Jackson County IL Archives News.....JOSEPH B. GILL, THE "SELAH" OF THE OLD STAFF October 16, 1923
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Mary Riseling riseling@insightbb.com July 13, 2006, 11:15 pm

Murphysboro Daily Independent October 16, 1923

    The Independent presents with a great deal of pleasure the following
interesting letter by Joseph B. GILL of San Bernadino, Calif., who is well known
to the people of Murphysboro for his past and present interests in this city. 
The letter was written in New York on his recent trip East, after stopping off
here for a short visit with friends:

My Dear Mr. Rolens:

    I take pleasure in responding, as promptly as circumstances will permit, to
your request relative to my association with the Independent, the occasion being
your contemplated celebration of its fiftieth anniversary, which occurs on the
16th of this month.

    First, permit me to congratulate you on the worthy enterprise you have
undertaken and wish you the abundant success, which so comprehensive and epochal
making historical review entails.  

    Personally, I feel unusually interested in your celebration, as my first
poerile efforts in journalism commenced about forty-two years ago, and the
Independent was the innocent victim, but the genial owner at that time, John W.
GREAR, was responsible for my debut and saved me from the outraged readers by
allowing me to use the name of "Selah" in my correspondence, under the caption
of "Normal Notes," while a student at the Southern Illinois Normal University. 
During school vacations I "hung around" the Independent office, as much as Mr.
Grear would permit, listening to his wit and humor, of which he had an abundant
store, and when occasion presented, assisting him, as I imagined, in the local
work.  A few years later in the summer of 1883 Mr. Grear, either as an
appreciation of my alleged services or in order to be alone for awhile, secured
a pass on the Illinois Central railway for me to Sioux Falls, Dakota, and handed
me a bunch of cards with the name "Joe B. Gill, local editor of the
Independent," neatly printed on each one, this being my initial official
recognition, as a duly authorized representative of Jackson county's leading
newspaper, the effect of which can be more readily felt than described, but I
remember distinctly that I leaned back so far that I nearly toppled over.

    On this memorable trip, I was accompanied by John M. BRYAN, at that time a
teacher in the Mt. Carbon school.  My card was the means of furnishing us with
many courtesies, which were gratefully received, as we were long on everything
but ready cash.  The newspaper men were especially kind to me and had
considerable to say about my trip, only incidentally mentioning that I was
accompanied by John M. BRYAN.  The latter didn't relish the fraternal spirit
shown me and being much older and more matured, told me plainly in a temporary
fit of anger, in reality a spirit of bravado, that he was d--d tired of being
the tail of my kite.  Accordingly, and with a view to harmony, I slipped away
from him and had some cards printed which read:  "Professor John M. BRYAN,
Principal of the Mt. Carbon Academy, Mt. Carbon, Ill."

    This announcement extraordinary had the desired effect and thereafter the
contrite Bryan was the dominant factor and I went tumbling into the discard.  I
corresponded regularly for the Independent during the four weeks Dakota trip and
have been more or less identified with its career ever since, with the exception
of the past few years.

    In December, 1886, Mr. Grear sold the Independent to J. B. KIMBALL and
myself, for the munificent sum of two thousand dollars.  This seemed a big price
at the time, but we buckled on our armor, feeling deeply the responsibilities
involved, determined, if conscientious effort prevailed, to make a success by
deserving the assistance of our patrons.  To a reasonable extent our wishes were
gratified, but the financial returns were not sufficient to warrant both Mr.
Kimball and myself giving our exclusive time to the newspaper, and the result
was that I became "sole owner and publisher."

    The usual amenities between buyer and seller were duly recorded in a doubled
leaded editorial, and then the struggle for financial existence, single handed,
commenced in real earnest, and even to this hour I remember quite vividly how
minutely every detail had to be mastered, for many months, before the weekly pay
could be liquidated and other obligations "honorably discharged," but finally a
small surplus made its appearance, which slowly augmented, greatly to my delight
and satisfaction.  This surplus made it possible to improve the typography as
well as make other distinctive changes in the Independent, which still claimed
to be the leading weekly newspaper of Jackson county.

