The Republican journal., 1897-02-11
The Maine Press at the State Capitol.

The Maine Press at the State Capitol.
The 34th annual meeting of the Maine
Press Association was held Jan. y at Au-
gusta with an attendance of between forty
and fifty. The first session was held in the
judiciary committee room at the State House
Wednesday evening. President G. B. Bur
leigh called the meeting to order and gave
a brief address in which he made a sugges-
ton concerning the compilation OF history
of the association, a matter which came up
for discussion later Among other things
President Burleigh said:
| am aware that in the past some of our
members have been disposed to feel that
purely business matters have had too little
attention at our annual gatherings, and it is
possible that this opinion of our work and
purposes has kept some of the most active
newspaper men in Maine from Joining our
organization, This has seemed to me to be
a narrow view of the proper objects of the
Maine Press Association, and | deprecate
the tendency, both in and out of our organ
iZatlon, to underestimate the value of its
social features and the benefits derived from
them.
We represent kindred interests, and the
opportunities afforded by our Association
for us to become acquainted with one an
other, to interchange the views that have
grown out of our individual experiences,
and to become familiar with the various
methods employed by our members in the
pursuit of common ends, cannot fail to exert
a broadening and stimu ating influence, the
value Of which it would be difficult to esti-
mate.
I can bear cheerful testimony to the very
great value of these pleasant associations.
Indeed, am inclined to think that the quiet
personal talks on the occasions of our annu-
al meetings, and upon our summer eXcur-
slons are fully as helpful to us as are our
regular business sessions.
The old board OF officers was reelected
with the exception of the corresponding sec
Rotary, who asked to be excused, and Gen. j
?. Ciiiey of Hockland was chosen. The list
could not he improved upon President
Burleigh is splendid presiding officer, one
of the best the association has ever had;
Treasurer Vickery takes excellent care of
the treasury and Secretary " ood is faith
fUi and systematic-just the man for The
place The county historians are practical
ly the same as last year E. w. Morrell of
Gardiner was elected essayist for the annual
meeting, with George H. Gilman of Houlton
a. alternate c. B. Burleigh OF Augusta was
elected poet for the next year, with c. A.
Ptsbury of Belfast as alternate.
We have always felt that the county his
torres deserve more attention than they
have received, and that their scope should
be broadened rather than restricted. They
should furnish the material for the future
historian OF the press of Maine, and this
calls for -XacJness of statement, freedom
from pre- jWdice, and detail without yerbage.
Mention IS made Of the progress of puhlica-
rlons not represented IN the Association, and
We think it very narrow spirit that pro-
scribes mention of the death of men long
identified with journalism or the art preser-
vatiye because they had never been members.
We believe that in such cases the county
lis orian should present a concise biograph-
ical sketch-in short, that the county histo-
ny should be what the name implies.
There was an interesting discussion Wed
nesday evening the free advertising of
minor summer resorts, in which many good
ideas We're advanced but when the matter
is reduced to a practical basis it will he
found that with hardly an exception the
Maine newspapers are doing all the free ad-
vertising that could be expected of them
The Phillips Phonograph was mentioned as
having built up a large circulation by boom
ing the Rangeley Region; but it could not
have attained its evident prosperity without
the liberal advertising patronage it receives
from the many resorts in that vicinity, from
dealers in sporting goods, canoe and boat
builders, railroad and steamboat lines
There is natural tendency to ride gift
horse to death and the paper which devotes
itself to advancing the interests of a section
or community, yet fails to receive support
from those IN whose interest it is working
Will soon be poweress for good. The Maine
newspapers are ready, one and all, to do
their share in promoting local industries
and enterprises, but they must have the
aid and cooperation of the public to make
their efforts effective.
At Thursday mornings session various
business matters were discussed and dis
posed Of, and a good deal of time was frit-
tered away in frivolous and tiresome talk.
This led one member to remark that it was
the least Interesting and least instructive
business session he had ever attended tits
doubtful If the gag rule suggested would
Improve matters much. There is certainly
need of some change in the conduct of these
annual sessions; but there is decided diver
gence OF opinion as to what should be DONE
Some want the business feature more prom
Inent and others incline to the social feature
There is much to be said on each side. One
member suggests that if possible the mem
bers should all be quartered at the same
hotel. but if that is not feasible that they
all meet at dinner on the second day of the
meeting We regard the social feature of
these meetings as not the least important.
The personal interchange of views and ex-
periences is both pleasant and profitable.