Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-04
LITTLE ROCK LETTER.


called to order in the house of repre-
sentatives at 10 o'clock yesterday
morning by Col. Chas. G. Newman,
president Of the same. There was a
lair attendance Of members from
various parts Of the State, and others
were expected during the day. The
speakers desk, occupied by President
Newman, and the walls and chaude-
liers were tastefully decorated with
flowers by ladies of this city, and two
beautiful bouquet likewise adorned
the desk of the secretary within the
railing. The roll was called by Col.
W. A. Webber, secretary, and the
regular proceedings were opened with
prayer, by Rev j. L. Denton, chaplain
Of the association, and superintendent
Of public instruction for the State.
While most of the members are young
men or under middle age, | have sell
dom seen a more calm, dignified and
business-like deliberative body. Hon.
VIM. R. Burke, of the Helena Daily
World Mr.. J. S. Thomas, of the
Prairie (Lonoke) Appeal, and others
of recent legislative experience, have
a good idea of parliamentary law, but
n majority are governed more by off
hand common sense than the arbitrary
rules of Cushing and Jefferson. There
was no great amount of speaking or
formality, and certainly no wrangling
or unseemly discussion.
The proceedings related mostly to
the business affairs of the association.
The Hon. VIM. Il. Woodruff, ST., and
his daughter being in the gallery they
were invited to seats on the floor.
Mr.. Woodruff came by Memphis in a
keel boat with his type and presses
long before the place had corporate
existence. He is a cotemporary Of
our Colonel G. D.. Mclean and set
type with him in Nashville over Sixty
years ago. He is venerable but hale
and hearty, and | met him out at a
ball long after midnight this morning
He is treated with great respect by
tue press, Of which he is the father
in this State, and by all classes.
A resolution was passed inviting
members of the press from other States
and all the Federal, State and city
officers present to take seats within
the bar during the session. Judge
John r. Eakin, Hon. Thos. Fletcher
of Lincoln county, and Miss Jessie
Webber, of Saline county, were elect
ed honorary members. Invitations
were received to visit the deaf and
dumb institute, the public schools ant
other places Of interest, and appoint
ments were made to visit these place:
to-day.
Miss Jessie Webber, elected an
honorary member of the association
was present with badges, whicl
were furnished the members as well as
visiting newspaper men, Her father
is editor of the Saline County Digest
and she sets type in his office. She i
sweet, graceful young girl, not owe
seventeen. / would think, ant
"a perfect ideal of the Maud Mule
type of rosy-cheeked beauty. AS sh,
sat at her desk AVID blushingly handed
out the badges, it was noticeable tina
the members stood around fumbling a
fhe lappels of their coats, as if the,
could never pin on the badges withou
her assistance. She sets noble ex
ample to the young ladies Of the da,
by learning aa art whereby she can b,
useful and independent. Such eir
must have heart as we'll as intelligen
brain aud skilled hands. She vii
have suitors, of course, aud perhap
get married sometime. She deserve
the best looking and worthiest youn
man in the State, and if she gets a
editor [ hope he will be better off j
this worlds goods than the most Of us
The press of this State has mad
the most marked Improvement in tn
last few years. Here ia Little Roc
are two frst-class papers. The oil
Gazette, which was established i
1919, and is young. strong, and full
youthful spirit and enterprise, and tn
Democrat, an afternoon paper, edite
by Messrs. Mitchell 4 Biocher, bot
men Of experience, education al
enterprise. They were formerly con
nected with the Gazette There
good room here for one morning an
one afternoon paper, and it is we
worked. Journalism in Littla Roc
is up to the best standards Of the Rme
and is a credit to the State He
Springs boasts two ambitious dailie'
the Sentinel and the Telegraph, an
Helena has one, a sprighti
papel, and the only daily
Eastern Arkansas. The weeklies 81
we'll edited, we'll printed aud of LAT
the patent-outside system has bee
dispensed With wherever practicable
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