Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-02
KANSAS EDITORS.

KANSAS EDITORS.
Senator Plumb Gives His Experience and
some Advice to Kansas Editors at Clay
Center-Tribute to the Country Press.
CLAY CENTER, Kan, June 27.-The
feature of supreme interest in connec-
ton with the meeting of the editors of
northwestern Kansas at Clay Center
was the address of Senator Plumb. He
did not arrive until o'clock
having been delayed by washout
between Kansas City and Lawrence.
The train on which he came also
brought Maj. j. X. Hudson. Col D. R
Anthony, George w. Martin, ex-Lieut-
Gov. Riddle and other noted Kansans.
Upon being introduced to the associa-
ton Senator Plumb received a hearty
and enthusiastic welcome. He spoke
| substantially as follows:
1 feel that am q sort of q false note
this occasion. 1 have very little idea of what
the modern newspaper association is My
knowledge of journalism goes back to the
| earlier days and to the old matters of con-
Germ which used to engage editorial meet
ings thirty years ago. but knew that in
coming here 1 would find Kansas crowd,
which is always model crowd, we'll
| dressed, well behaved, good natured. kind
and appreciative. come rather desiring to
refresh my memory of the profession by
hearing others speak, an, have really no
copy on the hook. find in my own expert
ence AS the future narrows and grows less,
| that the past broadens and brghtcns. and
dwell with increasing pleasure upon the
memories which this occasion renders
vivid. am to night simply a retired mem
Der of a profession which have always
| loved and to which it has always been my
| hope to some day return
| IL is now forty two years since left the
| home roof to answer advertisement for a
| boy of H. which appeared in a religious pa
per taken in my fathers family. With II in
| my pocket started out to walk the rs miles
| whic h then seemed to me such a great jour
ney. An apprenticeship which embraced
| two nights out of every week working an
| old fashioned single roller finally fitted me
for taking charge of an Office and then for
the amaz ing venture of buying a press of
my own. That was at time when the old
parties were break ing up and the struggle in
Kansas making it's impress public
affairs. Ny interest in the contest brought
me to this state. and the ambition of becom
| ing part and parcel of the struggle caused
| NE to establish the EmpOria News. I can
| say with qualification that the editor OF
that paper 1 at least earned the reputation
of being radical in politics. 1 look back
| upon all that experience as having been of
great value to me, and am fully persuaded
| that one of the elements of true education is
| service at the case.
| With the advent of the daily paper in Kan
| sas, there was much doubt to the future
| usefulness of the weekly. But 1 salts
| fed. and think that experience has proved
| that the great agency in molding and en-
| tightening publ sentiment is the country
| weekly. 1t goes into the homes of the farm.
i ers AMI reaches a vast audience which the
| daily papers do not appeal to. There a
| good many jokes about the poverty of the
| rural editor, but all the same the country
| newspapers continue not only to multiply
| in numbers but to grow in excellence and
| improve in quality. Those in Kansas are
| better than are found in any other state. 1t
| could not be otherwise 1t is the logic OF
Il
| best papers 1t has the most inspiring and
| interesting history and the brightest peo-
| Pile, and the standard of Intelligence anon &
| the reading public determines largely the
| style OF the papers
| This leads to a few thoughts and sug-
| &c stions as to the KIND of paper which is
| calculated to exert the largest influence for
| good. No paper can print all the news. No
| person has time to read all the news. To
select from the great mass of current intelIi-
| gence that which is best and most instruct
| i've is the mission of the true newspaper
| man. To eliminate those things which illus
| trate the worst side OF human nature and
| which ought not to be introduced into the
! family, and 70 give prominence to things
! which the people will be bette know
| ing, is the duty OF tie true journalist.
| AS the population of the AIRY thick
| ems and the. relations between tn people
| become more intimate, new QuesTs ons are
ner the moral and materia. welfare of the
D, 0ple. The social conditions are
| changing with the development of the
| country and problems crowding for
| ward for solution which demand earnest
| study anu thoughtful consideration. To dis.
! cuss these questions and to open up the way
| for their adjustment on a basis which will
i conserve the highest interests of society is
| the duty and the privilege of the press. Into
this great domain of effort the newspaper
man must go. and not without a sense Of his
| great responsibility. We apt to think
that the weight of influence in fashioning OF
| public sentiment is in the great centers OF
| population, but it is among the people of the
| inland and upland. where the blood is purer
| where the ar is more invigorating, where
action is freer, where the great problems are
| to be worked out for the emancipation OF
society
Noble L. Prentis spoke in an interest
ing and felicitous manner of the mission
and history of the press in Kansas,
with which he became identified many
years ago. In introducing him, Presi
dent Valentine of the association OBJ
served that Mr.. Prentis had said more
| pleasant things about Kansas in q
| pleasant way than any man in the
state, and there is no doubt that he has
rightful claim to that distinction
His address sparkled with bright say
ings and was received with much favor
Col Anthony was called out ant
Spoke for some time on newspapers
making succession of hits which were
greeted by continuous laughter and ap
| plause.
At the business meeting Of the Ed
itorial association of northwestern
Kansas a constitution and bylaws were
adopted, and it was decided to take gu
a charter under the state law. TIL,
following officers were elected for tn.
ensuing year: d. A. Valentine of tn.
Clay Center Times, president; J. w
Mcbride, of the Cawker City Times
vice-president; j. L. Bristow, of the Sa
lima Repu blican, secretary; c. B. Kirt
land, of the Salina Journal, treasurer
Salina was chosen as the next plac,
of meeting, the time to be fixed by tn,
executive committee.
Pinkeye Prevalent.
VANDALIA, ILL.,, June 27.-Pinkeye il
prevailing among horses in Vandalis
and vicinity to an alarming extent
: Several valuable horses have died here