The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-05-25


to three hours late The Belfast representa-.
tive found the detention of between two and
three hours at Burnham rather tedious, but en-
Joyed the ride over the Belfast branch The
streams that ordinarily tricke over thei,
rocky beds meander through meadows were
turned into turbulent torrents that leaped
over obstacles to plunge into foam fecked
pools and flood the adjacent lowlands. The
trees were only beginning to leave out but the
grass was green everywhere, giving promise
of good hay crop.
When President w. O. Fuller of Rockland
took the chair two years ago last January the
tate OF the Maine Press Association seemed
trembling in the balance. This condition was
not the fault of its proceeding executives. but
was due to various causes which need not be
mentioned here. President Fuller at once
took steps for increasing the membership and
extending the usefulness of the association
and infused in the Respondent members a
spirit of optimism that has given it good
start on its second half century. Having serv-
ed the usual two years president Mr.. Fuller
was succeeded last January by E. NJ Blanding
secretary of the Bangor Chamber of Com
merce and editor of the Maine Industrial
Journal, who is well qualified to carry on tn e
work President Fule- initiated. AT the Janu-
ary meeting a committee was appointed to re-
wise the constitution and to report at an ad-
Journed meeting and this meeting was called
by President Banding for 2 p. m. May 18th
in the Chamber Of Commerce room in the city
building in Bangor. Mayor Woodman and
PRESIDENT Edwin 7. Emerson of the Bangor
Chamber OF commerce were present at the
hour named to greet and welcome the mem
bers of the association, but were called awav
on business before the newspaper men got to-
gether and Presiden. Blanding, on behalf of
the Mayor, welcomed the members and ex-
pressed his pleasure at having the Press asso-
from Mr.. Emerson, who said, among other
things:
If we succeed in getting results in the cam
palgn against the inroads of the Mail Order
Houses the Keep your money in Maine"
movements land in the efforts to secure leaisla-
ton to protect home merchants against the
growing competition of out of State business
houses, it will be in large measure because
of the support of the press. | believe YOUR
associations should also endorse the growing
sentiment for the 'longer day." as it means a
tremendous saving to the country at large
We all believe in Names future. We all know
that it is rich in potential advantages, indus,
trial, agricultural, and as summer and wiater
resort.
The more active the operation is between
Chambers of Commerce, Boards of Trade and
ha nf Main tha
come the fultillment of our expectations and
our hopes.
President Blanding then gave a very inter-
esting address in which, after enumerating
the 26 presidents OF the association, he said
that eleven of the ex presidents were living
and more than half of them were present at
this meeting.
The committee, composed of William H.
Dow and Fred L. Tower of Portland and ]. H.
Ogier of Camden appointed at the January
meeting to revise the constitution presented
skeleton report, which was discussed clause
by clause. 1t was voted to continue the COM
mittee and instruct it to draft-in accordance
with the recommendations of the meeting-a
practically new constitution and bylaws
which will come up for final acceptance in
January The association, in accordance with
the proposed constitution, will be composed of
three divisions-owners and employees of daily
papers. owners and employees of weekly and
monthly papers, and job printers. Each di-
vision is to have its chairman and recording
secretary, and the general association will
elect president and a treasurer. The chair
men of the three divisions will be vice. presi-
dents. ex- officio. of the general association.
If there was ever time when an active
given special attention to the legislation, en-
acted or attempted, in Congress and in the
State legislatures, to restrict the freedom of
the press, curtail its activities and usefulness
and ensure its financial ruin, and am fully
convinced that if this goes on the successful
editor of the future will be he who succeeds in
keeping out of Jail and gets money enough to
pay the fines and penalties he will be called
upon to meet. AT present no little time must
be devoted to filling out the returns called for
by the State and National governments and |
believe the time is coming when we shall have
to certify under oath lin duplcate) how many
times we have attended divine service during
the year, what is our favorite brand of smok-
ing tobacco, how many girls employed in
the com i,osing room, whether any of them are
engaged or not, the color of the foremans s
hair and like valuable data, to be criticised.
analysed (and perhaps anathematized) by an
additional force of clerks at Washington. No
doubt much Of the foolish, unnecessary work
of this nature is devised to make places on the
! nations pay roll for patronage-seeking Con-
gressmen, and that much of this legislation
hostile to the press is due to Congressman
smarting under deserved newspaper criticism
| In the evening the members of the Maine
Press association were guests of the Bangor
newspaper men at banquet at the Bangor
House. President Blanding, who was accom-
panied by Mrs. Blanding, presided and on his
right were seated President Alley of the Uni
versity of Maine and Mrs. kAley. Covers
were laid for AZ at the daintily appointed
tables and there were no vacant seats. After
q tempting menu had been served Mr.. Bland