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RUTGERS 

UNIVERSITY 

LIBRARY 


^:^^si^, 


Estate  of 
Hiram  E.  Deats 


'f 


i 


tstory  of  m  national  JIiit< 


ateur  Press  Hssociation 
«  «  gompiled  by  3obn 
turn  nixon  «  *  «  * 


' '  Once  an  Amateur,  Always  an 
Amateur.  " — Ernest  A.  Stowe. 


3oftn  t  nixon,  Publjsber,  €rowky, 
Cottisiana.      m   D   €  £  €  € 


THE    MIRROR    PRINT 
CRO^\^LEY,    LA. 


To  The 

Officers  and   Members  - 

OF  the 

National  Amateur  Press  Association 

This   Volume 

Is  Respectfully   Dedicated 

By  the  Author. 


Explanatory* 


Amateur  Journalism  is  an  institution  of  young  men  and  women 
who  edit,  publish  or  contribute  to.  mininture  newspapers  and 
magazines,  for  pleasure  and  intellectual  improvement.  The 
majority  of  the  recruits  i^r 3  youths  and  maidens  in  their  teens, 
who  enter  "Amateurdom,"  as  it  is  familiarly  called,  for  the 
education  that  may  be  derived.  A  fractional  part  of  these  re- 
cruits make  pleasant  acquaintances  among  fellow  workers  and 
keep  in  touch  with  Amateurdom  as  long  as  possible.  The  Na- 
tional Amateur  Press  Association,  the  principal  organization  of 
amateur  journalists,  holds  annual  meeting,  alternating  East  and 
West,  and  these  conventions  bring  amateurs  together  from  all 
parts  of  the  country.  A  beginner  is  styled  a  "recruit,"  and  one 
who  has  left  the  ranks  a  "fossil." 


PREMCE. 


HIS  volume  is  put  before  the  Qiembers  of 
the  National  Amateur  Press  Association 
with  the  knowledge  that,  no  matter  how 
far  it  may  fall  short  of  the  expectations  of 
amateur  journalists  and  no  matter  how 
mau3^  important  events  have  not  been 
chronicled  in  its  pages,  the  compiler  has 
worked  conscientiously,  without  fear  or 
favor,  and  with  the  one  idea  of  publishing  that  which  is  worthy 
of  publication  and  of  preserving  a  true  history  of  the  organiza- 
tion and  progression  of  the  Association  during  the  first  quarter 
century  of  its  existence. 

The  work  of  compilation  has  extended  over  a  period  of  ten 
years,  during  which  time  hundreds  of  letters  have  been  written 
and  thousands  of  amateur  papers  and  magazines  consulted. 

In  dealing  with  the  organization  of  the  Association  and  its 
earlier  years  of  life,  all  ascertainable  facts  are  printed.  The 
more  difficult  of  access  the  authority,  the  more  valuable  the  in- 
formation has  been  considered.  In  dealing  with  later  years  many 
minor  matters  have  been  omitted,  the  last  decade  being  an  open 
book  to  all  who  wish  to  learn. 

The  author  desires  to  publicly  express  his  thanks  to  many 
amateur  journalists  who  have  rendered  him  valuable  aid.  For 
those  who  ignored  his  letters  of  inquiry  or  who,  after  undertaking 
to  assist  have  failed  to  carry  out  their  promises,  he  has  no  words 
of  censure.  While  their  failure  has  to  some  extent  shorn  the 
book  of  completeness,  it  is  believed  that  prompt  publication  at 
this  time  is  more  desirable  than  any  delay  for  such  causes. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PBBSS  ASSOCIATION.  iv 

The  book  falls  short  of  the  author's  concept  in  many  wii3's, 
and  he  is  fully  prepared  for  any  criticism  that  may  be  made.  All 
amateur  journalists  will  realize  the  importance  of  the  work,  and, 
considering  the  expense  attached  to  such  an  undertaking,  we  be- 
lieve they  will  overlook  minor  typographical  and  other  defects, - 
and  accept  the  volume  in  the  spirit  in  which  it  is  offered. 

John  Travis  Kixon. 
Crowley,  La.,  June  16,  1900. 


statistical  Cables. 

Laureateships,  Convention  Attendance,  Proxy 
Vote  and  Official  Roster  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASS0CIAT50N 


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Official  Roster  of  \U  national  Jtmateur  Pre$$  dissociation,  from  \m  to  1900. 


COMPILED    BY    JOHN    TRAVIS    NIXON. 


Vice-President 


Foui-tli  Vice-President 


Ollioial  Editor 


New  Yorii 
Milwaukee 
Boston . . . 
SuD  Francisco 
Pbiladelpliia 

Cliicago 

Buffalo 

ludiauapolis 

Philadelphia 

Chicago..  . . 

Boston 

Chicago 

Wastiingtoii. 


Will  T.  Hall 

J.  Edson  Briggs.  . 
WillL.  Wright'., 
rhos.  G.Harrisoni 
rhos.  H..Parsonsi 
Frank  N.  Keeve. .  . 

Finlay  A.  Grant. . 

WillardO.  Wylie. 
Henry  E,  Leglerl . 
Ed.  E.  Stowell»« . 
Fred  F.  Heatbtt. 
Dennie  A.  Sullivai 

J.  H.  Ives  Munro, 

tiamuel  S.  Slinson. 
Will  S.  Moore§§.. 
Albert  E.  Barker  . 


Edwin  B.  Swin.  .  . 
cheriuerhornll 

an  J.  Speucei 

J.  L.  Tomliuson** 
Brubukerl . . 

Charles R,  Burger. 

Will  Hancock  .... 

Jas.  F.  Mortou,  Jr. 
David  L.  Hollub.. 

Theodore  B.  Tliicle 


Richard  H.  Gerner 
J.  Winslow  Snyde 
Arthur  J.  Huss.  . 

Will  L.  Wright.  . 
Frank  N.  Reeve  • 
Tbos.  H.  Parsons 

Frank  E.  Dayt. . 

Edward  E.  Stowell 

Frank  S.  Ariiett. 


Will  B.  Leaning. 
W.  F.  Babcock.  . 
FredM.   Cornell. 


Imric 


Wilfred  E.  Griggs, 
r.  Merciir  . 
Will.JHeineuianttt 


Wilis.  Moore.... 

F.  S.  C.  Wicks**. 
Jerome  C.  Bulltt . 
Michael  F.Boecbal 

T.  J.  Spencer'*  .  . 
Warreu.JBrodio||l|  . 
Herbert  H.  FishlU 
W.J.Hiinter§  •*.  . 
Herbert  H.FishS-. 
F.  E.Scbermerborn 


Harriet  C.  Cox* 


F  Sta  (  Wh  tnej 
Ivu  elan  I  BalH 
Robert  Ca  ey 


Arbngtontt- 
leC.  Bull  .  .  . 
Bowersoektt 
G.  Phillips. 

L.  Otlingcr. . 


Cbas.H.  Lawsou* 


Hora  e  Freema 


George  Bertron. . 
J.  C.  VVortbingto 
Frank  M.  Morris 


Louis  Konpner.  . 

R.  B.  Tcacbenor. 

Albert  E.  Barker 

Will  S.  Moore.  .  . 
Edwin  H.  Dyertt 
Zelda  Arlington, . 
Ernest  A.Edkiustt 
Justin  DBowersocl 

p.  Woollentt. 

A.  Epbriam  . . 

ivis  C.  Bigelow 


Thos.  G.  Harrison,  Hei 
Heury  E.  Leglcr",  Tn 
Will  S.  Moure,  liraiiicrd 


Albert  B.  Barl 


John  L   Tomlinsou 

d  M    C    te  ti 
a    J    S|e     e 


Delavau  W.  Gee. 

.1.  Fred  Eberle  .  . 
Herbert  A.Clarke" 
Wm.  F.  Buckley*' 
Charles  G.  Steele§ 
lohu  J.  Weissert. 


Jas.  F.KaTanagh§ . 
.JohnW.MoClain" 
Fred  F.  Heath§... 
M.  F,  Boeobatttt- 
Beltha  Yorkn.  .  . 
Gracia  A.  Hniith.  . 

Fred.  L.  Hunter.  . 

Charleo   R.  Burger 

Natbau  N.  Block 


Sam  J.  Steinberg 
A.  Mueller** 
■erard  Appleton§ 
Johu  Moody  . 


Evan  E.  Riale .  .  . 
Will  E.  Leaning, 
J.  Fred  Eberle  .  . 

Frank  N.  Reeve  . 


Warren  J.  Niles  ♦ 
C.  C.  RickertS  . . 
B.  Benj.  Pelh,ani. 

Truman  J.  Spencer 

Maurice  J.  B 

J.  H.  Ives  M 


Frauk  M.  Morris 
O.  L.  WillianistJ 
Tbos.  Ct. Harrison 

H.  K..  Sanderson 

John  Fischer.  .  .  . 

.  H.  Parsons 

lao  J.  Speiice 


Wm.  B.  Baldwin. 
W.  B.  Mellinsiert 
John  G.  Kugler* 
H.  M.  Cartertt  • 
George  W.  Dodd* 
C.  N.  Audrewsll  || 
Walter  C.  Chiles. 


E.  J.  Harclcastle 
Oscar  A.  Reum.  . 


John  L.  Tomlinso 
L.  Tomlinso 

E.  J.  Hardcastle' 


Cbas.  C.  Heuman. 
John  AV.  Snyder* . 
Clement  C,  Chase. 
Clement  C.  Chase. 
Joseph  P.  Clossey. 


Joseph  D.  Miller  . 

Brainerd  P.  Emery 

Ernest  A. Edkins** 
Wm.  B.  Baldwintt 
Frank  D.  Woollen 

Truman  J.  Spencer 

Howard  M.  Carter 

Harriet  C.  Cox.  .. 

Walter  C.  Chiles 


be  B  Ihele 
L  H  Snj  le  S 
.  s      b   Pobb  E 


L   Ha     k 
Albert  E    Barna 


H  A  S  loe 
C  W  h  ss  no 
Fl    A    Hen 


CI  a       N 
N    U    Fe 


niSTORT 

OF  THE 

N/ITION/iL  /in/iTEUR  FRE55 
/ISSOCI/mON. 


CHflFTER   1. 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  N.  A.  P.  A. 

Many  Claimants  for  the  Honor  of  Planning  a  National 
Association. — C.  E.  Williams  Named  by  James  Austin 
Fynes. — James  M.  Beck  Says  Philadelphia  Amateurs 
WERE  Responsible  for  the  Plan. — Suggestion  of  E.  R. 
RiALE  IN  September,  1875. — The  Philadelphia  Associ- 
ation.— Accumulating  a  Convention  Fund. — Division  of 
the  Philadelphia  Amateurs. — -Beck's  Plan. — Approval 
from  Boston. — -Coalition  of  Two  Societies  Attempted, 
WITHOUT  Success. — Two  Conventions  Called. — The 
Meeting  at  City  Institute  Hall,  July  4. — '-Winslow" 
Credits  the  Plan  to  the  Portland  Gazette. — Honor 
TO  Beck  and  Other  Philadelphians. 

'HERE  are  a  cumber  of  claimants  to  the  honor  of  having 
suggested  the  present  National  Amateur  Press  Associa- 
tion. In  /d/e  I/onrs,  liuhliiihed  in  1884,  James  Austin 
Fynes,  Jr.,  stated  that  the  first  proposition  to  hold  a  convention 
of  amateurs  in  Philadelphia,  during  the  Centennial,  came  from 
C.  E.  Williams,  of  Portland,  Me.  James  M.  Beck,  in  the 
American  Sphinx  February,  1885,  vigorously'  deuie  this,  and 
says  in  answer: 

The  true  history  of  the  origin  of  the  present  Natiouai  Amateur 
Press  Association  remains  to  be  written.  But  three  amateurs  now 
living  are  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  cognizant  of  ail  the  facts. 


2  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

These  are  Fraak  K.  Voudersmith,  the  editor  of  the  Boys'  Gem  in 
1875-6.  and  but  a  year  or  two  since  the  editor  of  the  Acme; 
Evan  Reed  Riale,  well  and  favorably  known  to  the  fraternity  as 
the  editor  of  nnmarous  papers  and  the  first  corresponding  secre- 
tary of  the  Association,  and  the  writer. 

In  the  spring  of  1875  a  society  was  in  existence  in  Philadelphia 
for  the  purpose  of  making  the  preliminary  arrangements  for  this 
convention.  They  were  working  so  quietly,  modestly  and  unos- 
tentatiously that  little  was  known  of  their  plans  outside  of 
Philadelphia.  To  whom  the  idea  of  such  a  convention  lirst  oc- 
curred will  of  course  never  be  known.  Riale  assures  me  that  the 
first  suggestion  of  which  he  has  ever  heard  was  made  by  himself 
to  Vondersmith,  in  September,  1875.  These  two  gentlemen 
formed  the  Philadelphia  association,  which,  from  its  purposes 
and  objects  was  called  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  Their  chief  mission  was 
to  raise  the  funds  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  proposed  conven- 
tion. As  none  of  the  members  were  endowed  by  fortune  vvith  a 
superfluity  of  this  world's  goods,  tliis  was  no  easy  task.  It  was 
effected  by  each  member  paying  into  the  treasury  of  the  associa- 
tion the  sum  of  5  cents  a  week,  and  this  insignificant  contribution 
gradually  accumulated  in  the  lapse  of  many  months  into  a  not 
inconsiderable  sum,  from  which  every  expense  incident  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  present  N.  A.  P.  A.  was  generously  defrayed. 
The  members  did  not  number  over  twelve.  Among  the  list  1  only 
remember  at  this  late  day  the  names  of  Vondersmith,  Riale, 
Brandt,  Bertron,  Cross,  Hunter  and  Macaran. 

At  the  time  of  its  organization  I  was  not  a  member  of  this 
local  association.  The  Philadelphia  amateurs  were  at  that  time 
divided  into  two  classes.  The  one,  called  the  "uptowners," 
comprised  the  wealthier  and  more  aristocratic  members  of  the 
'Dom.  The  other,  composed  of  the  poorer  amateurs,  was  called 
t!»e  '-downtowners."  While  neither  possessed  of  the  purse  of 
Fortunatis  nor  aristocratic  in  my  tastes,  yet  living  up  town  1  nat- 
urally affiliated  with  the  former  class.  '  The  local  N.  A.  P.  A. 
that  was  arranging  for  the  Centennial  convention,  was  organized 
by  and  exclusively  composed  of  "downtowners." 

In  the  winter  of  1875-6,  I  was  editor  of  the  news  department 
of  the  Philadelphia  Literary  'Jimes,  an  excellent  amateur 
paper,  published  by  a  gifted  amateur,  William  Grissinger  by 
name.  In  that  department  I  wrote  the  following,  which  I  quot<3 
from  my  scrap  book,  verbatim  et  literatim : 

Reader,  what  think  you  of  holding-  a  grand  convention  of  the  aiii.i- 
teurs  of  the  world,  ia  this  citv  on  Julv  3rdy  Tiic  plan  can  and  will  be 
pushed  through.     Call  and  address  as  above. 

At  the  time  I  knew  nothing  of  the  existence  of  the  N.  A.  P. 
A.,  much  less  of  its  arrangements  for  such  a  convention.     Than 


IIISTORV    OK   TflE   N.4TI0NAL    AMATEOR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  6 

this  printed  propositiou  to  hold  ths  proposed  coaveatioa,  I  know 
of  nothing  earlier. 

1  remember  perliectlv  vvv3ll  svriting  to  Fyies  at  the  time  I  made 
this  snggestion,  asking  his  opinion  thereon  and  that  of  other 
Boston  amatenrs.  He  wrote  back  to  me  his  entire  approval  of 
the  project  and  that  of  Kendall,  Fovvle  and  others  of  the  Massa- 
chnsetts  fraternity,  to  whom  he  had  spoken  on  the  subject. 

I  received  quite  a  number  of  responses  to  raj  suggestions,  and 
some  months  thereafter  a  meeting  was  held  in  Philadelphia,  con- 
sisting of  amateurs  of  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and  Delaware, 
to  arrange  for  such  a  convention.  These  formed  the  ''Amateur 
Literary  Union."  There  then  were  two  associations,  seeking  to 
effect  one  and  the  same  object.  Some  of  u^,  who  recognized  the 
utihty  and  necessity  of  unity,  then  sought  to  effect  a  coalition  of 
the  two  societies.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  Literary 
Union  to  confer  with  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  on  the  subject,  of  which  1 
was  a  member  and  the  spokesman.  We  were  courteously  re- 
ceived, but  our  offer  was  declined.  The  Union  then  became 
divided  in  opinion  as  to  its  future  course.  A  minority,  including 
myself,  recognized  the  impracticability  of  holding  two  such 
conventions,  and  believing  that  a  preference  was  due  the  N.  A. 
P.  A.,  because  of  its  seniority,  left  the  Union  and  joined  the  N. 
A.  P.  A.  The  majority  of  the  Union  adhered  to  their  determin- 
ation to  hold  a  separate  convention,  engaged  the  Assembly 
buildings  for  that  purpose,  chose  July  5th  as  the  date,  and  sent 
out  invitations  throughout  the  country.  The  convention  was 
actually  held,  but  proved  a  wretched  fiasco. 

The  N.  A.  P.  A.,  in  the  meantime,  had  steadily  grown  in 
membership,  and  as  July  approached  had  funds  in  its  treasury 
more  than  sufficient  to  defray  the  entire  expenses  of  the  conven- 
tion. Its  corresponding  secretary,  the  indefatigable  Riale, 
corresponded  with  all  prominent  amateurs,  and  to  his  skill  the 
success  of  the  convention  is  largely  attributable. 

The  City  Institute  Hall  was  engaged  for  July  4,  1876  ;  the 
writer  had  the  honor  of  being  assigned  to  deliver  the  welcoming 
oration,  and  Richard  Gerner,  then  the  most  prominent  amateur 
in  the  country,  was  selected  as  the  temporary  chairman.  Much 
more  might  be  said  of  the  struggle  between  the  Gerner  and 
Snyder  factions  of  the  convention ;  of  its  personnel — the  finest, 
1  think,  of  any  convention  in  amateur  history — and  of  the  social 
experience  of  the  visiting  amateurs. 

A  Philadelphia  amateur  was  probably  the  first  to  suggest  the 
organization  of  the  present  N.  A.  P.  A.,  in  September,  1875. 
Philadelphia  amateurs  arranged  every  preliminary  detail  of  the 
Centennial  convention,  and  liquidated  every  expense  from  their 
own  slender  means.     As  a  Philadelphia  amateur.   I  speak  with 


4  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

pardonable  pride  of  these  matters,  and  with  the  more  warmth 
since  the  Philadelphia  amateurs,  who  made  every  sacrifice  for  the 
welfare  of  the  association,  have  most  modestly  suffered  for 
years  a  positive  injustice  in  the  ascription  by  the  fraternity  of  the 
credit  of  organizing  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  to  C.  E.  Williams.  I  state 
the  facts.  It  is  not  too  late  for  the  fraternity  to  correct  an 
error. 

Later  on,  John  "Winslow"  Snyder,  who  was  elected  first 
president,  in  writing  of  the  organization  meeting,  took  occasion 
to  say : 

It  is  now  generally  agreed  or  assumed  that  an  amateur  paper 
published  at  Portland,  Me.,  under  the  title  of  the  Gazette,  f^r&t 
suggested  to  the  amateurs  of  the  United  States  the  wisd(tm  and 
feasibility  of  taking  advantage  of  "Centennial"  excitement, 
sight-seeing  and  reduced  railroad  rates  to  gather  at  Philadelphia 
on  the  4th  of  July,  1876. 

The  Portland  Gazette  did  not  live  to  see  the  work  fairly  begun, 
but  its  idea  on  the  subject  was  generallj^  discussed  and  endorsed. 
Presently  the  encouragement  was  sufficiently  great  to  fire  ihe 
enthusiasm  and  pride  of  certain  amateurs  of  Philadelphia,  who 
formed  what  was  strictly  a  city  club,  but  what  they  called,  rather 
hastily,  but  with  an  honest  conviction  that  it  had  a  great  work 
on  hand,  the  Philadelphia  National  Amateur  Press  Association. 
Perhaps  James  M.  Beck  can  claim  the  honor  of  being  the  lead- 
ing light  of  this  organization,  and  he.  certainly,  was  their  ever 
ready  spokesman  and  most  active  leader.  I  remember  well  his 
bright,  cheerful  face,  diminutive  form  and  scholarly  spectacles. 
E^an  Riale  and  Vondersmith  were  also  members  of  the  Philadel- 
phia club ;  and  these  three  amateurs  were  appointed  by  that 
club  as  a  committee  to  meet  the  amateurs  who  came  to  the 
convention. 


CH/IFTER  2. 

THE   FIRST  CONVENTION. 

Few  Introductory  Words. — Philadelphia,  July  4,  1876. 
— "WiNSLOw's"  Account. — Invitations  from  Philadel- 
phia.— Arrival  at  the  Mecca. — A  First  View. — A 
Representative  Gathering. — Call  to  Order. — Gerner's 
Address  of  Welcome. — Suggestions  of  the  Political 
Battle. — Permanent  Officers  Elected. — The  National 
Amateur  Press  Association  Organized. — Official  Board 
Completed. — Other  Business. — Literary  Exercises. — 
A  Telegraphic  Report. — Prominent  Papers  of  the 
Year  . 

t— ,r-^HE  founder  of  Amatear  Journalism  in  North  America  is 
unknown.  Papers  were  published  by  boys  and  girls  as 
early  as  1812,  but  it  was  not  until  the  close  of  the  civil 
war,  in  1865,  that  any  considerable  number  were  issued.  In 
1869  the  introduction  of  cheap  hand  printing  presses  finally 
established  Amateur  Journalism  among  the  American  youth. 
Local  press  clubs,  state  and  sectional  associations  flourished,  and 
this  era  of  the  work  has  been  handed  down  in  tradition  as  one 
of  great  activity.  An  Amateur  Press  Association,  embracing 
the  Eastern  and  New  England  states,  was  organized  in  1869  and 
lived  until  1873.  A  directory  issued  in  1875  contained  the 
names  of  over  500  editors  and  authors,  representing  almost  as 
many  publications.  The  wide  spread  of  the  institution  rendered 
a  national  organization  desirable,  and  the  proposition  to  meet  in 
Philadelphia,  July  4,  1876,  was  received  with  delight  by  amateurs 
everywhere. 

The  following  account  of  the  first  convention,  from  the  Empire 
State  Amateur  (1888),  was  written  by  John  Winslow  Snyder, 
first  president : 

A  fairly  elegant  printed  postal  card  had  been  circulated  among 
the  amateurs  of  the  United  States,  informing  them  that  the  City 
Institute  Hall,  at  the  corner  of  Chestnut  and  Eighteenth  streets. 


H  ni?!TORT   OF   THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

would  be  at  their  service  at  12  o'clock,  hiffh  iiooii,  on  the  ever- 
memoralde  fourth  of  July.  To  this  rallying-  spot  at  the  said 
hour  all  hastened. 

When  I  reached  the  chosen  Mecca  at  the  chosen  hour,  I  looked 
with  curiosity  at  the  other  pilgrims,  who  had  been  summoned  by 
the  same  cry  (on  a  postal  card)  to  the  faithful,  to  meet  and  join 
hands  as  already  we  had  joined  hearts.  At  the  little  hallway,  or 
ante  room,  at  the  top  of  a  long  flight  of  stairs,  was  a  table, 
around  which  some  twenty  young  men  and  boys  were  ero'vding. 
It  was  my  first  view  of  how  animated  amateurs  can  become  when 
electrified  by  pprsonal  contact.  The  explanation  came  a  moment 
later,  when  I  beheld  a  register,  in  which  eac4i  amatenr  wrote  his 
name.  Thereupon  some  reader  of  said  name  would  call  it  out, 
and  the  owner  of  said  name  be  passed  around  among  the  boys 
and  made  to  feel  at  home.  Other  conventions  brought  together 
old  friends,  but  naturally  at  Philadelphia,  most  everyone  was  a 
stranger  to  everyone  else.  The  signing  of  distinguished  names 
upon  the  sc-called  Ledger  continued  for  about  an  hour,  and  the 
besfinniuff  of  the  record  read  as  follows : 

John  Hosey,  Jolin  J.  Farrell.  J.  F.  DuHamel,  W.  T.  Hall, 
C'orrel  Keudali,  F.  O.  McCleary,  J.  J.  Richardson.  J.  A.  Fynes. 

Such  were  the  first  eight  names  recorcied.  and  I  especially 
note  the  fact,  to  enforce  the  claim  that  the  first  National  conven- 
tion came  more  nearly  to  being  a  National  one.  in  the  sense  at 
least  that  it  represented  various  and  distant  sections  of  the  coun- 
try, than  any  other  1  have  ever  attended.  I  knew  quite  well  six 
of  the  eight  signers.  Two  of  them  lived  in  New  York  City,  one 
in  Chicago  and  two  in  Boston.  Again  they  had  not  only  traveled 
from  afar  but  were  well  known  in  the  amateur  world.  Obscure 
poets,  authors  of  a  single  article,  poets  without  poems  and  mem- 
bers of  three  weeks  standing  in  some  local  club  (formed  for 
political  purposes  only),  did  not  sweep  this  convention  by  that 
irresistible  force  known  as  the  power  of  numerical  strength.  Of 
the  sixty-five  amateurs  present,  only  about  twenty  were  from 
Philadelphia,  and  some  of  these  local  lights  were  well  known 
throughout  Amateurdom. 

Araonof  other  amateurs  present  were:  Richard  Gerner,  of  Ho- 
boken.  N.  J.  :  N.  J.  Taussig,  of  the  Ameriran  BtiUetin,  Harris- 
burg.  Pa.  ;  Black,  of  the  Young  Idea,  Brooklyn  :  Happie,  of 
the  Bot/s'  Bights,  Westminster.  Md.  :  Count,  of  the  Times, 
Ellensville,  N.  Y.  :  Stevenson,  of  the  Bay  Ciiy  Amateur,  San- 
dusky:  \Aliite.  of  the  Bo)/s'  Journal,  Alexandria.  Va. ;  Nathan 
Cole  (and  brother),  of  the  Acorn,  St.  Louis;  Hawk,  of  the 
Wide  Awale,  New  York:  Siviter.  of  the  American  Banner, 
Pittsburg:  Jones,  of  the  Union  Gazette,  Baltimore:  Clarence  G. 
Allen,   of  the  Southern  Sitar,    Washington  :   Brings,   of  the  Imp, 


HISTORY   OF    rriE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  i 

Washino^ton,   and  Will  Leaning,   George  Bertroo,   William  Wia- 
slow.  Heuman,  Case,  McColm  and  Hoadley. 

At  about  I  o'clock  Richard  Gerner  called  the  somewhat  noisy 
and  excited  oratherin^  to  order.  The  Philadelphia  Chib,  as  a 
self-appointed  executive  committee,  had  selected  Mr.  Gerijer  for 
this  distinction.  Perhaps  this  was  fair  enough,  under  all  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case,  as  the  Philadelphia  Club  had,  by  its 
labors  and  provisional  arrauoemeuts,  entitled  itself  to  the  meagre 
honors  of  firing  the  first  gun. 

Mr.  Gerner  made  an  address  of  welcome,  which  alluded  at 
length  to  the  object  had  in  view  in  calling  this  convention,  and 
declared  that  Amateur  Journalism  had  reached  a  high  standard. 
He  was  followed  by  James  M  Beck,  of  the  Philadelphia  Sphinx, 
who  welcomed  to  his  city  all  visiting  amateurs.  Before  these 
gentlemen  had  concluded,  it  was  evident  that  the  convention  was 
preparing  to  have  what  is  technically  known  as  a  hot  political 
time  of  it.  On  the  one  hand  Gerner' s  friends  considered  their 
hero's  rights  to  leadership  as  plain  and  manifest,  and  applauded, 
as  just  and  salutary,  Mr.  Beck's  statement  that  --Mr.  Gerner  is 
one  of  the  smartest  amateur  authors  in  the  country;"  others 
concluded  that  all  of  this  seemed  too  much  like  a  cut-and-dried 
plan  to  rush  Gerner  into  the  presidency,  instead  of  the  free-aud- 
open-to-all  race  that  youthful  blood  likes  to  share  in,  wherefore 
they  res^dved  that  no  one  should  take  the  crown  without  scratch- 
ing awhile  through  the  thorns. 

Scarcely  could  Mr.  Beck  conclude,  before  Hosey,  Fynes  and 
White  moved  to  proceed  to  the  choice  of  a  permanent  chairman. 
The  motion  was  carried  and  Gerner,  Kendall,  Allen,  Hoadley, 
White  and  myself  were  nominated.  White  withdrew.  Yonder- 
smith,  Bertron  and  Williamson  were  appointed  teller?^.  Mr. 
Kendall  here  made  the  point  that  no  one  could  claim  an  election, 
unless  he  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast.  The  first 
ballot  resulted  as  follows : 

Total  vote  cast,  56 ;  necessary  to  a  choice,  29 ;  Richard 
Gerner,  22  ;  John  Winslow  Snyder,  18 ;  Ed.  R.  Hoadley,  7 ; 
Correl  Kendall.  6  ;   Clarence  G.  Allen,  3. 

Second  ballot :  Total  vote  cast,  60 ;  necessary  to  a  choice, 
31;  John  Winslow  Snyder.  33;   Richard  Gerner,  27. 

It  is  needless  to  say  I  was  flattered  by  my  election  to  the 
highest  office  in  the  gift  of  those  nvhose  opinions  I  most  highly 
valued.  My  brave  and  generous  opponent,  whose  friendship  I 
never  had  cause  to  question,  welcomed  me  to  the  platform. 

Mr.  Will  T.  Hall,  of  Chicago,  was  unanimously  elected  secre- 
tary, and  the  convention  was  ready  for  business. 

it  will  be  seen  that  at  that  moment  there  was  no 
such    entitv    as    a    National    Amateur    Press    xVssociation.    but 


§  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

only    an    organized     convention,     all     ready     and    willing    to 
create  and  execute, 

Mr.  Gerner  then  moved  that  the  National  Amateur  Press  Con- 
vention resolve  itself  into  the  National  Amateur  Press  Associa- 
tion. This  most  important  motion,  because  the  hour  was  ripe  for 
the  occurrence,  passed  without  discussion.  Mr.  Beck  then  moved 
that  the  Association  should  have  a  president,  five  vice-presidents, 
a  recording  secretary,  a  corresponding  secretary,  a  treasurer  and 
an  official  organ.  This  motion  was  likewise  carried  without 
discussion. 

Mr.  White  now  moved  that  the  permanent  officers  of  the  Con- 
vention should  be  made  and  declared  the  permanent  officers  of 
the  National  Amateur  Press  Association.  On  this  motion  an 
animated  discussion  ensued.  Messrs.  Gerner,  Kendall  and 
Hosey  took  part  in  the  debate.  The  motion  prevailed.  Thereby 
I  became  president  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association 
and  Will  T.  Hall  became  its  recording  secretary.  The  other 
created  offices  were  then  filled,  by  an  election,  as  follows: 

Richard  Gerner,  of  Hoboken,  first  vice-president;  William  E. 
Leaning,  of  Fly  Creek,  N.  Y.,  second  vice-president;  George 
Bertron,  of  Philadelphia,  third  vice-president ;  Charles  C. 
Heuman,  of  New  York  City,  fourth  vice-president;  William 
Winslow,  of  Pennsylvania,  fifth  vice-president;  E.  R.  Riale,  cf 
Philadelphia,  corresponding  secretary;  J.  A.  Fynes,  Jr.,  of 
Boston,  treasurer.  The  New  England  Star  was  made  the  official 
organ.  The  president  then  appointed,  on  motion  duly  made  and 
carried,  a  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Gerner,  Heuman  and 
Barrett,  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws,  and  report  the  same 
at  the  next  convention.  Ot  this  committee,  Richard  Gerner  was 
made  chairman ;  Charles  C.  Heuman,  secretary,  and  Franklin 
Barrett,  of  New  York,  parliamentary  referee. 

A  most  animated  c<;ntroversy  then  followed,  as  to  where  the 
next  convention  should  be  held.  Long  Branch  was  finally  chosen, 
and  July  settled  as  the  month ;  the  exact  day  to  be  afterwards 
determined  by  the  president. 

The  rage  of  battle  having  ceased,  the  oil  of  peace  was  poured 
over  the  troubled  waters  by  Macanen,  of  Philadelphia,  reading 
an  original  poem,  and  Gerner  reciting,  in  effective  manner,  his 
latest  poetical  production,  "On  the  Brink." 

The  following  account  of  the  convention,  taken  from  the  Pa- 
cific Amateur  Journal  (San  Francisco),  dated  July  15,  1876,  is 
deemed  worthy  a  place  here.  It  is  given  almost  as  originally 
printed,  headlines  and  all,  though  somewhat  condensed: 

Philadelphia! — Great  Amateur  Convention  at  the  Centennial. 
— The  Grandest  Event  ever  Chronicled  in  the  Annals  of  Amateur 


HISTOUr   OK   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PKESS   ASSOCIATION.  9 

Journalism. — Intense  Excitement  and  Enthusiasm. — Notes  and 
Incidents. — [Telegraphed  by  our  Special  Cv  rrespoudent,  per 
Western  Union  Telep^raph  Company.] — Philadelphia,  July  4, 
1876. — The  Centennial  anniversary  of  American  independence 
has  long  been  looked  forward  to  with  eager  interest  by  amateur 
journalists  of  this  country,  as  it  was  the  day  appointed  on  which 
the  much  talked-of  convention  of  amateurs  was  to  be  held  in 
this  city.  It  being  here  that,  in  1814,  Thomas  Condie  issued  the 
initial  number  of  the  Portfolio — the  first  amateur  paper  published 
in  America — Philadelphia  was,  no  doubt,  not  only  the  most  con- 
venient, but  the  most  appropriate  city  for  holding  such  a 
convention. 

To  the  now  defunct  Gazette,  of  Portland.  Me.,  belongs  the 
honor  of  suggesting  this  assemblage  of  Amateurs. 

The  ceremonies  were  taken  charge  of  by  the  amateurs  of 
this  city,  who  experienced  considerable  difficult}^  in  obtaining  a 
suitable  place  for  convening,  but  City  Institute  Hall,  corner  of 
Chestnut  and  Eighteenth  streets,  was  finally  secured,  and  such 
arrangements  made  as  would  insure  the  success  of  the  meeting 
and  the  comfort  of  those  attending  it. 

The  hour  for  assembling  drew  near,  and  small  knots  of  excited 
amateurs  might  be  seen  gathering  on  the  sidewalks,  eagerly 
engaged  in  making  the  acquaintance  of  their  editorial  brethren, 
or  discussing  with  considerable  vehemence  the  scenes  that  were 
to  follow.  '  Among  them  could  be  found  Richard  Gerner 
(Humpty  Dumpty),  of  Hoboken,  N.  J.;  J.  W.  Snyder  (Win- 
slow),  of  Richmond,  Va.  ;  J.  A.  Fynes,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  Mass.  ; 
Correl  Kendall  (Sphinx),  the  well  known  puzzler,  of  Boston; 
Taussig,  of  the  American  Bulletin,  Harrisburg ;  Black,  of  the 
Young  Idea,  Brooklyn ;  Hoppie,  of  the  Boys^  Eights,  Westmin- 
ster, Md.  ;  Count,  of  the  Times,  Ellensville,  N.  Y.  ;  Stevenson, 
of  the  Bay  City  Amateur,  Sandusky ;  White,  of  the  Boys^  Jour- 
nal, Alexandria,  Va. ;  Nathan  Cole  and  brother,  of  the  Acorn, 
St.  Louis;  Hawk,  of  XheWide  4wake,  New  York;  Siviter,  of 
the  American  Banner,  Pittsburg ;  Jones,  of  the  Union  Gazette, 
Baltimore  ;  Hall,  of  the  High  School  Gazette,  Chicago ;  and  Hosey 
and  Farrell,  of  the  Free  Lance,  New  York.  Philadelphia  was 
represented  by  about  twenty  amateurs,  including  the  editors  of 
the  Boys^  Gem,  Boys^  Press,  Sphinx  and  Exposition,  Washing- 
ton, the  ''boss  city,"  was  represented  by  about  ten  editors, 
including  those  of  the  Southern  Star,  Crucible,  Imp,  Daicn,  Am- 
ateur Press,  American  Youth,  Pastime  and  Gem. 

When  the  doors  were  thrown  open,  a  scramble  for  seats 
ensued,  during  which  Gerner,  the  cliairman,  vainly  endeavored 
to  call  the  meeting  to  order,  and  it  was  only  after  innumerable 
unsuccessful  attempts,  and  repeated  requests  for  "order,  gentle- 


10        HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

men,  order,"  that  anythiiio-  like  quiet  was  restored.  The  reofister 
was  then  bronoht  forth,  and  the  names  of  those  present  enrolled, 
after  which  the  meeting-  proceeded  to  business. 

Gerner  then  read  a  lensthy  address,  statino-  the  object  of  the 
convention,  and  speaking  of  the  high  standard  to  which  Amateur 
Journalism  in  America  has  risen,  and  nrgintr  those  present  to 
exert  themselves  in  its  behalf.  During  his  address  he  was  fre- 
quently and  loudly  applauded,  and  was  evidently  held  in  high 
esteem  by  his  hearers.  Beck,  of  Philadelphia,  then  followed  by 
an  address  in  behalf  of  the  amateurs  of  his  city,  which  was  well 
received. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  National  Amateur  Press  Asso- 
ciation was  then  held,  and  was  hotly  contested  by  the  friends  of 
a  few  ambitious  candidates,  who  seemed  persistent  in  creating  as 
great  a  commotion  as  possible,  but  their  efforts  were  of  no  avail, 
and  the  result  was  as  follows : 

President,  J.  W.  Snyder,  Richmond,  Va.  ;  vic^-presidents, 
Gerner,  of  Hoboken.  Will  Leaning,  of  Fly  Creek,  N.  Y.  ;  George 
Bertron ;  Heuman,  of  New  York,  and  Winslow.  of  Pennsylvania  ; 
secretary,  W.  T.  Hall,  of  Chicago ;  corresponding  secretary.  E. 
R.  Riale,  cf  Philadelphia.  ;  treasurer,  J.  A.  Fynes,  Jr.,  of  Boston, 
Mass.  ;  official  organ,  Neic  England  Star. 

Snyder  made  an  excellent  address  on  accepting  the  position  of 
president,^  and  was  loudly  cheered.  His  address,  though  deliv- 
ered without  previous  preparation,  was  one  of  the  elocntionary 
gems  that  are  so  seldom  found,  and  was  one  of  the  finest  efforts 
at  elocution  that  ever  graced  an  amateur  convention.  Maccarman, 
of  Philadelphia,  then  read  an  original  poem  of  considerable 
merit,  and  was  immediately  followed  by  "Humpty  Dumpty," 
who  delivered  in  fine  style  and  with  great  effect  his  latest  and 
best  poem,  entitled  "On  the  Brink."  It  is  a  fine  production, 
and  has  been  disposed  of  at  a  high  figure  to  Our  Hearthstone 
Friend. 

The  convention  was  a  grand  success  in  all  respects — but  had 
there  been  fewer  outside  attractions  the  attendance  would  un- 
doubtedly, have  been  larger. 

After  being  in  session  about  three  hours  it  adjourned.  The 
next  annual  meeting  will  be  held  some  time  in  July,  1877,  at 
Long  Branch. 

During  the  election  of  officers  the  excitement  had  risen  to  fever 
pitch,  and  two  aspiring  youths  were  with  difficulty  restraii-ed 
from  "pummehng"  each  other.  While  Snyder  was  delivering  his 
extempore  address,  the  enthusiasm  rose  to  such  a  heig^ht  as  to  ren- 
der it  almost  impossible  for  him  to  proceed,  and  he  had  to  await 
the  subsiding  of  the  applause  so  plentifully  showered  upon  him 
before  he  could  make  himself  heard. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUli   PBES.S   Ai«SOCl ATIOX.         11 

Nine  hmulrecl  papers  are  said  to  have  ])een  in  existence  at  one 
time  rinriiior  this  year,  which  opened  the  era  known  as  the  '-Hal- 
cyon Days."  The  TaUer,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  Boys^  Herald,  Ba- 
tavia.  N.  Y..  entered  their  fifth  year.  The  Omaha  (Neb.) 
Excelsior  entered  its  sixth  year,  and  was  the  oldest  amateur 
paper  published.  The  Amateur,  Brooklyn,  N.  P.  ;  Pacific  Ama- 
teur Journal,  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  New  England  Star,  New 
Ipswich,  N.  H.  ;  Brilliant,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.  ;  Budget 
(semi-monthly).  New  York  City,  were  prominent  papers.  The 
Bee,  by  Henry  VV.almsly,  said  to  be  12  years  of  age,  was  credit- 
able. The  largest  paper  of  the  year  was  the  High  School  Gazette, 
Providence,  R.  I.,  twenty  three-column  pages  and  cover,  9x12 
inches  each.  Prominent  new  papers  were :  Monthly  Doings,  by 
Wyndham  A.  Morris ;  Clipper,  by  Frank  F.  Bassett ;  Bamhler, 
by  Howard  Scott ;  Amateur  Republican,  by  George  W.  Hancock  ; 
Boys^  Delight,  by  Zander  Snyder ;  Western  Amateur,  by  Will  T. 
Hall.  The  best  known  weeklies  were:  Bays^  Journal,  later 
Youth'' 8  Progress,  of  Alexandria,  Va.,  and  the  Young  American, 
of  Carboudale,  Ills.  The  prettiest  and  neatest  paper  of  the  year 
was  Our  Free  Lance,  Chicago  and  Washington  each  claimed  to 
have  thirty  papers  at  one  time.  The  Crucible,  by  Clarence  G. 
Allen,  caused  much  comment  by  its  originahty,  sarcasm  and 
sprightliness.  The  Imp  was  on  the  same  order,  but  irregular  in 
publication.  The  Daily  Amateur,  an  advertising  sheet,  was 
published  at  the  Chicago  Exposition  for  one  month.  Misses 
Libbie  L.  Adams  and  Delle  E.  Knapp  took  a  prominent  part  in 
amateur  affairs  this  year. 


CH/IFTER  3. 

THE  LONG  BRANCH  CONVENTION. 

Politics  to  the  '  Foee. — Candidates  Plentiful. — Gernkr's 
"CoxGKEss  Scheme." — Sectionalism  Appears. — Ohio  Am- 
ateurs Pass  Resolutions. — Winslow  Replies,  Suggesting 
That  Meetings  Alternate  East  and  West. — ^President's 
Proclamation. — Clossey'sConvention  Account. — Winslow 
Defines  an  Amateur. — "Congress  Scheme"  Tabled. — 
Another  Constitution  Com3iittee  Appointed. — Dingwall 
Elected  President. — Sensational  Literature  Denounced. 
Prominent  Papers  of  the  Year. 

'HE  organization  of  the  Association  and  election  of  officers 
to  carry  on  its  business  bronobt  the  political  side  of  Am- 

\  ateur  Journalism  to  the  fore,  and  early  in  '77  numerous 
nominations  were  made  for  the  various  offices  to  be  filled  at  the 
Long  Branch  meeting,  and  in  some  instances  vigorous  campaigns 
were  carried  on.  Among  the  candidates  named  for  the  presi- 
dency we  find  Charles  C.  Heuman,  of  New  York;  Alexander  W. 
Dingwall,  of  Milwaukee;  Will  T.  Hall,  of  Chicago;  Richard 
Gerner,  of  Hoboken  ;  Correl  Kendall,  of  l^oston,  and  the  then 
president,  John  \\ .  Snyder,  of  Richmond,  Va. 

Early  in  the  campaign  Mr.  Heuman  withdrew  in  favor  of  his 
friend,  Mr.  Gerner,  though  not  until  he  had  been  given  a  goodly 
following,  many  of  whom  were  at  a  loss  for  a  leader  when  Mr. 
Heuman  withdrew. 

The  Gerner  campaign  was  given  a  platform  in  the  "Congress 
Scheme,"  originated  by  Mr.  Gerner,  and  warmly  upheld  by  his 
supporters.  Thos.  G.  Harrison  in  his  "Career  and  Reminis- 
cences" says: 

This  scheme,  as  explained  by  Gerner,  in  his  motion  for  its  ac- 
ceptance [at  the  Long  Branch  convention],  was,  in  brief,  as 
follows:  The  formation  of  a  National  Assembly  of  Amateur 
Journalists,  to  which  delegates  were  to  be  elected,  not  chosen,  by 
the  Associations  in  the  United  States,  these  delegates  to  meet  in 
convention  annually  at  some  central  city,   there  to  elect  a  presi- 


HISTORY  OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        13 

dent  who  would  act  as  president  and  chief  of  all  the  associations ; 
in  short,  with  comparatively  the  same  power  as  that  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States. 

In  Wise  and  Otherwise  {MsniettsL,  O.),  Chas.  A.  Watkyns 
explains  Geruer's  plan: 

Gerner's  constituents  were  known  as  the  "Congress  Party/' 
because  they  advocated  the  adoption  of  what  was  known  as  the 
•'Congress  Scheme,"  which  originated  in  the  fertile  brain  of  their 
leader.  It  was  a  ponderous  constitution,  being  an  adaptation  of 
the  system  of  the  Lnited  States  Government,  with  a  President, 
secretaries  of  the  interior  and  exterior  and  so  forth,  Senate  and 
House  of  Representatives. 

In  writing  of  the  Long  Branch  convention  Mr.  Watkyns 
continues : 

Gerner  arose  and  read  the  famous  "Congress  Scheme,"  con- 
sisting of  seventy  pages,  which  took  him  fortj- -three  minutes  to 
read.  Whatever  else  of  the  second  annual  convention  has  been 
lost  in  the  past,  the  recollection  of  that  celebrated  document  has 
been  handed  down,  without  need  of  the  historian's  stylus.  If 
there  are  those  who  have  never  understood  exactly  what  it  was, 
its  very  name  will  give  them  a  crude  idea  of  its  nature.  It  was, 
as  I  have  already  mentioned,  an  adaptation  of  the  system  of  our 
country's  government,  and  was  understood  to  be  the  seven  years' 
labor  of  "Humpty  Dumpty."  Aside  from  its  complexity  and 
profundity,  it  was  too  great  an  elephant  for  the  limited  scope  of 
Amateur  Journalism.  It  was  then  considered  by  Gerner's  sup- 
porters— to  quote  a  paper  of  '77 — to  be  full  of  "grandeur  of 
thought  and  sjiblimity  of  idea,"  but  the  proposer  of  such  a  gi- 
gantic scheme,  in  these  latter  days  of  common  sense  and  greater 
experience,  would  be  ridiculed  as  a  lunatic. 

After  the  "Congress  Scheme"  had  been  voted  down,  the  MSS. 
was  probably  retained  by  Mr.  Gerner.  As  to  its  final  disposition, 
Mr.  Watkyns  says : 

It  was  rumored  at  the  time  that  Gerner  walked  sadly  out  to 
the  beach  and  hurled  his  prodigy  far  out  in  the  ocean.  I  actu- 
ally saw  him  throw  a  MSS.  bundle,  corresponding  in  bulk  to  that 
of  his  "gigantic  labor,"  but  have  ever  had  a  suspicion  that  he 
still  retains  it,  and  I  am  strengthened  in  my  belief  by  the  testi- 
mony of  several  who  allege  to  have  seen  it  after  the  "sacrifice" 
was  made. 

The  talk  of  Sectionalism,  which  has  often  been  a  potent  factor 
in  the  politics  of  Amateurdom,  caused  the  publication  of  an  open 
letter  by  President  Snyder.     This  letter  was  written  in  answer  to 


14        HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRE&S   ASSOCIATION. 

the  following  resolutions,  adopted  by  the  Ohio  Amateur  Press 
Association : 

Whereas,  The  former  N.  A.  P.  A.  was  held  in  an  eastern  city, 
and  owing  to  this  fact  western  amateurs  were  unable  to  attend  ; 
be  it 

Besolvedj  That  we  respectfully  request  that  a  city  further  west 
be  selected  for  this  year's  meeting,  and  that  the  secretary  send  a 
copy  of  this  resolution  to  the  president  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association. 

As  the  Association  was  entirely  without  laws  during  this  period 
of  its  existence,  this  resolution,  demanding  attention  of  some 
sort,  was  one  which  President  Snyder  donhlless  considered  care- 
fully. In  his  answer,  published  in  the  Boys^  Herald,  he  declared 
that  the  Association  alone  had  the  power  to  appoint  its  place  of 
meeting,  as  it  had  exercised  that  power  in  the  Philadelphia  con- 
vention. He  quickly  dismissed,  as  impracticable,  suggestions 
that  he  call  an  extra  session,  and  authorize  a  "vote  by  letter" 
on  the  question  of  the  seat  for  the  coming  July  convention.  He 
broached  the  plan  of  having  conventions  alternately  in  the  east 
and  the  west,  which  thought  was  incorporated  in  the  constitution 
adopted  later,  and  has  remained  there  ever  since.  He  also  sug- 
gested that,  where  it  was  found  impossible  for  Westerners  or 
Easterners  to  attend  the  annual  convention,  on  account  of  the 
distance,  the  amateurs  of  the  far-off  section  meet  together,  and 
after  discussing  the  Association's  interests,  apjioint  delegates  to 
represent  them  at  the  gathering. 

The  Westerners,  however,  were  not  satisfied.  The  following 
resolution  was  passed  at  the  meeting  of  the  Indiana  A.  P.  A., 
February  22,  1877,  at  Indianapolis: 

Hesolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Indiana  Amateur 
Press  Association,  having  powers  equal  to  that  of  the  New  York 
Amateur  Press  Association,  do  hereby  proclaim  Indianapolis, 
Ind.,  as  the  next  meeting  place  of  the  National  Association,  and 
that  the  time  be  July  4,  1877. 

There  is  no  record  that  the  resolution  was  ever  noticed  by  the 
officers  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 

Continuing  on  the  same  line,  the  Dauntless,  an  anonymous 
sheet,  issued  by  Thos.  G.  Harriscn,  in  its  number  for  April, 
1877,  said; 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  15 

Amateurs  of  the  west  and  south,  the  National  Association  is 
National  in  name  only.  It  will  not  recoojnize  our  rights.  There- 
fore we  must  support  them  ourselves.  We  need  a  United  States 
A.  P.  A. — one  that  will  show  impartiality  to  east,  south  and 
west  alike.  A  convention  held  in  Indianapolis  or  Cincinnati 
would  be  the  right  thing  in  the  right  place.  Let  us  hold  one. 
This  opinion  is  not  only  ours^  but  of  ALL  the  amateurs  of  the 
west  with  whom  we  have  come  in  contact.  It  is  a  decided  opin- 
ion that  such  a  meeting  would  be  highly  beneficial ;  therefore, 
fellow  amateurs,  we  hereby  call  a  meeting  of  Amateur  Journalists, 
to  be  held  in  Cincinnati  (as  the  most  convenient  place  for 
Southern  amateurs),  on  July  4,  1877,  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izuig  a  United  States  A.  P.  A.  Cincinnati  amateurs  will  make 
arrangements  for  the  rooni,  etc.  A  large  attendance  will  be  se- 
cured, and  satisfaction  will  be  given  to  all  except  those  few  dis- 
contented dodgers  who  will  uphold  the  National  Association  in 
the  hope  of  getting  office. 

On  the  nomination  of  Dingwall  (of  Milwaukee)  for  the  presi- 
dency, and  promises  of  fair  play  from  the  Easterners,  this  plan 
was  abandoned. 

