Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-06
STATE scRIBEs.
Proceedings of the First Days
Session.
List Of the Members Present and New Ones
Admitted-New Committees and
Reports Of the Standing Ores
Officers Elected,

and as per announcement the West Viz
ginia Press Association met in this city yes
terday afternoon. By courtesy Of Manager
Reister, the Opera House was given to the
use of the Association, and there, at 2
O'Clock, fair sprinkling Of journalists as
sembled. Including the members of the
city press. some fifty members were pres
ent and more were expected.
At2 o'clock President P. ". Morris, of
the Richie Gazette, raped for order For
his use a round table had been placed be-
fore an arm chair on the stage, and pair
OF palmer tables were placed for the benefit
the reportorial fraternity. Mr. Norris say
ing he had no doubt a few remarks, how
ever brief, were expected, made briefad-
dress.
PRESIDENT MORRIS ADDRESS
The material for every great and noble
work first lies in cnaoS. No universe ever
blOomed with light and life from the hand
of creating God, that was not wrought
from chaotic state. The pureSt statue that
ever shone i'll beauty, was once mass OF
rude stone. Before you, my brethren, may
be upbuilded glittering monument that
shall represent alike progress and prosper
ity, benefit ana benefcence, influence for
you and wealth for your people. Yours is
the grasp that holds the cbisel; yours the
master hand that must lay its foundation
and rear the structure.
The West Virginia Press Association has
always been study to me. think OF no
better comparison than to call it a blind
giant-yet that might become its own
magician, open its own eyes and teach
itself its own strength. | have known its
power for years; yet that is power that
has been unused, unknown and unthought
of by its members generally. No appeal,
no entreaty has moved it from its lethargy.
Now hearken to me, You individual mem
hers. The Press OF the State is the power
of the State. Arouse to this fact. Pinch
yourselves and see that you are awake. |
have stood by and seen you in your laugh
ing. careless indifference, and heard you re-
mark that the Press Association is of no
benefit except as a social gathering. 1t IS
strange liberalization OF the situation. Ii
is this that makes me say you are problem
to me. o thou good natured, patient
sleeping giant, give yourself one good
shake and you will move the state
Think of a hundred newspapers united,
and tell me that they will not be the con-
trolling influence in West Virginia Alb
surd to admit the contrary, 1t is for you
to make and unmake politicians; it is for
YOU to herald progress and prosperity; 1t
is for YOU to disseminate intelligence and
cultivate liberality; il is for you, in short,
to educate and control the people. 1t is
time for you to know that you own the
State. Take il and control il. Yet If you
would know the secret OF all your power,
learn il. II is never 10 contend for any
thing bat that which is true and right.
There is vet an intinity OF undiscovered
truth II is only as pioneers in that direc-
ton that you can lead the people.
But. my brothers. know that much OF
YOUR >kepticiSm in regard to the Press AS
ISOLATION is departing. In the giittering
east the golden day arises. The morn IS al
hand The giant lies slunthering still; but
only with lightly closed eyes and hall re-
Taxed muscles a murmur touch, and
he will spring for to the lahorS OF the day.
The time of awakening, | verify believe, is
at hand. And let me say to every one OF
YOU, a part OF this power, that you are to
take no grasp upon decaying flesh, but to
seize your brothers strong arm. and unite
with him, march forward with him IN the
work.
And let me say right here the Press AssO-
citation will never be what it ought to be,
until you make it so. You must attend.
You must appreciate your privilege in do
ing So For q newspaper man 10 come here
and never utter a word is to good. His
presence is an encouragement, and an as
surance that he is in earnest Whenever
every newspaper in West Virginia sends
up representative to the Press Associa-
ton you will see the politicians pull OF
their hats and hold them under their arms,
| and a year after you will see railroad
penetrating to the very mountain fast
| nessess oil your State, and in the next six
| mOnths,you will hear the shoui,Of begrimtd
| laborerS beneath your hills, and behold as
| cending the smoke from furnaces, and shall
| know that capital and Immigration are
| coming into Vests Virginia, and that her
| wealth is paving for it all.
Yet, thank heaven, we have progressed
! Not many years ago. even here in Wheel
| ing, the daily struggled for existence, was
! printed on an old hand press, and by strict
| economy eked out a SCanty maintenance
and BY the hardest struggle lived. A dozen
wears AGO, no paper was published in any
| county touching the one in which | am To-
| Gated. with one exception. Since then live
newspapers have started Whereabouts, and
| every one is yet alive and growing. A few
| months ago bold young man hired team
and hauled a press into little Lincoln,
| and there lie stands entrenChed
| to-day. And some glorious sum.
mer morning while the light glintS the
! east. while the fragrant breath of the noun
| tain flowers is waited on the breeze, while
| the silveTy streams 90 murmuring down
| their rocky pathways, some intrepid youth
will brush the dew from the laurel and the
! iuneberry bush, and barring his arms shall
! pull the lever of q printing press on the
| summit of Mcdowell county, the one that
not long ago never sent its returns OF the
| Presidential election until two years, or
! thereahout, after the Inauguration. Then,
nv brethren. we will have the topmost
| one on the monument, 10 be erected by the
master hand
In conclusion, let me say that am glad
! to see you here. Vet as | look around
! among you, perceive that one is missing;
! one who sat with us for many years, is not
! with us. Unknown TO many OF you, let
| me say that he was worthy of your friend
| ship. Theodore f. Fague was an honor to
! the Press of West Virginia Upon him
| God had stamped his image. You will 40
| doubt pass graceful and appropriate tribute
! to his memory, and with you leave that
| duty.
Mr.. A. ". Campbell, of the hirliigeicsr,
had been selected to deliver an address of
welcome and came forward when the APP
plaUse which accompanied the presidents
address had subsidized.
ADDRESS or WELCOME.
Mr.. Campbell said he did not feel that
any formal remarks were called for from
him. other than those embracing cordial
welcome to the journalists from the citizens
and professional brethren of Wheeling. As
soon rs it was known the meeting would
be held here the generous citizens made
such exertions to receive and please the
members, as must be already evident to
them. even thus early.
AS far as the organization was concerned,
he said the social acquaintance OF men en-
gagged in the same line of business was
always good and exercised wholesome in
tiuence on the business, whatever it might
be Organization was the spirit Of the hour
and no meeting of men. whose interests are
identical, can be held, with the intention
| of comparing views and ideas without ac-
cOmpliShing much good. II, therefore, the
| ordinary business associations is OF impor-
lance, how much more important is the
convention of those men whose peculiar
duty il is to mould public opinion. As for
| the strength of such an organization. he
was satisfied il had not been overestimated.
Men. from long force of habit, especially in
the country districts, grew to the
| custom of drawing. more or less,
| their opinions from their county papers;
| and where the press was united on any one