The Portland daily press., 1867-08-09
caito,s and Publishers, Conyention,
[coRREsPoNDENcE OF THE pREss.1

lCohhESfoNDENCE OF THE PRESS
BIDDEroRD, Aug. 8, 1867.
Iclosed my letter last night with brief
mention of Mr.. W. E. Stevens's essay on Jour-
nalism AMI Mr.. Drisko's sketch of the history
OF newspaper enterprise in Washington coun-
ty. Mr.. Stevens gave us very clear and forci-
bic presentation of his idea of the office OF
journalist. He holds the opinion, which VIII
strike some people as very strange, that II is
the first duty of Journalist to tell the truth
as he sees it. He is to look with honest, steady
eyes into the maze of phenomena winch 1t is
his daily duty to record, and tell what he sees
there. He is neither to affect an impossible
and unmanly neutrality, nor to tie himself alb.
solntely to the chariot wheel of any sect, clique
or party; but with modest selfrespect to de-
clare the truth, even when the truth is least
palatable to his readers. Mr. Stevens made
another startling assertion. He says that
sensible readers do not look for the expression
or their own views to the minutest shade in the
newspapers for which they subscribe; they ex-
pect merely an agreement in essentials and
are willing to tolerate independence in nom
essentials. This again will appear to some
people to be very strange doctrine; but as Mr..
Stevens is privileged by the circumstances un-
der which his essay was delivered, forbear to
criticize his positions. In fact 1 am quite con-
tent to let them alone there is dangerous
plausbility about them which does not invite
attack. r aHsi..fa 4t l.a. .-r-.r.t.. s OIL a.
Mr.. Driskos contribution to the newspaper
history of the State showed much research
and labor. 1t will be published with the min
utes of the convention. The association is do
ing good work in this direction Last year
reports were presented from Hancock and
Knox counties; partial report has been pre-
sented for Oxford county by Mr.. N. T. True, to
whom the subject was recommitted; in a few
years We shall have materials for complete
history of newspaper enterprise in Maine.
'A After the adjournment there were two or
three more arrivals-Mr. Nash, Of the Hallow-
ell Gazette, Mr.. Mareellus Emery of Bangor
Democrat, Mr.. Frank Dingley o: the Lewis
ton Journal, and ''Toby Candor," who came up
smiling after his severe punishment in the ar
duous business of reporting the Bates and
Bowdoin commandments. The representa-
ton Of the State is now very nearly complete.
Of the. hospitality of the good people of Bid
deford and Saco, we have had generous eS-
perience. Last evening a social reception was
rendered to the fraternity at the Biddeford
House. There was no dancing, but there were
cards for the taciturn, and pleasant partners
for the talkative, and music for the musical
aud supper at half past 10 for all. 1t was an
exceedingly pleasant occasion Today we
have also been indebted to this obliging COM
munity for a dinner at Old Orchard beach. j
lio1he convention met according to adjournment
at O'clock this morning! The subject Of adj
yertising was still under consideration, and ON
motion Of Mr.. W. 1T. Wheeler, of Bangor, the
following resolution was, after discussion,
adopted:eolqsI 10 eaiI5af q ensAaja.
IL Resolvea, That this Association views with
strong disapprobation the publication of adj
vertisements designed to point out facilities for
causing or procuring abortions, by medicines
or otherwise; and that we will consider the
continuance OF such publication by any MEM
her OF the Association as not cOnsonant with
the welfare OF the community or the credit of
the newspaper fraternity. Yqs sotlit7es-s ada fi
The consideration of the best method of en-
ploying advertising agents was then resumed.
Remarks were made by Messrs. Rust of Bel
'"'o ~'SiooAA3 u A<CWlSbOl, OpfdGue
Rockland, Wheeler of Bangor, Homan, Stew
ems and Quinby of Augusta, Foster of Port
land, and others. Mr.. Pettengill of Boston.
was invited to address the convention and
spoke briefly of the injurious tendency of the
practice of some agents, of dividing commits
sions with advertisers, the tendency being of
course TO break down the scale of prices gene
rally. The result of the discussionis express
ed ip the following resolution, offered by Mr..
n. A. Foster, of Portland: byait hq terd
/, Resolued, That the Executive Committee Of
the Association be directed to proceed forth
with to employ some person or persons, in Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia and at such other
commercial points as they deem proper, to act
as aqvertlslng agents for the newspaper press
OF andaine, at reduced rates of commission; and
that when these arrangements are completed.
we Will allow no. commission to auy other
agent or person in the respective places where
such agencies have been established.
Ioi Ihe resolution was discussed at considerable
length, and as the hour for adjournment to Old
Orchard Beach had now arrived, the subject
was was laid on the table for further consideration
after dinner, at which time the resolution was
taken up and unanimously adopted. The gen.
eral tenor Of the remarks pointed unmistaka-
bly, to the employment of single agency at
the various points where it may be desirable
to have the association represented b. issf
Carriages were now in readiness and the
procession set out for the beach, headed by
Dodworths Band in an open wagon and pre-
senting an appearance not widely differing
from the triumphal march of circus compa-
ny. The company reached the seaside at il,
and fhR
Joyment. The billiard rooms and bowling al
leys attracted their quota of visitors. Others
strolled on the magnificent beach and watched
the bathers in the surf Still others visited
the pleasant grove in the rear of the hotel A
few miserable men sat on the piazza and read
newspapers. The band took possession of the
music room, and played choice solos accompa-
med by the piano. The regular guests at the
beach number only about two hundred 1t
would be surprising thai so charming spot is
80 little irequented, if it were not accounted
for by the fact that no pains have been taken
to bring its attractions before the public.
Dinner was served at 8. The citizens of Bid
deford and Saco were, as before, our entertain
ers, and were present in large numbers
Among the invited guests were Hon. John
Lynch, of Portland, Judge Rice, of Augusta,
Hon. Marshall Pierce, of Saco, of the Cover
nors Council, Superintendent Walter Hatch,
of the Portland &, Kennebec Railroad. and
others. The divine blessing was asked by the
Rev. Mr. Balkan, of Lewiston. The famous
clam chowder of the beach fully justified its
and the other dishes were worthy
to follow the chowder. After dinner came
humorous poem from Mr.. David Barker, en-
titled my First Courtship." Tho poem was
excellently conceived and was founded upon
close observation of country life and manners.
1t was received with roars of laughter The
regular toasts were then read by Mr.. Butler of
Biddeford, chairman of the committee of ar
fangements. Mr.. Dingley responded to "The
Press OF Maine,' congratulating the associa-
tion upon the warm interest manifested in the
annual convention Hon. Charles Holden, of
Portland, spoke for sour Honorary Members
deploring the change which had come over the
profession since the good old days when the
newspaper offices were locked up at 6 in the
evening, and there We're no kilograms to both
er the editors. Mr.. Holden concluded
by giving volunteer toast, "The good old
days of Adam and Eve" Judge Rice was
called upon to respond for sour Railroads."
but having recently recovered from severe
illness, spoke with difficulty, and after a few
well chosen words called upon Mr. Wm1H. I
Hackett, of the Eastern railroad to speak in
his stead. Mr.. Hackett by some unaccounta-
BILE mental process got to talking about the la
dies, upon which fruitful subject he might
have continued at great length if be had not