The Republican journal., 1908-01-30
The Maine Press Association.

The 45th annual meeting of the Maine
Press Association was held in Portland
Jan. 23d and oath. The members were not
treated to the predicted blizzard and snow
blockade, but instead witnessed a spectacu
lar fire-the burning of the city building.
And, by the way, are not these weather
predictions rather unfair to Portland?
"Once upon time"-it was many years ago
the association was storm m-stayed in Port
land for "a hours or SO, and ever since when
the time comes to hold the annual session in
Portland the editors all over the State say.
snow look out for big snow storm" But,
like most weather prophets, their predic-
tions usually come to naught and POrtland's
warm welcome would in any event offset
adverse weather conditions. No fauSt could
be found with Thursdays weather and the
opening session, held in the common council
room that afternOOE, was largely attended.
After the roll call the election Of officers for
the ensuing year was taken up. President
William HI. Dow of Portland having serve6
the customary two years the committee Oh
nominating officers named the hrst vic.
president Fred w. Sanborn of Norway, as
his successor. Mr. Sanbornj positively de-
clined to serve. 1t is said hat he has ell
gagged in the dog business as a side issue
and is obliged to curtail his labors in other
directions. However, Mr.. Sanborn missed
what every Maine newspaper man must
consider an honor, and it passed to Arnold
H. Jones of Rockland, the present mayor OF
that city, who will worthiy fill the place.
The officers elected were as follows: Ar
mold II. Jones, Rockland. president; Arthur
E. Forbes, South Paris, Thomas d. Sale,
Portland, and Louis o. Haskell of Pittsfeld,
vice presidents; Joseph Wood, Portland,
secretary; George S. ROwell, Portland,
treasurer; Arnold Ii. Jones, ex-officio,
Rockland; John V. Lane, Augusta, Edward
NJ. Handing, Bangor, and Edward ID.
Twombly, York Village, executive commit
tee.
The recent ruling of the post Office de-
partment was informally discussed, to be
again taken up at later session. Charles
E. Williams of Portland read paper on
ESTIMATING the Cost of job Work. and
cited illustrations showing that it was often
mere guess work, while in some instances
the price was made SO low to take the job
away from competitor that it could only
be done at a loss. George ID. Lorlng OF
Portland and Charles F. Flynt of Augusta
followed with remarks pertinent to the SUBJ
ject and of interest to members OF the JOB
| printing fraternity. paper by Arnold II.
Jones of the Courier Gazette, Rockland,
care Voting Contests Worth While" led to
an interesting and at times amusing dis
cussion on voting contests, premiums and
clubbing arrangements. Some of the men,
bers said that the increased circulation
| gained through voting contests had not been
| retained; others that they lost not more
| than 80 per cent OF the subscribers secured
in this way III admitted that it called for
good deal of work, and no little annoy
ance. while some found that it created Ill
feelings and jealousies. The impression
left On an impartial listener to the discus
sion was that such contents were uHadvis-
! able. AS to premiums and clubbing ar
rangements some papers might fad them
advantageous and others not In the case
of The journal it is not a money making
proposition and is of little value in increas-
ing the subscription list, but is continued
as an accommodation to our subscribers
who want farm paper, a general newspaper
| or fashion magazine.
Two years ago banquet was made a
| feature of the annual meeting, and the
| initial banquet was given at the Columbia
hotel. One year ago the banquet was at
the Augusta House, and this year the
| Columbia was again the scene OF the fes-
tivities. Instead of long tables, as formerly,
tables seating six were used and the mem
| bers selected their seats at will On each
table were ferns and long stemmed roses and
| carnations. The menu was a tempting one
and the viands were deftly served. The
soup sticks were in the form of scissors,
and the ladies were served with cakes
shaped like inkstands, with candy pen
holders. Grape fruit with Strawberries
was followed by clear green turtle soup,
soup sticks and sated nuts; then came
''lobster la drable," in the shell, with
celery and olives; braised sweetbreads; :;
sorbet epicure; broiled chicken, with pota-
toes parsilade and asparagus vinaigrette;
! biscuit Tortoni, sweets and coffee. The
banquet did great credit to Manager Pooler,
to his chef, and to the entertainment COM
mttee, Messsrs. George S. Rowell, Frank
S. Morton and Oscar K. Wish.
About one hundred were seated at the
tables. President Dow presided, and /he
association had as guests Gen. and Mrt {.
P. Mattocks and Col Frederick E. BOOth'
by. Col BOOthby was the first one called
upon when the postprandial exercises be-
gan. lie told some gOod stories and then
made complimentary mention of some of
the first daily and weekly newspapers he
had read, among them the Bangor Whig
and Courier, the Lewiston journal, the
Portland dailies, and among the weeklies
The Republican Journal. There were prob
| ably few present who recalled the fact that
| The journal was then owned and edited by
| William I'll. Simpson, one of the ablest jour
| nalists Maine has ever produced. He was
witty, and no one engaged in a controversy
with him without regrettng it. The senior
| Morrell of Gardiner, no mean antagonist
! himself, once said to the writer that he
knew enough not to tackle Simpson. MIR.
simpson was not only an able editor, but a