Misplaced Pages

#283716

32-828: Virgil Venice McNitt (1881–1964), the managing editor of the Cleveland Press , founded the Central Press Association in Cleveland in 1910. In 1912, McNitt acquired the Chicago-based North American Press Syndicate and merged it into the Central Press. That same year, McNitt entered into arrangements to publish works authored by William Jennings Bryan and Jane Addams . Other early features were Bob Satterfield 's cartoons, Edna K. Wooley's column, and

64-549: A United States Senator . Seltzer was the subject of both glowing praise and harsh criticism, particularly for his extensive coverage of the trial of Sam Sheppard . Seltzer was born on September 19, 1897, in Cleveland, Ohio, on the west bank of the Cuyahoga River . Seltzer's father, Charles Alden Seltzer , was "a frequently unemployed carpenter and a totally unsuccessful writer of romantic short stories". The family lived in poverty during Seltzer's early years; when Seltzer

96-410: A U.S. senator, Cleveland mayor Anthony Celebrezze , Thomas A. Burke , also mayor and then a U.S. senator, and Supreme Court Justice Harold H. Burton ". According to a 1950 LIFE profile of Seltzer, "No civic campaign can get off the ground without his support, although no worthy cause... ever lacks it. For more than a decade nobody has been elected mayor or carried Cuyahoga County for governor without

128-455: A fair trial because of the negative publicity he received in the press. F. Lee Bailey , one of Sheppard's lawyers, later wrote that "Seltzer used his newspaper like a club, ordering politicians around like minions and intimidating everyone who disagreed with him. If Seltzer was roused, he would spread a personally penned editorial across eight columns of his newspaper, seeking to grind some unfortunate dissident under his heel". Seltzer defended

160-560: A reputation as a "fighting paper" that "fought like hell for the people". As editor of the Press , Seltzer emphasized the public service aspect of the paper and "vigorously developed the notion that his reporters were watchdogs for the public over political and governmental affairs". He also gained a reputation as a " kingmaker " for his successful sponsorship of numerous local politicians, including Cleveland mayors Anthony Celebrezze and Frank J. Lausche , who later became governor of Ohio and

192-581: A separate division specializing in producing material for small-town newspapers until ceasing operations in 1971. Strips and panels that originated with the Central Press Association, the North American Press Syndicate, or Editors' Feature Services: Cleveland Press The Cleveland Press was a daily American newspaper published in Cleveland , Ohio from November 2, 1878, through June 17, 1982. From 1928 to 1966,

224-493: A sledgehammer to crush a gnat. Overkill could be rationalized because the cause was just, for the little guy. Anyone who tried to play outside these rules or who was perceived as looking down on his mostly blue-collar readers, Seltzer enjoyed taking down a peg". Seltzer also gained a reputation as a " kingmaker " for his use of the paper's influence to help the careers of numerous local politicians, including " Frank J. Lausche , who served as mayor of Cleveland, governor of Ohio and

256-417: A sports column by Ed Bang. He hired Bryan to cover the 1912 Republican and Democratic National Conventions for the Central Press. He also made a deal with Addams to circulate her Progressive Party Platforms to newspaper across the country. In 1920, McNitt founded a separate, New York City-based Central Press Association, which was soon absorbed by his new McNaught Syndicate (founded in 1922). By 1925,

288-704: A year later. However, a bad economy, coupled with losses in advertising resulted in the paper's closing. Its final issue was published on June 17, 1982. The remnants of the paper live on in the Cleveland Press Collection at the Cleveland State University library. The collection consists of clippings and photographs from the newspaper's archives. Among the paper's foremost writers from the 1940s–1970s were Jack Ballantine and Dick Feagler . Louis B. Seltzer Louis Benson Seltzer (September 19, 1897 – April 2, 1980)

320-419: Is written in the " rags to riches " mold of Horatio Alger in that it emphasizes Seltzer's rise from relative poverty to professional success via persistent hard work. After retiring as editor of the Press in 1966, Seltzer occasionally wrote columns for suburban newspapers and also published a collection of character sketches, Six and God (1966). He continued to associate with more than 50 organizations and

