The Republican journal., 1903-01-29
The Maine Press Association
Address of President Charles A. Pllsoury
at the 4oth Annual Meeting in Augusta,
January %, 1903.

have died during the past year-the
greatest mortality, | believe, during
anv tvelve-month since its organlza-
ton. When we met in Portland one
wear ago. six of our charter members
were living, and four of them were pres
ent, Since then two have gone to their
reward-Theo Carey of Houlton, VINO
retired from active journalism in 1899,
and Marshall \. Rich of Portland who
died suddenly on Christmas day. MT.
Rich was one of the faithful few who
rarely miss a meeting, and his interest
III the Association was maintained TO
the end. Death has also taken from
us our genial treasurer, 7. y. Nlckery,
who gave to our modest hoard his close
personal attention and who contributed
largely to the good fellowship so essen
tial in All association of this kind. The
deaths of these old members are keenly
felt bv those who stand next IN the
ranks awaiting the inevitable summons.
Twenty years ago, when l became
member of the Association, L was en-
rolled as number 81 in d total member
ship of 60 Today ny number is 21 IN
a total of l0l Not all of those who
preceded me in the list OF 1882 have
died some have allowed their member
ship to lapse, but in the past twenty
wears Death has been busy in our ranks
and has spared neither old nor
Young. OF those who have gone
recall Z. H. Elwell. who made the
Portland Transcript household word
throughout New England, and who en-
riched our annual reports with many
charming essay and poem; John NJ.
Adams. most genial companion ana
rhe soul OF hospitality: Dr Lapham,
who stood in the front rank of our local
historians Brown Thurston, the vet
erau printer and publisher: Nelson
Duelev, Governor and Congressman,
and II. ". Richardson, the able and
scholarly editor Of the Portland Adver-
liser. Of the younger members whom
death has claimed may be mentioned
Walter .. Stinson, endowed with ablll-
sizes HAT lad started him on a success
4ul and useful career. NJ. 7. Pendle-
ton. whose posthumous novel ANDY
dodge" was rich in promise and Itself
y notable contribution to Maine lltera-
tule. and T. II EiWell, il, one OF the
most promising of cur young journal
ISIS.
0ur honorary list today bears but a
single name, that of George W. Drlsko
Of Nachias. In 1882 we had ten honor
arv members. Major Rowell, at his
own request was transferred to the
active list: but Death has claimed the
Others. The last to 90 was Judge ii. a.
Baker. HallowelPs grand old man; and
among those who had preceded him
were James G. Blaine. Hannibal Hamlln
and John l.. Stevens, who had
served we'll their country and their
state. and whose fame is secure.
The failure Ct our essaylst and alter
nate to I'LL the assignment for the liter
ary exercises this year suggests that
possjbly change in the program Tor
our annual meetings might be desirable.
These HI etings are for the instruction
and entertainment of members: but OF
late Iespite the excellent essays and
n0ems with which We have been favor
cd here has seemed to be lack of in
te1est: or perhaps it would be more ac-
ruate to say a desire for something
more practical THIS | believe to be
due 20 the changed conditions in the
aeHspaper business. I he old-tlme edl-
.or as a rule was a very easy-golng
su6ir;dual. and the files of the old papers
show it. i'll their paucity Of local news
and Of original matter, and in their
tvpography. The editor of to-day-and
I have in mind more particularly the
country editor-must hustle to keep up
With the competition that meets him at
every turn. Thus he necessarily be-
comes a seeker for knowledge that will
enable him to best serve his patrons and
keen his paper up to the standard de-
maDded of it. This knowledge can be
pest derived from the experience of
others: by an exchange of experiences.
The "Wednesday afternoon Executive
session." which many of us are unable
30 attend, has been to certain extent
an experience meeting; but something
l7Hore iii this direction seems to be de-
manded. | have read carefully i'll our
trade publications the programs of
other state Associations, and find that
epithout exception the sessions are de-
voted to papers and discussions or
practical subjects. For example, the
.orogram of the Idaho Press Association
for its meeting. this month included
brief papers tor discussion on the fol-
loving subjects:
'The Press and the State Development"
William BalderstOn, Statesman, Boise.
The Press and Politics." f. f. Kelley,
Democrat Blacktoot.
advertising" c. f. Wood, Tribune, Po
e3atello.
"small Country Daily" T. E. Picotte,
Times, HALEY.
business Methods in the Printing Of
ace" r. S. Sheridan, Capital News, Boise.