The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-16
MANY NEW MEMBERS
Rev. Or. r. n. Pitt Speaks on the Re-
ligious Newspaper, and Congress
man Tells of the Relation OF the
Press to the Government.
lsnec,., "a The Times- Dispatch,)

throughout the State. During the morning
....,op today many new members were
admitted into the organization, ana inc
numerous committee reports showed the
association to be in satisfactory conoi-
ton. with prospects brighter than have
bean known In a number of years past
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
President Copeland delivered an able ad-
dress. being his annual message to his
fellow editors.
Mr.. Copeland said In part:
Your president has the honor to report
that the Virginia Press Association is IN
most flourishing condition, having a
larger membership than ever before. and
having a comfortable sum in Its treas
ury. During the past year. although the
membership fee was increased from ~
10 S, forty names were added to our
rolls, and there is promise at this meet
ing OF the largest attendance IN the MS
tory Of the assocla ton.
In accordance with the recommended
ton of my predecessor Mr.. Thacker, l
appointed a Committee on Legislature,
with Mr. A. P. Rowe as chairman, TO
urge the General Assembly to amend the
existing law so as to make 1t compul-
sory upon boards of supervisors In the
several counties to publish from time
to time in the county papers their state
ments. Mr. Rowe communicated with
the chairman Of the House Committee
on Counties, Cities and Towns, and
urged the recommendation. Your presi-
dent appeared in person before the COM
mttee and made a talk In advocacy OF
this change Several members OF the COM
rnttee were undoubtedly in favor Of tho
amendment but for some reason no ac-
ton was taken.
LIBEL LAW.
During the session of the General AS
sembly. Senator Sale, of Norfolk. intro
duced a bill to amend the libel law. The
bill was practically such as the existing
law in North Carolina, which has
proven to be quite satisfactory, and your
president addressed a circular letter to
each member of the association. urging
him to assist Senator Sale In getting the
bill through. Your Executive Committee
adopted resolution approving Senator
Sales bill and offering to aid him in any
way within Its power.
But this bill also failed Of passage, and
] am inclined to think that in this case.
as in the other, the members OF the Vir-
ginia Press Association have themselves
to blame for the failure. am of opinion
that II each member OF this association
had written to his representative In the
General Assembly, and written again and
again. to urge the adoption of these two
measures. both would have carried.
But there is still hope. and recon-
mend that the present committee be con-
tinued. to take these two subjects in hand
and present them at the next session OF
the General Assembly. In that event I
urge that each and every member give
the association his hearty and active sup
port In pushing these measures along.
also recommend that special COM
nittee be appointed to devise some plan
and present the same at our next annual
meeting. by which the newspapers in this
association, or some of them. at least,
may cooperate in q business way for
order of the day. and l feel sure from
some Inquiries which I have made that
there are some lines of cooperation which
newspapers In the State may pursue to
their profit. Y"
A large part OF Mr.. Copeland's address
was devoted to thoughts of special In
terest to men who publish newspapers,
and was In the nature of confidential,
heart-to-heart talk of the duties, hopes
and aims OF the newspaper man.
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPER
DR.. R. II. Pitt, editor of the Religious
J1eTdlO, Tedu d paper Oh lie cNOIullOI
OF the Religious Newspaper" He said
that the line Of demarcation between the
secular and the religious press was be-
coming fainter and fainter every year,
At the same time. he said. there will
always be two useful fields for both class
es OF periodicals. DR.. Pitt pointed out
several disadvantages under which reli-
gious newspapers labor, but he closed his
remarks with the opinion that brighter
day is dawnng for the religious weekly.
ut has earned its right to live" he said,
wide awake editors. who discern the
signs OF the times. are adjusting their
methods to meet new emergencies. More
enterprise and foresight mark the con-
duct OF these periodicals. There Is a man
ifest improvement In their literary quail
sly. They are better news gatherers than
ever before. Advertisers who have for
some years chosen the dime magazine In
preference TO the UNCONVENTIONAL weekly
nre coming back. And so the day is
Frightening"
CONGRESSMAN GLASS.
Congressman Carter Glass editor Of the
Lynchburg News, favored his hearers with
splendid paper on THE Relation of the
Newspaper to the Government"
1.-The evolution OF the press with It's re.
lation TO government" said Mr.. Glass, 81:
readily traced and its effects upon ON
civilization plainly discerned From the
star chamber decree of an English pre-
.lats IN 1851 10 tne lsnnyphcKer haScO o
1905 the whole process in all its varied
phases may be seen and understood, TIL,
difference mt first and now is startling
The Archbishop OF Canterbury, with hi
austere decree against the printing press
was terror The Pennsylvania Cover
nor, with his gag law is a spectacle"
Mr. Glass reviewed all OF the unsuccess
full efforts which have been made In tn,
past TO crush the liberty OF free press
and he touched upon the conseuuen
Wholesome influence in relation 10 III
government of the real unrestrained edi
torial expression. He showed how poltti
cal thievery and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF gov
eminent are held in check 10 a great ex
tent by the holiness and the fearlessnes
of the newspapers OF the world
ROANOKE NEXT TIME.
Before the morning session adjourne
motion was passed declaring il to b
the sense of the association TO hold 1t
next meeting at Roanoke, cordial invita-
lions having been extended the associ
alton TO, go there next year By the com
rne-cial bodies and the Council OF ma
city, The matter however, viii be de
cfded by the Executive Committee al
xIa,ta