The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-25
MONTGOMERY MEETING
 THE BEST EVER HELD

took place at the luncheon, at which Major Screws presided.
 The veteran editor of The Advertiser alluded to the fact that MT. Stone, as the executive officer of the great news agency, had done more, perhaps. than any other man toward solidifying the people of the United States into a pat riotic fellowship.
 Responding, MT. Stone said that no higher tribute could have been paid to him than this sentiment from the "Nestor of the press of Alabama" re- ferring to Major Screws in the tender est terms. He said he could hope for no greater epitaph. than to have 1t said that he had played even a small part in the work of obliterating section al lines within our common country.
 Program Was Changed.
 When 1t was discovered, early yes- terday morning that a large number of the visiting newspaper men desired to leave Montgomery on the early trains yesterday evening, the program of en- tentainment. as prepared by the com mittee of the Commercial Club. was modified considerably. It had been in- tended to begin the meeting at noon, to have luncheon in the early afternoon, to take the party automo billing and to tender the visitors a banquet at night. This program of entertainment was in charge of g committee led by President Fred s. Ball, of the Commercial Club, Dr. F. c. Stevenson. and George w.. Jones. supplemented by F H. Miller. of The Montgomery Journal and Frank P. Glass, of The Advertiser.
 To suit the convenience of the visi- tors. 1t was decided to begin the meet ing at II o'clock, in the rooms of the Commercial Club, and to tender the guests of the city a formal luncheon at the Beauvoir Club, at :30 o'clock, fol- lowed by an automobile ride about the city.
 number of the newspaper men had come to Montgomery Tuesday night. Others arrived on early trains yester- day morning, but the bulk of the party reached the city at Il o'clock, and af- ter the meeting had begun.
 To expedite the work before the meeting. it was decided that the pub fishers and editors of the morning newspapers. and those of the afternoon consider plans for improvement in the news service, and report to the body as a whole. James R. Gray, of The Atlanta Journal. is chairman of the Southern Division of the Associated Press, and MT. Glass, of The Adver- tiser Is secretary. Although Mir. Gray was in Montgomery. he became indis- posed in the day, and had to retire to his room at the hotel He did not par ticipate in any of the deliberations
 General Rufus N Rhodes, of The Birmingham News, served as chairman of the meeting of afternoon newspaper men. assisted by Charles s. Diehl. of Chicago, Assistant General Manager of the Associated Press. and Melville E. Stone, General Manager of the Asso- ciated Press. presided over the meet ing of the morning newspaper men.
 Improves News Service
 After two hours of discussion, the two divisions reached an agreement as to their news necessities, and the com mittees reported their actions. There upon the meeting. as a whole discuss ed the agreement and concurred in them. The result of the deliberations will be an additional leased wire for the enlargement and extension of the news service to all Southern newspa- pers. This action comprehends much greater expense to the newspapers of the South, but the publishers and edi- tors were almost a unit in declaring that the newspaper business of this section had developed to a point where the highest news service was demand ed.
 The meeting adjourned sine die. at I:30 o'clock, and, led by the Conner cial Club committee, MT. Glass and MT. Miller, the entire party repaired to the rooms of the Beauvoir Club, where the formal luncheon was served immediately. Major W. W. Screws presided. He was earnest in his well come to the visiting newspaper men. His allusion to the great success of the Associated Press, and the splendid ability and patriotism of General Man.