Inter Ocean
On March 25, 1872, there was issued from the corner of Wabash venue and Congress street, now occupied by the Auditorium, a newspaper which up to that time never had a counterpart as far its name is concerned, it being christened Inter Ocean, the departure itself attracting unusual attention. This undertaking was sponsored by Jonathan Young Scammon, a man of varied purposes, much energy and extensive resources; among other things he owned a bank. The latter auxiliary is recognized as a convenient attachment to a newspaper venture, whether big or little.
The Inter Ocean was a ten-column blanket folio, and had for its motto “Republican is everything. Independent is nothing.” E. W. Halford was editor-in-chief, and in May, 1872, William Penn Nixon became business manager. The financial disturbances of 1873 seriously interfered with the prosperity of new enterprises and Mr. Scammon sold his control, the newspaper managing to emerge from the breakers and gradually establishing itself.
During the exciting presidential campaign wherein Tilden and Hayes in 1876 battled so strong for the votes of the Southern States, and which showed so close a finish through the manipulation of corrupt canvassing boards, the Inter Ocean has stood alone among newspapers of the country in its claim for the ekection of Hayes, and it had the satisfaction of seeing its position justified.
The Inter Ocean went into decline after 1895, when it became the property of Chicago traction boss Charles T. Yerkes, who used it as a tool in his political wars.
For upward of fifteen years, or until October, 1912, the Inter Ocean was under the control of H. H. Kohlstaat, who formerly owned the paper and whoafterward directed the policy of the journal in the time-tried path of protection to American industry and the advocacy of Republican principles.
It merged with the Chicago Record-Herald on March 21, 1914. However, the Chicago Record-Herald ended two months later.
