The Portland daily press., 1898-01-28

| our labors considerably to be obllged TO
sort out mail into cities and towns. But
| ii. would be special hardship for smaller
publishers"
Mr.. Wish said he thought the Associa-
tion could not afford to go on record as
opposed to the Loud bill. 81 believe no
legitimate newspaper In Maine Will be IN
jured by it, he added.
This latter declaration brought Mr.
Vickery of Augusta to his fleet His face
flushed as he remarked: "Why do you
use the word legitimate in conneetion
with newspapers only? There are other
legitimate publications besides newspa-
pers. The general publishing business
is just as much entitled to be called legit-
innate -
Mr.. Wish-'I spoke of legitimate news
paper because I supposed this Association
was an organization of newspaper men.
Its name Maine Press Association, would
seem to imply that it's mem bers are con-
nected with the press"
MIR. Vickery-"We have a press in our
publishing house,
Mr.. Flynt of Augusta put stop to
this lively dialogue by taking the floor
and making an address in opposition to
the Loud bill.
Mr. Viokery said that two of the pub
fishing houses of Augusta send out
three fourth of the second-class mail
matter of that city, and the expense of
It's handling Is more than offset by the
return letters it brings in. Cut off the
second-class mail matter and the volume
of first class matter would be proportion
ately 'lesssned.
Mr. Laughlin said that the prohibition
of mailing sample copies is the only feat
ure of the Loud bill that could be of any
harm to the Maine newspapers. On the
contrary, the bill will shut out of the
second -olass mails, books and quantities
of matter that never had any business
there.
Mr.. Libby doomed it unwise for the as
sociation to discuss OF take action on this
matter. He moved that the resolution
be tabled.
| President Burleigh said the members of
! the Maine delegation in Congress had sug-
| gested to Congressman Loud that three
| features of the bill be eliminated, prom
Using their hearty support of the measure
| if he would make the alterations, but he
declined to make any concession.
Editor Owen of the Maine Farmer OBJ
jected to the bill because it strikes a
blow at Maine industry. This senti-
ment was endorsed by several other
speakers, one of whom suggested that a
good way to increase the postal revenue
would he to put an end.to the system of
allowing members of Congress to send
free through the mails campaign docu-
ments and other matter in no way con-
nected with the business of the govern
ment.
Mr. Libby's motion to table the resolu-
tion was defeated, by a vote of fifteen to
one.
Then Mr.. Libby moved to amend the
resolution. so that the associations op-
position to the bill would remain in force
unless certain changes were made in the
bill. So much opposition to this plan
was voiced that MIR. Libby withdrew his
amendment.
The original resolution, condemning
the Loud bill, then passed, by vote of
seventeen to five.
An amendment..was then made to the
bylaws, SO that the association will hold
its annual meeting every other year at
Augusta, and the alternating year, either
in Portland or Bangor, as the executive
committee may decide.
A sketch Of the late Horatio King
vas ordered to be published in the records
of the association.
Mr.. Robbins of Oldtown, chairman OF
the summer excursion committee, offered
motion in effect that no invitations
to PARTIES outside the association be is
sued to participate in the excursion.
| The motion was amended, SO as to give
the executive committee liberty to invite
whatever newspaper men they may
choose. The motion passed as amended.
THE FINAL SESSION. g
| The afternoon WAS given up largely to
the reading of papers. Mr.. Rich of the
Board of Trade Journal read some ex-
bTdCtS lEOiu G4lo ItCOIuS vi carly
of the association.
| Mr.. Hunter off, Pennington re-read his
paper, presented Wednesday, on "Ihe
Best Method of Collecting Delinq uent
| Subscriptions.
! Mr.. Owen of the Maine Farmer read an
interesting paper on the subject, FWhy
is the most unworthy or sensational pa
per more successful, financially, than the
worthy or meritorious?" He declared it
fact that the papers which deal in SEN
sations and scandals are building up the
largest circulations and making the
most money. While regretting thai this
is SO, he added that the public is chiefly
to blame. for the newspapers of the ''yel-
low kid" variety are simply serving
up what there is an increasing public
demand for.
| MIR. Owen believed that newspapers
should be run on business principles, sc
as to pay a fair profit, but he also be
L