Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-03-22
MEETS At THE CLUB.
Tri-City Press Organization Holds
Session in Rock
Island.
NEW ADDITIONS TO MEMBERSHIP.

Papers Read by DIR. August Richter,
of Davenport. and John +. Kieffer, of
This City-A Musical Program and Lunch
eOn-Talks by President f. W. Balm
sen and Secretary J. t. stafford.
Tri-City Press club mem bers held
their March session at the Rock ISL
and Club last night, the use of the
handsomely appointed house having
been rendered for the occasion. There
were in attendance about thirty of the
newspaper workers. who after n tour
of the club house under the guidance
of Manager Ritchey, got down to bus
mess in the reception room in re-
Spouse TO rap of the gavel sounded
by President Walter johnson. In adj
dition to the dispatching of several
matters of concern to the club. Grant
Holtberg, of Augustana college: John
A. Ullmark, of the Moline Mail, and
{. w. Schlegel, of Der Demokrat,
Davenport, were proposed. and adj
mitted to mem ership. Copies of the
constitution and bylaws were dis
tributed.
When report was called for from
the entertainment committee a pro-
gram of music and papers and a spread
was announced. After Il lively selec-
ton by Jacob Ramser, Jr., and Henry
Ullemeyer, who with guitar and man
dolin discoursed delightful airs
throughout the evening, the guests
partook of a luncheon of sandwiches.
coffee and punch, provided by the
Rock Island members and prepared
by Manager Ritchey, smoked Havanas
and listened to papers by DR.. August
Richter, of Der Demokrat, Davenport,
and John p kieffer, of the Rock ISL
and Volks-Zietung. Dr. Richter gave
"A scholarly discussion of The Intlu-
ence of the Press, Good and Bad. ''con-
demning the yellow sensationalism of
certain metropolitan newspapers and
deploring the tendency, in order to
meet so-called public demand, of this
character of newspapers to publish
anything that will cause excitement.
He said the press should stand for all
that is honorable, it should be sincere
and honest and be a monument for good
in the community of which it is q
part: that the paper should be a lead
er and molder of public opinion rather
than a follower of it,
Mission of the German Press.
Mr.. Kieifer read a paper on The
Mission of the German Press" He
said the German newspaper was q
necessity, the same as the primary
school, as the paper served as Il means
Of furnishing the first lessons of
Americanism to those who left the
fatherland to take up their abode in
this country, the customs, language,
etc, of which they were unacquainted
on arriving here, and needed an
agency by which they could be en-
lightened in those things which would
make of them more loyal and valua-
bic citizens-and that agency was the
German press.
President +. w. Bahnsen and Sec
rotary j. L. Stafford were invited
into the meeting, and both made brief
remarks, expressing the appreciation
OF the Rock Island Club of the tri-
city press, and the influence it
welded in the community, and
assuring the newspaper folks that
they would always receive the
glad-hand at the club. where they
were welcomed at all times. A few
hours of social conversation followed,
Messrs- Bahnsen. Stafford. Mayor T.
j. Medill, Phil Mitchell, Health Com
missioner j. p. Comegys, Il. ID. Con-
nelly, City Attorney c. Il. Marshall.
George Price and A. II. Head, who
were in the club, being introduced to
the newspaper men, and explaining
the features of the club to the visitors.
who were delighted with the comfort
able quarters the business and profess
sional men of Rock Island have
The next meeting of the Press club
will be held in Davenport.