The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-04
NEWSPAPER MEN
Of STATE GUESTS
Of COL. MURPHI
Members of Virginia Fourth
Estate Meeting in Richmond
in Adjourned Session--Pleas-|
ure Chief Object
Have Dinner Tonight in Big
New Hotel---P roposeds
Amendments to State laws.
afe Discussed at Business
Session

I SeSSlOn
Members of Virginias fourth es-s
tate t. the number of four score or
more--many accompanied by wives
daughte rs--answere TO their names
yesterday when the roll was called for,
the adjourned meeting of the Virginia
State Press association at Murphy'a
hotel
The meeting in Richmond liz a con-
tinuation of the midsummer eonven-.
ton which was held at Mt. Elliott
Springs, and the editors are here as
the special guest of Colonel John MUIR.
ply.
The fornalites were inaugurated
yesterday with luncheon at MUIR
phys new hotel which was followed
by a business session occupying most
of the afternoon. and at night tho
scribes were guests of the Richmond
Times Dispatch at q tneater party at
( the new Lyric.
Business Session Today.
Another, and the final, business SECS
sion, will be held this morning at
which time the matter of the next
meeting place will be decided upon.
Alexandra Is making "A strong bid for
the meeting and Editor X. S. Barrett,
of the Gazette, brings with him in-
B
the ancient city.
At O'Clock the editors and their
wives will be taken out to the Country
Club of Virginia for luncheon. AT
O'Clock this afternoon Crazy Curran
and his assistants will give hair
raising exhibition in the autodrome
at the State fair grounds for the
benefit of the editors, to which he
has extended them an invitation.
Tonight cauaes-the-c raWninG-ex.-
tertalnment feature of the whole at
fair-~the banquet to be rendered tho
4 pencil pushers by the genial host.
Colonel John Murphy. Governor
Mann, Mayer Ainslie and other nos
tables will be guests of honor and
will make brief addresses ON matters
of interest to newspaperdom.
Prizes for Essays.
One interesting feature of the BAN
quet will be the presentation OF the
prizes offered by Colonel Murphy for
the three best essays on the best plan
/ for the upbuilding of Virginia. Tho
three prize winning essaps--which
were limited to 1900 words-will be
read at the dinner. The prizes are
+ef gold and the names OF the winners
/ will not be known until they are an-
nouncod by the special committee at
the banquet.
The entire business session yes
terday afternoon was devoted to -
discussion of the report of the spe-
cial legislative committee appointed
at the Mt. Elliott Springs meeting.
though not until the newspaper men
had heard a most cordial welcoming
address from Mayor Aiusfie did they
take up serious matters.
The legislative committee Is COM
posed of c. r. Hughes. chairman,
Clarke Courier Berryville; A. III.
-
tox; W. e. Walton. Hanover Herald.
Ashland.
The mayor, in turning over tho
keys of the city TO the editors and as
surfing them of police protection dur-
ing their two-day stay. was partic-
ularly happy in his remarks and mada
distinct hit with visitors with his
observations on the ethics of Journ-1
alism. The mayor likes newspaper
men. and since his address yesterday
the newspaper men of Virginia like
Richmonds mayor. The RICHMOND
newspaper men of course, have ale
ways admired him
would Amend Libel Laws
The most important recommendation
of the legislative committee constd-
cred yesterday was the tentative plan
for the amendment of the State libel
laws. and the report provoked consid-
cradle discussion.
Tho proposed amendment is. in effect
the same as the North Carolina libel
law. 1t provides:
Il. Be il enacted by the general as-s
sernhly OF Virginia, that when any
person shall take exception to any
statement made in any newspaper Or
other publication as lbelous. the per-
son who so claims grievance shall, q
within three days after said publica~sa
ton is made. furnish to the editor.
owner or publisher of the offending
publication a statement of the natter
under oath and the editor. owner Or
publisher shall give the statement pub-sS
LEGATION in his next succeeding issue "
after receipt thereof in the same coli
umn the article complained of appears
ed. under heading of the same size and
prominence. and this shall he accepted n
as full and complete withdrawal OF the
offending publication NJ
80 In all prosecutions or indictments q
for libel the truth shall be given to-
the jury by evidence. And II 1t shah
appear to the jury that the mattar
charged as lihelous is true and WA4 81
published with good motives and justi~sS5
fable ends the person or publications NJ
accused OF such libel shall be acQult~
ted.
As to Legal Notices.
Another important recommendattOMAS
to be submitted to the assembly Is atSa
amendment 10 the act providing fOk8#
publication of commissioners, truA~
tees and sheriffs' notices, etc. pF01s
vidng that they he published in thu
paper in the county in which the caA@S
is doeketed or the property involved iyM S
located. 2
The committee further rccommNndxA
ed that the present law regulating thoI
size of type in which legal adraxs
tisements shall be printed be amend41
to read that no advertisement 0k thMxMI
nature shall be printed in lees thMA
six point type and the newNpAH4
offending against the law be Adju03
guilty Of a misdemeanor and Mpea H.
less. than s25., The present AW &1
cifysng the, type for legal and rGa
legal advertising specifies thu
fashioned long priiAer'' etc, which