The  Miscellany^  of  Boston,  in  its  issue  of  May,  1877,  gives  a 
complete  ticket  for  N.  A.  P.  A.  officers,  credited  to  Correl  Ken- 
dall.     At  its  close  this  paragraph  is  found : 

Exchanges  favoring  Heuman's  nomination  will  please  copy  our 
ticket  entire,  as  the  -'regular  ticket,"  decided  on  by  the  leaders 
-of  "our  side." 

It  is  explained  that,  as  far  as  possible,  the  nominations  are  di- 
vided between  east  and  west.     The  ticket  follows : 

President,  Charles  C.  Heuman,  New  York  City;  first  vice- 
president,  Stanton  S.  Mills,  Rock  Island,  Ills.  ;  second  vice- 
president,  Marvin  E.  Stow,  Troy,  N.  Y.  ;  third  vice-president, 
Junius  W.  C.  Wright,  Memphis.  Tenn.  ;  fourth  vice-president, 
Arthur  J.  Huss,  Tiffin,  O.  ;  fifth  vice-president.  Will  W.  Bart- 
lett,  Omaha,  Neb.  ;  secretary,  J.  Austin  Fynes,  Jr.,  Boston, 
Mass.  ;  treasurer.  Will  T.  Hail,  Chicago,  Ills.  ;  official  organ, 
Boys^  Herald,  Batavia,  N.  Y.  ;  official  editor,  Alex.  W.  Ding- 
wall, Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Mr.  Ernest  K.  Packard,  in  the  New  England  t^tar,  presented  a 
plan  for  an  exhibit  of  amateur  papers  at  the  Paris  Exposition  of 

1878. 

The  New  England  Star  was  then  the  official  organ  of  the  N.  A. 


16        HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUE   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

P.  A.,  and  in  the  April-May-June,   1877,    issue,    the  following 
appeared : 

A  Proclamation,  To  the  Amateurs  of  the  United  States — At 
Philadelphia,  July  4,  1876,  a  National  Amateur  Press  Associa- 
tion was  organized.  With  this  Association  all  amateurs  of 
the  United  States,  in  good  standing,  are  earnestly  advised  and 
cordially  invited  to  connect  themselves.  The  great  object  of 
the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  is  to  promote  "union" 
among  workers  in  a  like  cause,  and  to  foster  fraternity,  friend- 
ship and  united  effort  among  youths  who  already  acknowledge 
the  mutual  ties  of  common, tastes,  aims  and  hopes. 

The  convention  of  1876  selected  for  its  next  place  of  assemb- 
ling Long  Branch,  N.  J.  It  likewise  appointed  July  as  the 
month  and  delegated  to  its  President  the  power  of  naming  the 
day.  Therefore  I,  J.  Winslow  Snyder,  President  of  the  National 
Amateur  Press  Association,  in  accordance  with  the  power  vested 
in  me,  appoint  the  16th  day  of  July,  1877,  as  the  date  for  the 
assembling  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  at  Long 
Branch  N.  J.  J.  Winslow  Snyder, 

Richmond,  Va.,  May  8,   1877.  Pres.  N.  A.  P.  A. 

Mr.  Joseph  P.  Clossey,  in  his  paper.  Our  Free  Lance,  pub- 
lished an  admirable  account  of  the  Long  Branch  convention, 
from  which  the  following  copious  extracts  are  made: 

Saturday,  July  14,  was  in  New  York  a  day  of  moment.  Since 
Thursday  various  members  of  the  fraternity  had  been  arriving, 
and  by  Saturday  there  were  as  many  as  twentj^-five  visitors  in  the 
hands  of  the  reception  committees. 

On  Sunday  morning  the  renowned  "Boston  delegation,"  ac- 
companied by  three  other  delegations,  less  famous,  arrived  by  the 
Fall  River  line. 

Bright  and  early  on  Monday  morning  the  boys  were  "all 
aboard"  and  shortly  after  "underway."  The  trip  to  Sandy 
Hook  on  the  steamer  Empire  State  was  delightful,  and  everyone 
seemed  to  enjoy  it. 

Gerner's  "personal  magnetism"  made  itself  felt  to  a  wonderful 
degree  upon  this  occasion,  and  no  one  was  cheered  more  lustily 
than  he,  and  since  the  convention,  too,  the  feeling  kindled  has 
been  displayed  in  numerous  instances. 

Before  the  New  York  delegation  and  the  "visiting  statesmen" 
of  the  'Dom  who  had  made  that  city  their  temporary  resting 
place,  had  started  for  the  Branch,  the  chairman  of  the  Dingwall 
committee  was  already  on  the  ground.  Shortly  after  his  arrival 
a  number  of  the  most  prominent  among  the  delegates  already 
present  had  been  taken  into  council,  relative  to  the  advisability 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.  17 

of  uniting  the  auti-Gerner  factions  upon  one  ticket.  Kendall's 
friends  were  loth  to  give  him  up.  Snyder's  supporters  were  con- 
fident of  their  candidate's  success,  after  a  single  ballot  had  shown 
the  impj^sibility  of  elecitingj  either  Dingwall  or  Kendall.  In  fact, 
Dingwall's  unavoidable  absence  came  near  disrupting  his  sup- 
port. Many  who  W3ald  have  supported  him,  if  present,  were 
inclined  to  prefer  either  Kendall  or  Snyder ;  and  so  determined 
were  the  advocates  of  each  that  some  despaired  of  effecting  an 
agreeable  consolidation.  In  this  dilemma  it  was  urged  by  some 
who  feared  that  Gerner's  election  was  almost  certain,  that,  to  ac- 
celerate matters,  Kendall's  support  be  transferred  to  Mr. 
Gerner,  presumably  putting  his  election  beyond  doubt.  Upon 
the  attainment  of  this  result,  the  opposition — meaning  the  adher- 
ants  of  Dingwall,  Snyder  and  Kendall — should  withdraw  from  the 
•N.  A.  P.  A.,  and  immediately  resuscitate  the  never-to-be-for- 
gotten ^'Eastern  Amateur  Press  Association,"  from  whose  raenr.- 
bership  Gerner  and  his  clan  should  be  forever  debarred. 

Such  wild  counsels  could  not  prevail.  The  assertion  that  an 
absentee  could  not  be  elected  president  was  met  with  a  reference 
to  ''Gushing."  The  doubts  of  the  Dingwallites  were  removed 
by  vigorous  reasoning;  and  the  friends  of  Mr.  Kendall,  though 
none  the  less  true  to  him,  were  half  inclined  to  cooperate,  for  the 
sake  of  a  common  victory,  with  the  supporters  of  the  man  of 
Milwaukee. 

All  this  time  the  boys  from  New  York  were  anxiously  looked 
for,  but  no  sign  of  their  coming  appeared.  At  length,  while 
Chairman  Clossey  and  his  gut  sts  were  in  solemn  conclave  sit- 
ting, a  faint  '-hurrah"  from  afar  burst  upon  their  ears,  bringing 
joy  to  their  hearts  and  sending  the  blood  enthusiastically  suririno: 
throug^h  every  vein.  All  rushed  to  the  balcony,  whenc3e  they 
could  see  in  the  distance,  coming  at  mad  speed,  with  horses  on  a 
swinging  trot,  the  two  Ocean  Hotel  stages,  carrying  more  boyish 
enthusiasm,  jollity  and  good  feeling  than  they  could  hold — 
since  these  overflowed  at  the  window. 

Rapidly  rallying  to  the  call  of  their  leader,  the  Dingwall  Com- 
mittee-men entered  upon  their  task  cheerfully  and  systematically. 
As  soon  as  orders  for  a  caucus  had  been  issued,  they  took  pains 
to  ensure  the  attendance,  as  far  as  possible,  of  all  known  to  be  in 
opposition  to  Gerner.  Speedily  there  assembled  at  the  chair- 
man's parlors  over  fifty  delegates.  aU  supposed  to  be  in  unison 
with  the  object  of  the  caucus.  After  some  desultory  conversa- 
tion, it  was  agreed  that  a  ballot  should  determine  upon  which  of 
the  three  candidates — Dingwall,  Kendall  or  Snyder — our  strength 
should  be  united.  Messrs.  Graff,  Young  and  Mansbach  were 
indefatigable  in  their  exertions  to  hasten  the  proceedings ;  and  as 
those   present   voted,    they   passed   out   and    were   counted    by 


18        HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUE    PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

guards  at  the  door.  Outside,  the  Gerner  party  gathered  in 
amazement,  anxious  to  learn  whether  the  division  in  the  ranks  of 
their  opponents,  upon  which  they  principally  relied  for  success, 
would  be  avoided.  Inside,  Gee,  Hosey  and  Fynes  counted  the 
ballots,  while  half-a-dozen  others  observed  them.  Fifty-eight 
had  been  in  the  room,  of  whom  nearly  a  dozen  had  refrained 
from  voting,  through  sympathy  with  Snyder,  chiefly,  and  a  wish 
not  to  be  bound  by  acquiescence  in  the  ballot  to  the  action  of  the 
caucus.  But  forty-eight  good  and  trae  ballots  had  been  cast, 
and  A.  W.  Dingwall  had  received  a  majority.  Among  those  in 
the  room,  comprising  the  leaders  of  three  parties,  it  was  accepted 
as  an  understood  fact  that  Dingwall  would  receive,  as  far  as  their 
control  extended,  all  the  votes  that  would  have  been  cast  for  the 
man  of  their  former  choice.  Hosey  was  deputed  to  inform 
those  waiting  outside  of  the  decision  of  the  caucus ;  and  when  he 
announced  that  "A.  W.  Dingwall,  having  received  a  majority  of 
the  votes  cast,  would  be  the  candidate  of  the  anti-Gernerites," 
an  exultant  cheer  arose  that  presaged  victory.  The  last  words  as 
the  caucus  dissolved,  were:  "Correl  Kendall  for  Ist-vice?" 
"Yes." 

By  the  time  the  Dingwall  caucus  dissolved,  the  arrangements 
for  the  meeting  had  been  perfected,  and  promptly  thereafter 
President  J.  Winslow  Snyder,  at  1:15  p.  m.,  called  the  second 
annual  convention  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Asso(;iati(m  to 
order.  After  congratulating  the  gentlemen  upon  their  ability  to 
be  present,  whereby  they  were  afforded  an  opportunity  of  form- 
ing friendships  that  would  last  through  life,  Mr.  Snyder  ex- 
pressed his  gratification  with  the  unity  of  purpose  exltibited  in 
giving  to  the  National  Amateur  Press  Associaticm  a  vitality  nml 
permanence  that,  enlarging  its  circle  of  influence,  would  increase 
in  power  for  good.  The  time  had  come  for  work,  however, 
rather  than  words,  .ind  without  further  digression  the  Convention 
would  proceed  at  once  to  business. 

At  the  outset  a  difficulty  presented  it.elf,  and  President 
Snyder  expressed  his  opinion  of  the  futility  of  attempting  any- 
thing before  it  was  settled  who,  of  the  vast  multitude  present, 
were  amateurs,  and,  therefore,  justly  entitled  to  vote.  The  roll 
of  the  Philadelphia  convention  was  itself  incomplete,  since  some 
of  those  who  participated  in  the  proceedings  failed  to  sign  it. 
During  the  intervening  year,  also,  it  was  possible  for  anyone  in 
the  ranks  to  become  a  member  of  the  Association  by  sending  his 
name  to  the  secretary.  Many  availed  themselves  of  this  means 
while  others  deferred  joining  until  they  should  be  present  at  the 
convention.  So  it  happened  that  out  of  the  ninety  or  so  present, 
at  least  one-half  had  no  previous  affiliation  with  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 
President  Snyder,   with  his  customary    discretion,   exnressed  an 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.        19 

opinion  of  the  propriety  of  revising  the  roll  of  membership  be- 
fore any  further  business  was  taken  in  hand.  The  chair  per- 
formed its  delicate  task— ^involving,  en  passant,  a  decision  of  the 
time-honored  question:  "What  constitutes  an  amateur?" — in  a 
most  satisfactory  way.  Directing  the  Secretary  to  read  the  list 
of  those  who  had  signed  the  roll  at  Philadelphia,  and  those  who 
had  subsequently  signified  to  him  their  desire  to  join,  he  re- 
quested those  present  whose  names  were  called  to  assume  seats  on 
the  right  of  the  chair.  This  done,  the  elect  and  the  non-elect 
were  amassed  in  opposing  columns.  Those  who  wished  to  become 
members  were  then  invited  to  present  their  names  to  the  Secretary. 
Pending  this,  however,  Mr.  Kendall  asked  information  from  the 
chair,  relative  to  challenging  persons  who  applied  for  membership. 
The  chair  replied,  defining  an  amateur  as  ''Anyone  who  contrib- 
uted to  an  amateur  paper,"  and  stating  that  any  member  could 
challenge  the  right  of  anyone  wishing  to  join.  In  his  opinion, 
however,  no  one  would  wish  to  join  who  was  not  legitimately  an 
amateur,  as  he  would  only  sully  his  honor  without  any  appreci- 
able gain. 

It  was  suggested  that  those  then  about  to  join  should  give 
their  noms  de  plume  as  well  as  their  real  names;  but  the  manifest 
impracticability  of  this  plan  caused  its  rejection.  Finally,  the 
completion  of  the  roll  was  proceeded  with,  the  secretary  calling 
aloud  each  name  as  it  was  handed  in.  Three  names  were  ob- 
jected to.  and  the  cases  were  referred  by  the  chair  to  a  committee 
consisting  of  Messrs.  Babcock,  Heuman  and  Fynes.  The  com- 
mittee, ^after  receiving  the  testimony  of  the  challenged  persons 
and  the  challengers,  presented  a  report  advising  the  admission  of 
tvvo  of  those  challenged,  but  rejecting  the  application  of  the 
third.  Mr.  Kendall  created  some  little  excitement  by  requesting 
permission  of  the  chair  to  ask  Mr.  Kahrs  (of  the  Budget,  N.  Y.j, 
'^  Whether  he  considered  himself  an  amateur?"  Mr.  Kahrs  re- 
plied spiritedly,  ''I  certainly  do."  Kendall  retorted  that  "while 
Kahrs  printed  his  pa[)er  for  a  living,  he  didn't." 

The  roll  of  those  present  being  completed,  other  business 
would  have  been  taken  up,  but  for  the  fact  that  some  amateurs — < 
among  them  the  leading  presidential  candidate — had  neglected 
to  send  their  names  to  the  secretary  for  membership  in  the  ex- 
pectation ol:  joining  the  cor.vention  only  to  be  disappointed  in  the 
end.  Upon  information  being  sought,  the  chair  ruled  that  any 
gentleman  present  could  submit  for  meinbershi[)  the  name  of  any 
absent  amateur,  whose  candidacy  for  ariy  of  the  offices  of  the 
N.  A.  P.  A.  he  wished  to  urge,  provided  that  the  amateur  in 
question  had  expressed  a  wisli  to  join,  and  had  authorized  the 
use  of  his  name  in  this  regard.  Under  this  ruling  Mr.  .jolui 
Hosey  propo-^cd   for  membership   Mr,    A.    W.    Dingwall,   of  Alii- 


20        HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

waiikee,  Wis.  The  acceptance  of  this  name  was  received  with 
cheers.  Mr.  Kendall's  adherents,  notwithstanding  their  acquies- 
cence in  the  result  of  the  morning  caucus,  had  cherised  the  hope 
that  the  neglect — ah,  mistaken  idea! — of  those  managing  the 
Dingwall  campaign,  had  left  them  an  opening  for  victory.  When 
the  list  of  all  new  and  old,  absent  and  present  members  had  been 
read,  and  was  minus  Mr.  Dingwall's  name,  their  plans  were 
quickly  laid.  When  Mr.  Dingwall  should  have  been  nominated 
for  president — presuming,  of  course,  his  non-membership — an 
objection  on  that  must  have  been  sustained.  But  they  bad  rashly 
credited  the  Dingwall  committee  with  a  lack  of  foresight  that  did 
not  belong  to  it.  Every  step  of  the  canvass  had  been  foreseen, 
every  contingency  provided  for;  all  that  was  needed  was  efficient 
direction  of  subordinate  movements,  and  the  proper  execution  of 
appropriate  plans. 

In  connection  with  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Dingwall's  name,  other 
candidates  for  office  were  proposed  by  various  gentlemen,  and 
under  the  same  ruling  were  admitted.  A  sudden  impulse  prompted 
some  member  to  propose  for  membership  Miss  Alice  Plarper, 
and  in  the  same  feeling  of  gallantry.  Misses  L.  Libbie  Adams, 
Delle  E.  Knapp  and  Lottie  Ray  were  proposed  and  admitted,  the 
admirers  of  each  lady  applauding. 

The  roll  of  members,  now  complete,  comjjrises,  according  to 
the  best  accounts,  about  140  names.  About  85  members  were 
present  at  the  convention,  noticeable  among  whom  were  our 
"Prince  of  Essayists,"  J.  Winslow  Snyder,  Gerner,  Gee,  Heu- 
man.  Hall,  Huss,  Kendall,  Fynes.  Campbell,  Sewell.  Wa.^serman, 
Babcock,  Graff,  Baker,  Mix,  Winslow,  Young,  Worthinston, 
Dix,  Doherty,  Morris,  Lawrence,  Lesser  and  others.  Among:  the 
interested  visitors  were  two  of  the  famous  "old-timers" — Will 
S.  Hillyer  and  John  A.  Rebertson.  These  were  constantly  the 
center  of  admiring  throngs.  The  members  were,  for  the  most 
part,  grouped  together  according  to  party.  Almost  the  entire 
Gerner  faction  was  seated  at  the  right  of  the  chair  and  in  the 
front  row  of  seats.  Behmd  these  were  Mr.  Kendall's  supporters, 
with  here  and  there  an  odd  Dino^wall  man.  But  the  main  body  of 
the  Dingwallites  were  clustered  at  the  left  of  the  chair,  and  well 
to  the  front.  On  the  same  side  were  seated  also  many  of  Mr. 
Snyder's  advocates.     An  expectant  air  prevailed  all. 

By  direction  of  the  chair.  Secretary  Hall  next  read  the  minutes 
of  the  convention  held  in  Philadelphia,  July  4,  1876.  The  min- 
utes presented  a  clear  record  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Cen- 
tennial 'vention,  and,  upon  their  acceptance,  the  chair  expressed 
its  sense  of  their  merit. 

The  chair  next  called  for  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Con- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        21 

stitution,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Gerner,  Heuman  and  Barrett.  In 
response,  Mr.  Gerner,  the  chairman  of  the  committee,  presented 
a  document  of  76  pages,  embodying  the  principles  of  his  much- 
vaunted  'Congress  Scheme."  Immediately  a  discussion  arose  as 
to  its  reading,  some  arguing  that  it  should  be  read  and  acted  upon 
clause  by  clause,  while  others  wished  to  hear  it  read  through  be- 
fore any  action  suould  be  taken.  The  chair,  in  due  courtesy,  and 
by  established  precedent,  ruled  that  it  must  be  read  as  a  whole. 
It  would  be  manifestly  unjust  to  have  the  whole  work — the  labor 
of  seven  years — judged  by  a  clause  severed  from  its  conjunction, 
and  therefore  incapable  of  correct  interpretation.  Every  consid- 
eration of  fair  play  required  that  the  whole  be  heard,  that  we 
comprehend  the  full  scope  of  the  plan  before  acting  upon  its 
adoption. 

Mr.  Gerner  proceeded  with  his  arduous  task  of  reading  the  re- 
port. The  reading  occupied  over  three-quarters  of  an  hour,  and 
Mr.  Gerner,  at  its  close,  was  greeted  with  cheers  by  his 
adl\erents. 

Mr.  Kendall  moved  that  the  report  be  laid  on  the  table  indef- 
initely. Some  heated  discussion  thereupon  arose.  Mr.  Lesser 
claimed  that  the  time  and  labor  spent  upon  the  report  merited  for 
it  more  consideration  than  a  mere  tabling.  It  had  taken  months 
and  years  to  i)erfeet  the  plan  set  forth,  and  yet  it  was  proposed 
that  all  should  go  for  nothing,  and  the  result  of  so  much  labor 
would  be  so  curtly  dismissed ;  the  motion  was  temporarily  with- 
drawn by  Mr.  Kendall,  who  substituted  a  motion  of  a  recess 
for  an  hour.  This  motion  was,  at  3:20  p.m.  almost  unanimously 
carried. 

The  recess  was  a  glad  relief  to  those  who  had  become  weary  of 
Gerner's  prolix  plans.  It  afforded,  also,  a  welcome  opportunity 
of  interchanging  views  upon  the  ''Congress  Scheme"  ;  and 
though  many  availed  themselves  of  the  hour's  intermission  to  re- 
plenish their  waning  strength,  other  spent  the  time  in  discussing 
its  merits  and  defects.  Almost  universally  was  disapproval  ex- 
pressed, mingled  with  regret,  that  the  result  of  so  much  thought, 
care  and  labor  must  be  summarily  dismissed.  Few,  even  of  the 
foremost  in  denouncing  the  scheme,  failed  to  appreciate  the  ad- 
mirable features  with  which  it  abounds,  despite  its  innumerable 
infelicities  and  absurdities.  All  regretted  that  the  preponder- 
ance of  the  bad  necessitated  the  rejection  of  the  element  of  good 
underlying  the  scheme.  An  hour  was  all  too  short  for  all  that 
could  be  said  on  both  sides,  and  it  rapidly  fled. 

At  4;20  p.  m.,  the  members  began  to  reassemble,  and  Presi- 
dent Snyder,  after  deferring  the  transaction  of  any  business  till 
half  past  four,  declared  the  recess  closed,  and  again  called  the 
meeting  to  order.     A  motion  for  a  further  recess  of  half  an  hour 


22        HISTOUY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR.  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

haviDg  been  lost, .  Mr.  Kendall,  in  response  to  an  inquiry  from 
the  chairf  renewed  his. motion  that  the  report  of  the  Committee 
on  Constitution  be  continued  indefinitely.  On  a  standing  vote, 
the  motion- was  carried,  and  to  the  table  was  consigned  Gerner's 
pet  plan.  Hie  Jacet.  Upon  motion  by  Mr.  Kendall,. it  was 
ordered  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  a, simpler  con- 
stitution, than  that  just  offered.  The  chair  appointed  Messrs. 
^  Kendall,  Heuman  and  Babcock. 

The  next  step  towards  the  expedition  of  business  was  taken  by 
Mr.  J.  C.  Worthington,  of  Philadelphia,  who  moved  that  the  As- 
sociation proceed  to  the  election  of  oificers,  pending  the  report 
of.:the  Constitutional  committee.  A  nearly  unanimous  vote  tes- 
tified to  the  desire  of  all  to  have  the  suspense  at  an  end.  It  was 
agreed  that  the  same  officers  should  be  elected  as  at  last  year's 
convention.  The  dramatic  sensation  of  the  day  arrived  when 
Gerner  arose,  and  in  a  voice  of  icy  coolness  said:  "I  doubt  the 
legality  of  all  these  proceedings,  as  there  is  no  quorum  present." 
Mr.  Kendall  questioned  the  solidity  of  Mr.  Gerner's  position^  the 
chair  stated  that  in  the  absence  of  a- constitution  defining  what 
should  constitute  a  quorum,  common  parliamentary  practice 
should  be  followed.  A  majority. of  all  answering  to  the  call  of 
the  roll  during  the  first  session  would,  therefore,  be  sufficient  for 
the  purpose.  The,  position  that  a  majority  of  all  enrolled  as 
members  were  necessary,  the  chair  held  to  be  untenable,  since  a 
great  number  could  not,  by  force  of  circumstances,  or  location, 
attend  the  convention. 

.Meanwhile  a  steady  stream,  of  those  absent  at  the  call  of  the 
meeting  had  been  pouring  in  until  the  seats  were  now  as  well 
filledvas  during  the  first  session.  President  Snyder  stated  that 
the  precedent  of- last  year's  convention — that  of  voting  by  ballot 

—should  be  followed  ;  and  he  appointed  as  tellers  Messrs.  Heu- 
man,  Babcock  and  Fynes.       . 

-Mr.   Heuman,   thereupon,   nominated    for    president,    Richard 
/Gerner,  of  Hoboken,.N.  J.  Mr.   Snyder  was  renominated  by  Mr. 
T^usig,  and  Mr.  A.  W.  Dingwall,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  and  Will 
T.  Hall,  of  Chicago,  Ills.,,  were  also  placed  in  nomination. 

Mr.  Landauer,  of  Philadephia,  then  recited  a  carefully  prepared 
-address  in  praise  of  President  Snyder,  and  urging  "his  reelec- 
tion. To  such  an  extent  did  he  dilate  on  his  merits  that  every- 
where were  visible  signs  of  weariness,  and  yawning  seemed  the 
order  of.  the  day.  >  Mr.  Snyder,  admonished  the  speaker  of  the 
necessity  of  dispatch,  and  he,  soon  thereafter  concluded  his  dis- 
course. 

Mr.  Lesser,  of  Hoboken,  took  the  floor  in  behalf  of  Mr. 
Gerner,  but  with  no  result  to- his  championing,  save  disgust  from 
those  already  weary  and  a  -rebuke  .  from  Gerner  himself,  who 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  23 

"didn't  care  to  have  his  personal  merits  discussed  there."  Mr. 
Dingwall's  name  went  to  the  convention  without  any  advocacy, 
owing  partly  to  a  mistaken  sense  of  zeal  on  the  part  of  Mr. 
Davis,  who  had  nominated  him,  and  the  consequent  disinclination 
of  the  gentleman  to  whom  had  been  assigned  the  task  of  both 
nomination  and  eulogy,  to  carry  out  a  programme  officiously 
marred.  But  a  greater  consideration  than  this  was  the  fact  that 
the  'vention  was  tired  of  speeches  already,  and  each  new  one 
added  to  its  indifference.  Motives  of  policy,  therefore,  prompted 
the  Dingwall  managers  to  a  safe  silence. 

As  the  secretary,  by  direction  of  the  president,  called  the  roll, 
each  member  present  stepped  forward  and  deposited  his  ballot. 
The  voting  done,  the  tellers  busied  themselves  with  the  count.  A 
long  delay  ensued,  and  every  heart  beat  high  in  anticipation.  A 
few  minutes  before  the  result  was  announced,  a  report  that  Ding- 
wall had  received  36  votes  carried  joy  to  his  supporters.  Finally 
the  result  was  declared  as  follows : 

Number  of  votes  cast  -           -           -           -      78 

Necessary  to  a  choice  -            -            -            -          40 

A.  W.  Dingwall            -  -            -            -            -    38 

Richard  Gerner        -  -            -            -            -        24 

J.  Winslow  Sn>der  -            -            -            -           15 

The  suspense  was  maintained  to  the  last,  Dingwall's  vote  not 
being  announced  until  after  the  other  two.  When  it  was  known, 
what  a  cheer  burst  forth !  Smiles  and  shouts,  handshaking  and 
congratulations,  but  ill  expressed  the  exuberant  feelings  of  the 
Dingwallites,  confident  now  of  victory.  Order  at  length  restored, 
a  second  ballot  was  commenced.  Its  result  was  a  foregone  con- 
clusion, Mr.  Dingwall's  ranks  remaining  firm,  though  some 
changes  occurred  among  his  opponents. 

When  the  tellers  counted  the  votes,  one— a  printed  ballot  slip 
furnished  by  the  Lance — read:  "For  first  vice  president,  Cor- 
rel  Kendall,  Boston,  Mass."  Whatever  meaning  had  been  in- 
tended will  probably  never  be  known.  The  chair  invited  the 
person  who  cast  the  ballot  to  identify  it  and  explain  it,  but  as 
no  one  replied  to  his  repeated  request,  he  was  forced  to  throw  it 
out.  As  the  rejection  of  this  ballot  broke  the  deadlock  and  gave 
one  candidate  the  majority  (of  which  he  only  lacked  one-half  a 
vote),  Mr.  Snyder  has  been  unjustly  criticised — nay  defamed. 
It  is  easy  to  show  that  he  could  not  have  acted  otherwise:  1st — 
Because /orm  is  evitrything  in  the  legal  settlement  of  such  a  case 
unless  so  clear  evidence  of  intention  be  presented  as  will  remove 
all  doubt.  2nd — The  vote  could  not  be  counted  for  Kendall, 
because  Kendall  was  not  in  nomination. 

This  mysterious  ballot  rejected,  the  vote  stood: 


24        HISTORY  OP  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUE   PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

Number  of  votes  east  -  -  -         -        75 

Necessary  to  a  choice        -  -  -        -  38 

A.  W.  Dingwall  -  .  -  .  38 

Richard  Gerner        -       -  -  .  \.  26 

J.  W.  Snyder        -        -        -  -  .  -      11 

Mr.  Dingwall's  vote,  lessened  by  the  departure  of  several  of 

his  adherents  on  the  5  :30  boat  for  New  York,   was  increased  to 

its  original  strength  by  the  accessions  from  the  ranks  of    Mr. 

Snyder's  friends,  and  though  he  had  apparently  the  same  support 

on  both  ballots,  on  the  second  he  had  a  positive  gain. 

When  the  chair  declared  that  A.  W.  Dingwall  was  elected  the 
next  president  of  the  association,  all  his  friends  joined  in  a  re- 
sounding cheer,  the  echoes  of  which  ring:  in  our  ears  yet.  Order 
for  the  nonce  was  disregarded,  and  each  one  souglit  the  best  vent 
for  his  exultant  feelings.  All  felt  the  magnitude  of  their  tri- 
umph, and  so  gloried  in  it. 

When  the  storm  of  enthusiasm  had  subsided,  the  chair  an- 
nounced that  nominations  for  first  vice-president  were  in  order. 
Mr.  Gee,  of  the  Southern  Star,  nominated  Arthur  J.  Huss,  of 
Tiffin,  Ohio.  Stanton  S.  Mills  and  J.  W.  Snyder  were  also 
nominated.  Mr.  Clossey  nominated  Correl  Kendall,  but  the  lat- 
ter gentleman  declined.  Upon  a  ballot.  Mr.  Snyder  received  44 
votes,  Mills  32,  and  Huss  2.  Snyder's  election  was.  by  motion, 
made  unanimous.  He  acknowledged  the  eompiiment  paid  him  in 
a  neat  speech — short  and  sweet.  "If  my  voice  were  in  good 
condition  and  there  were  time,  I  might  indulge  in  a  few  words; 
but  as  it  is  gentlemen,  I  thank  you  from  my  heart  for  this  warm 
expression  of  your  regard.  In  whatever  fi'eld  1  may  meet  you, 
whether  as  editors,  authors  or  printers,  I  hope  we  shall  be 
friends."     At  the  close  of  this  speech  the  boys  cheered  again. 

To  facilitate  the  dif^patch  of  business,  Mr.  Snyder,  who,  in  the 
absence  of  President  Dingwall  retained  the  chair,  suggested  that 
the  remaining  vice-presidents  could  be  chosen  by  acclamation,  if 
no  more  than  two  candidates  were  presented  for  each  office;  and 
in  pursuance  of  this  plan,  a  motion  for  a  committee  to  nominate 
candidates  having  been  carried,  the  chair  appointed  the  tellers  as 
such  committee.  They  recommended  the  following  ticket:  2d 
vice-president,  W.  F.  Babcock,  Hoosick,  N.  Y.  3d  vice-presi- 
dent, J.  C.  Worthington,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  4th  vice-president, 
A.  J.  Huss,  Tiffin,  Ohio.  5th  vice-president,  W.  J.  Campbell, 
Cambridgeport,  Mass.  These  gentleman  were  elected  to  the  re- 
spective offices  without  opposition.  J.  A.  lynes,  Jr.,  was 
elected  recording  secretary  by  a  vote  of  43  to  Lud wig's  19,  and 
Watkins'  8.  The  first  ballot  for  corresponding  secretary  resulted 
in  no  choice.  On  the  second  Will  E.  Leaning  was  elected,  re- 
ceiving 43  votes  to  16  given  to  L.   H.   Mansbach,  and  5  to  J.  B. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  25 

Sewell,  Jr.  Wm.  T.  Hall  received  the  treasurership  on  a  vote  of 
62  out  of  a  total  of  80  ;  of  the  remainder,  14  votes  were  cast  for 
E.  R.  Riale,  3  for  Clemmie  Chase,  and  1  for  Ritter. 

A  recess  was  taken  until  8  :30.  When  the  adjourned  meeting 
was  called  to  order,  the  first  business  was  the  election  of  an  of- 
ficial organ.  Our  Free  Lance  declining,  the  Boys^  Herald^  hav- 
ing promised  regularity  in  the  future,  was  elected  on  the  third 
ballot  over  the  Monthly  Souvenir,  Elmira  Enterprise^  All  Sorts, 
Idle  Sours,  Amateur  Leader  and  Critic.  After  several  ballots, 
C.  C.  Heuman  was  elected  official  editor. 

When  the  time  for  the  selection  of  the  next  place  of  meeting 
had  arrived,  good  feeling  reigned  every  were ;  Mr.  Gerner  setting 
his  followers  an  example  of  equanimitj'  that  they  would  do  well  to 
imitate.  For  the  meeting-place  of  the  '78  convention,  Chicago, 
Indianapolis,  Cincinnati,  Boston,  New  York,  Hoboken,  Elmira, 
Philadelphia  and  the  Sandwich  Islands  were  nominated.  Every- 
one appreciated  the  humor  of  the  thing,  and  on  the  first  ballot 
there  was  danger  that  either  King  Kalakaua  or  Prince  Gerner 
would  be  our  host  next  year.  But  after  this  exuberance  the 
members  resolved  into  steadiness,  and  on  the  second  ballot  Chi- 
cago was  chosen,  receiving  a  majority  over  Indianapolis  and 
Cincinnati.  Some  further  business,  chiefly  financial,  was  trans- 
acted ;  and  upon  appeals  from  the  cbair,  who  was  not  slow  in- 
deed to  set  a  good  example,  enough  money  was  subscribed  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  incurred  and  to  meet  the  appropriations  made. 
At  10:30  p.  m.,  the  convention  adjourned,  to  meet  again  the  fol- 
lowing morning. 

In  the  morning  hastily  rising  and  dressing,  we  betook  ourselves 
to  the  meeting-room  of  the  night  before,  where  the  convention  was 
already  assembled  and  hard  at  work.  Every  motion  meant  good 
to  the  'Dom  and  brought  down  the  house.  The  committee  on 
constitution,  appointed  the  night  before,  presented  a  concise  but 
serviceable  constitution  in  its  report.  With  a  few  amendments 
this  was  adopted.  Mr.  Beck  moved  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  com- 
mittee, which  was  given.  The  committee  on  badge  reported  in 
favor  of  a  design  similar  to  that  worn  by  Mr.  Gerner.  Upon 
motion  of  Mr.   Graff,  it  was  resolved  that  no  communication  be 

held  by  the  members  of  the  association  with  the ,  or  with 

Stewart  Bros.,  its  publishers.  This  interdiction  was  extended  to 
the  GMpmunJc,  Buckeye  Cruiser  and  Portland  Courier,  on  ac- 
count of  their  similar  violations  of  the  proprieties  of  speech. 
Gerner  followed  up  this  move  in  the  right  direction  by  a  denun- 
ciation of  the  New  York  professional  boys'  papers.  Our  Boys\ 
Boys  of  New  York  and  the  Boys^  Weekly.  Gerner' s  motion  for 
condemnation  was  amended  to  the  effect  that  any  member  con- 
tributing in  any  manner  to  these  papers  be  expelled.     Amidst 


26        HISTOKY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUE    PRESS   ASSOCIATION, 

the  wildest  applause  the  motion  was  carried.  Beck  moved  a  re- 
quest that  the  action  of  the  convention  be  published,  and  copies 
of  such  accounts  be  sent  to  the  journals  condemned.  A  univer- 
sal "AYE"  spoke,  the  convention's  mind.  A  resolution  of 
thanks  to  Mr.  Grerner,  for  his  able  reply  to  the  attack  of  the  New 
York  Herald  of  April  29,  was  carried  with  great  applause ;  and 
when  the  secretary,  in  response  to  a  call,  read  Mr.  Gerner's  let- 
ter, the  din  was  renewed. 

A  motion  to  adjourn  sine  die  being  lost,  the  chair  introduced 
the  orator  of  the  occasion,  Mr.  James  M.  Beck,  of  Philadelphia. 
The  gentleman  excused  himself,  however,  and  the  laureate,  Mr. 
C.  C.  Heuman,  also  expressed  regret  at  his  inability  to  perform 
his  part,  through  having  mislaid  his  MSS. 

Mr.  Gerner  said  that  since  so  much  had  been  condemned,  he 
thought  it  fitting  now  to  express  praise,  and  he  therefore  moved 
that  a  vote  of  appreciation  and  approval  be  given  to  Mr.  Chas. 
K.  Farley,  (Karl  C.  Yelraf),  for  the  wonderful  ability  displayed 
in  his  serial  "Two  Fair  Bedouins,"  now  being  published  in  Our 
Free  Lance.  With  enthusiastic  cheers,  the  motion  was  carried. 
A  vote  of  thanks  was  also  given  to  the  chair,  and  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  convey  to  the  Messrs.  Leland  the  thanks  of  the 
Association.  The  business  was  at  an  end,  and,  after  a  charming 
valedictory  by  Mr.  Snyder,  at  10:30  a.  m.,  on  July  17,  tbe 
second  annual  convention  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  adjourned. 

Amateur  papers  were  not  as  numerous  in  1877  as  in  the 
previous  year,  but  of  a  higher  grade.  A  war  against  "thumb 
nails,"  or  papers  issued  for  exchanges  only,  at  the  smallest  possi- 
ble expense,  had  driven  many  from  the  ranks.  Our  Free  Lance, 
enlarged,  was  known  as  "King  bf  Amateur  Journals."  The 
Keystone,  Baltimore  and  New  York;  Monthly  Souvenir,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.;  Literary  World  (16  page  magazine),  Philadelphia; 
Fcho  (eclectic),  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  Miscellany,  Boston  ;  Our  Amer- 
ican Youth,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Rfimbler,  St.  Louis;  Club,  Chi- 
cago; Young  American,  Cfxrhond^lQ,  Ills.,  Buckeye  Boy,  TltRn, 
O.  ;  All  Sorts,  Omaha,  Neb.;  Duke^s  Spirit,  Pesotum,  111., 
were  prominent  papers  of  the  year. 

There  were  more  authors  of  acknowledged  ability  in  the  ranks 
this  year  than  ever  before  or  since. 

"The  Universal  History  of  Amateurdom"  by  Marvin  E.  Stow, 
made  its  appearance  and  was  of  great  interest. 


CHflFTER  4. 

THE  CHICAGO  CONVENTION  OF  1878. 

The  Second  Generation  Comes  On. — The  Postal  Troubles. 
— The  Campaign. — Convention  in  Chicago. — New  Con- 
stitution Adopted. — Struggle  for  the  Presidency. — The 
Banquet  at  the  Palmer  House. — Editors'  Lyceum  and 
Critics'  League. — The  Charges  of  Fraud. — Prominent 
Papers  of  the  Year. — The  First  National  Amateur. — 
The  Constitution. 

THOS.  G.  HARRISON,  in  his  "Career  and  Reminiscen- 
ces," published  in  1883,  gave  the  following: 
The  "second  generation"  of.  amateurs  now  began  to 
push  its  leaders  into  notoriety,  and  to  gradually  occupy  posi- 
tions cf  prominence.  The  few  remaining  amateurs  in  the  ranks 
of  the  first  generation  fought  hard  against  the  ambition  of  the 
more  youthful  aspirants,  but  the  "fossils,  "  as  the  old  timers  were 
called,  were  pushed  aside,  and  in  1878  were  almost  entirely 
driven  to  the  wall.  Comparatively  strange  names  were  hailed  by 
the  fraternity  with  exclamations  of  applause ;  the  leading  authors 
and  editors  were  nearly  all  of  the  new  generation.  In  the  cam- 
paign, which  opened  early  in  the  winter,  the  leading'  spirits  of 
the  new  generation  rallied  around  Jos.  P.  Clossey  and  Wm. 
T.  Hall,  as  exponents  of  their  class,  while  Correl  Kendall,  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  was  the  candidate  of  t^^e  "Fossils." 

During  the  early  part  of  this  year  Amateur  Journalism  had 
been  more  prosperous  than  ever  before ;  more  and  better  papers 
were  issued  and  greater  ability  and  activity  shown  by  the  pub- 
lishers than  a:t  any  time  previous  in  the  history  of  Amateurdom. 
But  late  in  the  spring  Amateur  Journalism  received  a  blow  which 
had  well  nigh  been  deadly.  This  was  in  the  form  of  a  post  of- 
fice regulation,  the  influence  of  which  was  the  enforcement  of  the 
payment  of  one  cent  in  postao;e  upon  every  copy  of  an  amateur 
journal  mailed,  unless  certain  rules  and  forms  were  complied 
with,  which  were  destructive  to  the  prosperity  and  extension  of 
Amateur  Journalism. 

Previous  to  this  time  postal  laws  had  been  peculiarly  accom- 
modating and  inducive  to  the  growth  and  spread  of  Amateurdom. 
At  one  time,  any  recrularly  published  periodical  was  sent  throuafh 


28       HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

the  mails  free  of  all  charge,  and  just  previous  to  the  enforcement 
of  this  "obnoxious  postal  law,"  amateur  journals  were  mailed 
for  three  cents  per  pound,  this  rate  thus  forming  the  lowest  item 
of  expense  essential  to  the  publication  of  a  paper.  But  the  new 
law  increased  the  expense  of  publication  very  heavily,  in  many 
cases  forming  the  greatest  item  in  the  sum  total,  figured  up  by 
amateur  editors  in  their  expenditures. 

Amateur  journals  fell  like  leaves,  and  only  those  journals  con- 
tinued publication  whose  proprietors  were  able  to  evade  the  law 
or  whose  means  were  sufficient  to  pay  the  tax  levied  upon  them. 

A  vigorous  campaign  was  opened  in  the  interest  of  a  num- 
ber of  candidates  for  various  offices  in  the  Association.  Mr. 
Harrison  continues : 

The  National  campaign  closed,  leaving  everything  as  regards 
the  candidates  for  the  presidency  in  a  state  of  confusion.  The 
vote  of  Chicago  was  apparently  split  between  Hall  and  Hancock, 
with  a  large  support  for  both  outside  the  city.  Kendall  failed  to 
gain  much  support  in  the  west.  Clossey's  support  consisted  of 
a  great  number  of  the  ablest  editors,  and  for  that  reason  I  con- 
jectured that  his  prospects  were  favorable  for  election.  Clossey's 
opponents  seemed  to  be  afraid  that  he  would  use  money  to- 
wards paying  railroad  fares  of  his  supporters  and  in  baying 
votes.  Hall  held  out  to  his  supporters  the  inducement  of  a  ban- 
quet at  his  expense.  Early  in  July  the  supporters  of  Hancock 
were  thrown  into  a  flurry  by  a  report,  afterwards  claimed  to  be 
bogus,  that  Hancock  had  declined  the  nomination  for  the  presi- 
dency in  favor  of  Hall.  This  report  was  afterwards  said  to  have 
been  circulated  by  Hall  men,  as  a  campaign  dodge  to  gain  sup- 
port for  their  candidate,  and  it  deceived  a  great  many  supporters 
of  Hancock,  but  did  not  have  the  effect  of  driving  them  into  line 
for  Hall.  Since  the  convention,  however  it  has  been  thought 
that  the  report  was  not  entirely  without  foundation,  and  only 
denied  because  it  was  found  to  not  improve  Hall's  chances  of 
election. 

This  was  a  very  bitter  campaign — more  so  than  any  before  or 
since.        Hall  was   probably  the  most  abused.       Next  to  Hall, 
Clossey  was  the  most  slandered,  his  enemies  bringing  every  pos- 
sible charge  against  him.      Kendall  and  Hancock  came  in  for 
their  share,  too,  but  the  latter  was  "let  down  easy." 

At  10:30  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  July  17,  the  third  con- 
vention of  the  National  A.  P.  A.  was  called  to  order  by  Vice 
President  John  W.  Snyder,  with  about  85  amateur  editors  and 
authors  present,  and  he  delivered  an  eloquent  address,  which  was 
loudly  applauded,  and  served  to  increase  the  already  great  en- 
thusiasm which  everyone  felt.     A.  J.  Huss  was  elected  secretary 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION.       29 

protem,  and  the  usual  business  of  the  reading  of  minutes,  of- 
ficers' report,  admission  of  members,  etc.,  was  transacted.  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  examine  the  credentials  of  appli- 
cants for  membership,  and  then  the  constitution,  which  had  been 
prepared  during  the  preceding  year  by  Will  B.  Graff,  Chas.  H. 
Young  and  Wm.  B.  Henry,  was  read  by  Young,  the  only  one  of 
the  committee  who  was  present.  He  took  a  rest  of  a  few  min- 
utes, after  reading  some  time,  while  Stanton  S.  Mills,  the  ap- 
pointed orator  of  the  occasion,  delivered  an  excellent  address 
upon  "The  Professional  vs.  the  Amateur,"  which  he  handled  in  an 
able  manner.  Young  then  finished  reading  the  constitution, 
which  was  then  voted  upon,  clause  by  clause,  and  adopted  with 
several  amendments,  made  by  Clossey  and  others. 

The  adoption  of  this  constitution  was  the  source  of  a  great 
deal  of  congratulation  upon  the  part  of  the  members  present, 
and  they  felicitated  themselves  on  the  Association  now  possessing 
a  constitution  which  they  thought  would  do  a  great  deal  towards 
making  the  National  popular,  and  bringing  all  amateurs  to  its 
support. 

A  recess  was  taken,  after  the  constitution  had  been  adopted, 
until  2  o'clock,  when  the  Association  was  again  called  to  order. 
A  letter  from  the  corresponding  secretary.  Will  E.  Leaning, 
was  read,  and  also  "letters  of  regret"  from  a  number  of  prom- 
inent amateurs.  The  committee  on  credentials,  which  was  equally 
<*()m posed  of  supporters  of  Hall,  Hancock  and  Clossey,  then 
reported  that  twenty-one  applications  for  membership  had  been 
challenged,  of  which  the  committee  had  seen  fit  to  expel  but  four 
— Lay.  Demarest.  Downs  and  Griggs,  all  residents  of  Chicago. 
These  four  had  all  previously  been  active  amateurs,  but  were  not 
then  connected  with  the  ranks.  It  was  moved  that  the  Associa- 
tion act  upon  each  one  of  the  four's  admission  separately,  and 
upon  this  being  done,  all  were  elected  to  membership,  despite  the 
earnest  protests  of  the  Clossey  supporters.  J.  Fred  Eberle,  of 
Philadelphia,  was  also  admitted  to  membership  although  he  was 
challenged  in  the  convention  by  Clossey,  on  ihe  ground  that  he 
was  a  contributor  to  the  New  York  boys'  professional  papers, 
which,  in  fact,  he  was. 

For  the  presidency,  Hall,  Hancock,  Closse}'^  and  Kendall  were 
placed  in  nomination — the  latter  by  his  chief  supporter,  Gee. 
The  ballot  was  taken,  ea(;h  member  walking  up  to  the  tellers,  as 
his  name  was  called,  and  depositing  his  vote.  The  result  of  the 
lirst  ballot  was  as  follows: 

Total  number  of  vo^es  cast.  To  ;  necessary  to  a  choice,  37  ; 
Hall,  35  ;  Clossey,  19  ;  Hancock,  12  ;  Kendall,  7. 

A  wild  cheer  burst  from  the  Hall  men,  whose  victory  was  now 
conceded  by  all.      Hall   had  managed  his  campaign   with   sreat 


30       HTSTOKY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PEESS   ASSOCIATION. 

adriotness.  Hancock's  vote  was  a  surprise  to  the  supporters  of 
Clossey,  and  it  has  been  thought,  and  was  so  said  afterwards, 
that  he  had  only  been  running  in  the  interests  of  Hall,  to  hold 
that  portion  of  the  Chicago  vote  with  whom  the  latter  was  per- 
sonally unpopular,  and  keep  it  from  going  to  a  strong  opponent. 
While  this  has  been  currently  rumored,  it  has  never  been  sub- 
stantiated. 

The  second  ballot  resulted  as  follows :  Total  number  of  votes 
cast,  71 ;  necessary  to  a  choice,  36 ;  Hall,  39  ;  Clossey,  22  ; 
Hancock,  10 ;  and  William  T.  Hall  was  declared  elected. 
.  For  the  first  vice-presidency,  Hancock,  Huss  and  Mills  were 
nominated,  and  Huss  elected  on  the  first  ballot,  receiving  38 
votes  of  the  67  cast,  to  Mills'  17  and  Hancock's  12.  Mills  had 
made  himself  unpopular  by  challenging  voters.  Huss  had  un- 
doubtedly made  a  "deal"  with  the  Hall  men,  for  he  held  their 
support,  almost  to  a  man.  Hancock's  nomination  to  the  vice- 
presidency  was  probably  not  preconcerted. 

Fred  M.  Cornell,  of  New  York,  was  unanimously  elected  sec- 
ond vice-president,  and  Frank  M.  Morris,  of  Indianapolis,  third 
vice-president.  Gee  was  unanimously  elected  recording  secretary, 
and  J.  F.  Eberle  was  elected  corresponding  secretary  by  a  vote 
of  25,. to  10  for  Griggs,  of  Chicago;  10  for  Graff,  of  Brooklyn, 
and  4  for  Carter,  of  Cincinnati.  Willis  H.  Allen  received  33 
votes  for  treasurer,  to  15  for  Daugherty,  of  Pittsburg,  and  10  for 
Griggs,  of  Chicago.  J.  W.  Snyder  was  elected  official  editor  by 
acclamation,  but  he  declined  the  honor,  and  for  a  time,  the  office 
went  a  begging.  Several  amateurs  were  nominated  for  it,  but 
they  declined,  hardly  knowing  what  was  to  be  required  of  them, 
I  suppose,  until  finally  C.   C.  Chase  was  nominated  and  elected. 

The  Association  then  adjourned  until  the  following  morning,  it 
being  late. 

At  8  o'clock,  the  members  of  the  National  gathered  in  the  din- 
ing rooms  of  the  Palmer  House,  and  partook  of  a  cold  "ban- 
quet," which  was  probably  the  worst  in  its  way,  as  far  as  eat- 
ables are  concerned,  that  has  ever  been  dignified  by  the  name. 
The  toasts  and  responses  were  the  features  of  the  occasion.  J. 
W.  Sn^^der  officiated  as  toastmaster,  and  he  was  the  backbone  of 
the  occasion,  making  the  responses  to  several  of  the  toasts  him- 
self.    The  following  are  the  toasts  and  sentiments : 

The  National  A.  P.  A. — Ever  the  hope  of  Amateurdom. 
May  these  hopes  be  realized. 

Amateur  Journalism — May  it  live  to  entertain,  instruct,  en- 
noble ;  to  lift  the  standard  of  Juvenile  Literature,  and  to  afford 
a  school  to  Professional  Journalism. 

Professional  Journalism — May  Amateur  Journalism  so  progress 
that  the\sire  will  recoo:nize  and  acknowledge  the  son. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  31 

Our  Host — The  G-arcleQ  City  A.  J.  A. — They  have  given  us  a 
good  time ;  may  they  And  a  reward  laid  up  for  them  in  the  East. 

The  Western  A.  P.  A. — The  National  looks  to  it  for  support. 
(Response  by  Chase.) 

To  th3  memory  of  VVm.  A.  Fiske — May  his  name  live  sur- 
rounded by  those  same  precious  associations  which  preserved  the 
memories  of  Farley  and  Barler. 

This  last  toast  was  responded  to  by  Stanton  S.  Mills,  who 
made  the  oratorical  event  of  the  banquet,  all  who  heard  his  elo- 
quent remarks  uniting  in  enthusiastic  applause. 

