Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/201

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192
HISTORY OF OREGON NEWSPAPERS

few who have given intensive attention to the history of journalism in Oregon, was brought to the Journal from Salem, where he was then on the staff of the Capital Journal. Already Fred Lockley had traveled pretty widely over the state as field editor of the Pacific Homestead, and Mr. Jackson's offer developed still further the opportunity to learn and to write about Oregon.

Others on the Journal in its early years who made names for themselves were Hugh Hume, writing stylist, who later founded the Portland Spectator and conducted it until his death in 1931; W. D. B. Dodson, ex-Oregonian cub, Philippine soldier and correspondent, Sumpter editor in the wild and woolly days of the big mining boom, and now executive secretary of the Portland chamber of commerce; George Putnam, news editor under John F. Carroll, who became one of Oregon's outstanding small-daily editors. There were many others worthy of mention, only a few of whom can be touched on here.

Hugh Hume, writing also in the 25th anniversary number of the Journal, already cited, mentioned some of those who remained in his memory as outstanding members of the staff during his service on the paper. Besides Cohen and Dodson, he mentions "Dad" Kerns, who covered marine; Bob Withrow, "fine writer, indefatigable news-seeker;" Bill Petrain, assistant to Jack Horan, first of the Journal's sports editors; Jesse Currey, general assignments; Will Warren, clever on police news; Dave Hazen, in charge of the morgue; Spencer Best, whose best remembered story dealt with some little children who, he said, having seen their first rainbow, toddled off hand-in-hand to find the pot of gold. Under a pile of wood they were found, so the story went, wet, cold, and weeping. Gaeta Wold, Mrs. Kittie White, and Nellie Burney were early women writers on the paper.

Petrain moved over to the Oregonian, where he had charge of sports for a time; Withrow died recently in Portland after a long career, during which he wrote and desked on the Telegram for years, did a stretch of country newspaper work in Gold Beach, and helped Harry Haugsten get out the Journal of Commerce in Portland. Will Warren became reporter on the Oregonian and worked up to the city desk, besides a turn at Sunday-editing. He is now on the News-Telegram desk.

Dave Hazen, after a long stretch on the Telegram moved to the Oregonian. He has done thousands of interviews with prizefighters, politicians, scientists, royalty, written a bit of Oregon history, published some books, done book reviewing, and in recognition of his scholarly research lately obtained an honorary doctor's degree from Portland University.

R. D. (Dick) Cannon, city editor under John Carroll, moved over to the Telegram, where he became managing editor; he was