[4] Scripps believed in editorial independence, stating: A newspaper fairly and honestly conducted in the interests of the great masses of the public must at all times antagonize the selfish interests of that very class [the advertisers] which furnishes the larger part of a newspaper's income.

It must occasionally so antagonize this class as to cause it not only to cease patronage, to a greater or lesser extent, but to make actually offensive warfare against the newspaper.

He built it as a winter home to escape the cold of West Chester (Butler County), Ohio, but eventually lived there year-round, and conducted his newspaper business from the ranch.

However, he developed a deep friendship with the scientific director, William Emerson Ritter, and together they began to plan projects for the Institute.

Scripps died at the age of 71 on March 12, 1926, onboard his yacht Ohio as it lay anchored in Monrovia Bay, Liberia.