The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-02-29
The Maine Press Association.


The next annual meeting of the Maine
Press Association will be the semi-cen-
tennial, and we regret to say that in the
past few years there has been marked
decline in attendance and interest. Even
the summer excursions, in which as
many as 70 have participated, and rare
ly less than half that number, no longer
attracts. Only about bakers dozen
went last summer to Moosehead Lake,
that most delightful inland resort. Death
has made great inroads in the member
ship, removing many of the strong men
and charming women who gave life and
character to the association, and the few
left of the old guard are only marking
time and awaiting the inevitable sum-
mons. 1t is up to the young blood now
to come to the front and give the assoc
iation new lease of life.
Article 2 of the bylaws reads: 1.-THE
annual business meeting shall be held in
Augusta each year ending with an odd
number, and in Portland or Bangor las
may. be agreed upon at the Augusta
meeting) each year ending with an even
number, in the month of January, at the
call of the president.
Now, the question is, have we not
worn out our welcome in both Augusta
and Portland? In arranging for the last
meeting in Augusta President Forbes
found it impossible to secure accommo-
dations for the members so that they
could be together, and it is not probable
that such accommodations can be secured
in the future. When the legislature is in
session the hotels are crowded-it is
their harvest tire and comes only every
two years-and it is not possible for any
one hotel to accommodate so large
party. So, why not do as the National
Editorial association does-have a new
meeting place each year? If, however,
it is desired to retain the Augusta meet
ing substitute Elsewhere" for Bangor
in the bylaw and decide at the meeting
in Augusta where the next meeting shall
be held,
January is the month in which the
hotels, with the exception of those in
Augusta when the legislature is in ses-
sion, have the lightest patronage and
there would be no difficulty in securing
ample accommodations in any of the
cities. The meetings SO held would tend
to awaken and hold local interest and to
make members from different sections of
the State better acquainted.
There is Biddeford. We find that R.
Fulton Norwood, the able editor of the
Biddeford Journal, joined the association
in January, 1899. He attended the
meetings few times and favored the
association with a fine poem, read at the
literary exercises, but his name no longer
appears in the list of members. If we
meet in Biddeford we may bring him
back to the fold. There, too, we should
meet Hon. Charles H. Prescott, the pro-
prietor of the Biddeford Journal, and
now member. In Lewiston we should
find the only living charter member,
William A. Pidgin of the Lewiston
Journal, and Frank L. Dingley, the edi-
tor Of that paper. Mr.. Pidgin is the
dean of Maine newspaperdom. We
should here add to our membership
Prof. L. C. Bateman Of the Lewiston
Journal editorial staff, an able writer
and a ready speaker Bath, the Ship
ping City, would be a good place for a
meeting, and that would ensure the at
tendance of Bro. Kendrick of the Booth
bay Register, a man who can lift his
voice in song or prayer and who carries
sunshine wherever he goes. Then Rock
land, the home of W. o. Fuller, and of
his genial partner in the Courier Gazette,
ex-Mayor A. H. Jones. Fuller might
have made fortune on the lecture plat
form, but the editorial chair had greater
attractions for him, and with the aid of
. postmaster's salary he has thus far
succeeded In keeping the wolf from his
door. A banquet with Fuller as toast
master would be worth the price of the
trip to Rockland. Rockland is also the
home of Oliver Otis of the Rockland
O pinion, who has persisted in remaining
outside the gate, but who should be
brought in and made a member, by force
if necessary. Although politics are