Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa Thursday, September 17, 1903 For a year or more there have been rumors of an effort being made to establish a third paper in Leon, agitated principally by the ardent supporters of Gov. Cummins, and at last their hopes have crystalized, and the first issue of the Decatur County Republican will make its appearance next week, with the name of Matthews & Humphrey as publishers. A car load of presses and material was received at this station last Saturday, a complete outfit having been purchased at Galena, Ill., and moved intact to this city. The new paper has secured the west room of the Dorn building on Commercial Street, built for the Leon Water Works, and the proprietors are getting the material in place to commence business. F.J. Matthews, the senior editor, comes from Des Moines and has been engaged in the printing business for l4 years. F.W. Humphrey, the junior member of the firm, is a brother of the editor of the Van Wert Record, and has been employed as a linotype operator on the World-Herald at Omaha. There is no field and never has been one for a third paper in Leon. The establishment of the new paper is not because of an opening for a third paper, but the promoters have induced the proprietors to come here for the express purpose of getting the scalp of the Decatur County Journal, the Cummins faction alleging they have not received fair treatment from the Journal, and such as they claimed they were entitled to from the official republican organ. The fight for supremacy of the two factions of the republican party promises to be a fast and furious one. It's not The Reporter's fight and we shall simply continue to publish the best paper in Decatur County and take our chances on getting our full share of the patronage of the people as we have in the past. If there is room here for a third paper we wish them prosperity, but in view of the experience of the past and the numerous wrecks on the journalistic sea, we warn them they will have a rough and stormy voyage, and will be entitled to the reward if they can weather the storms. Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

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