Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Affairs of the Oakland Independent moved along. Finally, Geo. Brewster’s interests in real estate and other matters (especially in Populist state politics) became so large that he decided to dispose of his newspaper. His younger brother, Edward A. of Creston, Ia., contracted to buy the Independent, moved to town and took possession.

While Brewster was a capable fellow, a good editor and printer, he seemingly had contracted some habits that did not fit in with country newspaper editing. He enjoyed a good (or bad) poker game better than getting out a successful country weekly. As a consequence, his installments on the purchase price became so far delinquent that the holders of the security papers came in and foreclosed. Edward stepped out and his brother George resumed the publication of the paper.

The retirement of E.A. Brewster as publisher was a rather serious disappointment to this writer, who had allowed his wages to become unpaid to the amount of several hundred dollars, as he had no need for all of his salary and thought that a good way to save it. Ed was perfectly willing and anxious to pay but just didn’t have the funds. So what? The “cub printer” seemed to be getting his eye teeth cut on a rather expensive scale. He hadn’t needed the money, as his habits were not expensive, but now that he couldn’t get it was something else again. It was a tragic awakening, but there might be a way out.

Politics in those days were just about as assorted as they are today. There wasn’t much to the Democratic party in Nebraska, but the Republicans, largely preponderant, had their quarrels and disagreements, the one side by old Senator Van Wyck, representing one element, and Congressman Valentine of West Point was at the head of the stalwarts.

While Senator Van Wyck had the Tekamah Burtonian and many old line Republican newspapers supporting him, the Valentine folks wanted a newspaper desperately. The managers of this faction got together and purchased the Burt County News at Tekamah from the Konkling brothers and changed it to a Valentine sheet, with Ed. A. Brewster as editor and manager. So this writer decided that it was best for him to accept the proffered job as foreman of the new project, with the hope that finances would improve and that I would finally get the money that was coming to me.

But alas, there were poker games in Tekamah fully as greedy as those at Oakland, and Brewster couldn’t resist them. The money slipped away, his debts accumulated and he finally approached me with the plan of my buying a half interest in the paper. Approaching the sponsors of the paper, they at once approved the move, and I became the owner (?) of a half interest. Comparatively few weeks later (undoubtedly under pressure and advice of his family and friends) Brewster assigned his remaining interest (if any) in the Burt County News to the writer.

It was with a great deal of misgiving that I assumed the management and direction of a political country weekly. My experience was somewhat limited and I did not possess all the confidence that seemed necessary but there seemed to be no other alternative. I plunged into the project. Having previous to this always favored the Democratic party with my vote and support, it was certainly a novelty and not altogether agreeable for me to conduct a Republican sheet, presenting the Valentine side of the picture. How well I succeeded is not for me to say. Undoubtedly many mistakes were made, but on the whole the leaders and advisors seemed to approve, and I had the somewhat doubtful honor of being dubbed by rival publishers by the title of “Valentine’s Kid.” And I could not deny part of this, as I was then only 20 years old - and in the kid class.

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