Watts, Jack - 1889

Why This Delay.

Some explanation may be due our subscribers and others who have shown a kindly interest in the establishment of the RECORD, for the delay in the first publication of the paper.  About the 15th of July the building now occupied by the RECORD on Henry street was rented by the company from Mr. Jack Watts.  At the time there were three tenants. The second story used as living apartments and the party vacated promptly at the end of the month. Mr. Justice Sternberg occupied the first story as an office and he too found other quarters on the first of August. The basement, which the Record Company and Mr. Cutler intended to use a press room was occupied by O. E. Learnard as a store room and for the old Tribune engine, press, eases, etc., and for which he paid a monthly rent, of $2.

Mr. Watts informed Learnard that the building had been rented and the "Colonel" promised to vacate August 1. When that time arrived he failed to do as he had agreed and Mr. Watts was compelled to serve him with a written notice which, however, according to law, gave him 30 days to observe.

Knowing that he could not stop the publication of a paper which gave promise of being so popular with the citizens of Lawrence, the gentlemanly(?) proprietor of the journal and Tribune determined to prove as annoying as possible and therefore occupied the basement until the last hour of the last day of the month.  And then not satisfied with the exhibition of his petty spite he went still farther and tore up the foundation upon which the old Tribune press and engine had stood, that they could not be used for the purpose by the RECORD company and to replace which would cause delay of two or three days and an additional expense of $25 or $30.

This is why the first publication of the RECORD has been delayed until to-day.  We leave the reader to draw his own conclusions.
~ The Daily Record, 12-Sept-1889, Page 2, Column 2