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THE UTAH NEWSPAPER HALL OF FAME is frequently most funny and his renditions of characters are striking good. He is adapted by nature for the comic stage and will doubtless appear to extra advantage in the fine bill tomorrow night. His friends will probably turn out numerously to see him and to give him a rousing benefit." In Liverpool, Graham was again called to act as assistant editor of the Millennial Star and served his two year mission in this capacity. Returning to Salt Lake in 1875, he became engaged in printing and publishing with establishment of the Salt Lake Daily Times. During this era he also published Footlights, a theatrical publication concerning dramatic productions at the Salt Lake Theater. It was while Graham was so-engaged that he learned of the availability for sale of the Utah County Enquirer in Provo, and on September 5, 1877 he became proprietor and editor of that paper. On October 10, 1876, the name of the paper was changed to the Territorial Enquirer and in 1888 it was renamed The Utah Enquirer. The Ayers Directory of 1879-80, and again in 1883, refers to J. C. Graham and Company as job printers and publishers of the Salt Lake Daily Times, several years after he had purchased and was continuing to operate the Enquirer in Provo. While still producing the semi-weekly paper, the company on November 30, 1889 began publication of The Daily Enquirer. Over the years Graham continued as manager and much of the time as editor of the Enquirer until his death, March 18, 1906. Wrote an early day historian, Professor J. M. Jensen: "During his newspaper career John C. Graham was a fearless supporter of law and order and a courageous champion of the right. When he believed in the justice of a cause nothing could deter his vigorous support." Through the years, references to his dramatic appearances are frequent in the Enquirer and in many issues he is referred to as manager of the theater, manager of the opera, and chairman of the central committee of his political party. A "natural born" politician, he spent days and nights traveling 547 |
