San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-05-04
The Press Convention.

| iuC Iitss SouNNhsVus
We had the pleasure of being present at the
meeting of this body at Houston last week.
Finding summary of its proceedings down
to the banquet at Judge Johnson's) in the
Mexia Ledger as good as we could get up,
we avail ourselves Of il
The convention on the morning of the
25th, large per cent OF the old members
being present together with many new
applicants, about fifty Of whom were re-
ceiyed, making the present membership OF
the association about one hundred and thir-
ty-hve. Business was ut once earnestly en-
tered into, and it seemed the wish of every
member that some practicable steps be
taken by which the craft could derive some
real tangible benefit. II was pleasing to
note the good feeling that prevailed in all
the discussions, and the entire absence OF
that bitterness that some times mars the
pages of otherwise excellent publications IL
no more is accomplished than perpetuity OF
this feeling between the members, the asso-
citation can by no means be pronounced a
failure.
The committee on education submitted a
very elaborate report which pointed out
what it considered to be glaring deficiencies
in the system of public schools in this
State, and suggested remedies therefor.
The committee claimed that first of ALL sue
cess could never be attained for the system
until it had n head, management other
than the department officers who are bur-
dened with their own proper duties" 1t
further deprecates the fact there is no local
super-intendency of schools, this duty being
imposed upon poorly paid county Judges,
who has all he can do in the performance of
the current duties of his own Office An
other objectional feature to which the CON-
mittee referred is the restriction of the scho-
lastic term to the period between the ages
of eight to fourteen-a term lower than that
of any other state or territory. The report
touched on several other points of interest
in the public school question, which are too
numerous to mention here.
The formal reception of the Association
took place on the night of the 25th, Col.
Jones delivering an address in which he bid
every member a hearty welcome to the hos
pitality and homes of the people of Hous-
ton. The Col is a graceful speaker, and
did the quin-propellers proud throughout
his remarks. He was responded to by
President Gosling, who was scarcely less un-
stating in his thanks to Houston than it was
in its generosity toward the editors.
Following this was the poem-''The Three
Knights of Miss Claudio Girardeau, read
by Mr.. d. d. Bryan. twas truly a beauti-
full production, and will win for its author no
little reputation as poetess. The essayist
and orator of the OCCASION respectively
E. d. Linn and w. p Wilson being absent
the time was taken up by an able address on
education from Dr. Curry Southern agent
of the Peobody fund 1t was highly appre-
ciated by the association and pronounced by
every one as a very able effort. Wednes-
day was spent in disposng of regular. busi-
ness and the election of officers, which re-
suited as follows H. l.. Gosling, President,
j. w. Burson, Sec, DR.. Yandell, Seguin
Times, Treasurer Prof. T. j. Girardeau,
Houston Post, made orator for next meeting
and Col. Styles, of the Galveston News
Essayist. A better selection would have
been sought in vain.
On Wednesday an attempt was made to
establish uniform rates as to foreign adver-
tising, but the whole subject was finally dis
posed of by the adoption of resolution of
general character in the nature of a rec
ommendation. The educational report af-
ter lengthy discussion, was adopted. Re-
ports of the treasurers and secretarys were
read and adopted. In the evening the
banquet given by Judge Johnson of the
Post to the editors at his $50 600. mansion
came Of 1t was most interesting and
admirable affair The halls, corridors and
various stairways and apartments were
splendidly lighted, presenting scene really
brilliant. A full blaze of light also ilumined
the table whereon the banquet was
spread, in the long verandah below. The
table was tastefully set off with floral deco
rations, and displayed richness and ele-
gance of viands and edibles seldom surpass-
ed-arranged as it was in the shape of a
square, and being laid with nearly 100
plates. Champaign flowed freely. When
the entertainment was fairly under way,
various toasts were offered and happily res
ponded to. A drill of the Light Guards and
ball at the Fair Grounds near to Judge
Johnson's followed.
Thursday, Mr. Mitchell, OF the
Beaumont Enterprise, having applied for
admission to the Association and received
his badge, was afterwards found guilty of
drunkenness by an investigating committee,
aud excluded. Mrs. Vincent, of Galveston,
volunteered a spirited poem on Sam Hous-
ton and San Jacinto-the most appropriate
subject of the poems heretofore read before
the Association. Mr.. Wilson, the orator,
having arrived, now read his address, which
was very good one. We hope to make
--.... .-a-.u4.- horoaf.or