St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1909-05-01
5ssts'aillt farmer
saturday, May /, 1909.
TIE PRESS ASSOCIATION

q Union there is strength !, This asser-
elon ~ 9 dogma positive in the abstract. But
y wlllie IT union there is strength, to develop
nus strength with benefit to society REQUIRES
stamina and ethical purity in the integral
parts Of the union.
there will meet in Coyington next Tues
Gay union whose power for good is not s11r-
passed oy that Of any other body-the Press
f 1s There is probably no organized
pooy better fitted morally and Intellectually
- exert beneficial influence in the political
ana social affairs of our State, nor that has
:. more largely to awakening pub
llc sentiment and the accomplishment of
wise legislation and beneficial reforms.
Inc passage of laws and the institution of
REFORMS affecting principally the members
" the Association are achievements that
appear TO an instructive feeling of lf-pres-
erVatlon; but there is higher duty to be
performed, which carries with it some sac
rlllce OF -lnterest-the duty to society.
The newspaper business, like all other
business, is primarily conducted for profit.
rev publishers can afford to run a paper for
pleasure, and local conditions may offer
temptations to deviate from the strict path
oI duty in the proclamation or suppression
81 thought. To proclaim this may seem
hereto and in violation of the statement
just made, but the theoretical performance
Of duty to society in opposition to the inter-
EST OF self will not always stand the test of
practical demonstration; yet the newspaper
man IN this connection is not more culpable
Than those in other callings; in fact he makes
more sacrifices to sense of right than most
people are called upon to make. His utter
affces must be thoughtfully considered be-
cause they are publicly made and must be
defended. Therefore, in the deliberations
Of the associated members it may be pre-
sl1med that the conclusions arrived at have
been preceded by that deliberate thought
that reduces errors of judgment to a mini
mum.
Many reforms that seem necessary are so
handicapped by business relations and OBJ
structions to commerce that the question of
public policy is hard to answer These prob
lens are solved mainly through discussions
in the columns of the press. Through them
the people are educated and given material
for thought, and through them the seed is
soWn that develops into fruit of final solution
It is here that unity absorbs the individual
and establishes combined movement pow
erful in its strength and untainted by pre-
sumption of private or sectional interest.
Therefore, resolutions adopted by the As
sociation should be upheld by it's members,
and matters contained therein should be
Systematically taken up and discussed by
every journal, daily and weekly, throughout
the State. Every journal should be repre-
seed in the Association, or if for any rea-
son prevented from becoming member,
should support the action Of the Association.
Such a united press would be unlimited in
its accomplishments for the betterment of
the State, and to that end copy Of such
resolutions as appertain to public matters
should be mailed to every paper in the State.