A  number  of  short  speeches  were  made  and  the  banquet  ended 
with  the  "N. — A. — P. — A."  cheer  beinoj  ojiven. 

After  the  banquet,  by  previous  arrangement,  a  number  of 
amateur  editors  repaired  to  the  room  of  Jos.  P.  Clossey  for  the 
purpose  of  organizing  the  -'Editors'  Lyceum."  At  10  o'clock 
p.  m.,  I  [Thos.  G.  Harrison]  called  the  meeting  to  order  and 
stated  the  objects  of  the  contemplated  association.  By  motion  I 
was  elected  temporary  chairman,  and  I  then  appointed  A.  J. 
Huss  temporary  secretary.  Twent3^-eight  active  amateur  editors 
joined  the  Lyceum  and  paid  their  dues.  Huss  then  read  the  con- 
stitution and  by-laws,  which  was  adopted  with  a  few  changes. 
This  association  was  organized  for  the  express  purpose  of  pre- 
venting early  electioneering,  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  for 
some  time.  Joseph  P.  Clossey  was  unanimously  elected  presi- 
ident  ot  the  Lyceum,  and  took  the  chair.  George  W.  Hancock 
was  elected  first  vice-president ;  F.  M.  Morris,  second  vice-presi- 
dent and  also  poet-laureate.  After  transacting  some  miscellane- 
ous business,  the  Lyceum. adjourned  at  11 :15  p.  m.,  this  being  its 
first  and  only  meeting. 

Immediately  after  it  adjourned,  the  editors  present  signified 
thfcir  desire  to  join  the  Critics'  League,  and  I  was  unanimously 
elected  League  Critic.  This  League  was  "for  the  purpose  of 
obtaining  a  compilation  of  impartial  criticism  upon  worthy 
topics."     It  never  amounted  to  much. 

Thursday  morning  at  10  o'clock  the  National  was  again  called 
to  order,  but  with  a  diminished  attendance,  many  of  the  boys 
being  out  seeing  the  sights.  President  Hall  appointed  several 
committees,  and  then  a  place  for  the  next  meeting  was  to  be 
chosen.  Washington,  Cincinnati  and  New  York  were  proposed, 
and  Washington  receiving  22  out  of  the  41  ballots  cast,  was  de- 
clared appointed  as  the  seat  of  the  fourth  convention.  Miscel- 
laneous business  followed,  nothing  of  particular  interest  being 
brought  before  the  convention,  however,  except  Young's  motion 
to  expel  John  B.  Sewell  from  the  Association,  on  the  charge  of 
plagiarism,  which  was  defeated.  Finally,  about  noon,  the  Na- 
tional Association  adjourned  sine  die. 


32       HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

In  tlie  afternooD  a  game  of  baseball  was  played  by  nines  from 
among  members  of  the  Editors'  Lyceum  and  the  National  Asso- 
ciation, the  Lyceum  club  being  beaten  by  a  score  of  21  to  28. 

The  Monthly  Casket,  a  Chicago  jjaper,  was  issued  daily  during 
the  convention,  with  a  report  of  each  meeting  held. 

Charles  H.  Young,  editor  of  Our  Own  Journal,  of  New  York  ; 
Henry  P.  Hull  and  Thos.  G.  Harrison  formed  themselves  into 
what  was  afterwards  termed  the  "Clossey  Investigating  Com- 
mittee," to  examine  into  the  facts  why  Clossey  did  not  get  more 
votes.  Twenty-six  amateurs  asserted  to  us  that  they  had  voted 
for  Clossey,  but  there  is  no  doubt  that  some  of  them  equivo- 
cated. The  evidence  collected  made  it  appear  that  there  was  some- 
thmg  "crooked"  about  the  balloting,  and  the  after  publication 
of  the  statements  caused  much  excitement  and  raised  the  cry  of 
fraud  against  Hall.  But  I  do  not  doubt  that  Hall  would  have 
been  ultimately  elected,  even  if  he  was  not  fairly  so  on  the  second 
ballot,  as  the  remaining  supporters  of  Hancock  would  probably 
have  come  over  to  him.  For  a  few  weeks  after  the  convention  of 
the  National,  the  fraternity  was  agitated  by  the  rumor  that  the 
meeting  had  not  been  legal,  it  being  claimed  that  a  quorum  of  the 
old  members  had  not  been  present  at  the  first  assembling,  but  all 
doubts  were  presently  set  at  rest  by  the  quotation  from  the  old 
constitution,  stating  that  "any  number  of  members  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum." 

Eastern  amateurs  were  very  bitter,  foi"  a  time,  against  the  way 
the  western  boys  had  managed  the  convention,  and  at  the  time  it 
was  rumored  that  no  quorum  had  been  present,  a  cry  was  made 
for  a  special  convention.  Grave  accusations  were  made  against 
numerous  prominent  western  amateurs.  An  attempt  was  made 
to  claim  Clossey  as  the  president  dejure,  but  no  effort  was  made 
to  unseat  Hall,  and  finally  the  cry  of  fraud  wore  out. 

Soon  after  the  convention,  work  on  the  next  campaign  was 
commenced  and  Huss  and  Haniuel  J.  Lawrence,  of  the  JEastern 
Star,  were  nominated  for  the  presidency.  Huss  was  nominated 
by  the  Buffalo  Amateur,  then  just  -issued  by  Chas.  G.  Steele. 
During  the  last  days  of  the  year  Huss  was  the  only  candidate 
actively  in  the  field. 

Take  tiie  year  from  beginning  to  end,  and  there  were  more  pa- 
pers published  that  reached  a  liigh  standard  in  all  departments 
then  in  two  years  previous  or  since.  One  feature  of  the  year 
was  the  large  number  of  "all  editorial"  journals.  The  Stylus, 
of  Tiffin,  O.,  by  Arthur  J.  Huss,  was  the  most  famous  journal 
of  the  year.  It  was  all  editorial  and  vigorously  attacked  many 
famous  amateurs,  getting  much  notice  and  many  enemies.  Cairo, 
Ills.,  because  famous  as  an  amateur  head-center.  Will  Wright's 
Egyptian  Star  and  Eugene  E.  Ellis'  Knight  Errant  were  the  best 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION.       33 

Cairo  papers,  and  ranked  among  the  ablest  published.  Will 
T.  Hall's  Western  Amateur  was  very  neat,  with  a  finely  engraved 
heading.  The  Fireside  Gem,  Appleton  Wis.,  was  a  fine  8-page 
sheet.  O/r  Boys,  of  Toledo,  O.,  was  the  oldest  journal  pub- 
lished, at  the  beginning  of  the  year.  Once  a  Month,  Hampton, 
la.,  poorly  printed  but  interesting.  Southern  Star,  D.  W.  Gee, 
editor,  Washington,  finely  printed.  Crisis,  J.  C.  Worthington, 
Philadelphia,  handsome  and  ably  edited.  Club,  Geo.  W.  Han- 
cock, enlarged.  Fierian,  24  pages,  Alonzo  P.  Brown,  Brook- 
lyn; Le  Bijou,  Herbert  A.  Clark  (colored),  Cincinnati;  Wa- 
verly,  Wm.  F.  Buckley  and  Geo.  W.  Baildon,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ; 
Composiny  Stick,  Geo.  W.  Beihn,  Ripley  O.  ;  Fhcenix,  James  J. 
O'Connell,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ;  Acorn^  Nathan  Cole  and  Frank 
L.  Misner,  St.  Louis ;  Bethel  Cadet,  E.  A.  Oldham,  Wilmington, 
N.  C.  ;  Echo,  Fred  M.  Cornell,  Brooklyn ;  Our  Sanctum,  Will 
T.  Scofield,  Philadelphia,  N.  Y.  ;  Boys'  Gazette,  Philip  Hand  and 
Harry  J.  Calvert,  Philadelphia;  Amateur  Blade,  T.  H.  Parsons, 
Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ;  Imp,  J.  Edson  Briggs ;  Bounce,  Ralph  Van 
Vechten,  Cedar  Rapids,  la.  ;  Our  Own  Journal,  Chas.  H.  Young, 
New  York ;  Eastern  Star,  Samuel  W.  Lawrence,  Medford,  Mass.  ; 
Satirist,  Chas.  S.  Elgutter,  Omaha,  Neb.  ;  Eastern  Sunbeam, 
Edward  W.  Frye,  Boston  ;  Independent  Times,  F.  N.  Reeve,  New- 
ark, N.  J.,  were  prominent  papers.  Our  Free  Lance,  by  Joseph 
P.  Closse}^,  in  July  was  issued  in  16-page,  sixty-four  column 
form. 

The  first  National  Amateur  was  printed  by  Arthur  J. 
Huss  in  4-page,  12-column  form,  and  edited  by  C.  C.  Chase, 
who  had  been  elected  as  the  Association's  official  editor.  A 
short  report  of  the  convention.  President  Hall's  message,  an 
article  on  "Early  Campaigning"  by  A.  J.  Huss  and  a  number  of 
able  editorials  completed  the  contents  of  the  first  issue. 

The  second  or  December  issue  contained  J.  W.  Snyder's  ad- 
dress made  before  the  Chicago  convention,  wherein  occurred  the 
since  oft-quoted  passage  asserting  that  ''Amateur  Journalism  is  a 
flame  that  perpetually  renews  itself,  andean  never  wear  out." 
Hall's  second  message,  wherein  he  condemned  "early  election- 
eering," a  number  of  editorials,  one  of  course,  on  the  "Postal 
Troubles,"  and  the  establishment  of  ^'The  News"  department,  a 
feature  which  has  been  continued  ever  since,  made  up  the  second 
issue. 

The  March,  1879,  issue  of  the  National  ^ma/e?«;  contained  the 
first  installment  of  "The  Philosoph}^  of  Amateur  Journalism," 
by  Official  Editor  Chase ;  A  plea  for  union,  by  Ex-President 
Sayder ;  concise  instructions  as  to  voting  at  State  elections  for 
N.  A.  P,  A.  officers;  an  article  from  the  Stylus  on  "A  National 
Amateur    Directorv,"    a  message   from  President   Hall  naming 


34       HISTORY   OP   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

the  next  meeting  day  a^d  making  several  appointments,  and  the 
"News'*  department. 

The  June  issue  contained  the  conclusion  of  Editor  Chase's 
"Philosophy  of  Amateur  Journalism  ;"  a  review  of  the  poetry  of 
the  day;  the  president's  message;  an  article  on  the  post  office 
trouble,  the  "News"  department,  editorial  matter,  etc. 

The  four  issues  of  the  National  Amateur  comprising  the  first 
volume  consisted  of  four  pages  each,  three  columns  to  the  page, 
2  1-6  inches  in  width  and  the  page  10  1-4  inches  long.  The  first 
page  heading  on  the  first  issue  was  a  full  line  of  square  gothic 
letters,  capitals  and  small  capitals.  In  succeeding  issues  the 
heading  was  set  with  capitals  and  small  letters,  and  the  line  "of- 
ficial organ  National  Amateur  Press  Association"  followed  it. 
The  head  and  column  rules  gave  a  newspaper  appearance  to  the 
pages.  The  paper  was  printed  by  Arthur  J.  Huss  and  was  dated 
from  Tiffin,  O.,  his  place  of  residence.  The  first  issue  was  ac- 
companied by  a  two-column  supplement  containing  an  interview 
by  President  Hall  with  Postmaster  General  Key,  in  regard  to 
amateur  papers  and  pound  rates  of  postage.  The  account  of  the 
Chicago  convention  was  not  the  official  minutes,  Secretary  Gee 
being  quoted  as  saying  that  "the  minutes,  of  the  late  convention 
of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  are  not  for  publication." 

In  the  National  Amateur,  December,  1878,  President  Hall 
stated  some  provisions  of  the  constitution*    as  follows : 

It  allows  a  right  of  universal  franchise,  by  which  every  amateur 
who  resides  in  a  State  having  an  Association  and  is  a  member  of 
that  Association,  can  become  a  member  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  and 
vote,  whether  present  at  or  absent  from  its  conventions,  thus 
giving  all  a  voice  in  its  affairs. 

It  repudiates  all  persons  in  any  way  connected  with  the  dis- 
reputable boys'  weeklies. 

It  alternates  the  seat  of  conventions,  east  and  west. 

It  confers  titles,  medals,  etc.,  for  the  most  excellent  produc- 
tions from  amateur  pens  and  provides  for  literary  exercises  at 
conventions. 

In  the  same  paper  the  following  appeared : 

Membership — Persons     desirous     of    joining     the    National 

*A11  inquiry  has  so  far  failed  to  discover  a  copy  of  this  first  consti- 
tution, adopted  by  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  in  1877,  and  we  are  obliged  to  be 
content  with  the  outline  here  given,  laken  from  various  authorities. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PREES   ASSOCIATION.  35 

Amateur  Press  Association  should  send  their  names  to  the  first 
vice-president,  who  is  chairman  of  the  committee  on  credentials. 
If  this  committee  decides  favorably  upon  a  name  it  is  placed 
before  the  Association  for  consideration  at  its  next  annual  con- 
vention. Ten  black  balls  will  reject  an  applicant.  The  requisites 
to  membership  are  good  character  and  a  connection  with  Amateur 
Journalism.  Persons  who  are  puzzlers  only^  or  who  are  identified 
with  the  New  York  "boys'  weeklies"  are  ineligible.  An  initia- 
tion fee  of  $1  and  annual  dues  of  $1  must  be  paid  upon 
admittance. 

In  the  next  issue  the  editor,  C.  C.  Chase,  explained  the  proxy 
voting  system  as  follows : 

The  manner  of  election,  in  that  the  important  event  will  soon 
take  place,  should  be  clearly  understood  by  everybody.  The 
manner,  however,  is  well  laid  down  in  the  constitution,  and  it  is 
probably  more  a  question  of  icho  shall  vote.    So  we  will  state  that 

1 — No  person  except  a  member  of  the  Association  is   entitled  to  a  ballot. 

2 — Those  who  joined  the  Association  at  Long  Branch  are  not  en- 
titled to  vote  unless  they  have  remitted -their  dues,  $1,  to  Treasurer 
Allen,  and 

3— No  member  in  any  way  indebted  to  the  society  is  entitled  to  vote. 

Members  of  the  Association  meet  in  their  own  State,  two 
months  previous  to  the  National  convention  to  cast  their  ballots, 
which  shall  be  in  the  form  ; 


For  President  of  the  National  Amateur  ^ 
Press  Association :  ^ 

WILLIAM  T.  HALL.  % 

%  C.  Clement  Chase.       ^ 

(Other  officers  in  the  same  style.) 

The  officers  of  the  State  Association  shall  count  the  ballot  in  the 
presence  of  the  assembly  and  make  memorandum  giving  the  total 
number  of  votes  cast  and  the  number  each  candidate  received. 
The  votes  shall,  with  a  certificate,  signed  by  the  officers  of  the 
State  Association,  stating  that  the  ballot  inclosed  is  the  one  cast 
by  the  members  of  their  society  at  such  a  time  and  such  a  place, 
be  inclosed  in  an  envelope  and  mailed  to  the  recording  secretary 
of  the  National.     And  the  memorandum,  with  a  second  certificate 


36       HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

stating  that  the  figures  in  said  memorandum  give  the  correct 
number  of  votes  cast  by  their  society  for  ofl3cerg  of  the  National, 
shall  be  mailed  to  the  first  vice-president  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 
Then  votes  shall  be  counted  at  the  convention  aud  the  persons 
having  a  majority  shall  be  declared  elected.  All  of  the  minor  of- 
ficers and  the  place  of  meeting  are  chosen  in  the  same  manner. 
No  State  Association  should  refuse  a  vote,  but  should  send  in 
every  one  cast.  The  examining  committee  of  the  National  will 
decide  as  to  the  validity  of  votes,  and  all  invalid  ones  will  be 
ruled  out  by  them. 

In  regard  toLaureateships,  the  Stylus  is  quoted: 
The  constitution  provides  that  the  titles  of  poet  laureate,  his- 
torian laureate,  etc.,  shall  be  conferred  upon  those  whose  compo- 
sitions printed  in  competition  for  the  prizes,  shall  deserve  them, 
in  the  eyes  of  the  judges.  It  is  also  provided  that  prizes  may  be 
offered  by  local  Associations  or  private  individuals,  to  those  who 
excel  in  a  certain  branch.  Thus,  if  an  author  competes  for  a 
prize  offered  for  a  serial,  story  or  sketch,  he  must  print  his  pro- 
duction in  an  amateur  paper  and  send  two  copies  to  the  second 
vice-president,  department  A,  three  months  before  convention, 
stating  for  which  prize  or  title  he  desires  to  compete.  Poems, 
essays  and  histories  of  Amateur  Journalism  must  be  sent  to  the 
third  vice-president,  department  B,  These  officers  in  turn  send 
the  productions  to  the  judges  in  their  departments ;  these  judges 
render  their  decisions  and  forward  the  same  to  the  president,  who 
announces  them  in  convention. 


CHflFTER  5. 

THE  WASHINGTON  CONVENTION  OF  1879. 

The  Year  1879. — Extracts  from  President's  Messages. — 
Waller  as  a  Historian. — Washington's  Many  Conven- 
tions.— The  Briggs  Campaign. — Mistakes  of  Briggs  and 
Gee. — Fynes'  Hopeless  Candidacy. — Lukewarm  Briggs 
Men  Desert  for  the  Enemy. — The  Convention  Assembled. 
— Credentials  Committee  and  Its  Work. — The  Skirmish 
Before  the  Battle. — Proxy  Committee  and  Its  Remark- 
able Report. — Proxies  Thrown  Out. — Briggs  Elected 
on  First  Ballot. — Irregularities  Charged. — Briggs 
Caucus  Makes  a  Full  Ticket. — Fynes'  Followers  Plan 
for  a  Second  Ballot. — Charges  and  Counter  Charges. 
— Personnel  oe  the  Gathering. — Some  Figures. — Mount 
Vernon  Excursion. — Fynes  Men  Disgusted. — Laureate 
Awards.— King  Kushing  Again  Reigns. — Hotel  Proprie- 
tor to  the  Rescue. — Estimates  of  the  Proxy  Vote. — 
Southerners  Withdraw  Because  of  Clarke's  Election 
to  Office. — Papers  of  the  Year. 

THE  YEAR  1879  was  a  notable  one,  a  large  number  of 
excf^llent  papers  appearing.  The  N.  A.  P.  A.  was  ham- 
pered by  the  constitution  adopted  at  Chicago,  and  the 
Washington  convention  was  of  such  a  character  that  no  attempt 
at  amendment  was  made. 

Committees  appointed  by  the  President  were  named  in  the 
National  Amateur  for  December,  1878,  as  follows: 

Reception  committee  (for  Washington  convention) — Delavan 
W.  Gee,  J.  Douglas  Lee,  Robert  L.  Sebastian,  John  Edson 
Briegs  and  James  F,  DuHamel. 

Examining  committee — Delavan  W.  Gee  (chairman),  Chas. 
C.  Heuman,  Warren  Moore,  H.  S.  Livingston  and  Willis  H. 
Allen. 

Executive  committee — Charles  H.  Young  (chairman),  Geo.W. 
Hancock  and  Arthur  J.  Huss. 

Judges  of  award — Class  A:   Correl  Kendall  and  J.  A.  Fynes, 


38        HISTORY   OF   TfTE   NATIONAL   AMATETJK   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Jr.  Class  B:  Sam  Clover  and  Donald  MoKenzie.  The  first  vice- 
president  appoints  Geo.  H.  Fernald  to  Committee  A  and  George 
W.  Hancock  to  Committee  B. 

In  the  March  issue  of  the  National  Amateur,  President  Halt 
named  the  date  for  the  next  convention : 

I  deem  it  time  to  appoint  a  definite  date  for  onr  next  conven- 
tion, and  set  Wednesda3^  Jul}^  16,  as  the  day.  I  have  also  made 
the  following  appointments:.  Orator,  J.  Winslow  Snyder;  essayist, 
Will  W.  Winslow,  and  poet,  Frank  M.   Morris. 

According  to  the  constitution  all  State  Associations  whose 
members  belong  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  are  required  to  convene  in 
their  own  State  during  the  month  of  May  and  cast  their  ballots 
for  our  officers,  and  in  this  all  the  requirements  of  our  constitu- 
tion must  be  complied  with.  No  person  not  a  member  of  the  N. 
A.  P.  A.  is  allowed  to  vote,  and  no  person  in  arrears  for  dues  shall 
be  considered    an    active  member. 

Again  writing  of  rights  of  absent  members  as  voters,  in  his 
message  in  the  June,  1879,  National  Amateur,  President  Hall 
said ; 

I  wish  to  refer  to  a  clause  in  our  constitution  which  seems  to 
be  troubling  many;  namely,  that  one  referring  to  the  "Elec- 
tion of  officers."     I  understand  it  as  follows: 

There  shall  be  a  meeting  of  State  Associations  in  each  State 
during  the  month  of  May.  It  must  meet  as  a  State  Association 
only,  and  during  the  month  of  May.  The  ballots  must  be  made 
out  in  the  form  prescribed  by  the  constitution,  and  be 
counted  and  reported  on  as  required  to  the  proper  authorities. 
The  only  amateurs  who  may  cast  their  ballots  are  those  who  are 
bona-fide  members  of  our  Association  at  the  time  of  casting  the 
ballots,  and  are  at  that  time  on  the  membership  roll  of  the  N.  A. 
P.  A.  A  majority  of  these  legal  votes  shall  constitute  an  elec- 
tion, and  unless  there  is  a  majority,  the  two  candidates  having 
the  largest  number  of  votes  shall  be  nominees  and  shall  be  voted 
on  by  the  members  of  the  N,  A.  P.  A.  in  convention  assembled, 
the  nominee  receiving  the  larger  numbers  of  votes  to  be  declared 
elected. 

Unless  all  conditions  are  complied  with,  the  votes  shall  be  de- 
clared illegal, 

Frank  M.  Morris,  second  vice-president,  assumed  the  presi- 
dency of  the  Editors'  Lyceum  previous  to  the  Washington 
convention,  and  appointed  Charles  H.  Young  vice-president  and 
Will  W.  Winslow  treasurer  and  secretary. 


HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION.       39 

rrabfihly  to  uo  o'ther  man  does  Amateurdom  owe  so  heavy  a 
debt  of  gratitude,  for  collecting  and  preserving  the  history  of  our 
organizations,  as  to  Warren  J.  Jirodie.  Mr.  C.  R.  Waller's  ex- 
cellent account  of  the  Washington  meeting  of  '79,  written  for  Mr. 
Brodie's  Empire  State  Amateur^  contains  the  following,  which 
gives  a  review  of  the  political  horizon  before  the  convention  as 
well  as  an  account  of  the  meeting  itself: 

The  13th  to  the  19th  of  July,  1879,  will  always  be  remembered 
as  the  great  convention  week.  Five  days  of  that  memorable  week 
witnessed  an  amateur  press  convention  at  the  grand  capitol  of  the 
United  States.  Every  day  of  that  week  the  famed  and  hospita- 
ble National  Hotel,  which  had  presented  one  of  its  large  dining 
rooms  for  the  use  of  the  conventions,  was  subjected  to  the  liber- 
ties, pranks,  debates  and  nuisances  of  amateur  journalists.  The 
South-P^MSteru  met  on  Monday,  the  14th ;  the  Eastern  on  Tues- 
day, the  loth  ;  the  Natv)nal  on  Wednesday,  the  16th,  Thursday, 
the  17th,  and  Friday,  the  18th;  the  Editors'  Lyceum  on  Friday, 
the  18th,  too,  but  at  night. 

In  spite  of  the  unusual  attractions  offered  all  desiring  to  wit- 
ne>4s  Amateurdom  in  ccmvention  assembled,  the  attendance  was 
renjnrkably  meagre  and  unequally  divided.  This  is  evidenced 
by  the  fact  that  the  South-Easlern,  then  one  year  old,  had  a  larger 
))ercentage  of  members  present  than  any  other  association, 
lit'ty  per  cent,  attending.  The  percentage  of  members  attending 
at  the  National's  convention  was  undoubtedly  the  smallest,  the 
number  present  being  thirty-four.  The  statement  regarding  un- 
equal division  may  be  appreciated  when  it  is  known  that  only 
nineteen  of  that  number  were  visitors,  and  the  remainder,  fifteen, 
Washington  or  D.  C.  amateurs.  Out  of  the  nineteen  visiting 
amateurs,  seven  were  Southerners,  who,  added  to  the  District  of 
Columbia  delegation  equalled  twenty-two  from  the  South.  The 
coolest  calculator  had  estimated  that  the  number  of  visiting  ama- 
teurs would  not  be  less  than  fifty.  But,  as  in  the  past,-  if  not 
for  all  time  to  come,  amateur  attendance  was  estimated  on 
promises  broken  wilfully  or  involuntarily.  Several  came  whom 
uo  one  expected  ;   many  did  not  come  whom  all  expected. 

There  have  always  been  fears  expressed  that  the  amateur  jour- 
nalists of  the  meeting  place  and  vicinity  w^ould  not  only  outnum- 
ber but  overcome  visiting  amateur  journalists  during  the  election. 
Indeed,  it  is  a  rule  with  the  amateur  demagogue  to  spare  no  pains 
to  acquire  the  support  of  amateur  journalists  in  and  near  the 
place  of  meeting.  If  successful,  the  amateur  demagogue  feels 
confident  that  three-quarters  of  the  battle  has  been  won.  Under 
the  belief  that  W^ashington  and  vicinity  were  united  in  support  of 


40  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

a   presidential  candidate,  the  chances  of  opposition  seemed  slim. 
With  the  seven  Southerners,  Washington  and  vicinity,  as  can  be 
seen,  would  have  had  a  safe  majority  on  any  candidate   or  meas- 
ure selected.     On  March  20,  1879,  Washington   and  vicinity  did 
select.     A    ratillcation   meeting    was   held,   and  the    recognized 
Briggs  ticket  endorsed.     It  met    with   approval,  not  only  in  the 
District  of  Columbia,  but  throughout  the  South.     This  unity  was 
genuine.      That  it  was  broken  finally,    is  due  to  J.    Edson  Briggs 
and  Delavan  W.  Gee.     The  ratification  meeting  had  appointed  a 
campaign  committee   whose  members  were   peculiarly  objection- 
able to  Gee,  but  undoubtedly  favorable  to  Briggs.      Briggs  relied 
on  the  political  judgment  of  Gee,  and   may  have  been  influenced 
thus  in  all  of  the  few  political  steps  he  took.     The  popular   "the 
people's"  campaign  committee  was  snubbed.      Briggs  supplanted 
''the  people's"  campaign  committee  with  one  of  his  own  appoint- 
ment,   giving   Gee    the  chairmanship.      This   course   was   keenly 
felt  by  those  who  had   taken   the  first  step  towards    solidifying 
Washington   nnd  vicinity  in  Briggs'   favor.      Gee,   who    had  as- 
])ired  to  the  presidency,   supported  Briggs  from  force  of  circum- 
stances,  perhaps,   knowing  that  his  own  candidacy   would  have 
proven  fruitless.      The  celebrated  Columbian  A.  J.  A.,  with  which 
all  of  the  members  of  the  snubi)ed  "people's"  campaign  commit- 
tee were  (U)nnected,  had  clearly  shown  that  Gee  was  'not  popular 
in   Washington    ;nid  vicinity,   if  nothing    more.      The  snub,   for 
which  he   wns  held    !)artly  responsible,   dampened  the  ardor  of  a 
number  of  Briggs'  supporters,  and  induced  a  few  to  make  another 
choice.      Added  to  this  was  a  snub    Briggs  gave  John   E.    Over- 
ton— a  candidate  for  the  presidency  of  the  South-PLastem — and  his 
su[)porters.      Overton  requeste.l  his  camj)aign   manager.    Waller, 
to   ascertain    Brigos'  i)ositi()n    towards   him  in  the  South-Eastern 
campaign.      It  recj-iired   little  acumen   to   realize   the  signilicance 
of  this  refpiest.      It  did  require,  however,   inuch  delicacy  to  place 
the  matrer  before  Briggs   in  the  most  favoral)le   light.      Let  it  be 
said    that  Briggs'    mind  soared    higher   than    pot-house   politics. 
If  he  was  familiar  with  the  ways    of  politicians,    Briggs  never  ex- 
hibited his  kujwledge.      If   he" knew  the    advanttiues   of    political 
baroains,    lie    never    accepted    or    made  an  offer.      It  has  been 
thought  that  he   favored  Overton's   candidacy,  but    never  a  word 
on  the  subject  had  ])assed  his  lips.      When  approached  cautiously 
he  gave    no   satisfaction.     The    man     who  ca!i    read  innocence 
could  have  seen    tliat  Briggs   hesitated,  not   because  he  disliked 
Overton,  but  because  his  delicate  sense  of  honor  revolted  against 
taking  a  position   so  significant  and  so  misconstruable.      But  this 
high  sense  of  honor,  although  commended  by  the  campaign  man- 
ager, who  admired  the  man,   was    misconstrued  by  Overton   into 
a  personal  and  unjustifiable  snul).     It  can  be  imagined  that  Over- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.        41 

ton  lost  much  of  his  enthusiasm  for  Briggs,  and  that  his  coldness 
gradually  affected  Virginia  amateurs  with  whom  he  was  identi- 
fied. It  may  be  concluded  that  these  two  snubs,  however  unin- 
tentional, caused  much  of  the  opposition  with  which  Briggs 
finally  met  from  amateur  journalists  of  his  own  section.  Had 
the  unity  not  been  thus  marred,  it  is  believed  that  the  conven- 
tion would  not  have  been  the  scene  of  great  excitement,  and  that 
Briggs  would  have  been  elected  quietly  and  dignifiedly.  There 
had  been  good  ground  for  the  fear  that  Washington  and  vicinity 
would  overcome  all  opposition  to  Briggs.  Washington  and 
vicinity  scarceh^  knew  itself.  The  majority  paid  no  heed  to 
random  murmurs  of  the  minority.  When  on  the  14th,  the 
South-Eastern  endorsed  the  Briggs  ticket,  Washington  and  vi- 
cinity seemed  satisfied.     Fynes  had  not  arrived. 

The  majority  of  visiting  amateur  journalists  arrived  several 
days  before  the  day  set  for  the  National  convention,  and  spent 
their  time,  either  as  spectators  or  participants,  in  the  conventions 
of  the  South-Eastern  or  Eastern.  Of  course,  an  opportunity  was 
a,fforded  to  come  in  contact  with  Briggs,  a  member  of  both  as- 
sociations. It  IS  doubtful  whether  that  contact  proved  favora- 
ble. J.  Edson  Briggs  never  stepped  out  of  his  way  to  make  a 
friend.  He  was  incapable  of  flattery  or  guile,  and  too  honest  to 
conceal  contempt.  The  youth  who  grasped  his  hand  knew  at 
once  whether  he  was  liked  or  disliked.  Briggs  was,  indeed,  the 
last  candidate  in  the  world  to  personally  excite  sympathy  or  gain 
support.  The  amateur  journalist  to  whom  he  did  not  take  a 
fancy  was  left  to  wonder  whether  J.  Edson  Briggs  was  a  snob  or 
an  aristocrat.  But  a  truer  heart  never  beat  in  the  breast  of  any 
amateur  journalist. 

J.  Austin  Fynes,  of  Boston,  arrived  on  the  night  of  the  14th. 
He  differed  from  Briggs  in  many  traits.  He  never  hesitated  to 
confess  his  desire  for  the  presidency,  his  personal  participation 
in  the  campaign,  and  his  determination  to  win.  As  regards  liter- 
ary ability  or  worth,  the  candidates  were  on  almost  equal  footing. 
As  regards  political  ability,  Fynes  was  a  giant ;  Briggs  a  pigmy. 
When  he  reached  Washington,  Fynes  found  only  three  support- 
ers, Edward  A.  Oldham,  of  North  Carolina,  who  had  withdrawn 
as  the  vice-presidential  candidate ;  James  M.  Howard,  of  North 
Carolina,  and  Oswald  L.  Williams,  of  Virginia.  Aware  that  these 
three  gentlemen  were  all  upon  whom  he  could  depend,  almost  every- 
one regarded  Fynes'  chances  as  hopeless.  Several,  indeed,  seemed 
amused  over  his  arrival,  and  ridiculed  his  ambition  for  the  office. 
But  Fynes  was  a  politician — a  Herculean  amateur  demagogue. 
He  mingled  freely  with  all ;  spent  money  promiscuously,  joked, 
laughed,  chatted,  and  gained  a  friend  where  Briggs  would  have 
made  an  enemy.      Sympathy    began  to  take  the  place  of  ridicule. 


42       HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

On  the  15  th  Fynes  had  an  opportunity  to  display  his  talent  and  abil- 
ity during  the  Eastern  convention.  The  literary  session,  held  at 
Maple  Square,  Briggs'  residence,  was  grand  and  enjoyable. 
But  it  was  ill-advised.  Briggs'  motive  was  undobtedly  pure,  yet 
his  hospitality  suffered  misconstruction,  especially  on  the  eve  of 
the  contest  which  his  guests  were  to  decide.  The  part  Fynes 
played  in  both  sessions  of  the  Eastern  proved  on  the  other  hand, 
his  talent  and  ability,  regardless  of  his  principles.  The  amateur 
journalist  who  failed  to  admire  his  good  traits  in  spite  of  his  bad, 
his  moral  courage  and  perseverance,  was  incapacle  of  admiration. 
The  Maple  Square  feast  helped  Fynes  as  much  as  it  injured  Briggs. 

On  Wednesday,  the  16th,  the  day  of  the  National  conveation, 
it  became  evident  that  Fynes'  tactics  and  presence  were  bearing 
fruit.  It  also  became  evident  that  many  snubbed  by  Briggs 
needed  little  persuasion  to  transfer  their  support  to  Fynes. 
Fynes  could  not  have  had  a  distinct  knowledge  of  the  animas  of 
these  amateurs,  but  he  must  have  observed  their  lack  of  enthusi- 
asm and  grasped  the  opportunity.  Little  argument  was  neces- 
sary to  transfer  their  support  from  an  amateur  who  had  snubbed 
them  to  an  amateur  who  came  to  Washington,  with  onl}'  three 
friends  in  the  city  but  treated  all  alike  and  royally.  Conscience 
had  melted  under  the  glare  of  the  July  sun.  Let  us  give  Fynes 
the  benefit  of  all  the  doubt. 

Overton,  in  the  Historian,  Nov.,  1879,  states: 

^'to  make  things  worse,  some  poor,  miserable  fools  have  charged  Mr. 
J.  Austin  Fynes  with  bribery,  and  also  some  of  his  friends  with  him. 
I  would  state,  gentlemen,  that  I  was  with  Mr.  Fynes'  party  at  the  con- 
vention, and  that  every  dollar  spent  for  him  by  his  friends  was  against 
his  knowledge,  as  he  would  not  countenance  anything  like  it." 

With  Overton,  who  had  been  elected  to  t^e  presidency  of  the 
South-Eastern,  others  pledged  to  vote  for  Briggs  transferred  their 
support  to  Fynes.  Bribery  is  one  of  the  blackest,  most  contemp- 
tible crimes,  be  the  consideration  small  or  great.  It  may  seem 
unkind  to  charge  a  fellow-journalist  with  a  crime  against  which 
every  honest  heart  revolts  and  to  which  no  honest  man  stoops, 
let  the  emergency  be  what  it  may.  As  the  writer  holds  the  pen 
to  say  that  bribery  was  committed  during  the  National  conven- 
tion, July,  1879,  and  attributed  to  the  Fynes  following,  his  heart 
is  saddened  because  so  much  sorry  truth  must  be  recorded.  A 
non- amateur,  presumably  authorized,  rushed  from  corridor  to 
corridor,  on  Wednesday,  offering  to  pay  the  initiation  fee  of 
all  who  would  vote  for  Fynes.  One  of  Fynes'  new-found  friends 
offered  five  dollars  for  a  single  but  significant  vote.  Several 
who  had  been  bribed  openly  confessed.  It  was  even  boasted 
that  Fynes  had  brought  $300  to  buy  the  entire  convention,  if 
necessary.     The  blood  of  every    honest   amateur    boiled  at  the 


HISTORY  OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.        43 

expectation  that  a  paltry,  filthy  three  hundred  would  buy  the 
presidency  of  the  National.  But  not  three  trillion  times  three 
hundred  ;  not  all  the  money  in  the  world ;  not  power  or  trickery, 
could  buy  the  highest  seat  in  Amateurdom,  July,  1879.  It  was 
earned. 

It  would  be  unjust,  however,  to  leave  the  impression  that  all 
who  supported  Fynes  were  guilty  of  accepting  bribes.  It  i&  un- 
fortunate, perhaps„  that  some  honest  supporters  suffered  the. 
sweepipg  charges  that  were  made,  too.  There  is  not  a  shadow 
of  doubt  regarding  the  honesty  of  his  original  supporters^ 
Edward  A.  Oldham,  James  M.  Howard  and  Oswald  L.  Williams. 
As  much  cannot  be  said  of  two  per  cent,  of  additional  support- 
ers. It  was  known,  before  the  opening  of  the  convention,  that, 
notwithstanding  the  loss  of  Oldham,  who  was  compelled  to  leave 
prior  to  the  ballot,  Fynes  would  have  most  of  the  Virginia  dele- 
gation and  several  of  the  Washington  representation.  Under  any 
circumstances,  it  was  known  that  the  contest  would  be  between 
Briggs  and  Fynes,  and  that  Arthur  J.  Huss,  the  Western  can- 
didate, would  receive  little  support  beyond  the  votes  of  a  few 
immovable  supporters. 

When  the  members  assembled,  not  an  officer  was  present, 
except  the  recording  secretary,  Gee,  and  the  official  editor,, 
Chase.  Gee,  therefore,  called  the  convention  to  order  at  11  a. 
m. ,  and  requested  nominations  for  temporary  chairman.  Strange 
as  it  may  seem,  the  Briggs  party  under  the  tutelage  of  Gee, 
forced  George  W.  Baildon,  of  New  York,  into  the  chairmanship, 
only  to  discover  that  he  was  not  a  member.  A  slight  mistake. 
Gee,  as  in  the  past,  seemed  destined  to  lead  the  Briggs  party 
to  destruction.  His  knowledge  of  politics,  in  which  dramatic 
foresight  is,  peculiarly,  fortunate, may  have  been  theoretical  rather 
than  practical.  Gee.  even  with  all  of  his  power  of  practice, 
could  not  have  contemplated  either  light  or  low  comedy  on  this 
sublime  occasion.  Fj^nes  did  not  fail  to  take  advantage  of  the 
dramatic  situation.  The  keen  appreciation  of  the  dramatic  dis- 
played on  his  arrival  was  excelled,  perhaps,  by  his  earnest  ef- 
fort to  further  the  comedy  Briggs  had  begun,  and  to  place 
Briggs  in  the  chair.  But  the  actors  blundered.  They  had  not 
been  rehearsed.  James  F.  DuHamel,  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
was  elected. 

Only  eleven  of  the  amateurs  present  were  members,  viz: 
Briggs,  Chase,  Clarke,  DuHamel,  Fynes,  Gee,  Lee,  Reeve,, 
Tausig,  Winslow,  and  Wright.  To  the  committee  on  credenti- 
als, on  which  only  three  members  were  present — Chase,  Gee  and 
Wright — were  added  Tausig  and  Winslow.  The  committee  was. 
allowed  fifteen  minutes  to  report,  and  was  at  once  beseiged  by 
Fynes  in  the  interest  of  his  friends.     Twenty   odd  names  were 


44       HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

proposed  for  membership  but  the  committee  reported  adversely 
on  eleven.  Fynes  protested  against  the  report,  and  created  con- 
siderable excitement.  During  his  remarks  he  disclosed  that  he 
was  in  possession  of  the  Association's  roll,  compiled  at  Long 
Branch,  July,  1877.  Reeve  indicated  that  the  manuscript  was 
the  property  of  the  National.  Fynes,  willing  to  receive  credit 
for  restoration,  eagerly  grasped  the  situation  and  restored  the 
roll  to  the  archives  of  the  secretaryship.  The  dispute  over  these 
eleven  names  was  finally  settled  by  the  acceptance  of 'seven. 
Even  so,  there  were  several  among  the  thirty-four  who  exercised 
membership  on  this  occasion  who  were  not  entitled  to  recognition. 
In  this  unconstitutionality  neither  side  was  guiltless. 

After  collection  of  dues,  Wright  being  temporary  treasurer,  a 
recess  was  taken  at  1 :25  p.  m.  The  recess  was  designed  to  give 
members  an  opportunity  to  do  the  National  hotel's  dining  tables 
ample  justice,  but  the  active  Fynes  managers  spent  little  time  in 
that  direction.  It  was  realized  that  Fynes  needed  more  votes 
than  those  obtained.  No  pains  were  spared  during  the  recess  to 
acquire  additional  support.  There  were  dissatisfied  Briggs  sup- 
porters whom  the  wealth  of  the  world  could  not  have  bought.  A 
direct  bribe  would  have  received  either  cold  contempt  or  physical 
repulse.  To  such  wavering  members  other  influences  were  ap- 
plied. Sophistry  may  have  influenced  one  or  two ;  treats  influ- 
enced more.  The  bar-room  of  the  National  hotel  was  the  lever 
of  the  political  machinery  Fynes'  managers  manipulated.  Be- 
tween heavy  dinners  and  liberal  beverages,  several  amateur  jour- 
nalists were  in  no  condition  either  to  vote  or  to  debate  intelligently, 
when  the  convention  reassembled  at  2  :30  p.  m.  "The  lines  were 
closely  drawn,"  now.  Fynes  had  counted  his  last  vote;  Briggs' 
managers  their  last  deserter.  Both  were  eager  to  decide  the  con- 
test. The  reports  of  the  recording  secretary,  corresponding 
secretary,  treasurer,  and  official  editor,  the  latter  of  whom  pre- 
sented his  bill  of  expenses  receipted,  were  hurriedly  read  and  ac- 
cepted. Letters  of  regret,  while  read,  were  almost  regarded  as 
torture. 

When  the  order  of  counting  the  proxy  votes  had  been  reached, 
the  interest  in  the  proceedings  increased.  Consistent  with  pre- 
vious mis-steps,  Briggs  had  been  invited  to  take  the  chair,  and 
had  innocently  accepted  the  invitation.  Just  as  innocently  did 
he  fail  to  realize  the  impropriety  of  remaining  or  the  propriety  of 
vacating.  Fynes  moved  that  the  proxy  votes  be  rejected,  and 
that  the  convention  elect  officers.  Briggs  rejected  the  motion. 
His  constitutional  ruhng  was  rewarded  by  an  appeal  that  gave 
considerable  discussion,  in  which  Fynes,  and  J.  Fred  Kelly,  of 
Washington,  D.  C. ,  were  co-appellants.  The  latter,  an  amateur 
of  a  few  weeks,  had  been  a  supporter    of    Briggs.     So  warm  was 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   TRESS   ASSOCIATION.        45 

their  co-debate,  that  the  writer,  among  a  number  of  others,  found 
all  attempts  to  take  the  floor  impossible.  Fynes,  with  belter  dis- 
cretion, soon  subsided,  but  Kelly,  with  great  vigor,  spoke  beyond 
limit.  Familiar  with  neither  rules  nor  constitution  o^  the  Na- 
tional, Kelly  based  his  argument  on  proceedings  in  the  American 
Congress,  the  Ohio  Legislature,  and  other  legislative  bodies. 
He  laid  the  foundation  for  the  nick-name  subsequently  given 
him— "King  Kushing."     The  appeal  was  not  sustained. 

Baildon,  Gee,  Tausig,  W.  Topham  and  Winslow  were  ap- 
pointed examining  committee.  A  recess  was  taken  to  allow  this 
committee  time  to  examine  and  count  these  proxy  votes.  The 
report  that  the  committee  made  was  ludicrous,  if  not  remarkable. 
It  had  been  given  a  full  hour  to  count  the  votes,  but  reported 
that  more  time  was  needed,  and  even  hinted  that  the  task  could 
not  be  performed  during  the  week.  A  report  of  the  convention 
states,  "the  committee  reported  that  they  had  counted  the  bal- 
lots of  one  State."  A  motion  to  throw  out  the  proxy  votes  was 
repeated,  and  prevailed.  The  few  of  either  side;  dissenting  were 
powerless  and  harmless.  It  was  understood  that,  as  far  as  the 
committee  had  gone,  (and  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  there 
was  little  farther  to  go)  the  legal  State  ballots  stood  :  Briggs,  11 ; 
Fynes,  1 ;  Huss,  3.  Aside  from  this  there  had  been  every  in- 
dication that  "the  country  at  large"  was  in  favor  of  Brigj->-s. 

Briggs  still  occupied  the  chair,  almost  unconsciously,  '''no  o?j- 
stacle  remained  in  the  way  of  an  election  of  officers  by  the  con- 
vention. But  no  sooner  had  J.  Edson  Briggs  been  nominated 
for  the  presidency  than  J.  Randolph  Tucker,  of  Washington,  D. 
C,  moved  to  close  the  nominations.  It  may  be  said  that  no  one 
was  responsible  for  the  injustice  contemplated  but  Tucker,  him- 
self. The  excitement  became  intense.  Fynes  grew  pale,  and 
was  unable  to  conceal  his  agitation.  Many  of  his  friends  arose 
excitedly,  and  gesticulated  wildly  but  protestingly.  Had  not  all 
decided  on  a  candidate  before  this,  the  contemplated  injustice 
(for  which  the  Briggs  party  was  unjustly  held  responsible),  would 
have  changed  in  favor  of  Fynes  several  votes.  But  the  motion 
received  no  second.  J.  Austin  Fynes  and  Arthur  J.  Huss  were 
then  respectively  nominated.  Wright  and  Williams  were  ap- 
pointed tellers.  In  accordance  with  a  motion  that  had  been 
passed,  the  ballots,  duly  signed,  were  deposited  by  the  voters  as. 
their  names  were  called.  Beyond  the  noise  such  movement  made, 
silence  reigned  during  the  voting.  The  following  exposes  the 
ballot : 

For  Briggs:  Baildon.  Chase,  Clarke,  Crosby,  Chamberlain,  Comings, 
DuHamel  Gee,  Lee,  Martin.  Perry,  Reeve,  Sebastian,  R.  Topman 
Tucker,  Wright  and  Waller— 17. 

For  Huss :  W.  Topman,  Wilson  and  Winslow— 3. 


46        HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

For  Fynes:  Butt,  J.  Duffy.  Elgutter,  Fynes,  Grrigg,  Hope,  Howard, 
Kelly,  McGill,  Overton,  Potter  and  Tausig— 12. 
Scattering:  Williams — 1. 
Total,  33. 
ISTecessary  to  a  choice,  17. 

The  tellers  communicated  the  result.  Silence,  following  their 
•count,  was  broken  by  cheers  for  Briggs,  and  most  intense  excite- 
ment. Many  members  arose  without  purpose.  Fynes,  whose 
face  bore  traces  of  the  suspense  he  had  undergone,  finally  called 
attention  to  the  scattering  vote,  and  demanded  to  know  by  whom 
and  for  whom  it  had  been  cast.  It  was  then  disclosed  that  Williams 
cast  the  vote  for  Fynes,  but  had  unintentionally  neglected  to  af- 
fix his  signature.  A  sharp  dialogue  occurred  between  Fynes  and 
Williams.  Williams  threw  his  head  back  proudly  and  indepen- 
dently. It  was  said  that  unpublishable  words  passed,  but  all  re- 
marks were  drowned  by  the  hue  and  cry  for  reconsideration  or 
another  ballot.  At  one  time  three-quarters  of  the  members  were 
on  the  floor,  demanding  recognition.  And,  above  all  of  this  con- 
fusion, were  heard  the  fierce,  heavy  taps  of  the  gavel  that  Briggs 
wielded  in  vain.  Williams  was  finally  given  an  opportunity  to 
re-cast  his  vote,  but  declined.  The  recasting  of  his  vote  would 
not  have,  of  course,  changed  the  result,  but  the  following  of 
Fynes,  if  not  Fynes,  in  the  excitement  of  the  moment  seemed  to 
think  otherwise.     Indeed,  there  were  few  cool  heads  on  either  side. 

Briggs  was  powerless  to  restore  order.  It  is  doubtful,  in  fact, 
whether  any  chairman  could  have  silenced  Fynes'  followers,  who 
took  the  floor  regardless  of  recognition.  The  confusion  may  be 
realized  by  the  fact  that  several  of  Fynes'  followers  commenced 
proposing  names  for  membership.  Elderdice,  the  poet,  was  pres- 
ent onl}^  as  a  spectator,  but  Overton  proposed  his  name,  under  the 
impression  that  he  favored  Fynes.  Of  course  the  proposal  was 
irregular,  but  Elderdice  spared  dispute  by  stating  that  his  name 
had  been  proposed  without  his  consent.  Order  seemed  impossi- 
ble. Members  who  had  usurped  the  floor  remained  standing,  in 
spite  of  remonstrance.  "King  Kushing"  headed  these  usurpers, 
and  spoke  long  and  incoherently  for  reconsideration,  regardless 
of  the  remarks  that  six  or  seven  others  were  making,  as  well  as 
the  expostulations  of  the  chair.  The  rules  and  proceedings  of 
several  legislative  bodies  were  thus  disclosed.  The  depths  of 
parliamentary  usage  were  earnestly  sought.  Several  members 
made  motions  to  adjourn,  but  their  voices  did  not  reach  the  chair. 
Fyne^  even  resumed  his  seat  and  entreated  others  to  set  a  hke 
example.  Several  followed  him.  Gradually  order  was  partially 
restored.  But  still  "King  Kushing"  expounded.  During  a  brief 
and  uninteresting  pause.  Waller  succeeded  in  gaining  the  floor, 
iind  presented  a  motion  to  take  a  recess.     With  lightning  rapidity 


HISTORY   OP  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  47 

President  Briggs  announced  the  recess  at  7  p.  m.  In  the  con- 
fusion the  usual  announcement  of  the  result  was  either  forgotten 
or  prevented.  It  was  left  so.  The  result  of  the  contest — the 
election  of  the  fourth  president  of  the  National — never  was  offi- 
cially announced. 

During  the  recess,  both  sides  were  busy.  Prominent  supporters 
of  Briggs  held  a  caucus  and  endorsed  a  ticket,  subsequently 
elected,  but  inconsistent  with  pledges  made  early  in  the  campaign. 
So  much  for  the  sincerity  of  amateur  politicians.  These  gentle- 
men had  no  use  for  amateurs  whose  mfluence  they  had  sought 
months  before,  and  to  whom  they  had  promised  offices.  But  the 
negro,  Clarke,  who  had  deserted  Huss  at  the  eleventh  hour,  was 
handsomely  and  unjustifiably  rewarded.  This  reward  was  for 
treachery.  A  supporter  whom  Briggs  had  proclaimed  a  liar,  and 
whom  Gee  had  pronounced  a  fool,  adhered  to  his  pledge,  but 
coul'd  not  have  even  persuaded  the  caucus  to  be  as  faithful  as  he. 
So  lying  and  foolish  as  he  had  been  represented,  just  so  lying  and 
foolish  was  the  Briggs  caucus. 

