The Coconino sun., 1927-02-11
STATE NEWSPAPER MEN
HAD GOOD TIME HERE


| Assuredly the Flagstaff contingent
We're glad they We're and regretted
they couldn't stick around longer.
j But newspaper men, unlike others,
have to work, and the visitors scat
tered to be ready to hit the ball next
morning bright and early.
| In the morning, Sunday, those who
had got in were taken to Sunset
mountain and permitted to see how
hot it once had been there and cool
off in the ice cave.
In the afternoon the business meet
ing was informal and as result there
was several times the conversation
and many times the useful illforma-
tion brought out than if the affair
had been staged along the old cut and
dried parliamentary lines. One fellow
did say Mr.. President" to Andy An
derson, the Miami big boy, and every
body else cussed the poor fish out
until now it is doubtful whether he
wouldn't call Henry Ford Hank" at
first sight.
There was a feed in the evening.
President Anderson, who steers the
Miami Evening Bulletin, installed Col.
Fred Breen as toastmaster. At the
latter's left sat Somali, the aged Nav
ajo chieftain, who had happened along
and just drifted into the Monte Vista
dining room with the rest. When the
bouillon caEie on, Somali wasn't quite
sure whether to suck it up with his
fingers or mop it up with his gee
| string; but the toastmaster urnosten-
ltatiously eased the right tool-at
least to the best Of his own knowledge
over to Somali, and all was lovely.
Likewise when the oyster cocktails
were served. Somali and Tim Riordan
were the only two in the crowd who
used forks on the cocktail. Bill Kelly
ate his with his knife and Columbus
Giragi, though he dropped couple
into his lap, managed to get along
without any tools except his fingers.
Somali entered into the spirit of the
occasion, and willingly and vociferous-
ly danced several Navajo solos and a
Hopi number. 1t was very atmos-
pheric, the doors being closed.
Phil Hall of Die Suns staff, did
some extra good stuff with his trained
ACCORDION. If Phil ever gets To tick
ling linotype like he does that ac-
COIuSOIl lining, iiC II oNt q SotMuiAt 9
minute.
There were numerous good talks, in
which wit and humor weren't in the
background; and there was enough
seasoning with good sense to make
the impromptu program worth while.
Unlike most people, newspaper men
don't have to think up in advance
what they are going to say. AT an
occasion like the one we're describing
there are no serious consequences.
Mr.. Riordan told how he first came
here in '84, from his home in Chicago.
He came back in '86. His brother, D.,
NJ. Riordan, who then owned the big
sawmill, sent T. A. to the branch
mill some eight miles west of here to
get out a special order. 7. A. walked
the eight miles through 80 inches Of
snow. He had never seen mill be-
fore except the one at Flagstaff and
that only little while. Ok teams
We're a new feature in his life and he
most froze to death because he was
too interested watching them shoe the
oxen to keep himself warm.
Ed Ayers, who opened the mill here,
had retired after enough ties had
been sawed for laying the railroad,
believing there was nothing more a
saw mill could make living at. d.
MI. Riordan had different hunch,
though, and took the mill over.
Mr.. Riordan related some anecdotes,
He contrasted conditions so years ago
and now. Then there were no white
men here. A few years later, follow
ing the coming of the whites, despite
primitive living and social conditions,
people had more fun than they do
now, Mr.. Riordan believes.
With the building of Lees Ferry
bridge and the new road from Utah
to Flagstaff, Mr.. Riordan said, Flag
staff will show as much or more
growth in the next 10 and 20 years
than in the past like periods.
E. O. Whitman, publicity secretary
Arizona Industrial congress, after adj
hitting charge Of parenthood to
books published here and in England,
said Arizona is to be congratulated on
her splendid newspapers and their un-
selfish cooperation in boosting for all
things AriZonan.
Columbus Giragi, one of the peppy
owners of the Winslow Daily Mail,
spoke Of the newspapers responsible
ity to its community, something that
no publisher or editor worthy OF his
calling ever loses sight of.
Bill Kelly, who had four weekly
newspapers in the south part OF the
state, and has recently absorbed three
more, said some very listenable things
about Flagstaff's wonderful winter
climate. He said community's
newspaper represents the spirit and
enterprise of that community; that
one can tell just what kind of town
it is by looking over the paper pub
Elished in it. He said Arizona is begin
ming to cash irf on the wonderful CO.
operation and the tremendous amount
of free advertising given it by its
newspapers.
Harry Tritle, formerly half owner
of the Phoenix Gazette, now secrc-
tary to the state industrial commits
sion, spoke of the recently enacted
industrial law as one Of the most
beneficial of the states statutes. In