    While the ship of state was sailing along in smooth waters, without a ripple
of excitement, a thunderbolt, as from a clear sky, appeared in the form of a
stranger, who made it known that he had been especially chosen by the leading
men of Murphysboro to start a live, progressive Democratic daily newspaper. 
This, of course, was nothing but bunk as it was purely political instead of
civic.  It was the Macedonian wail of disgruntled and discredited politicians. 
It was a case of an impecunious lot of ragtop and bobtails, who were down and
out, attempting to get a standing again, by flattering a stranger into
separating himself from his hard earnings, by misrepresentation and
surreptitious methods.  However, it was necessary to counteract this movement
and I notified W. H. HULL, editor and owner of the Weekly Era, that on May 10,
1891, I would start the Daily Independent and advised him to do likewise. 
Accordingly, on May 10, 1891, the Daily Independent, an afternoon paper, was
founded and the following morning the Daily Era made its initial bow.  This had
the instantaneous effect for squelching the aspirations of the stranger, who was
so ingloriously taken in, as well as the further relegation, and complete
discomfiture, of the political barnacles and pernicious parasites of Murphysboro.

    The Daily Independent proved more of a success than I anticipated, for the
reason that it was liberally patronized, not only by the merchants but the
citizens generally.  It is gratifying to know that since its first appearance 32
years ago, it has reached the homes of its readers without any cessation except
on regular holidays, something of which no other daily of southern Illinois can
boast.  A number of radical changes were made in the conduct of the daily as
compared with the weekly.

    First, the daily was conducted on a cash basis, as far as consistent, also
new machinery was installed, and the motive power was changed from physical to
scientific methods.  A water motor was installed, and the plant moved from the
Desberger room to my own building, upstairs at the corner of 10th and Walnut
streets.  For years the weekly edition was run on a Campbell press, personally
conducted by Mr. SHAGNASTIE as he was called when one wanted to be polite but
ordinarily known as Shag.  On a hot summer's day, during that period, every
Friday was Shag's day.  The "feeder," usually a kid, after raising the windows,
alone remained with Shag, until the whistle blew three times announcing that
"Chauffeur Shag" had completed his run and the force could return in perfect
safety.

    After the daily started the barber paid for his "ad" and the editor for his
haircut and shave; the butcher for his space and the Independent man for his
meat and so ad infinitum.  Running a newspaper for glory ceased somewhat, and
the effort to put it on a cash basis was satisfactorily realized.  The bitter
controversies between the newspaper editors also enjoyed occasional cessation of
hostilities, only to break out again with renewed ardor and fervor.  Those were
the glorious days.  The editor, most skilled in vituperative denunciation of his
competitor, was applauded by his partisans, but the venting of his spleen didn't
add very much to his financial exchequer.

    My newspaper experience enthralled me more than any other line of business,
in which I have ever engaged, but it was fraught with incessant partisan
bickerings, through which old-time friends were lost and new ones made--in a day.

    In 1893 I sold the Independent to J. J. PENNY, who conducted it for several
years and at the request of Dolph CARTER I re-purchased the plant and placed the
latter, who had taken a small interest, as manager, as I was residing at that
time in California.  In 1905 Mr. Carter retired and I asked Fred M. ROLENS if he
felt that his experience in newspaper work would warrant his undertaking the
management and he answered slowly but firmly in the affirmative.

    Parenthetically, I wish to say that under Mr. Rolens' control the
Independent made the most rapid strides during my long connection with the plant.

    In 1910 I sold one-half interest in the Independent to John M. HERBERT and
at the same time announced editorially that the Independent would be conducted
as a progressive republican newspaper, but without sacrificing any of the former
democratic principles.  At that time the Democratic party was split wide open on
the money and other questions, which occasioned the change.  Mr. Rolens
continued as manager, and by virtue of his long and successful career was the
logical successor of GILL & HERBERT, and at our earnest request purchased the
plan in 1912.  At the time of purchase I advised Mr. Rolens to make the
Independent purely democratic, as it was inherently so, and the party had fully
repudiated the 16 to 1 silver policy and other vagaries.

    In conclusion I desire to say that, were it possible, it would give me
unusual pleasure to attend the 50th anniversary of the Independent, which marks
an era in the history of Murphysboro, if not an epoch; and it is my earnest
desire that this excellent newspaper will continue in the future as in the past
to disseminate the great truths and materially assist in solving the vat problem
of the day, for future generations.

Very truly yours,
Joseph B. GILL


Additional Comments:
Transcribed by Mary Riseling from grandfather Dr.C. E. RISELING's collection of
old newspapers.

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