Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-19
VERMONT NEWSPAPER
MEN IN BURLINGTON
State Association in Annual
Meeting at Morrill, Hail..
b. Johnson of Randolph Elect
ed President-Talks on Topics
of Value TO the Craft

Advertising problems OF peculiar In
terest to the country newspaper we're the
chief topic Of discussion at the annual
meeting OF the Vermont Press association.
held at Morrill, hall Friday. About ~
newspaper men and several ladies' were
the guests of the University at this meet
ing, the girls of the Home Economics de-
partment serving a fine dinner to the par
ty at six O'Clock and the auartets of the
girls and mems glee clubs furnishing
music. CORTLAND Smith, president of the
American Press association, was the prin-
opal speaker. j. l.. Harbour. for II years
on the editorial staff of the Youths Com
panion, was also a guest Of the associa-
ton and gave his lecture, Blessed Be
Humor," in the afternoon at four
o'clock before the student convocation
the members Of the Press association be-
ing seated on the stage.
Officers of the association elected for
the coming year are. President. l.. b.
johnson of Randolph: secretary and
treasurer, Miss Lena ". Hamilton of st.
Adams; vice-presidents. one from each of
~ counties. w. Fl. Wheeler Of Vergennes.
+. Il. Howe of Bennington. G. Z. Walter
Of ST. .Iohnsbury, NJ. e. Reynolds of Es-
sex Junction. Donald NJ. Tobin of Swan
ton. l.. +. Thayer of Morrisville. Miss
sara x. Parker OF Bradford. w. H.. Gil
pin of Barton, {. r. Fairfield of Rutland.
+. r. Parsons of Mortified. w. !. BiEe-
low of Brattleboro and +. z. johnson OF
Springfield.
other business transacted at this meet
Ing included a vote 10 hold n summer meet
ing Of the association. President Johnson
suggested that this summer meeting might
take the form of a three-day automobile
trip throughout the State.
~ IL .-.lt l-....
charge of the Horace Greeley homestead
at East Poultney and win convert this
home into a shrine of inspiration TO news
pa perdom, according to action taken at
tho meeting yesterday. II. l.. Hindley.
chairman of the committee elected at the
last meeting Of the association TO take up
this matter of n Horace Greeley Mem
orial reported that the committee had
taken the responsibility of purchasing the
property and holding it for the associs-
ton. Through contributions from inter-
csted parties, more than one-half OF the
property has already been paid for. The
association voted Friday to accept the
report Of the committee, continue the
same and give IT authority to
solicit funds to pay the amount still due
on the property.
The treasurer's report. read by g. r.
Walter of ST. .Johusbury in the absence
Of the treasurer. Charles T.. Crane of
Middlebury, showed a balance on hand
of ss5.S7.
At the close of the business meeting,
Henry J.. West of New York city. a rep
resentative of the Leonard Wood League
spoke briefly in behalf of General Leonard
Wood as a presidential candidate on the
republican ticket.
CORTLAND Smith. speaking after the
;,na~ t., thA axynni,1 btt hand n. pny,a IF
the weak points of the country newspa-
per. He declared that the publishing Of a
newspaper is purely a business PROPOSE
zion. but that it has not been considered
as such by the average country newspa-
per publisher.
You have been rate cutters and cir
cuiation liars from way back" declared
MIR Smith. The practice Of cutting rates
for foreign advertising and trying to make
circulation figures much above what they
really are has put country journalism In
bad with the entire advertising country,
according to Mr.. Smith. There is a law,
he said, which requires papers 10 swear
10 their circulations. and there is another
law PASSED about six years ago. which
prohibits the publishing of free readers,
either in connection with advertising or
in expectation of it.
The advertising agencies know. said
MIR. Smith, that the country newspaper
is the best medium of advertising on
earth, because It Is the only cash-in sales
medium Of the country. The most i'm
por,ant thing OF all in running foreign
advertising in the country newspaper is
10 run the names Of local dealers with the
advertisements.
Previous to Mr.. Smiths talk, Frank
T.. Howe OF Bennington spoke briefly on
political Advertising in Vermont He
said that the newspaper Is a product of
political advertising. He emphasized
the importance of position in advertising.
There was some discussion whether
higher rates should be charged for politi-
cal than for commercial advertising,
Willis C. Belknap of Rockingham, re-
firing president, presided at all OF the
meetings of the day. He opened the
speaking after the dinner by introducing
President Guy w. Bailey OF the Univel-
sity of Vermont, who. in a few words,
welcomed the newspaper men to the uni
~versity,
Owing TO the fact that several of the
men who were scheduled to speak at the
afternoon session were not present, the
program was shortened somewhat, but
the extra time was taken mp with dis
cussions. l.. +. Thayer Of Morrisville
addressed the meeting on How to Handle
Press Agents w. II. Gilpin of Bar
ton spoke on Dividing News from .Ad-
vertising,'' Both of these talks were in
the nature of leads for discussions.
At four O'Clock, the newspa per men
adjourned TO the gymnasium, where they
heard a decidedly amusing lecture by
i. l.. Harbour of Boston, entitled Blessed
BE Humor.'' Just before they went to
the gymnasium the members assembled
in front of Morrill, hall and had their
picture taken by representatives OF the
Cynic.
Much credit for tho success Of this
meeting Is due to Walter IA. Crockett
editor Of the university publications, IN
whose hands the arrangements for thu
meeting were placed.