The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-24

s
:. - ess;esss - dunbar of Damarlscotta
KennsIaN--....6r 4. Fobrs of Paris
.gnoDscot BENJAMIN A. Burr of Bangor
fiscataquls-Orin ). Haskell Of Pittsfed.
Sagadahoc-Ray Tn mpson of nichrond.
Somerset-Joseph o. smith of Skowhegan
Maldo-Charies A. Pillsbury of Belfast.
Wishington-sieorge w. Drsco of Machias
fork-Frank III. Dexter OF Springvale.
Mr.. Brown Thurston then read memorial
of the late FL. W. Richardson Of Portland
and Joseph b. Hall of Presque Isle. 1t was
voted that the report of the committee on
neurology and county historians be filed
with the secretary for publication.
Mr.. Robbins, from the committee to ap-
point essayist aid poet, reported
2Essayist Ray Thompson of Richmond; alter
nate. george Wa kins of Portland
Herbert M. Lord of Rockland.
Mr.. Rowell, of the committee to appoint a
committee on summer excursion, reported
George W. Drisco, Machias; James G. Chill
colt. Ellsworth; Arthur w. Laughlin, Port
land.
President Miller appointed the following
standing COMMITTEES:
Adyerti> ing-Geo. S. Rowell, Portland; Charles
Haskell, Pittsfeld; Ray Thompson, Rich
JOB Printing-Geo. H. Watkins, Portland /:
Charles e. Nash, Augusta; William J. Landers,
Summer Excursion-Marshall N. Rich. Port
land A. W: Laughlin, Portland; Frank II. DIX
gusta.
Neurology William B. Lapham, Augusta; E.
q. ElwelL Portland; George E. Brackett, Bel.
fast. Ne'-
Mr.. Frank FL. Dexter, of Springvale, Of
fered the following resolution, which was
adopted:
RESOLVED, That we urge upon our members and
the publishers of ali newspapers in Maine
. members or not; the Importance of con-
year OF bsiTgfIg before the public very fully ey-
eyy Industrial resource Of our own State, and dis
descriptions Of the West soh g WcS S
only the attrac ions of their res pective localities
witnont referring to any OF the many disadvant
row the weapons of the enemy and boom Maine
| as never before.
Reports of the county historians were
read as follows:
| Brown Thurston for Cumberland county
Jas. 9. Chilcott for Hancock; w. B. Lap
ham for Kennebec; Joseph Wood for Ken
| kins for Arthur Z. Fobes for Oxford; Joseph
| Wood for Chas Pills ury for Waldo; Geo.
| w. Drisco for Washington, Frank Fl. Dex-
| ter for York.
On motion of Mr.. Dexter it was voted that
the incoming president, the retiring presi-
dent, Samuel l.. Miller, Secretary Joseph
Wood and George w. Drisco, were elected
delegates to the National Editorial Associa-
| ton in Boston.
Mr.. Rowell presented an invitation from
Harry Brown for the members to visit his
| studio. DIR. Lapham extended an invita-
ion for hos - r
the Historical Association.
The afternoon session opened at go
o'clock. On motion of DIR. Lapham it was
voted that the secretary be authorized to
have the usual number of reports of the pro-
ceedings of the annual meeting printed.
| A resolution was adopted extending thanks
to the Maine Central and the Knox g. Lin
coin railroads. the city government of Port
land, and to NJ. S. Gibson, proprietor of the
| Preble House, for courtesies extended to the
| association.
The literary exercises were then taken up
| Hon. Joseph O. Smith of Skowhegan, deIiv-
cred the annual address ON "The Practical
and Ethical in Journalism"
THE PRACTICAL AND ETHICAL IN JOUR
NALIsM.
The essayist said that in discussing the
practical and ethical as connected with Jour
nalism one naturally represents things as he
sees them from his own standpoint. The ar
tlces OF commerce or stock in trade of the
publisher of newspaper are II his paper as
| whole. and III the advertising space it con-
| talns. From these in one way or another he
must get the wherewithal IL TO run his busi-
ness. bny stock and pay help; ri to support
| himself and family and ed ucate his children
and III to lay by something for the day that
| comes to journalists as well as others, when
the hand and brain must desist from labor
and when he must pass quietly ldown the
| western slope of life.
The publishers first solcitude is the cir
cnlation Of his paper. This is not only the
| direct source of income but the basis upon
which he Is expected to fix value upon the
| space designed for sale to advertisers. | be-
lieve that publishers Of papers in Maine,
outside OF the larger cities perhaps. do not
get fair price for the space they sell TO adj
vertisers. Agents aud advertisers use every
means In their power to reach the great pub
nc through newspapers at the very lowest
1gnres, regardless OF the cost to publishers.
1t would seem that the first object of the ex-
lstence of some of these gentlemen is to en-
ter into conspiracy to keep the country ed
ltor poor so that close bargain can be driv-
| en- with him.
The local advertiser seems to have an idea
tnat the space he requires ought to be af-
forded for song and that, taken out of the
store, and the patent medicine man and the
soap vender think you should advertise their
| benefit
1t is useless TO write about this condition
OF things or talk about it unless we have a
remedy or think we have remedy. Have
| we such and wherein is 1t? This ASSOCIATION
IN former years used to have committee to
establish a schedule of rates of advertise.
ment. To make the space given up to the
| advertiser yield the publisher fair eouiva
lent the publisher should know what he
wants, let the customers know l., and have
| an understanding with his brother pub.
| fishers. An equitable price should be fixed.
taking into account composition, position,
length OF term, space, etc. A bottom or
dead-line price should be fixed and main
tanned at all hazards. This will have the
effect to drive away some customers bpt
mole money will be obtained for the space
used and thereby gain made in the net
receipts.
Confidential correspondence between pub
fishers of papers similarly situated and of
like circulation, relative to advertising rates,
TO the end that they may act in harmony, has
been tried with good effect.
The method of advertising by reading
mater and locals Is intolerable. The sub
scrlDer Is abused, his time stolen, TO please
the advertising patrons and to swell the
tle peollsher can exclude these reading no.
tsces from the paper. True, but publishing
paper Is not a sentimental job. but an un-
dertaklng for livelihood. If these notices
are published they should be charged for by
=. MOST editors have laudable ambition that
their papers shall be newsy and bright With
dread of being dull. This is commen,d III" he
but Is liable to be carried too far. News is
the first object of a newspaper, of conrse
Legitimate, healthy, live news, adapted To-
the field of operation of the paper In ones.
ton vi course there is difference in the
makeup and scope of news in the daily and
the weekly. This is evident. Personal gos-
sip, sensational and indecent disclosures.
saloon brawls, political court details, family
feuds, revelations Of vice, crime and de-
bsuskery are net the topics Of healthy news