Old printing press leaves its home, site of the murder of Uncle Wes Robertson

GPC relocated into larger, remodeled working area inside the former cap factory building more than two years ago to accommodate a larger 6-unit newspaper printing press. The press left behind was in good working condition. Buyers from as far away as India and Mexico expressed interest in what can only be described as an antique printing relic in this digital age. But when a more recent deal with a Colorado publisher fell through, the decision was made to scrap the press for parts. Workmen from Joplin spent two days disassembling and removing the press.

This printing press came to Gallatin in 1964 when Joe Snyder joined into a partnership with publisher neighbors M.O. Ridings at Hamilton and Don Sheridan of Princeton. Gallatin became home to the press because of its central location between the printing participants. The press was owned and operated by a firm incorporated as Lakelake Publications until the printing plant was combined with the operation of the local newspaper by current publishers Darryl and Liz Wilkinson. The press in current use was previously in operation at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Nobody can be quite sure just how many tons of newsprint was unrolled, printed, folded and distributed during the years this press was in operation. More than 2,450 editions of the weekly Gallatin North Missourian came off this press — not to mention the dozen or so other weekly publications, numerous commercial printings and additional periodicals. One pressman. Junior Evans, helped install the press and was there last Thursday when it departed. Other pressmen who spent long hours operating the press over the years were Gerald Robison, Don Leriche and, more recently Lee Pryor.

Add a bit of history …

In this pressroom, Gallatin publisher Wesley L. "Uncle Wes" Robertson was shot and killed at his desk on Dec. 23, 1919. He is known as Missouri’s newspaper martyr. His fate climaxed a bitter four-year feud with a disgruntled former city official over stories Robertson published in the Gallatin Democrat.

The newspaper had been leading an effort to rid the community of bootleggers. Hugh Tarwater sued the newspaper for libel following a report on a fine levied against Tarwater for being intoxicated. Damages claimed in the lawsuit totaled $20,000.

Gallatin was hosting a Chautauqua, like most small towns throughout America at that time. Uncle Wes was on the program committee, and when one of the advertised speakers failed to appear with the crowd waiting in the hot August sun, he set about to fill in.

Imagine, if you will, this colorful, rotund, good-natured bundle of quick and often biting wit, leaning back on his ample haunches, inserting his thumbs into his suspenders and opening his remarks by declaring, "Had I known I would be called upon to speak, I would have worn my $20,000 suit!"

The plaintiff, who was in the audience, stalked from the scene red-faced and obviously enraged. Several weeks passed, building up to a fateful end.

The fiery editor had served as the official town Santa Claus for a number of years. Ironically, it was a chilly December afternoon just two days before Christmas when Gallatin’s longtime publisher was fatally shot as he sat at his desk.

The scene of Tarwater confronting Uncle Wes was one of four selected by the Missouri Press Foundation to be featured in the Missouri Press Heritage Collection. A print of the work by artist James Burkhart is displayed today at Gallatin Publishing Company, now housed at 609B South Main Street in Gallatin.

Wesley L. "Uncle Wes" Robertson – editor and co-publisher of the Gallatin Democrat, first president (1891) of the Northwest Missouri Press Association, Missouri Press Association president in 1901, and Missouri’s Newspaper Martyr.