The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-01-28

and acts as bar to increased member
ship. If SO it should be changed. I
would suggest that the committee on
membership or special committee be
instructed to take these matters under
consideration and report at the present
session.
1t has often been said, by those out
side of our ranks, that the Maine Press
Association is wholly given over to
junketing, and has no other excuse for
its existence. That of course is untrue
and unjust. But if the Association
was devoted to sociability alone it
would serve a useful purpose. While
a few fortunate ones are able to in
dulge love for travel, many of us are
more or less closely confined to our
duties. The annual meetings and the
summer excursions take us away from
the daily routine and familiar sur
roundings and bring us into touch with
each other; and always, believe, with
mutual benefit. For myself I do not
believe it is essential, or desirable, that
our meetings should be wholly devoted
to talking shop" But if that is the
wish of a majority of the members it
may easily be brought about. I agree
with Walter Wellman, who said, in
paper read before the National Edito-
rial Association at Omaha of the pro-
posed press parliament at St. Louis,
that 'such meetings are an inspira-
tional force" and that
We need such in our profession. We
hear so much of type and presses, of
advertising rates and subscription re-
ceipts. We are told again and again
in and out of these meetings of what
we must do to bring business into our
Golfers, as if mere business was the end
and object of human life. We need to
have our ideals raised. We need to
have the vision splendid hung up before
our eyes continually. The messenger
is more than the type and presses with
which he sends his message. We need
such inspiration all the while.
If our Association included represen-
tatives from every publication in Maine
entitled to membership and they could
be brought together at least once a
year, if for social intercourse only, it
would be a good thing for them and for
our State. We ought to know each
other BETTER shake hands and exchange
condolences oftener, and thus cultivate
the fraternal spirit that should charac-
terize our calling.
Perhaps word personal may be per-
mitted here from one who has seen
nearly half a century of newspaper
work. After an experience of % years
on the daily press, as night editor, city
editor. leader writer and correspondent,
l returned to Maine, my native State,
to become country editor That was
25 years ago-or will be next May.
There were no s-hour or 9-hour days
when / began my newspaper apprentice
ship and no intermissions for meals or
sleep when there was work to be done.
My working hours were often IS hours
long. The habits then formed followed
me to my desk in weekly newspaper
office. 1t was not until [ Joined the
Maine Press Association in 1888, at the
solicitation of my good friend Howard
Owen, that found it was possible, and
profitable as well, to give two days to
attendance at the annual meetings and
even to join occasionally in the sum-
mer excursions. The acquaintance
made and friendships formed on these
occasions are highly priced. am per
sonally indebted to many of our men,
bers for kindly acts and words of ap-
preciation-the latter not wholly de-
served, perhaps, but none the less
pleasant. | therefore take this oppor-
tunity to place on record my recog-
milton of what the Association and it's
members individually have done for
me. May the Maine Press Association
live long and prosper, and may health.
wealth and happiness be the lot of all
its members.