William Edward Dargie was for many years the owner and editor of the Oakland Tribune and built up the paper from a small and unimportant journal to one of wide influence and great power. He was known to all newspaper men in the state as a man of unusual personal force and ability and the regret at his death in 1911 was statewide.
Mr. Dargie was a son of John and Eliza G. Dargie, both of whom have passed away, the mother surviving the father until a few years ago. The subject of this review was born in San Francisco on the 13th of March, 1854, and received his early education in the public schools of that city. After his graduation from the Union grammar school he took a special course in the high school in order to prepare himself for the business career which had been his ambition from his earliest years. When but thirteen years of age he became bill clerk for the firm of Armes & Dallam, of San Francisco, then the leading wool and willow house of that city, and discharged the duties of that position in a manner which commended him alike to his employers and to those working with him. He remained in the employ of this firm for some time, but he was anxious for an opportunity to become connected with the publication business and at length he was given a place in the office of the San Francisco Bulletin. He became an apprentice printer and proved painstaking and industrious in learning the trade. He was considered the brightest apprentice the office had ever known and when he had completed his term and become a journeyman, he was as proficient in the craft as the most expert member of the staff. After thus mastering the details of the mechanical part of the business he joined the reportorial and editorial department and for a time was one of the most expert gatherers of news in the employ of the paper. While still a youth, he manifested a keen news sense which often enabled him to secure exclusive and important information for his paper.
About this time, however, Mr. Dargie realized that a more liberal education would enable him to do better work in his chosen profession and he therefore became a freshman in the University of California in 1875. He knew, however, that he would not take the full course, because he intended to enter business for himself at the earliest possible moment, and as his time in school was to be limited, he made the most of every minute and took advantage of every opportunity to acquire knowledge. While in college he supported himself by working as a reporter for the Bulletin, furnishing that paper with accounts of all the happenings of the campus and all the conferences of the faculty. His style of writing was simple, graphic and well adapted to newspaper work and even then he gave promise of becoming well known in journalism. While in the university he watched with interest the Oakland Tribune, then a paper small in size, of limited circulation and of still more limited influence. He recognized, however, that the east coast of the bay would in the future grow rapidly and that there was a place for a live, energetic, able newspaper which would develop as the city of Oakland and the county of Alameda grew in population and importance. Accordingly, before the close of the vacation succeeding his freshman year in the university, or on the 24th of July, 1876, he purchased a controlling interest in the Tribune with money loaned to him for the purpose by the late A. K. P. Harmon.
Mr. Dargie immediately assumed control of the management and policy of the Tribune, which was at that time about as large as a hand-bill. The new owner and editor was but twenty-two years of age, but under his direction the paper rapidly increased in size, circulation and influence. It eventually became the leading newspaper in Alameda county and its news columns were complete and unusually reliable. Its editorials were devoted to the securing of good government and the welfare of Oakland and Alameda county in general and there was always room for the publication of letters from the people on any topic of public interest. There was noticeable in every department, whether news or editorial comment, a completeness equalling that of the cosmopolitan dailies and the paper became widely known. From the time that he acquired the paper until ill health forced him in a large measure to retire from busineess, there was not a day that the paper failed to receive the closest attention of Mr. Dargie and there was not a moment when it was other than representative of the personal feeling, energy and enterprise of its controlling spirit. The paper was his pride and there was nothing that could be done to better it that was not done. If it was a question of securing some important news first there was no expense that was too great. If a new news service was required it was procured regardless of expense. If the public demanded a new department the man or woman was secured to satisfy the demand. If a new style of type was wanted to render the pages more attractive or more easily read, the want was supplied. One department followed another and shortly before Mr. Dargie was compelled to retire from active control of his business he had one of the most completely equipped press rooms in the west, while his paper was known for its excellence throughout the Pacific slope. He realized at the start that competent reporters, writers and editors were essential to the success of the paper and surrounded himself with a corps of workers which in ability, brilliancy and devotion have seldom been equalled on the coast. In fact, it has been recognized for years that the Tribune has been the school in which were trained many of the brightest minds in the journalistic world of the present day.
