The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-19
ENJOYED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
MINNESOTA STATE EDITORS
ASSOCIATION.
ANNUAL MEETING is NOW ON.
MAYOR DORIAN EXTENDS A well
COME TO THE GENTLEMEN OF
RURAL PRESS.
JUDGE FLANDRAU ON LIBEL LAW.
Gives Some Valuable Pointers on n
Matter of Interest-Other Papers
of Yesterday.

| The state press was exhibited to the
world all day yesterday at the Com
mercial club. The sight did not seem to
be especially terrifying. The presence
of so many editors was accounted for
in the welcoming speech of Mayor Do
ran, who remarked that he had been
led to believe that the Minnesota State
Editors and Publishers association
was holding it's annual meeting. There
were, perhaps, 125 of the editors pres
ent, many of them being accompanied
by their families. The annual meet
ing of the association is looked upon
as being a delightful event as we'll as
a profitable experience.
! The association was called to order
at II o'clock by President Alvah East
man, of ST.. Cloud. The president APP
peared gratified at the presence Of so
many of the opinion molders Of the
state Over half Of the counties were
represented at the gathering.
Mayor Doran gave the editors big
bunch of municipal keys, and the ad-
monition to use them literally while it
was possible. Speaking Of the editor
ial profession, Mayor Doran remarked
that it was one which called for the
exercise of the coolest judgment and
|
mendous power for good or evil. He
| believed all the newspapers in the
state should start out on a campaign
of education, to elevate the masses and
inculcate patriotism. The editors were
practically the papers, as it was their
utterances which appeared in print.
The mayor expressed the hope that the
visitors would make themselves at
home.
Secretary Slime, of the Commercial
club, acting in behalf of President
Gregg, extended the courtesies of the
club to the editors and the members
of their families.
Editor Leonard, Of the Rochester
Post, responded in behalf of the asso-
citation. He made a hit by saying it
seemed very nice for an editor to be
recognized at a time like this. They
were usually forgotten after election.
z. T. Lindley, representing the Trans
Mississippi and international expos
ton, was introduced, and told the as
ISOLATION of the object of the eXpOsi-
ton. 1t was to suitably exploit the
vast industries Of the West-twenty-
four states and territories were to b.
represented in the exposition to be held
in Omaha next June.
j. w. Carpenter, another Of the
Trans Mississippi committee, spoke in
a similar vein He wanted Minnesota
to stand out prominently at the expo.
sttton. Four hundred and twenty-five
thousand dollars has been raised by
personal subscriptions at Omaha; $780,
900 had been appropriated by the ma
tional government, and $85, 900 by the
State of Iowa.
E. w. Caldwell, editor of the Sioux
City Journal, another member of the
exposition committee, also spoke.
President Alvah Eastman followed
with his annual report. Mr.. Eastman
reviewed the events of the past year
and stated that the association was
making its share of the history of Min
nesota. Continuing, he said:
since the last annual meeting the country
mas undergone one of the greatest political
Dattes OF Its history, and in which the press
took more important and influential part
than ever before, if possible. The leading is
sue was practically new one, and the people
looked to the press for their information. l
think 1t will be safe to say that the great
majority of the Minnesota papers conducted
themselves with a reasonable degree of
decency, although the exact truth would com
pei the admission that too many of the pa
pers OF all political parties shamefully abused
their position and power by the personal Will
ncatlon OF the two candidates for the highest
once in the gift Of the people of Minnesota
II man is good citizen ten months in the
year, he does not become moral degenerate
zeal party, and much of the vile abuse of
decent men during their political campaign by
the press is both cowardly and reprehens-
BILE.
A reputation for fairness and honesty is the
most valuable part Of a newspaper plant. II
any words OF mine could be worthy Of con-
sheraton by the members Of this associa-
ton such words would impress upon the fra
ternfty that the title of editor should stand
above that of all other professions in the
popular mind as synonym for truth, cour-
age and fair play.
The clergyman is a champion of one creed
among thousands; the lawyer, the advocate of
personal slefshness and interest; the doctor.
the cobbler of deceased bodies; the banker,
the cash boy of commerce. the pedagogue the
guide board of elementary knowledge; the
business man, the peoples purveyor The
editor should be more than all of these. He
talks to people of all creeds and his religion
should be as broad and humane as the SER
mon of the mount; his aud .ence is not only
the plaintiff and the defendant, but includes
the jurors and the court, and his argument
should bear the fruit of facts we'll digesred;
the sick and the well are his hearers, and he
should administer tonic of good cheer and
sunshine. The great world of business, from
boss of the trust to the humble de.ver in the
mine; from railroad president to the section
man; from the great merchant to the office
boy, seek his counse-s, and he should advo-
cate equal rights for all, respect for law,
protection for the weak, fraternity and patri-
otism. Opportunity is always accompanied
by responsibility. With such opportunities
as is before the editor of Minnesota a state
which owes more to the press than to any
other one agency, let hope that he will re-
member his responsibility to society and to
himself.
E. A. Paradis introduced a resolu-
ton indorsing the enterprise to hold a
rans-Mississippi exposition at Omaha,
and asking the Legislature of Minneso a
to make suitable appropriation. The
resolution passed unanimously.
On motion of Tams BXby the chair
appointed the following a committee on
resolutions:
J. A. Johnson, St. Peter Herald; C.
F. Mcdonald, St. Cloud Times; D. SIN
clair, Winona Republic; w. j. Munro,
Morris Sun; w. r. Edwards, Tracy
Republic.
H. p. Wall, on behalf of the theater,
Issued a cordial invitation to the mem
bers to attend the performances at the
Grand and Metropolitan this evening.
An adjournment was taken at noon.
and the association convened again at
o'clock.
Judge Flandrau read a paper on 1.-THE
Law of Libel" Said he:
Libel Is regarded as a more serious offense
than SANDER, which latter consists of sub
stantfally the same utterances, but by word of
mouth and not in writing and the distinction
is based upon the superstition that written
words capable of wider dissemination and
merely spoken, and, therefore work more
lasting and injurious results.
| The necessary elements of libel upon which
| IN haS ri vii