[8] On August 1, 1930, the Allen brothers, owners, announced the sale of the newspaper to Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Appleby, from La Grande, Oregon, who had moved to Ontario with two young sons.
His obituary in the Los Angeles Times noted that the Daily Report "is known as one of the most progressive and attractive-looking newspapers in Southern California.
Graettinger was managing editor for many years, retiring in 1942, when he was succeeded by Curtis H. Clay, who came from the La Salle (Illinois) Post-Tribune.
[12][16] Between 1947 and 1949, the newspaper campaigned for "broader industrialization" of the Ontario area and complained that the local Chamber of Commerce was a private group, organized to benefit business and professional people of the city.
[19] Superior Judge Raymond H. Thompson decided in favor of Smith, whose attorney was California politician Jack B. Tenney.
[22] Afterward the newspaper published an article on January 16, 1958, stating that, had the decision gone the other way, "the public would have no protection against malicious statements made by unscrupulous members of any minor legislative body."
[22][23] Smith filed another suit in January or February 1957, alleging that the unsuccessful 1953 action against him by the Daily Report had been a malicious prosecution.
[24][25][26] This latter suit was dismissed by Judge Richard B. Ault of San Diego Superior Court on motion of attorney Tenney on behalf of Smith.
Tenney told a reporter that an out-of-court settlement had been made, but a defense attorney denied the statement and said the plaintiff had moved for dismissal to avoid "long and costly court proceedings".
His complaint against the publisher centered on an article in The Daily Report quoting officials as stating that the air show had to be free to the public.