WILLIAM R. SMITH

WILLIAM R. SMITH, state printer, has been actively identified with Kansas newspaperdom for the past quarter of a century. He is a native Kansan, having been born at Lecompton, the old territorial capital, March 21, 1872. There he grew to manhood, and at the age of eighteen made his first newspaper venture by starting the Lecompton Sun, Evidently the Sun "filled a long-felt want," as it is still illuminating readers in its orbit on matters of news interest. Mr. Smith's first act of public importance on attaining his majority was to qualify as postmaster of Lecompton, his appointment to that position having been confirmed a few days before he was of age. At the city election a few weeks later he was elected mayor of the town, in which capacity he served two terms. On completing his term as postmaster Mr. Smith went to Topeka to take the foremanship of the Mail and Breeze office, which position he held for two years, when he purchased the Manhattan Republic. He published this paper for more than two years, later selling it and going to Lawrence, where he published the Fraternal Aid for a year. At the close of the year he effected a consolidation of the Plaindealer and the Eagle at Garnett, and for five years he edited the consolidated paper. During his residence in Garnett Mr. Smith served two years as county printer, an elective office in Anderson county. From Garnett he went to Ottawa, where he was associated with H. J. Allen and A. L. Miller on the Evening Herald for a year. His next field was at Fort Scott, where he published the Daily Republican for five years. In 1910 he was appointed census supervisor of the second congressional district. Early in 1911 he sold the Republican and bought the Columbus Daily and Weekly Advocate, which he published until the fall of 1915, when the duties of the office of state printer, to which he had been elected by a handsome majority in 1914, made it advisable for him to sell the property. As state printer Mr. Smith is giving the state the benefit of his twenty-five years' experience as printer and publisher, and is doing much to demonstrate the wisdom of the state operating its own print shop. During his term state publication of school books, inaugurated shortly before he assumed the duties of the office, is being carried on in a manner that is removing much of the criticism of the plan.