Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-20
Vermont Press Association.

VI tho HiOht interesting hince its OfshnihatiOn
Brother Swain of the Bellows Falls Times as
sumed the role OF ferguson and also served a
sumptuous dinner to the members at his fine
residence.
The exercises OF the association took place In
Union Hall. The literary exercises consisted OF
an address by Luther o. Greene OF the Woodstock
Standard on vermont as a journalistic Field"
and poem by Rev. A. ]. Hough OF Ludlow on
Pulpit and Press" The address was so excel
lent and contained so much of value TO both the
editors and readers Of Vermont papers that we
give It in full below.
ANNUAL ADDRESS
THE local newspaper worthily conducted ia to a
great extent the index to the prosperity, intelli
gence and character Of the people among whom II
is published II IL the mirror in which IL reflected
the current life OF the town or district and its
cess is measured by the degree Of Its devotion to
the interests Of the people upon whom II depends
FOR support. Matters that under different cir
cumstances might seem too trivial for publication
are the legitimate subjects Of record and comment
in its columns. II the editor has any desire to
make his paper something Of power within its
humble sphere he must first place II in sympathy
with Its readers by making It an epitome Of all
that concerns them most closely.
1t Is not too much TO claim for the press the
foremost place in the promotion of sound princi-
pies OF morality and Christianity. The readers
vastly outnumber the hearers and Ii Is scarcely
fiction TO say that the newspaper is sort Of Bible
TO large class OF readers. But to establish an
influential journal requires time and well-directed
labor The day of miracles Is long since ended
and men are not overcome suddenly In the midst
Of life and activity with convictions that may be
directly In contravention OF opinions and prac-
tices OF life time We gain the victory over
men by regularly laying siege to the citadel Of
their understanding. Conviction grows with what
1t feeds on and 1t Is the constant iteration that
will pypntua11y toll mr. afuhhoru N
opponents. Gain a mans confidence and the way
to his heart Is easy.
"The position Of the press Of the state which is
more far-reachng and powerful than ever BEFORE
is the legitimate fruit Of an improvement in the
methods OF newspaper-making. 1t Is only about
twenty-five years since we began in small way
the system Of collecting and arranging in attrac-
tive form and under appropriate headings the
current town news within our respective districts.
Before that time, little or no systematic effort
was attempted in that direction, each contenting
himself with meager record Of the more impor-
tant local events that drifted to his door. The
weekly press was scarcely more than a rehash OF
the leading dailies OF the time, home affairs re-
ceving the least attention at the hands OF the ed
itorial management The business is conducted
very differently now. In every we-regulated
office, arrangements are carefully perfected for
procuring reliable news weekly from all the bust
centers Of the county, and papers go forth
laden with wealth OF material Of present inter
est and historic value never dreamed of by the
press of the old 1t is thus that the press becomes
| a sort Of mental exchange, having in its keeping
the public pulse of the state. 1t is by reason Of
intelligent devotion to home affairs, rather than
by reaching after success in the general field,
| that our state press holds place in the front
rank among country newspapers to-day.
Between the local weekly that is true to its
peculiar mission and the metropolitan sheet that
has the whole country for its field there Is really
| little or no competition. Nearly every reading
| family feels the need of some religious, indus
trial, literary or general newspaper OF high char
acter and 1t is idle to make any attempt to usurp
| the prerogatives such journals have secured to
themselves, because they can outbid the country
press in price and also In quantity, II not in quail
| ity, Of matter, As a rule the readers of these
| papers are those who best appreciate the value of
the local newspaper II Is the intelligent, read
| ing citizen who has the greatest interest in all
matters affecting the welfare of the tewn and
state, and that paper which proves TO be the best
| medium for the discussion of these affairs. or
| for the dissemination of information regarding
| them, will surely count him among Its supporters
I" But in order to attain any degree OF success
the local paper must have suitable field and an
adequate constituency 1t Is said the statistics OF
the newspaper census Of Vermont are not flatter.
ing, and know OF no reason why they should be.
The business is so largely overdone that the CEN
| sus averages must be small, compared with those
of some other states. We are credited with about
fifty newspapers, one to every six thousand and
| a half Of inhabtants-to state 1t in round num-
| bers--or, according TO usual estimates one to
every thirteen hundred families. From this mum
| Der there must be deductions on account of the
Indifferent class, the foreigners the poor and the
| ignorant so that the average list II each family
takes but one paper, cannot greatly exceed ont
thousand, number upon which few of our week.
lies can live.
