St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-15
PRESIDENTS POINTS.
The Annual Address by Mra
Stephens to the Editorial
Convention.
A National Headquarters for
the Body Strongly Ree-I
commended.
Requirements Of a Properly
Conducted Newspaper Di-
reetory.
Suggestions and TruiSms Of
Interest to the Publishep
Everywhere.

congratulate you upon this-the largest
assemblage of Journalists ever witnessed in
this or any other land. For the first time in
history there are gathered in one conventions
representative members of the press from
every state and territory in this Union. The
newspapers of the United States are the most
eloquent expressions of its freedom and its
progress. Within the century they have
grown fLom 100 to 1900. in ratio nine times
greater than that of its population and which
doubles with each successive decade They
give employment to half million of people
and represent an annual product of 500, ,000.-
wv: Their development as a moral and in
tellectual force has been even greater, and
the convention in which we meet to day is
therefore in the highest sense representative
of our civilization.
This beautiful and magic city of st. Paul.
symboliZing to such marvellous degree the
most conspicuous elements of our national
growth, is congenial and attractive spot to
this National Editorial association. As in-
stlncuyely as the eagle seeks the sun does
Journalism rush with eagerness into the at
mosphere OF progress. i am reminded that
we meet to-day near the birthplace of this
Dody. Seven years ago this month at q
meeting OF the Minnesota Press association,
held near this city. in his annual address, its
president, B. B. Herbert, recommended the
organization of this association. The sug-
gestion was adopted and an executive COM
mlttee and four delegates were appointed to
call a meeting of the journalists of the yari-
Gus states and territories at New Orleans the
following winter. On Feb. 10, 1885, delegates
were present at New Orleans from eighteen
states, an organization effected by the elec-
ton or Col. Herbert as president. .and the Ma
1onal Editorial association became an ac-
complished fact. Successive annual meet
1ngs at Cincinnati with representation from
"A states, at Denver from II states at San An.
tonic from % states, at Detroit from 27 states,
and at Boston from 81 states, have been held,
developing constantly increasing interest
until there are here to-day representatives
from states and territories.
And now as we meet here again, in this
seventh annual meeting, SO near the BIRTH
place of this body, 1 may extend congratu-
latlon to its membership, and express the
hope that it may here be born again unto
greater usefulness and nobier achievements
than it ever has known in the past.
This association is not only larger in menu
bership, but it is more comprehensive of the
various branches of the profession than any
that has ever existed. 1t is limited to no
class of publications. but it represents the
entire newspaper and periodical press, and
is in fact as well as in name national asso-
citation.
1t is repeating statement that is perhaps
trite but that is no less true and worthy or
repetition in this presence, when it is de-
clared that the
Greatest Power in 'EI,is Land
to day is the newspaper press. In scope Of
influence no other avocation disputes its SUI
premacy. Such has been its bewildering pro-
Sr6SS lQdC IL mas NdruIy laQ tllGe TO reaIlZe lta
own importance or adjust itself to the con-
ditions which surround it. The journalists
of this land long ago learned that one part Of
their mission was TO help others In this as
sociatlon they are taught that another part is
to help themselves. The newspaper is not
wholly a public institution. 1t is private as
well. and while it owes a duty to the public
it likewise owes duty TO ITSELF the faithful
discharge of which will enable it to tie bet
ter perform its public function. A. press to-
be pure must be prosperous. To be morally
independent it must be financially independ-
ent, and to thus make it is one of the pur-
poses of organization.
The object of this association is to bring,
the newspapers of the country to a better
understanding of their interests and of each
other, higher conception of their duties,
and more thorough organization for their
own benefit and protection. While journal
ism is divided into many departments with
distinct lines of work there are certain evils
common to them all, and certain rules Of
action which all may adopt with undoubted
benefit.
The work already wrought by this Ma
tional Editorial association has been of in
estimable value. 1t has established q better
feeling between the sections. 1t has stimu-
lated discussion upon many subjects of in
terest to the craft and by the interchange
of ideas and enunciation of policies touch
ing the practical operations of our business
has accomplished many needed reforms
and substantial Improvements. In the modi-i
fcation of the libel and other laws of many
states it has effected marked and lasting
benefit. 1t is in fact impossible for so many
practical representatives of profession as
alert to progress as journalism to gather
from every section of the union without i'm
parting information TO each other of most
valuable character.
If there is a vocation in existence whose
members may reap adva ntage from organiZa-
ton, it is the vocation of Journalism. En-
tering his profession without any specific
training in the schools, relying purely upon
observation within the prescribed limits OF
his own workshop, deprived by the peculiar
competitions and frictions of his business Of
even the benefits of personal association
with those of his own profession, dependent,
in fact upon his own personal experience,
the newspaper man is the most isolated and
lonesome of men. Hence, how often does
he spend his career in one monotOnous,
changeless routine. following one treadmill.
hard worked and poorly paid, without max
ing any progress, because so circumscribed
by the horizon of opportunity. OF all men
the Journalist. whose chief mission is to in
struct the public, should be equipped for his
duties. To him peculiarly are associations
like this, wherein he may avail himselfeof
the knowledge OF the most successful of his
profession in all sections, of incalculable ad-
vantage. And of all schools none are to be
compared with those wherein workers fresh
from their varied fields of work meet face to
face for an interchange of experiences and
ideas.
Much as this association has done in the
past, it has but entered upon its career Of
usefulness. 1t has been but tending TO that
condition of crystalliZation to which it is
destined.
Several of my predecessors have recon-
mended as indispensable to the success Of
this body the establishment of
A National Headquarters.
cordially concur in the suggestion. Il
will never be possible TO set on foot any per-
manent or organic plan of work until this
association has place of abode at some CEN
traI and accessible point. The present
various sections of the country, meeting
only at long intervals and then simply to ar
range its programme for its annual meeting,
render any organic, consecutive or effective
work impossible, and largely limits its op-
Grafton to the social and educational benefits
Of its sessions. Several plans for the estab-
lishment of headquarters have been sug-
gested. One has been by incorporation.
and the subscription of stock sufficient
to enable the purchase of a building
and the creation Of a dividend to defray
the expenses of management. The building
could be rented to persons engaged in the
business, or in the sale of pub
fishers supplies, and thus be in fact what its
name would Indicate Should this not be
practicable the membership fees of this body
could be increased, SO TO make them sufficient
to maintain 1t; or it would be possible to
make its support dependent upon the sub
scriptions of such persons as receive direct
benefit from the agencies which its establish
ment would involve. The secretary. who
could be made its manager, should be placed
executive committe or board OF directors, to
superintend the work.
The possible benefits Of such headquarters
are numerous We need a national news
paper directory-one for the benefit OF the
profession, and not to subserye the ends Of