Press: Mobile Baby

Mobile Baby

Eagles fly high and newspaper history is made fast in Mobile, Ala. Less than five years ago Ralph Bradford Chandler left the Birmingham Post (Scripps-Howard), descended on Mobile, began publishing the Press (evening) in competition with the Register (morning) and News-Item (evening), both owned by Col. Frederick Ingate Thompson, onetime member of the U. S. Shipping Board and an unsuccessful Senatorial aspirant in 1930. Last February Publisher Chandler got control of both Thompson papers, killed the News-Item, settled down to enjoy his monopoly. From Florida, last week, came a competitive threat.

Into town moved Publisher Martin Andersen of the Orlando (Fla.) Reporter-Star and Sentinel, a 16-page stereotype press, five linotype machines, an INS wire. The presses and linotypes were left over when Publisher Andersen’s two Orlando plants recently combined. With this equipment Publisher Andersen began putting out the Times (evening). His backer is Charles Edward Marsh of Marsh & Fentress, a Texas chain which has employed Publisher Andersen for the past twelve years. Most of the old Register staff have been employed by the Times. Publisher Andersen will motor the 550 mi. between Orlando, where he has an 11-month-old baby, and Mobile where he has a newborn newspaper.