The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-21
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

 at Andalusia June 26-27
 It's high time that the members of the their annual meeting as do the lawyers, preachers, doctors and other social and business organizations.
 am a regular "conventionite," and am not ashamed of it. A witty friend reproached me with the fact that the only reason hold membership in three profess sions is to be able to register at all of them as delegate.
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 I have been going to the gatherings of the Press association for years, and I have always received benefit from the ad- dresses and great pleasure from the fel- lcwship, for the. newspaper boys are bunch of sure-enough good fellows.
 I have just been looking over the pro- gramme and it is an unusually good one and noticeable from the fact that it is made out solely in the interest of news papers without being crowded with out side affairs however pressing or worthy they may be.
 I think the executive committee is to be commended for having the courage to take the matter strongly in hand and say without apology that the Andalusia meeting is for the prime purpose of dis cussing and threshing out problems of it,ar1 fa fhn r1nx r,ar themselves.
 If this had not been done 1t would have been impossible to have made a place for the many interests seeking a hearing without having to show par tiality which would have made the body the subject of criticism. It cannot be complained by any noteworthy activity that the papers have not given space lib- orally, and that it is not selfshness which causes them to shut out some clamorous causes which need to be frankly discussed. am aware that too often we have had gatherings of the Alabama Press as sociation where anything outside of news- pa perdom had the right of way, and ques- tions of paramount importance to the papers themselves were sidetracked. It was getting to the point where some of the leading editors and publishers were staying away because they complained that the body did not touch the things | tLey wished to have aired.
 
 I have noticed that more and more the great social, secular and religious conven- tions are cutting out things which are not gernane to the interests for which they gather; and therefore the policy of those 1 responsible for the programme of the Press association at Anda1usia is but fol- lowing in line with other progressive bodies, and should not be criticized for be- | ing exclusive.
 1 Too often have heard men of the craft on their way back home from a meeting make the remark that they had enjoyed the fellowship but had not received a single new idea that could be used in any way whatsoever in making their papers brighter or more productive. Now this criticism must be forestalled at Andalusia by the bringing out of facts which can be turned to account by men who are in search of better methods.
 I do not propose to be invidious in se- lecting topics to be discussed at An dalusia, but am sure the one to be handled by Frank Julian, What Legis- ation Should We Ask and Expect of the | Present General Assembly," is of the very greatest importance to the Ala bama newspapers. I know that Frank is able to handle the subject not only in a broad and comprehensive way, but out of his legislative experience to give some inside dope on how to make our position effective by a mass movement of the publishers on the legislators.
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 1 \ am glad that Andalusia won out over Sheffield and Montgomery, not because | I do not like to visit these cities, but solely from the fact that it has been some time since the Press association has been 1 to south Alabama, and few years has made a very marked difference in what is rapidly becoming one of the richest sections of the state. It has. been about I 10 years since I was in Andalusia, and I admit want to see it's improvements. |
 If you are bit lackadaisical about go- ing to Andalusia, I advise you to get a copy of Stuff Bob Vails Golden l Jubilee Number of the fiftieth anniver- sary Alabama Pres association, for it is filled with the livest kind of "dope" about the 'Fourth Estate in Alabama. He frankly states that he is "Andalusia bound.' and we believe those who read after him and theif get glimpse of the handsome faces of the notailities vii pack their grips for a trip to the wire grass.
 Oscar M. Dugger, who is to be our host writes: ''I desire above everything else to drive home the fact to every editor that
 we really want him to come and that ws
 expect him to bring his wife or daughter with him. Andalusia is planning to en certain all who will come, and we are go ing to see to it that there are no dul
 moments for the visiting editors while
 they sojourn in the metropolis of tht
 wiregrass." Now. having once tasted O.
 the hospitality of the Andalusians wher
 they entertained the Alabama Baptis
 state convention. know there is on'
 place in the state where old-time hospi tality has not died out
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