Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-08-13
Dakota Press Association /!
4 vigorous Successor to the
Central Dakota Press
Association.
The Convention al Waterfowl on
Monday, July goth. 1885.
President Conklin's Annual Address.
The Official Proceedings.
WArFRrowS. Oak, July 20, 's5.

The press association, embracing
the districts of huron, Aberdeen and
Watertown. to the number of SO pub
lshers, met in annual session at the
clty Of Watertown, Oak. July 20 S5,at
theroller rink, at s o'clock, p. m., s. j.
Conklin, president, presiding, Sec
rotary Luse being absent, upon mo
ton Of A. IL Lewis, Of Milbank, John
II Drake, of Aberdeen, was elected
10 temporarially fill the Office.
After the organization had been
perfected and music furnished by the
Watertown Light Guard band, Presi-
dent Conklin made a few remarks,
after which he introduced Mayor
Thomas, Of the city of Watertown,
who extended, on behalf of the city,
A cordial welcome to the fraternity
in the following language:
The people of WATERFOWL are
proud Of the honor Of this visit of the
editors of South Dakota, and on their
behalf / most cheerfuliy welcome
you to our city. Thepeopie Of Da-
kota are justly proud of their news
papers, and appreciate the great
work done by them. This is an age
Of newspapers. La 1878 there were
only thirteen newspapers in the en-
tire territory Now there are 2l3
The world is challenged TO show a
record equal to this vast change in
the population, business and condi-
ton of this territory during this time
which is largely due 20 the influence
Of the press. Newspaper men, IA a
rule, are poorly paid and overworked
| speak from experience. i am glad
to see you coming together TO consult
and hope you will devise some way
to get more pay and do less work
Again ] assure you of the cordial
welcome orr citizens extend, and de-
sire yon to remember that the more
we can do for yon the better it will
please MS"
A. H. Lewis was next introduced by
the president, who responded in fit
ting terms, expressing the thanks of
the association for the cordial wei
come so kindly expressed.
Then followed the annual address
Of the president. which is given in
full:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Although
] have been connected with the press
for some twelve years, my labors have
been IN that broader field of journal
ism which bowers the laborer with
such knowledge and experience as
/ should possess, to do justice to the
position in which / am now placed,o or
to meet the expectations of such an
assembly Of editorial ability as that
which see before me; and should j
wander from the well beaten track Of
precedent on such occasions, or startle
you by innovations, l may make on
time honored usage,I ask you in char
ity TO believe that i am actuated in
what shall say or recommend, by a
desire that oar profession in Dakota |
shall attain the highest standard of
usefulness that it is its privilege and
its duty to maintain.
This beautiful city wherein we are
assembled was the early gateway to
Central Dakota. and through il pass
ed many thousands of the settlers OF
1879 80 81. The first car load OF
lumber was unloaded by the railway
company here in March, 1879. At
that time from Lake Kampeska to the
Black Hills "a distance Of nearly 400
iuiles), and from Mitchell TO within
twenty miles OF jamestown Ia dis.
lance OF nearly 300 miles,, there was
not "a furrow plowed, nor a settlers
cabin erected. There was nothing
but limitless sea OF living green,
over all OF which brooded the silence
,f creations dawn, invoked by the
voice or footstep Of civilizations where
he beautiful cities OF Mitchell, Huron
and Aberdeen now stand six
Years ago the greasy barbarian pitch
Vi his tent and held his councils; in
hese few years the widest dreams OF
Arabic fiction have been more than
discounted by the unparalleled settle
nent and development of Central Da-
,ota.
La the great work OF educating the
'eople OF the eastern states in the adj
ahtag.s Dakota offered them, and OF
them 10 leave their New
England stone patches TO possess
arge farms in this garden spot OF the