There are too many newspapers in Vermont
| The burden of their existence In prosperous
condition is greater than the people OF the state
| can endure, and the result is in many cases q
chronic languishng, pteous appeals for help
frequent changes and sudden deaths. Natura
piUht nd nd an taIl p radn "A
business to a safe and healthy basis were 1t no
that the death OF one newspaper is the seed of
| or two new ones in almost every instance. i
would seem that experience is a good teacher il
everything except newspaper making. In IN,
own time the failures in this state exceed tn,
number now published. Very likely our showing
is no worse than that of some other states partic
ularly those OF the west. The statement is mad
that Iowa, which welcomed its first newspaper il
1884, and has at this time few over five hundred
in all, has sung requiem over the departure o
more than one thousand, But 1t is to be said o
the great west that 1t il vast field of experiment
where the camp of to-day is liable to become
thriving city tomorrow, and where there is war
rant for adventures in all branches OF business
adventures that in New England, OF Vermont a
least, would appear foolhardy. Success Is re
garded AS almost assured to every one who start
in out there and grows up with the country.
On the contrary, with us there is no growth o
population, no new enterprises to give impetus Il
| our prosperity, and no such increase in the con
I
tional newspapers every new moon.
1.-THE amount OF money lost during the last two
decades in vain attempts to establish newspaper
in Vermont would handsomely endow an asylum
for INDECENT and infirm printers and editors, L
| say nothing OF the good 1t might accomplish |
distributed among the papers now struggling 70
existence, Local pride and ambition are com
mendable attributes, but they many time
INDUCED at the expense OF sound judgment ant
| not over-plethoric pockets. 1t may seem to tn,
local bosses, or would-be leaders Of local opinion
convenient thing to be possessed OF an organ
and If they alone to stand in for the loss n,
one would complain, but usually they are shrewc
enough to get out of harms way before disaste
| overtakes the venture.
Newspapers have greatly increased in humble
since the invention of the "patent " plan, which
holds out the inducement that they can be mad
without work and without cost-that they ar
bonanzas holding fortunes and fame for all wh'
invest. 1t Is this idea that the business Is mad
easy and light that leads many to embark in 1t il
localities where there is no demand for new
papers. II there are local rings, or unfortunate
divisions in society, or business jealousies, o
political factions the inevitable resort is a news
| paper which Is expected to confound all enemie
and speedily straighten all the crooked things o
this world But OF course the idea of making
good newspapers cheaply Is delusion, 1t matter
not whether 1t Is attempted by the old tim
| process or by patent" Under the most favor
able circumstances the business involves larg
| capital, unremtting labor and never ceasing out
lay. Take the best newspapers In the state unde
| present conditions and deprive them OF thei
collateral helps, such as job printing, statoner.
| and bookstore, and how many would thrive oil
their subscriptions and advertising? Possibly few
could do 30, but the majority would lead a sickl,
existence or fail outright Now believe tina
| where there Is a suitable field and a demand for
local paper 1t will prosper under methods con
coded by everybody to be legitimate, but II, Oh
the contrary, these conditions are wanting moth
ing can save 1t from disaster
" | am aware that this Is regarded by some pub
| fishers as somewhat delicate subject, the mer
mention of which might lead to the suspicion o
unworthy motives. But we do not hesitate, in
deed we claim 1t rs a privilege and duty, to Civ
mankind the benefit of our Judgment and coun
sci In all other enterprises in which the publ
| have AN interest. We even question the wisdom
of striving to maintain so many colleges an
earnestly advise consolidation for the advantag
OF all concerned; or II the cause of Chrstianit
languishes by reason Of too many churches an'
consequent divisions among its professed adhe
rents, we are not slow TO point out the evil AM
to counsel a union of forces. II we are to fulfil
our mission as universal monitors, there can b
no Improperly In the discussion OF a subject tina
vitality concerns the prosperity and improvement
OF the press itself which is not alone u bushes
enterprise involving the mere matter Of dollar
and cents, but also in Its highest development,
powerful instrument in the work of elevating tn
human race There can be no worse slavery 70
the press than a financial bondage, which mus
co-exist with every attempt to establish news
| paper where there Is no reasonable demand for
and no constituency TO give 1t support. So he is
public benefactor who makes one prosperous an
independent and powerful for good where tw
anguished before.
| " 1t has seemed TO me that something ought /
be said upon this subject, and II am correct 1