352-623: The Cleveland News to work as a reporter, but was fired shortly thereafter. After a short enlistment in the Army , Seltzer was hired by the Cleveland Press as a police reporter, and became a city editor in 1916. However, Seltzer felt he lacked the experience for the position and resigned after three months, switching to the role of political editor. Seltzer became editor of the Cleveland Press in 1928. During his editorship of

SECTION 10

#1732783890284

384-527: The Cleveland Press and his own personal involvement in the case in his 1956 memoir The Years Were Good . Seltzer argued that he was convinced the Sheppard family was involved in a conspiracy to get away with murder and that he personally wrote the editorials, instead of passing them off to one of his employees, out of concern for the safety of his staff. Seltzer published his memoir, The Years Were Good, in 1956. The memoir, which Seltzer published himself,

416-558: The Press giving the city one afternoon newspaper under the Press banner. Four years later, the Press was named one of America's 10 best newspapers in a list compiled by Time magazine , but under Seltzer's successor, Thomas L. Boardman , the Press began a decline that was shared in general with other large afternoon dailies throughout the country. The Press was passed in circulation by The Plain Dealer in 1968, and after Boardman's retirement in 1979, rumors began circulating that

448-442: The Press published another front-page editorial, addressed directly to County Coroner Sam Gerber: "Why No Inquest? Do It Now, Dr. Gerber". A few hours after the editorial was published, Gerber ordered an inquest. And on July 30, the Press published an editorial entitled "Quit Stalling – Bring Him In". Sheppard was arrested on a murder charge that evening. Seltzer and the Press later received harsh criticism for their handling of

480-495: The Press reached nearly 200,000 in circulation and stood out by proposing the city manager form of government for Cleveland, while also supporting Progressive candidate Robert M. La Follette Sr. for president in 1924 . Louis B. Seltzer became the paper's 12th editor in 1928, and stressed the area's neighborhoods, promoting the slogan "The Newspaper That Serves Its Readers." The paper endorsed winning mayoral candidates Frank J. Lausche and Anthony J. Celebrezze . However,

512-513: The Press was criticized for its role, led by editor-in-chief Louis B. Seltzer, in the conviction of Dr. Sam Sheppard in 1954 for the murder of his wife, Marilyn. A Federal judge stated, "If ever there was a trial by newspaper, this is a perfect example. And the most insidious example was the Cleveland Press. For some reason that newspaper took upon itself the role of accuser, judge and jury." The appeals process eventually made its way to

544-550: The Press would shortly suspend publication unless a buyer could be found. Scripps-Howard sold the paper on October 31, 1980, to Cleveland businessman Joseph E. Cole , who purchased the paper only after gaining concessions from the employee unions. Cole introduced a Sunday edition on August 2, 1981, followed by a morning edition on March 22, 1982. The morning edition was sold on newsstands only. Color presses were introduced, and circulation increased from 303,400 in March 1981 to 316,100

576-480: The Press , Seltzer became one of the most well-known and most powerful people in the city, earning the nickname "Mr. Cleveland". Under his leadership the Press gained the largest circulation of any newspaper in Ohio, and cultivated a reputation as an advocate for its readers. Seltzer described the Press under his leadership as a "fighting paper" that "fought like hell for the people". During his editorship, Seltzer

608-414: The U.S. Supreme Court . The paper's aggressive coverage that goaded local officials and potentially prejudiced the jury resulted in a ruling that pre-trial publicity had been injurious to Sheppard. It was a major reason why a new trial was ordered where Sheppard was acquitted in 1966. In January 1960, Scripps-Howard purchased Press rival the Cleveland News (also an afternoon paper) and merged it with

640-473: The Central Press Association, including the strips Brick Bradford and Chip Collins Adventures , and possibly ghosting for Gilbert Patten on Frank Merriwell 's Schooldays . Central Press didn't introduce any new comic strips after circa 1934; King Features took over syndication of all Central Press's strips circa 1937. Murray Rosenblatt was the managing editor of the Central Press from 1946 to 1961. The Central Press Association continued to operate as

672-514: The backing of the Press ". In July 1954, when Sam Sheppard , a Bay Village doctor, was accused of murdering his wife, the Cleveland Press published a series of front-page editorials, some written by Seltzer himself, alleging Sheppard's guilt and pushing for swift, punitive action from the local authorities. The stream of editorials began with the July 20 article "Somebody Is Getting Away With Murder", written by Seltzer himself. The following day,

