The Globe-Democrat, colloquially called the Globe, eventually became the most widely read morning paper in St. Louis, with a huge circulation, and used this support to promote civic responsibility and great causes regarding urban improvements.

[9] The newspaper was an important voice in keeping Missouri in the Union; was praised by President Abraham Lincoln (who read the paper before his presidency) as being worth 10 regiments of troops; may have brought about Andrew Johnson becoming Lincoln's vice-president (and thus, ultimately, president); was widely read throughout the Midwest and the Western frontier (Texas papers tried to keep it from being distributed in that state due to the competition); was responsible, through its editor, of creating the American Society of Newspaper Editors; employed writers such as John Jay, Henry Morton Stanley, Theodore Dreiser and Patrick Buchanan; was a major sponsor of Charles Lindbergh's historic transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis; played a key role in getting the long-planned Gateway Arch actually built; and through its news investigations and editorial advocacy brought about numerous improvements at the local, state and even national level (an example of the latter being its series on national railroad problems that led to new federal legislation).

The predecessor newspapers which eventually merged to form the St. Louis Globe-Democrat were staunch advocates of freedom and anti-slavery in Missouri, at the time a border state with significant Southern values.

Benton, a Democrat party loyalist to the end, opposed his son-in-law because he thought that Fremont could command only a small vote and that running him would aggravate sectional feelings, and the editors seemed to agree.

The development of the telegraph and overseas cable in the years after the Civil War resulted in increased and speedier news from far afield, and the paper also enlarged its local and state newsgathering personnel.

It involved the diversion of tax revenue in a conspiracy among government agents, politicians, whiskey distillers and distributors for various purposes (personal profit, campaign expenses, or whatever).

[54] The decline of the Republic from a number of miscues and poor management made its death inevitable, and in its last year the paper had lost half its circulation and was heavily in debt.

Ray soon negotiated the purchase of a majority of the company's stock from over 50 heirs of the McKee Trust Fund, assuring that the paper could stay in his family – a heritage he could hand down to his son.

[57] Ray told his staff he did not want the paper “dictating or lecturing” on every controversial issue, but rather to present factual news accounts and interesting, valuable editorial comment that would allow readers to make up their own minds.

[58]   Ray and Yost, both somewhat idealistic, believed that newspapers were obligated to serve society; that journalists had great responsibilities to the Constitution; and that it was the solemn duty of journalism to maintain the freedom of the press.

So taxed were the Globe-Democrat facilities by its success that the paper started plans for a new building, visited big newspaper plants all across the country, and included the best features of them in the blueprints.

Despite the financial crash of 1929, the company decided to proceed “to demonstrate its faith in the community.” Ground was broken for the structure, a state-of-the-art six-story building with two basements at 1133 Franklin Ave., in March 1930 and was completed in November 1931.

A graduate of Harvard, he had previously served as general manager of Newsday; administrative assistant at the New York Herald-Tribune, and editor and publisher of the Blizzard in Oil City, Pa. His years of experience had given birth to a journalistic philosophy that was to revitalize the Globe- Democrat.

[76] The paper also boosted its local coverage and evinced a vigorous, effective leadership in community, state and national affairs by giving big play to public projects.

Some 20 projects were cited, among them: Editorials and articles promoting passage of a bill allowing the funds of Missouri to draw interest (adding millions of dollars to the treasury); a series of news stories and articles that resulted in better airline service for St. Louis; a front-page editorial and rotogravure section that brought $102,000 in contributions for the world's first heart-lung machine for St. Louis Children's Hospital, saving babies’ lives; and a series showing how other cities solved problems in attracting new industries.

Getting aldermen ousted who did not live in the district they represented; leading a bruising campaign to allow branch banking in Missouri; warning of speed traps; and exposing police involvement in a gambling operation were among many examples of the Globe-Democrat's vigor.

The Globe-Democrat noted that the Guild had repeatedly in the past praised its policy, set up by Ray, of paying pensions to retired employees out of current earnings, along with its continuing full payments on their life and health insurance.

Management asked that it be given freedom to discharge personnel not needed under the changed production system, but the Guild refused to accept the proposal because it considered that job security was at stake.

[87] The Globe-Democrat and Post-Dispatch maintained such a vigorous and fierce news and philosophical competition that it attracted a good deal of national attention and extensive articles, including such mass media as Time and Newsweek.

[90] Other awards and national honors came for exposing arson for profit, traffic court corruption, poor conditions in residential neighborhoods, the fundraising conduct of some charitable organizations, and highway safety perils; getting the state to have to put its funds in interest-bearing accounts; and for outstanding reporting of government news, to cite a few examples.

[93]  The strong push the paper provided in the years that followed, along with mobilization of Missouri and Illinois members of Congress, led to congressional approval of the memorial and on October 28, 1965, the dedication of the world-famous Gateway Arch.

It thus sanctioned creation of business monopolies, formerly prohibited by antitrust laws, allowing competing newspapers to pool profits and market allocations and to fix prices.

In November the merger of business operations was extended to include advertising and circulation, with the Post-Dispatch handling both functions, leaving the Globe-Democrat with only its own news department.

On December 23, 1983, one of them, Jeffrey M. Gluck signed a contract to buy the paper, but labor issues with the local Globe-Democrat Guild resulted in delaying final consummation until January 12, 1984.

[111] During the period when the time when the Globe-Democrat’s death seemed a foregone conclusion, the former lead columnist of the Post-Dispatch wrote a column in a local magazine that captured well “the essential difference between the Globe and the Post all the way down to the final days – immersion vs. isolation in the local community.” Noting his 16 years with the Teamsters Union and 11 years as a Post columnist, Jake McCarthy said, “I discovered that the people at the Globe talked with the community.

[114] Gluck, who developed a reputation for being not just entrepreneurial but impetuous, on short notice to staff even created an afternoon companion to the Globe-Democrat now that the Post-Dispatch had switched to mornings.

Franke, 41, the chairman and principal owner of Veritas, was a decorated Navy swift boat commander during the Vietnam War, attorney, real estate investor and had other ventures.

The Missouri Legislature had created a bond package earlier in 1986 that the newspaper attempted to utilize to secure a necessary $15 million loan from the state, mainly to enable building its own production facility within a year.

When the loan failed, the Globe-Democrat carried out what it said it would have to do, as it no longer could afford to lose money – it folded that afternoon, October 29, 1986, without even printing a final edition of farewell.

The various plot lines – the propriety of Joint Operating Agreements (especially as carried out by the Newhouse and Pulitzer companies), the efforts by various individuals of relatively limited means to save the Globe-Democrat, the heroics of the employees at the paper, the financial difficulties, the overwhelming advantages of competitors, the impact of the fight upon other newspapers in possibly similar situations across the country, et al – made for much national scrutiny, as well as local.