The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-25


ted: VIII. Todd, Benton River Press;
S. w. Robertson, Boulder Sentinel; J. s.
Dickerson and Dave Marks, Helena In
dependent, Azel Ames, Helena, Stock.
Journal, Honorary, I. c. Sayory and
wife, C. w. Scott, T. B. Quaw and E. V
Smalley.
THE REPORTS
of the corresponding and recording
secretaries were read and adopted. Ac-
ton was deferred on the invitation to
hold the next meeting at Mis-
soula. R. C. Walker, Will Kennedy and
Alex. Deyine were appointed to draft a
resolution regarding printing legislation
The following officers were elected:
President, w. W. Anderson,
Vice residents-R. E. Fisk, w. ID.
Sutherlin and J. D. Matheson.
secretary-Jerry Collins.
Corresponding secretary-L: A. Leon
ard.
Treasurer-Will Kennedy.
Executive Committee-W. d, Knight,
J. E. Stevens and W. C. Oakley.
At 10 a. m. Friday; the meeting was
opened with the annual address, which
is published in full:
BY ]. D. MATT HsoN.
When received the invitation OF our
honored president to deliver the annual
address to the Montana Press ass3cia-
ton. though l accepted it with some
trepidation and doubt Of nv ability TO
treat the subject to the satisfaction Of so
erudite and critical an audience, vet l
hoped that by a reasonable amount of
industry l might be able to present a
few ideas that might lie useful to my
brethren of the Press.
1 fixed upon a time when l shoul
begin to collect the material for my
work, but when the time had fixed up
on for my work arrived was LAID upon
my bed with severe illness, which
consumed two of the three weeks that
remainded to me before the meeting of
the Association, during which time l
could scarcely put pen to paper, and the
remaining week, when felt sufficiently
we'll to work, had necessarily to be
principally devoted to my neglected
business.
have, however, jotted down few
observations, which will have to do duty
for an address.
will start out with the broad asser-
ton that one great essential to success
full journalism is Truth. The outside
public may laugh at the assertion, and IL
is unfortunately true that the alleged
humorists of the Press have encouraged
a CONTRARY idea; but it will be found up.
on investigation that where a large
amount Of accuracy is united with even
a moderate share of erudition the jour
nal will merit and receive the favor of
the public. To the great quality OF
Truth must be added that of Industry in
collecting materials, and Judgment in
the correct use of them.
The exchange editor, and presume
the most of you have to perform the
functions of that Office in addition TO
Others, must resemble the bee, which in
stantly discovers aud extracts with
rapidit, all the sweetness of every
flower. disregarding all the rest. So with
accuracy, industry and ~ dgment a man
of even moderate attachments will pro-
duce paper that will be read with
avidity. that viii carry weight, and will
command the respect of even those who
do not entirely agree with its principles.
Since the advent of the comic papers
papers it has become common practice
to treat almost every subject in humor-
GUS manner, and as happened not q
long ago to run across what the great
aud learned Lord Bacon had said on the
subject of jesting cannot do better than
give it in his own words
He says: "As for jest there are certain
things which ought to be privileged ir9m
it. namely: religion. matters If state,
great persons, any mans present bust
ness of importance, and any case that
ieserveth pity"
"rhe item alb Mt great persons
sounds very quaint to modern ears.
which have grown accustomed 70 the 20
called humor Of the alleged hnmorist,
on all great persons from President
Cleveland to Commissioner SPARKS; but,
l think You will all agree with me, that
the wives Of public men should escape
the often wretched attempts at wit Of
these humorists. Bacon does not men
ton ladies among his exemptions, for
then the days ofchiyslry had not passed
away, and it went without saying. But
in these days-lpust we call them degen-
crate it is considered good form to
break the vulgar jest on the wives of the
most distinguished men, and call them
lightly by the pet names, which are ut
only for the family circle. feel inclin-
ed to give in my entire adherence to
this Baconian theory.
Circulating as cur paDers do among
the families of our patrons. read by pure
ladies' aud innocent children, apart from
the respect We owe TO ourselves. It IS
our duty to keep our journals free from
faint Of impurity. All gross illusions,
especially when couched in the form Of
humor, are emphatically treason against
the very foundations Of human society.
They should never be tolerated nor
countenanced. The local newspaper is
now great factor in the education Of
the rising generation, and it Is duty IN
cumbent upon us to see that nothing Is
printed which viii influence The young
Il evil. The Press ought 10 be sgreat