The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-22
a GREAT SUCCESS.
The convention, Banquet and Entertain
ment OF the Republican Editorial
ASSOCIATION of the Seventh Con-
gressional District at Sterling.

editorial convention. The political con
vention is cut and dried affair, tn,
speeches set and partisan and carefully
kept within the bounds of partisan
feaity for the preservation of harmony
The editorial association is not that Or
the contrary, it is the directly opposite
In his paper the editor is partisan
what he says is not so much his opinion
always as his ideas for the best interest.
tolls week in and week out in the pleas
urable drudgery of forming public opin
ion with the facile lead pencil. But on
occasions he leaves his own town, and
meeting with his brothers at a common
designated point. lays by the pen anc
exercises his tongue, free from the iror
restraints of partisan intensity and find:
infinite pleasure in a short vacation oil
unbounded candor and the unbridIed
liberty of free lance thought. 1t is or
this account that the editorial conven-
ton IS series of fraternal wrangles
that would be serious if malice were not
banished outright.
The meeting of the Seventh District
Republican Editorial association at
Sterling on Tuesday and Wednesday of
this week is conceded to be the largest
and most successful of all the conven-
tons yet held by that organization.
Sterling is beautiful little city, re-
splendent in charming homes, velvet
lawns, endless fringes of forestry, popu-
lated by a people who are redundant in
the liberal sentiments of Christian
warmth and hospitality. 1t is no small
matter for young city to undergo the
expense of the entertainment of a con-
vention where marginal profits are not
large and the number of auxiliaries
naturally diminutive. But this
fact alone is guarantee
of the superior brand of hospitality kept
in stock by the good folk of Sterling
By some vague and misty concerted i'm
pulse, these kindly preparations were
simultaneous with desire of a great
many editors to add their presence to
this convention and rousing assem-
blage was the consequence. The hospi-
tally of Sterling met with the most
satisfactory return of cordial, deeply
felt qualification. Barring the idea of
such thing as material profit in return
was dreamed of, it will not be a bad in
vestment in the long run. For the
orderly conduct of the little CITY of
Sterling and the apparent impress of
incorporate society beheld on her streets,
in her stores and in the cheerful coun-
tenances of her citizens, in the beauty
and modesty of her daughters and the
vlgor of her sons, this made an indeIible
impression on the mind of every editor
present. Western Kansas editors are
boomers, and never ingrates.
Tuesday was taken up with minor
matters, and general breathing space
among the editors to muster strength
for the NANNY things to follow. The
mayor of the city in the evening well
coined them. One of the sharpe st of
western Kansas editors, T. J. Palmer,
responded, furnishing incidentally,
thankful refutation that the man who
can write, can not speak. The address
of the evening was that of j. R. Burton.
Burton was ill, but Burton ill is far
better than many and many more pre-
tentious orator, well. Burton has
an orators voice and an orators
figure and, more important than
both of these, keen insight,
quick penetration, mental concentration
and the cogency of logical and inventive
force. He talked of the newspaper, of
the spontaneity of ideas in different sec
lions of the state; of the persecution and
of individuals; the justice
or contingent futurities and the certain
Of the right in the end and
the final payment three fold. Then he
turned to politics and talked. not to the
editor writing for his subscribers, but to
the editor at a fraternal association,
with diluted craftsmanship. Mr.. Burton
did not malign the opposing party. He
derogated partisan blindness. He en-
couraged the fostering of charity to-
wards political opponents. Dir. Mills, he
said, demanded the respect of every citi- !
zen. Mr.. Mills had his opinion and it |
was his honest opinion. Mr.. Burton |,
could not see how Mr.. Mills could advo- |
cate sending the cotton grown in Texas |
to Liverpool to have it sent back here |
made into cloth, when it would be far |
better to have the mill right there in /
Texas and manufacture the goods at /
ffr na,,l1 Il
But that did not license him to doubt /
MIR. Mills honesty of opinion. This was
the strain of Mr.. Burton's speech, and it
pleased the editors hugely. He touched
upon the Alliance seriously and pictured
in humorous tints the dire dilemma of
cheap money. Mr. Buttons speech was
clean cut, comprehensive aud marked
Dy the beauty of immaculate candor.
That was what the editors wanted and
vas most propitious beginning of the
One OF the best parts of the convention
was the inteim spent in the Office of the
hotel Morris, the neat, enterprising
1ostelry OF Sterling. The candidates for
tate offices outnumbered the editors
md 1t was at these entire acts that the
willy candidate throwing has arm about
he neck OF some unsophisicated aud
impIe trusting editor, affectioDately got
us work in.
This was fun for the boys. However.
he real rug of war and the true exempli-
ication oil the editorial convention as it is.
anne with the reading and discussion Of
he papers at the capacious G.. 4. r pro
-lted by the citizens.