Fynes  and  followers  endeavored  to  gain  sufficient  support  to 
ensure  the  success  of  a  second  ballot.  Several  even  searched 
Washington  for  old,  retired  amateurs,  hoping  to  have  such 
elected  members.  But  they  soon  realized  \.hat  their  plans  would 
fail.  They  could  obtain  none  of  the  seventeen  votes  cast  for 
Briggs.  Neither  could  they  obtain  more  than  two  of  the  votes 
cast  for  Huss,  as  Winslow  would  have  voted  for  Briggs  on  second 
ballot.  Williams  would  have  voted  likewise.  Thus,  it  will  be 
seen,  a  second  ballot  would  have  resulted  in  nineteen  for  Briggs, 
and  perhaps  fourteen  for  Fynes.  Had,  indeed,  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  retired  amateurs  been  resurrected,  it  is  scarcely  probable 
that  the  Briggs  party  would  have  let  the  rules  be  suspended, 
much  less  let  Fynes  recruits  be  elected  members.  Consolation 
was  found,  however,  in  denouncing  the  election  as  illegal,  and 
ridiculing  President  Briggs.  When  he  finally  remarked  that  it 
was  no  honor  to  be  elected  president  of  the  National,  then  it  be- 
came evident  that  Fynes  entertained  no  hope  of  success.  He  had, 
it  was  reported,  sworn  to  have  vengeance  on  Wright,  the  Briggs 
candidate  for  first  vice-president.  Crosby,  a  Briggs  supporter, 
had  been  converted  and  induced  to  accept  the  nomination  against 
Wright.  Beyond  perplexing,  parliamentary  inquiries,  it  was  evi- 
dent Fynes  would  confine  himself  to  this  one  vindictive  purpose. 
Most  of  Fynes'  supporters  persisted  in  denouncing  the  election 
as  illegal.  We  may  presume  that  several  adhere  to  that  denuda- 
tion to-day.  Their  remarks,  and  the  report  written  by  some  of 
his  followers,  left  doubt  in  some  minds  until  months  after  the 
convention.  Briggs  and  his  supporters  were  roundly  abused. 
Several  papers  attributed  his  election  to   "bribery  and  corrup- 


48  HISTORY    OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

tion."  Such  accusations  may  have  been  made  as  an  offset  to 
the  bribery  aud  corruption  of  the  other  side.  But,  upholding 
truth,  we  should  know  that  there  was  not  the  slightest  foundation 
upon  which  to  base  the  charge  that  any  of  Briggs'  voters  were 
bribed  or  corrupted.  On  the  other  hand,  several  positively  de- 
clined to  allow  their  initiation  fee  to  be  paid  by,  or  accept  any 
consideration  from,  those  seeking  votes  for  Fynes.  The  Gatling 
Gun,  Sept.  15,  1879,  hurled  this  to  its  readers: 

''And  yet  he  is  president  of  the  National  A.  P.  A.,  elected  by  a  fair 
majority'  of  the  amateurs  of  the  United  States,  in  convention  as- 
sembled; and  what's  the  odds,  though  more  than  half  of  them  were 
residents  of  the  place  of  meeting,  and  all  but  a  very  small  faction, 
actuated  by  the  prevailing  spirit  of  sectionalism." 

The  Gun  may  have  been  justly  indignant  over  the  rejection  of 
the  proxies,  but  its  statement  conveyed  an  absurd  impression. 
"More  than  half"  were  not  "residents"  of  Washington.  Had 
the  "spirit  of  sectionalism"  prevailed,  Briggs  would  have  been 
elected  without  uproar  or  question.  Had  the  unity  first  created 
continued,  there  might  have  been  ground  for  the  charge  of 
sectionalism.  But,  as  already  indicated,  Washington  and  vicin- 
ity were  divided  when  the  critical  moment  came,  although  Briggs 
received  a  majority  of  the  former's  vote.  The  charge  of  section- 
alism is  hardly  supported  by  the  fact  that,  outside  of  Washing- 
ton Briggs  received  only  one  Southern  vote,  yet  he  was  undoubt- 
edly a  Southern  amateur,  if  not  a  Southern  candidate.  The 
following  table  may  enable  us  to  understand  the  absurdity  of  the 
charge  we  have  ventured  to  refute: 

Member  Voting.  From  Briggs  Fynes  Huss  Sctg. 

Baildon,  Geo.  W.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.     -         1  -  -        - 

Butt,  Gary  W.,        -         Norfolk,  Va.     -  -  1  - 

Chamberlain,  Frank  F.,  Washington,  D.  C.  -       1  _  _        _ 

Chase,  Clement  C,  Omaha,  Neb.  -  1  _  _        _ 

Comings,  Elmer  E.,  Cairo,  Ills.  -  1  _  _        _ 

Crosby,  C.  Fred,       -      Milford,N.  H.     -  1  _  _        _ 

DuHamel,  James  F.,         Washington,  D.  C.  1  -  -        - 

Duffy.  .James,         -  Washington,  D.  C  -  1  -        - 

Elgutter.  Charles,  Omaha,  Neb.        -  -  1  -        - 

Fynes,  J.  Austin,       -      Boston,  Mass.         -  -  1  -        - 

Gee,  Delavan  W.,      -      Washington,  D.   C.  1  -  -        - 

Grigg,  J.  L.  Jr.,       -        Alexandria,  Va.  -  1  -        - 

Hope,  Thos.  J.    Jr.,        Norfolk,  Va.        -  -  i  -        _ 

Howard,  James  M.,         Newberne,  N.  C.      -        -  1 

Kelly,  J.  Fred,       -  Washington.  D.  C,  -        -  1 

Lee,  James  D.,       -  Washington.  D.  C.     -      1  -  -        - 

Martin.  Myrtle  E.,     -     Washington,  D.  C.     -      1  _  _        _ 

McGill,  Will  C.  Jr.,        Washington,  D.  C.     -     -  1  -        _ 

Overton.  John  E.,  Portsmouth,  Va.     -        -  i  _        _ 

Perry,  Arthur  B..     -       Norfolk,  Va.  -  1  _  _        _ 

Potter,  Wilfred  C,  Alexandria,  Va.       -        -  1  -        - 

Reeve,  Frank  N.,  Newark,  N.  J.        .  -        1  -  -        - 


HISTORY    OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  49 

Member  Voting.                   From                      Briggs  Fynes  Huss  Sctg. 

Sebastian.  Robert  L.,  Washington,  D.  C.     -     1            -          -  - 

Tausig,  Mulford  B.,  Harrisburg,  Pa.       -         -            1           -  - 

Topham,  Richard,  Washington.  D.  C.          1            -          -  - 

Topham,  Washington,  Washington,  D.  C.          -            -          1  - 

Tucker,  J.  Randolph,  Washington.  D.  C.  1     •. 

Waller,  C.  Ridgely,  Washington,  D.  C.  1 

Williams.  Oswald  L..  Richmond.  Va.       -        -            -          -  1 

Wilson,  David  Z..       -  Washington,   D.  C.  -  -  1 

Winslow,  Will  AV.,     -  Punxsutawney,  Pa.          -            -          1  - 

Wright,  Will  L.,        -  Cairo,  Ills.            _            i            _          _  _ 


Totals.  -  -  -  17  12  3         1 

It  will  be  seen  that  Fynes'  support  was  four  times  as  great  as 
the  number  of  original  supporters,  or  in  other  words,  that  he  had 
increased  his  support,  in  three  days,  three  hundred  per  cent. 
That,  in  amateur  politics,  regardless  of  means,  was  a  Herculean 
feat.  It  should  not  be  supposed  that  Fynes  had  been  the  candi- 
date of  the  South.  The  endorsements  that  Briggs  had  received 
are  proof  against  the  supposition.  Oldham  was,  perhaps,  the 
foremost  of  his  supporters.  Howard  and  Williams  were  sup- 
porters, but  neither  was  enthusiastic.  The  five  Virginians  and 
the  three  Washingtonians  who  supported  Fynes  finally,  had  been 
ardent  supporters  of  Briggs.  The  total  Southern  vote,  includ- 
ing Washington,  stood:  Briggs,  10;  Fynes,  9;  scattering.  1; 
Huss,  2. 

Another  table  may  more  clearly  exhibit  the  State  vote : 
State  jSTo.  Votes        Briggs  Fynes  Huss     Sctg. 

2  -  -  - 

1 
1  1  -  - 

1  -  -  - 

1  -  -  - 

1  -  -  - 


1 
1  5 

9  3 


Illinois, 

2 

Massachusetts, 

1 

Nebraska, 

2 

Xew  Hampshire. 

:N"ew  Jersev, 

N'ew  York,"       - 

North  Carolina, 

Ohio, 

Pennsylvania, 

2 

Virginia, 

7 

District  of  Columbia, 

14 

Totals        -  33  17  12  3  1 

It  may  be  seen  that  eight  States  voted  for  Briggs;  six  for 
Fynes,  two  for  Huss.  Now  let  us  suppose  that  Washington  and 
vicinity  took  no  part  in  the  election,  or  in  other  words,  let  us 
omit  the  votes  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina.  This  would  take  ten  votes  from  Briggs,  nine  from 
Fynes  and  two  from  Huss,  including  one  scattering ;  twenty-two 
in  all.  The  result,  from  remaining  sources,  would  have  been  : 
Briggs,  7  ;  Fynes,  3  ;  Huss,  1 — a  majority  of  three  for  Briggs. 
Sectionalism  is  natural.     No  section  of  the  American  Union    can 


50  HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

accuse  another  of  sectionalism  without  its  own  guilt,  for  which 
nature  is  responsible,  being  apparent.  The  man  who  does  not 
first  love  his  section,  will  never  learn  to  love  his  country.  The 
man  who  does  not  love  both  is  worthy  of  neither.  The  charge  of 
sectionalism  in  Briggs'  election  seemed  probable,  but  had  no 
foundation.  Had  Fynes,  in  whose  favor  the  section  unexpectedly 
turned,  been  elected,  the  charge*  would  have  been  true.  Section- 
alism had  aimed  at  Briggs'  election  but  turned  at  the  eleventh 
hour.  It  failed  in  its  second.  John  Winslow  Snyder,  the  first 
president,  and  first  Southerner  who  occupied  the  chair,  had  been 
elected  without  sectionalism.  J.  Edson  Briggs,  the  second 
Southern  president,  was  elected  not  by,  but  in  spite  of  section- 
alism.    Sectionalism  was  prostituted. 

The  evening  session  was  called  promptly  at  8  :30,  Winslow  act- 
ing as  secretary.  Attendance  was  not  as  large  as  during  the 
day,  the  average  numbier  of  ballots  being  twenty-seven  and  one- 
third.  The  convention  at  once  proceeded  to  continue  the  election 
of  oflScers.  Fynes'  followers  still  harped  on  the  subject  of  a 
second  ballot  and  became  a  party  of  fillibusters.  They  threw 
every  obstacle  in  the  way  of  business,  but  were  foiled,  step  by 
step.  "King  Kushing  "  attempted  to  re-impress  his  remarks, 
made  during  the  day,  but  received  encouragement  from  neither 
side.  Fynes  strained  every  nerve  to  defeat  Wright,  but  failed. 
For  the  first  vice-presidency,  with  Crosby  as  opposition,  Wright 
received  a  majority  of  three.  Perry  and  Overton,  both  South- 
erners, were  nominated  for  second  vice-president — Briggs  and 
Fynes  candidates,  respectively.  Several  of  Fynes'  followers  left 
the  room  in  despair,  prior  to  the  vote  being  taken  on  this  nomi- 
nation. Perry  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  six.  More  of 
Fynes'  followers  left.  Overton  temporarily  retired,  in  a  dan- 
gerous state  of  mental  excitement.  A  friend,  although  a  Briggs 
supporter,  who  was  startled  by  Overton's  manner,  ran  to  pacify 
him,  and  left  him  in  a  better  condition  than  his  striking  departure 
had  promised.  It  was  during  the  absence  of  so  many  that  Her- 
bert A.  Clarke  was  quickly  nominated  for  third  vice-president, 
and  as  quickly  elected  without  ballot.  Indeed,  the  rapidity  was 
so  great  and  unexpected  that  a  member,  Waller,  who  would  have 
nominated  the  original  Briggs  candidate,  George  Melvin  Carr,  of 
North  Carolina,  heard  Clarke's  election  announced  before  he 
could  obtain  the  floor.  Like  rapidity  characterized  the  election 
of  Frank  N.  Reeve  to  the  corresponding  secretaryship.  But  af- 
ter this,  several  of  Fynes'  followers  returned.  The  election  of 
recording  secretary  was  not  so  unanimous.  J.  Fred  Eberle, 
Butt  and  Crosby  were  nominated.  Eberle  received  19  ;  Butt,  5  ; 
Crosby,  3.  Both  sides  seemed  exhausted  then.  Ballots  were 
tedious.     The  Briggs   side    was    happy  over  the  success  of  all  of 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  51 

its  illegitimate  nominations.  Fynes'  side  hopeless,  and  more  or 
less  under  the  influence  of  beverages.  One  had  drank  to  ex- 
cess ;  another,  for  success.  One  was  merry,  another  drunk.  So 
neither  weighed  the  motion  to  adjourn  till  10  a.  m.,  Thursday, 
the  17th.  One  might  have  been  too  willing;  another,  not  willing 
enough.     Neither  objected.     The  convention  adjourned. 

On  Thursday,  the  second  day,  by  means  no  one  could  directly 
trace,  an  understanding  prevailed  that  the  motion  to  adjourn,  on 
Wednesday  night,  had  contemplated  the  convention  would  reas- 
semble aboard  the  steamer  to  Mount  Vernon.  This  understand- 
ing was  not  based  on  fact,  but  mutual  agreement  to  visit  Mount 
Vernon,  or  the  tomb  of  Washington,  prevented  dispute.  All, 
however,  did  not  accompany  the  excursionists.  Some  members 
did  not  discover  the  departure  until  they  had  expectantly  gone  to 
the  National  hotel.  The  steamer  left  at  10  o'clock;  the  conven- 
tion would  have  resumed  its  hotel  session  at  the  same  hour. 
Several  remained,  a  few  missed  the  group,  but  only  one  or  two 
complained. 

The  excursionists,  with  badges  on  their  lapels  or  hats,  and 
glad  to  escape  the  wrangling  of  Wednesday,  presented  a  gay 
spectacle.  In  spite  of  light-heartedness,  however,  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  conceal  the  anxiety  felt  over  the  remnants  of  the  Fynes  side 
left  behind.  First  Vice-President  Wright  called  the  members  to 
order  at  10  o'clock.  There  was  no  ground  for  this  course,  as 
already  indicated.  Even  had  the  motion  to  adjourn  contem- 
plated the  excursion,  the  meeting  could  not  have  been  prolonged, 
as  the  steamer  soon  carried  the  members  out  of  the  District  of 
Columbia,  or  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  convention.  Under 
any  circumstances,  a  meeting  held  on  a  moving  steamer,  as  the 
continuation  of  one  begun  on  land,  or  in  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, would  have  been  the  subject  of  much  unfavorable  discus- 
sion. The  plea  was  made  that  few  Fynes  supporters  were 
present.  Dispute  was  prevented  by  taking  a  recess  until  5  p.  m. 
The  steamer  had  not  yet  crossed  the  District  line. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  matter  of  jurisdiction  outweighed  all 
other  considerations.  Under  the  most  liberal  interpretation,  the 
meeting  on  the  Arrow  cannot  be  regarded  as  part  of  the  Na- 
tional convention.  It  is  recorded  here  as  an  illustration  of 
amateur  constitutional  phenomena,  too  often  developing  the  fact 
that  amateur  constitutions,  rather  than  meeting  their  spirit  and 
letter,  are  twisted,  squeezed  and  shaped  to  meet  what  sophistry 
is  pleased  to  term  exigencies.  The  spirit  that  over-rides  the 
constitution  in  emergencies  cannot  be  trusted  to  obey  its  pre- 
cepts on  any  occasion.  There  never  has  been  a  necessity  that 
excused  deviation  from  the  National's  constitution.  There  never 
will  be.     Emergencies  have  arisen,   but  none  have  been  so  sreat 


-52  HISTORY    OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

or  trying  that  the  regular  channel  was  necessarily  abandoned. 
The  convention  that  lets  emergencies  take  the  regular  channel, 
and  holds  the  constitution  aloof  from  those  who  seek  to  gratify 
momentary  aims  or  pleasures,  gains  a  victory  that  the  coldest  his- 
torian may  record  with  delight.  It  matters  not  Low  provoking 
or  how  distressing  the  rules  may  be  ;  it  is  the  constitution.  It 
was  deliberately  framed  to  serve  a  purpose  greater  than  the 
whims  or  aims  that  enter  the  minds  of  every  new  member,  or  af- 
flict the  heated  brain  of  the  amateur  politician.  Obey  it — that 
is  easy  to  do.  It  went  through  the  regular  channel ;  let  tvhims 
and  aims  seek  satisfaction  there  too. 

The  excursionists  knew  the  weakness  of  the  position  they  had 
taken.  Their  first  question  on  return  was:  "What  has  the 
Fynes  crowd  done?"  It  was  soon  discovered  that  Fyues'  follow- 
ers had  only  continued  their  denunciation  of  the  proceedings  of 
Wednesday.  It  was  also  discovered  that  President  Briggs  had 
called  the  National  to  order  at  10  o'clock,  in  the  dining  room  of 
the  hotel,  and  adjourned  the  meeting  until  5  p.  m. 

President  Briggs  called  the  convention  to  order  at  5: 15  p.m., 
Winslow  again  acting  secretary.  A  short  delay  was  caused  by 
the  absense  of  Wednesday's  mmutes.  Waller  was  appointed  a 
committee  of  one  to  search  for  the  missing  document,  and  event- 
ually returned  and  handed  the  manuscript  to  the  secretary.  The 
minutes  being  read,  the  convention  resumed  the  election  of  offi- 
cers, begun  on  Wednesday.  Such  Fynes  followers  as  were  pres- 
ent repeated  their  efforts  to  obstruct  business.  The  unity  of  the 
other  side,  determined  to  expedite  business,  frustrated  all  filibus- 
tering movements.  Frank  M.  Morris,  of  Indianapolis,  Ind..  was 
elected  treasurer  without  opposition.  For  official  editor.  Chase 
the  incumbent,  and  Chas.  J.  Ficke,  of  New  York,  were  nominated. 
Tv^enty-seven  ballots  were  cast.  Chase  receiving  twenty-one,  and 
Ficke  six.  The  fines,  it  will  be  seen,  were  unexpectedly  broken. 
Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  were  nominated  for  place  of  next 
meetino-.  It  is  difficult  to  sa}^  which  city  would  have  been  chosen 
had  not  Herbert  A.  Clarke  championed  Cincinnati.  His  remarks, 
although  brief  and  neat,  appealed  not  to  judgment  but  to  ani- 
mal instinct,  Cincinnati  maidens  and  cheap  beer  being  the  basis 
of  his  argument.  Cincinnati  was  chosen  unanimously.  Bills 
amounting  to  $65.15,  more  than  had  been  collected  followed. - 
Keeve,  Perry  and  WiUiams,  appointed  executive  committee,  were 
directed  to  settle  financial  perplexities.  On  motion  of  Chase,  a 
committee  was  ordered  to  obtain  designs,  etc.,  for  a  suitable  Na- 
tional badge.  Then  followed  the  most  meritorious  feature  of  the 
convention — the  awarding  of  laureateships,  being  as  follows: 

Poet,  George  M.  Huss,  author  of  "Music." 

Sketchist,  Chas.  J.  Ficke,  author  of  "A  Noble  Revenge." 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.  53 

Essayist,  J.  Austin  Fynes,  author  of  "Author  andJournalist/' 
In  accordance  with  a  motion  made  by  Chase,  resolutions  of 
thanks  were  ordered  to  be  sent  to  Postmaster  General  David  N. 
Key,  Senator  Saunders,  Hon.  James  H.  Marr  and  Hon.  Paul 
Vanderveut,  for  assistance  during  the  postal  terrors.  The  fare- 
well message  of  President  Briggs'  predecessor.  Will  T.  Hall,  was 
followed  by  wild,  confused  amendments  to  the  constitution.  All 
were  irregular,  inasmuch  as  amendments  were  limited  to  the  first 
day  of  the  convention.  There  had  been  rumors  of  amendments. 
Indeed,  it  was  said  that  several  Briggs  supporters  had  held  a 
caucus  to  amend  the  constitution,  piecemeal,  but  that,  after 
hours  of  labor  they  had  realized  the  impossibility  of  the  task. 
To  afford  the  desired  opportunity  a  proposition  had  been  made  to 
disband  and  organize  anew.  By  what  manner  or  means  thirty- 
four  amateurs  could  uproot  the  Association  of  all  Amateurdom, 
the  reader  may  judge.  The  oligarchy  would  have  become  ochloc- 
racy, had  not  the  election  prevented  unity.  Lack  of  unity  had, 
therefore,  prevented  any  definite  plans.  Both  sides  became  ex- 
cited. The  turmoil  was  unprecedented.  "King  Kushing"  re- 
sumed his  reign,  ably  assisted  by  other  Fynes  followers. 
Usurpations  of  the  floor  were  incessant.  Every  known  authority 
on  constitutional  and  parliamentary  law  was  cited,  extensively  and 
aimlessly.  More  liquor  than  logic  enabled  several  members  to 
outrival  clowns.  The  debate,  though  hot,  seemed  purposeless. 
Burning  words  of  abuse,  entirely  disconnected  with  the  question 
of  amendment,  shot  from  the  Fynes  side.  Again  was  the  election 
of  Briggs  denounced.  Every  parliamentary  error,  and  much  more , 
were  scorchingly  criticised.  Recriminations  followed.  One 
fretted  under  downright  abuse ;  the  other  under  aggravating  re- 
partee. Fists  were  doubled,  lips  bit  and  brows  contracted.  At 
times  several  personal  encounters  were  imminent.  Members  stood 
anywhere  and  everywhere.  The  chair  was  helpless.  All  of  the 
bottled  wrath  of  the  Fynes  side  was  being  uncorked,  and  much 
still  remained  to  escape.  Few  who  participated  in  the  scene 
knew  what  they  were  saying  or  doing.  There  was  every  indica- 
tion of  ultimate  violence  or  a  skirmish.  The  proprietor  of  the 
National  hotel  was  not  without  experience.  A  warning,  impera- 
tive message  came.  It  was  followed  by  a  recess.  It  averted 
danger,  if  not  tragedy. 

On  Friday,  at  9  a.  m.,  the  convention  reassembled.  Both 
sides  showed  plainly  that  a  lesson  had  been  taught.  No  sooner 
had  the  roll  been  called  than  a  motion  to  adjourn  until  July, 
1880,  was  passed.  Thus  ended  the  fourth  convention.  It  is 
hoped  thai  a  blacker  page  of  amateur  history  may  never  be 
written.  So  far  it  is  the  blackest  page  in  the  history  of  the  Na- 
tional, or  the  annals  of  Amateur  Journalism.      It  may  teach. 


54  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

President  Hull's  message  to  the  convention  was  printed  in  the 
next  (September)  issue  of  the  National  Amateur.  In  it  he  ap- 
pointed as  orator  Mr.  Edward  Oldham,  vice  Mr.  Snyder,  re- 
signed.     He  again  dwelt  on  the  proxy  system  of  voting : 

I  hold  that  only  those  ballots  shall  be  received  that  were  cast  at 
a  meeting  ot  one's  State  Association,  held  during  the  month  of 
May,  the  person  being  himself  present  at  such  meeting,  and  also 
being  a  regular  member  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  as  defined  in  our 
constitution.  This  is  according  to  our  constitution,  and  I  cannot 
see  how  it  can  be  otherwise  interpreted. 

The  throwing  out  of  the  proxy  ballots  at  the  Washington  con- 
vention caused  widespread  dissatisfaction,  and  had  much  to  do 
with  the  change  soon  inaugurated  in  voting  by  proxy.  As  the 
proxies  were  thrown  out  without  being  counted,  no  record  can  be 
given  of  the  total  proxy  vote. 

In  the  Boys^  Folio,  just  before  the  convention,  Finlay  A. 
Grant  printed  the  following : 

The  result  of  balloting  for  the  officers  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association  at  the  Stale  elections  will  undoubtedly  be  a 
surprise  to  many. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  statistics  we  give  below  that  Briggs  has 
received  more  votes  than  his  two  opponents  combined.  But 
Huss'  main  support  is  in  the  west,  and  but  little  has  been  heard 
from  this  part  of  the  country.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  result 
will  be  thrown  into  the  hands  of  the  Washington  convention.  The 
whole  number  of  ballots  cast  by  the  State  Associations;  so  far  as 
we  have  ascertained,  is  171.  The  following  is  the  result  in  the 
several  States : 


Briggs 

Huss 

Fynes 

New  Hampshire, 

2 

0 

9 

Massachusetts,        .        -        - 

0 

7 

16 

New  York, 

7 

3 

1 

Pennsylvania, 

11 

1 

2 

New  Jersey, 

10 

0 

9 

Virginia,        .        -        -        - 

10 

2 

0 

Maryland, 

38 

7 

4 

Florida,          -        -        -        - 

3 

0 

0 

Indiana,                -        -        - 

1 

1 

0 

Washington, 

17 

0 

0 

Wisconsin,      -        -        -        - 

1 

3 

0 

Iowa, 

0 

6 

0 

Total,  -        .        -        -      100  30  41 

Of  the  above  171  ballots,  probably  not  more  than  100  or  125 
are  legal.     The  reason  of  this  is  the  difference  of  opinion  ex- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.  55 

pressed  as  to  whom  is  given  by  the  constitution  the  privilege  of 
easting  the  ballots  at  the  State  elections.  It  is,  therefore,  almost 
impossible  to  tell  the  result  at  Washington. 

For  the  vice-presidency,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to  learn, 
Parsons  has  the  majority.  Only  a  few  of  the  States  have  been 
heard  from. 

The  National  Amateur  for  June,  1879,  gave  the  following  as 
.results  of  balloting  in  State  conventions : 


' 

Briggs 

Huss 

Fynes 

Missouri, 

0 

1 

4 

Ohio, 

0 

4 

0 

Massachusetts, 

0 

7 

16 

Virginia, 

10 

2 

0 

Florida, 

3 

0 

0 

Indiana, 

2 

2 

0 

Kew  Hampshire, 

2 

0 

9 

New  Jersey, 

10 

0 

9 

Kew  York, 

7 

3 

1 

Wisconsin, 

1 

3 

0 

Pennsylvania, 

11 

1 

2 

Washington, 

16 

0 

0 

A  note  was  made  of  the  fact  that  Iowa,  Illinois  and  Nebraska 
gave  Huss  majorities,  but  figures  were  not  at  hand. 

The  election  of  Herbert  A.  Clarke,  a  negro,  as  third  vice-pres- 
ident of  the  National  by  the  Washington  convention  was  severely 
criticised  by  the  members  of  the  Association  residing  in  the 
South,  and  was  responsible  for  the  withdrawal  of  these  amateurs 
from  the  Association  and  the  decline  of  the  cause  of  Amateur 
Journalism  in  that  section  of  the  Union. 

The  fight  against  negroes  as  members  of  the  Association  wa& 
begun  before  the  Washington  convention,  and  on  the  election  of 
Clarke  to  office  was  vigorously  prosecuted.  Edward  A.  Oldham, 
George  M.  Carr,  and  other  prominent  North  Carolina  amateurs 
led  in  the  fight,  and  shortly  after  the  Washington  meet,  at  a 
session  of  the  North  Carolina  A.  P.  A.  a  "Southern  association 
of  white  amateurs"  was  proposed.  The  sectional  associations  of 
the  South  allowed  no  colored  members,  and  about  this  time  the 
famous  "Amateur  Anti-Negro  Admission  Association,"  better 
known  as  the  "A,  A.  A.  A.,"  was  organized.  While  Amateur 
Journalism  continued  to  exist  in  the  South  some  time  after  this, 
it  may  be  well  said  that  the  Washington  convention  sounded  its 
death  knell.     Nearly  ten  years  was  required  for   this    section    of 


56  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

the  country  to  assume  the  position  in  the  affairs  of  the  mimic 
world  of  letters  that  it  had  theretofore  held. 

The  failure  to  amend  the  constitution  in  vital  particulars  was 
regretted  by  many,  and  the  September  National  Amateur  devoted 
considerable  space  to  it,  styling  the  constitution  a  "despotic  doc- 
ument", an  "iron-clad  and  arbitrary  set  of  rules"  and  "the  most 
high-handed,  unapproachable,  obstinate  document  that  ever  man 
or  amateur  conceived." 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  man^^  editors  had  trouble  to  retain 
their  "pound  rates"  of  postage,  and  the  first  assistant  postmaster 
general  issued  a  circular  letter  giving  a  number  of  reasons  for  re- 
fusing to  allow  many  amateur  papers  the  rate.  Summed  up,  the 
reasons  that  debarred  many  papers  were  that  they  were  not  is- 
sued from  a  known  office  of  publication,  that  they  were  not  pub- 
lished for  some  specific  purpose,  and  that  they  did  not  have  a 
legitimate  list  of  subscribers.  These  rules  have  remained  in  force 
in  the  post  office  department  until  this  day,  their  enforcement 
and  interpretation  varying  with  the  administration.  At  times  pa- 
pers have  been  debarred  merely  because  they  were  acknowledged 
as  "amateur,"  but  as  a  general  rule  it  has  never  been  hard  for 
an  amateur  publisher  to  secure  "pound  rates"  if  he  chose  to  live 
up  to  the  law. 

The  second  volume  of  the  National  Amateur  was  also  edited 
by  C.  Clem.  Chase,  the  printing  being  done  by  Oswald  L.  Willi- 
ams, of  Richmond,  Va.,  from  which  place  it  was  dated.  A  much 
smaller  heading,  of  a  shaded  variety  of  letter  quite  common 
then,  was  used  for  this  volume.  The  columns  were  widened  one- 
sixth  of  an  inch  and  lengthened  correspondingly.  The  paper 
was  set  in  solid  long  primer  type,  with  gothic  headings,  and  pre- 
sented a  good  appearance.  The  volume  consisted  of  four  issues 
of  four  pages  each. 

Among  the  papers  of  the  year  ma}^  be  mentioned :  The  Satir- 
ist^ Omaha ;  Chief,  Omaha ;  Sphinxes  Spirit,  Boston ;  Fynes' 
Ftt'ncy,  Boston ;  Boys^  and  Girls^  Own,  Frederic,  Md.  ;  Censor, 
La  Crosse,  Wis.  ;  Dew  Drop,  Lancaster,  N.  Y.  ;  Register,  New 
York  ;  HawJceye  Amateur,  Cedar  Rapids,  la.  ;  Eclipse,  Boston  ; 
Youths^  Advocate,  Washington;  Star,  Trenton,  Mo.  ;  Amateur 
Journalist,  St.  Louis;    Imp,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;   Index,  Lowell, 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    A880CXATI<»N.  iii 

Mass.  :  Souihern  Star,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Stylus,  Tiffin,  U.  ; 
Independent  Times,  Jersey  City.  N.  J.  ;  Egyptian  Star,  Caibon- 
rlnle.  Ills.;  Amateur  Dial,  Ricbm(»nd,  Va.  ;  All  Sorts,  Omaha, 
Nel).  ;  Young  American  (weeHy),  Caiboudale,  Ills.;  Argus, 
\V?»shint>ton,  I).  C.  ;  Connecticut  Amateur,  Hartford,  Conn.  ; 
Elf,  Wnsliinoton,  [).  C.  ;  Hurricaiie,  Charleston,  S.  C.  ;  Spunk, 
Park  Ridoe,  N.  J.  ;  Tattler,  Fostoria,  O.  ;  Odd  Trump,  Winston, 
N.  C.  ;  Welcome  Visitor,  Lafayette,  Ind. 

Correction — On  page  48  the  name  of  Herbert  A.  Clarke  is  omitted 
from  the  table  of  members  voting.  His  vote  was  cast  for  Brig^s, 
making  the  total  Briggs  vote,  on  page  49,  correct  as  priated. 


\ 


f 


CHflFTER  6. 

THE  A.   A.   A.   ASSOCIATION. 

The  Negro  as  an  Amateuk. — Oldham's  Stand.— Clarke 
Defeats  Carr.— Action  in  North  Carolina. — Universal 
Endorsement  in  the  South.— Organization  of  the  A. 
A.  A.  A. — Its  Offtceks. — How  It  Worked. — It  May 
BE  Still  Alive. 


M 


ENTION  was  made  in  the  foregoing  chapter  of  the  or- 
ganization of  an  Amateur  Anti-Negro  Admission  Asso- 
ciation.    The  following   acconnt  of    this    secret  society 

was  contributed  by    ''Rickety"    to    the    Bojjs^    Folio,    January, 

1884: 


A.  A.  A.  A. — An  Association  Whose  History  Has  Not  Heen 
Recorded. — An  Interesting  Acount  of  Civil  Rights  Times  in 
tiie  'Dom. 

When  the  National  A.  l\  A.  hehl  ils  convention  at  Wiisliing- 
ton,  July  16,  17  and  18,  1871),  discussion  over  the  admission  of 
negro  members  had  already  commenced.  Edward  A.  Oldham, 
of  North  Carolina,  was  tlie  first  amateur  editor  who  j)ubliciy 
braved  the  contempt  that^an  adverse  editorial  upon  negro  adnds- 
sion  was  sure  to  bring  froiri..iuimerous  ariiateur  journalists.  North, 
East  and  West.  In  his  jou'rnal,  .the  Of7,(Z  Trump,  he  called  the 
attention  of  all  Southerners  to  the  presence  of  Herbert  A.  Clarke 
in  the  National.  Of  course  Chirrie's  membership  was  well 
known,  but  Southerners -luid  never  come  in  contact  with  him,  nor 
sat  in  convention  when  he  wa^  prestnt.  Oldham  indicated  the 
fact  that  Clarke  would  attend  the  Washington  c(mvention  and  de- 
clared that  the  time  had  arrived  when  Southerners  must  take  a 
decisive  step.  At  first  Clarke's  membership  had  assumed  the 
character  of  a  novelty.  Many  entirely  overlooked  the  Southern 
principle  involved,  and  became  curious  to  know,  in  a  wondering 
way,  what  kind  of  a  negro  Clarke  was  and  how  he  acted.  A  few 
may  have,  indeed,  regarded  Clarke's  membership  with  dislike, 
but  a  great  many  expressed  no  feeling  on  the  subject.  It  wa'*, 
therefore,  left  for  Oldham  to  rouse  the  section  with  which  he  was 
identified,  and  to  place  the  matter  before  Southerners  in  such 
manner  as  would  compel  them  to  declare  their  positions.  But 
even  this,  although  done  prior  to  the  Washington  convention, 
did  not  result  in    any    combined  effort.      A    war    of  words  alone 


HISTORY    OF  THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  59 

followed.  A  storm  of  abuse  rained  fast  and  thickly  throughout 
the  eouutrv.  The  convention  met  and  Clarke  appeareci.  The 
record  of  that  convention  is  anythino:  hut  pleasing.  Taking  a 
rough  estimate  there  was  not  more  than  17  per  cent,  of  the  mem- 
bers present,  and  certainly  not  more  than  0  per  cent,  of  Ama- 
teurdom  represented.  Yet  it  was,  as  has  been  admitted  every- 
where, the  noisiest,  most  disorderly,  most  corrupted  and  most 
disgraceful  convention  ever  held.  But  with  this  we  are  not  here 
to  deal,  although  we  could  tell  many  interesting  tales  that  sprung 
from  that  occasion.  It  is  suflicieMt  to  say  that  neither  Hriggs 
nor  Perry,  both  of  whom  were  eiec'ed  to  high  offices,  represented 
the  Soutii.  The  South  had  nojuinated  George  M.  Carr.  editor  of 
the  famous  Notih  Carolina  Amateur,  and  lately  opposed  to  negro 
admission,  for  the  third  vice-presidency.  His  nomination  was 
highly  prize<l.  and  many  Southerners  were  his  pledged  su|)port- 
ers.  But  the  discord  at  that  crmvention  during  the  election  of 
the  first  otKcers  had  disgusted,  if  not  demoralized,  the  Southein 
delegation  as  well  as  the  delegations  present.  Whe  i  the  nomi- 
nutions  for  tliinl  vice-president  were  in  order,  the  majority  of  the 
members  who  had  agreed  to  supj.ort  Carr  were.  i'\  their  high  po- 
litical demoralization,  scattered  everywhere  except  where  they 
should  have  been.  As  a  natural  result,  Clarke,  backed  by  a 
solid  caucus,  was  nominated  and  elected  so  rapidly  that  the  fesy 
dissenting  voices  had  no  opportunity  to  protest.  He  was,  ac- 
cording to  all  reports  of  the  convention,  elected  "unanimously." 
The  election  of  Clarke  over  a  Southerner  of  such  popularity 
as  C:nr  led  Southerners  to  look  the  question  fairly  in  the  face. 
Their  ancestral  pride  was  deeply  wounded.  Besides  the  words 
that  Oldham's  editorial  had  drawn  forth.  Southerners  now  con- 
cluded that  some  active  steps  were  necessary.  The  North 
Carolina  a!  P.  A.,  of  which  Carr  was  a  most  prominent  member, 
gave  the  first  official  cry  July  21,  1879,  to  the  movement  that 
was  sul>sequently  begun.  It  denounced  Clarke's  membership, 
and  proposed  "a  Southern  association  of  white  amateurs."  The 
cry  was  echoed  from  Maryland  to  Louisiana.  On  Ausust  20  the 
celebrated  Columbian  Amateur  Journalists'  Association,  of 
Washington,  D.  C,  approved  the  action  of  the  N.  C.  A.  P.  A. 
Neither  association,  however,  adopted  one  word  that  upheld  the 
disorganization  of  the  National.  The  action  of  the  Columbian, 
which  transpired  amid  considerable  excitement,  as  the  division 
was  almost  equal,  was  annulled  at  a  subsequent  meeting  through 
treachery;  but  following  meetings  soon  placed  the  matter  where 
it  originally  stood,  and  the  Columbian  to-day  stands  upon  a 
platform  of  negro  exclusion.  In  consequence  of  the  treachery 
just  mentioned,  several  plans  were  considered  to  prevent  failure 
in  the  future.     The  fact  that  treachery  might    occur  elsewhere  as 


60  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

well  as  iu  Washington  was  not  overlookefl.  Bnt  the  utmost 
secretly  was  observed  regaidinoj  all  plans  considered.  So  tierce 
had  the  anlagonisui  between  anti-negroites  and  negroites  become, 
especially  in  Washington,  that  lack  of  secrecy  would  have  pre- 
vented success. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1871),  C.  Ridgelj  Waller,  of  Wasli- 
ington,  D.  C,  took  passage  on  the  steamer  Leary,  boun*!  for 
Potomac  Ldg.  and  Norfolk,  Va.  Before  boarding  the  steamer 
he  dropped  a  card  to  C.  V\^  Darr.  infoiming  him  that  he  expected 
to  organize  an  anti-negroite  association  upon  reaching  his  destin- 
ation. The  trip  down  or  across  the  Chesaj)eake  Bay  is  anything 
but  safe  on  the  shell  steamers  of  Washington.  And  tl)is  being  in 
September,  it  became  a  question  whether  any  other  record  would 
ever  l>e  left  Af  the  i)ro|)osed  association  than  the  caid  sent  Darr. 
No  constitution  had  been  framed.  The  voyage  was  })ussed  with 
the  high  waves  of  tlie  Chesapeake  rolling  and  splasliing,  writing 
a  constitution,  while  the  |)enci]  used  persisted  in  beating  a  tjiltoo 
in  time  with  the  motion  of  the  steamer.  The  objects,  as  set  forth 
in  the  constitution,  are: 

To  prevent  the  almission  of  negro  members  into  the  white  amateur 
journalists'  adsociations  of  the  Unitt^d  States;  to  form  a  sworn  union 
of  Southern  amateurs,  in  or  !er  that  the  proposed  Soutlieru  Amateur 
Press  Association's  success  may  be  certain  by  having  a  sufficient 
number  of  pledged  and  sworn  supporters  in  advance;  to  memberiz* 
all  white  amateurs  who  concur  in  its  objects  and  constitution  ;  an.l  to 
accomplish  such  o])jects  as  may  further  those  alrea»iy  stated. 

The  obligation  reads  as  follt)\vs: 

I, ,  solemnly  promise  and  swear  that  I  shall  obey  the  regula- 
tions of  and  endeavor  to  protect  the  Amateur  Anti-Negro  Admi»&iou 
Association;  so  help  me  God  ! 

The  term  (»f  office  is  permanent.  It  is  prescribed  that  all  bus- 
iness shall  be  transacted  by  mail,  but  the  president  is  empowered 
to  call  a  meeting  at  any  central  point  upon  the  request  of  a  ma> 
jority  of  the  members.  Resolutions,  etc.,  it  is  prescribed,  shall 
be  sent  to  the  president  who,  through  the  secretary,  shall  call  for 
a  vote  and  afterward  announce  the  result  through  the  same  me- 
dium. In  consequence  of  the  binding  character  of  the  obliga- 
tion, the  objection  of  two  members  is  prescribed  as  sufficient  to 
prevent  amendments,  expulsions  and  deposals.  In  spite  of  what 
has  been  said  to  the  contrary,  nothing  iu  the  constitution  betrays 
any  attempt  to  collide  with  the  National ;  in  fact,  the  constitution 
contains  no  word  concernin;^  that  organization.  Sunday,  Sep- 
tember 7th,  the  following  day,  a  number  of  Southern  amateurs 
met  in  the  dining  rooms  of  the  Jordan  House,  Norfolk,  Va., 
just  as  the  Washington  delegation  had  finished  its  dinner.  Using 
a  chicken  leg,  a  remnant  of  the  meal,  in  place  of  a  gavel,  the 
Washington  delegation  called  the    meetinor    to    order,    stated    its 


HISTORY    OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRE8S   ASSOCIATION.  61 

objects,  and  asked  for  a  temporary  chairman.  John  E.  Overton, 
of  Virginia,  was  selected.  The  meeting  then  proceeded,  and 
adopted  the  eonjtitution  aheady  described.  Officers  were  elected 
as  follows:  President,  John  E.  Overton;  first  vice,  C.  W. 
Butt;  second  vice,  George  M.  Carr;  third  vice,  C.  W.  Darr; 
secretary,  C.  R.  Waller;  spy,  Thos.  J.  Hope.  After  numerous 
informal  speeches  and  various  suggestions  upon  the  policy  of  the 
association,  "Clarke's  connection  with  the  N.  A.  P.  A.*'  was 
denounced.  The  phrase,  "unanimous  consent,"  was  interpreted 
to  imply  that  such  consent  was  given  until  the  association  by 
unanimous  vote  withdrew  it. 

It  was  some  time  before  the  existence  of  the  association  be- 
came generally  known.  At  first,  few  amateurs  could  understand 
'A.  A.  A.  A.,"  into  which  the  name  soon  became  corrupted. 
The  four. A' s  became  a  puzzle  that  no  non-member  could  solve. 
All  of  this  time,  however,  the  officers  spared  no  pains  to  increase 
the  membership.  New  members  silently  and  secretly  signed  the 
obligation  daily. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  second  object  of  the  associa- 
tion is  to  organize  a  Southern  association,  exclusivel}"  of  white 
amateurs.  The  objecjt  was  prompted  by  other  reasons  than 
that  publicly  disclosed.  At  that  time  the  famous  South-Eastern 
A.  P.  A.  was  highly  unacceptable.  Some  of  its  members,  actu- 
ated more  by  greed  than  principle,  had  endeavored  to  localize  its 
meetings,  an<l  to  prevent  State  representation  among  its  officers. 
North  Carolina  was  especially  indignant  over  the  fact  that  its 
meetings  had  thus  far  been  conlined  to  Washington  and  Virginia ; 
two  in  the  former  and  two  in  the  latter.  It  would  not  have  taken 
much  to  kindle  this  spark  of  indignation  into  a  blazing,  roaring 
fire  of  revolt  in  North  Carolina,  a  fire  of  revolt  that  could  not 
have  been  extinguished  until  the  walls  of  the  South-Eastern  had 
been  burned  to  their  foundation.  Chief  among  those  who  were 
opposed  to  this  localizaticm  and  non-representation  of  States, 
were  prominent  members  of  the  A.  A.  A.  A.  Two  of  these 
members  were  upon  the  committee  which  framed  the  new  consti- 
tution adopted  at  Norfolk,  Va.,  December  27,  1879— a  constitu- 
tion so  superior  to  the  old  document  that  justice,  equal-repre- 
sentation and  ])roxy- voting  were  its  principal  features.  The 
adoption  of  that  constiiution,  and  the  institution  of  a  system  of 
proxy-voting  whose  etfica'.»y  eight  meetings  have  proved,  at  once 
gained  the  old  South-Eastern  a  popularity  it  has  ever  retained. 
And  when,  at  the  subseqiient  meeting,  Hampton,  Va.,  July  3, 
1880,  the  members  of  the  A.  A.  A.  A.,  as  individuals,  saw  that 
every  active  State  possible  was  represented,  and  saw  that  the 
localization  of  meetings  was  given  its  death  blow,  North  Caro- 
lina,   the    entire   South    in    fact,    moved    its    lips    in    loud    and 


62  HISTORY    OF    THE    NATIONAL    AMATKUR    TRESS    ASSOCIA-TION. 

abundant  praise,  and  the  Soulli  Kaslern  became  tlie  pride  of  the 
South,  In  consideration  of  this  great  cliantxe,  wrought  ejnefly 
by  members  of  the-A.  A.  A.  A.,  the  proposed  Soutlisrn  Amateur 
Press  Association  was  abandoned,  and  tlie  Soutli-Eastern  oladly 
and  williuajy  allowed  to  take  its  place.  While,  of  course,  it  had 
not. accomplished  its  object  in  the  mnnner  oriajinally  intended, 
the  A.  A.  A.  A.  had  virtually  fulfilled  tlie  provision  ''to  accom- 
plish such  other  objects  as  may  further  those  already  stated." 

Members  of  •  the  association  were  also  members  of  local  asso- 
ckntions^^  tiu-ouohont  the  South,  and  afterward  became  valuable  in 
preventin^i' the  admission  of  neo^ro  members  into  tlieir  own  or- 
sjanizations.  Among  those  who  worked  hard  to  accomplish  this 
object  was  P.  J.  Donahue,  who  claimed  lie  was  "an  old  friend  of 
G%rke,"  but  consi'iered  his  'Hluty  as  a  Southerner  too  impera- 
tu^e^to  allow  fidendly  feeling  to  stand  in  the  way."  All  Georgia 
fallowed  him.  =Bu4^^  perhaps  the  greatest  fight  that  took  place  was 
in.the  Columb>an  A.  J.  A.,  of  Washington.  Attempt"  after  at- 
tempt ^vas  made  to  insert  "white''  in  the  ''onstitution.  but  at  first 
every  effort  was  foiled.  The  battles  were  fierce.  Oratory  was 
a.most  prominent  weapon.  Little  did  the  association  dream  that 
many  of  its  members  were  bound  by  tiie  oath  of  the  A.  A.  A.  A. 
At  one  meeting  the  members  of  the  A.  A.  A.  A.  set  a  trap,  into 
which:  their  opponents  unconsciously  fell.  Some  advocate  of 
Clarke  nommfited  a  negro  for  membership.  By  a  tacit  under- 
standing, the  members  of  the  A.  A.  A.  A.  either  cast  blank  bal- 
lots.-or  abstained  from  voting.  The  advocates  of  Clarke,  hnw- 
eyer,.. voted:  as  usual.  The-  result  was  amusing.  The  negro 
applicant  "was  roundly  blackballed— roundly  blackl)al1ed  bv  ad- 
vocates of  Clarke.  P^ven  the  meml)er  who"  had  nominated  him 
had  cast  an  adverse  ballot.  This  exposure  of  their  howling 
hypocricy  sounded  the  death-knell  of  advocates  of  Clarke  in  the 
famous.  Columbian.'  Soon  afterwards  "white"  became  part  of 
the  lumstitution. 

The  association  took  steps  towards  the  publication  of  an  offi- 
cial organ,  the  Anti-Negroite,  but  it  never  appeared.  John  E. 
Overton,  the  president,  in  consequence  of  reasons  lie  has  never 
explained,  became  inactive,  a'nd  failed  to  jierform  the  duties  of 
liis  office.  Much  valuable  business  was  thus  obstructed,  and 
business-concerning  the  official  organ  could  not  be  transacted. 
But  the^-constitution  was  so  constructed  that  the  president's  fail- 
ure did  not  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  such  main  objects  as 
the -association  intended,  although  all  efforts  were  necessarilv 
dwarfed.  Members  continued  to  advocate  its  objects  and  enroll 
recruits.     It  is  a  question  whether  the  association  is  still  aliye. 


CH/IFTER  7. 

THE  MEETING  IN  CINCINNATI. 

Conditions  Improving. — Campaigns  and  Campaigning. — The 
Convention  and  Attendants. — Officeus  Elected  and 
Constitution  Amended. — "Old  Sledge's"  Account. — 
The  Constitution  in  Full,  as  Amended. — New  Members 
Admitted. — Interest  Waning. — Papers  of  the  Year. 

LIKE  his  predecessor,  Wm.  T.  Hall,  Fresklent  Briggs  had 
to  live  down  numerous  cries  of  "fraud."  These,  how- 
ever did  not  last  many  months  after  the  convention,  and 
by  tiie  opening  of  the  new  year,  he  was  being  assisted  by  all 
elements  of  Amateurdom. 

From  "Harrison's  Career"  we  quote: 

At  the  opening  of  tlie  year  1880,  Amateur  Journalism  was  in 
a  better  condition  tlian  it  had  -been  since  the  beginning  of  the 
l)ostal  troubles,  and  was  apparently  regaining  the  ground  lost  in 
the  two  previous  ^ears,  but  after  the  conventions  in  July  few 
|)apers  were  issued  and  a  seiious  decline  of  interest  was  mani- 
fested. Yet  many  able  and  brilliant  papers  were  published  this 
year.  "All  editorial"  journals  were  yet  numerous.  The  Na- 
tional's laureate  contest  was  widely  participated  in  this  year,  and 
the  articles  entered  in  competition  were  generally  of  unusual 
merit.  The  campaign  for  the  politi(\al  honors  of  the  National 
Association  began  early,  but  had  not  re><olved  itself  into  shape 
much  before  March.  Will  L.  Wright,  Thos,  G.  Harrison  and 
Wm.  F.  Buckley  were  placed  in  nomination  for  the  presidency. 
Their  respective  supporters  fell  rapidly  in  line,  and  the  campaign 
was  probably  the  most  heated  of  any  preceding  it.  A  number 
of  journals  were  issued  for  campaign  purposes  only,  and  each 
principal  nominee  was  attacked  by  his  opponents  with  abuse, 
slander  and  vituperation.  Some  amateurs  of  the  East  formed  a 
scheme  for  capturing  votes  for  Buckley,  and  organized  what  they 
called  the  "Radical  Party,"  each  member  of  which  was  pledged 
to  support  the  party's  candidate,  who  was  to  be  selected  by  a 
majority  vote  between  the  members  themselves.  As  the  party 
was  under  the  manipulation  of  Buckley's  supporters,  but  few 
amateurs  joined  it,  all  being  suspicious  of  its  fair  dealing,  and 
objecting  to  what  is  called  the  "gag  law."  While  Buckley  was 
made  "the  party's  choice,  yet  I  can  hardly  say  that  it  was 
entirely     fraudulent     in     principle;     at     all     events,     its     in- 


64  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

fluence  was  comparatively  small  and  had  no  effect  upon  the  final 
result  of  the  campaign. 

In  the  March  National  Amateur  the  following  platform  of  the 
'•Radical  Party"  was  printed: 

1,  A  new  constitution.  2,  The  convention's  choice  conclu- 
sive. 3,  No  sectionalism.  4,  Foster  local  associations.  5, 
Loyalty  to  the  present  constitution.  6,  Civil  rights.  Puzzlers 
allowed.  All  desiring  to  join  must  send  their  choice  for  N.  A. 
P.  A.  officers  to  the  originator,  who  will  publish  the  results,  the 
winning  candidates  to  constitute  the  ticket  of  the  Radical  party 
at  the  convention. 

