The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-11
ALABAMA EDITORS OPEN CONVENTION
Problems Facing Press of State Are Discussed at
 Montgomery Meeting

| MoHteoiHefy, way lV--CdptdlH William T. Sheehan, editor of the ! Montgomery Advertiser was today I elected president of the Alabama | Press association. Other officers l elected are: r. q. Stephens, Oneon-
 ta, first vice president; w. R. Jor- l dan, Alexander City, second vice
 president, E. V. O'Connor. Mobile,
 third vice president w. F. Stanley. | Greenvil1e, secretary treasurer; | Mark Tucker, Haynesville, dssis-
 tant secretary treasurer; Frank N.
 Julian, Sheffield, orator; Miss Mabel | ferby, Greensboro. poetess; John c. | Williams, Talladega, historian. The closing sessions of the associ- | ation will be held tomorrow with trip to Auburn to inspect the Ala l bama Polytechnic Institute and en- 1 joy barbecue followed by an in- spection during the afternoon of the l Tuskegee Institute.
 Montgomery. May 10.-(Special)- | Problems faced by the newspapers
 and newspaper owners of Alabama ! were considered by the Alabama | Press association at the fifty-first
 annual convention which began in the assembly room of the Exchange hotel Wednesday. Newspapermen from all sections of the state came to the
 meeting. but the total attendance is
 probably the smallest in the history Of the organization, not more than 50 registering for the meeting
 l The first day was devoted to the serious discussion of the problems of publishing newspapers. F. H. Miller and Horace Hood, publishers of the Montgomery Journal. were hosts at luncheon to the visitors at the Ex- change hotel, while Col. W. T. Shee- han and Charles II. Allen, publishers l of the Montgomery Advertiser, en- tertained the visiting newspaper men and ladies at a lawn party and dinner at Colonel Sheehan's home in Clover dale during the late afternoon and Ievening.
 Following the conclusion of the ldays program automobiles. which had been provided by the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce. took the visi- tors through the city and on to Montgomery countys fine public highways, returning for the lawn party before o'clock.
 Brame Hood of the Montgomery Journal. welcomed the visitors to | Montgomery, and the response was made by Dr. Frank W. Barnett, of the Birmingham News.
 Ciaxton speaks
 pr. P. P. Claxton, provost of the university, made an inspiring ad- dress regarding educational interests in Alabama, the needs of Alabama and what the state may expect if proper educational facilities are provided. He was followed by Lamar Field. assistant attorney general, who fill ed the place on the program assigned 10 Harry Ayers. publisher of the Anniston Star, who had been request ed to speak on The American Le- zion, Peace Time Asset" MT. Field told of the efforts of the American Legion to preach Americanism throughout the nation and to keep
 ever in the minds of the people the fact that America entered the war not for personal gain but for the pur- pose of protecting the civilization of
 the world.
 Grover C. Hall, associate editor of the Advertiser. read a paper on "The Editorial" while F.. H. Miller of the Montgomery Journal gave personal history of newspapers and the pro- fession a he had found 1t during the many years he has been engaged in it. E. w Barrett publisher of the Bir- mingham Age Herald. in an address on Cooperation Between the Daily and Weekly Press of the State" ap- pealed to all newspaper men to get together and demand their rights dur ling the next session. of the legisla- ture. He said there Is no reason why newspapers should be prohibited by law from exchanging advertising space for passage on railroad trains and that this privilege of exchange, which newspapers now have with all other class of business can be oo- tained if the newspapers will bring the matter to the attention of the law makers In the proper way.
 Change Libel Laws
 Mir Barrett also insisted that there should be such changes in the libel jaws as would protect newspapers ltrom frivolous suits brought by per sons who claim have. been damaged lry newspaper articles. He mention ed a recent libel suit in which per son who was actually found at a naoonshine still and who was shot while attempting to escape had brought suit because newspaper re- ferred to him as a "shiner.
 Gen. J. B. Stanley. editor of the Greenville Advocate and one of the two charter members of the Alabama lrress association still alive. read paper giving information about the or ganization meeting of the associa- rion. The first session was held fir Ity-one years ago and throughout the Intervening years General Stanley has been an active member.
 Following this address he was giv- cn a rising vote of commendation for his activities for the advancement or the newspaper profession.
 business session was held dur- ing the afternoon during which the various committees and officers rendered their reports. M. E. Hend- erson, manager of the Birmingham bureau of the Associated Press de- Iivered an address on Handling or News for the Small Daily" while there was round table discussion or