The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-02-03
Portland Paragraphs.
Annual Meeting of the Maine Press
Association,


Association.
In making trip to Portland by rail last week
the conditions were so different from those
usual in d-winter as to merit brief mention
Leaving on the Thursday morning train the
Passagassawaukeag river was found clear of
ice and the smelt fshermen's tents were haul
ed out on the shores Farther on the brooks
had burst their icy fetters and went dancing on
their way as joyously as though spring had
really come. The fields were bare, save for an
occasional patch of snow in a hollow or under
the trees, and fog or mist veiled the distant
landscape. Unity pond showed open water
along the shores, Above Watervlle there
were stretches of open water in the Kennebec
river, and the ice broken up in the recent
freshet was piled along the banks. 1t was
from eight to ten inches thick and the edges
of the cakes were of pale blue in contrast
with their frosting of snow. The sky continued
overcast, and on arriving at Watervllle snow
squal set in, and so large were the flakes, and
so rapidly did they fall, that before the train
was underway again the ground covered.
Farther the sun struggled out and it was
noticed that the plowed ground and patches
that had been cultivated were covered with
snow, while there was not vestige on the
grass ground. 1t was like map the outlines
of the cultivated patches in white contrasting
with the yellow brown of the grass fields.
There snow in Portland. The streets
were muddy, automobiles were much in evil
dence and the outdoor aspect generally was
springlike. Things were different nearly
score of years ago when the members of the
Maine Press Association were marooned in the
Preble House, and train service was practi-
cally suspended for two days by heavy drift
ing snow storm.
Only about dozen were present when the
annual meeting of the Maine Press Association
was called to order at p. m, Thursday, in the
Maine room of the Falmouth Hotel. During
membership of q years the writer has missed
but two annual meetings and this was the
smallest attendance and the least interesting
gathering, in all that time, and but for the
presence of half dozen or so of real news
paper men and their "smoke talks in the
lobby of the Falmouth it would have poorly
repaid the journey. But two of the charter
members, who joined the association at its
organization, August II, 1864, are living-W.
A. Pidgin of Lewiston and H. X Morrell of
Gardiner. Mr.. Pdgin was present and the
secretary was instructed to send greetings to
Mr.. Morrell. John Clair Minot, formerly of
the kennebec Journal, now on the editorial
staff of The Youths Companion, sent his
resignation as treasurer and F. B. Averill of
the Sanford Tribune was appointed treasurer
pro tenn. The treasurer's report showed
balance of only S26 on hand. Some of the
county historians reported and officers were
elected. Arnold H. Jones of the Rockland
Courier-Gazette, having served the customary
two years, Arthur E. Forbes, first vice presi-
dent, was promoted to the presidency. Charles
+. kendrick of the Boothbay Register was
elected third vice president and Frederick B.
Averill of Sanford, treasurer. The other of
icers were reelected. From early days the
association had had literary exercises at one
session, appointing an essayist and poet at
the preceding annual meeting, and the reports
for these years contain matter of a high order
of merit from the pens of Edward H. Elwell,
| W. H. Simpson and others. In 1904 it was
voted to discontinue the literary exercises and
hold banquet instead. Now it has been de-
cided, and as we believe wisely, to restore the
literary exercises and drop the banquets,
which have eaten up the once comfortable
balance in the treasury. Charles f. Kendrick
Of Boothbay Harbor was appointed essayist
for the next annual meeting, with Jesse H.
Ogier of Camden as alternate, and W. O. Fuller
of Rockland for poet, with Frank H. Colley Of
Old Orchard as alternate.
There was no meeting Thursday evening.
Friday morning brief session was held, when