Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-10-25
Printers' and Publishers Conven-
ton.


this State may no! be held say some,im
next month. Since that article was pub
lished, we have received letter from MI
BUTLER of the Biddeford Journal, VIII,
as stated before, is Secretary of the Main
Editors and Publishers Convention, am
which increases our faith in the amount q
good to be derived from such an associa
tioa. We believe it may raise the stand
ard of the profession, and Vermont editor
are not so perfect yet, but that they cal
be improved. The letter from our brothe.
in Maine though addressed to us person
ally, is of equal interest to all the frater
nifty OF the State, and we therefore take
the liberty of copying it entire for theil
benefit, as follows:
OFFICE OF THE UNION AND JOURNAL
BIpDEFoRD, Me-, Oct. IL, 1867,
Bro. SWAIN :--In your article in yes
terday's TIMES relating to a convention Of
Publishers you remark, " We do not ap-
prehend that in business point of view
it would amount to much" The expert
ence of Maine Publishers has proved the
contrary, and the benefits derived are
marked and substantial. The chief point
gained is, more rcmunerative prices for
advertising. Too many publishers take
foreign orders for advertising at ruinously
low figures, discriminating between foreign
and local advertising in favor of the for
mer. This is all wrong. Advertising
Agents know that in many papers their
orders will be inserted at any ordinary
price they may name, and they would be
foolish, indeed, to name any but the lowest
figure. Both Mr.. Pettengill and Mr..
Niles have told me, as they have told
others, that the fact of many publishers
having no rates and grabbing at any price,
was an annoyance to the advertising agent,
and that, if publishers would only adopt
some system and Hue up to 1t, they never
should think to send advertisements less
han their rates. Our Convention has OBJ
Waited that manner Of doing business TO
great extent. To be sure, all do not live
up to the manifesto, but a majority do, and
he others are working up TO it, and ven
lure to say that Maine Publishers get as
much, if not more, for their advertising,
As publishers Of like papers get in New
England.
When our Convention was proposed,
majority Of the smaller papers looked upon
The movement with distrust, afraid lest
The com bination would inure to the benefit
Of the larger papers at the expense of the
smaller ones; but experience and wisdom
have proven that the weak papers are the
,nly ones that need protection-the strong
ones can protect themselves and obtain
heir own prices. To-day there are only
a very few newspaper publishers or job
printers in this State, who are not active
members Of our Convention, and those are
in the extreme eastern districts, SO far dis
Iant they have not met with us, although
expressing their favor.
If had time, mention might be made
Of advantageous discussions of the man
ner of conducting newspapers, such as re-
ceiying ''reading notices" for advertise
ments, endorsing patent medicines, protec-
lion against insolvent advertisers, like
Shuts & Co, j. c. French, Man found
dead in Poultney," &C., &c.
But, laying aside the immediate fnan-
cial poi.t, is it not fact that the editorial
profession is the hardest worked and the
least remunerative, of any profession re-
lniring half the amount of brains to sus-
tain it which this requires. We attend to
eyerybody's business but our own-we
write for all other interests and leave our
own to the tender mercies of the world,
The flesh and the devil we take time
to run to and write up gatherings of other
men, anu nave 10 tiiuc ~ WEitc ouTsciSCo
up-we see and commend combination
of interest in other departments of labor,
but apparently think ours is an exception
to all others.
The social advantages are not among
the least of those derived from COM
mingling of interests and persons engaged
in like pursuits. Controversial asperities
are sottened, acquaintance with each other
gives us truer estimates of each others
opinions, and better appreciation of the
dignity of our high profession.
Our last convention in this city was all
the most sanguine could anticipate, and a
happier set of chaps than the editors Of
Maine. upon the two days the convention
was held need not be got together. The
next meeting will be holden at Bath on
9Th and 7th of next August, and our Fra.
ternity win be pleased to greet large del
eeation from Vermont. When you have
the opportunity, please convey to your
editorial brethren the greetings of those in
Maine ReSnecffulIy