The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1916-01-18
ABUSE OF PUBLICITY
ACT Is CfNSUR[D
firm Stand IS TAKEN
BY EDITORS AGAINST EFFORTS
TO BRING THE LAW INTO
DISREPUTE.

Little Rock, Jan. 1S.-The next two
annual meetings of the Arkansas
Press Association will be held in Tex
arkana, according to the decision of
the executive committee of the asso.
citation, which held meeting in Lit
tie Rock Monday afternoon after the
adjournment of the mid winter meet
ing of the association. Texarkana
had asked for the 1916 meeting at
the Harrison convention last spring,
with the understanding that efforts
would be made to have it a joint ses-
sion with the Louisiana and Texas
associations. Both the other state as
sociations had agreed on other meet
ing places a year ahead, consequently
they could not meet with the Arkan-
sas association in 1916, but expressed
a desire to do so in 1917. The Louis
lana association will meet in Shreve-
port in 1917 and will spend one day
with the Arkansas association if it
meets in TeXarkana at the same time.
The Texas editors agreed to meet in
Texarkana in 1917.
When these facts were put before
the editors Monday afternoon, efforts
We're made to switch the 1916 meeting
place from Texarkana, but the Tex
arkana editors were game and insist
ed that they be permitted to enter
tain the association two years The
matter was then left to the executive
committee to decide.
AS Texarkana had virtually been
decided upon for 1916, there were no
other invitations before the executive
committee, and they decided to ac-
cept the invitation from Texarkana
for the two years.
The annual excursion will be held
out from Texarkana on the Cotton
Belt, with possible side trips to Mag
nolia, Ell Dorado and Huttig.
The publicity act was discussed at
length by the association, and specific
instances of apparent abuse by the
editors in certain counties of the
act, were reported. The association
appointed a committee to take up the
matter of these overcharges, and if
necessary to institute suit to see that
the law is not misused. The men,
bers of the association were appar-
emily unanimous in their praise for
the act, and what dissatisfaction has
been found with it was charged to
ignorance. The committee was also
instructed to issue statement which
will set the workings Of the law fair
ly before the people, the association
going on record in condemnation of
any act which might be unfair, or ia
vor any class of the people.
The constitutional amendment
which would limit the active member
ship to those actively engaged in the
newspaper business, was hardly dis
cussed, being referred to committee
to be considered with the completere-
vision of the constitution. This COM
mittee of which J. A. Livingston of
Russellville is chairman, will make a
report at the Texarkana meeting in
May, at which time the convention
will either ratify or reject their eff
forts.
One of the principal features of
the days work was the adoption OF
of resolution for a Newspaper
Week, at which time all newspapers
of the state will issue special editions,
setting forth the resources of Arkan-
sas for distribution in other states.
w. A. Beeson, Clio Harper and J. A.
Livingston were appointed as this
committee.
The committee to look after the ed
ucation of the public as to the valu-
able features of the publicity act is
composed of Fred Heiskell, f. c.
Johnston and j. l.. Wadley of Tex
|arkana.
About rs members of the associa-
ton attended and among them were
many who have not been attending
past conventions. Ten new members
ware e1actad