The  question  of  getting  rid  of  the  constitution  was  much  dis- 
cussed as  the  Cincinnati  convention  drew  near.  Various  plans 
were  proposed,  among  which  were  the  disbanding  of  the  Associ- 
ation and  immediate  reorganization  on  another  basis.  Very  little 
faith  was  placed  in  the  system  of  proxy  voting  in  State  associa- 
tions, and  only  a  few  States  sent  proxies  to  the  convention. 

The  Ymdicator,  a  small  paper  published  by  Will  S.  Knox,  in 
June,  1880,  thus  sums  up  the  campaign  for  the  presidency : 

During  last  fall  and  immediately  after  the  Washington  con- 
vention we  began  to  hear  rumors  of  probable  candidates.  Morris, 
Gee  and  Chase  were  almost  immediately  spoken  of  as  possible 
candidates  for  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  presidency.  Gee's  retirement 
from  Amateurdom  destroyed  the  chance  of  his  running.  Then 
Thos.  G.  Harrison  loomed  into  view,  and  Stanton  S.  Mills,  Geo. 
W.  Baildon  and  W.  L.  Wright  were  spoken  of.  Mills  seriously 
contemplated  running,  and  an  active  canvass  in  his  favor  was 
commenced.  Wright  was  also  determined.  Time  wore  on. 
Four  tickets  appeared  until,  in  January,  Mills  was  forced  to  leave 
the  ranks,  and  Buckley  appeared  as  the  candidate  of  an  eastern 
party.  Chase  found  he  had  no  chance  of  success  and  withdrew 
from  the  contest,  and  Messrs.  Harrison,  Buckley  and  Wright 
were  left  alone  in  the  field. 

Mr.  Frank  C.  Liudsley,  an  amateur  of  the  '70's,  who  became 
active  again  ten  years  later,  in  an  article  on  "Amateur  Journal- 
ism in  Cincinnati,"*  trives  this  account  of  the  1880  convention: 


*Mr.  Lindsley  informs  ns  that  the  basis  of  his  article  was  an  account 
of  the  first  day's  session  of  the  convention,  written  by  Ren  Mulford, 
Jr..  an  ex-amateur,  then  a  reporter  for  the  Cincinnati  Daily  Enquirer, 
and  published  in  the  Enquirer  dated  July  15,  1880.  On  comparing  the 
two,  however,  we  find  that  Mr.  Lindsley  has  given  the  events  in  his 
ow  n  languas-e,  adding  to  Mr.  Mulford "s  article,  therefore  we  credit  him. 


HISTORY   OP  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  65 

Convention  day,  July  14,  dawned  clear  and  premising,  and 
soon  became  bright  and  sultry.  After  dinner  the  convention  as- 
sembled in  Eureka  Hall. 

President  Briggs  being  absent  in  Colorado,  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent Will  L.  Wright,  of  the  Egyptian  Star',  Cairo,  Ills.,  called 
the  convention  to  order. 

Herbert  A.  Clarke,  Chas.  S.  Eigutter  and  Frank  N.  Reeve 
were  a|)})ointed  a  committee  on  credentials,  and  a  short  recess 
was  taken. 

Among  those  present  were :  W.  C.  Brown,  Tattler,  and  A,  E. 
Mergenthaler,  Graphium,  Fostoria,  O.  ;  Thos.  G.  Harrison, 
Welcome  Visitor,  Indianapolis,  Ind.  ;  O.  L.  Williams,  Dial, 
Richmond,  Va.  ;  Willis  E.  Scott,  Boys^  News,  Kenton,  O.  ;  Will 
M.  Cnrter,  Mark  M.  Kerr,  E.  B.  Swift,  Frank  C.  Lindsley,  Thos. 
E.  Kennedy,  R.  L.  Zerbe,  W.  H.  McCaun,  M.  H.  Tobi'^as,  Jos. 
O'Hara  and  other  Cincinnati  amateurs;  George  W.  Beihn,  Com- 
posing Stick,  Ripley,  O.  ;  C.  C.  Rickert,  Enterprise,  Canal  Do- 
ver. O.  ;  John  Hanley,  Detroiter,  Detroit,  Mich.  ;  Ulrick  Knock, 
Lyceum,  and  M.  J.  Harty,  Our  Galaxy,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  C.  G. 
Steele,  Boys^  Herald,  and  Thos.  H.  Parsons,  Blade,  Buffalo,  N. 
Y.  ;  W.  J.  Ackerman,  Odds  and  Ends,  and  Benj.  Pelham,  Ven- 
ture, Detroit,  Mich.  ;  John  J.  Weissert,  Vigilant,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  ; 
Will  S.  Knox,  Vindicator,  Marietta,  O.  ;  *E.  E.  Stowell,  Globe, 
Mt.  Cnrroll,  Ills.  ;  Fred  Kibbie,  Standard,  Toledo,  O.  ;  J.  M. 
Allen,  Times,  Paris,  Ky.  ;  Faber,  Finch  and  Kramer,  Buckeye 
Gem,  Dayton,  O.,  and  others  whose  names  cannot  now  be 
obtained. 

Herbert  A.  Clarke  acted  as  temporary  secretary. 

Wright  and  Harrison  were  opposing  candidates    for  president. 

Wright  was  elected  president.  He  made  a  few  remarks  and — 
resigned.  His  friends  were  astounded.  But  he  iexplained  that 
circumstances  liad  transpired  just  previous  which  would  compel 
bin  to  leave  Amateur  Journalism,  and  he  was  forgiven,  and  Har- 
rison was  elected  in  his  stead. 

For  first  vice  president,  Reeve  was  elected  by  acclan)ation,  but 
he.  too,  declined,  and  wished  to  transfer  his  support  to  D.  A. 
Sullivan,  but  the  boys  wouldn't  have  it  and  the  irrepressible 
Tommy  Paisons  was  elected, Who  is  said  to  have  precipitately 
fled  for  home,  for  fear  of  being  called  upon  to  preside.  Tommy 
was  a  little  fellow  then,  but  bright  as  a  silver  dollar. 

Proceedings  had  been  protrat^ted  b^-  warm  discussion  over  the 
credentials  and  the  admission  of  some  State  ballots,  and'it  was 
10  p.  m.  when  the  amateurs,  many  of  them  supperless,  insisted 
upon  adjournment  until  next  day. 

This  convention  was  one, of;  the  most  interesting  and  most  ef- 
fective and  satisfactorv  in  its    re=^ults  of  anv    lield — certainly  the 


66  HISTORY    OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

bep.t  up  to  that  time.  Controlled  by  no  party  or  clique,  it  intro- 
duced reforms  and  new  methods  which  will  mark  the  dividing 
line  between  the  era  of  the  boyish  Amateur  Journalism  of  the  past, 
and  the  era  of  the  stronger,  more  progressive  and  better  ordered 
institution  of  the  present. 

Jos.  P.  Clossey  was  elected  ofRcial  editor  and  Joseph  Dana 
Miller  won  the  poet  laureateship. 

One  sad  event  cast  its  sh.adow  upon  this  gathering.  It  was  the 
death  of  Treasurer-elect  Oswald  L.  Williams,  of  Richmond,  Va., 
at  the  Cincinnati  Hospital,  July  17. 

In  the  Empire  Slate  Amateur,  March,  1889,  "Old  Sledge"  gives 
the  following  account  of  this  gathering: 

The  fifth  annual  convention  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  convened  in 
Cincinnati,  Jul3^ fourteen  times.  1880,  and  probably  is  noted 
more  for  the  surprises  it  brought  about  than  for  anything  else. 
The  boys  commenced  to  arrive  three  or  four  days  ahead  of  time, 
and  the  Hotel  Emery,  where  the  convention  was  supposed  to  con- 
vene, quartered  most  of  them.  It  afterwards  turned  out  that 
suitable  arrangements  for  the  convention  could  not  be  made  with 
the  hotel  people.  The  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association  learn- 
ing of  this  fact,  through  one  of  their  members,*  generously 
donated  the  use  of  their  hall,  which  was  accepted  with  many 
thanks.  It  proved  to  be  the  right  thing  in  no  better  place.  The 
day  was  the  best  they  make  down  in  Cincinnati — -barring  the  hot- 
ness  of  things.  Sliortly  after  dinner  the  boys  commenced  to  hie 
themselves  up  Vine  jtreet  towards  the  battle  ground,  and  about 
three  o'clock  the  hall  contained  about  all  it  could,  comfortably. 
It  was  not  a  very  large  hall,  and  on  a  day  like  this,  with  the  ther- 
mometer at  or  close  to  100*  in  the  shade,  a  gathering  of  seventy  or 
eighty  was  in  reality  more  than  it  could  take  care  of,  comfortably. 
The  seats  were  arranged  in  a  half-circle  about  the  room,  giving 
everyone  full  view  of  the  chair.  Pending  the  call  tc»  order  those 
present  passed  the  time  in  conversation  and  in  writing  their  auto- 
graphs on  fans,  which  made  their  appearance  at  a  very  opportune 
time,  and  were  presented  by  and  with  the  best  wishes  of  the 
Buckley  party.  It  was  thoughtful  of  the  lirooklynites  and  the 
fans  were  appreciated.  At  half  past  three  Will  L.  Wright,  the 
vice-president,   called  the  meeting  to  order  and  delivered  an  ora- 


*The  convention  was  to  have  met  in  the  Emery  Hotel,  but  someone 
had  informed  the  proprietors  of  disorderly  conduct  bv  the  amateurs  in 
Washington  in  '79,  so  they  refused  use  of  a  convention  room.  Through 
courtesy  of  Alf.  M.  Cohen  (now  an  Ohio  State  Senator)  and  Morris  H. 
Tobias,  both  formerly  amateur  editors,  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Asso- 
ciation gave  the  amateurs  the  use  of  their  library  and  meeting  rooms 
in  Eureka  Hall.  N^inth  and  Walnut  streets. — Frank  C.  Lindsley.  Jan., 
1898. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  67 

tion  upon  "Shall  Amateur  Journalism  Be  Sustained?*^  His 
efforts  met  with  hearty  applause.  Next  came  the  roll  call.  Twelve 
members  answered  to  their  names :  Bobby  Newsome,  Reeve, 
Wright,  Clarke,  Carter,  Kerr,  Elgutter,  Harrison,  Wil- 
liams, Brown,  Mergenthaler  and  Parsons.  After  reports  from  offi- 
cers read  and  approved,  Messrs.  Clarke,  Brown,  Reeve,  Elgutter 
and  Harrison  were  appointed  a  committee  for  examining  the 
proxy  ballots.  There  being  no  official  documents  present,  they 
recommended  that  the  proxies  be  thrown  out.*  This  report  was 
accepted  without  debate.  Seventy-eight  amateurs  presented  their 
names  for  membership  and  all  were  accepted — twenty  being  pres- 
ent. 

The  election  of  officers  came  next.  Will  L.  Wright  and  T.  G. 
Harrison  were  nominated  for  the  presidency.  Wright  received 
twenty  ballots  and  Harrison  eleven.  The  enthusiasm  of  the 
Wrightites  about  this  time  was  red  hot,  but  a  minute  later,  when 
iheir  candidate  arose  and  declined  the  nomination  and  asked  for 
the  election  of  Harrison  unanimously,  the  confusion  and  turmoil 
that  ensued  cannot  appropriately  be  pictured.  The  Wrightites 
were  completely  surprised  and  upset,  and  it  was  some  time  before 
order  was  restored.  Harrison  was  then  appointed  to  the  chair 
and  called  for  a  new  ballot.  A  motion  prevailed,  however,  to 
elect  Harrison  to  the  presidency  by  acclamation  and  it  was  carried. 
About  this  time  —eight  o'clock — Oswald  L.  Williams  was  led 
away  from  the  hall  too  sick  to  remain  longer.  Three  days  after- 
wards, surrounded  by  a  few  Cincinnati  amateurs  and  Benny  New- 
some,  he  died  of  brain  fever  in  the  city  hospital.  He  was  a  boy 
of  sterling  worth  and  unimpeachable  character,  and  his  death 
was  universally  regretted. f 

Harrison  accepted  the  office  with  many  promises,  and  to  my 
knowledge  fulfilled  n(me.  He  retired  to  Indianapolis  and  for  six 
months  no  one  heard  from  him.  Not  even  the  hole  was  ever  dis- 
covered.   For  vice-president.  Reeve  was  unanimously  elected.    He 


♦Messrs.  Harrison,  Clarke,  Brown,  Elgutter  and  Reeve  beinoj  ap- 
pointed an  examining  committee  to  look  into  the  State  ballots  received, 
reported  that  Florida  had  cast  3  votes;  New  Jersey's  two  associations. 
9  and  8;  Ohio,  6;  Washington,  10,  and  Illinois,  12.  Owing  to  the  ab- 
sence of  the  official  signatures  upon  the  documents,  the  committee  was 
unable  to  determine  which  were  the  illegal  and  which  were  the  legal 
ones.  The  ballots  were  accordingly  rejected  as  informal. — Ken  Mul- 
ford,  Jr.,  in  Cincinnati  Enquirer.  .July  1.5,  1880. 

tOswald  L.  Williams  was  taken  sick  while  attending  the  convention, 
previous  to  election,  and  had  to  be  removed  to  his  room  in  the  Emery 
Hotel.  While  there  his  illness  grew  serious  -being  typhoid  fever— 
and  he  was  taken  to  the  Cincinnati  hospital  and  his  parents  tele- 
graphed for.  He  rapidly  grew  worse  and  flnally  died  on  Sunday.  .July 
\^ .-  -Harrison  8  Career, 


68  HISTOTJY    OF-TnE   N-;iTIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSf>CIAT.I(.N.' 

also  declined,  iniicli  to  the  chagrin  of  his  supporters.  Parsons 
was  then  nominated  by  Wri2:ht  and  Sullivan  by  Reeve.  The 
former  was  elected,  10  to  13.  It  was  now  ten  o'clock  and  after  a 
few  amendments  to  the  constitution  had  been  read  the  meeting 
adjourned  until. next  morning.  To  the  second  vice-presidency  F. 
F.  Bassett  was  elected  over  Ed.  Fj.  Stowell  by  a  vote  of  18  to  7. 
Third  vice-president,  Jim  Allen.  W.  C.  Brown  was  unanimously 
elected  corresponding  secretary,  and  Herbert  A.  Clarke,  record- 
ing secretary.  Clarke  declined  and  the  office  went  to  VVm.  F. 
Buckley.  Williams  was  unanimously  elected  treasurer.  Clossey 
and  Steele  were  nominated  for  the  official  editorship  and  the  for- 
mer w^as  elected.  Buffalo  was  selected  as  the  next  place  of  meet- 
ing. Over  twenty  important  amendments  to  the  constitution 
were  then  made  and  a  national  badge  adopted.  A  resolution  was 
then,  passed  condemning  the  Radical  party,  ami  threatened  the 
expulsion  of  any  N.  A.  P.  A.  member  who  persisted  in  being  a 
member  of  that  party,  after  whi(;h  the  fifth  annual  con venticm  ad- 
journed to  meet  in  the  Queen  City  of  the  Lakes  in  1881. 

In  the  Natmial  Amateur  for  September,  1880,  appears  an  ac- 
count of  the  Cincinnati  convention,  evidently  prepared  by  Joseph 
P.  Clossey^  the  editor.  The  following,  not  found  in  the  preceding 
accounts,  is  taken  from  this  report: 

A  resolution  denouncing  early  campaigning  and  harsh  person- 
alities was  passed.  - 

The  following  resolutions,  presented  by  Mr.  Wright,  were  then 
adopted :  ~ 

Whereas,  Certain  members  of  this  Association  have  been  sopresump- 
tious  as  to  organize  themselves  into  a  body  which  conllicts  witli  the 
constitution  of  this  organization;  and, 

WTiereas,  The  said  members  thus  constituted  under  the  caption  of  the 
"Radical  party*'  being  not  only  in  direct  opposition  to  the  object  of 
the  National  Amateur  Pi-ess  Association,  but  are  also  violating  the  laws 
of  equality  and  justice;  and, 

Whereas,  Sucli  cliques  and  cabals  are  detrimental  to  Amateur  Journal- 
ism and  the  principles  it  represents,  be  it, 

Rksolved,  That  unless  the  members  of  this  Association  belonoing 
to  the  said  "Radical  party"  comply  with  this  request  for  theni  to  le- 
sign  their  membership  as  Radicals,  they  be  expelled  from  the  National 
Amateur  Press  Association. 

The   constitution  and    by-laws,  as  amended  at  the   Cincinnati 

conv'ention  read  as  follows: 

PreamMe  : 
\Ye,  tlie  undersigned  amateurs  of  North  America,  believing  that 
through  system  and  generalization  we  can  make  our  cause  an  educa- 
tional institution  of  the  utmost  importance  to  our  country,  and  of 
almost  unlimited  value  to  the  youth  of  the  present  generation,  have 
organized  ourselves  into  an  Association    for    the    promulgation  and 


HISTORY   OP   THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  69 

advancement  of  Amateurdoni,  by  adopting  the  following  Constitution 
and  By-Laws. 

CONSTITUTION. 

Article  I— Name.  Tbis  Association  shall  be  known  as  the  National 
Aniateiir  Press  Association. 

Art.  II— Object.  It  shall  be  the  aim  of  this  Association  to  unite  the 
a  uatcur  forces  so  that  thc»  principles  represented  may  be  fully  devel- 
oped and  protected. 

Art.  Ill— Government.  In  order  that  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association  may  attain  its  object  and  consistently  become  the  represen- 
tative organization  of  the  fraternity,  a  system  of  proxy  voting  should 
be  provided  whereby  each  qualitied  member  of  this  Association  should 
be  enabled  to  have  a  voice  in  its  proceedings. 

AuT.  IV— Officers.  The  officers  .  of  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association  shall  consist  of  a  president,  first,  second  and  third  vice- 
presidents,  recording  and  corresponding  secretaries,  treasurer  and 
editor. 

AilT.  V— Duties  of  the  President.  SECTION  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  president  to  preside  at  all  conventions  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association  and  perform  such  other  duties  as  are  called  for  in 
contoniiity  wltli  this  (•onstitution  and  these  by-laws  and  the  adopted 
parliamentary   authoritv. 

SEC.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  name  the  date 
upon   which    the  Association  shall  meet. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  appoint  pro  tempore 
officers  from  among  the  members,  in  case  of  the  absence  or  disability 
of  the  recording  secretary,  corresponding  secretary  or  treasurer. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  appoint  the  reception 
committee,  and  such  other  committees  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be 
necessary;  except  such  committees  as  are  hereinafter  otherwise  pro- 
vided tor. 

Sec.  .5.  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  appoint  members  to 
take  part  in  the  literary  exercises,  as  set  forth  in  Art.  V  of  the  by- 
laws, and  to  announce  such  appointment  in  the  official  organ  before 
the  lime  of  convention. 

Sec.  6.  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  countersign  all  bills 
standing  against  the  Association  and  presented  to  the  treasurer  for 
payment. 

Sec.  7.  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  announce  to  the  Associa- 
tion at  its  annual  meeting  the  name  of  the  person  who  is  entitled  to 
the  contract  for  printing  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  deliver  over  to  the  incoming  presi- 
dent at  the  expiration  oi  his  term  of  office,  all  papers,  books,  or  prop- 
ertv  of  any  character  belonging  to  the  Association  and  in  his 
possession.  ^ 

Sec.  9,  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  present  a  message  to  the 
Association  in  convention  assembled,  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
office. 

Sec.  10.  It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  remain  active  during  his 
term  of  office  by  publishing  at  least  ten  numbers  of  a  journal  during 
his  term  of  office.  If  he  fails  to  do  so,  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  resign. 
And  no  one  number  of  his  paper  shall  be  more  than  one  month 
delayed. 

Sec.  11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  presi  lent  to  secure  the  first 
four  named  judges  of  award  as  hereafter  mentioned,  and  to  make 
known  their  acceptance  through  the  columns  of  the  official  organ  not 
later  than  the  second  number  of  the  National  Amateur.     The  president 


iO  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASBOCIATION. 

shall  also  appoint  the    fifth   judge   of  award   and  make  known  his 
acceptance  not  later  than  the  second  number  of  the  National  Amateur. 

Art.  \ I -Duties  of  the  First  Vice-President.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  first  vice-president  to  perform  all  the  duties  devolving 
upon  the  president  in  case  of  his  absence  or  disability. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  first  vice-president  to  assume 
the  chair  in  the  event  of  the  president's  resiination  or  death. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  first  vice-president's  duty  to  receive  the 
duplicate  proxy  vote  of  each  qualified  member  cast  for  officers  and 
upon  additions  to  or  amendments  of  the  constitution,  and  open  the 
same  in  the  presence  of  the  members  in  convention  assembled,  and 
read  them  in  alphabetical  order.  And  the  first  vice-president  shall 
report  during  the  first  day  of  the  convention. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  first  vice-president  to  present  to 
this  Association  at  its  annual  meeting  a  report  of  all  duties  performed 
by  him  during  his  term  of  office,  and  to  deliver  over  to  his  successor 
all  books,  papers,  or  property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  this  Associa- 
tion in  his  pofrsession. 

A-RT.  YIl—Duties  of  the  Seconi  Vice-President.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  second  vice-president  to  occupy  the  chair  in  case  of  the 
absence  or  inability  of  the  president  and  fiVst  vice-president,  and  to 
perform  all  duties  appertaining  t)  these  offices. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  second  vice-president's  duty  to  assume  the  . 
duties  of  the  first  vice-president  in  his  absence  or  inability  to  perform 
til  em. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  second  vice-president's  dutv  to  have  charge 
of  the  departments  specified  in  Art.  XXIII,  Sec.  3. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  deceive  all  articles  sent  to  these 
departments,  to  arrange  them  in  alphabetic  order  and  enter  their  titles 
and  author's  name  or  novi  de  /y?ame  in  a  book  provided  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  retain  one  copy  of  each  of  the  papers 
containing  articles  entered  for  competition  and'  to  deliver  one  copy  to 
the  judge  of  award  at  least  two  months  prior  to  the  convention, 
together  with  a  complete  list  of  the  bame. 

Sec.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  second  vice-president  to  present 
to  this  Association,  at  its  annual  meeting,  a  report  of  all  duties  per- 
foimed  by  him  during  his  term  of  oflice,  and  the  deliver  over  to  his 
successor  all  books,  papers,  or  property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  this 
Association  in  his  possession. 

AjiT.y III— Duties  of  the  Third  Vice-President.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the 
third  vice-president's  duty  to  assume  the  chair  in  case  the  officers 
prece  ling  him  in  rank  are  absent  or  unable  to  fulfill  their  duties. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  third  vice-president's  duty  to  assume  the 
duties  of  the  first  or  second  vice-president  (or  both),  in  case  of  the 
absence  of  the  latter  (or  both). 

Sec.  3.  li  shall  be  the  third  vice-president's  dutv  to  have  charge  of 
the  departments  specified  in  Art.  XXril,  Sec.  3. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  con  luct  these  departments  in  accord- 
ance with  the  rules  laid  down  for  the  departments  superintended  by 
the  second  vice-president,  as  specified  in  Art.  Vri,  See's  4  and  5. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  third  vice-president's  duty  to  present  to 
this  Association  'at  its  annual  meeting  a  report  of  all  duties  per- 
formed by  him  during  his  term  of  office,  and  to  deliver  over  to  his 
successor  all  books,  i)apers.  or  propertv  of  anv  kind  belonging  to  this 
Association  in  his  possession. 

AuT.iyi— Duties  of  the   Recording  Secretary.     Sec.   1.     It   shall    be  the 


HIRTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PBE6S    ASSOCIATION.  71 

duty  of  the  recording  secretary  to  keep  a  true  record  of  all  the  trans- 
actions of  this  Association,  and  a  complete  list  of  all  its  members,  in 
a  book  provided  for  that  purpose,  and  to  perform  such  other  duties  as 
are  customary  under  parliamentary  usage. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  recording  secretary's  duty  to  receive  the 
original  proxy  vote  of  the  members  of  this  Association,  and  open  the 
same  in  the  presence  of  the  examining  committee,  when  they  shall  be 
counted. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  preserve  the  votes,  and  after  the 
same  have  been  counted  and  a  report  made  to  the  chairman,  he  shall 
enclose  them  in  their  original  envelopes  and  file  them  away  for  future 
reference. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  present  to  this  Association  at  its 
annual  meeting  a  report  of  all  duties  performed  by  him  during  his 
term  of  office,  and  to  deliver  over  to  his  successor  all  books,  papers,  or 
property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  this  Association  in  his  possession. 
Art.  X — Duties  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  corresponding  secretary  to  issue  notices  of  convention 
upon  order  of  the  chief  executive,  at  least  two  months  prior  to  the 
date  of  such  convention. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  secretarv  to  pro- 
vide the  menibers  of  the  Association  with  official  blanks,  necessary 
for  proxy  voting,  and  in  conjunction  with  the  treasurer  and  president 
to  audit  all  bills  relative  thereto. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  secretary  to  act  as 
assistant  editor,  and  in  case  of  death,  resignation  or  inabilitv  of  the 
elitor,  to  perform  his  duties,  and  superintend  the  publication  of  the 
official  orgau  until  the  next  regular  election. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  present  to  this  Association  at 
its  annual  meeting  a  report  of  alfduties  performed  by  him  during  his 
term  of  oftice,aud  to  deliver  over  to  his  successor  all  books,  papers,  or 
property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  this  Association  in  his  possession. 
Art.  XI— Duties  of  Treasurer.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
treasurer  to  collect  all  monies  due  the  Association,  and  to  pay  all  just 
bills  accruing  against  this  Association. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  treasurer's  duty  to  keep  a  complete  list  of 
the  members  of  this  Association  in  a  book  provided  for  this  purpose, 
and  also  a  complete  and  true  account  of  ail  monies  received  and  dis- 
bursed. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  his  <luty  to  present  to  this  Association  at  its 
annual  meeting  a  report  of  all  duties  performed  by  him  during  his 
term  of  office,  and  to  deliver  over  to  his  successor  all  books,  papers 
or  property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  this  Association  in  his  posses- 
sion. 

Sec.  4.  The  treasurer  upon  election  shall  immediately  file  with  the 
secretary  a  bond  signed  by  five  members  of  this  Association,  approved 
by  the  Association,  who  jointly  and  severally  will  be  responsible  for 
all  monies  and  property  entrusted  to  the  treasurer,  upon  his  failure  to 
pay  the  amount  in  his  "hands  due  the  Association,  to  his  successor,  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office. 

Art.  X.U~-Duties  of  the  Editor.  Sec.1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
editor  to  take  entire  and  complete  eontrolof  the  official  organ,  and  to 
have  the  corresponding  secretary  act  as  assistant  editor,  by  perform- 
ing such  duties  as  may  be  necessary. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  editor  to  issue  four  numbers  of 
said  paper  durino-  the  official  year,  one  on  the  first  day  of  each  of  the 
following  months,  viz  :     September,  December,  March  and  June. 


72  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATIdN. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  editor  to  allow  nothing  of  a  po- 
litical character  to  appear  in  the  columns  of  this  paper. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  editor's  duty  to  mail  to  every  member  of 
this  Association,  and  to  every  subscriber  to  the  officiiil  journal,  one 
copy  of  every  number  as  soon  as  issued. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  present  to  this  Association  at  its 
annual  meeting  a  report  of  all  duties  performed  by  him  during  his 
term  of  otfice,  and  to  deliver  over  to  His  successor  all  books,  papers  or 
property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  this  Association  in  his  possession. 

Art.  'Kill  -Official  Organ.  Sec.  1.  The  Association  shall  publish 
quarterly  a  paper,  which  shall  be  known  as  the  National  Amateur. 

Sec.  2.  This  journal  shall  be  under  the  supervision  of  the  editor, 
who  will  edit  the  same  in  the  interests  of  this  Association. 

Sec.  3.  The  size  of  tiris  paper  shall  be  four  pages  or  more,  size  of 
each  page  9x13  inches,  set  in  long  primer  type. 

Sec.  4.  The  names  and  addresses  of  the'  officers  shall  be  published 
at  the  head  of  the  editorial  page,with  full  information  regardiuii  how 
to  join  this  Association, 

Sec.  5.  The  paper  shall  contain  reports  of  new  Associations  and  the 
meetings  of  old  oiganizations,  with  a  full  list  of  their  officers  when 
elected,  and  with  as  much  information  regarding  new  papers,  consoli- 
dations, enlargements,  improvements,  ciianses,  personals  an.i  such 
letters  froui  the  officers  and  uiembers  upon  National  topics,  etc..  as 
the  editor  can  use  to  this  Association's  best  advantage. 

Sec.  6.  The  bids  for  printing  this  journal  shall  be  received  from 
members  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  onlv.  in  sealed 
envelopes,  and  must  be  sent  to  the  president,  at  least  one  inonth  prior 
to  the  convention. 

Sec.  7.  The  subscription  price  of  this  journal  shall  be  fifteen  (15) 
cents  per  annum,  in  advance;  single  copies  five  (5)  cents  eacli. 

Sec.  8.  The  expenses  for  issuing  this  journal  shall  not  exceed  %V^ 
a  year. 

Art.  KW  -E'ection  of  Officers.  Sec.  1.  Each  member  of  the  Na- 
tional Amateur  Press  Association  shall  be  f  jrnished  with  two  official 
blanks  for  the  purpose  of  proxy  voting  for  officers  and  additions  to 
and  amendments  of  the  constitution  of  this  Association.  These  blanks 
are  to  be  furnished  by  the  corresponding  secretary  not  later  than 
thirty  days  previous  to  the  date  of  the  convention. 

Sec.  2.  These  official  blanks  shall  be  filled  out  with  the  momboi's 
choice,  and  in  the  lower  right  hand  corner,  the  name  of  the  member 
casting  the  ballot,  otherwise  it  shall  be  defective  and  not  legal. 

Sec.  3  The  official  blanks,  properly  filled  out,  shall  then  be  sealed 
in  separate  envelopes.  The  ore  containing  the  original  ballot  shall 
be  mailed  to  the  recording  secretary  of  the  Association.  The  dupli- 
cate ballot,  properly  sealed,  shall  be  mailed  to  the  first  vice-president 
of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association. 

^   S^Ec.  4.     Only  active  members  of  the  Association  are  entitle  1  to  vote 
in  the  proceedings. 

Sec  5  Any  ofiieial  blank  or  blauLs,  having  been  filled  as  hereto- 
lore  stated,  for  proxy  voting,  found  to  be  defective  in  any  way,  shall  be 
submitted  by  the  examining  committee,  through  the  president  of  the 
Association,  who  shall  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  convention, 
declare  whether  the  official  blanks  or  blank  in  question  are  legal.  If 
not  legal,  they  shall  not  be  counted. 

Sec.  6.  A  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  shall  constitute  an  elec- 
tion. 

Sec.  7.  If  no  candidate  receives  a  majority  vote  of  all  the  legal  bal- 
lots cast,  a«  heretofore  state  I,  the   two  candidates  having  the  largest 


llfSTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  73 

number  of  votes  shall  be  declared,  by  the  president,  as  nominees,  and 
a  vote  taken  bj?^  the  members  of  the  Association  in  convention 
assembled  upon  their  names,  when  the  nominee  receiving  the  ma- 
jority of  votes  cast  shall  be  declared  elected. 

Art.  X-Y— Impeachment  of  Officers.  Sec.  1.  An  officer  may  be  im- 
peached for  neglect  of  duty  or  misconduct  in  office. 

Sec.  2.  A  certificate  setting  forth  the  grounds  upon  which  impeach- 
ment is -asked,  and  signed  by  ten  active,  regular  members  of  this  As- 
sociation at  the  time  of  application,  will  be  necessary  to  institute  pro- 
ceedings. 

Sec.  3.  When  a  petition  to  impeach  a  member  or  officer  is  signed 
by  ten  active  members  of  this  Association,  it  shall  be  the  duty  ot  the 
Association  to  resolve  itself  into  a  committee  of  the  whole,  by  which 
the  matter  is  to  be  fully  investigated,  when  the  question  should  be 
put  to  a  vote,  and  if  carried  by  a  two-thirds  vote  ot  all  the  members 
present,  the  member  or  officer  is  to  be  expelled  from  the  Association. 

Sec.  4.     An  officer  shall  be  considered  innocent  until  proven  guilty. 

ART.  XVI — Membership.  Sec.  1.  Any  person  who  is  actively  in- 
terested in  Amateurdom,  is  a  publisher  of  an  amateur  paper,  or  a 
contributor  to  the  amateur  press  or  a  printer  of  amateur  publica- 
tions, and  resides  in  North  America,  may  become  a  member  of  this 
Association  by  conforming  with  the  requirements  set  forth  in  this 
constitution  and  these  by-laws,  and  no  person  shall  be  entitled  to  the 
privileges  of  membership  until  he  has.  Persons  who  are  puzzlers 
only  are  not  construed  by  this  section  to  be  contributors  to  the 
amateur  press. 

Sec.  2.  No  person  connected  with  or  contributing  to  the  "Boys' 
Weekly"  papers — the  Neiu  Yorh  Boys'  Weekly,  Our  Boys,  Boys  of  Ne^o  York 
and  Frank  Leslie^ s  Boys'  and  Ciirls'  Weekly  being  samples — or  no  disreput- 
able persons  shall  be  eligible  to  mendoership. 

Sec.  3.  Ten  black-balls  shall  be  enough  to  reject  a  name  proposed 
for  membership. 

Sec.  4.  A  committee  of  three  members,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
president,  shall  report  to  the  Association,  at  each  annual  convention, 
whether  any  names  on  the  roll  shall  be  dropped,  by  reason  of  the  in- 
activitj^  in  the  ranks  of  the  persons  so  named.  And  upon  the  adop- 
tion of  their  report  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  convention,  the  names 
shall  be  dropped. 

Art.  XVII — Suspension  and  Expulsion  of  Members.  Sec.  1.  Any  mem- 
ber connecting  himself  or  herself,  in  any  manner,  with  the  professional 
papers  known  as  "Boys'  Weeklies,"  Our  Boys  and  the  New  York  Boys^ 
Weekly  ho\n<X  pnmples — or  any  member  guilty  of  plagairism  or  any 
other  act  oi-  M-is  detrimental  to  the  interests  of  this  Association,  shall 
be  expelled  by  n  Iwo-thirds  vote  of  the  members  of  the  Association  in 
convention  assembled. 

Sec.  2.  Any  inciiiber  failing  to  pay  liis  dues  for  the  ensuing  year 
within  three  montlis  from  date  of  convention  shall  be  suspended  from 
membership  till  h:"s  dues  be  paid;  and  he  shall  receive  notice  from  the 
corresponding  secrctaiy  of  his  suspension  and  the  cause  thereof. 

Art.  XVIII— .S'm;  of  Convention.  The  conventions  of  this  Association 
shall  be  held  in  an  eastern  and  western  city,  alternately,  the  city  to 
be  selected  for  the  next  following  meeting  at  the  same  time  and  in  the 
same  manner  as  the  officers  are  elected. 

Art.  XIX — Time  of  Convention.  This  Association  shall  hold  one  con- 
vention annually,  during  the  month  of  July,  the  date  of  meeting  to  be 
announced  by  the  president  m  the  official  organ  at  least  three  months' 
in  advance  of  the  convention. 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION 

Art.  XX — Quorum.  Such  officers  and  members  as  are  present  at  a 
regular  convention  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of 
the  business  of  this  Association. 

Art.  XXI — Parliamentary  Autlwrity.  This  Association  shall  be  gov- 
erned by  Roberts'  "Rules  of  Order"  wherein  it  does  not  conflict  with 
this  constitution  and  these  by-laws. 

Art.  XXII — Committees.  Sec.  1.  A  committee  of  three  members 
shall  be  appointed  by  the  president  as  a  committee  on  credentials, 
whose  duty  it  will  be  to  be  in  session  duiing  their  entire  term  of  office,  • 
and  to  admit  or  reject  all  applicants  for  membership  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  initiation  fees  and  dues,  when  said  persons  are  legally  quali- 
fied to  become  members.  Such  action  of  the  committee  shall  be  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  regular  annual  convention. 

Sec.  2.  A  committee  on  reception,  consisting  of  five  members  (in- 
cluding the  chair)  shall  be  appointed  by  the  president. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  secure  a  room  for 
the  use  of  this  Association  while  in  session,  and  perform  such  duties 
as  the  president  may  direct. 

Sec.  4.  There  shall  be  an  executive  committee,  consisting  of  three 
members  appointed  by  the  president,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  attend 
to  anything  referred  to  it  by  this  Association. 

Art.  XXIII — Prize  Compositions,  SEC.  1.  In  order  to  promote  the 
interests  of  our  editors  and  authors,  and  the  general  tone  of  amateur 
literature,  this  Association  will  present  the  author  of  the  best  written 
article  on  any  subject,  in  accordance  with  Sec.  3.  of  this  article,  the 
title  of  "Laureate,"  as  hereinafter  specified. 

Sec.  2.  Authors  in  order  to  compete  for  the  "Laureateship"  of 
any  branch,  must  have  their  articles  printed  in  one  of  the  amateur 
papers  at  least  three  months  prior  to  the  date  of  the  following  conven- 
tion, and  send  two  copies  of  the  paper,  with  their  article  marked,  to  the 
officer  who  has  charge  of  the  department  in  which  they  wish  to  en- 
ter their  composition,  and  state  what  title  is  desired. 

Sec.  3.  Articles  may  be  written  under  the  following  heads  and 
sent  to  the  officer  whose  name  precedes  them : 

Second  vice-president,  Department  A-}  Serials.  Stories  or 
Sketches. 

Third  vice-president,  Department  B  \  Poems.  Essays.  History 
of  Amateur  Journalism. 

Abt.  XXIV — Judges  af  Award.  Sec.  1.  There  shall  be  five  judges 
of  award,  each  of  whom  shall  have  a  distinct  department,  thus :  the 
first  shall  have  charge  of  serials,  the  second  shall  have  charge  of  sto- 
ries or  sketches,  the  third  shall  have  charge  of  poems,  the  fourth 
shall  have  charge  of  essays,  the  fifth  shall  have  charge  of  histories  of 
Amateur  Journalism. 

Sec.  2.  Four  of  these  judg'es  of  award  shall  be  literary  men  of 
known  ability  not  actively  connected  with  Amateurdom.  The  fifth 
judge  of  award  shall  be  an  active   amateur. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  these  judges  of  award  to  examine 
closely  every  article  sent  them,  and  to  report  to  the  president  as  soon 
as  possible  the  one  they  believe  to  be  in  a  majority  of  respects  the 
best,  giving  their  reasons  therefor. 

Sec.  4.  Said  judges  shall  draw  up  a  paper  containing  the  titles 
of  the  articles  selected,  to  which  they  shall  annex  their  signatures  and 
the  name  of  their  department  and  sent  the  same  to  the  president  of 
this  Association  with  their  report  and  a  complete  list  of  the  compo- 
sitions received  by  them. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.  75 

Art.  XXY —Titles.  Sec.  1.  The  title  of  "Laureate"  shall  be  con- 
ferred upon  the  person  contributing  the  best  article  on  the  subjects 
specified  in  Art.  XXIII,  Sec.  3. 

Sec.  2.  Upon  receipt  of  a  certificate  signed  by  the  president  and 
recording  secretary  of  this  Association,  they  shall  be  allowed  to 
place  the  title  in  full  under  their  name  or  nom  de  plume,  wben  writing 
for  the  press,  until  the  date  of  the  next  convention. 

Art.  XXVI — Medah.  Sec.  1.  Any  State  Association  or  individual 
may  give  this  Association  one  or  more  medals  to  be  presented  in 
connection  with  the  Laureteships,  to  either  of  the  successful  authors. 

Sec.  2.  Medals  should  be  sent  to  the  president  of  this  Association 
one  month  prior  to  the  date  of  the  June  issue  of  the  National  Amateur^ 
that  he  may  acknowledge  and  announce  the  same  before  the  con- 
vention . 

Art.  XXVII — Amendments.  Sec  1.  Desired  amendments  to  this 
constitution  shall  be  sent  to  and  published  in  the  June  issue  of  the 
official  organ,  when  the  members  shall  vote  upon  them  at  the  same 
time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  they  vote  for  officers. 

Sec.  2.  A  two-thirds  vote  of  the  proxy  ballots  shall  be  necessary 
to  carry  any  amendments  lo  this  constitution.  Any  amendment 
which  secures  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  proxy  ballots  shall  be  declared 
by  the  chairman  of  the  National  convention  as  carried. 

BY-LAWS. 

Art.  I — Order  of  Business.  Sec.  1.  The  order  of  business  of  this 
Association  at  all  conventions  shall  be  as  follows:  1,  roll  call;  2, 
reading  of  minutes  of  previous  meeting;  3,  report  of  committee  on 
credentials;  4,  electicm  of  members;  5,  reports  of  committees  (except 
committee  on  credentials);  6,  annual  reports  of  ofiicers;  7,  announce- 
ment of  the  proxy  ballots;  8,  election  of  officers  by  the  convention 
when  in  order;  9,  unfinished  business;  10,  miscellaneous  business;  11, 
literary  exercises;  12,  adjournment. 

Sec.  2.  The  presiding  officers  shall  have  power  to  change  this 
order  of  business  if  circumstances  require. 

Art.  II — Finance.  Sec.  1.  The  initiation  fee  shall  be  $1,  and  the 
annual  dues  $1,  payable  in  advance. 

Sec  2.  No  person  shall  be  allowed  to  participate  in  the  actions  of 
the  convention  unless  tree  from  indebtedness  to  the  Association. 

Sec  3.  A  disorderly  member  being  called  to  order  three  times  by 
the  chair  shall  be  fined  25c,  and  for  each  and  every  additional 
oflfensQ  10c. 

Art.  Ill — Official  Stationery.  The  Association  shall  vote  at  each 
convention  a  sufficient  appropriation  to  the  corresponding  secretary 
for  him  to  procure  official  blanks  for  the  purpose  of  proxy  voting  for 
the  ensuing  year.  Appropriations  shall  also  be  voted  at  each  conven- 
tion to  the  corresponding  secretary  for  issuing  invitations. 

Art.  IV — Minutes  and  Boll.  The  records  of  this  Associations  shall 
be  open  to  the  examination  of  members  at  all  meetings. 

Art.  V — Literary.  The  literary  exercises  at  each  convention  shall 
consist  of  an  oration,  poem  and  essay  and  such  other  and  further 
matter  as  the  presiding  officer  at  such  convention  may  direct. 

Art,  VI — Eules  of  Order.  1.  Any  five  members  may  appeal  from  any 
decision  of  the  chair,  and  it  shall  require  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the 
members  present  and  voting  to  sustain  such  an  appeal. 

2.    A  motion  to  reconsider  can  only  be  made  by   a  member  who 


76  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

voted  with  the  prevaihng  party  on  the  original  question,  and  shall 
only  be  in  order  when  made  at  the  same  meeting. 

3.  Resolutions  and  reports  of  committees  (other  than  the  report  of 
progress),  must  be  made  in  writing  and  handed  to  the  recotding  sec- 
retary by  the  parties  offering  the  same. 

4.  All  motions  except  the  motion  to  adjourn  must  be  reduced  to 
writing,  if  a  request  to  that  effect  be  made  by  two  or   more  members. 

Art.  VII — Amendments.  Amendments  to  these  bydaws  pay  be  made 
by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a  convention,  and  any 
one  or  more  may  be  suspended  for  one  meeting  by  a  unanimous  vote 
of  the  members  present  thereat. 

The  following  new  members  were  admitted  at  the  Cincinnati 
meeting:  C.  C.  Rickert,  Buckeye  JEnterprise,  CanaL Dover,  O.  ; 
John  Biin\ey, Detroiter,  W.  M.  Hewitt,  Furnace,  Jason  B.  Acker- 
man,  Odds  and  Ends,  Albert  J.  Stranger,  Stranger,  Warren  J. 
'^iles,  Cap  Sheaf ,  G.  T.  Kast,  Fatriot,  Detroit  Mich.  ;  Ulrich 
Knoch,  Youths'  Lyceum,  M.  J.  Harty,  Our  Galaxy,  A.  Rammel- 
karap,  Gaherlunzie,  Geo.  B.  Huffington,  TruWs  Lyceum,  Geo. 
F.  Pierret,  Mo7ithly  Blossom,  St.  Louis,  Mo.  ;  Chas.  G.  Steele, 
Boys^  Herald,  T.  H.  Parsons,  Our  Blade,  Miss  Delle  E.  Knapp, 
John  Fischer,  Tomahawk,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ;  Ed.  B.  Swift,  Ex- 
ponent, and  Connoisseur,  Morris  H.  Tcjbias,  Our  Trumpet,  Frank 

C.  Lindsley,  Buckeye  Herald,  Ricdiard  Zerbe,  Junior  Record,  J. 
O'Hara,  Thos.  Kennedy,  Junior  Record,  Cincinnati,  O.  ;  John 
J.  Weissert,  Vigilant,  Pittsburg,  Pa.  ;  Ed.  Collier  and  CIrarles 
Mehoff,  Boomer,  Lincoln,  Neb.  ;  Chas.    T.  Bunce,  Yankee   Boy, 

D.  H.  Wheeler,  Our  Boijs,  Omaha,  Neb.  ;  George  E.  Bryson, 
Spy,  Hawkinsville.  Fla.  ;  Philip  I.  Figel,  Ubiquitous,  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.  ;  Frank  J.  Stanton,  Yankee  Clipper,  James  R.  Gleason, 
FiJot,  New  York  City;  B.  B.  Pelham,  Venture,  Detroit,  Mich.; 
WiHis  E.  Scott,  Egyptian  Star,  Kenton,  O.  ;  Will  S.  Knox,  Vin- 
dicator and  Boys^  Doings,  Marietta,  O.  ;  Miss  Laura  V.  Laing, 
Plaiufield,  N.  J.  ;  E.  E.  Stowell,  Amateur  Globe,  Mt.  Carroll, 
111.  ;  Chas.  A.  Crouch,  Brantford,  Conn.  ;  Fred  H.  Kimball, 
Vermonter,  Montpelier,  Vt.  ;  Fred  Kibbe,  Standard,  Toledo,  O. ; 
C.  C.  Morris,  Young  Democrat,  Greensburg,  Pa.  ;  J.  M.  Allen, 
Faris  Times,  Paris,  Ky.  ;  D.  A.  Sullivan,  Index,  Lowell,  Mass. ; 
Ed.  W.  Robinson,  Ventilator,  Millview,  Fla. 

Among  "old  timers"  in  attendance  were  Alf  M.  Cohen,  of  Our 
Banner,  Cincinnati,   largest  paper  in  1874  ;  Chas.  W.  Faber  and 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  7* 

Milton  French,  of  the  old  Buckeye  Gem,  Dayton,  O.  ;  and  J.  M. 
Kramer  of  the  Composing  Slick,  Dtiyton,  O. 

The  provision  of  the  constitution  admitting  Canadians  to  the 
rights  of  membership  was  an  amendment,  adopted  at  this  meeting. 

Interest  in  Amateur  Journalism  waned  considerably  after  the 
Cincinnati  convention.  Only  one  number  of  the  Motional  Ama- 
teur was  issued,  and  that  was  much  delayed  by  tiie  siokness  of 
Mr.  Clossey,  the  editor. 

The  death  of  Oswald  L.  Williams  vacated  the  office  of  treasurer, 
and  President  Harrison  appointed  himself  treasurer  pro  iem. 
Mr.  Buckley  declined  the  office  of  recording  secretary  and  Churls 
G.  Steele,  Jr.,  was  appointed  in  his  stead. 

President  Harrison  declared  unconstitutional  the  resolution 
adopted  at  the  Cincinnati  convention,  demanding  the  resigna- 
tion from  the  radical  party  of  all  members  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 

The  one  issue  of  the  National  Amateur  published   during  ihh 

term  consisted  of  fuur  pages,  similar  in  size  to    those    ot    VolQm« 

2,  and  probably  printed  by  the  oHicial  editor,  Joseph  P.  Clossej'. 

It  contained  some  editorial  notes,    an    article    on    the    death    of 

Oswald  Williams,  a  report  of  the  Cincinnati  convention,   message 

of  President  Harrison,  and  the  following  treasurer's  report: 

Amount  received  at   Cincinnati  $32  00 

Paid  Oswald  L.  Williams  bill 20  00 

$12  00 
Received  from  W.  L.  Wright  less  postage  and 
money  order 70 

$11  30 
Eeceived  from  Frank  M.  Morris 6  35 

^17  65 
Thos.  G.  Harrison, 
Treasurer  pro  tern. 

At  the  close  of  1880  amateur  afffiirs  were  at  a  lower  ebb  than 
ever  previously  since  the  organization  of  the  Nationnl  Amateur 
Press  Association.  This  was  due  greatly  to  the  inactivity  of  th* 
official  board,  the  president  having  dropped  all  amateur  work. 

Among  the  leading  papers  of  this  year  were  the  Dial,  Vanity 
Fair,  Youths'  Lyceum,  Composing  Stick,  Young  American,  Indesc, 
Our  Banner,  Independent  Times,  Flmdealer,  TdUer,  Clipper^ 
Connomeiir  and  Satirist . 


CHflFTERS. 

BEGINNING  OVER,  AT  BUFFALO. 

The  Year  Opens  Quietly.— Sanderson's  Convention  Report. — 

Small  Attendance. — The  Transom  Trick. — Election   of 

Officers. — Kempner's     Account. — Organization   of  the 

I.  A.  A.  L. — Official  Minutes. — Laureateships. — Reeve's 

'  Administration. — Papers  of  the  Year. 

WHEN  the  year  1881  opened  Amateur  Journalism  was 
at  a  very  low  ebb.  Papers  were  few  and  far  between  ; 
some  even  predicted  that  there  would  be  no  meeting  at 
Buffalo.  President  Harrison  had  dropped  out  of  the  ranks  and 
Thos.  H.  Parsons,  first  vice-president,  had  assumed  the  duties  of 
the  presidential  office. 

"Harrison's  Career"  says: 

The  opening  of  the  year  1881  did  not  show  any  special  improve- 
ment. The  cry  of  degeneration  has  been  so  often  raised,  how- 
ever, that  amateur  journalists  felt  no  alarm  at  the  condition  of 
affairs,  as  they  realized  that  Amateur  Journalism  is  perpetually 
degenerating,  but  just  as  often  does  it  regenerate.  At  the  close 
of  the  year  it  was  greatly  prospering,  and  more  pjipers  were  pub- 
lished than  at  any  time  in  the  previous  two  years.  During  the 
latter  part  of  the  year,  several  professional  boys'  papers  of  an 
elevated  and  clean  tone,  opened  their  columns  to  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism and  devoted  departments  to  its  affairs.  These  had  the 
effect  of  bringing  many  recruits  into  the  ranks.  The  National 
A.  P.  A,  campaign  was  not  very  brisk  this  year.  Frank  N.  Reeve 
was  the  only  candidate  in  nomination  for  the  presidency  until 
within  about  three  weeks  before  the  convention,  when  Max  A. 
Lesser  placed  himself  in  the  contest. 

The  following  account  of  the  Buffalo  convention  was  written 
by  Howard  K.  Sanderson  and  published  in  his  Bay  State  Press. 
It  was  afterwards  used  by  Mr.  Harlan  H.  Ballard,  in  his  famous 
article  on  Amateur  Newspapers,  published  in  St.  Nicholas^  and 
we  copy  it  as  printed  there,  minus  the  headlines : 

Since  June  1st  we  have  thought  of  nothing  else  but  the  con- 
vention of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  which  was  to 
be  held  in  Buffalo,  in  July.     It  had  been  our   one   thought   and 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  79 

wish  to  attend  the  meeting,  and  in  accordance  with  this  we  began 
to  save  up  our  spare  shekels  and  to  accumulate  enough  collateral 
to  attend  it.  The  morning  of  the  16th  of  July  found  us  count- 
ing our  cash,  and  to  our  great  joy  we  found  that  we  were  able  to 
go.  Hurriedly  packing  our  knapsack,  we  boarded  the  train  at 
the  little  depot  in  Warren  and  were  soon  proceeding  at  a  rattling 
rate  toward  the  capital  of  the  Empire  state. 

