Colonel Conn also had a love affair with publishing. He founded a newspaper, the "Elkhart Daily Truth", on 15 October 1889. The paper still exists as "The Elkhart Truth". He published the monthly "Trumpet Notes" which he circulated amongst his employees and dealers. He also published a scandal sheet called "The Gossip" which, along with the town doings, he used occasionally to attack his competitors and enemies. While a member of Congress he purchased "The Washington Times". He conducted a sensational campaign against alleged vice in the city. Eventually he found himself as a defendant in a big damage suit, but won the case. Sometime later he disposed of the paper.