Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-20
FRANK MUNSEY TALKS
TO MEMBERS MAINE PRESS
ASSOCIATION AT BANGOR

Bangor. Sept. lS-"Joseph Pulitzer
once said that it needed man with
an income of 100000 a year to run
a newspaper in New York which
would freely and frankly tell the
truth" said Frank A. Munsey of New
York, famous newspaper and maya
zine publisher to the Maine Press
Association at its evening session
Friday.
Mr.. Munsey, with Cyrus H. K
Curtis of Philadelphia were the
guests of honor at this session of
1.-THE association which was held at
Conduskeag Canoe and Country club,
Hampden. at o'clock. The meeting
was preceded by a fine dinner, at
which about 60 sat down. =
There was but one disappoint-
ment in the program of the evening.
Holman F. Day. noted as a writer of
stories of Maine life, particularly of
the north woods, was to have been
one of those to speak. He was un-
avoidably detained. A. L. T. Cum
mings, agricultural editor at the
University of Maine. who was pres
ent. was pressed into the breach and
made fine substitute. His stories in
French dialect were delightfully."- droll
and kept his hearers first on the
verge of tears and then convulsed
with laughter.
A. G. Staples, managing editor Of
the Lewiston Journal. acted as
POSTMASTER and used many interest
ing stories in introducing the speak
ers. Presenting Pres. Alley of the
University Of Maine, Mr.. Staples ex-
planned that Maine had many good
things, though it did not keep any
Ponzi's or have explosions in its
financial district. but he explained,
there was big blow up in political
centers last Monday. Pres. Alley dis
cussed present needs of the country.
pointing out dangers which he saw
ahead of the Republicans and de-
ciarIng that the remedy was a re-
turn to honesty in government. rule
by the people and u propaganda of
oper truth.
Presenting Gov. Elect Parkhurst
Air. Staples said he was going to in
troduce winner. After saying that
he had made more than 800 speech
es in the last campaign and felt
well talked out, Mr.. Parkhurst urged
his hearers to bear in mind the de-
sire and feeling which was back of
any legislation, rather than any diff
ference which might arise
Mr.. Munsey's Ambitions
In introducing Mr. Munsey Mr..
ga hrin h
nalism in Maine and in the country,
saying that the speaker whom he
now presented was one of Names IA
nous sons.
Mr.. Munsey did not make set
speech. According to him the news
paper should he a living thing with
personality and the power of indivi-
duality. The. editorial page, he said,
is the heart of newsps per. 1t must
be carefully guarded and the owner
must keep close watch on it to see
that the ideals of the owner are lived
up to. 1t must present the problems
honestly. There must be clear and
progressive thought back of the work
and an honest presentation of the
ideas believed in.
1t was fatal as he looked at it for
the paper to m;sinterprot or miscon-
struc the aims and objects of others.
The ideas believed in must be force
fully presented. The paper must
never be flabby.
He told of his experiences with
newspapers and of his own personal
organ, the New York Sun and Her
n " he Il;
moro fully than any other paper he
owned because as he said, he put more
of himself into il. 1t is our policy he
said to give full praise to President
Wilson when he advances an idea or
thought that we believe in and that
is quite often. said Mr.. Munsey.
He told of the trouble of publish
ing big newspaper in New York and
the difficulty of keeping it free from
outside influence unless man was pos
sessed of great wealth.
Mr. Munsey said: II did not go
into the newspaper business to make
money. l could have made more in
other ways. but simply for the joy
of doing a great public work and for
the pleasure of such q position for
effective work in the interests of the
whole people"
The newspaper. said the speaker,
often is a place of more power than
that held by congressman or even SEN
ators. 1t gives moro power even than
that possessed by members of the
cabinet.
The great danger today with grea.
political parties striving for the mas
terry with only slight difference in
their beliefs, of course this year we
have an issue in the League of Ma
tions. is that the forces of good gov
eminent will be divided and a con-
solidation of the radical forces under
singles leadership might well spell
disaster to the country.
Present at the banquet and evening
meeting were:
Chas. w. Curtis, Chas F. Bowden.
II. l.. Lord. Robert j. Alley. Frank A
Munsey, Arthur CT. Staples. Cyrus Fl.
! h. Curtis, +. b. Nichols. Dorothy w
Parkhurst. +. Fl. Parkhurst: Agnes e.
Hail. Chas. II. Fogg, Rosenier X Fogs.
Oliver l.. Hall Mary T. p,ce Al.