The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1896-01-16
The Maine Press Association.
WHAT WAS SAID AND DONE AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING IN PORTLAND.

Association was held in Portland Jan, 8th
and 9th, with good attendance. Officers
were elected for the ensuing year as follows;
President, G. B. Burleigh, Augusta: Vice
Presidents, John M. S. Hunter, Pennington; !;
Chester W. Robbins, Old Town; Arthur E.
Forbes, South Paris Secretary, Joseph
Wood, Portland; Treasurer, P. O. Vickery,
Augusta; Corresponding Secretary, c. A.
Pilsbury, Belfast; Executive Committee, C.
B. Burleigh, Augusta; NJ. N. Rich, Portland !;
John F. Hill, Augusta; G. B. Haskell Pitts.
field. Essayist for the next meeting, Charles
B. Haskell; Alternate, Arthur E. Forbes !;
Poet, George S. Rowell Alternate, Howard
Owen, Augusta. The following new mem
bers We're admitted: Fl. C. Prince, Water
vile Mail; W. H. Gannett, Augusta; Rev.
j. &. Merrill, Christian Mirror, Portland; :;
Geo. w. Norton, Evening Express, Port
land. The finances of the Association are
in excellent condition. 1t began the year
with ali bills paid and $3O327 on deposit in
the Augusta Savings Bank.
The literary exercises took place Thurs
day afternoon. The essayist was Samuel l..
Boardman of Augusta, one of the best equip
ped and most graceful writer's in Maine, and
the essay was worthy of him and of the oc-
casion. His subject was "The Equipment
of the Sanctum.'' He began with the
plant" comparing the newspaper estab-
lishment of to-day with that of forty or fifty
years ago, and then told of the ideal sane
tum and how 1t should be equipped. PLENTY
of room and plenty of light are essentials.
No matter how this room is warmed,
Steam or hot water is not to be despised,
although the jolly open fireplace which our
late associate, Mr. William H. Simpson of
Belfast Zone of the most brilliant editors
who ever graced an editorial chair in Maine)
described in his address before this Associa-
tion in 1876, would suit most of us to
charm" Chat open fireplace is still IN ex-
istence and cheerful blaze illumnates it
as we write). Mr.. Boardman next took up
the intellectual equipment, the library, the
books of reference required, and gave many
useful suggestions as to indexing, etc. In
conclusion he said:
AT best our work is ephemeral and fleet
ing-done for the day or the hour. The pa
thetic cry of Rip Van Winkle-as many have
he rd it from the magic lips of Jefferson
80, my God and is it so soon we are forgot
ten"-might we'll sob itself from the heart of
many newspaper worker, could he stand
in the old familiar sanctum for far fewer
than twenty years after his work was done
But we have this opportunity: Being so
ephemeral and so quickly forgotten, our
daily ann should be to do true and honest
work, that it may influence to good and
/, "A.
t1uence lasts.
The Association was also fortunate in its
selection of poet, Mr.. Frank Ii. Colley,
formerly of Belfast, now of Manchester, n
H., acquitting himself admirably Ill that
to most of us--dittcult role J7he Portland
Press says:
The poem, by Frank H. Colley of Belfast
was i'll the vernacular and was an admirable
story III correct and pleasing verse oi the
success IN journalism Of very interesting
person by the name of ''Llge Dobson." The
delivery OF the poem was as admirable as Its
composition, and both called forth not only
applause. III many comments of appro al.
Its length prevents our publication OF it and
its nature would make the printing Of any
short portion of 1t very inadequate.
AT the reception given in the evening at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs George S. Rowell
MIR. Colley repeated his poem at the urgent
request of those present. The members We're
royalty entertained by Mr.. and Mrs. Rowell.
The Maine Press Association is the Oldest
State press association in the country, hay
ing existed thirty three years. Some of the
original memhers are still living and regu-
lar attendants at the annual meetings. At
the opening session President Rowell ex-
tended a special greeting to them and refer
red feelingly to those whose work is done.
He was happy to state that no member had
died during the year Thursday afternoon,
after the reading of the poem, President
Rowell again referred to these pillars Of the
association, and expressed the general wish
that they might be heard from, one and all.
The Press report says
Hon. Elphalet Rowell, father of the presi-
dent, was the first to respond He referred
to the time, thirty-three years ago, IN this
city, when the country was Ill peril, when
this association was formed. He spoke at
some length OF the great development of
journalism III Maine since that time. He
said that the benefit derived from the social
relations during ali these years could not be
estimated. In regard to the annual excur-
Sons he declared that they had made all the
member better and happier, besides afford
Ing trips to distant points that would not
otherwise be obtained. AS for the statement
sometimes made that they 60 off on junket-
ing trips, he declared that the editors owed
the railroads and hotels nothing and that
Obligations were mutual
Marshall N. Rich spoke of the formation
of the ASSOCIATION as the result Of an
effort to do missionary work among editors
and to introduce a religious sentiment
among them, 50 they wou. .dnt cut each
others throats 50 often. The results had
been very satisfactory He remembered at
one of the first meetings that somebody said
that on meeting Col. Adams Of the Argus
they had found him d most genial gentle
man, but had supposed from his paper that
he must be a regular fighter. (Laughter)
Mr.. Rich urged the Importance OF the news
papers opportunities to advocate the pres
ervatlon of the historical relics of the State,
not only for our own satisfaction but as an
a traction to visitors.
President George S. Rowell said that it
might not be generally known that he
came very near beng of the original
members, though 50 extremely young. At
that time he was publishing the Hallowell
Register, and his father was in the war. He
had made arrangements to come to Portland
to attend the first meeting. but his father
came home at about that time and repre-
scented the paper in Portland himself