Wichita eagle., 1888-05-17
DEMOCRATIC EDITORS.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE KAN
S.AS DEMOCRATIC EDITORS
AND PUBLISHERS AS
S0CIATI0N
In This City Yesterday---An Unusu.
ally Large Gathering Of
the Brains of Kansas
Democracy.

! Wichita has during the present month
demonstrated bey ond any question tha
she is not only best able of all Kansas
cities to entertain state conventions OF an,
and every character whatsoever, but sh,
has demonstrated the further fact that tn,
conventions held here have without excep
ton been the best attended of any of theil
respective kinds ever held in the state.
These meetings have broadly varied ir
character, from an annual Sunday Schoo
association to state Democratic conven
tion. Between these two extremes fell tht
Kansas Democratic Editors and Publish
ers' association, which met in this city yes
terday.
This association at its meeting yesterday
presented an array of unusually bright and
intelligent gentlemen, who represent the
hfe the energy and the character OF The
Democratic party in Kansas.
As early as Tuesday fair sprinkling oi
Democratic Kansas editors began TO arrive
in the city. About the same time the
various candidates for delegates to the Ma
tion convention at ST. Louis June g. put in
appearance and opened up their respective
headquarters at the leading hotels. The
|
a candidate or delegate, soon developed.
There were three things which struck the
disinterested observer quite forciby. First,
the members of the association We're far
above the average in appearance. Second,
they are most excellent wire pullers, and
third and most remarkable was the ten
acity with which they fought for the
empty hOnors of being made delegates or
alternate to a convention, whose candidate
was in fact renominated the day he was in
augurated. for the reasons that as soon as
he won once they would play him to win
again.
The principle streets of the city display
ed quite a profuSion of bunting. The Til
den club had their silk hats ''ironed up"
put on their Prince Albert coats, pinned
upon the lapels of which were little silk
badges bearing the words ''Tilden Club" f"
and thus dressed up" they did most gen
teel service as escorts to their guests. The
association was invited by the board of
trade and the Tilden club to meet in this
city and accept the hospitalities of the city
regardless of politics, and such was the
character of their welcome.
During the day visiting editors, in com
pany with their friends, were shown over
the city and had their eyes opened as they
never were before, at the surprises which
in rapid succession greeted them.
| By evening the scenes about the leading
| hotels were very animated indeed There
! was one conglomerate mass of editors, del
egates to the Democratic convention
candidates and their friends.
THE MEETING.
AT Sp. m. the members of the associa-
| tion began to assemble at the Tilden clubs
headquarters in the market house build
ing. Mr.. L. f. McMeachan, viee-president
of the Tilden club, introduced Mr.. V. J.
Lane, editor of the Wyandotte Herald
the venerable president of the association.
Mr.. Lane said he was gratified to see so
many good Democrats together. 1t used
to be an unusual thing to see more than
two or three. They met this evening more
for the purpose renewing old associations
than for transacting any particular bust
ness. The organization was effected six
years ago for the purpose of sustaining
Governor Click when he was elected
There were then ten members; when we
met at Leavenworth last there were
eighty present, since which time we have
had acquisitions. But. will not detain
yon with any further remarks as Messrs.
Chapman and Park have arranged pro
gram for the evening.
The president then introduced Mr.. c. A.
Edwards, of the Wichita Beacon, who in
very neat manner delivered the following
address of welcome on behalf of the people
of Wichita, through their board of trade
and also ON behalf of the Democratic daily
of Wichita and southern Kansas.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen OF the Kansas Demo
cratic Editors and Publishers Association:
In behalf of the honorable board of trade
of this city, in behalf of that representa-
tive organization, the TILDEN CLUB, in be-
half of the entire press and especially the
Democratic daily of southwestern Kansas,
and in behalf Of our grand city with her
big heart throbbing with hospitality and
kindly feeling for you, l welcome you to
Wichita The great city of Wichita in en-
pertaining her guests knows neither poll
tion of servitude Laughter. Made up
as she is OF truly metropolitan people,
distinguished not only for their bust
ness qualifications, but also as lead
ers in thought. But it is not my
intention at this time TO give you his
tory of Wichita-you all know it. We
are proud of it and so are you, and what
hospitality-and there is much-ft is yours
to enjoy. II there is any one man 10 whom
Wichita throws wide open her hospitable
gates, it certainly is the newspaper man:
for aside from the pleasant duties she per
forms in entertaining you, she also has an
eye to business, and it is no small recon-
pense she receives from the newspaper
man properly entertained.
We thank you for your presence. as we
ha nd fxrl
you to get your own consent to
leave +'the helm in other hands.
and allow them to experience tha: deli ght-
ful sensation which only the editor knows.
when he IS overwhelmed with invitations
to attend dime socials and W. c. T. l..
coffee lunches in payment for weeks Of ex-
tens1ye advertising and many pleasant ,
conversations with the agreeable % people
who crowd these distinguished honors
upon you. Laughter. Doubtless. had
you remained at home, the inevitable
doorkeeper of these extremely pleasant -
gatherings would have recognized you this
time and you would not have encountered
the difficulty that usually attends your
appearance before that important person
age. However, these little incidents are
among the least Of the annoyances that
almost daily await the appearance of
the editor IN his ''sanetum."
There is the professional 'skfcker.o who |
from long experience knows exactly what |
tone OF voice is most exasperating and dis |
tasteful TO the hard worked busy editor. |
when he announces the startling fact that /
for three whole days be has failed 70 re- |
ceive his paper Qaughter). This inyaria- |
bly, produces widening circle Of weari- |
ness in that room, for that same man has
often been told that the business mana /
geers ear Is the proper receptacle for all /
such communication. Then comes the |
man who helirves that Il l. fha rYrnri nee i