Rival Newspapers Become Violent

Loyal, Clark County, Wisconsin

Transcribed by Janet Schwarze.

Volume 1, Number 1, of the Clark County Chronicle, Loyal’s new newspaper, came to our exchange table this week.  A casual perusal of its contents revealed that with Meacham at the home, the Chronicle will prosper and soon become a lively contender with the other Clark County newspapers.  Meacham does not expect to get wealthy in his new venture but, as he expresses it, he hopes “to be able to earn his daily bread with butter on it part of the time.”  We wish him success in his new business.

Source: Clark Co. Press, July 1899

We find the following birth notice in the Black River Falls Banner: "In Chicago, Monday morning Sept. 9 to Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Meacham, a daughter." George is well known here, where he learned his trade of printer. He married a Black River Falls girl, and settled in Chicago, where he is engaged at his trade.

Source: Republican & Press; 14 Sept 1889

The Loyal Tribune and its rival, the Chronicle, are having a most violent time of late, the Chronicle man accusing the Tribune man, who is postmaster, with tampering with its mail, which the Tribune man say is, "Rot."  This frightful language will no doubt still further anger the Chronicle man, who is the same party who used to go gunning for Milo somebody up in West Weston years ago, and Richardson is a chump to be monkeying with him or anything that is his.  There is no more room for two newspapers in Loyal than there is for two cats in a bird's next, and of course possession of the kopje is being bitterly fought for.  If Richardson gets run out he has the law to fall back on, as he is a warm lawyer, and if he scoops Meacham, a scoop more or less won't worry that distinguished journalist any, as he has seen the somber side of a cloud before.

Source: Neillsville Times, 19 Apr 1900.

D. V. Richardson has brought suit through his attorneys Marsh & Tucker against George Meacham for $2,000 damage for libel. The plaintiff is postmaster at Loyal and publisher of the Tribune. The defendant is the publisher of the Clark County Chronicle. Last April Meacham wrote and published an article attacking Richardson and charging him with having withheld and opened mail matter addressed to the Chronicle.

Source: The Clark Republican and Press 9 Aug 1900

Related Links

Newspaper History of Clark County, WI; by R. J. MacBride.

First 60 Years of Journalism in Clark County (Good Old Days Article)