West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-06-07

enterprise, newsgathering and up-to.datc.
ness. This is because the people down there
are so slow and way behind the times. To
prove this statement, we met a prominent
Democrat who is editor of large daily
paper in Birmingham, Alabama, who did no,
know that Grover Cleveland was dead, and
still looks upon him as the modern Moses TO
lead the party out of the wilderness. Then
againit is considered disgrace for anyone but
black man 10 do manual labor in the South
and great many of the best young men of
That section so West or come North to en-
gage in business. Too many of the Southern
people look at the matter like Mark Twain's
epigram on Italy, in which he declared that
cher future was in the past" The only
hope of the South is that the old aristocracy
is being rapidly replaced by the 'sNew
Aristoeracy" of heart and brains, the only
arslocracy that has any right to exist.
''Narieiy IS the spice of life" and il is also a
drawback To good government in New
Orleans. They have the greatest variety Of
nationalities there and you hear almost any
language spoken other as nuenty as the
English. II is so unlike any other city in
this country and for that reason alone is in.
teres,inc and we'll worth the lime and money
that it takes 10 visit it.
The most interesting feature of the
National Association is the cosmopolitan
character of its make up. There are editors
OF all kinds of religious and political creeds
and representing all nationalities by birth
and descent. There will be found the "corn
cracker from the foot hills of Georgia and
the alligator swamps of Florida, lodging the
hustle and breeze of the "cow.puneher,'
from the great Western ranges, mixing with
the staid and digni6ed representatives. of the
"art pfeservatve" from the Baked Bean
cities and nutmeg villages of New England.
as they minglc with the big soft hats from
the sage brush and cactus plains Of the
Southwest The Jew, the Gentle and the
Mormon meet and greet the Democrat. the
Republican and the Popilist. but no Pro.
hibiiionist, so far as we have ever been able
to discover on the trip, not saying what
n
few Objectionable features Of the National
Association IS the changers on. who are
always in attendance and who have no right
TO be there. The bona fde members and
delegates are mainly to blame for Ibis them
selves and too many Of them regard the
whole matter as "big junket," intended
merely as passtime and recreation and try
10 take along as many Of their friends as
possible whether they have any legitimate
right to he there or not. This, Of course.
crowds, inconveniences and makes trouble
for those members who Try to live up to the
Golden Rule in their dealings with The rail.
roads and all others who extend them cour-
tesies. The attendance Of these Uitlanders
may explain some Of the ignorance mani.
tested on various and divers occasions.
For instance at the Portland, Oregon, ses
sion last year. where special memorial ser.
vices were held 10 honor Of the late Eugene
Fields, two intelligent looking and well
Dire sed parties in attendance, wearing delegate
badges, were overheard discussing the mat.
tee and one asked the other, "Wbo ian
thunder this here fellow Eugen. Fields was
anyhow p and the other one replied.
''Blamed # he knowed, but guessed IL was
some fellow that had something to do with
laying the Atlantic Cable" Another funny
little conversation in our hearing occurred as
We we're crossing the great steel bridge at
ST Louis ON our return from New Orleans
Two young ladies from the "ffoosicr
state we're looking out the car window and
wondering what big bridge 10 was. Some.
one Informed them that we had arrived at
ST Louis, when one Of the young ladies.
apparently anxious, and boz great need Of
Information. asked. "What river 30 was we
we're crossing p" We took 90 for granted that
these persons were not newspaper people.
because we hope there is not an editor in thc
United States that would not know who
Eugene Fields was aud that So. Louis IS
situated on the Mississippi river
There was big fight in the New Odcans
convention ON wedding oui these Uiuandcrs
and preventing their attendance hereafter
and am glad io say that the Vice Prcs
dent of the West Virginia Association bed
thc fight with ability md credit 90 the
Association which be represented. How.
ever. thc livclicst discussion was in revard
10 The Paper Trust and the tariff of 50 pcr
ton on white paper and sI67 per iol ON
wood pulp, and t was agreed that these
duties shoul6 hc abolished Resolutions fo
this effect we're passed and a committee
appointed io present The matter Co Congress
There were many valuable papers read.
eloquent speeches delivered and important
subjects discussed that are Of great interest
and beneficial TO the newspaper Fraternity.
and We hope that our State Association will
bc fully represented hereafter az Che Ma.
iional gathering and we only wish it were
possible for us 20 attend every year. Fof 10
can truly De said nf fh .ae ochD attend
knights Of the pencil and the pen.
formost in the ranks of men,"