The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-07-01
THE EDITORIAL CONVENTION.

The North Carolina Editorial Conven-
Hendersonville this week. 1t is an ideal
place for the gathering of the clans. The
convention met in Hendersonville last in
1887, and it was in many ways one of the
most delightful sessions ever held. The
people OF Hendcrsonville gave them a
generous and elegant hospitality.
Many changes have taken place in these
years that have interviewed. Henderson,
towns in Western North Carolina, a
popular resort, and it's growth has been
of the most satisfactory character. 1t
is a solid town, growing in everything
that goes to make a city prosperous ana
beautiful. There has been wonderful
change, too, in the press since that day.
In no single particular has North Caro-
lima made greater strides than in its
fccting press or a typc-setting machine
in North Carolina. The Introduction of
these two ''reyolutionizers" of Journal
ism are only the most conspicuous evil
dcnces of journalistic progress. The
most marked are in the character OF the
journals and in their news service. More
progress in printing all the news in an
attractive shape has been made since
1887 than in the previous forty years.
There has come a new conception of
the value and Importance of the press.
Journalism is coming to be a profession,
calling for more versatility and varied
talent than any other profession.
Charity and Children prints an editorial.
suggested by the annual gathering of the
editors that contain much sense and more
wisdom. We quote it:
Next week the newspaper men meet
in annual session in the town of Hen
Jacksonville. They are teachers in as
high a sense as are those who met last
week at Morehead City, and there is
this difference in favor of the editors:
Their pupils are older and more ma
ture than children of school age to the
academies and colleges. And the
teachings of these men are more potent
and powerful because of the character
ana influence of those who are learn
crs. Next to the minister in the pull
pit stands the editor in his office in
the Importance and influence of his
calling. All of US are not what we
ought to be. A few among us regard
our newspapers as the place for the eX-
ploitation of our own personal virtues
and dignity. Now and then one may
be found who imagines that an editor
ought to be vcnerated and feared as if
he were a monarch on a throne, but we
are glad to believe that the great ma
jOrity of North Carolina newspaper men
have tho proper conception of their
calling, which is to advertise others
while Concealing themselves, and to
help the community by a life Of self
sacrifice. The editors are not the cap
tains nor the admirals on the ship Of
State-they arc the stokers, and their
business is to furnish the power to drive
the vessel, but not to amman it.
Sometimes one of our folks imagineS that
he is entitled to an office on the upper
deck, but he soon learns that he has
made a mistake and he is speedily sent
below, a sadder but a much wiser man.
However, though the public has decreed
that tho editor is not fit to hold office,
he holds one all the same. His mission,
as we have said, is equallCd only by the
minister Of the gospel, and his labors,
though sometimes unappreciated and I'M
known, are of surprising value to the
commonwealth. We hope the gentlemen
who handle the pencil and the scissors
Will greatly enjoy the mountain tops,
and the communion with each other
which these annual reunions always
give; and that they will return to their
workshops refreshed and strengthened
by a few days soiourn in one of tho
loV3lle5t towns in the wide world"