T. H. Ward, George P. Morgan, James W. Armsworthy, then Mr. Ireland.
Several other papers fill out the list for The Dalles—the Oregon Democratic Journal (1884-85), M. H. Abbott editor; the Trade Journal (1896), T. J. Simpson editor; the Morning Dispatch, founded in 1896, with J. G. Miller editor, which failed to last long; the Baptist Sentinel, religious weekly founded in 1889, which ran for several years; the Economist, monthly (1889-90), published by the American Progressive League at the Times-Mountaineer office, with Dr. Wingate editor; and finally, the Chronicle, daily and semiweekly, founded Dec. 10, 1890, which in its daily edition has come down to the present, and the weekly Optimist, founded by George H. Flagg in 1906 and now published by Ralph B. Bennett. A namesake of Mr. Bennett's, old Addison Bennett, later of the Oregonian, served for a time as editor of the Optimist.
The Chronicle, launched as an evening daily, was born of a municipal fight concerning the water question. J. H. Cradlebaugh was the first editor. The principal stockholders were D. M. French, J. W. French, Robert Mays, B. F. Laughlin, W. Lord, Max Vogt, Hugh Glenn, I. C. Nicholson, A. S. McAllister, S L. Brooks. The five incorporators, D. M. and J. W. French, Mays, Brooks, and Laughlin, subscribed $500 each of the total capital stock of $5,000. Laughlin was the first business manager.60
February 26, 1891, Hugh Gourlay became editor. J. H. Cradlebaugh had gone to Hood River to edit the Glacier. D. C. Ireland, veteran of Portland, Oregon City, Astoria, etc., etc., was editor for a time, resigning to edit the Wasco Sun (1893-94). Editors of the Chronicle up to 1905 were Cradlebaugh, Gourlay, Ireland, S. L. Brooks (later circuit judge), F. W. Wilson, Cradlebaugh again, R. J. Gorman, Miss Rose Michell, John Michell, and Miss Rose Michell again.
Later publishers of the Chronicle have been H. G. Miller, H. T. Hopkins, Clarence Hedges, W. P. Merry, and Ben R. Litfin. Mr. Litfin, now sole owner, became associated in the ownership of the Chronicle in 1909, selling to Mr. Hedges in 1915, repurchasing an interest in 1920, and becoming sole owner in 1923.
The story of how Ben Litfin landed in The Dalles three days before Christmas, 1906, with 20 cents in his pocket and remained to become publisher of a newspaper which he developed beyond the dreams of any of his predecessors, is told by Charles M. Hulten of the University of Oregon journalism faculty.61 Litfin (he relates) found the Chronicle plant a junk shop when put to work by H. G. Miller, former Minnesotan then running the Chronicle for the stock company. Miller was delighted with Litfin's manner of cleaning up the shop and made a place for him. After Miller had been kicked out by his employers and brought back, in 1908, Litfin
