History of Chicago, Rufus Blanchard, 1900
THE CHICAGO TIMES-HERALD.
Foremost among the clean, progressive and distinctly modern newspapers of the country is the Chicago Times-Herald. This paper was formed by the absorp tion of the historic Chicago Times by the young giant of journalism, the Chicago Herald, but the union of the two, so far as the Times was concerned, was nominal only.
The Times, at the meridian of the life of its founder, the late Wilbur F. Storey, was the greatest of the Chicago dailies. It was established in 1854, and at one time had an international fame. In 1895, after having passed through the hands of many different owners, it was amalgamated by the late James W. Scott with the Chicago Herald, but the consolidation did little more than to preserve the name of the Times, with all its associations and traditions of the earlier journalistic history of Chicago.
The Herald itself was founded in 1881 by Mr. Scott, who was one of the most ingenious and brillant news paper men in America. The typographical beauty of the new paper became a proverb among the members of the craft, and this singularity of mechanical excel lence has been fully maintained by the Times-Herald. In its tenth year the Herald was one of the most pros perous and popular newspapers in the country.
Mr. Scott had not yet succeeded in readjusting the affairs of the new combination when he suddenly died in New York, but a few weeks after the first appear ance of the Times-Herald. This was the situation when, in April, 1895, Mr. H. H. Kohlsaat, formerly publisher of the Inter Ocean, purchased the entire property, and began to issue the Times-Herald in its present form and with its present policy.
When Mr. Kohlsaat installed himself as editor of his new journal he changed its policy from that of a democratic paper, with indeterminate notions upon the currency, to that of an independent republican paper, with unequivocal and positive views concerning the important question of national finance.
He likewise altered the general tone of the publi cation, infusing into its management his own concep tions of a high grade newspaper, largely increasing the efficiency of the writing and counting room forces, and in other ways giving testimony in the columns of the Times-Herald to the new spirit animating the publication.
Mr. Kohlsaat secured the Times-Herald in good time to launch it into the forum of politics one year before the historic campaign of 1896, when the news paper policies of the country were turned inside out, and the dividing lines between the parties were oblit erated by the issue of free coinage of silver. From the first the attitude of the Times-Herald could be seen dis tinct, clear and unwavering through the dissolving views that were cast on the screen of public opinion through the stereopticon of the press. The TimesHerald was facile princeps of eound money newspapers. Incidentally it stood for all the high principles of good government as they were conceived by its owner.
Among the other features developed in particular strength by this newspaper are its financial and com mercial departments. Contrasted with this is the close attention it pays to those topics which interest the intelligent reader at large, such as science, religion and literature, thus combining qualities which distinguish it as a newspaper for the business man and the home. Its activity and enterprise in getting the news and its perfect freedom from cheap sensationalism are largely a reflection of the character of its editor and publisher.
The Times-Herald is as mechanically perfect as the limitations of practical journalism allow. The Times-Herald building, at 154 Washington street, is the most completely appointed newspaper building in the world. Its doors are open at all times to visitors, who will find an inspection of the premises and an examination into the processes by which a great daily is produced every History of the twenty-four hours a most gratifying object lesson in this most interesting and vital industry.
Chicago Tribune, March 3, 1895
The consolidation of the Chicago Times with the Chicago Herald will be consummated today. This morning the last edirion of the Times as an individual paper will be printed. Tomorrow morning the first number of the Times-Herald will appear.
The consolidated paper is owned and will be published by the Herald company, of which James W. Scott is the majority stockholder. The company is capitalized at $1,000,000. Its assets comprises the good will, plants and buildings of the Chicago Herald and Chicago Evening Post, and also the good will and plant and lease of the building which will be vacated today by the Times. On the Herald Building there are $600,000 of ten-year bonds outstanding, while on the Post are bonds for $150,000, held by John R. Walsh, formerly owner of the Herald and the Post.
The Times has been published by the Newspaper company, which is capitalized at $500,000. The stock of this company has been bought by the Herald company and Mr. Scott has been elected its President. It is said that the consolidation was about $260,000 in stock of the consolidated papers, Adolf Kraus, who has been in control of the Newspaper company and the Times for some time, disposed of the control several weeks ago to H.W. Hawley, lately of the Denver Times, and with Mr. Hawley Mr. Scott conducted his negotiations.
Mr. Scott will dictate the policy of the consolidated papers. He will be at once editor-in-chief and head of the business department of the paper. Mr. Hawley, the largest minority stockholder in the Herald company, becomes managing editor of the consolidated papers. He will be in active control of the editorial end. Horatio W. Seymour, who has been managing editor of the Herald since 1887, retires, and will spend the next few months in rest and recuperation. With Mr. Hawley there come to the Times-Herald the staff of the Times twelve or fourteen men, most of whom have occupied editorial positions. Mr. Scott said yesterday that there would be no changes in the heads of departments on the Herald’s editorial staff, though adnitting minor changes were not improbable.Robert Ainslee, the present business manager of the Herald, will remain in the same position on the Times-Herald.
