The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-14
EDITORS MEET
AT OLD POINT.
The Annually Session Of the Virginia
Press Association.
ADDRESS BY Mr.. JOSEPH BRYAN.
He Discusses the Origin, Growth ana
Duties of Newspapers-Two Inter-
csting Papers Were Read-D.
shelly Lewis, the President.

OLD POINT, VA. July lS.-speciaL-
After a session extending over TWO Gays
held at the Chamberlin Hotel the actua'
meeting of the Virginia Press Assoc'a-
ton adjourned tonight. President ~
sbeefv Lewis. OF Harrisonburg. presided
over fine sessions held to-day. Aiter
transacflnc routine business in the iore-
noon a memorial to the late w. .
White. OF Frcdericksburg' was reau ps
A T. Rowe Jr., and the memorldl Wa
ordered so be engrossed ana copy ~ -,
Ia the widow of the deceased editor. Inc
principal feature Of the afternoon session
was an address by Mr.. Joseph Bryan
editor OF the Richmond Times. for
nearly an hour the speaker held inc at
tentiou of his large audience and when
he concluded vote Of thanks was eN-
tended 10 him Mr. Bryan sald III part
MIR. BRYANS ADDRESS.
On casting about for subject win
which 80 occupy your attention for
brief space / have thought that notnins
would be more fitting than the subject
OF the ncvspaDers. 10 h probable thal'
however expert an individual may be IN
the practical conduct Of newspaper he
may never have troubled himseli 10 IN
vastigate their origin ana deVeloph.ht
and thar present condition as one or the
features Of modern civilization. one OF
the most natural Of all desires planted IN
our nature is that to hear news. l DOUBT
not that there will be eycavated from the
ruins of Nineveh and Babylon some form
of a newspaper and we know that when
ST Paul visited Athens he found there
ready listeners 20 his great declaration
of the truth which would make them
free because all the Athenians ana
strangers which were there, spent their
time In nothing else but either 10 tell or
to hear some new things. We are also
to'd that in the days Of the Roman
empire. there was a demand for news
which was satisfied by written sheet
called the acta diurna- The clam, now
ever TO the first newspaper, as such. lies
between Venice ana Germany I'm the six
,eenth century and by the way, the
name gazette which is 50 common
title for newspapers, was gotten from
the name OF the real Nenitian coin, "a
zette which was used for the purchase
Of the newspaper very much as we nov
have the New orleans Picayune.
VIRGINIA JOURNALISM.
Mr. Brvan then followed the history OF
the press. noting the progress made IN
Journalism from time TO time AT pres
emit" he said there were over 10000 pc
riodicals published I'm the United States,
and that one issue Of these viii amount
10 4OOO0O00 copes After discussing the
history Of the European press. ana COM
pairing II 10 the American newspaper tHe
speaker reviewed the journalism OF VIZ
GINA saying among others things that
i'm this pursuit as in others, when re-
late TO public action and 20 public duty,
Virginia had her full share Of able men.
II must be an inspiring thought TO every
Virginia editor to know that whether he
accepts the Jeffersonian or the Handle
tonian theory Of our Government wheth-
er he comes of Wing or Democratic an
tecedents. is a Republican or Democrat
to-day. free trader or protectonlst' ne
has had antecedents of a noble and eX-
allied character
DUTY OF AN EDITOR.
Mr. Bryan then spoke Of the duties
OF an editor "The first duty in editing
any paper. and especially those which
are deprived Of Geographic facilities
said he. is TO get fully and attractively
the local news. This news belongs TO
the local newspaper. In II the editor
may and should be a monopolist and
II he is not he fails at once In
his opportunity and his duty.
A local newspaper may be made local
necessity. and may by diligence win from
even an unwilling community SUPPORT
and profit. This IL within the ability or
any competent ana industrious editor.
paper" said Mr. Bryan. lis It's char
acter We know that a newspaper can
not be printed indefinitely at loss. but
like any other enterprise. II must pass
i'm beginning through its period of proba-.
lion and of establishment Confidence re-
spect and wide reputation are OF necessity
of slow growth. but when once estab-
lshed they are Gibraltars which may
be easily defended against all comers.'
TWO PAPERS READ.
The remainder Of the afternoon session
was consumed In the reading OF two
papers.
PREDICTIONS and experience Of an editor
I'm camp" was the title OF "A paper pre-
pared BY Editor 5. r. Donahue' OF Com
pany I. Third Virginia Regiment now
at Camp Ager The paper was read Dy
Mr. A. r. Rowe Jr
Progress of the Press" was the sub
iect of an entertaining paper read by
Miss Bertha Robinson, associate editor
OF the Orange Observer.
A resolution increasing the initiation rec
from 81 10 s. was adopted
OFFICERS ELECTED.
At the night session the following Off
GERS were elected for the ensuing year.
Presidential Shelly Lewis, Of Harri-
sonburg.
Vice-President-W. Mcdonald Lee, of
IrvingtOn
Secretary-J. L. Hart. Of Farmville.
Treasurer-R. y. Robinson, Of Orange
Historian-Miss Bertha Robinson, Of
Orange
Executive Committee-T. q Elam Of
HAMPTON: j. Il. Booker. Of Suffolk: 4.
+. Rowe Jr.. OF Fredericksburg; &. ID.
Denit Of Salem: j. II. Lindsay, Of Char
lottesville.
Delegates to the National Editorial AS
sociation-D. S. Lewis. r. r. Barham
Eultnn Kegler.