Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-11
EDITORS ARE TALKING SHOP
incidentally They are EnJOyinE
Themselves with the People
of Hastings.

HASTINGS. Ncb., Feb. 1O.-(special Tel
egram.J-The thirty-hrst annual meeting OF
the Nebraska Press association convened
here at 2 p. m. today with a large attend
ance Of editors, many accompanied by their
wives. The meeting was held at the court
house, which was appropriately decorated
for the occasion. After the invocation by
Rev. John Power. Mayor Miles spoke in
welcome. euloglzing the press as the great
est moulder Of public opinion and the
mainstay Of popular government.
Mr.. Maupin was not present to respond TO
the address OF Mr. Miles and the response
was made extemporaneously by Mr.. Had
com. who appropriately responded in a
hve-minute speech expressive Of the pleas
ure and benefit anticipated from the meet
ing.
Roll call and reading of minutes Of last
meeting were dispensed with and reports
OF committees we're listened to. The re-
port Of the legal committee was nil. w
NJ. Good Of the excursion committee re-
ported on the excursion taken by sixty
members Of the association through the
northwestern country last summer. The
report was favorable, also all expenses
we're cleared and a small surplus remains
over for the association.
VIII Maupin, chairman of the executive
committee, said that body had met, shirked
all it could aid succeeded and left the pro-
gram to be gotten up by the president and
secretary.
Thu president then addressed the gather
ing. He pointed out the advantages gained
through the state organization and recon-
mended the extension of the idea to county
organizations. that the senseless and cut
thNagN alwxzzNN4r- "a V- -
might be done away with.
The next address was by Rev. John
Power Of Hastings. who spoke upon the
press as viewed by a citizen. Each of the
home papers was wittily described and
gently criticized and then the speaker
spoke of newspapers in general. They may
be one Of three things, he said, OF a COM
b~ination Of the three, merely commercial
institutions, the tools of parties or cliques,
or Independent moulders of public opinion.
The latter is the ideal. Its editor will
probably not wax fat in the land, for where
truth and falsebood, Justice and injustice
are concerned he will not allow profit and
loss to influence his position; he may fail,
but so failing there is nc falling, and so
dying there io no dying.
In response Mr.. Maupin said II he lived
to be 1900 years old he would still expect
to hear such papers as Mr.. Power had
described spoken OF.
Editor Good Of the Newport Eagle pre-
sided while topics Of the round table were
discussed. Speaking Of Flowers Of
Speech" Mr.. Wilson of the Springfield Re-
publican expressed himself ia favor Of
plain English words, Anglo-saxon, IN pews.
paper work, and recommended the flowers
of speech be yielded to the high school
brother and novelist.
The remainder of the discussions were
confined to the effect of rural delivery
upon the circulation Of the country news
paper. The consensus Of opinion is that
the latter is not injured by rural delivery
but that it's circulation is increased. Rep
resentatives Of the city papers testified to
the same effect.
This evening a receL lion was rendered
the delegates at the Hotel Bostwick from
s to $3.50, many women being present.
From $3.50 until the wee small hours a
smoker was given at Elks hall.