Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-20
ADDRESS BY THE HISTORIAN.
Mr.. LEONARD Cox Delivers a Chastc and
witty Oratiop.

witty Oratiop.
Mr.. Leonard Cox, the historian of the
association, was then introduced TO de-
liver an address. in his opening re-
marks he said:
The virginia Press Association has an
ancient, brilliant. and somewhat romantic
history. The names of Its distinguished
members of the past are embMmed III
bound volumes Of the Enquirer and DtS-
gaici in the archives OF the State Library,
as well az IN the memory OF some who hear
me Two or three times doiunct, not 10
say killed during the war, 1t has ever SEEM
cd 10 be d lively corpse, and at the sum-
mons Of some sainted brother or the push
ing herald of the magic city OF Roanoke,
il has sprung TO new life and started out
upon some enjoyable pilgrimage through
the Southwest or other booming sections q!
our widely-eXtendcd land"
PROGRESS IN JOURNALISM.
The speaker then referred TO the great
procress that has been made IN journal
ism of recent years as compared WIN tIIt
of half q century ago. In those days rail-
roads were scarce, and the telegraph YVES
a thing unheard of. The main dependence
| for news was the pony express" the old
mail coach and the " steamboat mail, and
| publishers did not enjoy the privilege Of
! free transmission in the country and pre-
payment of postage.
The editor then was also reporter, and
sometimes even cOmpoSltor and pressmsn.
THE CHANGES WROUGHT BY TINE.
1T need not saw" continued the speaker
I in referring to this subject. that l am
! speaking of things long before the war;
! since that period there has come Won
| derful change In the daily methods Of the
!
! have given place TO tho electric
cars and the magnetic telegraph.
! Tho shorthand reporter gives you the
speech of the German Chancellor
! or The English Premier through the
| Atlantic CABLE the night force put il IN
! tyne. the form is stereotyped and electro
| tvped an edition of one hundred thou
sand or two hundred thousand is thrown
of on a perfeeting press, and almost before
/ the sound Of the speakers voice has ceased
10 yibrate, millions of readers on this side
/ of the Atlantic have deyOured the utter
| ances with their morning meal"
THE QUESTION OF FINANCE.
Continuing, the speaker said:
| Talk as YOU may Of the influence and
mower of the press. the question of finance
| 4 one which enters largely into the calcJb
lations OF every publisher. The Commit
tee on Ways and Means Is an important
one in Congress. Nor Is 1t to he WONDER
cd al that the press of Virginia have been
onite unanimous in favor of the silver bill
and an enlargement of the currency and
warm i'm commendation of the eloquent
utterapces of Yirginia's youngest senator
| on that behalf. Nor is 1t surprising that
the alliance of the farmers Of the State
| finds a prompt and earnest support at the
! hands OF those who know but too well the
evils of low prices, short rations, and
emnty pockets The cooperative princi-
| ples of the alliance may protitGbly be
aaopted by the members OF the Virginia
! Press Association.
There are fluctuations in the market for
nearly all commodities. A shortage Of
crons or a corner in wheat or pork has seri-
Gus effect upon an editors pocket. A
strike among workmen enlarges his ex-
pense account. But when were subscrip-
ton or advertising rates known to have
any other than u downward tendency at
least since advertising agencies usurped
the right TO fix the circulation and estab-
lsh rates minus rs per cont. commission Z
This paternai government OF ours has a
very tender and jealous regard for the
morals OF the community and the press by
, interdicting the uso OF the mails TO all
papers publishing advertisements Of lot
teries, and brother in another State was
refused admission at the post-oiiice be.
cause he yentured to publish the result VI
raliie which was held at a church fair
"a GOOD rixE COMING
Since sc net in the magic city Of Roa.