The Republican journal., 1912-02-01

by HE. Bowditch Of Augusta on "the Develop
ment Of Maine" There was q further discus
sion Of the cost system. The remainder of
the morning session and all of the afternoon
session was taken up with discussion of mat.
ters Of detail Of the organization. It was
voted to make the program for future meet
ings more Of professional nature than has
been the case in some years past and the pres.
ent year. 1t was also voted to revive the ban.
quets. although they are in no sense to be con.
sidered dress affairs. Every effort is to be
made to greatly increase the membership nv
next year.
In looking over the reports of the past three
years we find that the average attendance has
been about 25 The report for 1911 shows a
membership of SO, and of this number at least
30 never attend the meetings, are out of the
State and Is have no connection with news
papers or the printing business That leaves
35 who are engaged in journalism and lob
printing. That there has been a cecline in
membership, and in interest, is self evident.
This is due to various causes-to the death of
those whose places remain untitled; to theaor-
ganization of the daily newspaper association.
and to the increasing restrictions with regard
to passes over the railroads. No fault is to
be found with the railroads and unquestionablv
their courtesy has been abused; but when pass-
es were freely given the gatherings at the
annual meetings and the number to 90 on the
summer excursions were larger, with the ladies
more in evidence, and we've therefore the more
enjoyable. The social features of such an asso.
citation are not to be overlooked The heart to
heart talks of members are of more practical
value than the open discussions For example
at the recent meeting one member declared
that it took all his receipts to meet his bills,
but privately admitted that he had "somethinp
over"
The Maine Press Association is the Oldest
publishers organization in Maine and one of
the Oldest in New England. Its membership
has included the ablest journalists Maine has
produced in the past half century, as we'll as
men prominent in the public life of the State
and Nation. 1t should not be allowed to 90
into decadence. Something must be done to
give it new lease of life and increased USE
fulness. Its membership should include all
of the active journalists of the State and
efforts be made to secure an increased at
tendance at the annual meetings. There should
be special observance of the semi-centennial
January, 1913.
In comparing notes Friday morning it was
found that the Belfast contingent had not had
very restful night. The passing trolley cars
kept one couple awake, and another couple
missed their outdoor sleeping accommoda-
tions. One of the party had a room adjoining
the stairway down which the help began to
clatter and bang at a. m. Then, when they
read the morning paper they found that they
had missed the presentation at Keiths by the
Boston Grand Opera Co. of Lucia d Lam
mermoor, "Donizetti's most famous opera, with
Tetrazzini and Constantine in the cast But
they had music just the same, for the Scottish
people of Portland, with other admirers of the
poet, had a banquet at the Falmouth and did
their best to show their appreciation of the
writings of Robert Burns and their reverence
for his memory. Before the banquet stall
wart young piper in full Highland costume
marched to and fro in the lobby playing the
bagpipes, of which some one has said that they
are best heard at distance-and the farther off
the better! The singing at the banquet in
cluded some very sweet solos, and there were
addresses by Arthur L. Griffiths, Rev. DR.. Cliff
ford Snowden and Hon. John B. Keating, the
British consul. At the head of one of the
tables was Miss Charlotte Thomas, who, as the
Portland Press says, twas as ready as ever
despite her SO years, to defend the memory of
Burns from all assailants, and to champion
with much of her old time vigor the cause of
woman suffrage"
AS the train for Belfast left at 1926 there
was hardly time for dinner at an uptown hotel
and the party had lunch at the restaurant in
the Union station, and two of the ladies
bought, to take home as souvenirs of the trip
some doughnuts the size of life preservers.
C. A. P.