SECTION 20

#1732783890284

704-550: The case. Federal district judge Carl A. Weinmann , in his 1964 ruling that Sheppard did not receive a fair trial, partially blamed the media, particularly the Press : "If ever there was a trial by newspaper, this is a perfect example. And the most insidious example was the Cleveland Press . For some reason that newspaper took upon itself the role of accuser, judge and jury". The United States Supreme Court ruled on June 6, 1966, in Sheppard v. Maxwell that Sheppard did not receive

736-557: The new plant. Virgil McNitt remained the president and general manager of the Central Press from its founding in 1910 until 1930, when he sold the service to King Features Syndicate , part of the Hearst newspaper syndicate, which retained the Central Press as a separate division. Frank McLearn was managing editor of the Central Press at the time of the sale, eventually becoming president and general manager of King Features Syndicate. William H. Ritt wrote sports features and comic strips for

768-560: The notion that his reporters were watchdogs for the public over political and governmental affairs". According to a 1950 profile of him in LIFE magazine, "No crook in public office has slept well in Louis Seltzer's regime, although many a crook in private pursuits has doubtless slept like a baby". According to later writer James Neff, "When local government did not function, the Press struck with editorial might, even if it meant using

800-669: The original Central Press's features had 12 million daily readers and was the largest newspaper picture service in the United States. In 1927, the Central Press also took over the Editors Feature Service and in August 1929 it acquired control of Johnson Features. Also in 1929, the company constructed a mechanical production plant in New York, again forming a Central Press Association of New York, Inc. to operate

832-416: The paper's editor was Louis B. Seltzer . Known for many years as one of the country's most influential newspapers for its focus on working class issues, its neighborhood orientation, its promotion of public service, and its editorial involvement in political campaigns at the state and local levels, the paper may best be remembered for its controversial role in the 1954 Sam Sheppard murder case. The paper

864-440: Was 12 and in the sixth grade, he dropped out of school to work as an office boy at The Cleveland Leader . Although his father started to earn money as a writer about a year later, by then Seltzer was successful enough at his own job that he refused to quit and return to school. At the age of 14, Seltzer met Marion Elizabeth Champlan, and the pair were married when they were both 18. Shortly after getting married, Seltzer moved to

896-430: Was an American journalist who was editor-in-chief of the Cleveland Press , a now-defunct daily newspaper in Cleveland , Ohio , from 1928 until his retirement in 1966. As editor of the Press , Seltzer became one of the most powerful and most well-known citizens of Cleveland, earning the nickname "Mr. Cleveland". Under Seltzer's leadership, the Press gained the largest circulation of any newspaper in Ohio and cultivated

928-530: Was founded by Edward W. Scripps as the Penny Press in 1878. It was the first newspaper in what would become the Scripps-Howard chain. The name that was shortened to the Press in 1884, before finally becoming the Cleveland Press in 1889. By the turn of the century, the Press had become Cleveland's leading daily newspaper, bypassing its main competitor, The Plain Dealer . During the 1920s,

960-712: Was on the Pulitzer Prize Advisory Board from 1956 to 1968. When Seltzer's wife died in 1965 he moved in with his daughter, Shirley Cooper, in Rocky River, Ohio . When Cooper and her husband moved to Spencer in Medina County in 1973, Seltzer moved with them. Seltzer died in his daughter's house on April 2, 1980, at the age of 82. Seltzer's living relatives at the time of his death included his daughter, two siblings, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild. His son, Chester E. Seltzer, who

992-517: Was personally involved in numerous civic and charitable endeavors. According to Seltzer's obituary in The Wall Street Journal , "With Mr. Seltzer at the helm, the Cleveland Press played an important part in bringing the city such things as downtown redevelopment, a municipal zoo, bridges, highways and parks along what was once a dilapidated Lake Erie waterfront". As editor of the Cleveland Press, " Seltzer vigorously developed

Central Press Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

1024-408: Was the subject of "glowing" profiles in the national media, which emphasized his civic mindedness, his flamboyant public persona, and the freewheeling atmosphere of the Press newsroom. More recently, Seltzer has received both unfettered praise, and some criticism for his handling of certain stories, particularly the Sheppard trial. Seltzer emphasized the public service aspect of the Press and

#283716