The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-16
Newspaper Publishers Here To Talk Shop And
 Inspect Birmingham
Attended Business During the Day But Last Night Dignity Was Thrown to Winds at East Lake
 Smoker and Lunch

The Southern Newspaper Publishers association is in convention in Birming- ham, and yesterdays events turned to the advantage of both visitors and Bir- mingham. The first day brought about 50 of the leading newspaper men of the south-all of them jolly, affable mixers who came to get the experience of their neighbors. have a good time and to see Birmingham.
 The day was an easy gong affair, ar ranged to the newspaper mans idea of good time. The actual work of the con vention did not commence until Il o'clock the hour of rising for most morning newspaper workers. Under the fans and among the flowers of the palm room at the Hotel Hillinan they spent two hours of shop gossip.
 President J. P. Caldwell of the Chariotte Observer presided, but the men of the press who are accustomed more to the power or nrint than the thrills of oratory, sat comfortably in lounging chairs and dis- cussed that old subjeer about which even the public has many vague, though con ddent ideas, "How to Run Newspaper.
 Subjects For Discussion.
 The meetings were executive, because these men really think they know now to print a newspaper and they do not seeh any outside advice. The qualities ant quantities and prices of stereotype ana Iinotype metal are questions about as lih- portant to the members of the assocld- lion as whether the next earthquake be in San Francisco or New York, and that ewfully important topic of getting sun dav CODY in carly is equally as serious n problem as a stand against municipal corruption.
 This discussion of shop was continued after lunch, until o'clock, when the con yention adjourned and a number or the visitors were given automobile rides over the city
 At S:so o'clock the special car of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company conveyed the guests to East Lake, where they were given all the privi- leges of the park. They alighted from the car in their usual dignity and with cigars and walking canes strolled casually Into the park. There happened to be sew eral reporters along and in their pres ence a perfect equilibrium must always be maintained.
 You have a veritable Coney Island here," they remarked, as they looked around and it seemed for few moments as If East Lake was the last place on earth to have taken such crowd.
 Started In For Good Time.
 But To- within 10 minutes, the restraint of public responsibility was drowned i'll the noise of the band and everyone of them let out his belt and started in for a good time singing T Wish I Had a Grille Like the Other Fellows Have and other Irish ditties composed by Mir Evelyn Harris and G. T. Flournoy.
 For two hours they dashed down the shoot the chute, sailed around the to- began slide and rode the miniature rall- road They became so infatuated with the scenic swing which runs over and around the lake that 1t came very near breaking down with the load and when J. A Davis of the Albany Herald got in car the motor had to stop for re- pairs
 The human roulette wheel made them all dizzy with excitement. Rufus N. Rhodes of Birmingham, MT. Davis srd John R. Ross, the three biggest men of the convention, engaged in a contest of endurance on the spinning wheel and much to the joy of the others MT. Rhodes and Mr. Davis rolled off in confusion, leaving MT. Ross the champion of the event. However, the engineer put on more speed and MT. Ross came off at such terrible speed that he came near breaking a hole through the wall
 Fine Fireworks Display.
 At 1O:3o o'clock the guests lined up on the bank or the lahe bhu "i.hesseu the special display of fireworks, which was really enjoyable. Signalled by i've great cannon shots, the pyrotechnics ran the list of every kind of cracker rocket and candle and in the center blazed a flaming message of 'Welcome to Bir- mingham S. N. P. A." in five colors.
 It was not until after Il o'clock that Col F. P. Glass of Montgomery, Col. A. F. Sanford of Knoxville and several of the most dignifed could be induced to leave the pop corn and the box balls and catch the special for Birmingham
 In the meantime an elaborate lunch was served at the pavilion. under the direc- hon of Chairman John L. Parker of the