The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-24
PRESS CONGRESS OPENS.
The Day Given Up Entirely 10 the
Women Of the Pro-
fession.
But at Night the Men Are Per-
mitted to Say a Few
Words.
Address OF william Hanry Smith on til .
Mission and Work Of the Public
Press.

Aissi0n and " Ork OF the Public
Press.
CHICAGO, May 23.-The hrst day Of the
pfsss congress was given over TO the women
ofthe profession. On The platform. among
others was Susnn b. Anthony. Martha
Hpwe Davidson and Mary II. Krout. The
inkFoduesd as chairman OF the day and
'pSssidsnt Of the National Press league.
Mary H. Krout, who made an address OF
Welcome. An address by Helen A. Wins
low. Of Boston, followed and then pal ers
were read by Martha Howe Davidson from
Olive Logan, Of London. and Mrs. p. Oil.
verona, of stsskholm. Addresses wore also
delivered by Mrs. Mae Whitaker, of Bos-
ton. Miss Ethel Wynn WethereI, OF Canada
and Miss Eva Brodliqre.
Discussion of the topic Of the day, "The
Newspa er as Factor OF Civilization, was
lod by Pauline Given Swim, Of Iowa, and
Miss Susan B Anthony made few spirit
cd remarks. elieitiug great applause.
At tho evening session the attends dauoe
was large and all addresses favorably re-.
A. n.
Mcclure. OF the Philadelphia Times. whose
topic was the Relations of the Press to
Political Life and Power" He said, in
part. that political life and power il shaped
BY our national press-absolutely, he had
Elnnd tbs great educator 10 the press. II is
the supreme astsr. and its influence ex-
tands everywhere. It 10 the most potent
voice In our national affairs because
tis In touch with the political life Of the
conntry. In all other governments the
teaoh or command. but does SO with power
ard foyee of government of bayonsts at
III back. The American newspaper 10 in
sym pathy with tie aspirations Of the oiti-
zshs. To this fact II owen its influence
ovsr the polisical life and power of this
1hon. Wm. Henry Smith, Of CHICAGO
spoke on the "Public press as the advocate
OF human rights and the champion Of the
interests OF the common people" He spoke
% follows: AtF
'Mr. Prssident. Ladies and Gentlemen: I
am invited 10 make an excursion into the
past and draw therefTom lesson for the
future The pastis but brief space msas-
ured BY time, but OF mighty extent when
the achievements Of science and progress OF
man intellectually, morally, socially and
politically are considsfsd in their relations
to the whole Of recorded history. The part
that hss been played by tha press Ia this
devslornsnt. ~ an educational force. has
profound interest for rs; and doubtless We
pressure spon this nnduly at times, In the
proclamation of opinions and the advocacy
Of public measures. Butwe may not forget
that men lived and died-poured out their
blood in streams until the very earth was
or miaerably perished In duneeons-for
freedom of opinion before newspapers were
printed, and that the spirit of intolerance
mot unfrequsntly finds oonqenial home in
the human heart still. Much yet remains
to be accomplished before man shall be
"Tho use Of tho p ess for the enliuhten-
msnt of the people began almost stimuli
taneouslyswith the settlements made By the
English in North America. The hrss news
paper WAS printed in London. May 3. 1922.
and called 1.-THE Weekly News" Since
then the Drsss in establishing its liberty.
has had to contest every inch of ground
fishers have endured the dungeon, the
piory mutilation, branding, transporta-
ton. and even death itself with sublime
devotion. When Henry WILL established
state ohuroh the function of censorship Of
the prexs passed to the crown, and was ad-
ministersd with ~ much riRor AZ under
ecclesiastical authority. II would seem
that this was acce ted 40 ths proper thing
in that age. In tho reign of Elizabeth the
privy council required the registration OF
all printing presses, tho prohibition of sill
nrinting except IN London. Oxford and
Cambridge. No one was permitted to put
typo to paper without frst obtaining the
consent Of the archbishop of Canterbury
or bieh0p of London. Any one dealing in
unauthorized writings incurred the risk
of imprisonment; and lest this should
not prove sufficient to deter reckless print
AhA - Al,~
right of visitation. and the authority to de-
ct oy presses. and arrest offenders to be
dealt with by the privy council. The
Charlsses surpassed all that had been done
before in tyrannical regulation of the press,
through tho terrible star chamber court.
and even the lonR-parliament held .egula.
tion to be consistent with the principles OF
the commonwealth. Better things. how
ever, fell to she lot of the English people
under the great descendant of William the
Silent. and in 1894 censorship was abol-
ishsd.'
Mr.. Smith then detailed Al some length
the struggles of the press for freedom Of
utteranoe and discussion In Europe and
America. and closed his rather long but in
seresting address as follows:
''Ths foundation of our republic 10 sdu-
cation. On enlightened peo IL. Study the
exhibit OF the White city, where nations
contend in friendly rivalry. Whose the
hand that fashioned tho marble. reproduced
life upon oanvaA created the marvellous
machinery. wove the beautiful fabrics, pro-
duoed the printed sheets. and brought under
CONTROL the subtle forces Of nsturs2 Whose
but the brain and the hand of the oitixen of
the republic univsrssl-oalled sculptor,
artist craftsman and scientist? And - We
give The greeting all hnill let ne not 70 get
what HIS been endured and sacritised 10
make this possible. Let us not overlook
the higher meaning Of this history. or lit
tle worth were the experience If IL witnessed
merely an increase in wealth and the
privilege Of its enjoyment unmolest-
cd. There is p'ofounder siR-
ninoanos relating TO tho spiritual on
dowment Of man. Looking back over The
past We see that each step taken towards a
larger liberty carried with IL an increased
responsibility-nn increased responsibility
for whatr Clearly. for the promotion of
Whatever makes for righteousness. That
nation which has smbodisd shis most truly
In its laws. and In tho execution thereof
has been most faithful--has been the
strcnResl Tho press has hsen Tho most re-
specIsd and the most influential! whom con-
Quoted on . high level-whsn principles
sd ~, No Aha tNha