The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1913-02-13
The Maine Press Association.

The 5Oth annual session of the Maine Press
Association opened in the Senate chamber at
Augusta Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 20, 1918,
with President Morrell in the chair Aside
from the fact that it was the semi centenr ial
the meeting was an important, and by some
regarded as critical one. The small number
who have participated in the summer excur-
slons of late years and the apparent lack of
interest in the annual meetings have caused
serious forebodings as to the future of the
association and several had declared that if
things did not take turn for the better at this
meeting they would give up their membership.
The outlook at the first session was not en-
eouraging. Some of the few present were de-
cdedly pessimistic and it said that only
dozen or so had signiied their intention of at
tending the banquet that evening. The clouds
lifted later. There were about 40 at the banquet.
the association got down to business at Thurs
days sessions, and when the final adjourn
ment came it was with a feeling among the
individual members that the association would
begin its second half century with determi-
nation to extend its usefulness.
/ AT Wednesdays session President Morrell
and last years official board were reelected
and the following new members elected Her.
bert E. Holmes. editor Catholic Opinion, Lewis
ton; Caro- l.. Murray, Advertiser, Pittsfield; W.
E. Rogers, Tribune, Sanford, and George F.
Huff, Eastern Gazette, Dexter. The only
death of member reported during the past
year was that of Elk. Governor Hill. whose
membership dates from January, 1886. The
county historians reported general prosperity
of the Maine newspapers during the year
| At $50 Wednesday evening the members sat
down to banquet at the Augusta House, the
viands and service well sustaining the reputa-
ton of that famous hosiery The post pran-
dial exercises included poem by W. H. Davis.
editor of the Maine Farmer of which it may be
sald-and we trust without offence to the
author-that it contained more truth than poe
try. Myron E. Bennett of the Sanford Tribune
was down for an essay, but explained that he
was obliged to take the 1910 train and so was
unable to deliver it. 1t was noted that several
Of the members when called upon later for re-
marks had to take this 1910 tran-even after
the train had gone. George S. Rowell of Port
land told how he narrowly escaped becoming a
charter member of the association. He was
with his father the late Major E. Rowell, (who
from 1889 to 1865 was connected with the Hal
lowell Gazette as employe or editor and pub
lisher,) and was going to Portland to join the
association when his father, who had been
away from home, returned and concluded to go
to Portland himself Mr.. Rowell is now the
9th member in seniority and has made good,
having served as president and been active in
other ways for the advancement of the assoc
citation. In closing he recalled the names of
some of the many members who have gone to
their reward and proposed silent toast to
their memory, which was drank standing and
by the older members with realization OF
their loss of personal friends and of the loss
the as sociation sustained when they Joined the
silent majority.