The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-28
State Press Association Comes
Here This Week as Guest
OF Colonel Murphy.
BIG THINGS ON PROGRAM
wo-Day Session to End With
Award Of Prizes in
Essay Contest.

Almost the entire membership Of the
Virginia state Press Association will
assemble in Richmond on Friday morn
ing az the guests OF Colonel John
Murphy for two days Of business and
run. The meeting. brought about
through Colonel Murphy's good Offices
is expected TO be the largest gather
ing Of state editors and publishers in
years. Primarily. the association Will
meet to hear the announcement of the
successful essayists in Colonel Muir
phys contest but tho meeting will h.
made the occasion for some business
and moro rejuvenation. The two days
will be crowded with events.
y special effort has been made by
the host ana President Charles T.
Cooke TO bring every member to Rich
mind this week. From information in
tho hands Of Colonel Murphy. it is
evident that the affair has met with n
cordial reception and that at least
125 members OF tho association will
respond favorablv TO the invitation.
Three Essay Prizes offered.
Several months ago Colonel Murphy
announced through President Cooke
that he wished to offer three prizes
FOR the best essays written by members
Of the press association on How Can
tile interests OF the Commonwealth OF
Murphy is 4 staunch believer In the
power OF the press. and has set his
heart seeing n united State press
working for the betterment OF Tir-
gina on well-defned lines. The OBJ
jet OF his essay contest, lie says, is
to develop ideas in concrete language
which may be laid before the gather
ing OF editors and fully discussed. al
sested and afterward urged in cvcfy
journal OF tho State. The offer was
gladly accepted on behalf OF tho as
ISOLATION.
The essays were limited in length to
1000 words. but no restrictions were
placed on tho subject matter. Tax re-
/ form, good roads. public education,
4 finances. industries. political economy
! and n dozen other phases OF State
! government and interests woro open
| for discussion. The best essay. judged
| not so much upon beauty OF language
as upon ideas. Will win the first prize
OF s75 In gold; the second prize will
be $50 In gold. and the third s25 III
gold
The essays were submitted to Presi-
dent Cooke last week. and by him
We're placed in tho hands OF tho COM
mittcc which is to Judge Thorn. Tho
committee consists or Governor Mann,
Mayor George Ainslie. President T. NJ.
| Darlington, Of the Chamber OF Com
merce. and President Alvin NJ. Smith,
OF the Business Mems Club. The COM
mittcc will review the papers this
week, and will keep secret its awards
until the banquet on Saturday night.
Round OF Gnictics.
The members OF the association from
! NIL parts OF the State Will arrive in
Richmond on Friday morning. The
/ flrst session of the convention will be
called to order by President Cooke in
1 4 ~
! o'clock An afternoon business SEES
sion Will convene at o'clock. So far
rs is known. no affairs Of vital i'm
! portance remain over from the sum-
mer session OF the association ut Mt.
Elliott Springs. but there will be
enough work to keep the editors
cupicd during the day. On Friday
night tho visitors will be tho guests
OF The Times Dispatch mt q theatre
party in the Lyric.
at 10 o'clock on Saturday morning
the convention will meet for short
business session. Tho editors. at 1890
o'clock. will then be placed In auto
mobiles Mt Murphy's Hotel and whirled
out 10 the Country Club Of Virginia
, for luncheon. The automobiles have
been furnished by friends OF Colonel
| Murphy. Following tho luncheon the
! visitors Will he taken in the automo
/ biles. under tho directing ego or Alvin
| NJ. Smith, on Sightseeing tour OF
/ the city
| The grand finale will come on Satur-
| day night ut o'clock. when the as
ISOLATION sits down To the banquet In
/ the new grand dining-room of Colonel
I MurphY'S hotel. 1t will be tho first
/ banquet there and will be made n
i special occasion by the proprietor and
4 host. President Cooke, who viii pre-
I side, has not announced the list OF
i after-dinner speakers hut 1t will in
I clude Governor Maan, Mayor Ainslie,
T I. NJ. Darlington. Alvin NJ. Smith. col
I onel Murphy ard 1t least ono Rich
/ mond nowspa per publisher. 1t IL cN-
\ pectcd that tho pleasure of announc-
/ ing the winners OF the essay contest
/ and awarding tho prizes Will be given
i TO Governor Mann.