The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-02-19
MINNESOTA EDITORS
The Brainy Men of Minnesota in An
nual Convention Assembled at
st. Paul.
Officers Elected and Arrangements
Made for the National Convention
in st. Paul.
FIRST DAYS SESSION.

Ghdl tlldI "ilCil SdLnSISu uSiE, Ilcn NIlOJ
as mOulders of public opinion have left the
impress of their work upon the common
wealth and are destined to leave it in a
still deeper degree.
AS soon as the convention came to order
the president, L. P. Hunt, of the Mankato
Free Press, gave his address. He extended
congratuli tions to the convention on the
fact that no state could produce better
class of editors. 1t was time that the
editors and publishers of Minnesota should
organize for mutual protection. Certain
legislative matters were recommended to
the careful consideration of the members ot
the association. The speaker considered it
a wise move to hold two meetings year,
thus separating business and pleasure. A
legislative committee, composed of the
ablest men in the association, should be ap-
pointed
After the address the convention turned
its attention to business matters. Irving
Todd, of the Hastings Gazette; H. P. Hall,
st. Paul News, and H. G. Day. Albert Lea
Standard, were appointed a committee to
select representatives to attend the National
Editorial association meeting to be held in
July next at st. Paul.
A message OF greeting was sent to the
Canadian Press association, which meets
tomorrow at Toronto.
A committee on resolutions was ap-
pointed, consisting of J. A. Johnson, st.
Peter Herald; Soren Listoe, Nordvesten,
and George Pease, Anoka Union.
Letters of regret were read from H. +.
Hoard, W. ]. c. Kenyon and Frank j.
Mead
The treasurer's report shows total of re-
ceipts for the year, including $51.93 on
hand at the beginning of the year, o:
$2055.69. Total expenditures, 1882, leav-
ing a balance on hand Of $2136S, with
$72.55 still due from the committee on the
publication of laws.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
y At the afternoon session the first topic on
the programme was that of Legal Adver-
tising" on which subject there was a paper
by George n. Lanphere, of the MOorhead
News. Mr. Lanphere took strong grounds
against the printing of legal notices at less
than the authorized fee. If this discount
was for the benefit of the mortgagor, in the
case of mortgage sales it would not be so
bi ectio nsble, hut the discount almost uni
formly inures to the benefit Of the attor-
neys in the premises or to the loan COM
panies holding the claim. The paper
closed with the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Minnesota Editors and
Publishers association, in annual convention
assembled, emphatically disapproves and con-
demns the practice of giving discounts from the
statute fee allowed for the publication of legal
notices in the newspapers OF the state, and
views it as a practice which unnecessarily di-
minishes the legitimate revenues OF the news
paper business, thereby lowering its dignity and
honorable independence. 1t expresses the hope
aud recommends that all the publishers Of the
state will hereafter demand the full legal fee in
every case OF snch publication.
J. A. Johnson, of the ST. Peter Herald,
| took decided grounds against rebates. and
declared that he had never yet given back
single cent in such manner.
The editor of the st. Peter Tribune was
as fully opposed to giving rebates on le- al
advertising as any one. He thought, how
ever, that there was needed something
stronger than resolution to break up the
custom of rebates, as such resolutions had
been repeatedly disregarded.
There followed considerable further dis
cussion, in which everybody agreed that
all the editors should decide to never pub
lish legal notice at less than legal rates.
Mr.. Pease of the Anoka Union, caused a
commotion by stating that there wo1ld be
bill introduced in the legislature this
session which would reduce the legal rates
by one-third. Several speakers advocated
an agreement whereby the papers would
| all reuse to publish the notices at all if the
rates are reduced.
| Mr.. Paradis, of the Midway News, moved
the appointment of a committee of five to
look alter legislation which affected the
| publishers.
Mr.. Heatwole was of the opinion that
the present legislature should be handled
with gloves, as there was no way of telling
what it would do. In regard to another
matter, he presented a resolution endorsing
the bill introduced by Senator Tawney,
which takes away from the judges of pro-
| bate the power OF selecting the papers in
which notices shall be published, and
| Al,
! and administrators. Both Mr.. Heatwoles s
resolution and the motion of Mr.. Paradis
were adopted. Mr.. Lanphere's resolution
| was referred to the committee on resolu-
tions.
H. G. Day, of the Albert Lea Standard,
read an interesting paper upon the "Regu-
lation of Common Carriers" He reviewed
theincreasing power of the corporations and
dangers resultant therefrom. People seemed
to be forgettul of the fact that the country
| belonged to them and not the corporate ons.
The remedy for the existing state OF affairs
! is in proper use OF the ballot, an honest
administration OF the courts and most OF
all in the power of the press. There should
| De laws regulating consecutive terms OF
Office OF legislators and representatives in
congress. United States senators and the
president of the United States should be
elected directly by the people, Appeal
should be made often to the people for first
principles, and then the people should be
educated and elevated. The paper was abe
and scholarly throughout.
THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION.
encouragement of Immigration by the
State, was the subject of paper by w. Z.
| McKinzie of the Crookston Times. He
favored an immigration bureau, but
thought their efforts should be mainly di-
rected to the East and South, rather than to
the inducement OF foreigners to settle in the
state. 1t would be better to make an effort
to Americanize the foreigners already here
rather than to get still more to come. But
the overflow from the Eastern states con-
stitutes the class of people winch will be oil
most value to the state.
Mr.. Carpenter, of the Pennington Trib.
une, vigorously opposed the plan of an inn
migration bureau, conducted at the ex-
pense of the state. 1t was simply scheme
to allow speculators to get rid OF their pri-
vate property through the use OF the states
money.
Mr.. Ives of the st. HiIaire Spectator; Mr..
Lanphere and Mr.. Listoe, of the Nordvest-
en-, jumped into the fray as soon as Mr..
Carpenter had ceased speaking, and in an
emphatic manner set forth the needs OF the
state in the way of an immigration bureau.
IN THE EVENING.
The evening session of the editorial as.
sociation at Westmoreland hall was of So
/ clal ana literary character. The beauty and
fashion as well as the brains of other citiet
nd towns were represented in the gather
ing,
/ The programme opened with selection
by Seibert's orchestra. The second number
was recitation by Mr.. Franklyn w. Lee,
of the Daily News, of an original poem ell
/ titled Widow Breen,'
Following Mr.. Lee came Col. Pat Donan,
whose paper on "The Country Press, Its
/ Mission and Power" was listened to with
the deepest appreciation. For over an hour
Col. ponan poured over his audience the
lurid fireworks OF his oIatory in an oration
| characteristic of himself and as unap-
proachable in its own peculiar style as a
railroad manager by . tramp seeking Tor 4
free pass,
The hardships of an editors life were de
picted in the most woetul terms, in whicl,
the editors sanctum was characterized as an
inky den. a tread mill of horror. The
1 versatility of talent requited to be able to
write upon all the subjects necessary was