The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-07-06
Annual Meeting Of National Editorial
Association.
Over -Four Hundred Delegates From Al
Sections Of the Country.
Addresses Of Welcome Delivered
by Governor Gear, Mayor Storey
and Editor III. w. Scott, and Re-
sponded to by Joseph B.. Nc
Cabe, President Of the National
Association.

Association.
PORTLAND, July 5.-The fourteenth
annual conference of the National Edi-
torial Association met here to-day.
Governor T. T. Gear and Mayor Storey
welcomed the delegates N behalf Of the
State of Oregon and the city of Port
land.
H. w. Scott, editor of the Portland
"Oregonian." then spoke as follows:
1.-THE West greets the East to-day
If distinction. can be made between
East and West. anywhere, or even here
upon the American shores of the Pa
cific. The East has been treading upon
the heels of the West, yet never has
.overtaken it. Latterly the West has
taken ship on the Pacific and through
one of the movements of history has
overtaken the East. America has put
new girdle around the earth, and the
the gateway of the morning, over by
the Orient, where the men of the Unit
ed States are planting the banners of
free civilization. Our visitors do not
find the West here. The men of Ore
gon, of Washington, of California, of
Idaho, of Montana, of Utah, of Colo
RADIO, responding ito the call of the
country, have carried it on over seas.
Brethren of the National Press As
ISOLATION, we welcome you to Oregon.
We are honored by your visit, and we
think we have somewhat to show you.
Each of our States or groups of States
is distinctively what it is in conse-
quence of the play of local conditions
upon the character of its people and
OF the reaction of the mind of it's peo-
pie upon their surroundings.
Our progress and ascendancy de-
pend on decisions that have already
been made. National character thus
has persistent, forceful activity along
channels that have been fixed by her
edity. 1t cannot be diverted from that
course, and yet remain a leading force
in the world.
'.The newspaper has a special fune-
ton and duty. It must take note of all
events, and it ought to be prepared to
discuss them with intelligence, breadth
and range. Independence is prime
necessity; and these large questions
with which we have to deal should
be approached with least possible bias
from party questions.
TT is easy always to find fault with
others; it is easy to criticise and de-
nounce the opposite party. And in
small affairs it does not matter. But
in great affairs, to be a fault finder
without suggesting remedy, is an un-
worthy proceeding. We all see. for
example, that industrial combinations
and trusts are evils; but who can say
how they ought to be dealt with?
I'VE all regret the difficulties in
which we are placed in the Philippine
Islands, but how can we get through
them or out of them consistently. with
our national dignity and with the OBJ
legations we have assumed before the
world, other than by vigorous war?
Nations, too as we'll as individuals. are
lead by an unseen power into paths of
which they never dreamed. The or
ganizatfon of human rights, in per-
Torrance of human duties is an nm
limited work. It is urged sometimes.
and we hear the objection now again.
that it uses the means and instru
ments of despotism, and therefore. it
is false to it's ideal.
Our people have this characteristic
of genius, that they are not content
with what they have DONE While each
nation has it's peculiar character or
genius which does not change, it has
also, and accordingly, particular
work to perform in the economy Of the
world, a certain fundamental idea to
unfold and develop. This is its ma
tional task. So in Gods world. as in a
shop, there is regular division of labor
We began our national career by set
ting all history at defiance. Our pro-
gress since has shown that we were
right in refusing to be limited nv the
past.
This visit of the National Editorial
Association we take as one of the To-
kens of better intimacy between the
widely different portions of our land
we welcome you to these North
western Pacific States where you NAV
have from our mountain tops a ciaw of
this great future
Joseph B. McCabe of BUsfon pras;-
dent of the National Editorial Asso.
citation, responded briefly to the adj
dresses of welcome
The Chairman appointed a Commit
- 80 ~ S>ANAASAAAoS WAlSu reported
that AT delegates were entitled to
seats in the convention.
President McCabe in his address
said: Il will hazard the opinion that
no profession or business in this broad
land of ours is so handicapped With
unjust laws as is that of the journal
list. therefore commend to your earn
est attention the report of the Com
mittee on Libel Law, and hope that
this convention will, as result Of said
elaboration, crystalline and formulate
some practical line Of work, to the end
that a more equitable adjustment Of
the law of libel may be recorded
throughout the Union"
Speaking of some of the annovances
to which newspaper publishers are sub-
jected, he said: "A rapidly growing
evil, which newspapers must face
sooner or later, is the so called .adver-
Using program nuisance Already the
business men are commencing 10 nro-
test at this semi-respectable blackmaiI
A paper has been prepared especially
on this topic, and hope will arouse
you to the sense Of duty which YOU
owe the business community r. not