an adjoining room, and meet Mr. Atwood. He was a veritable pttriatren in appearance, was tbe old pioneer, a long and full white Beard and silvered crown teemed a fitting adornment for the courteous' gentleman he was.

In a manner -so' deferential that was flattered Into volubility about myself, he inquired about my work a newspaper writer. I was then -rapresenting In tbe state the Chicago later Ocean and he highly commended' the political course by that newspaper. Whea I left him-a half hour later, I. had a higher -opinion of the 'dignity and dutleo of newspaper writing- ttian I had ever had before higfler, perhaps than a young reporter should have had. thought, It was little woifder thaf Thwaites and Brandenburg should -be so gracious and consider ate as newspaper men trained an they were in such -an atmosphere.

I do not know whp was responsible for. the legislative summary which appeared daily during the sessions of the legislature Mr. but. amcpg news paper men It was acccunieu ine most accurate and complete record published 'anywhere in the state. I retain a very clear recollection of Atwood and the little room in which he worked, and also of a' steel portrait of Ralph Waldo.

Emerson which hung over the editor's desk. Mr. Ilublee had told me about tfiat picture. Prior to tha civJl war when Mr. Rublee was a partner of Mr." fwo with D.

and otbers had what was known as a lyceum bureau. This organization brought to? Madteon distinguished people to lecture, and among the number In one year's course was Ralph Waldo Emerson. Lecturers in 'thsse d2ys traveled deliberately and Sage of Concord remained over a day and was shown the city by the lyceum officials. Durfng th'e day he was asked by Rublee to go to the photographer's (tbe elder Curtiss's, I think) and have his pctnre taken. as a sort of memento of the occasion.

"I- wijl go with yoa." said Emerson, "but I do. it reluctantly, for whenever 1 sit down before one of those machines my face divests itself of its last traca of Intelligence!" Emerson sat for the picture and from it later some eastern engraver made the steel engraving, one copy of which hung in-Mr, Atwooil's sanctum. If The State Journal has not that portrait hung now, it shoul'd recover it and keep it as an heirloom. Mr. Ilorace Rublee, who from meaningto contemporary life is a task to which any limited group of prpfessional journalists is The ity must help to make its newspaper by rhaintairiing' active interest and extend-.

lug cooperation. We want the help of every fine idea, of every helpful sug- gestion, of every constructive from all of our readers. 'We want them to help put the community spirit and as-' pirations -into their newspaper by put-; themselves into it! to" counsel with' diem, and to. debate, in or- der that together we shall be able to win-now and sift knowledge and truth from the unassorted and indiscriminate facts' of life. And for this" our doors are ppen' to.

you' all with a wide 'gesture. of weir You can not come too soon or too often; you can not call upon the. tele- phone or write too want to make here 'a family" newspaper; not only helpful, for every family. And that is a thing thatonly all our farn-' ilies working together-can-do. This-is our hope.

for. you and for ourselves, dear readerl. Something high -and fine for all of us! Something to. give, and something to take! Something to hope "and sbmething' to win! Something noble to cljmb toward, to leap toward; always to hope to attain, and so always to strive if always we together, you. men and women of Our Times, ve shajl always progress.

Never shall we attain all, but. we attain much, and until for each of us" the hour glass shall have run out," always there' will remain, -no matter what our prow-ess, tlie-stimulating, inspiring picture of new worlds to conquer. Tq-do our mod-' est part with you, and you with us, fairly, kindly, faithfully and'unafraid that is' the goal of this newspaper and its peo- pie. However we may stumble from' the pa(h, it is, we profoundly believe, the God-ward road of men and woriieh. A.

