The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-08-29
JOURNALS AND JOURNALISTS.
THE PRSSS ASSOCIATION OF NORTH
CAROLINA.
A Vehicle of Good to the Press and to
the State if Properly Utilized.
Elizabeth City Eeonomist.1

We have always regarded the Press
| Association as a great investment OF
good for the State, although from
causes beyond Our control We have not
been able to attend its sessions for some
years. But we rejoice that its late ses-
sion, at Lenoir, Caldwell county, was
a success, not only in its social aspects
but in the practical results which were
aimed at by the members of the edito-
rial fraternity who were present. Hith-
erto the meetings of the Press Associa-
ton have been rather too much of a
junketing occasion for social reunion
and for the purpose of furnishing an
advertisement for the towns in which
the annual sessions were held, but we
are pleased to see that the late session
dealt with practical questions Of in
terest to the press and the reformation
of some abuses which had crept in and
impaired the usefulness of the Asssocia-
ton. We are pleased to see the ten
dency to make the Press Association a
representative body of the Press of the
State and to deal with questions that
effect the prosperity and the respecta-
bility of the newspaper business iii
North Carolina. The changes in the
constitution of the Association affecting
the personnel of its membership and the
questions discussed at its daily sessions
of practical matter indicates this pur-
pose unmistakably. The newspaper
business of North Carolina is not very
renumerative and the members of the
Association grappled with that ques-
ton. The editors and owners of the
newspapers of the State are a hard
working body of working men of more
than average intelligence and have
done the State some service, have some
weight and influence in the State and
are entitled to recognition in material
prosperity, but they are poorly paid
and exc out a scanty subsistence. This
should not be thus and we are glad to
see that the Association is alive to the
importance of the subject, for it in
wolves the fundamental question Of ex-
istence. Upon this question chiefly
rests the subject of the "Cash in Ad-
vance system" which was referred to a
committee in the second days proceed
ings. This is the pivotal, vital question
in North Carolina journalism, and in
deed in almost every other business in
North Carolina. The credit system
has wrecked more business than any
thing else. If "pay as you 60" ad-
vance, could become the rule of jour-
nalism in our State it would effect an
entire revolution in the business, place
it upon substantial basis and rebound
to the benefit of the State. The fault
we think is greatly owing to the news
papers themselves. Every newspaper
is anxious to extend its circulation and
it makes it indulgent to friendly sub.
scrbiers and afterwards to patronizine
subscribers and indeed to all classes o1
subscribers. 1t is practical question
of great magnitude and we are glad te
know that the Committee to whom i,
was referred-the excellent and able
editors of the Washington Gazette and
Mecklenburg Tmes-will devote to il
such practical thought as will solve the
difficult subject. There can be nc
solid and substantial prosperity in any
newspaper Office, until every subscribe,
pays promptly in advance. If tht
Convention had done nothing else bu
agitate this vital subject, it would no
have met in vain.
The Association made an excellen
selection of officers. Brother McDiar
mid, the President, is friend that w
have known for long time, and VI
have appreciated his excellence sinc'
that night at Turkey Tail, when hi
electric laugh rose above the storm ant
revived the dropping spirits Of tn
whole press gang. That time testet
the manhood of the North Carolin;
press and it would have adjourned sin
die ct temp0re if Brother McDiarme,
had not been there. We know mos
OF the other officers and their selection
is auspicious of success to the Nortl
Carolina Press Association.