St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-15
The EDITORS ABROAD,
Citizens Receive the Nations
Newspaper Men With
Open House.
Successful Opening Of Sew
enth National Editorial
Convention.
The Largest Aggregation o
Editors in the Worlds
History.
Freedom Of the City offered
the BPainy Men Of the
Country.

If the remainder of the United States
did not tip up yesterday it was not be-
cause a large preponderance of the
brain OF the country was not in st.
Paul. And the beauty, too. Six hun
dred editors are here, representing
every section of this great republic, and
most of them have brought along their
wives and daughters. 1t is the greatest
gathering Of editorial brain and enter
prise ever seen in this or any other
country, time or cline, and. besides be-
ing of great interest to the editorial
fraternity everywhere, is a source Of gen.
eral pleasure to the delegates, as it is the
centerofa summer picnic excursion that
Will stretch its arms out to every point
of interest in the Northwest. 1t is no
less important to ST. Paul, as the i'm
preston of st. Paul, its people and the
country that is photographed OH the
minds of the editors Will be reproduced
in newspapers that will be read by
millions. Fourteen thousand presses
were represented in the convention of
these editors. and each press viii repeat
Indefinitely the story of what they did,
what they saw and how they were
treated.
1t is the seventh annual convention of
the National Editorial association,
which stretches ont its Briareus arms
over every state and territory of the
Union. For the most part, it is COM
posed of the editors and publishers of
those great factors of American civ
llization-the weekly papers though
here and there provincial dailies are
sandWiched in. Once a year it brings
these publishers into convention for
business purposes and social pleasures,
and that time has come. About six hun
dred editors are here. and il would seem,
from a glance over the convention, they
were chosen for their good looks, for a
more intelligent, well-loOking body of
men, typical as they are. could not be
found the country over Youth and
beauty are contributed to the assem-
blage by a nearly equal number of
ladies, some OF whom are delegates. and
others the wives, sisters and daughters
of the editors, who come to witness the
proceedings, enjoy the entertainment
and participate in the subsequent eXer-
cises. For four days the party will be
the guests of st. Paul, and the city will
do its utmost to make them feel wei
come and so impress them with the
beauty and general attractiveness of
the city that their several papers will
ring with the praise of Minnesota after
they snail have returned home.
The Opening Session
of the convention began yesterday
morning. 1t was largely social in its
character. The last of the delegates
had nos arrived when the first address
was delivered, so that the attendance at
the Grand opera house was not repre-
sentative. Wearied with days of travel
many of the morning arrivals did not
appear, and not until the convention
gets down to business to-day will the
fun strength be present. Early yester-
day morning the special train arrived.
IL two sections, over the Northwestern
road from Chicago, carrying sixteen
sleepers and over GOO people. They
had received an ovation at Chicago.
which was continued through Wiscon-
sin at WaukeSha and Madison, and
they reached st. Paul confident of the
reception for which St. Paul and Min
nesOta are proyerbial. In this they
were not mistaken. Upon the arrival
Of the trains prominent citizens were
in waiting to escort them to the car
Tiages and subsequently to give an in
formal welcome to the several hotels.
No formal receptions took place at that
time, and the delegates were subjected
to no tireSOme delays. The assignments
TO the different hotels had already been
made, and no time was lost in making
the guests comfortable in the rooms to
be their headquarters for the next four
days. The official headquarters had
already been opened at the Hotel Ryan,
and the rooms of the st. Paul Press
club were converted into an informal
headquarters, where all delegates were
welcome, and where mail will be re-
ceiVed during the convention. The
sessions are to be held at the Grand
ODera house, which has been hand
sOmely decorated for the occasion, as
already described in the GLOBE. All
of the convention adjunctS will occur
at the Press club rooms, which have
been dressed in holiday attire to cor
respond.
The delegates were slow in getting
Into their seats for the morning session,
and when 10 O'Clock arrived the ban
nerS marking the location of the several
states waved over rows Of empty chairs.
The corridors and lObbies, however.
were crowded, and the air resounded
with merry greetings. The Illinois
ladies were there in force, and it was
made evident in the beginning thatthey
would be heard to effect later in the
convention. There were numerous ladv
delegates who were allotted to seats in
their respective state delegations, the
lady visitors taking the stage. The
body OF the house was reserved entirely
for delegates, and the indications are
that by to-day twill be barely sufficient
TO contain them all. On the stage, the
officials were surrounded by a crescent
group of chairs for ladies and guests. in
the center of which was placed large
velvet lounge for the orators of the oc-
caSiOn.
Social Amenities.
1t was well after IL o'clock when
President Stephens called the conven-
tlon to order. Archbishop Ireland in
vOked the divine grace upon the assem-
bly, in very eloquent and impressive
prayer. Gov. Merriam delivered the
states welcome to the thought directors,
His eXcellency did not know his pres
ence meant an address until Just before
it occurred, but he was equal to the oc-
cason. His words were well chosen.
gracefully delivered and very favorably
received. Mayor Smith briefly rendered
the freedom of the city in his bluff.
manly way, and Senator Davis delivered
the final address of welcome. The lat
ter was eXtemporaneous, and not the
carefully prepared Grafton usually de-
liVered by the statesman, but
1t was full of information and
was frequently applauded. President
Stephens responded for the association
III the best address of the evening. He
was lavishly applauded throughout and
given an ovation at its conclusion. The