Telegram-herald., 1889-07-10
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Mr. Brearley Advocates the Formation
of Press Clubs.


Next on the program was the address
of the president. Mr.. Brearley spoke
as follows:
"The position which the Executive
Committee have gwen me upon the
evenings program neatly sandwiched
in between the Grafton of Brother
Potts on one side and the address of
Mr.. Lewis on the other, reminds me of
story told by Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher. On April FOOLS Day, one
year, he received unique letter. 1t
contained but two words, "April Fool"
He sent it to the New York Ledger with
the following comments: "My dear
Mr. Bonner. l inclose you title
which | received this morning. / have
often received letters from absent
minded friends who forgot to sign their
names, but | never before knew any
one to sign his name and forget to
write the letter."
Like all other printers | am familiar
with different kinds of "pi" and have
seen it made with two crusts separated
by the insertion of mlcroscoplcally
thin layer of meat, but /
never before saw the contents sepa-
ated and put on the outside and the
crust -put between. The people of
Grand Rapids through his honor, the
mayor, was kind enough to express To
us this afternoon their pleasure at hav-
ing our convention III their city. /
trust that this pleasure may not be dis
slpated, but that when We goaway the
citizens OF this city will think OF the
Michigan Press Association rs a soldier
once did of a gun-boat. 1t was ON the
Peninsular campaign during the battle
of Malvern Hill, when - soldier who
WAS falling back to establish new base,
supplies approached the shore of the
Potomac river IN time to get aboard
small boat which was just leay-
ing the bank for gun-boat
in the center of the stream. Amid the
firing OF the great naval guns, which
were hurting brOadsidcs across the
water, over the hills and away into the
rebel ranks, the soldier lost no time
until he found the commanding officer,
when, clasping the captains knees with
his arms. he exclaimed, "IIallelulahi
Glory TO Cod Every soldier ought to
have a gun-boat." hope that the ex-
clamation of Grand Rapids wilt be,
"every city ought to have a press asso-
cation.
Seriously, / believe every city should
have a press club. Saginaw has a live
one. Detroit had one and the time
may soon come when Il VIII be revived.
Grand Rapids, | have been told to-day,
has the beginnings of a press club, and
this beginning should not be- allowed to
90 uncnc0uragcd or unsupported. 1t
IS pretty mean and small man who
would not take - honorary member
snip 10 help organize and maintain
such a club. No one would refuse
who WAS IN business IN that
| place or who owned real estate
or whose business Interests could be
advanced by the press. who had any
adequate comprehension of the advan-
tages that would result from a closer
acquaiutance between reader and pub-
Usher. II may be that some Of the
papers here represented are published
IN towns 50 small as not TO make tins
plan practicable This & true only in
part II I was farmer and living near
such a town ! would Cndow q q char
ln that publisher Office not to loaf ia.
but % OCCASIONALLY occupy long enough
o. leave CHEEKY HeT1s of good vii and
eucour1ge emert that would make tire
oUsfy ana dirty old 0thce gioW w7th All
uneyps ted Iigrt
a nlan who bad an artist pant his
portrait found it tedious 80 st stlli.
time a tter TIME. walie hfs features we're
reprelreed upon the canvas Cant
r. ~ finally s4la. do something