The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1904-06-09
MISSOURI PRESS ASSOCIATION MEETS.
President Francis, Governor Dock
cry, and Judge J. II.
Hawthorne Make
Addresses.

entertained Tuesday, May II, at the Mis-
souri, Building on the Worlds Fair Grounds.
In the afternoon the SSth Annual Meeting
Of the Missouri Press Association, presided
over by President I. 4. Wilson. Of Tarkio,
was held In State Hall. In the evening the
editors and their friends were received by
the Missouri Worlds Fair Commission.
President ID. Il, Francis, Governor A. NJ.
Dockery and Judge J. II. Hawthorne. for
the Commission, were the speakers In the
afternoon. A large crowd was present.
President Francis spoke briefly upon the
Governor for wisdom displayed In the APP
pointment Of the Commission which has
SO .I thoroughly exploited the resources Of
Governor Dockery's theme was the power
Of the press, lie spoke as follows:
Mr.. President, Members of the Missouri
Press Association, Ladies and Gentlemen /:
when l view this splendid assemblage
Of representative newspaper men l am led
to believe that your subscribers have given
favorable response to q recent editorial of
one OF the metropolitan papers, advising
them to settle old accounts, that the editors
might be able to attend this meeting Of your
Association and also visit the Exposition.
l am therefore pleased that l am permitted
to congratulate both you and them.
All classes OF our people are swift to
Looking back over the years we can see
how rapidly the press has grown In influence
3 until II Is today at least the equal of any
other single agency In the country. Both
the metropolitan and country newspapers
WELD a persuasive mastery In moulding and
controlling public sentiment. The metro
politan press has recently had the advantage
OF the rural free delivery. which has en-
a6ied IL to reach great number Of people
who prior to the establishment Of this
branch OF the postal service were not able
to avail themselves of the daily papers,
e1ss own Q, ssa has
stood, there can be no conflict between the
great daily and the county seat weekly.
One IL the. complement of the other, and
both are masterful In directing the policies
Two classes Of journalism are the out
growth Of the times. Sensational papers
pander to their readers, delightlng In the
concerning even trivial matters. The old.
style newspaper. with Its single edition,
embodles Its findings In carefully prepared
articles setting out the news Of the day,
and Its editorials seek to express the policies
OF Its management In emphatic yet conserya.
tive language.
The busy, bustling man of affairs now
rarely takes time to read lengthy editorials
or other matter which enters into great
glances at the headlines, which In them
selves are a fair epitome of the articles
they precede. If such is not the case the
article Is dismissed with casual glance.
and lost sight of in the more attractive and
explanatory data which crown another COL
umn.
The synopsis Of the days news is an
other explanation for such tastes. care
ful study Of the summary will In many in
stances give the hurried reader a fair idea
OF the papers contents, and only such arti-
eles as appeal to him specially are care
"There Is much criticism of the sensa-
tional newspaper. 1t is often characterized
as yellow journalism Its origin does not
date back more than thirty years. 1t may
1t exists only In response to public demand.
and Is the outgrowth of the commercial
spirit. Its advent dethroned the old-time
editor, such as Horace Greeley, James Cor
don Bennett and George d. Prentice and
made the business manager, rather than the
editorial writer, the dominating force In de-
termining the policy Of the metropolitan
press.
daily papers no longer furnishes any consider
able part OF the income of these papers. 1t
scarcely pays for the white paper upon
which the Journal Ia printed. The advertis-
enabling dividends 70 By pad the e
stockholders Of the daily press
notwithstanding this change Of policy
there ID still wide field Of usefulness left
paper. lts agencies for good are still po-
tent. Acting In unison and In harmony with
the best Impulses Of the people II Is still
a mighty. factor In the promotion Of the
The country press as moulder Of public
opinion, is power recognised throughout
the land 1t stands for the Advancement of
the interests OF the comma nifty which It
serves to the exclusion Of everything else.
1t champions the interests of its patrons and
brinFF tidings Of everyday happenings to
the Nome. It lauds the man OF affairs for
enterprise, while be lives and pronounces
an elegant eulogy, cherished BY the family,
when be b called to his reward. It chron-
icles the Joy OF. new-made parents, and
praises the beauty and accomplishments of
each happy bride. 1t promotes every enter
prise Tor the public good, and receives beg
carly remuneration for unselnsh efforts.
1T fearlessly advocates Its favorlte Ia
every contest, political or otherwise, carries
his banner Aloft, and II victory crowns Its
ehorts. continues to vaunt its opinions and |
congratulate its friends.
"1f however. disaster comes, It shows its |
breadth OF character BY gracefully accepting
the Inevitable and st0ots the lead horn ii
the band wagon Of the successful asplrant
Its support Il oil the more appreciated be-
cause It bows to the will Of the majority.
1T h this ability to respond to public
sentiment which makes or mars . Journal.
With Z bright energetic man at the helm.
n most Missouri editors are. each edition
brings more loyal supporters
Tho position Of the country editor, there
fore. h most important. Because Of his In
nuence be should thoughtfully weigh his
utterapces. The community awaits his anal.
ySls OF dlalcult situations and 70 ever anxious