M. BRAYTOX. IT IS with humility, and grave respect, that we present this building'-and this to the people of Madison and its environs. 'Humility we realize -how small' a part, at best, we workers of this hour can pjay in. the devel-, ppment of a modem.

journal that is borti the and the high aspirations' of succeeding generations; grave respectj because we appreciate that fkirs is but the modest part of painstakingly gathering and faithfully printing the daily doings of the community, drawing each day upon the idealism and noble, ambitions of the people who'se community life -it is' our sacred trust to portray, with fidelity, and to interpret with But while we -come to bur readers with are not -without a certain sense.of pride in the fact that it has 'fallen to our lor, as successors tQjiotable men, and as page in State Journal his- tory, to bripg the plant and equipment j. of this historic journal abreast of the latest advances imt.he machinery and tliq housing of a newspaper." That we have. succeeded in doing this, vvithput stint as to outlay, we are pleasuf ably -Conscious. But, after all, its plant is but a means to' the end for which the. newspaper ex-.

ists. We have now the home and the' tools. is good. But fhey are the 4uses to which we put these that are im- We" know the tremendous re- sponsibility that rests upon those who. undertake to print the voice of a people.

know that, iri some m-easure, life will.be better or" worse, according to the extent to which we'are true.to our service and able in its execution. And know 'with equal certainty that sucV" cess cannot attend our. mission if we make ours a lone 'pilgrimage to the shrine of dutyv For the making of a newspaper that even approximately fulfills, its proper catine paper in need of practical Just the same, Journal became the second of the string of newspapers now known as the Lee. Syndicate. The Davenport Daily Times 'was the next acquisition.

At the moment -of its purchase It was one of the Ave daily newspapers in Da venportv probably the of them, and none were on a paying basis. Mr. Adler was sent to Da venport as publisher, and deubtless was through his management of the newspaper that the field soon trimmed to two newspapers the other syrvivor being" the Davenport Democrat, which still exists. Growth Continues ness with the woman's department. rienty of Light.

Lighted by' a sawtooth skyliglit of the most modern type, and by Browne-Rlchney casement windows at front and rear and' factory sash wlndows'at the sides, the room is finished in ivory gray, with silver gray woodwork of quarter- sawed oak which matches the office furniture. Electrlcal'Iightlng, as in the other rooms of the b.uilding, is of the Western Electric unit type, installed by the Nickles Electrical company. Handling of newspaper copy between telegraph room and the news editor's desk is facilitated by a Lamson basket conveyor operated- by a wire spring suspended Just behind the telegraph oaerator's desk. More steps are saved in for- warding edited copy to. th'e composing room by means of a Lamson pneumatic copy tube, operated by a foot bellows which literall "blows'" the bopy container a distance of nearly 100 feet to the head machine.

Telephone Communication A battery of telephones, connected with, each gqb-'department of. the editorial rooms, gives' immediate contacts with outside- nets sources. Each reporter, as well as the managing editor 'and the copy handlers, is provided with a flat- top desk with disappearing typewriter bed and a drop light. At one end of the room is the which is a direct" "filing system comprised of eight roomy cabfhets in charge of the office librarian. Th publisher's private offioe.

similar to the outside room in woodwork, has a tuo-tone Tiffany wall finish and is equipped with mahogany fifrniture and attractive windew grapes, with Wilton velvet, rugs covering the floor. Like the editorial rooms, the gen- In 1907 the Hannibal (Mo.) "Conr-. Tier Post" and the La Crosse. (Wis.) "Tribune" were added to the' string, and that Js'where I entered the field, as publisher of the latter "paper, and hence it the date from which the more Intimate portions of this narrative must proceed. In the spring of-1925 the'Maon City (la.) "Globe Gaette" came intfl the Lee Syndicate family, the youngest- of the ctring, but a precocious child.

The Syndicate's Functions "While newspapers are classed as Lee Syndicate papers, the Le' Syndicate as such has. little do with them In theft local activities. As they developed their enter- prise Mr. Lee and his associates found there was considerable advantage in dealing for the papers as group, as ft greatly facilitated the procurement of national advartising. made possible better bargaining for (Continued on Next Page) (Continued on Next (Continued otf Next Page) (Continued on Next Page) ,1.