The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-10-22

! 10y IhIs JaSlECulSkls
Resolved that the thanks of TIL,
Press Association be rendered to tn.
officers Of the Blanks Line of Ouachits
packets, the Red River packet Danube
the steamers of the Nicksburg line, The
Bayou Sara packets, Bell, Gay and
Cannon, the Vicksburg, Shreveport &
Pacific Railroad, the Morgan Railroad
line, and the Clinton and Port Hudson
Railroad for their liberality in reducing
their fares in favor of the members OF
this Association on the occasion of the
| Convention. sui % o5.1 h,-'"s. E9t
By Mr.. Lafargue:
Resolved, That the Executive Com
mittee be requested to consider the
matter of rates and report at our next
meeting.
| BY Mr.. AnniS:
patronage from advertising agents and
others on terms other than cash pay
| ments is detrimental to the interests of
publishers, therefore, be it ..I
Resolved, That we earnestly request
| our brethren of the State press to unite
in refusing to contract for advertising
upon any other terms than cash pay
nents to the publisher. rrit $50
BY Mr.. Lambert: H. ss. .... -.,.
Resolved, That when this Conven-
tion adjourns, it adjourn to meet in
New Orleans the day preceding Nardi
Gras, 1881. ''
BY Mr.. Cosgrove:
Whereas, a custom has prevailed for
many years among the press of this
State of publishing political advertise
rnents gratis and ......f.
Whereas, This custom is detrimental
to the pccuniary interests of the press,
and an undue tax upon the publisher !;
therefore, be it .-.trut ..1.r.n. ,
Resolved, That all members of the
press in this State be requested to
abandon the custom and demand such
compensation as they may deem right
and proper for such advertising matter.
BY Major Burke: t."' -.
Resolved, That copy of each issue
of the newspapers belonging to the
Press Association be forwarded to the
Secretary aud Treasurer, to be by him
filed for reference, and that the expense
Of filing same be betrayed from the
funds of the Association. .t f'
by Mr.. Lafargue: .@''r-
! Resolved, That the thanks of this AS
sociation be rendered Gen. l.. Jastrem-
ski, Mayor of Baton Rouge, for the
civilitics extended to the Louisiana
press.
BY My. Annis: d.
Resolved, That the President of the
Association be requested and author
lied to designate members to deliver
at our next session addresses, essays,
poems, ETC., as he may deem of interest
to the Association.
Mrs. M. A. Fields, of tho New Or
n. Inv Il In tot
lowing address, which was received
with applause, and upon Major Burkc's
motion, ordered spread upon the min
utcS: .t ... ..'. 10 .'
GENTEMEN-I suppose that some of
you will expect me to speak of women
in journalism on this occasion. That,
however, is not tho drift of my thoughts,
but rather to 81 ivc you the views Of Il
woman on that subject.
The object of this Convention, ] take
it, is clearly an effort to improve the
present methods of journalism in our
State.
1t would be untrue to say that these
methods do not require Improvement,
for the purpose of a power so nearly
unlimited as that which is exercised
by the Press can never be made too
exalted.
iiS tiIhS was, anu IL uOL 20 very
long ago, either, when the great labor
atory of public opinion was the stump
and pulpit ; but the swift march and
progress of the world has snapped in
twain the circumscribcd limits Of these
pure but trammellcd agents, and now
the great moral force that influences
men and affects governments is the
pen of the newspaper editor. Much
has been said and written about "thc
freedom of the press" but it can safely
be contended that the press possesses
all the freedom that is necessary in
country where the expression of honor
able sentiments, the defense of the
grandest principles and q tolerant con-
sderation of all religious and political
questions are esteemed the culmina-
tions Of refinement, education and civ
ilizatiOn. That the drift of the popular
mind is upward and elevating is in
great measure due TO the ever increas-
ing influences and ever extending
facilities of knowledge afforded by the
press.
My practical experience as a journal.
ist has chiefly been that of news
editor, and if | were asked to state as
the result of observation what ! con-
sidered the deficiency of the Southern
rreGS | shnu1I GOV, fh,t ,,& ,,S,,-t,