Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-25
Editorial Convention.

The propriety of holding an Editorial Conven-
ton in this State, has been discussed IN most Oh
our newspapers for some time past. Inc luea
has been favorte one with us for several years.
and We have frequently alluded to It; Out' us
heartened by past failures, we have heretofore
said nothing on the subject during the present
agitation The universal interest MANIFESTED
in the proposition at this time, howeVer'encour-
ages us to ''give in our adhesion to the PROJECT,
Let tho time and place be agreed upon then,aha
we, for one, will be there, ifposslole' otauhtoh
seems to rs the most suitable place for holding
the Convention, but we do not insist upon lt'and
will consult the convenience of the majority. But
we wish it understood in advance that zee have
no particular plan to propose for advancing the
interests of the fraternity, and only promise 10
lend our aid in maturing one, and then TO ao'ue
by whatever rules may be adopted fairly ana
after due elaboration.
The first matter to occupy the attention OF Tie
Convention, relates to the financial department.
of the business. There is no class in the COM
munity so poorly paid for services rendered as
printers, except clergymen and physicians.
The truth of this remark is known and felt BY
all printers, and yet they suffer and bear from
wear to year with scarcely an effort to correct
the evil. We have no special cause OF complaint
less, we believe, than the average run OF coun-
try nanars, heoauco effort has been not SO
much to obtain a very large list of subscribers
as good paying list. We have so far succeeded
in this that we believe DO establishment in the
country can show better. But, nevertheless
we often suffer from the delay and negligence OF
a portion of our "patrons," and will subscribe to
any udcious plan that will secure more prompt
ness and regularity on the part of the public
Whether the cash system can be successfully
carried out by country papers is in our opinion
rather doubtful; but much may be done by the
combination of publishers to remedy the evils OF
which all more or less complain.
Another object may be accomplished by a
Convention of Editors, of equal, if not more, i'm
portance than the above. In order to elevate
the profession and increase its usefulness, 1t is
highly desirable to have code of Editorial
ethics. By large class ofpeople Editors are re-
garded as merely a set of gladiators, whose spe-
cial duty it is to quarrel with each other
for the amusement of the public; and too many
Editors encourage this misapprehension by their
course. A profession which is most influential
for good or evil, and which ought to be honor
able, is thus degraded and employed in pander-
ing to vitiated popular taste. The members
Of the profession must themselves take the mat
ter in hand and apply the remedy. They can
adopt few plain rules for the government OF
professional intercourse, and provide mode by
which Editors violating them may be prescribed
by the whole fraternity. And if nothing else be
DONE general Convention of Editors, by the
formation of personal acquaintance, will remove
asperities and in many ways result in good.