The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-09-02
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Delivered by Hon. Geo. J. Lewis Be.
fore the Idaho Press Associa-
tion at Ketchum.

MEMBERS OF THE PRESS AND LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN
Welcome to Ketchum Seeing
this magnificent response to the
call of the Idaho Press Association,
there can no longer exist any doubt
as to the spirit of our newspapers
in the matter Of organization and
fraternal sociability.
It is a rich reward to US who have
contemplated entertaining you at
this time, to feel the warm hand
shake of so many of you here to-
day; and to think that after all,
our little mountain town is not en-
tirely forgotten. We hope that
she will prove to be worthy of these
unusual honors.
AS citizens of Idaho we are proud
of the principles and purposes that
actuate the press and the silver pa
triots who are gathered in our city.
We are glad to see such fair rep
resentation of the newspapers. A
few had to remain at home, it is
true, on the plea of hard times,
which we know all about, and they
are excusable; for though there
are some pretty hard newspaper
men in the world, there is yet to be
discovered the one who is invulner-
able to the shafts of hard times. We
trust that you who are more fortu-
nate at this time will remember the
boys who are struggling at home
and will properly guard their inter
ests.
We welcome you most cordially,
because we believe that you have
most worthy aims and honest pur-
poses; because we believe that
your welfare and the welfare of
Idaho are to a degree inseparable
because we believe that the motive
in this gathering is a broad and
generous one; we believe that you
not only desire to increase the rev.
enues of the printing offices of
Idaho, but that you desire also,
by organization, to strengthen your
energies, cultivate your ideas, ele-
vate your morals probably and in
crease your general usefulness.
The press is no exception to the
modern necessity of organization.
To command the respect and sup
port of the public in manner COM
mensurate with its utility, the press
must respect itself; it must follow
the example of the farmers, the
laboring men, mechanics, profes-
sions and business men Of the
country in measures of self-respect
and self-protection.
Those who have had taste ol
country journalism can vouch for
the bitter as we'll as the sweet. They
know that the country printer earns
every cent that he receives and
many dollar that he does not re-
oeive. They know that he deserves
all the praise that he receives, and
that he receives much ingratitude
that he does not deserve.
If there is any way to ameliorate
these conditions; any way to secure
/ your full share of the worlds goods
without the sacrifice of any moral
principle, God speed the work.
This occasion promises to be an
uncommon event in our history
the memorable time and place where
the press of Idaho laid the founda
ton of it's future greatness; and the
memorable time and place where
the people of Idaho, regardless o.
sectional differences, social condi
tions or political creeds, united as
brothers in aff1iction; raising their
voices in earnest prayer to this
great nation for protection to oul
languishing industries and imper
lied homes; for protection against
the ravaging evils, that on a memor
able February day, were let loose
among US like "the dogs OF war" ano
have played havoc for twenty years
Many of you are here both as
representatives Of the press anc
representatives of the people in thai
patriotic union. And it is to be
hoped that all Of you are on the
right side of that great question
which the people are here to discuss
Atleast your convictions are honest
and you have the courage and the
means to express them. 1t is safe te
assert that the firm of RothschildI
& Co. has not subsidized a single
one of you. Such a thing is I'M
possible in the free atmosphere o
these grand old mountains. Such
a thing is incompatible with the
high standard of Idaho journalism
We repeat, the high standard o.
Idaho journalism.
We should be proud of our news
papers. They are thoroughly imbuee
with the spirit of freedom and prog
ress which prevails in these noun
tains. They are broad guage ane
substantial. They are better edited
better managed, have a purer tone
and a clearer ring than the average
newspaper of America. More thar
this. they have an honorable record
They went to the front early an(