Mr. Scott contradicted rumors to the effect that the price of the Evening Post was to be reduced to one cent, and its publication to the Herald Building. He said the Post will remain in its present building, and that there would be no changes of any consequence in either its editorial or business ends. The Post will be in no way connected with the Herald except that it will be owned by the same company.
This morning after the last edition of Times had gone to press the compositors employed on the paper were entertained in lunch by Adolf Kraus, the retiring proprietor. Monday night will give a banquet to the members of his editorial staff.
The Times this morning will print the following valedictory editorial:
- With some regrets I relinquish the editorship of the Times. Although I have been in charge of its policy for only a few months, yet I began to love the Times with some of the love a parent bears for his child. Today it is still under my care; tonight it will leave me in order to wed the young and sprightly Herald and to travel with it henceforth, joined in lawful wedlock, more powerful and influential than ever, and to henceforth known as the Times-Herald.
To the advertisers and subscribers who have honored the Times with their patronage I express my heartfelt thanks. In parting it is due the press of Chicago, particularly the morning papers, to say that the Times was rapidly becoming a very dangerous rival to them, yet they treated the Times and its editor with marked kindness and consideration.
James W. Scott will be in charge of the Times-Herald, aided by H.W. Hawley, who, up to now, has been part owner of the Times. Each of these gentlemen merits the confidence of the community. They will be engaged in no other business; they will have no other interests to serve; they will be free to conduct a newspaper in the full sense of the word. The publisher of a newspaper should not permit any personal feeling or any desire for immediate profit to affect his course. A newspaper has become to a limited extent the educator of mankind; it should always be just and truthful; it should stand for good government, uphold the law, discountenance all lawbreakers, be they rioters, corrupt officials, or other criminals, regardless of their number or standing. It should speak for the common people, for the wage-earners, for the country can prosper only in proportion to the prosperity of its laboring classes. But in demanding the rights of the laboring people it should never forget that capital has its rights and must go hand in hand with labor. While it is enjoying the liberties of a free press it should never abuse them. If a party organ it should not denounce rival candidates simply because they are nominees of the opposition party. It should always speak for the common welfare, never for private gain. It should be clean, not prudish; yet it should avoid sensational articles which can no other object than to shock a cultured mind.
I believe the Times-Herald will be an instrument for good in this community, and I ask for it the support of my friends and the public. It will surely deserve at least a fair trial by those who prior hereto have not been subscribers of either the Times or the Herald.
With this day my brief journalistic career ends. If I could but feel that those who have been readers of the Times believe that I have made an honest attempt to make of the Times such a newspaper as I have above described, such feeling would to me be of much higher value than any financial consideration which may arise to me out of this transaction.
ADOLF KRAUS
The Herald this morning makes the following announcement of the consolidation:
- The Chicago Times has been purchased by the Chicago Herald company and will appear for the last time this morning. Tomorrow morning the Chicago Tomes-Herald will be issued from the Herald Building.
The Times-herald, the product of the combined capital and energies of two of the foremost Chicago dailies, will be the great Democratic newspaper of the West, with a wide field and the ability and the purpose to occupy that field to the entire satisfaction of all adherents to the cause of Democracy. The joint circulation of the two newspapers, extending as it will through all of the States and Territories of the West, will give the Times-Herald a prestige which will not be underestimated.
The remarkable achievements of the Herald are familiar to all its patrons. Although it is the youngest of the Chicago morning dailies, it is the youngest of the Chicago morning dailies, it long ago gained an enviable supremacy at home and challenged comparison with the foremost newspaper publications of the world.
The Chicago Times has been an institution, even a landmark, of the west for forty years. Under one of its proprietors it gained great celebrity, both as a newspaper and as a journal of opinion. Then, falling into a temporary decline, it was eventually restored by Adolf Kraus to its old-time enterprise and vigor. Owing to his sagacious direction the Times has recently gained handsomely in circulation and advertising patronage, and its consolidation with the Herald brings under one management two publications of undoubted prosperity and character. After a very creditable career as editor Mr. Kraus retires from journalism to reengage in the practice of law, a profession which he has long adorned.
H.W> Hawley, who has been associated with Mr. Kraus and was formerly of the Denver Times, comes to the Times-Herald as managing editor. His very gratifying successes in other fields, as well as his recognized ability as a practical journalist and man of affairs, will be accepted as assurance of his connection with the Times-Herald.
The control of the policy and the conduct of the paper, as well as of the majority of the stock, will remain in the hands of James W. Scott.
Chicago Tribune, March 4, 1895
CHRONOLOGY OF CHICAGO TIMES-HERALD
Chicago Herald, 1881 – 1918 (merged with Chicago Examiner)
Chicago Examiner, 1902 – 1918 (merged with Chicago Herald)
Chicago Herald-Examiner, 1918 – 1939 (became Herald-American)
Chicago Record, 1881 – 1901 (merged with Chicago Morning Herald)
Chicago Morning Herald, 1893 – 1901 (merged with Chicago Record)
Chicago Record Herald, 1901 – 1914
Chicago American, 1900 – 1939, (became Chicago Herald-American)
Chicago Herald-American, 1939 – 1958 (became Chicago’s American)
Chicago’s American, 1958 – 1969 (became Chicago Today)