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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1913)
The Omaha Sunday Bee PART TWO EDITOEIAL PAGES ONE TO TWELVE PART TWO SOCIETY PAGES ONE TO TWELVE ( x VOL XLIt-NO. 49. Nebraska Women Who Edit Bright Country Anna SizaS tNARJ ATfiPfiS Personal Points and Professional Characteristics of' the Women Who Adorn the Journalism of Nebraska Home-Makers as Well as Leaders of Thought By EUNICE HASKTNS. BBRASKA has a goodly number of women who have entered the profes Bional or industrial field, and there have made good; and many of these are engaged In the publication of the bright weekly newspapers that have gained for the state the name of having the best "country" press known the world around. These women are not amateur editors, are not experi ments, but are established as practical workers in the field of Journalism, understanding its most dif ficult phase perfectly, and each week are proving themselves fitted in every way for the task they have undertaken. It is something 'of a stunt at any time to make a good newspaper in any sort of town, and the smaller the town the more Imperative the demand that the paper shall be worthy 'the patronage It must have in order to live. And that woman Is willing and capable to enter on the com petition that is so fierco, and sufficiently energetic and versatile to wrest Buccess in this field is a tribute Indeed to her genius. That the Nebraska newspaper women take themselves seriously Is not to be wondered at, and that they appreciate the high calling they have chosen is evidenced by the excellence of the publications they direct The annual gathering of the Nebraska State Press asso ciation always finds conditions brightened and pro? ceedings enlivened by the presence of a splendid body of women editors, and the meeting in Omaha next week will not vary from those of recent years In this regard. I have been asked by The Bee to write a chapter on the women who edit and generally manage news paprs in Nebraska, outside of Omaha, and feel that the better way to do it is to Introduce the ladles, one by one, with Just a word of comment as to her personality and her work. In praising one all are praised, and as only the best of feeling exists between them, professionally and personally, I am jure that what is here said will be' taken in the ipirit in which it Is written just a brief mention, collection of intimate fafats, in the credit of which til share. Mrs. Mary E. Butler of Lincoln is editor and publisher of the Nebraska Legal News', the offi cial organ of the bar and courts of Nebraska. The leath of her husband led to the work. She makes Jt- a comfortable living for her family and maintains a home. She waB oducatad at a Missouri normal school. Mrs. Butlor'e paper discusses themes of court, law, etc. She is fond of musio, books and society. Miss Annie L. Miller, who began on the Lincoln State Journal as Bociety editor in 1898, is known by reputation if not personally all over'the state by her page. Mrs. Lillian M. Krause married an editor, Qeorgo Krause, and that 1b the reason she la associate ed itor of the Humboldt Leader. She worked more or less for thirteen years, actively the last three years, always in her husband's office, at Fiandreau, S. D., and at Humboldt. She maintains a home and takes part In Humboldt society. She likes caring for chickens and flowora, and doing fancy work as recreation. Mrs. Krause is a member of tha-Alpha 8tudy club, of the Presbyterian church, is worthy matron of the Eastern Star and is inter ested in other local societies. She 1b a past grand of the Rebekahs. Mrs. H. O. Taylor, as Miss Jessie Hart, was mar ried to H. O. Taylor at Havelock, la., April 22, 1913. Mr. Taylor Is president of the Nebraska Press association and is owner of the Central City Nonpareil, of which he was editor until ho went to Lincoln to assume his duties as state railway com missioner. Mrs. Taylor learned the printing busi ness at Havelock, la., on the Item, of which she had entire charge for a time. Two years ago she began work on the Central City Nonpareil, resign ing her position about the first of this year. Mrs. Elfleda E. Compton was born on a planta tion in Maryland in 1864. In 1880 her father and brother established a paper at Waverly, la. She was a teacher, but helped in the office, and later at her brother's death Inherited his Interest. In 1886 the plant was sold and In 1887 the family moved to Scotia, Neb.', where she completed a law course begun earlier, and was admitted the bar In 1890, She entered into a law practice with her father, but took the clerical part. In 1898 they leased, and afterward bought, the Greeley Citizen. "She took the management of the Citizen and her father continued his legal work. In 1901 she was married to Frank P. Compton, a newspaperman of Seward county, who became business manager and his wife senior editor. They work together an-1 Mrs. Compton keeps house. ThlB year they were able to extend their usuaj four days' vacation to four weeks, and took a Pacific coast trip from Seat tle to San Diego, Mrs. Compton and her husband OMAHA, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 25, 'fJft.W II II II II II II II II II U I I novor solicit work, as they do not believe In bo doing. Miss Anna Hunt learned the trade In the Reg ister office at -Aurora, and later remained in Republican office of the samo town noarly the ton years. For a time, when she did only tho tvno setting, Miss Hunt was recognized as one of the best compositors in Nebraska, particularly special izing in this part of the work. Since Now Year's she has been managing the Kennard Enterprise and doing local work, but for one year previously Bho was the editor and publisher, leasing from an os tate. She expected to buy tho paper,- but it was sold for far more than she cared to pay. The pub lisher of the paper lives at Blair and writes the ed itorials. Mlsa Hunt believes that one can follow tho newspaper game to earn a living and at tho samo time get an education. Mrs. W. C. Norton for four years has been tho assistant of her husband, W. C. Norton, In the pub lication