The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-10-04
Press Association Takes
Up Question at Spe-
cial Meeting.
MEMBERS HERE AS
MURPHY'S GUESTS
Mayor Ainslie Points Out Great
Work to Be Accomplished by
State Newspapers = Essay
Prize-Winners to Be
Announced at Ban
quet Tonight.

Endorsement was given yesterday by
tho Virginia State Press Association
TO series of proposed publicity laws.
including definite and clearly-worded
statute on the subject of libel com
inittee on Legislation. appointed at the
summer session a Mt Elliott SPRINGS.
| reported, through Chairman Charles r.
fushes' of Berryville. the initial draft
| OF five bills, which Will be presented to
'he next session of the General As
senbiy. The committee was commend
ed ana continued to perfect the work
X has in hand
me proposed statute on libel pro-
'iues' III the event OF The unintentional
fuoiication OF some matter believed bv
some citizen 10 be l!belous, the pub
i'catioh i'll the same place in the paper
OF the aggrieved party's sworn stare
ment OF the facts in the case shall bc
accepted as full and complete with
drawal, and that in libel suits or pros
.cutions the truth of the matter may
be submitted TO the jury. and If the
Jury is Of opinion that the matter
charged as litelous is true, and was
published in good faith then the per-
son publishing it shall be acquitted.
Guests of Colonel Murphy
About 100 members OF the Virginia
Press Association had registered at
Murphy's Hotel as guests Of Colonel
John Murphy on the occasion OF The
opening Of his new building Yesterday
when President Charles B. Cooke called
the meeting TO order. The first business
transacted was the appointment OF n
committee consisting OF Mcssrs Green
Campbell and James, with instructions
&C convey to Colonel Murphy the regret
iaf Inv,
posed ana unable to attend the meet
ing. and the hope that he would he
able to be out to-day.
Mayor Ainslie welcomed the Vir-
Ci'ia editors as .'thc brains of the
state and went somewhat beyond his
usual FORMAL word OF welcome to visit
ing conventions.
when strangers come here" he said
II is our custom TO tell them Of the
giories of old Virginia--to tell what
we have done, and are doing, ana
nope to do. But now that we are all
right here together-an Nirginians
and working for Virginia-yve might as
We'll admit among ourselves that Vir-
ginia is backward in some of the things
that go 10 make n state This CON
dition !s not the fault OF the news
papers but II is condition the news
papers can DO much to correct
Must Work FOR Whole Stutc.
I'VE must seek TO build up a spirit
or broad friendly cooperation for the
entire state and its welfare, instead
OF only for each local community.
for instance. in this matter OF tax.
reform-and 1 have not seen a single
edltoriai in any newspaper in Virginia
that indorsed or defended the present
TAX laWs-some communities must give
up some OF the advantages which theS
nave been enjoying, and which they
nave never had any right 10 enjoy and
act for the benefit of the whole state.
!nequaiities are not only harmful TO
lhose In Virginia, but the fact that
such inequalities exist is deterrent
to those who think or coming into the
State. No greater work can be done
By the Virginia editors than to edu-
cate the people out of the local idea
into broader conception. Tho city
or Richmond has been built up, not
entirely by its own energy but very
largely by the prosperity of the rural
districts. Our people realize that any
thing that is hurtful to the agricul-
tural interests of Virginia will bo
hurtful to the cities Anything that
is hurtful TO one section of the state
Is bound to injurc the state at large"
To-Dny's Program.
Chairman Cooke announced the de-
taiiS or to-days program, saying that
there would he business session at 10
o'clock this morning. and that at noon
motor cars would he provided DO take
the delegates to the Country Club of
Virginia, where lunch would be served
the editors being the guests of the
Richmond Chamber OF Commerce. The
return trip will bc made In time to
witness the running Of The Times
Dispatch modified Marathon through
the streets of Richmond. Tonight at
o'clock members OF the association
will be rendered Il formal banquet by
Murphy's Hotel Company, at which time
the prizes given by Colonel Murphy for
articles on building up the Common
wealth Will be awarded. Twenty-siX
papers have been submitted In tho COM
petition for the three gold prizes and
President Cooke announced that ar
rangements were being made to have
the prize essay printed in the various
papers which hold membership in the
association on some uniform date.
Proposed Legislation.
Chairman Hughes. of the Legislative
committee. presented preliminary re-
port showing the Legislation which the
committed had up to this time deter
mined to ask OF the next General AS
scmbly. The committee was instruct
ed to continue the work ii has under
taken. The first publicity law pro-
posed by the committee is an act as
&c legal or quasi legal notices. court
orders. sheriffs' notices. and all man
neE of such publications which are re-
,'uired to be published by law. the new
act requiring that they be published
In the county or town in which tho
case is dockcted. or where the property
is located. or, If no newspaper is pub
lshed in that county, at the nearest
point thereto.
At present. although certain notices
published, with view of giving the
matter publicity. 1t Is possible to Sc
lect some, obscure newspaper at dis
tance. which has little or no circula-