The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-01
THE PRESS MEETING
MAJOR SORENESS NOTES ON THE
 STATE ASSOCIATION AND OGDEN
Very Large Attendance of Genuine Ncwspaper Men-PrOgress of the Papers-A Charming Town and
 De1ightful Program.

 ence.) e.)-The proceedings of the Alabama Press Association while of great inter- est to its members. as a rule. have but little of interest to the general reader. The great feature is the bringing to- gether of men from every part of the State, who are engaged in the same kind of work. and the benefit resulting from personal intercourse and swap ping of experience is bound to be great. The hand-shake and looking into each others faces create personal good will and esteem. which serve a good purpose and keep down utterances in the col umns of their papers. which. in the heat of discussions and differences. might be harsh and unbrotherIy.
 The discredit brought upon the As sociation by the machinations of a for mer secretary. and which heretofore prevented many of the best members from attending the sessions. has all been removed. It is safe to say that more real Alabama newspaper men and their families were at Golden during the recent annual meeting there than ever before attended. There were no inter- lopers-no outsiders Everyone repre- senting a paper was really and bona fide connected with It, and had a right by virtue thereof to be present. This is something which could not be said few years ago. but from the present temper and tone of the members. they will protect themselves against the grafter in future.
 The Alabama newspapers have under gone quite a change for the better in recent years and their represent tatives show by their cheerfuIness and progress siveness that they have felt some of the measure of prosperity which has been prevailing. Many of the newspa- per offices in small places are equipped tn d.tat h,rc ctr,na in scale than the population of their com munities warrant. The matter in edi- torial and news columns is ably and thoughtfully prepared and there Is ev- cry indication that the utterances are not those of interested cliques and poli- ticians, but of men actuated by desire to serve the public faithfully and well. Alabama has a right to feel proud or it's newspaper press.
 The Advertiser has already contained a report of most of the proceedings of the recent annual meeting. and other letters devoted to descriptions of life and scenes at Golden will be given in It's columns. There were many events out of the ordinary run of public meetings, one of which will forever and gratefully remain on my mind and memory, and for which words are inadequate to give expression.
 If any doubted the wisdom of going to Coden, after the withdrawal of the Sylacauga invitation all doubt was re- moved soon after arrival on the ground. The people were at the train to welcome the newspaper folk to their homes and hearts and the stay was one long feast and joy. The hospital tty and cordiality were genuine and not of the perfunctory kind. A program of entertainment was arranged for ev- cry day and evening for one week. This included sails. fishing--a day on the Gulf of Mexico and dipping in Its blue waters-musical and literary entertain ment. dancing, and a sacred concert on Sunday afternoon. A better arranged schedule of entertainment 1t would be difficult to prepare, and that 1t was en- thusiastically enjoyed was amply tes- tifed by those fortunate enough to avail themselves of It.
 One citizen of Golden has a heart big enough to entertain the whole press of the State. If Captain Peter F. Alba's domiciliary resources were as great as his spirit of hospitality. he would have solved the problem of entertainment by taking all under his sheltering wing. At it was he kept open house and en- tertained his friends as only a man like him can entertain them His win ter home is in Mobile, but he has summer home on Coden bayou. part of Portersville Bay, and one look con- vinces you that 1t has been arranged with a view to rest and comfort. The whole place is peaceful and restful, and once under his roof you feel that care may go hang If any place can be called Liberty Hall." you find 1t there There is no stiff formality, but gen. uine, hearty spirit of welcome to all that you find Except when he has company this home Is occupied only by him and his gentle little granddaugh- ter, Sophie, who is almost the only tie he has left. No one who has ever passed under their gentle influence can think of them except with feelings of joy and gladness.
 Captain Alba is greatly interested in Coden and thinks it Is the ideal coast resort. There are many good reasons to support his belief in Codens future greatness It is easily reached by rail or sail from Mobile Portersville Bay, on which 1t Is located. Is a beautiful body of water and furnishes delightful bathing. The water is said to be the saltest along the coast and is not deep enough to be dangerous. Good fishing is in order every day of the year. Oys- ters abound at all seasons and of the most select kind. There is a popula- tion of 1900 to 1.500 refined. cultured people in radius of two miles. and many beautiful and attractive homes. There are several churches. and hotels and boarding houses amply sufficient to care for a large number of visitors
 Coden in future will be better known to the people of Alabama than it ever was before. w. w. S