Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-06-23
PRESS ASSOCIATION
Business OF the Session - Addresses
The Grand BauTuet-AdjOurn-
ment 10 Columbia
Next Year.

! The tennessee Press ASSOCIATION met
at Murfreesboro last Thursday. Colonel
| Tom w. Neal, OF the Dyersburg Gazette,
| president. The Middle and West Ten.
nessee representations predominated to
| a very large extent. No business OF i'm.
| portaHce was transacted on the first day,
as the session was given up solely to the
! hearing of addresses, etc., the first of
which being the address of welcome by
| the mayor Of the city, responded to by
the president of the assOciation-bOth in
the happiest vein. Miss Matte Collins,
| of Montgomery county, read a poem,
and Major Joseph Barbiere, of Men,
phis, delivered an grafton, which struck
the tympanums Of the Nashville press
most favorably. AT the close Of the af-
ternoon session President Neal delivered
formal address, the following extract
from which we find room for. He said:
"In brief, most sincerely believe that
the editorial, local and news columns OF
a newspaper should be unbought and
unpurchasable. Whatever is to the in
teTest of individuals to advertise, should
bepaid for, according to fair rates, and
inserted as their own. The great and
increasing tendency of the day is to
make mere advertising sheets of the
newspaper, by which mean every part
OF the paper is subsidized by the adver.
Using, put in even its editorials. Hence,
it loses its integrity and ceases to be re-
spected and patroniZed as an independ-
ent journal. The independence of the
press should be sacredly preserved, If its
influence is valued. The Journalist
should be independent and free enough
not to bow either to sectarianism or
psrtyism, never hesitating to expose a
traitor in his own ranks as promptly and
fesrlessly as he does foe in the enemy's
line OF battle. He should deal only
with politics as single feature in the
multifOrm duties Of his profession. And
by independence is not meant merely
freedom from party ties. The editor may
be honestly convinced Of the superior
policy and purer principles of a
party, and yet not be so welded
TO its fortunes rs not to see its errors, or
so insincere as not to point out these en-
rOTs when discovered. 1t is his duty to
do this, both as respects the party-to
correct its wrong dOing-and to the peo-
pie at large, that they may he truthfully
advised. These maXims are the marks
which alike point out the paths of hon.
or, toausefulness, to influence and to pc
cunlary profit. 1t will be observed that
do not advocate the doctrine of the
journalist sacrificing himself to public
good. But contend that the paths of
public good and private interests, with
the journalist especially, run parallel.
Given the same ability, with other adj
vantages, and the honest, independent
editor will be more highly honored and
better remunerated. Whenever he pros
titutes bis journal to private ends or per-
sOnsl ambition, he is lost as a journalist
and may as well retire from that ARENA
At the evening session banquet was
enjoyed at the Willard hotel, at which
tOssts were proposed and responded to
during the evening. Among the toasts
were:
By Mayor Murfree: "Our guests-the
Tennessee Press, " responded to by Presi-
dent Neal.
''The American Press" response by
Colonel J. o. Griffith.
"Ihe Tennessee Press" response by
General Marcus J. Wright.
Tine East Tennessee Press, " response
by Mr.. G. J. Lockwood.
"Ine West Tennessee Press" re-
spouse by Mr. T. II. Baker.
"Our Army and Navy,n RESPONSE bv
General Pennypacker.
"The Ladies" response by Mr.. w. J.
S after.
"Murfresboro, " responses by Mr.. Rich.
ardsOn and Alderman Carr.
The Governor and his Staff" re- |
spouse by Major Spence.
The Law and the Lawyers, (" response |
by Fletcher Burris, ESQ.
Fridays was the business session, and |
many questions OF vital interest to the |
profession generally were considered, |
among which We note the following:
The committee to consider questions |
relating to newspaper interests, reported |
that upon the statute books was a law |
regarding printing legal notices, which |
was very unjust. The newspaper busi- |
ness had undergone complete revoIu-
uon since the passage Of the act, and /
advised that the press give it their at |
tention until redressed. The provisions
OF the law were differently Construed |
There was no fixed price for paying,
some clerks paying one price and some
another. They advised that every mem.
Der OF the association send in to the secre.
tsry, the price he is paid for legal sdver.