After  a  ride  of  five  hours,  we  jumped  off  the  train  in  Albany. 
While  waiting  here  for  eight  dreary  hours,  we  were  suddenly  con- 
fronted by  two  hungry  looking  individuals  who  had  the  appearace 
of  being  amateurs.  One  of  them  stepped  up  to  us  and  said, 
"Is  this  Sanderson?"  and  we  were  soon  shaking  hands  witlj 
Reeve  and  Kempner.  The  eight  hours  at  length  passed  avyay 
and  found  us  slowly  rolling  out  of  Albany.  At  8,  next  morning, 
the  train  steamed  into  Buffalo.  After  a  short  search  we  found 
Charlie  Steele,  of  the  Boys^  Herald,  and  soon  afterwards  came 
unexpectedly  upon  Parsons,  Imrie  and  Gleasou. 

We  took  no  breakfast,  but  went  directly  to  Congress  Hall  to 
see  if  any  of  the  boys  had  arrived.  Finding  no  new  names  on 
the  hotel  register,  we  adjourned  to  Reeve's  room,  and  stretched 
out  on  a  sofa  to  sleep.  We  were  scarcely  lost  to  consciousness 
when  a  clatter  of  feet  was  heard  in  the  hall,  the  door  flew  open 
and  in  came  Pelham,  of  Detroit.  After  a  fraternal  handshake,, 
we  learned  that  the  Pittsburg  boys  had  arrived,  and,  rushing  up 
stairs,  we  soon  had  hold  of  the  hands  of  Weissert  and  Kochr  .In 
a  few  minutes  all  the  boys  had  gathered  in  Reeve's  room,  and  a 
lively  conversation  was  carried  on  for  some  time. 

Telegrams  had  been  coming  in  all  day  from  the  boys,  but  the 
evening  brought  the  most  important  one.  It  was\lirected  to 
"F.  N.  Reeve,  Congress  Hall,  Buffalo,"  and  read  as  follows: 

Monroe,  Mich.,  July  17th.  Train  loreclced.  Nobody  hurt.  Will  come  Wed-r 
nesday  eve.     Niles  and  least. 

All  were  suspicious  that  something  was  up,  for  the  message  was 
received  on  the  wrong  kind  of  a  blank,  and  a  capital  lettel-  was^ 
missing.  Hunting  up  the  boy  who  brought  it,  we  found  that  it 
was  given  him  by  three  boys  on  the  corner  of  Michigan  street, 
and  that  it  never  came  through  the  office.  It  was,  as  we  aftjexT ; 
ward  found  out,  a  trick  of  the  Lesserites  to  dishearten  us..    V,  V' 

Looking  over  the  register  that  evening  we  found  that  Lesser, 
Ritter  and  Buckley  had  arrived.  .     ." 

Tuesday  morning  found  us  at  Congress  Hall  at  an  early  hour.^. 
Niles,  Kast,  Brown  and  Rickert  arrived,  and  we  were  introduced'' 
in  rapid  succession.  _'. 

^  At  11  o'clock  a  caucus  was  held  in  Reeve's  room.  A, regular 
ticket  was  made  up  and  a  plan  of  business  mapped  out.  A  huge 
sign  adorned  the  entrance   of   the   room   and   read   as   follows: 


^  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATIOISr. 

**{tEEVE    HEADQUARTERS.      NO    QUARTER    GIVEN." 

lo  the  middle  of  it  was  a  representation    of   a   sknll    and    cross- 

Tbenaeeting  was  appointed  to  convene  at  2  o'clock,  but  it  was 
BtDtcalled  until  3.  None  of  the  Lesser  faction  appeared,  and  a 
committee,  consisting  of  Fischer  and  Sanderson,  was  sent  to  re- 
quest their  attendance.  Arriving  at  their  room,  we  were  invited 
iq.  Delling  them  that  the  meeting  was  to  be  called  in  live  min- 
uses', w-e  were  replied  to  b}^  joung  Gleason,  who  said : 

'^yy>u  appointed  the  convention  at  2  o'clock.  No  one 
appi^red' and  Lesser  called  the  meeting.  No  one  came  and  now 
the  thing's  adjourned  sine  die. 

We  said  nothing  and  turned  to  go,  but  what  was  our  dismay  to 
^ud  the  door  locked  and  the  ke^^  on  the  outside.  The  Lesserites 
had  us  completely  in  their  power.  The  meeting  was  being  held 
d&wn-Srtairs  and  we  could  not  get  there.  Our  wrath  rose  a  little 
at  this  point,  and  stepping  to  one  side  of  the  room  we  gave  the 
servants'  bell  a  violent  pull.  No  one  answered,  but  having 
abserved  the  lay  of  the  land  we  suddenly  seized  a  chair  and^, 
plaxjing  it  by  the  side  of  the  door,  leaped  up  over  it  and  squeezed 
out  ol  the  little  window  at  the  top,  before  they  could  realize  what 
w&  were  doing.  Hurrying  down  to  the  parlor,  we  found  that 
the  convention  had  just  been  called  to  order. 

At:  3:05  o'clock  President  Parsons  called  the  meeting  to 
OFdeF.  Minutes  of  last  meeting  were  read  and  accepted.  A  large 
UumbeT'Of  new  recruits  were  added  to  the  me«jbership  list.  The 
following  were  appointed  as  laureate  winners  for  the  year:  Jas. 
L.  Elderdiee,  poet;  Wm.  F,  Buckley,  sketch;  Chas.  S.  Elgutter, 
e«jsay. 

The  treasurer  reported  $15.50  in  the  treasury.  After  a  good 
deal  o|. minor  business  had  been  transacted,  the  election  of  offi- 
cers occured  at  4:50.  Will  C.  Brown  arose  and  stated  that  he 
kad  the  pleasure  of  nominating  Frank  N.  Reeve  for  ilie  ]>resi- 
dency..  No  opponent  appearing,  he  was  elected  by  irh  lniii!»li«  n. 
In  response  to  the  cries  of  "speech,"  he  rose  and  ndtlressed  a 
few  well-chosen  words  to  the  Association,  and  sjit  dowji  amitl 
hearty  applause.  He  was  the  escorted  to  theclndr  by  a  c<  n.niil- 
tee  of  two  and  the  election  proceeded  as  follows:  Louis  Kemp- 
ner  nominated  F.  E.  Day  for  lirst  vice-j^resident  and  he  was 
elected  unanimously.  Sanderson  nominated  J.  A.  Imiie  for 
aecoftd  vice-president,  and  he  was  also  elected  withouto])position. 
KoF  third  vice-president,  Wylie  and  Kempner  were  nominated. 
The  Association  then  protceded  to  ballot,  and  it  resulted  as  fol- 
lo'ws:  Kempner,  11  ;  Vylle.  1.  Mr.  Kempner  was  declared 
elected.  J*  J.  Weisseri  ai.d  Warren  J.  Niles  were  elected  re- 
cording and.  corresponding  secretaries.     Howard  K.    Sanderson 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  81 

was  elected  treasurer  by  a  majority  of  eight  votes  over  his  oppon- 
ent, Chas.  C.  Riokert.  Finlay  A.  Grant  was  elected  official  edi- 
tor, and  Detroit,  Mich.,  as  the  next  place  of  meeting. 

Each  of  the  newly  elected  officers  present  responded  with  short 
speeches.  Bills  against  the  Association  were  ordered  paid.  Ad- 
journed. 

Louis  Kempner's  account  of  the  same  convention  in  the  Empire 
/SMe  J.maiewr  (1889)  covers  the  same  ground,  but  brings  out 
several  new  points,  and  much  of  it  is  produced  below: 

In  point  of  attendance  the  Buffalo  convention  of  1881  was  not 
a  success.  But  its  importance  is  not  to  be  thus  measured ;  for,  as 
a  matter  of  fact,  no  convention  has  had  a  greater  infliieuce  in  de- 
veloping Amateur  Journalism,  no  convention  has  been  fraught 
with  greater  consequences. 

The  following  amateur  journalists  were  in  attendance,  and  they 
indicate  by  personal  differences  of  motives,  aims,  and  character- 
istics, the  complete  nature  of  the  convention:  Frank  N.  Reeve, 
Charles  G.  Steele,  Jr.,  Will  C.  Brown,  Thomas  H.  Parsons,  C.  C. 
Rickert,  Howard  K.  Sanderson,  John  J.  Weissert,  Benj,  B.  Pel- 
ham,  W.  S.  Niles,  G.  T.  Kast,  J.  A.  Imrie,  Geo.  O.  Koch,  John 
Fischer,  Louis  Kempuer,  W.  F.  Buckley,  J.  Roosevelt  Gleason, 
M.  A.  Lesser,  and  W,  F.  Ritter.  At  this  convention,  the  diver- 
gence of  the  two  schools  of  amateur  journalists, — the  literary  and 
the  political  school, — for  thus  they  may  be  called,  if  not  with  ab- 
solute accuracy,  yet  for  convenience  of  designation — for  the  first 
time  assumed  political  form  in  the  rival  organization  which  was 
there  and  then  set  up  under  the  name  of  the  International  Ama- 
teur Authors'  Lyceum.*  The  organizers  of  the  new  association 
were  M.  A.  Lesser,  J.  R.  Gleason,  W.  F.  Buckley,  and  W.  F. 
Ritter.  They  adopted  a  constitution  and  elected  a  hoard  of 
officers.  They  endeavored  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  Chas.  S. 
Elgutter  and  Dennie  A.  Sullivan ;  in  this  ihey  failed.  They 
elected  J.  D.  Miller  one  of  the  vice-presidents ;  that  gentleman 
promptly  resigned  when  notified.  The  real  motive  of  tiie  bolt 
f  om  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  so  far  as  Lesser 
himself  was  concerne<l.  was  his  bitter  disappoinhnent  at  the  de- 
feat which  stared  hitn  in  tiie  face,  at  the  hands  of  his  hated  rival. 
The  career  of  the  orgauizaiion  was  short  and  uneventful.  In 
after  years  every  political  aspirant  for  election  to  any  office  in  the 


*  Lesser  and  a  few  of  his  friends  oro:;inized  the  Internationnl  Amateur 
Authors'  Lyceum,  at  Buffalo,  in  antaoonism  to  the  Xational  A.  P.  A.. 
and  in  consequence  of  Lesser's  defeat.  Xot  being  supported  by  the 
fraternity  to  any  extent,  it  has  virtually  ceased  to  exist. — Harrison  s 
Career. 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

National  Association  has  been  compelled  to  explain  definitely 
what  part  he  played  in  that  conspiracy. 

The  organization  of  the  I.  A.  A.  L.  was  the  so^e  thing  which 
detracted  from  the  success  of  the  event  which  I  am  describing, 
for  notwithstanding  the  small  attendance  at  the  sixth  annual 
convention  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  to  the  result  of  the  convention  is 
due  the  present  prosperous  condition  of  the  Association,  And 
to  one  man  above  all  others  must  be  given  the  credit  of  reviving 
f  nd  fostering  our  National  Association-^to  oqr  late  lamented  e5^-» 
president,  Frank  Newton  Reeve.  What  he  has  done  for  Ama-= 
teur  Journalism  through  his  work  for  theN.  A.  P.  A,  will  evep 
be  a  bright  and  conspicuous  page  of  our  history, 

The  Buffalo  convention  was  virtually  a  reorganiasation  of  the 
N.  A.  P.  A.  This  may  seem  a  strange  assertion,  but  it  is  based 
upon  the  fact  that  nothing  in  the  nature  of  a  document  regarding 
the  previous  existence  of  the  Association  was  at  hand.  The  roll 
oi  membership  now  in  use  was  began  at  Buffalo  in  1S81  which 
accounts  for  the  absence  therefrom  of  many  Southern  Amateurs, 
and  also  of  such  names  as  J.  Winslovv  Snyder,  Jos.  P.  Clossey, 
J.  Austin  Fynes,  J.  E.  Briggs,  W.  T.  Wright,  A.  J.  Huss,  W. 
T.  Hall,  Carl  Ficke,  C.  C.  Heuman,  Richard  Gerner,  A.  W. 
Dingwall,  Correl  Kendall,  Delavan  W.  Gee,  Chas.  H.  Young,  C. 
K.  Farley,  and  many  others  of  equal  fame  who  played  important 
parts  in  the  earlier  history  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Associ- 
ation. 

Of  the  papers  published  that  year  the  greater  portion  supported 
Reeve  and  the  only  opposition  to  his  candidacy  was  in  New  York 
City,  among  a  large  but  not  influential  elemeat,  controlled  en- 
tirely, not  by  intelligent  preferences,  but  by  the  personal  leader- 
ship of  M.  A.  Lesser.  The  latter  gentleman  was  rather  the 
author  of  his  own  nomination ;  and  his  candidacy  was  dictated 
by  his  bitter  enmity  toward  his  rival.  He  issued  a  paper  shortly 
before  the  convention  and  announced  himself  a  candidate  in  a 
letter  of  acceptance  remarkable  for  the  vigor  and  vindictiveness 
of  its  language. 

It  was  certainly  not  a  cheerful  outlook  that  greeted  Reeve, 
Sanderson,  and  the  writer  upon  their  arrival  at  Buffalo  on  the 
morning  of  July  17th,  1881.  Reeve  anticipated  the  presence  of 
at  least  forty  amateurs. 

The  Lesserites  were  circulating  stories  about  the  great  number 
of  anti-Reeveites  who  were  en  route  for  the  convention.  Reeve, 
equal  to  the  occasion,  was  doing  liis  utmost  to  cheer  his  followers, 
and  made  praperations  for  a  determined  battle.  On  the  door  of 
his  parlor  was  tacked  a  large  canvass  banner,  bearing  the  follow- 
ing legend:  "Reeve  Headquarters:  No  quarter  given,"  with 
representation  of  skull  and  crossbones. 


HISTORY  OF  THF.  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION  83 

There  turned  out  to  be  little  reason  for  anxiety.  The  Lesser- 
ites  were  nois}',  but  not  formidable. 

When  the  conveution  was  called  to  order  by  President  Par- 
sous  it  was  noticed  that  the  Lesserites  were  absent.  A  committee 
consisting-  of  Sanderson  and  Kempuer  were  sent  to  request  their 
attendance. 

On  the  following  morning  President  Reeve  called  the  conven- 
tion to  order  at  9 ;  30  and  resolutions  denouncing  the  action  of 
Lesser  and  his  followers  were  adopted  and  ordered  printed  in  the 
official  organ. 

It  was  durinor  this  period  that  the  scheme  for  the  issuance  of  a 
journal  by  a  joint  stock  company,  first  proposed  by  Mr.  Reeve, 
was  under  discussion  ;  and  a  good  portion  of  the  last  day  was  de- 
voted to  suggestions,  and  a  final  endorsement  of  the  enterprise. 
It  seems  strange  that  this  plan  has  not  been  revived  in  recent 
years,  at  a  time  when  a  probably  much  greater  financial  support 
could  be  secured. 

It  may  be  well  here  to  dwell  briefly  upon  the  character  and 
career  of  our  lamented  friend,  F,  N.  Reeve,  who  was  on  that 
occasion  selected  by  a  small  but  representative  convention  to  be 
the  supreme  execntive  for  the  ensuing  term.  He  was  certainly 
the  most  remarkable  fitjure  of  that  convention  ;  the  vigor  and  in- 
dependence of  his  character,  his  sterling  honesty,  and  his  long 
and  honorable  career  were  fitly  remembered.  He  had  been 
accused  of  being  a  politician,  it  had  even  been  said  that  he  cared 
nothing  for  the  welfare  of  the  Association.  Let  us  look  back 
and  see  if  those  detractions  are  warranted  by  facts.  Here  was  a 
convention  with  about  a  dozen  present.  Yet  in  the  distribution 
of  officers  Mr.  Reeve  proved  his  devotion  to  the  interest  of  Na- 
tional organization  by  insisting  that  the  board  should  be  repre- 
sentative, not  of  a  section,  but  of  the  entire  country.  The  re- 
sult was  that  out  of  eight  officers  elected  the  following  states 
were  represented:  New  Jersey,  low^a,  Ontario,  New  York,  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  Massachusets  and  Nova   Scotia. 

The  administration  of  President  Reeve  was  an  entirely  suc- 
cessful one.  Its  ability  was  signally  marked ;  and  under  his 
fostering  care  the  National  organization  emerged  from  a  state  of 
lassitude  to  a  vigorous  and  aggressive  existence.  No  convention 
ever  wrought  more  powerfully  for  the  destinies  of  Amateur 
Journalism  than  the  numerically  insignificant  but  representative- 
ly important  body  that  convened  at  Buffalo  on  the  17th  day  of 
July,  J881. 

In  the  September,  1881,  National  ^nateur,  the  minutes  of  the 
convention — the  first  official  minutes  ever  published — give  the 
following  additional  details : 


84  ai8TO»V   OP  1*HI?   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  l»BESS  ASSOCIATION. 

Tbe  roll  of  members  was  called  and  the  following  gentlemen 
found  to  be  present:  Kempner,  Reeve,  Parsons,  Kast,  Niles, 
Pelham,  Weissert,  Koch,  Brown,  Rickert,  Steele,  Stanch,  Imrie, 
Fischer  and  Sanderson. 

In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Newsome,  chairman  of  the  credential 
committee,  B.  Pelham,  one  of  the  committee,  was  appointed  to 
act  in  that  capacity  by  the  president,  and  Chas.  G.  Steele,  Jr., 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  committee. 

Among  the  applications  for  membership  the  names  of  Messrs. 
Glenn,  McClain,  Delaney  and  Wilson  were  rejected  on  account 
of  their  connection  with  the  New  York  Boys  class  of  papers. 

The  proxy  ballots  were  opened  and  read  by  Corresponding 
Secretary  Brcwn,  who  announced  that  of  the  100  sets  of  blank 
ballots  sent  to  members,  only  eighteen  had  been  returned.  Five 
of  the  eighteen  did  not  stiictly  comply  with  the  requirements  of 
the  constitution  and  were  thrown  out.  The  president  then  stated 
that  he  had  received  ballots  and  $2  each  from  E.  R.  Riale,  J.  P. 
Glenn  and  J.  W.  McClain.  The  former  being  in  arrearages  for  a 
large  sura,*  his  ballot  was  thrown  out  and  the  $2  placed  to  his 
credit. 

Messrs.  Glenn  and  McClain  having  been  denied  membership, 
the  treasurer  was  ordered  to  return  their  money.  The  remain- 
ing thirteen  ballots  disclosed  the  following  result: 

For  President— F.  N.  Reeve,  12  ;  blank,  1. 

For  First  Vice-President — U.  Knoch,  3  ;  W.  W.  Delaney,  1 ; 
Ben  Newsome,  6  ;  T.  H.  Parsons,  3. 

,   For  Second  Vice-President — J.  A.  Imrie,    7 ;   W.    O.    Wylie, 
3;  Louis  Kempner,  1  ;  F.  A.  Grant,  1 ;  blank,  1. 

For  Third  Vice-President — P.  J.  Donahue,  4  ;  J.  A.  Imrie,  2  ; 
W.  O.  Wylie,  6  ;  F.  E.  Day,  1. 

For  Recording  Secretary — J.  J.  Weissert,  12  ;  PI  E.  Stowell,l. 

For  Corresponding  Secretary — W.  J.  Niles,  12;  M.  A. 
Lesser,  1. 

For  Treasurer — H.  K.  Sanderson,  11;  W.J.  Niles,  1 ;  blank,  1. 

For  Official  Editor— F.  A.  Grant,  5  ;  T.  H.  Parsons,  4 ;  Ben 
Newsome,  4.  ' 

For  next  place  of  meeting — Detroit,  8  ;  Philadephia,  1 ;  New 
York,  3. 

Moved  and  seconded  that  the  proxy  ballots  be  thrown  out  as 
the  first  vice-president  had  failed  to  send  in  the  "duplicate" 
ballots,  as  required  by  the  constitution.     Carried. 

Messrs.  Parsons,  Steele,  Imrie  and  Kast  having  signified  their 


♦It  is  hard  to  reconcile  this  statement  with  Mr. Kempner \s  remark  that 
this  convention  had  "nothing  la  tbe  nature  of  a  document  regarding 
the  previous  existence  of  the  Association."' — Editor. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIO^rAL    AMATIlUR    PRESS    ASSOCfATION  85 

intention  of  sio^ning  Mr.  Sanderson's  bond,  it  was  moved  and 
seconded  that  they  be  accepted.     Carried. 

Moved  and  seconded  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  draw  up 
relolutions  condemning  and  censuring  the  actions  of  Max  A. 
Lesser  and  party.  Carried.  Messrs.  Kast,  Steele  and  Imrie 
were  appointed  as  such  committee. 

Moved  aad  seconded  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  draw 
np  resolutions  extending  our  sympathy  to.  and  denouncing  the 
attempted  assassination  of  our  president,  Jas.  A.  Garfield. 
Carried. 

The  committee  appointed  to  draw  up  resolutions  denouncing 
the  actions  of  Max  A.  Lesser  &  Co.,  reported  as  follows: 

Whereas,  Max  A.  Lesser,  Jr.,  and  his  associates  having  acted  at  or 
before  the  assembling  of  this  convention  in  a  manner  entirely  nnl)e- 
coming  to  an  Amateur  of  good  standing,  and  having  behaved  in  an 
entirely  childish  manner  in  not  putting  in  an  appearance  at  the  con- 
vention, and 

Whereas,  The  said  Max  A.  Lesser,  Jr.,  in  keeping  from  this  con- 
vention documents  purporting  to  be  reports  from  two  of  the  judges  of 
award  has  acted  in  a  manner  entirely  unbecoming  a  gentleman,  and. 

Whereas,  The  said  Max  A.  Lesser,  Jr.,  by  his  actions  in  trying  to 
bring  into  this  convention  several  parties  for  furthering  his  schemes, 
who  have  no  connection  with  Amateurdom,  thus  attempting  to  violate 
the  constitution,  has  shown  that  he  does  not  take  an  honorable 
interest  in  the  cause  which  he  is  supposed  to  love;  therefore,  be  it 

Bosolved,  That  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  now  in 
convention  assembled  do  heartily  censure  the  actions  and  misdeeds 
of  the  said  Max  A.  Lesser,  Jr.,  and  further,  that  the  cause  of  Amateur 
Jotrnalism  would  be  decidedly  improved  if  the  elements  of  which  the 
said  Lesser  is  the  leader  were  driven  out  of  existance. 

Moved  and  seconded  that  a  copy  of  the  above  resolutions  be 
sent  to  the  Manhattan  A.  P.  A.  for  endorsement.     Carried. 

Committees  were  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  endorsing 
Youth  and  Pleasure  and  to  correspond  with  the  publisher  of 
Golden  Days  regarding  an  "Amateur  News"  department. 

The  Association  "recognized''  the  "scheme  of  Mr.  F.  N. 
Reeve"  and  decided  to  render  him  all  assistance  in  its  power  to 
further  the  project. 

The  following  were  the  entries  for  the  poet  laureateship :  "At 
Last,"  by  Nettie  St.  Clair ;  "Home  of  the  Heart,"  by  Roger 
Burke,  Jr.  ;  "Contemplation,"  by  Queerquilie;  "Nathan  and 
Mithradanes,"  by  Joseph  Dana  Miller ;  "Nemesis,"  by  James 
J.  O'Connell;  "Frogregsiveness  of  Development,"  by  James  L. 
Elderdice.  The  judge  was  Arthur  Huss,  and  he  judged  the 
poems  as  to  sense,  meter,  rhyme  and  poetic  beauty.      "Progress- 


00  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUB  PREes  ASSOCIATION. 

iveness  of  Development,"  by  James  L.  Elderdice  was  awarded 
the  title. 

For  the  sketch  laureateship  the  following  entries  were  made: 
"Dorcas,"  by  Wm.  F.  Buckley;  "A  Noble  Sacrifice,"  by  Queer 
Quill,  and  "A  Tale  of  Honor,"  by  Nettie  St.  Clair.  W.  T. 
Scolield  was  judge  of  awards,  and   gave  the  title  to  Mr.  Buckley. 

John  W.  Snyder, as  judge,  awarded  the  title  of  essayist  laureate 
to  C.  S.  Elgutter  for  his  essay  on  "Thomas  Carlyle."  There 
were  three  essays  in  competition. 

Shortly  after  the  convention,  Mr.  W.  J.  Niles,  resigned  the 
office  of  corresponding  secretary,  and  President  Reeve  appointed 
Charles  C.  Rickert,  of  Canal  Dover,  O.,  as  his  successor. 
Messers.  H.  E.  Mergenthaler  and  C.  H.  Kishner,both  of  FosLoria, 
O.,  were  appointed  as  members  of  the  credential  committee, 
together  with  the  correspoadiug  secretary  as  chairman. 

President  Reeve  also  announced  that  in  all  cases  where  persons 
were  elected  members  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  without  their  knowledge 
or  consent,  fees  and  dues  cannot  bo  collected  from  themi  unless 
they  choose  to  pay  them,  except  when  they  may  have  paid  one  or 
both,  thus  acknowledging  their  membership,  when  they  become 
subject  to  the  rules  of  the  constitution.  Art.  XVII,  Sec.  2  ;  other- 
wise they  have  the  same  privilege  as  any  non-member  to  apply 
for  membership  to  the  credential  committee,  and  the  latter  shall 
not  reject  any  person  because  his  name  is  on  the  list  of  delinquent 
members,  if  his  name  is  there  without  his  authority. 

"Harrison's  Career"  says: 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  the  TouWs  Lyceum,  of  St.  Louis, 
was  the  best  amateur  paper  in  existence,  in  a  literary  point  of 
view.  Later  in  the  year,  the  Nonpareil,  of  New  York,  and  the 
Independent  Times,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  were  in  the  lead.  Other 
noticeable  journals  were  the  Vigilant,  Bay  State  Press,  Bay  State 
Brilliant,  Our  City  Boys,  Our  Journal,  Iowa  Amateur,  Graphic, 
etc. 

In  his  article  on  "Amateur  Newspapers"  in  >8'^.  Nicholas,  July, 
1882,  Mr.  Harlan  H.  Ballard  gave  the  following  as  the  names  of 
amateur  papers  published  during  1881:  Independent  Times, 
Newark,  N.  J.  ;  National  Amateur,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.  ;  Hur- 
ricane, Charleston,  S.  C. :  Mercury,  Towanda,  Pa.  ;  the  Young 
Becruit,  Vineland,  N.  J.  ;  the  Bay  State  Press,    Warren,  Mass.  ; 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRE8S   ASSOCIATION.  87 

Owr  standard,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S. ;  the  Latest,  Maiden,  Mass. ; 
Nonpareil,  New  York  City ;  the  Venture,  Detroit,  Mich. ;  the 
Miscellany,  Speucerviile,  Ont.  ;  The  Topic,  Literary  Journal,  the 
Censor,  the  Commentator,  Philadelphia ;  Puzzlers^  Pride,  Chi- 
cago ;  Amateur^  Review,  Cincinnati ;  New  YorWs  Favorite ;  the 
Tablet,  Halifax,  N.  S ;  Pittsburg  Independent;  Young  Aspirant, 
PunxsLitawney,  Pa.  ;  Phunny  Phellow,  Nebraska  City,  Neb ; 
Monthly  Eagle,  Rockford,  Ind ;  Florida,  Hawkinsville,  Fla.  ;  the 
Dauntless,  Fostoria,  Ohio;  the  Sphere,  Washington,  D.  C; 
Blushing  Bud  (by  two  girls),  Evansville,  Tnd.  ;  the  Vigilant,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa. ;  Amateur  Exchange,  Stanberry,  Mo. ;  the  Stylate, 
Frederick,  Md ;  Orir  Blade,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. ;  the  Union,  Hamil- 
ton, Ont. ;  Young  Nova  Scotia,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S. 

The  volume  of  the  National  Amateur  issued  during  the  Reeve 
administration  was  the  best  that  had  yet  appeared.  The  issues 
for  September  and  December,  1882,  were  of  eight  pages  each, 
and  were  printed  by  James  B.  H.  Storm,  under  the  personal 
supervision  of  President  Reeve.  The  issues  for  March  and  June, 
1883,  were  printed  by  Editor  Finlay  Grant,  at  West  Gardner, 
Mass.  The  first  was  of  four  pages,  the  last  of  eight.  The  vari- 
ous issues  contained  much  official  matter — more  than  in  any  year 
previous. 


CH/IPTEK  3. 

A    CONTINUANCE    OF   PROSPERITY. 

Campaigns  Opened  in  January. — The  Miller  Boom. — The 
ScoFiELD  Caucus.— Work  of  the  Convention. — Members 
Present. — Election  of  Officers. — Resolutions  on  Flashy 
Literature. — The  Banquet. — The  St.  Nicholas  Article. 
— Finances  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. — The  National  Amateur. 
— Papers  of  the  Year. 

THE  convention  at  Buffalo,  so  small  in  numerical  attend- 
ance, gave  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  a  good  board  of  officers, 
and  many  new  papers  sprang  up,  as  a  result  of  the  hard 
work  of  President  Reeve  and  his  associates. 

The  convention  at  Detroit  was  quite  enthusiastic,  and  the 
Grant  year  in  Amateurdom  was  one  of  bustle  and  enthusiasm. 
Mr.  Grant  did  not  have  as  good  a  board  of  olficers  as  did  Mr. 
Reeve,  but  made  a  very  creditable  showing,  and  by  many  has 
been  considered  the  best  president  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 

First  Vice-President  Frank  E.  Day  presented  his  resignation 
to  t!ie  president  soon  after  the  '81  convention,  on  account  of  in- 
activity, but  President  Reeve  declared  that  the  constitution  gave 
him  no  power  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  vice  presidencies  and  re- 
fused to  accept  it.  Official  Editor  Grant,  in  June,  removed  Mr. 
Day's  name  from  the  official  roster  in  the  National  Amateur^  and 
stated  that  Mr.  Day  was  not  even  a  member,  there  being  no 
record  that  he  had  ever  paid  dues  to  the  Association. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  Reeve  administration  a  misunderstand- 
ing of  some  sort  arose  between  President  Reeve  and  Official  Ed- 
itor Grant.  It  is  probable  that  it  was  caused  by  the  outspoken 
enthusiasm  of  the  two  men,  who  were  certainly  h.'ird  workers, 
never  counting  the  cost  of  their  labors  in  behalf  of  the  N.  A.  P. 
A. 

The  June  issue  of  the  National  Amateur  contains  a  number  of 
strictures  on  the  acts  of  the  President  which,  while  clothed  in 
dignified  language,  did  not  tend  to  heal  the  breach. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS    ASSOCIATK.N.  89 

Official  Politer  Grant,  iu  the  June  National  Amateur,  offered 
the  followinor  amendment  to  the  constitution: 

Article  XXVIL — Amendments — Amendments  to  this  constitu- 
tion can  be  inade  by  a  two-thirds  v^ote  of  those  present  at  a  con- 
vention. 

The  amendment  was  totally    ignored     in    the   convention,     be- 
'cause  of  the  throwing  out  of  the  proxies. 

President  Reeve,  prior  to  the  convention,  made  the  following 
appointments: 

Reception  Committee — Will  J.  Baker,  Rudolph  Ortmann,  F, 
H.  Bolton,  W.  J.  Niles,  with  the  president  as  chairman. 

Mr.  Joseph  D.  Miller,  poet;  Mr.  T.  G.  Watkins,  essayist,  and 
Mr.  W.  T.  Scofield,   orator  of  the  convention. 

Early  in  January,  1882,  Willard  O.  Wylie  began  a  campaign 
in  the  interest  of  Finlay  A.  Grant  for  the  presidency.  The  fight 
seemed  won,  when,  in  April,  Mr.  Grant  withdrew  and  his  sup- 
porters wavered,  undecided  what  to  do.  Two  weeks  later  Mr. 
Grant  decided  that  it  was  his  duty  to  remain  in  the  fight  until 
the  end,  and,  though  at  a  sacrifice  to  himself,  he  accepted 
nomination  and  election,  and  served  through  the  term  in  a  man- 
ner acceptable  to  friends  and  enemies  alike. 

In  the  Nugget^  for  June,  1886,  Will  T.  Scofield  writes  of  the 
campaign,  as  follows: 

After  the  younger  element  of  Amateurdom  had  inaugurated 
campaigns  in  favor  of  Grant,  Riale  and  Weissert,and  had  coaxed 
the  political  pot  into  somewhat  of  a  boil,  the  resurrected  fos- 
sils and  old  timers  put  their  heads  together  and  conjured  up  an 
opposition  ticket.  Plans  were  consummated  quietly,  that  no 
suspicion  might  be  excited  in  the  breasts  of  the  innocent  youths 
who  were  living  on  blissfully,  and  unruffled  by  political  differ- 
ences. Frank  N,  Reeve,  representing  a  New  York  jewelry  house, 
made  a  "drumming"  tour  through  the  Western  states,  and  in  its 
course  stopped  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.  There  he  confidentially 
whispered  into  the  ear  of  Thos.  G.  Harrison,  that  of  those 
hankering  for  the  lofty  honor  of  the  National  presidency,  Mr. 
Joseph  Dana  Miller  was  in  his  important  opinion  the  most  capa- 
ble and  deserving.  Mr.  Harrison  was  opposed  to  all  of  the  can- 
didates who  had  hitherto  been  nominated,  and  was  open  to  con- 
viction, so  he  placed  Mr.  Miller  in  the  balance,  to  see  whether  he 
was  full  weight  in  all  the  qualities  requisite  for  the  worthy  and 
able  National  president.  Presumably  he  was,  for  Mr.  Harrison 
immediately  championed  his  cause  and   commenced  the  work    of 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

renruiting,  assisted  by  Will  T.  Seofisld,  of  Philadelphia,    N.    Y., 
aud  B.  Benj.  Pelham,  of  Detroit. 

The  appearance  of  several  papers  hearing  the  name  of  Miller 
at  the  head  of  their  editorial  colmnns,  with  the  eloquent  pleas  in 
his  behalf,  created  quite  a  little  of  excitement.  Riale's  boom  re- 
duced from  a  boil  to  a  simmer;  Weissert,  in  his  enthusiasm  for  a 
better  cause  than  his  own,  foolishly  threw  away  his  chance  for 
the  honor,  and  resigned  in  favor  of  Miller;  and  Grant,  frightened  " 
at  the  sudden  and  unexpected  turn  of  affairs,  wrote  a  letter  of 
declination  to  his  supporters.  Thus,  by  a  little  Napoleonic  cal- 
culation, was  the  campaign  of  Miller  elevated  at  once  to  a  posi- 
tion of  prominence  and  power, and  one  which  could  not  be  affected 
by  the  subsequent  reaction  on  the  part  of  the  leaders  of  the 
different  factions.  Weissert,  we  are  told,  soon  regretted  his 
rash  embrace  of  Cardinal  Wolsey's  advice  to  Cromwell  to  "fling 
away  ambition, "and  endeavored  to  re-collect  his  scattered  forces. 
Most  of  them  had  gone  over  to  the  Millerites,  who  held  them  with 
a  firm  grasp.  Grant  was  persuaded  to  write  another  letter — this 
time  an  acceptance  of  the  nomination  tendered  him  ;  but  poor 
Riale  was  entirely  forgotten,  his  supporters  having  ungenerously 
forsaken  him  and  joined  the  party  of  the  largest  number. 

The  struggle  narrowed  down  to  Miller  and  Grant  a  couple  of 
months  previous  to  the  convention.  Of  the  two,  Grant  was  the 
most  popular,  and  obtained  a  much  larger  newspaper  support, 
but  Miller,  being  upheld  by  those  who  were  veterans  in  amateur 
politics,  had  as  the  basis  of  his  support,  strategy.  The  leaders 
of  his  cause  having  learned  the  uncertainty  of  proxy  ballots, 
worked  to  obtain  support  among  those  who  had  made  known  their 
intentions  of  being  at  Detroit,  preferring  substance  rather  than 
great  numbers. 

The  arguments  produced  in  defending  the  candidacy  of  Miller 
were  that  he  had  been  a  devoted  laborer  in  Amateurdom  for  np- 
wards  of  six  years,  and  was  a  skillful  editor,  a  penetrating  critic 
and  brilliant  parliamentarian,  and  Amateurdom's  peerless  poet. 
Just  before  the  convention,  however,  a  powerful  editorial  was 
published  in  the  Paragon,  of  Brooklyn,  which  granulated  these 
claims  with  exceeding  gusto.  His  brilliancy  as  a  parliamentarian 
was  made  doubtful  by  a  description  of  his  maneuvres  as  chairman 
of  the  IMetropolitan  Amateur  Journalists'  Club.  His  ability  as 
an  author  was  compromised  by  a  bold  and  startling  accusation  of 
plagiarism,  in  which  plain  and  apparently  incontrovertible  proofs 
were  produced.  It  was  accompanied  by  a  declaration  that  Miller 
would  have  ample  opportunity  to  vindicate  himself  at  the  conven- 
tioa,  as  a  notary  public  would  be  on  hand  with  an  affidavit,  to 
which  he  would  have  to  swear,  or  stand  (convicted  in  the  eyes  of 
the  amateur  public.     As  might  be  expected,  Miller's  chances  from 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  91 

the  date  of  this  editorial's  appearance  became  small  by  degrees 
and  "beaatifiilly  less,"  Even  his  most  conscientious  supporters 
dared  entertain  but  a  feeble  hope  that  he  would  go  to  Detroit 
to  humble  himself  before  a  lot  of  incredulous  boys. 

Monday,  July  10,  nearly  every  supporter  of  Miller  was  in 
Detroit,  eager  to  show  their  power,  but  unable  to  do  so  from  the 
non-appearance  of  their  presidential  candidate. 

To  see  what  it  was  best  t9  do  in  the  emergency,  the  Millerites 
called  a  caucus.  Of  course  it  was  unanimously  voted  to  no 
longer  entertain  Miller  as  a  candidate,  and  as  a  substitute  Will 
T.  Scofield  was  proposed.  He,  however,  refused  to  become  a 
bona-fide  contestant  for  the  office,  but  agreed  to  run  to  infuse  a 
little  excitement  into  the  election,  provided  it  was  understood  by 
all  that  he  should  resign  immediately  in  favor  of  Grant, if  elected. 
Plans  of  strategy  were  then  perfected,  whereby  votes  might  be 
drawn  from  the  opposition,  and  the  caucus  adjourned. 

This  caucus  is  further  described  by  Chas.  G-.  Steele,  in  the 
same  paper,  as  follows : 

The  caucus  was  organized  with  Will  C.  Brown  as  chairman 
and  Chas.  G.  Steele,  Jr.,  as  secretary.  There  was  some  debate 
as  to  how  to  proceed  to  the  election  of  the  ticket  we  were  to  sup- 
port. The  name  of  Miller  was  agreed  upon  to  be  withdrawn,  and 
after  a  little  exchange  of  opinion.  Will  T.  Scofield  was  named  as 
candidate  for  president.  He  positively  declined  to  run,  and  after 
Brown  and  Steele  positively  declined  to  accept,  it  was  decided  to 
nominate  the  other  officers  first. 

After  the  election  of  the  ticket,  followed  a  lengthy  discussion 
on  the  presidential  question.  Brown,  Steele  and  Scofield  all  pos- 
itively declined  to  run.  At  last  we  decided  to  have  Harrison 
name  Metcalf,  hoping  thereby  to  draw  votes  from  Grant.  Sco- 
field agreed  to  run  so  as  to  defeat  Grant,  but  would  immediately 
resign  in  his  favor.  We  decided  that  it  would  be  no  more  than 
right  that  Grant  should  be  president,  but  if  we  could  defeat  him 
in  the  convention  it  would  be  a  victory  for  our  side.  Brown  was 
to  name  Scofield,  and  we  were  to  divide  up  on  several  candidates 
but  on  the  second  or  third  ballot,  as  seemed  best,  unite  on  Sco- 
field,  and  hoped  to  draw  enough  votes  for  his  election. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  Grant  supporters  were  uncer- 
tain of  success  when  they  reached  Detroit,  but  before  a  vote  had 
been  taken  they  saw  that  they  would  be  victorious.  Scofield's 
acceptance  of  a  nomination  in  opposition  to  Grant,  with  the  pro- 
viso that  he  would  resign  in  favor  of  Grant,  if  elected,  was  known 


92  HISTORY   OP  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

to  the  Grant  party,  though  this  did  not  in  an}'  manner  affect  the 
carrying  on  of  a  vigorous  campaign  until  the  final  ballot. 

In  the  Sphinx,  July,  1882,  Mr.  Rudolph  Ortmann  gave  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  work  of  the  convention: 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  at  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  Tues- 
day, July  11.  President  Reeve  delivered  a  somewhat  lengthy 
farewell  message.  The  calling  of  the  roll  showed  thirty-nine 
members  present:  F.  N.  Reeve,  F.  A.  Grant,  J.  A.  Imrie, 
Louis  Kempner,  Ralph  Metcalf,  Ed.  E.  Stowell,  Ed.  M.  Gaddy, 
W.  T.  Scofield,  W.  C.  Brown,  Thos.  H.  Parsons,  John  Fischer, 
C.  G.  Steele,  Jr.,  V.  Winters,  Jr.,  Frank  L.  Mills,  Henry  E. 
Legler,  H.  A.  Clarke,  Hugh  McElroy,  Jr.,  C.  C.  Rickert,  F.  S. 
Arnett,  C.  M.  Heineman,  Thos.  G.  Harriscm,  W.  K.  Smith,  (of 
Compass,  Portland,  Ore.),  M.  J.  Hartv,  H.  T.  Mercur,  Bernard 
Ginsburg,  F.  H.  Bolton,  R.  A.  Pelham,  B.  Benj.  Pelham,  W.s 
M.  Hewitt,  H.  G.  Hudson,  A.  J.  Stranger,  G.  T.  Kast,  W.  J. 
Niles,  Rudolph  Ortmann,  (afterward  admitted),  Will  J.  Baker, 
Richard  Gehlert,  F.  F.  Heath,  A.  D.  Pulis  and  Russell  Robb. 
The  president  announced  that  the  committees  appointed  to 
judge  the  articles  submitted  to  them  for  the  laureateships  had 
completed  their  labors  and  reported  the  following  entitled  to  the 
positions    named   for  the  ensuing  year. 

Sketch,  J.  C.  Nichols,  of  Blue  Mound,  Ills. 

History,  James  J.  O'Connell,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Essay,*  C.  S.  Elgutter,  of  Exeter,  N.  H. 

Poet,  Joseph  P.  Clossey,  of  New  York. 
The  proxy  ballots  were  thrown  out,  owing  to    the    absence   of 
the  recording  secretarj^  who  had  the  original   proxies. 
The  first  ballot  for  president  was  as  follows: 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast 35 

Grant 17 

Scofield 13 

Metcalf 5 

Eighteen  constituting  a  majority,  there  was  no  choice. 
Second  ballot: 

Grant 19 

Scofield 19 

The  ballot  was  thrown  out,  as  there  were  not  thirty-eight  vot- 
ers in  the  room. 
Third  ballot: 

Grant 21 

Scofield .14 

On  motion  of  Scofield,  Grant's  election  was  made    unanimous. 
For  first  vice-president,  Wylie    and    Stowell  were   nominated. 
Wylie  withdrew  and  Stowell  was  elected    by    acclamation. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  93 

For  second  vice-president,  Griggs,  Bolton  and  Teachenor  were 
nominated.  Tbe  two  latter  were  withdrawn,  and  Griggs  was 
elected  by  acclamation. 

Teachenor  was  elected  third  vice-president,  by  acclamation, 
without  opposition. 

For  recording  secretary,  Storms,  Arnett  and  Ortmann  were 
nominated.     Arnett  withdrew.     A  ballot  was  taken,    as  follows: 

Storms .' 5 

Ortmann 26 

Ortmann  was  declared  elected. 

For  corresponding  secretary,  Pelham  was  nominated,  and 
there  being  no  opposition,   he  was  elected  by  acclamation. 

John  Fischer  was  likewise  elected  treasurer. 

For  official  editor,  Chas.  G.  Steele,  Jr.,  was  elected  by  accla- 
mation. 

Long  Branch  was  elected  as  the  next  place  of  meeting,  but  at  a 
subsequent  session  it  was  changed  to  New  York  or  vicinity. 

A  vote  of  thaaks  was  tendered  Mr.  Ballard  for  the  article  in 
St.  Nicholas. 

A  petition  for  presentation  to  Postmaster  General  Howe,  was 
ordered  drawn  up. 

The  following  resolutions  were  ordered  printed  and  sent  to 
the  professional  press : 

"We  the  amateur  authors  and  editors  of  the  United  States,  knowing 
by  experience  and  observation  the  deleterious  and  ruinous  effects  of 
trashy  and  vile  literature  flooding  our  country,  which  i?  rendering 
thousands  of  our  companions  mentally  and  morally  unfit  to  meet  life's 
obligations  and  responsibilities,  have  entered  our  protest  against  the 
publication  and  reading  of  such  papers,  have  passed  a  resolution  mak- 
ing expulsion  from  our  Association  the  penalty  incurred  by  those  of  our 
number  who  contribute  to  the  amateur  columns  of  said  papers,  or  them- 
selves publish  productions  which  are  sensational  or  corrupting;  and 
have  pledged  ourselves  to  do  all  in  our  power,  by  precept  andexanapie, 
to  encourage  the  perusal  of  the  purest  and  best  literature,  to  divert 
youthtul  attention  to  deeper  and  clearer  channels,  and  to  use  all  means 
which  shall  lessen  the  influence  of  a  perverted  press. 

"Believing  this  to  be  one  the  greatest  dangers  of  the  day  to  the  rising 
generation,  and  realizing  the  comparative  insignificance  of  our  feeble 
influence,  we  do  hereby  most  earnestly  call  upon  all  men  and  wouien 
to  come  to  our  aid,  and  with  us  determine  to  wage  uncompromising 
war  upon  the  foe. 

"We  call  upon  the  religious  and  secular  press,  as  the  great  educator 
of  the  masses,  to  keep  the  subject  before  the  people,  to  sound  aloud 
tbe  notes  of  alarm,  and  themselves  to  exclude  from  their  columns 
eyerything  which  would  lower  the  standard  of  literary   excellence. 

"We  call  upon  all  ministers,  of  all  denominations,  to  give  this  sub- 
ject special  attention  from  the  pulpit,  :ind  to  set  apart  one  Sabbath  at 
least  in  a  year,  to  enforce  upon  parents  their  duty  in  regard  to  this  mat- 
ter, and  to  show  the  young  of  their  congregations  the  dangers  and 
evil  tendencies  of  indiscriminate  reading. 

**We  call  upon  parents,  as  the  guardians  of  youth,  to  keep  themselves 


94  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

informed  as  to  what  their  children  are  reading,  and  to  encourage  a  de- 
sire for  that  which  is  healthful,  by  patronizing  such  periodicals  as 
Golden,  Days,  Wide  Awake,  St.  Nicholas  a:ad  the    Youth's    Companion. 

"Finally,  we  call  jpon  all  men  and  women  everywhere,  to  use  their 
voices  and  influence  in  driving  from  our  midst  a  danger  so  terrible, 
and  to  stimulate  Young  America  to  highest  thoughts  and  noblest 
deeds." 

The  official  minutes,  in  the  September  National  Amateur^  gvie 
the  following  additional  details; 

The  vacancies  in  the  credential  committee  caused  bj^  the  absence 
of  Messrs.  Kschner  and  Mergenthaler  were  filled  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  Messrs.  Steele  and  Legler. 

The  original  proxy  ballots  not  having  been  brought  to  the 
convention,  caused  proxy  votes  to  be  declared  illegal. 

No  record  of  these  proxies,  as  far  as  we  have  been  able  to 
ascertain,  has  been  preserved. 

Of  the  banquet,  Will  T.  Scofield  writes,  in  Respite,  July,  1891 : 
i  here  was,  of  course,  a  banquet  at  the  Detroit  convention. 
The  occasion  would  have  been  incomplete  without  that.  Thos.  G. 
Harrison  was  the  toast-master,  and  the  responses  were  average 
amateur  efforts  at  speech-making.  The  most  ambitious  response 
was  that  of  Herbert  A.  Clarke,  a  colored  amateur  of  Cincinnati. 
He  was  a  thorough  orator,  and  thrilled  us  all  with  his  brilliant 
periods.  There  were  responses  of  merit  by  Will  Brown,  Charlie 
Steele,  Ralph  Metcalf,  and  other  lights  of  the  convention. 

The  July,  1882,  issue  of  St.  Nicholas,  a  professional  monthly 
magazine  for  young  folks,  contained  a  lengthy  article  on 
"Amateur  Newspapers,"  by  Prof.  Harlan  H.  Ballard,  of  Lenox, 
Mass.  While  it  cannot  be  said  that  Prof.  Ballard's  article  was 
correct  in  every  detail,  it  was  a  splendid  advertisement  for 
Amateur  Journalism  and  brought  more  recruits  into  the  ranks 
than  any  other  one  agency.  The  article  was  illustrated  with 
portraits  of  President  Keeve,  Official  Editor  Grant  and  the 
youthful  editors  of  the  Petite  Anse  (La.)  Amateur,  fac-sirailes  of 
pages  of  several  amateur  papers,  and  much  information  that  was 
of  interest  to  Young  America. 

Another  article  was  prepared  for  the  same  journal,  describing 
an  amateur  campaign  in  full,  but  when  it  appeared,  in  July, 1883, 
it  had  been  reduced  to  a  mere  picture  of  the  attendants  at  the 
Detroit  convention  and  a  few  words  about  that  gathering. 

President  Grant  and  Official  Editor  Steele,  following   the  pos- 


History  of  the  national  amateur  press  association  95 

itive  advances  gaiuecl  by  Ihe  St.  Nicholcis  article,  iuseited  adver- 
tisements in  various  publications  and  [)re[)areil  articles  for  other 
journals,  which  were  published  withv)ut  charge.  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism was  probably  better  advertised  during  President  Grant's 
term  than  at  any  time  since  the  Centennial  year. 

All  of  this  time  the  postoffice  department  was  ruling  against 
the  admission  of  amateur  papers  to  the  privileges  of  second-class 
postage.  A  ruling  of  the  department  excluded  every  paper 
claiming  to  be  an  "amateur  paper,"  without  inquiring  further 
into  the  merits  of  the  case.  Amateur  papers  sent  through  the 
mails  were  always  stamped,  and  frequently  several  publishers 
would  combine,  sending  their  papers  in  one  wrapper  to  the  other 
amateurs  of  their  exchange  list.  This  began  the  day  of  "bun- 
dles," and  enterprising  publishers  soon  advertised  to  send  out 
papers  to  amateurs  at  the  rate  of  10  cents  per  hundred . 

At  the  opening  of  his  term  of  office  President  Grant  appointed 
the  credential  committee  as  follows  :  Thos.  H.  Parsons,  chair- 
man; John  Fischer  and  B.  B.  Pelham . 

The  finances  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  have  been  generally  neglected. 
We  have  hunted  in  vain  for  data  that  w^ould  connect  the  various 
treasurers'  reports  printed,  and  so  give  them  as  they  appear,  with 
a  word  or  two  of  explanation. 

As  was  stated  in  a  previous  chapter,  it  was  a  "beginning  over" 
at  Buffalo,  and  it  is  our  impression  that  the  following  report  is 
from  the  gentleman  who  acted  as  treasurer  during  the  convention, 
previous  to  the  election. 

EX-TREASUEER'S  (PRO  TEM)  REPORT. 