As the Tribune grew in power and influence its editor and manager received distinguished consideration at the hands of the people and of the leaders of the republican party, his first preferment being the appointment, on the 27th of February, 1883, to the office of postmaster of this city, a position which he assumed with the approval of every citizen of Oakland. He held the office for four years and discharged the duties thereof with a devotion and assiduity that was unusual. There was nothing that could be done to afford the people a more satisfactory mail service that was left undone and the good work that was accomplished in this respect at that time is not forgotten by residents of the city who were living here then. This improvement in service was accomplished without imposing upon the employes of the office unnecessary burdens, but solely by the husbanding of resource, the conserving of energies and the wise direction and utilization of the forces at his command. There was during his term of office an increase in the number of mails delivered each day and there was also an increase in the number of collections, but this added work was handled efficiently and with dispatch.
In 1887 Mr. Dargie retired from the office and again devoted all of his time to the management of his paper. At various times he was besought by the people to become a candidate for an elective position, but he invariably declined, as he wished to give his time and attention to the Tribune. He was always more than willing to use the influence of his paper to assist in the election of good men to office, but he had no desire for office himself. However, there came a crisis in the affairs of the republican party and there was a movement on the part of the young men of the organization to select young men for office and upon Mr. Dargie fell their choice for state senator. At first Mr. Dargie declined the request of his young friends, but he eventually allowed his name to go before the people with the result that he was elected to the state senate by an overwhelming majority, serving in that body during the terms of 1889 and 1891. During those senatorial sessions a great deal of important legislation was enacted and in the discussion of the measures and in their passage Mr. Dargie played an important part. In recognition of his service in the senate that body passed a resolution of congratulation a few years ago when the citizens of Oakland were celebrating his fifty-fifth birthday. At the expiration of his terms as senator he was again free to devote his energies exclusively to the conduct of his paper and it continued to grow in power and became one of the greatest influences in the development of Alameda county.
Mr. Dargie was married in San Leandro, December 15, 1881, to Miss Erminia Peralta, and they became the parents of two children, a daughter, who died in infancy, and a son, William E. Dargie, Jr., who died on the threshold of manhood. Mr. Dargie is survived by his widow. He was for many years a member of Live Oak Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and belonged to the Athenian and Nile Clubs of this city and the Union League, Family Club and Press Club of San Francisco.
His death occurred at his residence in Oakland on the evening of February 10, 1911, and wwas the result of a nervous breakdown caused by overwork. His demise was sincerely regretted in the business, social and industrial world of Alameda county and indeed of California. He held to the fullest extent the admiration of those who worked under him and to those who needed assistance he proved a friend indeed. The newspaper men of the coast knew and respected him most highly as a master of the profession and the many readers of the Tribune felt a personal interest in him. Out of respect for his memory the flag on the city plaza of Oakland was ordered at half-mast and the Alameda Press Club passed resolutions reciting the accomplishments of Mr. Dargie and recounting his many admirable traits of character, and in these resolutions it was stated that it was the belief of the club "that not only has the profession lost a member of unusual eminence, but that this community has lost an effective advocate and defender, and the members of this association a warm and personal friend." The state senate manifested respect for its former member by adjourning and adopting resolutions of condolence. Senator Stetson said at the time, "my acquaintance and friendship with Senator Dargie has extended over many years, rarely finding myself in accord with him in my political views or his with mine. Nevertheless, he gained and enjoyed my complete respect as he did that of all others who knew him well.
"He did not demand conformity of others to his own views, but he did demand sincerity on the part of his opponents." The Senator also said that, "he had no small share in the upbuilding of the city of Oakland, where most of his life was spent, as well as of the greater community of California."
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Pages 585-589
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 8/15/2008,
Alameda County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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