Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-09-29
The Press Association.

10 the state, than the annual meet
ing> OF the press association. The
benefit to the people where the con-
vcntion i held is not measured by
the narrow standard of similar gather
ing>. where the few dollars each mem
her diShurscs during his stay are OF
paramount Importance, and the occa-
| sion when it l. over is soon forgotten
ard its results, ii any follow, are Of
tri.iing Importance.
The conductors OF newspapers are,
OF necessity, educators. The people
( look to them 70. careful digest OF
events and such expressions OF opin-
ion as may be based upon oppor-
tunities for a wide range of vision.
The editor, in his sanctum, has an
immense advantage over those who
do not have as wide access to the news
OF the busy world, and his opinions
find attention and adoption in proper
ton as he manifests his ability to
draw logical differences from passing
events. But while he may have a
good opportunity for formulating Il
very correct deduction from the daily
map Of business thus spread out before
him, there is very little range for
original thought, or to add anything
new to the general sum of human
knowledge.
1t is just such meetings as the an.
nual gathering of the Press Associa-
ton which widen the field of journal
ism, and were they held oftener, with
all the "junketing" accomplishments,
and a larger interest aroused and a
fuller attendance secured, it is not too
much to claim that the State
would be materially benefited by it.
As an illustration of this we have
only to note that the writer of these
lines obtained better knowledge OF the
incentives which hold the citizens of
Seattle in such close unity OF inter-
est, during the ride to Snoqualmie
Falls, than he had gained by sitting in
his sanctum thirty-four years. He
knows more of the merits of the ship.
canal claim for government aid, from
questions answered during that
memorable ride, than he has gathered
from Seattle's able newspapers ever
since the subject was preached. It
seems that many of the objects are so
plain to the scribes of those journals
that they do not deem it necessary to
enlighten "outside barbarians" on the
subject. The writer found that the
only object to be subserved by passing
! ship into the grand system of fresh
water Ct lakes back of Seattle was not
to wash barnacles from her bottom,
nor was it the main object. There
were many Others, which at the proper
time will enable the writer to place
facts before his readers, which may
serve in some degree, to remove "the
ditch" from the pale of partisan poll
tics. He is satisfied from what he
saw and heard, that the canal would
be benefit of far reaching import
ance to many important industries,
and for the many intelligent mould
ers of public opinion" to re-enter their
sanctum with this conviction means,
at least, an intelligent presentation of
facts and qualifications for discussion |
the subject fairly whenever opportun-
ity may offer.
There was in the convention a dis
position to curtail the time devoted to
Sightseeing, which. Brother jenkins,
at the other end Of the Sound, de-
nominated "junketing," but it is
thought, that subsequent discussion
OF that point left but little doubt that
it is an indispensable feature of the
organization. Newspaper men, espe-
cially of the smaller towns, give too
little thought to recreation. They are |
too closely weeded to their respective
journals, and loose sight of the fact
that such excursions as the good people |
OF Seattle provided for their guests
opened. to a majority of the guests
books of instruction that had been
sealed volumes to them before the
key-opportunity-was supplied.
1t has never been our lot to attend |
q meeting where q more whole-souled |
spirit of fraternity prevailed than at
the press meeting just closed at Seattle.
1t is probably opportune that the
meeting was held in the city which
averages up more enterprise to the
square inch than any other city ON
the continent, and which possesses so
many citizens whose hearts are as
large in proportion. l. may have
been owing mainly to the spirit of
welcome accorded to the scribes that
placed them in such a happy mood
it may have been their delight in
meeting with a community who have
apparently adopted the faith-curc as .
panacea for hard times and have
ignored the existence OF such a su-
preme nuisance entirely; but certain
it is there was not dull face, nor
downcast heart, in the whole assem-.
blage.
Next year they meet in Olympic,
and let us hope that we may be equal.
ly fortunate in entertaining the guests
who will be quick to comprehend the
truth, whatever it may be.
THEIR HEARTS ARE IN THE WORK.
long as Seattle has such men as Mayor
Ronald, Samuel C. Crawford, John w.
Hanna, Chas. and Thos. w. Prosch,
and long list of others we could
name, to devote their time and means
for the accommodation of guests, she
can rest assured that it will be done.