Received  into  treasury  during  my  term  of 

office       ......  $24  50 

Paid  T.  H.  Parsons,  printing  and  station- 
ery    $10  00 

Paid  W.  C.  Brown,  printing  and   station- 
ery       6  00 

$16  00 

Balance  delivered  to  Treasurer-elect  San- 
derson   $8  50 

Kespectfully   Submitted, 

•T    T    W'PismT'RT 
Buffalo,  July  17,  1881.  Treasurer  pro  tem  N.  A.  P.  A. 

The  report  of  the   nest   treasurer,    Mr.   Sanderson,    does   not 


96  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIAtlOlJ. 

deal  with  Mr.  Weissert's  balance,  but  includes  it  with    other  col- 
lections.    It  follows: 

Paid  out  bills  at  Buffalo $15  50 

Keturued  to  J.  W .  McLain 2  00 

Returned  to  J.  P.  Glenn , 2  00 

Postage,  official  business 1  46 

Cost  record  book 65 

$21  61 
Amount  paid  in,  including  amount  in  treasury 

at  beginning  of  year $79  00 

21  61 

Balance $57  39 

Howard  K.  Sanderson, 
Treasurer. 

Treasurer  Sanderson  was  not  present  at  the  Detroit  convention 
of  1882,  but  sent  his  report,  as  above.  Mr.  Ortmann  acted  as 
treasurer  pro  tem,  and  gave  the  following  account  of  his  steward- 
ship: 

From  Treasurer    Sanderson $  73  81 

From  T.  G.  Harrison  1 7  65 

Dues 15  00 

Initiation  fees 5  00 

$111  46 

Paid  Recording    Secretary    Rickert $10  50 

Paid  Reeve  (official   organ) 12  50 

Paid  Reeve,  initiations,  etc 24  00 

Paid  for  hail 7  50 

$54  50 

Balance  in  Treasury $57  96 

Rudolph  Ortmann, 
Treasurer  pio  tem. 

It  will  be  noted  above  that  Mr.  Harrison  turned  over  the  money 
he  collected  while  acting  as  treasurer  ad  interim,  as  noted  in  his 
report  printed  in  a  previous  chapter.  Mr.  Sanderson  paid  to 
the  treasurer  pro  tem  $16.42  more  than  his  report  seemed  to 
require. 

With  the  exception  of  Official  Editor  Steele,  President  Grant's 
official  board  was  of  little  assistance  to  him.  The  three  vice- 
presidents  were  inactive,  as  was  the  recording  secretary,  and  the 
treasurer  appropriated  a  considerable  amount  of  the  money  en- 
trusted to  him.  The  year,  however,  was  one  of  activity,  and  a 
large  number  of  papers  appeared. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  97 

The  voliinu'  of  the  National  Amateur  issued  l)y  Editor  Clias. 
G.  Steele,  Jr,  eoiisisted  of  28  |)aoes,  Mie  first  tliree  issues  being  of 
eioiit  paiies  eMcii  and  the  hist  of  four.  The  September  issue  con- 
tinued a  two  |)!ioe  nccounr  of  the  Detroit  banquet;  the  otfieial 
ujiimtes,  oceupyiug  two  and  a  halt:  pages;  a  review  of  the  mlDor 
amateur  press  associations  then  in  existence  ;  editorials  ;  a  long 
president's  message  ;  the  usual  news  department,  and  some  offi- 
cial reports.  While  the  printing  was  fairly  well  done,  there  was 
nothing  artistic  about  it.  The  page  form  of  this  issue  was  a 
trifle  larger  both  as  to  length  and  width,  than  any  previous  numbers. 
The  December  Amatem^  was  uniform  in  size  with  the  various 
issues  of  the  volume  previous,  and  it,  as  well  as  the  March  and 
June  issues,  was  very  prettily  printed.  A  Celtic  letter  was  used 
for  a  heading,  and  the  type  generally  used  was  long  primer,  solid. 
The  December  issue  contained  an  article  on  "Purifying  Ama- 
teur Politics",  by  Phoenix;  some  legal  advice  on  postal  topics 
•  by  John  W.  Snyder,  first  president ;  a  suggestion  by  Thos.  G. 
Harrison  that  stenographers  report  proceedings  of  future  con- 
ventions;  the  president's  message,  a  page  of  editorial  and  the 
constitution  and  by-laws.  The  March  issue  was  a  recruiting 
number,  and  one  thousand  copies  were  printed.  "Practical 
Hints  to  Amateur  Editors"  occupied  nearly  three  pages  and  an 
amateur  newspaper  directory  two  pages  more.  The  president's 
message,  laureate  reports,  editorial  matter  and  current  news 
completed  the  number.  The  June  issue  contained  an  article 
"Amateur  Papers;  as  they  are  and  as  they  should  be,"  from 
Our  IVee  Lance,  editorials,  notes,  president's  message,  new  pub- 
lications and  suspensions. 

The  following  papers  were  among  those  published  this  year: 
Birigo  Amateur,  Biddeford,  Me.  ;  Granite  Echo,  Concord,  N. 
n.:  Green  Mountain  Echo.  Danby,  Vt.  ;  Amateur  Eeporter, 
Dm  livers,  Mass.  ;  Age.  Gardner  Messenger,  Northern  Breezes, 
Turnip -of -Time,  Gardner,  Mass.  ;  Bay  State  Brilliant,  West 
Gaidner.  Mass.  ;  Bay  State  EcJio,  New  England  Gazette,  Satchel, 
Tri-Moiint  Gazette,  Boston.  Mas^.  ;  Boys''  Folio,  South  Gardner, 
Mass.  ;  (?o/<:Ze?i  lfoMe?i^**.  Beverly,  Mass.  ;  Guide,  East  Bridge- 
water,  Mass.  ;  Laurel.  Nautick,  Mass.;  Monthly  Comet,  Salem, 
Mass.  :     Eeadville   Mite,    Readville,"    Mass.  ;     Youth^s  FavofHte. 


98  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

Dangers,  Mass.;  High  School  Eeview,  West  Newton,  Mass.; 
Club,  New  London,  Conn.  ;  Comet  of  ^82,  Youth's  Gazette, 
Our  Monthly,  Humming  Bird,  New  Britain,  Conn, ;  Tribu- 
nal, Waterburv,  Conn.  ;  HocJcanumstein,  Hockannra, 
Conn.  ;  American  Sphinx,  Soutli  Manchester,  Conn.  :  Amateur, 
National  Amateur,  Blade,  Tomahawk,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ; 
Autocrat,  Peekskill,  N.  Y. ;  American  Eagle,  Harum  Scarum,  Le 
Critique,  N.  Y.  Amateur  News,  Our  Hurrah,  Ameri- 
can Cadet,  Sunflower,  Premium,  New  York  City,  N.  Y.  ; 
Empire  State  Amateur,  Geneseo,  N.  Y.  ;  Enterprise,  Indepen- 
dent, Paragon,  Philomathean  Review,  Sunflower,  Brook- 
lyn, N.  Y.  ;  MohawJc  Warrior,  Schenectady,  N.  Y.  ;  Capitol,  Al- 
bany, N.  Y. ;  Our  Sanctum,  Philaidelphia,  N.  Y. ;  Rainbow, 
Hamburg,  N.  Y.  ;  Record,  Kinderhook,  N.  Y. ;  Trojan  Times, 
Troy,  N.  Y. ;  Youth^s  Fa/vorite,  Cuba,  N.  Y^.  ;  Bergen  Post,  Jer- 
sey City,  N.  J. ;  Fun,  Bloomfield,  N.  J.  ;  Amateur, 
Newark,  N.  J. ;  American  Boys,  Elizabeth ,  N,  J. ;  Adver-  • 
tiser,  Miffiinburg,  Pa. ;  Amateur  World,  Qualcer  City 
Boys,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  ;  Active  Christian,  Guthriesville,  Pa.  ; 
Keystone  Amateur,  Semi-Monthly,  En  Passant,  Earth- 
quaJce,  Butler,  Pa. ;  Gleaner,  Gettysburg,  Pa.  ;  Mercury, 
Towanda,  Pa.  ;  McElroy^s  Enterprise,  Little  Gem,  Pitts- 
burg, Pa.  ;  Beacon,  Baltimore,  Md. ;  Globe,  Frederick,  Md.  ; 
Budget,  Mail,  Owl,  Pearl,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Mag- 
net, Richmond,  Va.  ;  Cadet,  Charleston,  W.  Va.  ;  Union  Lance, 
Cincinnati,  O.  ;  Young  Days,  Columbus,  O.  ;  High  School 
Monthly,  Cleveland,  O.  ;  Boys'  Doings,  Marietta,  O.  ;  Acorn,  Co- 
lumbus, O.  ;  Sun,  Canal  Dover,  O.  ;  Little  News,  Dowagiac, 
Mich.  ;  Boys^  Delight,  p:vansville,  Ind.  ;  Bee,  Batesville,  Ark.  ; 
Typo,  Heckatoo,  Ark.  ;  Elf,  Oakland,  Cal.  ;  Dot,  Highland  Vil- 
lage, Nova  Scotin  ;  Echo,  Englishtown.  Nova  Scotia;  Fly,  Jud- 
soniM,  Ark.  ;  Fly..  W.-iterburv,  Conn.  ;  Unique,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.  ; 
Sun,  Si.  Louis,  Mo.;  Blade,  Jiidsonia,  Ark.;  Beacon,  New 
York  City;  Dwarf,  Butler,  Pa.;  South,  VVasliington,  D.  C.  ; 
Pedestal,  ISl i^w  York  City;  Criterion,  Philadelphia,  Pa.  ;  Coon, 
Butler,  Pa.;  Dart.  Waterbujy,  Conn.;  Gem,  Washington, 
I).  C.  ;  Mosquito.  Pittsburg,  Pa,  ;  Squibs.  Judsonia,  Ark.  ; 
La     Whale,    Snn    Francisco/  Cal.  ;     Comet.    Tek(  nsha,     Mich.: 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  •'•' 

Leisure  Moments,  ArneWs  Phoenix,  Our  Amhiiion,  Breeze,  Colum- 
bus, O.  ;  Boys'  Herald,  Cleveland,  O.  :  Wise  &  Otherwise,  Mnii- 
etta.  ().  :  Our  Optic,  Cadiz,  O.  ;  Drawer,  Official,  Mentor,  Scribe, 
Peninsula  Press,  Venture.  Detroit.  Mich.  ;  Little  Jolzer,  Plattsville, 
llKs.  ;  Reporter,  Washiiiolon,  Ind.  ;  Express,  ,  Rcckport,  Ind.  ; 
GopJier,  Rockville,  Ind.  ;  Welcome  Visitor,  Indianapolis,  Ind.  ; 
Junior  Press,  Coon  Rapids,  la.  ;  La  Caprice,  Milwaukee  Ama- 
teur, Milwaukee,  WU,  ;  Amateur  Exchange,  Stanberry,  Mo.; 
Amateur  Light,  Western  Amateur,  Osage  City,  Kan.  ;  Kansas 
Zephyr,  Lawrence,  Kan.  ;  Amateur  Journal,  Judsonia,  Ark.  ; 
Emblem,  Critic,  Golden  Crescent,  Microgram,  Stinger,  Epigram, 
San  Francisco,  Cal.  ;  Observer,  Oakland,  Cal.  ;  Ark,  Portland, 
Ore.  ;  Melange,  Evans dlle,  Ind.  ;  Good  Lntent,  Loogootee,  Ind.  ; 
Jakey,  North  Webster,  Ind.  ;  Fact  &  Fancy,  Golden  Gate,  Neic 
Moon,  Nut-Shell.  Sun,  San  Francisco,  Cal.  ;  Daytonian,  Dayton, 
O. ;  Odds  &  Ends,  Detroit,  Mich.  ;  Sea -board  Light,  West  Philadel- 
phia, Pa.  ;  South-Easterner,  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  Banner,  Nor- 
folk, Va.  ;  Lamplighter.  Lenoir,  N.  C.  ;  Amateur  Times,  New 
Orleans,  La.  ;  Southern  Star,  Jonestown,  Miss.  ;  Amateur  Eevieio, 
Ldylic  Hours,  Cincinnati,  O.  ;  Bnmble  Bee,  Alameda,  Cal.; 
Weekly  Sunbeam,  Sonoma,  Cal.  ;  No  Name,  Cadiz,  O.  ;  Sunbeam., 
Terre  PIaule,»Iud.  ;  Jingling  Gem,  Davenport,  la.  ;  Vade Mecum, 
Heckatoo,  Ark.  ;  Comj^ass,  Portland,  Ore. 


iiii.^.;^  11,1 


CHflFTEKIO. 

THE  GATHERING  IN  GOl  HAM. 

Opening  of  a  Prosperous  Ykau. — Th:-:  Campaign  Pukckdino 
THE  Convention. — Steele's  Mrteoric  Candidacy. — Wylie 
Brought  to  the  Fore. — Legler  Nominated. — Fischer's 
Plans  Crushed. — Watkyns  as  a  Campaign  Manager. — 
The  Proxies  to  be  Counted. — Caucus  Nominations. — The 
Convention  and  Officers  Elected. — The  Banquet. — 
Amendments  to  the  Constitution. — Brewster's  Affidavit. 
— Harrison's  National  Amateur. — Papers  of    the  Year. 

IN  the  Umpire  State  Amateur,  March,  1889,  Mr.  Willanl 
O.  Wylie  says : 
The  year  1883  ushered  into  existence  a  very  prosperous 
condition  of  affairs.  The  term  of  Finlay  Grant  in  the  president's 
chair  had  been  productive  of  rich  fruits  in  the  way  of  new  jour- 
nals, literary  productions  of  pronounced  merit,  and  the  rejuven- 
ation of  fossils  who  had  apparently  laid  aside  their  editorial  togas, 
and  as  Grant's  faithfulness  to  the  Association  brought  about  the 
grand  result,  so  as  his  term  of  office  began  to  expire  all  his  ener- 
gies were  turned  toward  making  the  New  York  convention  a 
grand  success. 

As  reception  comramittee  for  the  New  York  convention.  Presi- 
dent Grant  appointed  the  following  gentleman:  Chas.  K,  A. 
Watkyns,  Jas.  F.  Kavanagh,  Harry  E.  Batsford,  Chas.  R.  Bur- 
ger and  George  E.  Boehm. 

Frank  J.  Martin  was  appointed  orator,  Joseph  Dana  Miller, 
poet,  and  Chas.  K.  A.  Watkyns,  essayist.  Rudolph  Ortmann, 
recording  secretary,  resigned,  and  Jas.  F.  Kavanagh,  of  Brook- 
lyn, was  a]ipointed  to  fill  the  vncnnfy. 

In  the  Orion  Mapazine,  Jan.- Feb..  1881),  Bi-niiierd  P.  Emery 
gave  the  following  jiccount  of  the  (\'irai)aign  |)re('eling  the  New 
York  convention  : 

Hardly  had  the  smoke  of  the  conflict,  of  1H,S2  clcjired  awny 
when  the  sound  of  scattering  shol.s  foielold  the  reopening  of  the 
presidential  battle.  Jiuriew  J.  O'Coimel!  wns  noniiutited  for  the 
presidency  in  the  August  niiinber  of  Northern  Breezes,  edited  by 
Hevwood  and  Green,  of  Mass.'ichuselts,      Jud  Russell  announced 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  101 

in  a  Harum  Scarum,  issued  iu  July,  that  Willard  O.  Wylie  would 
be  a  candidate,  and  in  the  October  number  of  his  paper  ratified 
the  nomination.  A  number  of  random  nominations  were  also 
made.  In  November  the  Burlington  Amateur  mentioned  Sto- 
well,  and  the  Amateur  Sun,  Sanderson.  Harrison  vaguely  hinted 
at  a  Western  man,  whom  many  believed  to  be  Henry  E.  Legler, 
who  had  recently  been  elected  president  of  the  Western  Amateur 
Press  Association,  but  this  supposition  was  thought  baseless  when 
the  Visitor  attacked  Legler' s  administration. 

These  were  only  premonitions,  however.  The  campaign  was 
opened  in  earnest  b}^  Reeve,  in  a  supplement  to  the  Independent 
Times,  dated  January,  with  the  nomination  of  Charles  G.  Steele, 
of  the  Amateur,  Harrison,  who  had  met  Reeve  a  short  time  be- 
fore, and  doubtless  arranged  the  plan,  seconded  the  nomination ; 
and  Pelham  and  Hill,  of  Detroit;  Brodie,  McCabe,  Peobles  and 
Nichols,  of  New  York ;  Homer  Green,  of  New  Jersey ;  Robert  F. 
Griggs  and  E.  N.  Smith,  of  Connecticut;  Heineman  Bros.,  of 
Pennsylvania ;  Price,  of  Denver,  and  Barker,  of  Arkansas,  speed- 
ily announced  their  intention  to  support  him. 

Steele's  chances  were  excellent.  He  had  been  elected  official 
editor  at  Detroit,  and  the  National  Amateur  under  his  charge 
was  winning  golden  opinion.  In  January,  1883,  he  received  the 
presidency  of  the  Eastern  Amateur  Press  Association,  reorganized 
at  Boston.  He  was  popular  with  the  boys  and  generally  well 
liked.  But  he  had  antagonized  Thomas  Parsons,  of  Our  Blade, 
his  fellow  townsman,  and  in  the  controversy  with  him  in  which 
he  was  involved  alienated  some  of  his  support  and  added  little  to 
the  luster  surrounding  his  name.  What  made  this  more  notable 
was  the  fact  that  in  the  December  Amateur  he  had  published  an 
article  deprecating  abusive  personalities. 

During  this  time  Wylie's  friends  had  not  been  inactive.  In 
December  John  Fischer  virtually  inaugurated  the  Wylie  campaign, 
by  an  editorial  in  the  Tomahaivk.  '"The  First  Gun,"  in  which  he 
set  forth  his  candidate's  claims  for  the  presidency.  Ouce  opened, 
the  campaign  was  carried  on  vigorously.  Fischer  was  appointed 
manager.  He  was  shrewd,  well  versed  in  politics,  not  over  high- 
principled  in  methods,  and  devoted  heart  and  soul  to  the  success 
of  his  candidate.  Wylie's  candidature  met  with  much  favor; 
the  majority  of  the  New.  En^rJand  amateurs  supported  him  ,  New 
York  City,  the  seat  of  the  coming  convention  was  solid  for  him. 
laken  altogether,  his  cliances  were  even  brighter  than  Steele's. 
In  January,  ISS;:!',  he  was  elected  president  of  the  New  England 
Association,  after  a  stormy  meeting.  But  while  all  these  things 
militated  in  his  favor,  he  had  been  defeated  at  Detroit  in  his  race 
for  the  first  vice-presidency  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  on  the  ground 
that  he  had  been  n  traitor  to  the  Association,     lie  had    written  a 


102  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATRUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

postal  card  to  Frank  J.  Martin,  who  was  secretary  of  the  Inter- 
national Amatenr  Authors^  Lyceum,  an  organization  which  sought 
to  destroy  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  asi^ing  how  he  could  join  it.  This 
was  brought  up  against  him  again,  but  he  defended  himself  by 
saying  that  although  he  certainly  wrote  the  card,  he  did  not  then 
know  it  was  antagonistic  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 

O'Connell's  friends  were  still  pushing  his  claims,  but  he  had 
only  a  small  following,  and  in  the  February  Faragon  he  thanked 
his  supporters  but  declined  the  nomination.  He  was  not  popular 
with  the  majority,  and  was  considered  conceited  and  overbearing. 
While  he  was  one  of  the  best  read  Amateur  Journalists,  and  an 
editor  and  critic  of  the  first  rank,  his  success  as  a  politician  was 
out  of  the  question. 

As  early  as  December  the  west  had  presented  a  candidate  for 
presidential  honors,  in  the  person  of  Henry  E.  Legler,  editor  of 
XhQ  Idler  and  La  Caprice.  He  was  very  popular  in  his  section, 
a  good  parliamentarian,  a  brilliant  editorial  writer,  an  essayist  of 
considerable  ability,  a  man  whom  all  could  respect.  His  election 
to  the  W.  A.  P.  A.  presidency  had  given  him  considerable 
prestige,  and  the  excellence  of  his  paper  gained  him  many  friends. 

Thus  stood  the  political  field  at  the  end  of  February,  1883. 
But  all  was  soon  changed.  In  a  number  of  the  Amateur  dated 
December,  1882,  but  printed  in  February,  Steele  wrote  a  letter, 
"Mine  Friends  and  Mine  Enemies,"  declining  the  nomination. 
As  O'Connell  had  withdrawn,  the  contest  was  narrowed  to  Wylie 
of  the  east  and  Legler  of  the  west. 

Steele  himself  favored  Wylie,  but  many  of  his  supporters, 
including  Nichols,  Daly,  McCabe  and  the  Heiuemans,  trans- 
ferred their  allegiance  to  the  western  candidate. 

The  sectional  question  was  now  brought  up.  This  sectional 
cry  as  an  issue  was  at  last  dropped  by  the  Legler  party.  There 
should  be  no  north,  no  south,  no  east,  no  west,  but  a  one  united 
Amateurdom,  seemed  to  be  the  general  wish.  They  had  more 
substantial  ground  to  base  their  support  of  Legler  upon.  His 
qualities  as  editor  and  parliamentarian,  as  a  gentleman  above 
reproach,  as  a  good  fellow  in  every  way,  deserved  consideration 
and  received  it. 

Harry  Batsford  was  at  the  head  of  the  Legler  campaign,  if  a 
canvass  in  which  the  candidate  took  no  active  part  whatever 
could  be  called  a  campaign,  assisted  by  all  who  favored  the  west- 
ern candidate.  The  most  prominent  members  of  the  party  at 
this  time  were  Rickert,  Stowell,  Arnett.  Antisdel,  Hollenback. 
Teachenor,  Robb,  Eilgutter,  of  the  west,  Batsford,  Kempner, 
Dunn  and  Emery,  of  the  east. 

The  supporters  of  Wylie  accused  Legler  of  inactivity,  claiming 
he  had  issued  but  five  papers  in    three   years.      The    Torrington 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AStATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.  lOB 

Advertiser,  the  journal  making  the  charge,  received  a  convinc- 
ing reply  from  Sto well's  Junior  Press,  which  showed  that  he  had 
been  active  even  against  great  odds.  He  had  issued  six  numbers 
of  his  paper  since  the  Detroit  convention,  the  number  of  pages 
exceeding  that  of  Wylie's  paper,  Golden  Moments, besides  prepar- 
ing two  other  issues,  which,  owing  to  the  dishonesty  of  his  print- 
ers, never  appeared. 

In  April  it  leaked  out  that  Fischer  was  using  very  shady 
political  methods  to  secure  the  election  of  his  candidate.  It 
seems  that  Fischer  wrote  a  letter  to  Burger,  of  the  Bergen  Fost, 
one  of  the  Wylie  workers,  saying  that  any  one  who  would  promise 
to  support  Wylie  would  be  admitted  to  the  National  at  once,  no 
matter  what  his  claims.  Fischer  and  Parsons  being  a  majority  of 
the  credential  committee  could  carry  out  the  plan.  This  seemed 
to  Burger  such  a  shrewd  move  that  he  boasted  of  the  scheme  to 
his  partner.  Homer  Green,  and  showed  him  the  letter.  Green 
had  been  a  supporter  of  Steele  and  was  now  strenuously  opposed 
to  Wylie.  He  thought  the  letter  would  be  a  valuable  card  against 
the  Beverly  gentleman,  so  he  got  possession  of  it  and  later  on 
handed  it  over  to  Storms. 

James  B.  H.  Storms  was  nominated  for  the  presidency  early  in 
the  campaign,  but  more  as  a  joke  than  anything  else.  But  the 
May -June  Bergen  Fost,  from  which  Burger  had  just  retired  and 
accepted  the  associate  editorship  on  the  Sentinel,  nominated  him 
in  earnest  and  he  accepted,  saying  he  never  had  refused  a  nomin- 
ation. The  Griggs  Bros.,  of  Connecticut,  at  once  came  out*  in 
his  support  in  the"  Tribunal,  whose  sole  object  was  to  defeat 
Wylie ;  but  his  following  was  small.  Storms  was  not  popular, 
and  although  he  was  a  clever  writer,  he  did  not  deserve  the 
presidency.  Soon  after  his  nomination  he  reissued  Spunk,  pub- 
lishing it  weekly  until  after  the  convention.  That  he  cared  only 
for  the  office  was  conclusively  proven  when  the  paper  was  at  once 
suspended  after  his  defeat.  SpunJc  was  the  fiercest  campaign 
sheet  ever  published.  It  threw  hot  shot  into  the  Wylie  camp  ; 
reviewed  the  story  of  the  I.  A.  A.  L.  postal  card ;  exposed 
Fischer's  letter  to  Burger  and  claimed  that  Wylie' s  managers 
secured  support  by  promising  offices  in  all  the  sectional  associa- 
tions. 

As  soon  as  the  Fischer  letter  was  published  it  was  evident  to 
Wylie  that  serious  harm  had  been  done  his  chances  ;the  responsibil- 
ity must  not  fall  on  him.  So  Fischer  was  requested  to  resign  the 
chairmanship  of  the  campaign  committee.  He  did  so  at  once, 
shouldering  all  the  blame  for  the  transaction,  exonerating  Wylie 
from  any  knowledge  of  it,  and  saying  he  wrote  the  letter  while 
intoxicated. 

It  was  a  matter  of  much  interest  who  would   succeed   Fischer. 


104  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Many  were  suggested,  but  when  the  truth  was  known  there  was 
general  surprise.  Charles  K.  Watkyns,  a  veteran  of  Amateur- 
dom  of  the  past,  had  reissued  La  Critique  in  February,  1888. 
He  had  held  aloof  from  the  political  discussion.  Batsford 
thought  he  would  come  out  for  Legler,  but,  much  to  his  disgust, 
Watkyns  accepted  the  vacant  chairmanship  and  the  April  number 
of  his  paper  announced  his  support  of  Wylie. 

The  most  prominent  supporters  of  Wylie  at  this  period  were 
Scofield,  Brewster,  Martin,  Heywood,  Alex.  A.  Stewart,  farsons, 
Kavauagh,  Gleasoia,  Sanderson,  Barker,  McClain,  Jos.  D.  Miller, 
Burger  and  Green  of  Massachusetts. 

In  the  May  La  Caprice  Legler  had  published  his  letter  of 
acceptance,  addressed  to  twenty-three  persons,  and  Wylie' s 
appeared  in  the  May-June  Critique.  The  most  remarkable  thing 
about  the  latter  was  the  number  of  amateurs,  fifty-six,  to  whom 
it  was  addressed.  But  this  apparent  strength  was  not  really 
very  important,  for  many  of  the  names  heading  the  letter  were 
those  of  men  who  were  not  members  of  the  Association,  and  had 
no  voice  in  the  convention.  Legler's  was  short  and  concise;  he 
pledged  himself  to  activity  and  the  advance  of  all  plans  beneficial 
to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  ;  Wylie' s  was  more  lengthy,  but  virtually 
gave  the  same  promises. 

Batsford  had  issued  two  numbers  of  Our  Choice  as  campaign 
sheets ;  Emery  sent  out  a  two-page  Editor's  Eye  for  the  same 
purpose,  and  the  Legler  Campaign  was  published  anonymously 
somewhere  out  west.  The  Wylie  men  were  devoting  much  space 
and  grinding  out  leaders  on  the  merits  of  their  candidate  by  the 
dozen.  The  fight  was  on  and  everyone  was  excited.  Nearly 
every  paper  published  took  one  side  or  another.  Everybody  who 
had  ever  edited  a  paper,  written  for  a  paper  or  thought  of  a 
paper  was  sounded  on  the  political  question. 

The  work  of  the  Wylie  campaign  was  done  very  systematically. 
The  States  were  divided  into  sections  and  each  section  sub- 
divided. Workers  and  subordinate  workers  were  appointed  to 
each.  The  whole  country  was  thoroughly  canvassed  and  the 
work  was  done  well.  Watkyns  directed  what  was  to  be  under- 
taken and  received  regular  reports  from  different  sections ;  he 
could  thus  judge  how  the  campaign  was  getting  on,  and  direct 
attention  to  any  weak  point.  Legler's  supporters  were  not 
organized  at  all,  and  hence  labored  at  a  disadvantage;  but  much 
good  work  was  accomplished  against  these  odds.  Any  one  who 
favored  him  could,  and  was  urged  to,  try  to  convert  some  brother 
amateur,  presenting  Legler's  claims.  Ikit  as  no  one  knew  who 
had  l)een  addressed,  liiere  was  much  clashing  and  much  omis- 
sion. Batsford  was  the  leading  worker,  but  even  he  had  no 
sj^stem  of  work.     The  principal    compaign    work  ^in   New    York 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


105 


State  was  done  by  Batsford  and  the  writer.  Our  plan  was  for 
each  of  us  to  write  to  a  person,  one  a  short  time  after  the  other, 
in  the  hope  that  our  united  arguments  might  have  some  influence. 
But  this  was  all  of  plan  there  was.  There  is  no  use  denying  that 
Legler's  campaign  was  badly  managed. 

l^egler  had  a  nearly  solid  west  at  his  back,  while  Wylie  was 
supported  by  a  divided  east,  with  the  majority  of  his  following 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  seat  of  the  convention.  Only  one  Western 
man  was  out  for  Wylie ;  Scott  D.  Junkin,  who  published  the 
Wylie  Phalanx,  and  gloried  in  calling  his  comrades"  Wylie  Kids  ;" 
while  in  the  East  such  prominent  men  as  Kempner  and  Batsford 
gave  their  votes  to  Legler. 

It  was  said  that  Watkyus  was  not  a  very  strong  Wylie  man 
after  all,  and  I  know  he  wrote  Legler  that,  although  pledged  to 
the  Beverly  candidate,  he  preferred  Legler  himself.  Watkyns 
told  me  once  that  on  the  first  ballot  at  New  York  he  could  not 
vote  against  Legler,  but  put  in  a  blank  ballot. 

After  Steele's  withdrawal,  Elgutter,  Harrison  and  Reeve  re- 
fused to  pledge  themselves  to  any  candidate ;  but  they  were 
opposed  to  Wylie,  and  with  the  two  Mttcalfs  were  willing  to  push 
anyone  who  they  saw  at  New  York  could  defeat  the  Beverly  man. 

The  question  whether  the  proxy  ballots  would  be  counted  at 
New  York  or  not  was  of  much  importance  in  the  campaign.  As 
Legler's  support  was  mainly  at  a  distance  from  the  city,  it 
was  probable  that  many  of  them  would  be  able  to  vote  only  by 
proxy.  It  was,  therefore,  important  to  Legler  that  the  proxies 
be  counted.  Fischer  in  his  Burger  letter  had  said  "we  want  no 
proxies,*'  but  Wylie  himself  said  the  proxies  should  be  counted. 
President  Grant  and  the  holders  of  the  proxies,  Stowell  and  Ort- 
mann,  were  also  determined  they  should  be  counted.  The  pros- 
pect was  that  they  would  be  counted.  So  both  parties  did  their 
best  to  get  out  as  large  a  proxy  vote  as  possible. 

Wylie  and  Legler  were  on  excellent  terms  and  their  candida- 
ture did  not  break  off  the  relations.  But  for  Storms  the  former 
had  a  special  aversion.  Rather  than  see  Storms  elected,  the 
Wylie  followers  to  a  man  said  they  would  cast  their  ballots  for 
Legler.  So  said  Watkyns  in  the  May- June  Critique,&ud  Batsford 
promised  as  much  for  Legler,  although  the  Legler  men  as  a  body 
had  no  hatred  for  the  Jersey  gentleman.  So  stood  affairs  just 
before  the  convention. 

Harrison,  Stowell  and  Legler  arrived  the  day  before  the  date 
of  meeting;  they  occupied  a  suite  of  rooms  which  they  rrade  the 
headquarters  of  the  Wylie  opposition.  On  the  same  day 
the  Spencer  brothers  ,*^  Brown,  Harty,  Scofield,  Parsons, 
Fischer,  Brewster,    McElroy,     McClain,     Mercur,    Brodie,    the 


106    ,      HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Heinemans,  Griggs  brothers,  Bodenwein,  the  two  Metcalfs,  El- 
gutter,  Salabes,  Grant,  Boechat  and  Hamilton  registered. 

The  W^^lie  caucus  was  held  in  room  231  of  the  St.  Nicholas. 
Thirty-one  persons  were  present  and  all  signed  a  cast-iron  pledge  * 
to  support  all  the  nominees  chosen  by  the  caucus.  Watkyns 
called  the  meeting  to  order,  and  George  W.  Baiidon,  of  Plain 
Dealer  fame,  was  elected  permanent  chairman.  Gleason  acted 
as  secretary.  The  following  ticket  was  nominated :  For  presi- 
dent, Wylie;  vice-presidents,  Arnett,  Mercur,  Barker;  corres- 
ponding and  recording  secretaries,  T.  J.  Spencer,  J.  W.  Mc- 
Clain ;  treasurer,  T.  H.  Parsons;  official  editor,  C.  K.  Watkyns, 
next  place  of  meeting,  Milwaukee.  The  caucus  adjourned  in  the 
small  hours  of  morning,  and  quiet  reigned  supreme  for  a  short 
time. 

The  Legler  caucus  was  held  the  next  day,  at  9  :30,  in  Harri- 
son's room.  It  was  a  Legler-Storms  caucus  iu  fact;  the  one 
receiving  the  least  votes  for  president  to  decline  in  favor  of  the 
other.  Reeve  presided.  Thirty- three  persons  were  present. 
On  the  lirst  ballot  Legler  received  twenty-six  votes  and  Storms 
only  three ;  the  latter  transfered  his  support  to  the  former  and 
retired  from  the  race.  The  following  was  the  ticket  nommated, 
no  absentees  being  given  a  place :  For  president,  Legler ;  vice- 
presidents,  Griggs,  Daly,  Barker;  corresponding  and  recording 
secretaries,  B.  P.  Emery  and  W.  B.  Smyth ;  treasurer,  Stowell ; 
official  editor,  complimentary  vote  to  C.  K.  Watkyns ;  caucus 
nomination,  Harry  Batsford.  This  complimentary  vote  was 
strongly  objected  to  by  Kempner,  but  his  objection,  owing  to  the 
Metcalfs'  insistance,  was  overruled. 

From  an  article  by  Mr.  Willard  O.  Wylie,  in  the  Union  Lance, 


*  Much  has  been  said  about  the  "cast-iron  pledge"  which  this 
caucus  saw  fit  to  adopt.  It  may  be  an  interesting  document  to  some, 
so  I  give  it  entire: 

"We,  the  undersigned,  do  hereby  agree  to  and  pledge  our  several 
votes,  if  present,  for  Mr.  Willard  Otis  Wylie  for  president  of  the 
National  Amateur  Press  Association,  on  Wednesday,  July  11,  1883^ 
and  we  further  agree  to  vote  for  said  W.  O.  Wylie  on  each  and  every 
ballot  that  may  be  cast  for  president  of  said  Association  on  that  day, 
Geo.  W.  Baiidon  Louis  Kilmarx  Judson  D.  Russell  W,  T.  Scofield 
E.A.Brewster,Jr.  J.  W.  McClain       John  Fischer  C.A.Watkyns 

Frank  .1 .  Martin    I.  Lowenburg         E.  Reed  Riale  Henry  Jacobs 

Chas.  R.  Burger    H.  J.  McElroy       L.  H.  Spencer  T.  J.  Spencer 

Jos.  Dana  Miller  J.  J.  O'Connell       F.  E.  Williams        W.W.  Delaney 
T.  H.  Parsons        Henry  S.  Nelson    F.K.  Vondersmith  M.  F.  Boechat 
J.  P.  Caruochan    J.  F.  Walsh,  Jr.     Geo.  J.  Boehm        John  Breen 
James  R.Gleason. 

— W.  O.  Wylie,  in  Empire  State  Amateur,  March,  1883. 


^HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  107 

March,  1890,  the  followiDg  account  of  the  convention   is    taken: 

At  12  o'clock,  noon,  President  Grant  called  the  convention  to 
order  and  read  his  farewell  message,  in  which  the  laureateship** 
were  announced  as  follows: — Sketch  writer,  Brainerd  P.  Emery; 
poet,  Joanna  M.  Brown  ;  historian,  Henry  K.  Merritt.  Routine 
business  was  then  transacted. 

At  8  p.  m.,  the  result  of  the  proxy  balloting  for  president  was 
given  as  follows : 

Number  of  votes  cast 33 

Necessary  for  a  choice  17 

Henrv  E.  Legler 16 

WillardO.  Wylie 13 

James  B.  H.  Storms 2 

Scattering 2 

As  regards  the  other  officers  balloted  for  by  proxy,  Frank  S. 
Arnett  was  the  only  one  elected,  receiving  21  out  of  the  29  votes 
cast  for  vice-president.  When  the  committee  had  concluded  its 
report.  President  Grant  announced  that  a  ballot  for  president 
was  in  order. 

The  tellers  performed  their  work  and  reported  as  the  result: 

Number  of  votes  cast 57 

Necessary  for  a  choice 29 

Willard  O.  Wylie 31 

Henry  E.  Legler 2.5 

Scattering 1 

The  first  named  was  declared  elected. 

Upon  Mr.  Legler's  motion  the  election  was  made  unanimous. 
Previous  to  this,  however,  a  cry  of  fraud  had  been  raised.  Will 
C.  Brown,  of  Fostoria,  O.,  claiming  that  more  votes  had  been 
cast  than  there  were  persons  present  in  the  room.  A  special 
(iommittee  was  appointed  to  investigate  this  charge,  and  an  ad- 
journment effected  that  the  investigation  might  be  conducted  in 
a  tiiorough  manner.  Upon  reassembling  this  committee  reported 
that  no  evidence  of  fraud  existed,  this  report  being  accepted. 
The  president-elect  was  conducted  to  the  chair  by  Messrs.  Legler 
and  Watkyns,  and  the  ejection  of  otficers  proceeded  with  as  fol- 
lovTs:  Second  vice-president,  Hiram  T.  Mercur.  secured  30  votes 
out  of  41,  with  13  of  such  for  E.  Q.  Daly.  For  third  vice-presi- 
dent, A.  E.  Barker,  on  second  ballot,  received  24  out  of  42  with 
18  of  such  for  R.  F.  Griggs.  For  recording  secretary  J.  W. 
McClain  received  27  out  of  41  votes  cast,  11  of  such  being  for 
Charles  Hey  wood.  For  corresponding  secretary  T.  J.  Spencer 
had  22  out  of  41,  18  being  cast  for  15.  P.  Emery.  For  treasurer. 
T.  H.  Parsons  was  elected  by  acclamation.  For  official  editor 
T.  G.  Harrison  was  elected  in  the  same  manner,  and  Milwaukee 
next  place  of  meeting. 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

The  sessions  of  the  AssociatioQ  on  Thursday  and  Friday  were 
short,  yet  a  great  deal  of  business  was  transacted.  The  constitution 
was  amended  so  that  the  president  shall  demand  the  resignation 
of  any  officer  whose  paper  is  over  two  months  late;  Cushing's 
Manual  shall  be  our  recognized  parliamentary  authority  ;  a  stand- 
ing committee  on  revision  of  constitution  shall  be  appointed  each 
year ;  the  appointive  office  of  national  laureate  recorder  created  ; 
official  organ  may  be  issued  bi-monthly  or  quarterly  at  discretion 
of  editor;  sum  for  printing  such  increased  from  $40  to  $60,  and 
amendments  to  constitution  may  be  made  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of 
those  present  at  a  convention. 

The  banquet  was  given  at  the  Manhattan  Beach  hotel.  There 
were  seventy  plates.  Mr.  Joseph  P.  Clossey  acted  as  toast 
master,  and  the  following  were  the  toasts  responded  to : 

Our  Officers  Elect Thomas  G.    Harrison 

Our  National  Association James  M.  Beck 

The  E.  A.  P.  A Warren  J.  Brodie 

The  South Josepli  M.  Salabes 

Our  Absent  Members Will  C.  Brown 

Our  Comrades  Gone  Before Henry  E.  Legler 

The  Press Clarence  P.  Dresser 

Our  Alumni. James  R.  Gleason 

The  following  amendments  to  the  constitution  and  by-laws 
were  adopted  at  the  New  York  convention : 

CONSTITUTION. 

Art.  V— Sec.  12.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  demand 
the  resignation  of  any  officer  of  this  Association  who  shall  allow  his 
paper  to  become  more  than  two  months  late  or  who  shall  neglect  his 
official  duties,  and  if  such  resignation  be  not  forthcoming,  the  presi- 
dent shall  immediately  discharge  said  officer  and  appoint  his  successor. 

Art.  XIV — Sec.  8.  If  an  active  member  of  the  Association  in  good 
standing,  who  has  been  a  member  of  the  Association  three  months 
or  more,  fails  to  receive  official  blanks  previ(.us  to  the  time  of  Associa- 
tion assembling,  he  shall  be  entitled  to  cast  a  proxy  vote  at  any  time 
previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  counting  of  the  proxy  vote, 
upon  any  blank  in  default  of  the  official. 

Art.  XVI — Sec  7.  If  no  candidate  receives  a  majority  nf  all  the 
legal  ballots  cast,  as  heretofore  stated,  the  members  in  convention 
assembled  shall  elect  such  officers  by  a  majority  vote. 

Art.  XVII — S('c.  .3.  Members  ceasing  to  be  actively  engaged  in 
amateur  affairs,  lose  all  right  to  active  membership,  and  are  exempt 
from  the  paymt-nt  of  (lues.  Upon  the  renewal  of  activity,  however, 
thoy  are  again  entitled  to  the  rights  of  members. 

Art.  XXI — Substitute  "Cushing's  Manual"  where  '"Robert's  Rules 
of  Order"  appears. 

Art.  XXII — Sec.  5.  These  shall  be  appointed  at  the  annual  con- 
vention by  the  president,  a  stan  ling  committee  on  the  revision  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  109 

constitution,  to  consist  of  three  or  more  active  members,  and  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  have  prepared  such  changes  and 
amendments  to  the  constitution  and  by-laws  which  shall  be  suggested 
to  their  best  judgment  during  their  year  of  duty,  and  report  same  at 
the  annual  convention  lollow^ing. 

BY-LAWS. 

Art.  II— Sec.  2.  The  president  shall  appoint  each  year  a  person 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  write  a  complete  record  of  the  affairs  of 
Amateur  Journalism  as  transacted  during  his  year  of  office.  The  title 
given  said  person  shall  be  national  laureate  recorder,  and  his  record 
shall  be  published  in  the  official  orgartof  this  Association. 

Art.  VIII— Sec,  —  A  prize  of  $5  shall  be  awarded  at  each  annual 
convention  to  the  best  edited  amateur  paper  published  during  the 
previous  year,  which  has  published  six  isssues  or  more  in  said  year. 
The  prize  shall  be  awarded  by  a  committee  of  three  appointed  by  the 
president. 

Art.  XIII— Sec.  1.  Strike  out  '-quarterly"  and  substitute  "quar- 
terly or  bi-monthly  at  the  discretion  of  the  official  editor." 

Art.  XIII— Sec.  8.     Strike  out  '-$40''  and  substitute  '-$60.'' 

Shortl}^  after  the  New  York  convention,  charges  were   made  as 
to  the  legality  of  Wylie's  election   to    the    presidency.       These 
charges  finally  culminated  in  the    publication    of    the   following 
affidavit: 
State  of  New  York    "| 

>ss. 
County  of  Orange.    J 

E.  A.  Brewster,  Jr.,  being  duly  sworn,  deposes  and  says  that 
on  or  about  the  eleventh  day  of  July,  1883,  while  acting  on  a 
committee  appointed  to  determine  the  legality  of  certain  proxy 
ballots,  cast  for  the  election  of  officers  of  a  body  known  and  des- 
ignated as  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association,  the  meeting 
of  which  was  then  in  session  in  the  city  of  New  York,  he  was  ap- 
proached by  one  Frank  J.  Martin,  who  was  serving  on  the  same 
committee,  and  in  course  of  conversation  was  informed  by  said 
Frank  J.  Martin  that  he  had  suppressed  and  destroyed  the  ^'du- 
plicates''  of  certain  proxy  ballots,  the  form  and  manner  of  casting 
which  was  legal;  and  he,  the  said  Frank  J.  Martin,  further  in- 
formed the  deponent  that  after  he,  the  said  Martin,  had  torn  up 
the  above  mentioned  "duplicates"  of  the  proxy  ballots,  the  frag- 
ments were  conveyed  from  the  room  and  thrown  away  by  one 
John  Fischer ;  that  said  Fischer  knew  of  the  nature  of  said  frag- 
ments, and  said  Martin  further  informed  deponent  that 
enough  duplicates  of  ballots  were,  so  destroyed  to  have  legally 
elected  Henry  E.  Legler  to  the  presidency  of  the  said  Associa- 
tion. [Signed]  E.  A.  Brewster,  Jr. 

Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this  1st  day  of  Dec,  1863, 
Chas.  L.  Chatterton,  Notary  Public,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y, 


110  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AJ^lA'Pfetll  "Pt&BS   Ai^d'ciATlON. 

In  a  Itetler  to  Tbos.  G.  HairisoD,  published  In  tire  Mdioneil 
iLihdfe^m'  'fov  ^iCLVch,  1884,  John  Fisolier  aeknowledoes  the  trutli- 
folness  otiire water's  Wffid^vit,  and  stat;es  that  his  interest  rh 
Wylie  was  due  to  a  grudge  against  Steele,  who  had  heen  a  candi- 
date for  the  presidency  early  in '82  '88.  Tlie  letter  contains  a 
iiuiriber  of  mis-statements,  and,  as  history,  is  not  Vvoi'th  the  r'o'oiii 
il  Avoiifd  occupy  in  this  vol n me. 

The  following  appointments  by  PresidentWylie  were  announced 
In  the  Septeftiber  Ndtioiial  Amateur: 

Credential  committee — H.  E.  Legler,  cbairman  ;  C.  li.  Wat- 
kyns,  E;  A.  Brewster,  Jr. 

In  the  December  Amateur  additional  appointments  Were  an- 
nounced, as  fallows : 

Chairman  of  committee  on  editorial  award — T.  J.  Spencer. 
Historian  laureate  recorder — B.  P.  Emery, 
Committee  to  report  a  platform  setting  forth  the  principles  of 
btir  Association — ft.  Vj.  Legler,  C.  M.  Heineman,  H.K.  Batsford. 
Fbr  the  first  time  in  three  year,  the  National  Amateur  in  size 
merely  came  up  to  the  constitutional  requirements  of  four  pages 
per  quarterly  issue.  Typographically  the  paper  was  not  as  pretty 
as  former  volumes,  the  contrast  between  Mr.  Harrison's  Issues 
and  those  of  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Steele,  being  very  marked. 
While  the  ])rinting  was  fair,  much  of  the  type  used  was  old  and 
vvbiir.  The  Septenib'er  Amateur  contains  the  minutes  of  the  New 
Ybrlv  coiiVentron,  the  president's  message  and  half  a  page  of  edi- 
tbtial.  Mr.  Harrison  claims  that  this  is  the  first  publication  of  the 
official  minutes  of  a  convention  of  the  National 
A.  P.  A.,  but  he  is  in  error,  as  the  minutes  of  the  conventions 
at  Buffalo  and  Detroit  were  given  space  by  ihe  preceding  official 
editors,  in  each  case  being  duly  signed  l)y  the  recording  secretary. 
The  December  Amateur  gave  a  classilication  of  amateur  papers 
which  has  been  adapted  by  many  succeetling  official  editors.  It 
also  contained  an  article  of  reminiscences  of  the  '70's,  i)resi(lent's 
message,  a  toast  response,  ''The  N.  A.  P.  A.,"  delivered  by  Will 
C.  Brown,  and  much  editorial  matter.  The  latter  was  mainly  in 
'•paragraphs"  in  which  work  Harrison  excelled.  The  destroyin-j- 
of  proxies  at  the  New  York  convention,  {heselty  electing  Wylie 
president,  was  treate<l  at  length  in  the  March  Amateur.  It  also 
contained  a  long  message  from  President  Wylie,  the  classilication. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  111 

Treasurer  Parsons'  report  and  editorial  paragraphs. 
The  June  Amateur  contained  several  columns  more  on  the 
proxy  case,  an  article  on  "'l;'h,e  Need  of  Ambition,"  another  on 
"Administrative  Ref<.>i:nis,"  Actino-  President  Mercur's  proclama- 
tion naming^  the  date  for  tlie  Milwaukee  couvention  f^nd  ed.itprial. 
parajgraphs. 

Among  the  papers  of  the  year  were  ArneWs  Phoenix,  A^W^eur 
Chimes,  American  Spliinoc,  Boys^  Folio,  Boys^  Doings,  Blade, 
Champion,  Cincinnati  Weekly  Amateur,  Dari,  DowagifHio  News, 
Experiment,  .East  Boston  Amateur,  Hornet,  Kansm  Zep^iyr,  Le 
Critique,  Lake  Breezes,  Lark,  Legler^s  Caprice,  MetroppUian, 
Microgram,  Mayflower,  New  Moon,  North  Star,  Our  Thoughts,  Oiir 
Endeavor,  Paragon,  Point,  Semi- Monthly,  Sentinel,  Stars  an4 
Stripes,  Spunk,  SoutJiern  HJerald,  Trojan  Times,  Torrington  Ad- 
vertiser, Violet  and  Young  American.  Other  publications  are 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  chapter. 


CH/IFTER  11. 

THE  MILWAUKEE  MEETING. 
An  Unauspicious  Opening. — President  Wtlie's  Resignation, 
Brought  About  by  the  Fischer  Fraud. — The  Convention 
Called  by  Mercur. — Truman  Spencer's  Accounts. — 
Wylie  Unseated  and  Legler  Declared  the  President. — 
Election  of  Officer?. — Expulsion  of  Fischer, Russell  and 
Martin. — Laureate  Entries  of  the  Year. — Kempner's 
FinancialReport. — Heath  Promoted  to  the  Presidency. — 
Papers  of  the  Year. 

THE  year  1884  did  not  open  as  auspiciously  for  the  N.  A. 
P.  A.  as  did  its  predecessor.  President  Wylie  worked 
under  great  disadvantages,  the  cries  of  fraud  growing 
louder  as  time  passed.  He  soon  became  convinced  that  it  was 
useless  to  continue  to  act  as  president,  while  many  members  of 
the  Association  believed  he  had  not  been  elected.  In  their  ear- 
Mestness  to  have  the  man  of  their  own  choice  as  president,  they 
could  see  no  good  in  the  work  of  Mr.  Wylie.  But  how  to  get  rid 
of  the  office  was  a  question.  President  Wylie  studied  it.  It  was 
discussed  pro  and  con,  and  Mr.  Wylie' s  plan  was  laid  before 
Amateurdom  in  Golden  Moments.  Later  it  was  incorporated  in 
the  message  which  was  published  in  the  National  Amateur  for 
March. 

This  message   disposed   of    accumulated  business  as  follows: 

F.  F.  Heath  was  appointed  recording  secretar}^,  vice  J.  W. 
McClain,  resigned. 

Thos.  H.  Parsons  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  credential 
committee,  vice  H.  E.  Legler,  resigned. 

J.  M.  Salabes  and  M.  J.  Harty  were  appointed  members  of  the 
committee  on  editorial  award. 

The  following  laureate  judges  were  named:  Poems,  T.  B. 
Aldrich  ;  sketches,  Albert  E.  Clarke;  essays,  J.  A.  Fynes,  Jr.; 
histories,  C.  E.  Stone;  holiday  issues,  D.  A.  Sullivan. 

