The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-02-03
THE EDITORIAL COUNCIL.
Fourteenth Annual Session Of the Minnesota
Editorial Convention at st. Paul

r. G. Mitchell, Duluth Tribune.
w. G. Whiteman, Herman Herald.
II. A. Castle, Journalist at large.
A. Dewey, Fishers Landing Bulletin.
A. E. Bunker, Western Newspaper Union.
i. Driscoll, St. Paul Pioneer Press.
S. II. Watson, St. Paul Dispatch
II. Mattson, Stats Tidning.
+. M. Cove, Benton, Cove e. Co., type
founders.
X. Arnold, secretary.
c. II. Lineau, VoIkszeitung, St. Paul.
F. Belfoy, News-Ledger, Litchfield.
Fl. E. Newton, Minnesota Farmer, Mime
apolls.
Ben Nerthnp, Leader, Lake City:
G. A. Perkins, Sentinel, Lake City.
J. A. sigler, Bulletin, Wabashaw.
s. P. Jennison, Republican, Red Wing.
r. W. Clifford, Graphic, St. Paul.
Maj T. nj. Newson, at large.
w. B. Reed, Prior Lake Times.
Frank Matchett, Jordan Advocate.
The meeting was called to order by first
vice president r. c. Mitchell, of the Duluth
Tribune, owing to the illness of President
Geo. c. Chamberlain.
The secretary, J. K Arnold. presented his
report, which was accepted and placed on file,
rs was also the report of Treasurer Ramaley.
The death of W. J. McMasters, of the Lake
City Leader, was announced, and a committee
consisting of Messrs. Arnold, Ramaley and
Castle was appointed to draft resolutions ex.
prcssive of the sense of the association on the
memory of the dead journalist, as follows:
Rcsolvcd. That IN the death of w. j. Nc
Masters, of the Lake City Leader, our associa
ton loses one of its original founders, one of
the most shining lights, man ''true to ma.
ture born. A man, Christian, and all that
words can imply towards nobility of charac.
ter. loss, a void, not only to our fraternity
and the community in which he 1ivn1 INIT n
loss to the State with whose history and best
interests he has been identified for the past
twenty years. Among us he was universally
esteemed, not alone for his public service, but
for his private virtues and high sense of char
acter and honor.
ReSoIucd, That the secretary be Instructed
to present copy of these resolutions to the
widow Of our deceased friend.
Rcsolred, That our recording secretary be
Instructed to prepare for publication an
obituary notice.
Sympathetic and feeling remarks in eulogy
were made by Messrs. Leonard, Castle, and H.
P. Hall, and the resolution adopted.
The question "Have not changes that have
taken place in the character of local papers and
the manner of editing them rendered exchanges
between local papers, useless and shoull not
the system of exchange be DISCONTINUED"
brought out an animated discussion, during
which several prominent members Of the pro-
fcssion gave voice to their views.
Capt. Leonard advocated the abolition of
exchanges. His first idea was to gather local
news OF his county and neighborhood. The
only papers needed are those of immediate
vicinity. The weekly papers and their read
Chicago and New York The daily paper
gives the opinions of the weekly paper before
they can be gotten in their exchanges.
Capt. Castle took issue with Mr.. Leonard
on the ground that it was the function of the
country papers to discuss current topics as
well as publish the news. If that was the
case they needed to have exchanges. The
daily papers only publish such comments as
suit their own views and do not give a fair
Major Hotchkss thought the country p editor
occupied relatively as important a position as
the metropolitan press. The metropolitan
press does not, rs rule, represent the popular
sentiment. 1t represents moneyed corporations
more than the popular interests. The country
paper stands between these corporations and
the people. He should be ashamed to say that
he was echoing simply the sentiments of the
metropolitan sheets. The country editors
have the ability to handle topics as we'll as the
metropolitan papers.
Mr.. Belfoy, of the Litchfeld Nc,us- Ledger,
thought Capt. Leonard had placed the country
papers in false position. If it was carried to
its logical sequence he would have to head one
column ''the ideas of the Pioneer Press" An
other ''the ideas Of the GLOBE" And anoth-
er filled out with blank quads would be headed
sthe ideas of the editor" If he had any blank
column in his paper he would head it "thc
ideas OF the metropolitan press" He believed
the country papers controlled the metropolitan
press Instead OF the reverse.
Capt. Leonard said he agreed with all that
m been said except what Capt. Castle uttered.
I'll. made it point never to agree with him on
tomb. lJn 1~oI
overlooked the fact that he had stated that the
object of taking the metropolitan papers was
to get the news and not to get editorials. The
fact that the country papers have SO much
ability and are able to discuss the current
topics OF the day, he argued, was the best evil
dence OF the correctness of his position.
Gen. Jennison said exchanges were chiefly
valuable for the local news they supplied, but
even that reached them quicker through
the daily papers than By the papers themselves.
There are some editors who pour themselves
all out in their papers, and we like to see how
foolish they can be on the wrong side. News
paper men only steal what is of value, and
hence they never steal editorials from the daily
papers. The tendency of both daily and weekly
papers was to sacrifice editorial space for
news. lie was sorry for it, because he had
more opinions to offer than news. It was
easier to sit down in ones office and write
editorials than it was to run about and hunt
up the news.
Among other topics of interest discussed
were the following:
us not the system Of charging much more
proportionately for short time advertisements
than for long ones. a mistake, and would it not
pay publishers to advertise at about the same
rate per week for q short time as for long
one'
els there any method whereby newspapers
can control their advertising rates, instead of
leaving it to agents?''
"Whatcan be done to avoid the ruinous
competition that exists in certain localities
as to tax lists, county printing and legal ad-
vertising?"
protracted talk on these subjects, brought
forth some very sensible views of the editors
present, and it is to be regretted that SO few
were present at the debate.
Maj. Hotchkiss offered resolution in effect
that the Legislature now in session be recon-
mended to pass law fixing the maximum
rate of interest in Minnesota at not more than
z per cent. per annum," and warmly advocat-
ed its adoption, which, however was not DONE
Resolutions were offered rendering the
thanks of the association to the st. Paul
Chamber Of Commerce for the use Of their