Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-22
What the Press Association Aimed At

Geneva, Neb., Nov. ALTO the
Editor of The Bee: A headline and
portion of the report of the meeting
of the Nebraska Press association held
in Lincoln in The Bee are seriously
misleading. Possibly the report was
gathered from hearsay after the foot
ball game.
For instance, reporters are classed
with the big fish and not with the
small fry There was only one point
of contention in reality. The con-
stitutional amendments were drawn to
create voting membership that would
pay IS or $40 per year to pay the sal
ary and expenses of a field secretary
and other operating expenses of the
association and non-voting member
ship that would include everybody who
wished to enjoy the social and other
features not connected with the actual
operation of the business department
Of the association.
A, few gentlemen residing in the
city of Lincoln made loud protests
against any proposal that seemed like
ly to keep them from helping to run
the show and they also \ protested
against paying more than the present
nominal dues of So per year for the
privilege of having full voting power.
They said they were not situated so
that the employment of a field secre-
tary. would be of financial benefit to
them and this was conceded. The
work of a field secretary is to take out
to the country publishers the benefits
of organization and helpful co-opera-
ton that the city men are able to get
in other ways. 1t was felt that the
city men ought not to object to the
country publishers trying to benefit
their condition in any way they
thought most effective. However,
there was an earnest desire to secure
harmony and please everybody and
hurt the feelings of no one, and the
proposal to create the kind of a nom
voting membership that was first pro-
posed was withdrawn by common con-
sent.
There was also disposition on the
part of everybody favoring the field
secretary plan to work out schedule
of annual dues that would permit all
of the old members to vote without
increasing the cost to them, even
though they might reside in the cit
iea and have no financial interest in
the success of the field secretarys
work, but this was prevented by the
lateness of the hour and the clam
orous objections Of the small group
of city men. 1 still favor doing this.
The executive committee was instruct
ed to codify the new constitution and
submit a report and recommendations
, at the meeting next February, and |
believe 1t will be possible to secure
harmonious action ON the part of the
whole membership.
The statement in your report that
the executive committee has power to
fix dues Is a mistake. The schedule
adopted is exactly the same as the
original schedule in Iowa--$5 for the
smaller towns and $40 for the larger
towns as annual dues. The Iowa
schedule has been slightly amended
SO that papers with unusually large
circulations published in small towns
will pay little extra. The vitality
important thing in this whole consid-
GRAFTON is the fact that the field sec
retary plan has proved a wonderful
success in Iowa for the last two years,
and that the Nebraska country pub
fishers want to try the same plan in
this state and cooperate with their
Iowa brethren in some matters that
are of very great importance at this
time. FRANK o. EDGECOMBE.