The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-23
INTERESTING PAPERS BY
 ME MBERS OF ORGANIZATION
Neil and Hilton Both Submit Interest ing Plans for Furthering Work or Association-The Attend
 ance Is Large.
BY j. F. LEE.

Ressemer. July 2.-(Special)-The thirty-seventh annual meeting of the Alabama ,ress association was called to order in { Odd Fellows hall this morn- ing at 10 o'clock by President H. 5. Doster. VA more than 50 members pres ent whi-A said by members who att tend theee meetings regulaA to De banner attendance for the oh ex- ercises.
 After a prayer by the Rev. w. E. Mor- ris. pastor of the Methodist church, Mayor Rush made an address in behalf of the city of Bessemer, in which he referred to the very great pleasure it afforded the citizens of the town to entertain the nress four years ago, and assured them that the city appreciated the great honor thai had been conferred on it in hav- ing been again selected as their meet ing place, and that in turning over the keys of the city he felt sure that every citizen would do his utmost toward siVlng each and every member of the associa- ton the entertainment due them.
 q H. Stevenson followed Mayor Rush with a short address in behalf Of the Roard of Trade, extending the welcome
 
 that had been offered them by the city s chief executive.
 W. P Gum then in few well chosen words welcomed them in behalf Of the local newspaper men.
 Response to the welcome addresses was made by Tom Garner of the Times-Ga- zette of Tuscaloosa. He paid Bessemer some glowing tributes on the manner Tn which she entertained the Press associa- tion four years ~-<ase.,and spoke of her marvellous growth. and her posi- Heres in the future, with the vast undeveloped re- sources that she possesses MT. Garner was evidently impressed with the pres 1 once of the many fair ladies in the au- dience for he advised them n his speech that he was hanging on the "bough," still unplucked. At the conclusion Of his address he was greeted with much ap- plause.
 The minutes of the last meeting were approved as found on the journal
 President H. s. Doster.
 President H. S. Doster then made his annual report supplementing it with some interesting facts concerning the as- sociation at the time he was made pres ident. He said that he considered it one of the highest honors that one could wish for, and that he was glad to say that the association was based on frmer foundation than ever before, since the passage of the anti-pass law, which at one time was looked upon as a se- rious menace to the future prosperity of the association, but that the life of the organization did not depend on the ability from the railroads
 He paid a glowing tribute to the late Edwin w. Pettus, who was an honorary member.
 Secretary Peppermans Report. The annual report of Secretary Pepper- man was in part as follows:
 To the Members of the Alabama Press Association: Dear Friends: In compliance with the bylaws of our association, herewith sub secretary since the annual meeting in Montgomery in 1907.
 MEMBERSHIP.
 In good standing September 15. 1907 (page r. Journal, 19OO: Life members, 3; mem- Lers subject to annual dues, 90; members IT., l, lions for membership pending, 4; total, 3S.
 DEDUCTIONS.
 By death of w. c. Dinwiddie, l; mem bers July 15, 1907, ST.
 FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Annual dues collected to July l., 1908.$ 500 Loan from bank elsewhere referred to 85.g5 - Total receipts ...............,.......s .s17l.S5
 DISBURSEMENTS.
 Paid w. B. Salter. printing Journal,
 1907 5 79.0O Reunited to Treas. Frank Crchton.. 92 .35
 s17l. .S5
 RECEIPTS SINCE JULY 15 19OS For annual dues ....,..-....-........-S 1900 Fees and dues new members ....... 14O9
 $32. .G0
 w. E. w. Yerby's Address.
 William E. w. Yerby delivered an ad- dress on .'The Press and the Railroads as Factors of Civilization" which is deserv- ing of much mere space than is here given it. Such an address could only oe made after deep study and serious thought, as it consisted of the complla- tion of historic dates and eras during the life of the press that dated back 200 wears. He touched at length on the power the press had always wfelded even in those olden times, and its gradual growth in power until the modern newspapers of today compete w,rh seminaries, colleges and universities as educators, with the courts as detectors of crime and modi- fiers of morals. In closing his remarks on newspapers he said ''The habit some editors have of imputing graft and improper motives 70 other editors with whom they disagree on some questions of public policy, is all wrong, and the real eools in .he -lse W., not bear out the ,nputation in one case in hundred, at least so far as the Alabama editors are concerned. AS civilized people, and yo-called holders of public opinion, eacli of us should have a proper regard Tor ,the opinions of those with whom we dis Spree.' In speaking on railroads he sad that 1t was almost beyond belief that less k IrnNTINIIEn nN pA1an a-s