of the Humboldt Standard. Her greatest hobbies are "cleanliness In the office and neatness about the work." Sho workB at tho office Boven or eight hours each diry, and very often puts in a few extra hours after supper, yet she is able to maintain a home. . Mrs. Norton is fond of outdoor life, is a member of the Presbyterian church and is treasurer of tho Rebekahs. She keeps away from the office gasoline engine, in which once her dress and apron wero wound around the whoels. Miss Florence E. Reynolds Is business man agor, editor, bookkeeper and local reporter for the Minden- News, published by the News Publishing company, in which sho is a stockholder and tho secretary-treasurer. Miss Reynolds began newB paper work at the age of 17 In the office ?f t Harlan County Democrat, then owned by N LudI, now state printer. She knows all about tho mechanical work. She knows what It Is, too, to lescue aaper from a fiery death, for twice while she had the Axtoll Times leased its office was de stroyed by fire, the first fire taking the plant also, 1913. the second fire taking the otfico boforo a now plant had boeri established. Miss Reynolds has been with tho Mlndon News five years. Just now her rights are sufficiently numerous and require . so much attontion that Bho is not yearning for tllo ballot, yet sho edits a strong republican paper and knew Just where sho stood last fall when tho party divided. Miss Reynolds has a hobby of a gallop ing, runaway type poetry, yet it i seldom that a poem appears in the News. Tho walls of her room fairly bristle with bits of vorse. Mrs. Charles O. Humphrey is joint owner with her husband of tho Verdon Vodotto. Sho was -Miss Ada Abbott of Falls City, daughter of a pioneer. She bogan teaching school at tho ago of 15, and engaged in newspaper work because sho married an editor. They have been bo successful financially that Mrs. Humphrey Is now ablo to In dulge in women's clubs to hor heart's content, af filiating at Falls City, her girlhood homo, with which she still keeps In close touch. She has been corresponding secretary of the Woman's club at Falls City tho last two years, and is chairman of tho present yearbook committee. She is a member of tho Eastern Star, of the Shakespeare club and scretary of tho Reavls-Ashley chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, all of Falls City. Mrs. Humphrey 1b Nebraska state editor for tho Magazine of Womon's Federated Clubs, and as a member of the state health committee read a papor on "Eugenics" at the recent Wooplng Water convention. Last Thursday sho did office work until midnight in order to attend a mooting of the Research club at Stella the noxt afternoon. Mrs. A. P. Kelly is typical of the editor's wlfo who is not his assistant In business. Mr. Kelly is editor of tho North Platto Telegraph. Tho Kollys have a lovely homo In North Platto, and Mrs. Kelly aswlfe and the mother of three children is ideal.' She' is an active worker in the Methodist church, is much interested in prison work and helps in every possible way tho poor. She and hor husband ore so kind and friendly to neighbors that their automobile is almost used as a conveyance for the public between their residence district and the busi ness portion of the city. Mrs. Cora E. Nevln, who was well known by tho newspaper fraternity all over Nebraska for many years owing to her connection with tho Laurel Ad vocate, says now she is only a housekeeper, al though It Is said that sho handles a special house hold column for tho Laurel Advocate. Mrs. Marie O'Donnell Weekes has love and ro- SINGLE COPY' FIVE CENTS. Newspapers XTrJ.A . T.Kelly, noaTH PiAfre manco blonded in her experience as owner of thd Norfolk Press. Aftor graduating from the Weal Point High school, Bho taught country school and waa correspondent from her district for two or threo papors., Hor news letters attractod the atten tion of the editor of tho West Point Democrat, and Bho accepted bis offer to tako. a position In his ot fico. When she decided to go into business for her self she needed an all-around newspaperman for a partner, and waa attractod to W. H. Weekes by tho neat appoaranco of his paper. Tho partnership thus formed became permanont by their marriage a year and a half later. Mrs. Weekes trios to mako tho Press each week carry at least one message that will bring happiness and betterment to someone. Mrs. Weokes is said to bo a candidate for the post office at Norfolk. She has a fino Collection of china pitchers that sho has been gathering for sev eral years, and tho writer suggests that tho women at tho coming press association have a tea party and shower her with pitchers. Mrs. Annie Vlo Gatoa is succeeding so well at editor and manager of tho Blair Tribuna that thl publisher, W. R. Williams, can afford to resldo at present in sunny California. She was "brought up" on newspapor work, her mother having been an editor, and began about thirty years ago, not con tinuously, however, until the last fifteen years, fol lowing the doath of her husband at Stella. He wai a railroad man, and when agent for the Missouri Paclfio at Stella she helped him more or less in his office for seven years. Mrs. Gates makes her home, with her son, Ray Gates, who is principal of the. Blair High school. She founded the Baker Brick bat at Baker, Kan., in 1887. When living at Au burn one year she received a nice vote for mayor, .when not even a candidate, and It was, said of her "the votes wero given because of the brave stand she took in regard to the rights of men." Mrs. Gates has misled two pross associations In twelve years. Mrs. Mary C. Hitchcock holds, a unique place la Nebraska newspaperdom, as editor of the Mutual Insurance Journal at Lincoln, of which she has had entire charge foreven years. There are only two publications in the United States entirely do voted to mutual insurance, and Mrs. Hitchcock's is the oldost. Her poper is published monthly in: magazine style, sixteen pages, and Is devoted to, mutual insurance news, fire prevention and fire protection work. Her daughter, MIbs Julia, is her assistant Mrs. Hitchcock has been- editor of t ' (Continued on Page Twelve.)