Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-14
Second Annual Business Meeting and
Banquet.
COUNTRY DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTIONS
Satisfactory Reports Regarding the
Organization.
AROUND THE SOCIAL BOARD

The second annual banquet Of the Asso-
ciated Press was held last night at the
Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago. The en-
tertainment was rendered to the members
by the eastern contingent, for whom Col
Clayton McMichael of Philadelphia acted
as spokesman.
Col McAIichael presided at the banquet
The list of guests included substantially
all the members who were present at the
annual meeting. A time arrived between
10 and IL o'clock when the physical wants
Of the company having been satisfied, Col.
McMichael announced that the entertain
ment would shed its physical character
and take on its intellectual garment. The
addresses were inaugurated by the colonel
as follows
Gentlemen: I am exceedingly sorry for
you-that is the only apology 1 should
make-but through circumstances not en-
tirely beyond my control the privilege is
mine tonight to express on behalf OF the
eastern members of the Associated Press
the great satisfaction 1t has given US
singly and together to be permitted to
offer to our colleagues this pleasant tes-
timonial Of fellowship. We have had one
and only one embarrassment. In the man
agement Of the affairs Of the Associated
Press; in the wtchful protection of the
interest of each newspaper receiving It's
day or it's night report; in the energetic
distribution Of news we have discovered no
evidence nor prediction, no sign Of un-
due leaning to the south, or 20 the north,
to the west or the east.
eve have hesitated, therefore, although
for the purpose of hospitality, and this
has been our single embarrassment IN
using the distinctive title which might be
assumed to indicate q separation from our
identity with you in our common objects,
and in our common actions. We desire to
emphasize tonight and always that our
faith and our allegiance has never faltered;
that our belief in the principles which have
been the foundation stone on which the
greatness of this association has been
builded are as earnest today as when we
first welcomed and SUBSCRIBED TO them;
that our confidence in the fidelity and the
Intelligence OF the administration of those
principles has grown more sincere, as by
their methods they are becoming more
familiar to us. There is not one Of us who
is not ready and willing to bear testimony
that the news service Of the Associated
Press is better news service than was
ever furnished by any other news associa-
ton in the United States (Applause)
There is not one who Is not glad to be
in alliance with the distinguished Journal
lists who seated about these tables to-
night. There is not one who does not re
toice that he helps to send out over the
wires of the Associated Press everywhere
to tens of thousands Of working, of eager,
Of trustful and Of believing people the his
tory of the whole world as each day 1t trans
passion, and told without the impregnation
Of either personal. political or mercenary
bias. Continued applause.)
There remains for me to say but one
word more, and that is on behalf of the
eastern members. To repeat to you that
from the beginning of this contest until to-
day, whenever any question has arisen,
where we as members individually or
otherwise have been brought into contact,
officially or personally, with the gentleman
am about to name, we have found him
broad, liberal and true to you and true to
US all, and I say this with an absolute
earnestness, with a feeling of conscientious
conviction that 1 believe no man has done
more in the history of journalism to lift
which was CALLING, than has Mr.. Victor F.
Lawson of Chicago. Great and prolonged
"Your applause, gentlemen, is generous,
but to me it seems but half enough. Let
US, then. give three cheers for Victor F.
Lawson"
The cheers were given, and three more.
Mr.. Lawson made his Acknowledgements
in a short and happy speech.
Manager stones Remarks.
Col McMichael introduced General Man
ager M. E. Stone. who was received with
cheers, and said, in part:
1.-THE glory of this hour is the glory of
the American press. 1t belongs to no man.
It is inherent in the principles Of the Asso-
ciated Press, and in the great good sense
Of the American newspaper man. ZAP
plause.)
of this work as was commissioned to me, I
felt that the logic Of the situation compell-
ed the success Of the Associated Press,
and that logic has carried this battle ZAP
plause.) All it required was the .presehta-
ton to New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington Of the cold, absolute
truth, and the logic Of tie situation was
the banner which carried US forward and
which compelled success. And 1t Is not
as the president OF the New England Asso-
citation said: My interests. the interests
Press; but we are bound by contracts that
we cannot overlook
"A letter was read in the boatd Of direc-
tors yesterday from the president Of the
Southern Association, in which he said,
Zone national organizat ton Of your kind
must come and We must come in.' ZAP
plause0 That was a letter from Capt.
Howell Of the Atlanta Constitution. Now.
the logic Of this situation is absolutely