Gannett's Eagle

Frank Ernest Gannett, chain-paper publisher of Rochester, N. Y., went quietly to Brooklyn last week. There he completed a dicker terminating negotiations which have dragged on two years and more, realizing an ambition of many years. He took control of the distinguished old Daily Eagle, which during all the 87 years of its existence had been under the continuous ownership of a family group. _ Two upstate publishers thus became rivals in the huge, various New York City newspaper field. For only last August, another chain-paper man, Paul Block, bought the Brooklyn Standard-Union. Block began his newspaper career in Elmira, N. Y., and was publishing papers in Newark, Toledo, Duluth and Pittsburgh at the time he purchased the Standard-Union.

Gannett, too, spent some of his early years in newspaper work in Elmira. In 1906 he bought a half-interest in the Elmira Gazette, combining it with the Star. He fought shy of the larger cities for years as he expanded his holdings, buying up papers two at a time, consolidating them on firm financial bases. He went to Ithaca, to Rochester, to Utica; to Plainfield, N. J.; and back to New York with purchases in Newburgh, Olean and Ogdensburg.

In 1924 those who had been associated with him retired and he took full charge of the string of papers. Last year was his triumph. In January he bought the prosperous Hartford Times, at a figure reputed more than $5,000,000. In October he announced that he had acquired the historic Knickerbocker Press and the Evening News in Albany.

Last month he interrupted his series of spectacular purchases and appeared before the country in a new role. A machine which may be of epochal importance in newspaper publishing, by which type can be set by telegraph, was built, tested, proved successful. Gannett was the man who had backed the invention.

On the eve of the New Year he announced his third and biggest deal of the twelvemonth.

In the Brooklyn Eagle Gannett comes into possession not only of a printing plant but also of a fine tradition. Although the circulation of the Eagle is relatively small --around 80,000-- and does not conflict with that of the Manhattan dailies, its editorial influence has been considerable for many decades. Walt Whitman wrote editorials for the Eagle in 1846-48; among its editors and critics have been many great names. Most recently, Dr. St. Clair McKelway, editor-in-chief up to his death in 1915, brought distinction to the paper.

During the Civil War the independent attitude of the Eagle resulted in its suspension for a period by the Union authorities.

At present Dr. Arthur Millidge Howe is editor, Harris McCabe Crist managing-editor.

When Paul Block bought the Standard-Union he gave a theatre party, bought out the house for a performance of George White's Scandals, invited everyone from Fisticuffer Dempsey to Aviatrix Earhart. Last week Publicist Gannett gave no party on Broadway to celebrate his purchase of the dignified Eagle.