Sistersville Daily Oil Review
Newspaper War Is Raging In Wetzel
Wetzel Tribune Goes Out of Publication Through Peculiar Deal.
Highland Interested
Injunction Proceedings Blocked by the Illness of Judge's Mother.
August 9, 1912
Perhaps one of the bitterest feuds that ever held the attention of the people of Wetzel county is that which has reached the climax stage between the Highland faction and the "Mack and Mackens."
Several years ago "Ceace" Highland came to Wetzel county from Clarksburg and within a few months developed surprising proclivities as a party organizer and political leader. He was aggressive and fearless of consequences, and generally considered rather unscrupulous by those who opposed his schemes. Within a remarkably short period of time he had mastered the political situation perfectly and set about to manage affairs of the Republican party. From almost the very first he was opposed by such men as Jim McIntire, Am. and Jim McCaskey, Ed. Rouse and others of equal prominence.
Highland and his following, which was made up of some of the leading Republicans of the county met every onset of the opposition and generally managed to gain the day, however, they were given a great deal of annoyance by the "Macks and Mackens" as the other faction was called. The Wetzel Republican in time fell into the hands of Highland and his crowd and from that time he had things very much his way until a corporation was formed and a new paper launched. This publication was named the Wetzel Tribune often dubbed the "Bald Hornet," on account of the stinging articles which appeared from time to time. The editorial column of the new paper was under the direct management of Attorney James McIntire and T. P. Jacobs.
For a while the fellow Highland was lashed from pillar to post by the "Macks and Mackens" and was in a sense really beaten, but he as often bobbed up in a new field and with a persistence that is little short of phenomenal stuck to the game.
Campaign after campaign passed over. Democratic victories always characterized these political struggles, but in all committee contests, or at least in practically all of them in the party of the G. O. P., Highland and his factions were the victors. At length a change was expected in the management of the postoffice and in this the Highland contingent conquered. When the present campaign was launched the Tribune took a most active part, and several rough scenes were enacted. A hot-blooded Kentuckian named Starbuck took hold of the management of the paper, and for several days the air about New Martinsville literally smelled of sulphur smoke - the way Starbuck handled the "interloper" was a fright. At last, when it seemed that nothing short of gore would satisfy the two belligerents, the matter sidetracked on account of Highland contracting a severe case of typhoid fever.
On recovering his health Highland went to Clarksburg where he has been engaged in a business deal most of his time since that date. In the meantime Attorney Pete Yost bought out Starbuck's contract to publish the Tribune and to the surprise of Editors Jacobs and McIntire announced those worthies that he was running affairs, and it is even rumored that Jacobs was warned to leave the Tribune office on pain of being tossed bodily into the street. Jacobs went.
McIntire, not to be deterred, came to the office yesterday as usual and completed his editorial work, hanging the copy on the hook for the typesetters. This, as a matter of course, did not avail him much, as his articles were rather too much on the order of Progressivism to pass with the new proprietor and were literally "blue penciled" to death.
An injunction was secured for the purpose of restraining the new manager from getting out the paper, but at a late hour it became known that Judge Willis could not remain in the city as his mother was critically ill, therefore no action was taken.
It is understood that the Highland people contemplate consolidating the Tribune with the Republican.
Mr. McIntire and Starbuck will issue the paper from another office in New Martinsville, we understand, the same as heretofore.