Mr.  Wylie  then  continued: 

There  is  one  more  matter  to  which  X  will  ask  you  to  give  atten- 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  113 

tion.  It  is  not  without  due  deliberation  tbat  I  have  arrived  at 
the  decision  of  resigning  the  position  I  now  hold,  and  I  believe 
that  the  reasons  1  have  in  mind  and  shall  state  will  amply  justify 
me  in  the  course  which  I  pursue.  I,  Willard  O.  Wylie,  therefore 
tender  my  resignation  as  president  of  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association,  and  shall  hand  over  to  the  first  vice-president,  Frank 
S.  Arnett,  all  documents  which  may  be  in  my  possession. 

1  have  three  reasons  for  taking  this  step:  1st — On  account  of 
the  nnjust  and  malicious  criticism  to  which  the  present  adminis- 
tration has  been  subjected.  2nd — To  the  fact  that  certain  proxy 
ballots  were  destroyed  at  the  New  York  convention  which  would 
lead  one  to  think  tliat  the  office  to  which  I  wa*s  elected  was  not 
leofaliy  mine,  ord — Because  the  sum  necessary  to  carry  on  the 
administration,  while  perhaps  forthcoming,  would  remain  unappre- 
ciated by  those  wlio  are  constantly  on  the  alert  to  find  flaws  in  my 
official  conduct. 

When  I  stepped  into  the  chair  at  New  York,  last  July,  I  knew 
full  well  that  I  was  the  choice  of  a  majority  of  the  delegates  in 
attendance,  and  others  who  scanned  the  faces  of  the  eighty  dele- 
gates present  were  also  positive  of  the  fact.  The  convention 
passed  off  and  the  members  departed  for  their  homes,  intent  upon 
another  year's  work  upon  their  journals.  It  did  not  surprise  me 
in  the  least  that  in  the  papers  issued  just  after  the  convention  my 
opponents  should  attempt  to  belittle  and  ridicule;  yet  this  I  well 
knew  how  to  bear,  but  thought  such  would  cease  in  a  reasonably 
short  space  of  time.  But  month  followed  month,  ridicule  is 
followed  by  abuse  and  when  this^  material  serves  to  counteract 
interest  I  am  awakening  in  the  recruits'  minds,  over  Amateur 
Journalism,  then,  indeed,  shall  I  lay  aside  the  pen  connected  with 
my  official  duties,  and  bid  those  who  lind  fault  with  me  to  secure 
the  services  of  one  who  will  serve  them  better.  Seven  months  of 
my  term  have  expired,  yet  these  seven  months,  which  should  have 
been  fraught  with  pleasure  have  been  slowly  poisoning  my  inter- 
est in  the  Association's  affairs.  But  my  interest  in  Amateur 
Journalism  has  been  in  no  way  affected ;  as  in  the  past  I  have 
been  a  faithful  advocate  of  all  measures  for  the  good  of  the  cause 
so  shall  I  be  in  the  future. 

As  regards  the  irregularity  in  the  election  at  New  York,  I  have 
only  the  affidavit  of  P^ugene  A.  Brewster,  Jr.,  to  prove  that  such 
existed.  This  I  will  say  and  the  party  mentioned  will  without 
doubt  recollect  the  incident  that  on  the  day  preceding  the  conven- 
tion Mr.  Legler  informed  me  that  in  his  opinion  there  could  be 
no  choice  on  the  proxy  ballots.  Mr.  Legler  had  been  associated 
with  Mr.  Stowell  more  or  less  during  the  week  previous  to  the 
convention,  and  the  latter  was  well  able  to  tell  by  the  post  marks 
and  different  penmanships  from  whom  proxies  were  received  and 


114  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

I 

for  whom  the  ballots  would  be  cast.  Ihls  matter  of  fraud  in 
connection  with  the  counting  of  proxy  votes  is  enough  in  itself 
to  warrant  me  in  resigning  the  position  I  hold. 

Again,  there  is  very  little  satisfaction  in  mA'  using  all  my  time, 
m}'  energies  and  my  pocket  book  in  the  behalf  of  Amateurdom. 
and  in  return  receive — what?  Appreciation?  No!  During  the 
past  year  eleven  numbers  of  my  journal  have  appeared.  I  have 
attended  several  conventions,  two  numbers  of  the  National  Ama- 
teur have  been  issued,  I  have  performed  all  the  duties  required  by 
the  constitution,  secured  the  judges  iii  the  laureate  contests  and 
offered  a  medal  for  the  best  holiday  issue  of  an  amateur  journal — 
3'et  my  administration  is  a  failure  and  the  Association  has  a  figure 
head  its  chief  executive ! 

But  I  am  cautioned.  "If  you  value  your  name  and  reputation, 
don't  resign."  Does  not  that  person  'know  that  ice  have  no  name, 
no  reputation  to  lose?  If  the  National  could  have  lived  durin^: 
the  past  seven  months,  without  my  being  in  the  chair,  it  most 
assuredly  can  during  the  remainder  of  the  yenr ;  and  those  who 
may  afRrn^  that  I  resigned  to  bring  disnster  upon  the  Association, 
must  swallow  and  digest  ihe  above  statement,  to  which  tliey  have 
occasionally  given  publication.  If  I  am  a  non-entity,  simply  a 
figure  head  while  in  olRee,  then  this  loss  cannot  harm  the  Associ- 
ation nor  can  my  action  be  misconstrued.  But  "you  lack  energy, 
will  power  aud  moral  stamina."  Perh.nps,  but  were  these  quali- 
ties lacking  in  the  events  subsequent  to  the  dissolution  of  the 
New  England  Amateur  Journalists'  Association,  at  Boston,  in 
January,  1883, and  in  which  I  took  a  no  unimportant  part?  Strange, 
passing  strange,  that  our  memories  should  be  so  faulty!  Bnt 
why  go  on  in  this  strain?  When  I  accepted  the  position  I  feel 
myself  now  called  upon  to  resign,  I  thought  and  felt  I  was  to 
preside  over  gentlemen  ;  but  when  these  persons  are  presented  in 
their  true  lights  as  brawlers,  fault  finders  and  discontents,  then, 
indeed,  is  it  the  most  fitting  thing  for  me  to  betake  myself  from 
their  midst.  One  cannot  touch  pitch  and  remain  undefiled,  and 
realizing  that  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valor,  is  but  another 
reason  for  my  nction.  My  nature  is  such  that  I  cannot  stand 
idly  by  and  have  my  actions  misconstrued  and  ridiculed  by  Hein- 
enian,  C4raham,  Metcalf,  Kemi)ner,  Harrison,  Stowell,  Baxter, 
Shelp  and  others  of  their  ilk,  when  my  position  forces  me  to 
refrain  from  such  controversies  and  few  of  my  friends  desire  to 
mix  in  these  quarrels  for  fear  of  injuring  other  friendships  and 
their  own  political  jn-ospects.  I  may  lack  moral  stamina  enough 
for  this  position,  yet  I  possess  enough  confidence  in  my  own  good 
common  sense  to  be  assured  that  my  time,  labor  and  l)rains  can 
be  spent  in  more  profitable  business  than  serving  as  an  ofScer 
upon  whom  these  scavengers  of  filth  may  vent  their  wrath.     Never 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


n% 


aojaih  do  I  expect  to  become  an  officer  of  an  amateur  press  asso- 
ciation, although  in  the  (ield  of  Amateur  Journalism  I  shall  yet 
do  good  service.  My  love  for  the  National  has  grown  less,  but 
my  attachment  for  Amateur  Journalism  stronger.  I  seek  and 
expect  no  defense  of  my  course.  I  care  naught  for  the  opinions 
of  those  who  have  been  assailing  me;  they  can  do  no  more  than 
they  have  already  done. 

With  thanks  to  the  friends  who  have  conferred  political  honors 
upon  me  in  the  past  and  respect  to  the  enemies  who  have  granted 
me  justice  in  their  criticisms  of  the  manner  in  which  my  olfieial 
duties  have  been  performed,  I  remain. 

Fraternally,  as  ever, 

WiLLARD  O.   WyLIE. 

Official  Editor  Harrison  answered  this  in  the  same  National 
^^tnateitr,  as  follows : 

SOMETHING  OF  AN  EPISODE. 

As  President  W^die  has  published  the  major  portion  of  his  mes- 
sage, which  appears  in  this  issue,  previousl^^  few  will  now  be  sur- 
prised at  the  tenor  of  its  contents  ;  unless  this  ai;ticle  is  read  at- 
tentively. It  can  be  seen  that  he  announces  his  resignation  as 
president  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association,  for  reasons 
on  which  we  will  dwell  later  on. 

After  first  reading  the  news  that  he  contemplated  this  step,  we 
wrote  him  that  we  did  not  think  he  could  legally  resign.  In  an- 
swer, he  referred  us  to  section  10  of  article  V  of  the  constitution. 
We  have  examined  this  document  carefully  and  considerately,  but 
have  failed  to  discover  any  loophole  of  legal  escape  for  him,  and 
now  declare  that  he  must  be  considered  as  the  president  of  our 
Association  until  relieved  by  the  Milwaukee  convention,  provid- 
ing he  does  not  become  disqualified  to  hold  the  office  by  becoming 
inactive,  and  by  not  publishing  ten  numbers  of  his  paper  during 
his  term  of  office.  As  yet,  by  all  the  meaning  of  the  constitution, 
he  cannot  legally  resign,  nor  can  he  have  a  successor  nntd  he  can 
legjiUy  resign  or  be  legally  deposed. 

Section  10  of  article  V,  to  which  President  Wylie  has  referred 
us,  reads  as  follows  : 

It  shall  be  the  president's  duty  to  remain  active  durino-  his  term  of 
office  by  publishing  at  least  ten  numbers  of  a  journal  during  his  term  of 
office.  If  befalls  to  do  so,  it  shall  be  his  duty  to  resign.  And  no  one 
number  of  his  paper  shall  be  more  than  one  month  delayed. 

This,  evidently,  does  iu)t  give  the  president  the  right  to  resign 
for  any  cause  but  as  state.].  As  he  lias  to  date  fuUiiled  the  re- 
quirements of  the  conslitiilicMi,  he  must  still  hold  Ins  office.  It  is 
true  he  can  refuse  to  serve,  but  if  he  thus  prove  recieant  to  the 
obligations  and    duties  of  his  office,  and     leaves     the    Association 


116  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

without  a  head,  we  warn  him  there  will  be  a  reckoning  at  Milwaukee. 
If  he  refuses  to  serve,  and  leaves  the  Association  helpless  to  fill 
his  office  (however  willingly  it  would  do  so  if  it  legally  could)  he 
shall  be  impeached  and  expelled  from  membership. 

We  cannot  imagine  how  he  ever  came  to  the  conclusiou  that  he 
could  constitutionally  resign,  under  existing  circumstances.  Who 
did  he  imagine  could  accept  his  resignation  ?  A  resignation  must  be 
accepted  by  some  expressed  form.  No  amateur  or  body  of  ama- 
teurs can  accept  his  resignation,  except  the  National  A.  P.  A.  in 
convention ;  and  the  Association  cannot  hold  a  convention  until 
Jul3\  The  president  has  no  power  to  call  a  special  meeting  to 
consider  his  resignation,  and  it  cannot  be  parliamentarily  con- 
sidered except  by  the  Association. 

By  section  12  of  article  V  it  is  provided  how  other  officers  of 
the  Association  can  resign  or  be  discharged,  but  nowhere  in  the 
constitution  is  an 3^  similar  provision  made  for  the  president's 
individual  action.  Hence  a  deliberate  perusal  of  the  constitution 
will  convince  anyone  that  our  president  has  attempted  to  act 
illegally.  It  may  be  he  did  not  know  the  provisions  of  the  consti- 
tution, but  that  would  be  rather  a  ridiculous  defense  for  one  who 
is  presumed,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  to  have  complete  knowledge 
of  the  technicalities  by  which  the  Association  is  ruled.  The  con- 
stitution is  faulty  in  this  respect — its  rulings  now  give  us  a  presi- 
dent unwilling  to  serve,  or  else  leaves  the  Association  entirely 
without  a  head  for  four  mouths. 

We  are  in  hopes  President  Wylie  will  perfonr  the  duties  of  his 
office,  since  he  cannot  legally  resign  them.  If  he  refuses  to  serve 
we  know  the  National  A.  P.  A.  will  survive  and  get  along  with- 
out him. 

President  Wylie  states  that  he  will  hand  over  the  documents  of 
his  office  to  First  Vice-President  Ainett.  Here,  again,  he  shows 
his  inferior  knowledge  of  the  constitution.  If  the  president  has 
performed  his  duties,  he  has  long  ago  discharged  First  Vice-Presi- 
dent Arnett  fnmi  office,  under  article  V,  section  12.  By  that 
ruling  Arnett  is  disqualilied  to  hold  office  in  the  Association,  for 
It  slates  that  the  president  shall  Immediately  discharge  any  olficer 
of  the  Association  who  shall  allow  his  paper  to  become  more  than 
two  months  late,  or  who  shall  neglect  bis  official  duties.  Under 
the  same  ruling  Treasurer  Parsons  should  be  immediately  dis- 
charged from  office.  But  President  Wylie  has  failed  to  perform 
his  duties. 

As  to  the  reasons  advaiK-ed  by  President  Wylie  for  his 
fltlenipterl  resianalion.  we  nuis!  sny  that  ihey  throw  great  discredit 
upon  the  Association;  for  wjuit  will  anyone  think  of  our  Associa- 
tion, when  iis  president  and  head  gives  such  foolish,  cowardly 
and  revengeful  reasons  for  an  act  that  must  remain  to  his  persona! 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  117 

discredit  and  dishonor  durino;  tl»e  entire  length  of  his  future  stay 
in  the  ranks  of  Amateur  Journalism.  lu  the  light  of  his  senseless 
and  injurious  attempt  at  resignation,  how  can  anyone  say  he  has 
previously  received  "unjust  criticism?"  And  if  he  has,  he 
should  have  had  the  manliness  and  courage,  the  strength  of  will 
and  determination  to  withstand  it.  But  he  has  shown  himself  to 
be  devoid  of  these  qualities — to  be  morally  a  coward,  and  not 
fitted  to  occupy  the  position  he  holds.  Babyishly,  he  complains  of 
''unappreciation ;"  unapprecuation  forms  the  real  or  the  main 
reason  for  his  attemptert  resignation.  What  amateur  journalist  is 
there,  with  a  spark  of  manliness,  who  does  not  feel  contempt  for 
such  an  ei.cus''?  Who  has  not  appreciation  should  compel  it. 
President  W'ylie  might  have  compelled  even  his  enemies  to  ap- 
preciate his  services,  but  he  has  lost  the  chance,  and  now  should 
be  the  most  pitied  individual  in  the  ranks  of   amateur  journalists. 

It  is  not  of  the  man  we  speak  thus  harshly,  but  of  the  president 
of  our  Association,  and  in  its  interest  and  welfare.  A  president 
of  the  National  A.  F.  A.  should  assume  dignity  and  self-respect  if 
he  has  them  not.  And  who  can  say  it  has  been  self-respect  which 
has  prompted  the  action  referred  to?  Rather  was  it  not  wounded 
conceit  and  self-love? 

President  Wylie  gives  one  reason,  that  the  sum  necessary  to 
carry  on  his  administration,  while  perhaps  forthcoming,  would 
remain  unappreciated,  etc.  ;  which  leaves  us  to  doubt  whether 
it  would  really  be  forthcoming;  from  him.  But  he  need  not  worry 
over  tliat — the  N.  A.  P.  A.  has  some  funds  in  its  treasury — if  not, 
there  are  enough  good  and  loyal  members  to  amply  cover  any 
deficiency  incurred  by  the  president's  department,  out  of  their 
own  pockets. 

Developments  of  the  {)ast  few  months  tend  to  the  belief 
President  Wylie  was  illegally  elected.  Sworn  testimony  from 
Eugene  A.  Brewster  deposes  to  the  effect  that  a  number  of  legal 
proxy  ballots,  cast  for  Henry  E.  Legler,  were  destroyed  and  not 
counted,  which,  if  counted,  would  have  resulted  in  declaring 
Henry  E.  Leoler  the  president  of  the  Association.  We  presume 
every  reader  of  the  facts  must  believe  that  Legler  was  chented 
out  of  the  presidency  of  our  Association.  But,  as  these  proxy 
ballots  were  not  counted.  W^ylie  was  elected  to  an  office  to  which 
he  had  no  right — but  wiiich  he  must  hold  until  deposed — 
and  that,  we  believe,  will  be  done.  At  Milwaukee  Wylie's  name 
should  be  declared  erased  from  the  list  of  presidents  of  the  Associ- 
ation and  Henry  E.  Legler's  substituted  in  its  place.  Thus  can 
a  great  wrong  be  partially  righted. 

We  will  state  that  we  do  not  believe  President  Wylie  was 
cognizant  of  or  accessory  to  the  felouous  destruction  of  the  proxy 
ballots  by  his  supporters,  John   Fischer   and   P'rank  J.    Martin; 


US  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION 

nevertbeless,  if  he  believes,  as  be  must  believe,  that  the  above 
mentioned  proxy  ballots  were  destroyed,  he  can  but  concur  in 
the  action  we  recommend,  viz:  the  substitution  of  Legler's  name 
for  \V^y lie's  in  the  list  of  N.  A.  P.  A.  presidents. 

It  is  ratlier  odd  that  towards  the  close  of  his  message,  President 
Wylie  states  that  the  "cares  naught  for  the  opinions  of  those  who 
have  been  assaihng  him,"  and  yet  he  charges  his  determination 
to  resign  mostly  to  the  criticism  of  his  opponents.  Or  it  is  not 
his  real  reason?  What  is  under  the  surface  and  not  3'et  brought 
to  light?     Is  there  anything  concealed? 

The  National  A.  P.  A.  holds  a  claim  upon  Willard  O.  Wylie 
that  it  will  only  relinquish  at  its  own  pleasure.  Wylie  owes  the 
Association  a  debt  that  he  cannot  throw  off  at  will.  He  can 
refuse  payment,  but  the  debt  still  exists;  and  ii  he  does  refuse 
payment,  it  will  be  taken  into  court — into  the  next  convention. 

We  demand  the  active  services  of  President  Wylie  in  his  official 
position.  Let  him  not  so  soon  forget  his  promises  to  his  suppor- 
ters—  let  him  not  so  soon  forget  their  votes.  He  cannot  leave 
his  office  as  he  intended — if  he  does  desert  it,  he  will  do  so  dis- 
honorably. 

Mr.  Wylie  refused  to  have  anything  further  to  do  with  the 
government  of  the  Association. 

The  June  National  Amateur  editorially  continued  a  discussion 
of  the  subject: 

THE  ENACTED  FRAUD. 
Since  the  last  issue  of  the  National  Amateur  appeared  contain- 
ing the  revelaiions  concerning  the  fraudulent  counting,  or  lack  of 
counting  the  proxy   ballots,    at   the  New    York   convention,    the 
amateur  press  has  generally  discussed  the  matter,  nearly  all  agree- 
ing with  the  version  the  Amateur  gave  as  its  opinion  of  the  mat- 
ter— that  there  was  not  a  fair  count.      A   few   journals  declared 
their  belief  that  nothing  fraudulent   transpired.       Two  more  affi- 
davits have  appeared  in  print  and  more  are  coming  bearing  upon 
this  subject.     Of  those  already  in  print,   one  is  signed  by   Frank 
J.  Martin  and  one  by  J.  Rosevelt  Gleason.     Martin  deposes  that 
the  statements  implicating  himself,    in    Brewster's   affidavit,    are 
false ;  and  Gleason  deposes  to  the  effect    that    in    a  conversation 
with  him  Brewster  stated  that  he    made   his   affidavit   simply    to 
"fix"  Wylie, out  of  revenge.    Batsford,one  of  the  examining  com- 
mittee at  New  York,  writes  a  letter  stating  his   belief   that    fraud 
could  not  have  been  committed  ;  mainly  because    he    did    not    see 
any  wrong  doing. 

From  this  immaterial  evidence  Frank  J.  Martin  was  acquitted 
of  the  charges  made  by  Brewster,  in  a  trial  purporting  to  have 
been  given  by  the  Metropolitan  A.  J.  C. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  119 

As  cnn  be  sean,  nothing  to  the  point  has  beeu  brougiit  to  coq- 
tradict  the  charges  of  fraud  in  the  counting  of  the  prox}-  ballots. 
The  truth  of  Fischer's  voluntary  confession  has  not  been  shaken 
one  iota.  Upon  his  statement  alone  rests  the  real  fraud,  and  in 
an  alfidavit  prepared  by  hira  shortly  to  be  printed,  the  fact  of  the 
fraud  is  so  substantiated  that  every  reader  must  be  convinced. 
The  one '/vho  committed  the  fraudulent  action  swear  to  his  own 
guilt,  voluntarily.  Is  not  that  enough  to  establish  the  truth  of 
there  having  been  fraud  ?     We  think  so. 

Jacobs  tells  us  Fischer  iujformed  him  at  the  convention  that  he 
destroyed  the  proxy  ballots.  Fischer,  previously  to  writing  to 
the  editor  of  the  National  Amateur^  had  made  confessions  to  other 
amateur  journalists,  notabl}^  to  C.  A.  Watkyns,  and,  we  learn,  to 
Parsons  and  Mercur — to  these  latter  two  on  the  day  the  deed  was 
done  or  thereabouts.  Other  facts  bear  out  the  truth  of  the  de- 
struction of  the  legal  proxy  ballots.  Stowell,  ex-vice-president, 
whom  one  pai)er  said  ought  to  know  from  the  ballots  in  his  poses- 
sion,  whom  had  received  a  majority  of  votes,  Legler  or  Wylie, 
testified  that  he  carried  to  New  York  fifty-five  duplicate  proxy 
ballots,  and  that  they  tallied  exactly  with  the  originals  in  the 
possession  of  Kavanaugh,  and  he  says  of  the  fifty-five  at  least 
fifty  must  have  been  legal;  and  judging  from  the  post  marks, 
Legler  had  a  clear  majority,  only  one  of  his  supporters  voting 
being  delinquent  in  his  dues. 

An  examination  of  the  case  convinces  us  that  Legler  was  cheated 
out  of  the  presidency — that  Wjiie  was  illegally  declared 
elected  to  the  same. 

If  Martin's  statements  were  to  be  accepted  as  exculi-nting  him, 
it  would  merely  tl>row  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  trt.ud  upon 
Fischer.  The  fact  of  there  having  been  fraud  is  now  not  to  be 
questioned. 

Unless  fnrther  rebuttal  eviiience  is  given,  it  is  j.roven  that 
Legler  had  a  majority  of  the  legal  proxy  ballots  cast  fur  the  presi- 
dency of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  and  was  legally  entitled  to  the  presi- 
dency. 

Shall  this  wrong  be  righted? 

Shall  you, by  your  action  in  convention  assembled  at  Milwaukee, 
do  justice  to  Legler  and  to  those  who  voted  for  him  by  proxy, 
previous  to  last  July. 

We  call  upon  3^ou  to  do  it. 

At  Milwaukee,  when  in  convention  assembled,  officiall}' 
denounce  the  fraud,  erase  Wylie's  name  from  the  list  of  Associa- 
tion presidents  and  substitute  Legler*s  in  its  place.  Seat  Legler 
in  the  presidential  chair.  By  so  doing  you  strike  a  blow  for 
honor,  and  one  against  wrong  and  trickery. 

Among  the  questions  occupying  the  minds  of  members   of   the 


120  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AM.ATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

Associatiou  was  that   of  the  reductiotj  of  dues.       The  National 
Amateur  vigorouslj-  opposed  this. 

Very  little  campaigu  work  was  done  previous  to  the  Milwaukee 
Convention  in  behalf  of  candidates  who  desired  offices  at  that 
gathering.  For  the  presidency  Al.  E.  Baker,  of  Judsonia,  Ark., 
and  Ed.  E.  Slowell  of  Des  Moines,  la.,  were  named  by  their 
friends.  It  is  probable  that  these  two  gentlemen  were  the  only 
ones  who  had  a  following  and  hafi  authorized  their  canvasses. 
The  disaffection  caused  by  the  revelati(»n  of  the  New  York  fraud 
had  cooled  many  enthusiastic  Easterners,  and  there  was  much 
S[)ecuiation  as  to  what  the  Milwaukee  gatliering  would  do. 

The  announcement  of  convention  airangeraeuts  was  made  by 
Biram  T.  Mercur,  elected  second  vice-president,  who  held  the 
reins  of  government  and  was  then  acknowledged  as  president, 
First  Vice-President  Arnett  being  ineligible  from  inactivity. 
The  official  organ,  however,  was  edited  by  the  watchful  Mr.  Har- 
rison, and  he  labeled  President  Mercur's  letter  "From  Second 
Vice-President  Mercur."  It  follows  : 
Members  and  Friends  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  • 

I  have  appointed  Wednesday,  July  9,  the  day  f«r  holding  our 
ninth  annual  convention. 

The  Kirby  house  has  been  secured. 

The  Milwaukee  Press  Club,  with  a  membership  of  thirt}',  will 
entertain  the  visiting  delegates,  and  I  think  I  can  safely  say  that 
the  manner  of  entertainment  will  eclipse  that  of  all  previous 
conventions. 

It  is  important  that  all  members  who  do  not  intend  being  pres- 
ent should  send  in  their  proxy  votes.  Don't  neglect  this  import- 
ant duty  for  thinking  your  proxy  vote  will  be  thrown  out,  for 
such  will  not  be  tlie  case. 

Have  no  fears  least  the  Milwaukee  convention  be  not  a  success, 
but  let  every  one  interested  make  all  possible  effort  to  be  present. 
As  the  constitution  prescribes  that  the  [►resident  shall  present  a 
message  at  the  expiration  of  of  his  term  of  office  to  the  Associa- 
tion "in  convention  assembled,"  I  will  reserve  what  more  I  have 
until  I  see  you  at  Milwaukee.         Your  obedient  servant, 

HiKAM  T.  Meuglk. 

Mr.  Truman  J.  Spencer  contributed  an  article,  entered  for  the 
historian  laureateship,  to  the  March,  1900,  issue  of  the  National 
Amateur,  concerning  the  Milwaukee  convention  from  which 
extracts  are  given,  *s  an  introduction  of  the  meeting  itself: 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  121 

The  conveutiou  of  the  Natioanl  Amateur  Press  Assoeiatiou 
which  met  in  Milwaukee  in  1884  \ras  attended  by  unusual  cir- 
cumstances and  confronteci  by  as  peculiar  political  conditions 
as  ever  inaugurated  an  amateur  journalistic  gathering.  Charges 
of  the  gravest  character  had  been  made  against  the  integrity  of 
the  declared  results  of  the  election  in  New  York  the  preceding 
year.  The  friends  of  Henry  E.  Legler  declared  that  he  had  been 
cheated  out  of  the  presidency,  affidavits  and  counter  affidavits 
were  filling  the  press,  the  air  was  full  of  rumors  and  accusations 
and  denials,  and  the  delegates  rallied  to  Milwaukee  determined, 
many  of  them,  that  a  great  wrong  should  be  righted,  and  others 
that  a  new  wrong  should  not  be  perpetrated  under  cover  of  cor- 
recting an  old  one.  President  Wylie  had  resigned  his  office,  only 
to  be  met  with  the  declaration  from  some  officials  that  he  had  no 
power  to  resign.  The  first  vice-president  had  retired  into 
oblivion,  disputes  had  arisen  over  the  right  of  subordinate  officers 
to  assume  the  duties  of  the  non-acting  superiors,  and  confusion 
had  indeed  made  his  masterpiece,  as  far  as  the  world  of  Amateur 
Journalism  was  concerned. 

The  political  campaign  had  opened  early.  A  movement  was 
started  almost  immediatly  after  the  close  of  the  New  York  con- 
vention to  elect  Mr.  Legler  president  at  Milwaukee,  and  it  gained 
much  momentum  during  the  fall.  But  Mr.  Legler  would  neither 
decline  nor  accept  the  nomination  and  his  continual  wavering 
caused  fires  of  hope  to  be  kindled  in  other  hearts.  John  W. 
McClain,  of  Philadelphia,  was  very  prominently  brought  forward, 
but  his  candidacy  did  not  seem  to  grow  with  the  passing  months. 
Mr.  Kempner  vigorously  advocated  the  claims  of  John  J.  Weis- 
sert,  of  Cincinnati,  who  was,  in  those  years,  usually  a  candidate 
for  the  position.  His  following  in  1884,  however,  was  small. 
In  January  Mr  Legler  positively  withdrew  from  the  race,  and 
nearly  all  of  his  supporters  united  in  a  movement  in  favor  of 
Ralph  Metcalf ,  formerly  of  New  England  but  then  of  St.  Paul.  He 
soon  become  the  leading  factor  in  the  contest.  His  political 
record  was  not  considered  spotless,  and  man}'  of  the  leading 
journalists  of  the  tmie,  indifferent  before,  at  once  threw  them- 
selves into  the  campaign  with  vigor,  and  sought  his  overthrow. 
Most  of  them  rallied  to  the  banner  of  Frank  H.  Chamberlain,  of 
Ohio,  and  the  contest  narrowed  down  to  these  two,  and  waxed 
very  warm,  the  advantage  apparently  not  resting  with  either 
party. 

Near  the  close  of  June,  almost  upon  the  eve  of  the  convention, 
Mr.  Metcalf  and  Mr.  Chamberlain  both  withdrew  from  the  race, 
ostensibly  from  a  pressure  of  professional  duties.  Chaos  reigned 
among  their  supporters,  who  included  most  of  the  leading  editors 
and  politicians  of  the  day.     In  the    meantime   a  movement  had 


122  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

been  gaining  considerable  force  in  favor  of  Albert  E.  Barker,  of 
Arkansas.  He  was  put  forth  as  the  candidate  of  the  younger 
element,  of  fresh  enthusiasm  as  opposed  to  aged  indifference,  and 
gained  a  large  numerical  following,  although  naturally,  upon  such 
a  platform,  his  supporters  numbered  few  of  the  powerful  leaders 
of  the  day.  Most  of  Mr.  Weissert's  following,  however,  went 
over  to  him,  and  upon  the  withdrawal  of  Metcalf  and  Chamber- 
lain, his  followers  lelt  sure  of  victory.  Tlie  time  was  so  short, 
however,  that  no  effective  campaign  work  could  be  done,  and 
many  of  the  deiega'es  left  for  the  convention  utterly  at  a  loss  as 
to  the  outcome  of  tiie  political  situation. 

Mr.  Barker  met  the  writer,  who  was  one  of  his  principal  sup- 
porters, at  Chicago  two  days  before  the  convention,  and,  with 
several  other  deleoates,  boarded  the  night  boat  for  Milwaukee. 
The  evening  wms  spent  in  discussing  various  plans  for  the  further- 
ance of  the  conveiiliou  campaign,  a  slate  was  talked  over,  the 
writer  was  desigtiated  to  present  Mr.  Barker's  name  to  the  con- 
vention, and  when  at  four  o'clock  Tuesday  morning  we  stepped 
upon  the  wharf  at  Milwaukee,  Mr.  Barker,  the  only  candidate 
nominated  by  the  press  still  in  the  race,  felt  confident  of    victory. 

Just  before  leaving  the  boat  an  incident  occurred,  trifling  in 
itself,  but  one  of  those  apparently  trivial  accidents  which  set  in 
motion  a  train  of  events  which  lead  to  important  results.  Mr. 
Barker  and  the  writer  shared  a  stateroom  together,  and  while 
making  our  morning  toilet,  Mr.  Barker  finished  first,  with  the 
exception  of  his  necktie.  He  had  a  handsome  four-in-hand  silk 
tie,  which  he  requested  me  to  adjust  for  him.  It  was  beyond  my 
skill  ill  those  days,  and  Mr.  Barker  said  he  would  have  one  of 
the  boys  tie  it  for  him  when  he  went  out.  We  fell  into  an  earnest 
discussion  over  some  matter  of  political  detail  and  when  we  left 
our  room  found  the  rest  of  the  party  had  started  for  the  hotel. 
Mr.  Barker  was  forced  to  place  his  tie  in  his  pocket,  and  with  his 
gold  collar  button  exposed  was  greeted  by  the  assembled  dele- 
gales  at  the  hotel.  A  few  hours  later  his  tie  was  in  place,  but 
even  unto  this  day  he  is  known  as  the  delegate  who  attended  the 
Milwaukee  c(jnvention  without  a  necktie,  or  more  often,  for  such 
things  gri)w  with  passing  years,  as  the  "man  without  a  collar." 
The  matter  was  not  brought  to  my  attention  at  the  trme;  and  I 
was  the  only  one  knowing  the  true  facts  in  the  case,  but-I  learned 
later  in  the  w^-ek  that  this  little  episode  was  one  of  the  main 
factors  in  twriiino  the  tide  against  him.  His  friends  sought  to 
explain  it  by  insisting  that  it  was  one  of  the  customs  of  the  section 
from  which  he  hailed,  but  it  was  not  so  received. 

The  sessions  of  the  convention  were  held  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
hall,  which  was  a  large  and  commodious  room,  probably  the  most 
pleasant  and  convenient  assembly   room    ever   occupied    by  our 


HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  123 

national  gatberino.  The  hotel  selected  for  the  rlelegntes  was  the 
Kirby  House,  whose  motto,  printed  upon  ail  its  stationary, 
*'Wake  me  np  when  Kirby  dies,"  became  the  catch-word  of  the 
convention.  The  rooms  were  named  instead  of  numbered,  one. 
delegate  being  sent  to  Ireland,  and  another  to  Germany,  while 
another  was  in  Misery,  and  still  another  in  Felicity.  Many  of 
the  boys  Avere  dissatisfied  with  the  hotel,  and  a  delegation,  led  by 
Mr.  Hatty,  crowned  at  Detroit  two  years  before,  ''the  grumbler 
laureate,"  took  up  their  quarters  at  the  Plankington  House. 

The  attendance  was  not  large,  but  it  was  fairly  representative. 
Milwaukee,  with  its  powerful  local  club,  of  course  contributed 
the  lion's  phare  of  the  delegates.  The  most  prominent  figure  of 
the  convention  was  undoubtedly  the  "Charles  Sumner  states- 
man," Henry  E.  Legler.  Deprived  of  his  just  dues  the  year 
previous  at  New  York,  he  was  the  hero  of  the  hour.  Personally 
dignified,  solemn  and  courteous,  on  the  floor  he  was  not  a  ready 
speaker,  but  carried  great  weight  b}^  his  profound  earnestness 
and  force  of  character.  But  the  greatest  leader  of  the  conven- 
tion was  the  veteran  amateur  journalist,  Thomas  G.  Harrison. 
Genial  and  affable,  he  was  an  all  round  good  fellow  socially,  with 
a  head  wonderously  fertile  in  schemes  and  suggestions.  He  had 
a  ready  flow  of  words,  but  in  addressing  the  assembly  his  delivery 
was  not  smooth,  and  he  was  apt  to  become  rambling  and  prosy 
in  his  remarks.  Much  ot  his  success  was  owing  to  the  fact  that 
he  united  to  the  experience  of  many  years  the  enthusiasm  of  a 
young  recruit,  and  entered  heartily  into  everything  that  came 
along.  Unlike  Mr.  Harrison,  Louis  Kempnerdid  not  scatter  his 
energies,  but  concentrated  his  energies  on  the  one  idea,  and 
labored  for  that  with  a  dogged  persistency  and  pertinacity  that 
knew  no  turning  aside.  In  debate  he  was  cool,  collected  and 
earnest,  prolific  in  words  and  never  at  a  loss  for  reply.  Edward 
E.  Stowell,  at  that  time  of  Iowa,  was  enthusiastic,  good  natuied 
and  nervous,  an  excellent  companion.  He  was  scarcely  ever  heard 
from  upon  the  floor.  Bernard  Ginsburg,  of  Detroit,  was  the 
leader  in  most  of  the  fun  of  the  convention,  although  he  was  also 
a  sharp  debater  upon  his  feet.  Jolly,  jovial  and  warm  hearted, 
he  was  a  great  favorite,  and  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  convention. 
Charles  M.  Heineman,  of  Butler,  Penn.,  was  an  able  second  in  the 
mirth  of  the  occasion,  and  was  constantly  on  the  lookout  for  the 
humor  of  the  situation.  Albert  E.  Barker,  of  Arkansas,  was  a 
young,  slightly  built  fellow  of  quite  boyish  appearance,  but  with 
a  force  of  character  which  seemed  to  belie  his  apparent  years.  He 
was  warm  hearted,  frank  and  sociable,  and  gained  friends  until 
the  close  of  the  convention.  He  was  not  prominent  in  the  official 
proceedings,  but  could  express  himself  upon  occasion  with  clear- 
ness and  feeling.     Will  C.   Brown,    of    Ohio,    was  a    veteran  of 


124  HIBTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AM ATEUK    I'KEeB   /BSOCIATION. 

mauy  3'ears,  but  his  active  interest  was  upon  tlie  wane.  He  was- 
a  studied  orator,  full  of  well  rouiuled  periods  nnd  orotund  tones. 
Maurice  J.  Harty,  of  St.  J^ouis,  was  prob.-ibl.v  the  most  thor- 
QLighly  unique  delegate  in  attendance.  Tall,  ihiu  and  angular  ia 
build,  he  was  the  most  inveterate  pedestrian  and  untiring  sight- 
seer  at  a  convention.  He  was  known  as  '-Tiii  Giumblei/'  and 
seemed  to  be  in  a  perpetual  state  of  discontent  with  everything^ 
not  apparently  because  he  was  disatisfied,  but  because  it  seemed 
to  be  inherent  in  his  nature  to  continually  find  fault.  He  was 
well  informed  and  a  good  talker  sociall}',  but  guilty  of  the  most 
ludi'jrous  blunders  when  attempting  to  address  tl'.e  convention. 
Charles  C.  Kickert,  of  Ohio,  was  a  very  prosniuent  amateur  edi- 
tor, but,  bashful  and  retiring  in  disposition,  he  was  heard  from 
but  little.  There  were  also  Will  R.  Antisdel,  cf  Detroit,  piquant, 
witty,  lazy;  Frank  S.  Arnett,  of  Ohio,  jjale,  slender,  indifferent; 
Hiram  T.  Mercur,  of  Pennsylvania,  silent  and  unobtrusive; 
Oscar  L.  Knapp,  of  Cincmnati,  who  tarried  but  a  short  time ; 
George  W.  Hancock  of  Chicago,  famous  years  before, 
witty,  suave,  and  a  good  speaker,-  but  rusty  in  his 
knowledge  of  affairs  ;  Lawrence  B.  Stringer,  of  Lake 
Forest,  III.,  enthu^ia-tic,  ardent,  a  fiery  debater  and  elocu- 
tionary speaker ;  Wallace  J.  Sellman,  of  Evansville,  Ind.,  bright 
youtliful  and  retiring;  the  Bowersock  brothers,  Fred  IL  and  J. 
D..  of  Kansas,  easily  the  leaders  of  the  yiumg  element,  keen, 
intelligent  and  full  of  ideas  ;  Allan  R.  Fariish  and  Howard  M. 
Carter,  of  Chicago,  both  young,  both  giving  promise  of  some  day 
becoming  leaders,  and  Will  J.  Roe,  of  Oshkosh,  handsome, genial, 
bright.  The  writer  and  his  brother,  Lucius  H.  Spencer,  with 
the  exception  of  Mr.  Kempner,  were  the  only  delegates  present 
ftom  the  far  east.  The  local  contingent  was  numerous  and 
unusually  able,  although  composed  mostly  of  new  materiaL 
Aside  from  Mr.  Legler,  Mr.  Fred  EJeath  was  the  only  one  who 
had  achieved  a  national  re[)utation.  But  Tully  S.  Buckner,  John. 
F.  Urban,  E.  M.  Phillips  and  W.  P.  Cramer  took  a  more  or  less 
active  part  in  the  proceedings,  while  Frederick  T.  Mayor  was 
prominent  in  a  social  way.  The  Heyn  brothers — the  "Heyn 
triplets,"  as  the3'  were  called — were  one  of  the  features  of  the 
convention.  They  were  the  3'oungest  delegates  present, 
bright,  lively,  wide-awake  boys,  all  with  red  heads,  and 
so  nearly  alike  that  none  of  the  outside  members  could  distinguisb 
any  one  of  the  three  from  his  brothers.  The  other  locat  amateurs 
in  attendance  were  E.  DeWolfe,  Jr.,  H.  P.  Burt,  H.  Skinner,  W, 
S.  Uunlop  and  R.  'W.  Houghton. 

Mr.  Stowell  arrived  uj^on  the  ground  about  noon.  He  had 
been  an  ardent  su|)p(u-ter  of  Metciilf  for  the  presidency, but  as  the 
various  candidates  withdrew,  he  was  smitten  with  a  desire  for  ti'.e 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  325 

office  himself.  He  had  waylaid  many  of  the  delegates  in  Chicago, 
and  endeavored  to  stimulate  a  movement  in  his  favor,  but  it  did 
not  gain  much  head  way  at  first.  Upon  reaching  Milwaukee, 
h()wever,he  found  himself  in  his  own  home,  among  many  members 
of  the  local  press  club  which  he  had  helped  to  organize,  most  of 
whom  were  amateurs  of  but  a  few  months'  standiig,  and 
naturally  his  personal  friends. 

Shortly  after  dinner  Mr.  Barker, through  Mr.  Stringer,  informed 
the  writer  that  he  had  determined  to  release  his  supporters  from 
their  obligations  to  support  him,  and  had  withdrawn  from  the 
contest.  Mr.  Barker  undoubtedly  feared  defeat,  and  in  all  pro- 
bability would  have  met  it  had  he  remained  in  the  race.  There 
were  many  things  nhich  made  this  probable.  He  was  opposed  by 
the  older  element,  and  had  little  influence  with  the  local  delegates 
as  against  Mr.  Stowell,  and  being  the  candidate  of  the  younger 
portion  of  the  fraternity  he  proved  persouallj^  small  in  stature  and 
even  more  boyish  and  immature  in  appearance  than  he  really  was, 
and  though  a  genial  whole-souled  fellow,  lacked  the  essentials  of 
strong  leadership  on  the  field.  Still  it  was  not  simply  fear  of 
defeat  which  caused  him  to  withdraw.  He  was  willing  to  face 
th&t  for  himself,  but  he  felt  unwilling  to  hold  his  adherents  fast 
to  a  losing  cause.  The  writer  and  many  others,  however,  would 
have  stuck  to  him  until  the  end  had  he  decided  to  make  the  final 
contest. 

The  field  was  thus  left  entirely  free  to  Mr.  Stowell,  although 
but  few  amateurs  of  prominence  hid  as  j^et  espoused  his  cause. 
Mr.  Legler,  Mr.  Harrison  and  others,  although  strong  personal 
friends  of  Mr.  Stowell,  felt  he  was  not  adapted  for  the  place  and 
cast  about  them  for  a  candidate  to  oppose  him.  Messrs.  Harri- 
son, Ginsburg,  Arnett  and  some  others,  supposing  that  Mr. 
Stowell  would  have  a  "walk  over,"  and  always  ready  for  a  joke, 
sought  to  make  the  election  interesting  b}^  putting  up  a  dummy 
candidate.  They  finally  decided  to  use  the  name  of  Sammy 
Marks,  a  perpetual  candidate  of  the  New  York  boys. 

In  the  American  Sphinx,  beginning  with  the  issue  for  August, 
1884,  being  published  in  six  monthlj^  installments,  Mr.  Spencer 
gave  a  d-etailed  account  of  his  trip  to  Milwaukee  and  the  1884 
convention,  under  the  heading,  "Fifteen  Days  of  Excitement." 
From  this  we  make  c'(>pious  extracts : 

In  the  evening  a  conference  was  held  for  the  purpose  of  evolv- 
ing candidates  for  the  presidency.  Barker's  withdrawal  left  the 
arena  devoid  of  contestants.  Legler  was  chosen  chairman. 
Those  who  considered  themselves  candidates  were  requested  to 
leave  the  room.      Later  they  were  readmitted. 

A  ballot  was  taken  for  official  editor,   with    Barker   and  ISIiller 


126  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

as  contestauts,     The  ballot  resulted  in  Miller's  favor — 17  to  12. 

As  the  couference  adjourned  Legler  announced  that  the  two 
factions  would  hold  separate  caucuses,  and  that  the  Spencer  cau- 
cus would  meet  in  the  conference  room.  This  was  the  first  inti- 
mation we  had  of  the  fact  that  we  were  in  nomination  for  the 
presidenc3^  but  we  afterwards  learned  that  Harrison  had  pre- 
sented our  name  to  the  conference,  and  ihat  it  had  received 
Legler's  second.* 

The  Spencer  caucus  was  presided  over  bv  Harrison,  and  but 
little  business  was  done  beyond  arranging  that  Harrison  should 
present  our  name  to  the  convention  and  Legler  second  it. 

The  Stowell  caucus  was  at  the  hotel  and  a  complete  ticket  was 
nominated,  t 

The  ninth  annual  convention  of  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association  was  called  to  order  by  Frank  S.  Arnett,|  at  10 
o'clock  on  Wednesday,  July  9,  1884,  in  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  rooms. 
Upon  the  reading  of  the  minutes  of  the  New  York  convention, 
Harrison  called  in  question  the  portion  relaiing  to  the 
announcement  of  the  proxy  ballots,  and  moved  that  the  minutes 
be  laid  upon  the  table,  the  convention  going  into  a  committee  of 
the  whole  to  investigate  the  matter.  His  motion  was  carried  and 
Will  C.  Brown  was  given  the  chair.     Harrison  played  the  role  of 


*The  earnestness  of  the  opposition  to  Mr.  Stowell  displayed  by  Mr. 
Legler  and  Mr.  Harrison  banished  the  idea  of  mere  fun  from  Mr. 
Heineman's  mind.  His  love  for  a  political  fight  was  aroused,  and  he 
resolved  to  defeat  the  leaders  of  the  convention.  He  and  Mr.  Grins- 
burg  espoused  the  cause  of  Mr.  Stowell,  as  Mr.  Heineman  afterwards 
stated  in  print,  not  from  any  belief  that  he  was  competent  or  deserving 
of  the  presidency,  but  from  a  desire  to  win  a  political  victory  and  elect 
a  candidate  ''whose  success  meant  no  more  to  them  than  a  slight 
tribute  to  their  skill  as  politicians.-' — T.  J.  Spencer.  National  Amateur, 
March.  1900. 

fUpon  the  eve  of  the  convention  the  peculiar  situation  was  developed 
in  which  the  ardent  adherents  of  one  candidate  were  not  sincere  in 
their  advocacy  of  his  cause,  being  desirous  only  of  winning  a  victory ,^ 
and  the  leading  supporters  of  the  other  w^ere  so  bound  by  personal 
friendship  to  his  opponent  that  they  promised  not  to  do  a  stroke  of 
work  for  their  candidate  outside  of  the  convention,  and  neither  candi- 
date had  been  mentioned  forty- eight  hours  before.  The  outcome 
upon  the  morrow  was  hardly  in  doubt.  Mr.  Stowell  being  in  his  own 
home,  the  Milwaukee  members  numberina;  a  very  large  percentage  of 
the  voters  present,  and  he  conducting  an  enthusiastic  campaign  in 
person,  while  the  writer  did  not  speak  a  w^ord  upon  the  subject  until 
after  the  election,  was  a  thousand  miles  from  home,  and  a  leading 
member  of  the  despised  Wylife  party. — T.  J.  Spencer,  National  Amateur, 
March,  1900. 

tThe  attendance  of  Mr.  Arnett  was  a  great  surprise,  as,  to  quote  his 
own  report  to  the  convention,  he  had  during  the  year  "transacted  no 
business  and  performed  no  duties.** — T.J.  Spencer.  National  Amatenr, 
March,  1900. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  127 

prosecuting  attorney  and  presented  the  case  in  a  speech  of  thirty 
minutes,  ])ringing  forward  the  alfidavits  of  Fischer,  Emery, 
Brewster,  Watkvns  and  Parsons.  He  made  an  able  plea.  Sto- 
well  testified  to  what  little  he  knew  of  the  matter  and  Legler 
brought  forward  the  fact  that  there  were  twenty-four  duplicates 
announced  by  ex-Secretary  McClain  as  remaining  in  his  hands 
and  only  fifteen  original  ballots,  thus  making  a  difference  of  nine, 
the  precise  number  that  was  alleged  to  have  been  destroyed. 
This  is  considerable  of  a  coincidence,  yet  as  far  as  we  can  see, 
Legler  was  deceived  in  bringing  it  forward,  for,  if  the  affidavit 
testimony  is  true,  it  will  be  noticed  that  it  was  duplicate  ballots 
that  were  destroyed,  and  by  McClain's  account  there  were  more 
duplicate  than  there  were  original  ballots.  We  were  convinced, 
however,  of  the  reality  of  the  alleged  fraud,  and  that  was  all  N^e 
required.  We  would  have  been  the  last  person  to  kno^^i^giy 
stand  in  the  way  of  justice  to  Legler,  and,  therefore,  took  the 
floor  to  do  what  wo  could  for  our  friend  Wylie,  and  announce  our 
position.  We  said  that  we  had  acted  in  o()od  faith  during  the 
past  year;  that  we  had  deemed  th.e  evidence  insufficient  nnd  con- 
tradictory, and  had  remained  firm  in  our  convictions  against  the 
popular  tide,  simply  because  we  believed  Ihein  right,  and  being 
now  convinced  of  the  illegality  of  the  proceedings  in  New  York, 
we  were  ready  to  vote  to  make  such  amends  as  it  ^Y^i5  in  the 
power  of  the  Association  to  make,  being  desirous  of  meting  out 
juslice  to  Mr.  Legler  for  the  precise  reason  that  we  stood  up  for 
Mr.  Wylie — that  of  the  right  in  the  case. 

We  then  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  not  a  particle  of 
evidence  had  been  iutroduc*cd,  before  or  during  the  convention,  to 
connect  Mr.  Wylie  with  the  fraud,  or  in  any  way.  s^hnpe  or  form 
criminatinp-  him  in  the  slightest  degree.  We  believe  he  had 
taken  the  chair  conscientiously  believing  he  was  entitled  to  it. 
Harrison  replied  that  his  belief  was  similar,  and  that  no  stigma  of 
reproach  was  connected  with  his  name  in  regard  to  this  matter. 
George  W.  Hancock,  of  the  Clvb,  said  he  entered  into  the  spirH 
of  the  thing— decidedly  so— but  he  thought  on  technical  grounds 
Wylie  could  not  be  unseated,  after  having  served  in  the  capacity 
of  president  during  the  year. 

H}trris(in  moved  that  that  part  of  the  minutes  relating  to  the 
ehctioii  of  a  president  be  stricken  out,  and  in  its  sterd  be  inserted 
the  statuPAnt  that  Henry  E.  Legler  had  receivf-d  a  majority  of 
the  pr(  xy  ballots  and  was  elected  president.  'J  he  nn  'ion  received 
no  disf-enting  voice  and  the  convention  arose  to  iep(  rt  progress. 
Will  Brown  reported  the  action  of  the  committee, and  the  report 
was  adopted  without  dissent.  Arnett  appointed  Ginsburg  and 
AntiKlel  a  committee  to  escoit  Mr.  Legler  to  the  chair.  Mr, 
Leolcr  took  his  seat  amidst  considerable  applause. 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

After  Legler  assumed  the  chair,  he  called  for  reports  of  com- 
mittees. We  questioned  the  legality  of  all  committees,  as  they 
had  been  appointed  by  Mr.  Wjlie,  who  had  just  been  declared  an 
illegal  president.  We  suggested  that  in  order  to  avoid  trouble  it 
would  be  well  to  legalize  all  official  acts  of  Mr.  Wylie,  and  made 
a  motion  to  that  effect,  which  was  seconded  by  Harrison  and 
unanimously  carried. 

The  committee  on  editorial  award  decided  that  the  Union  Lance 
was  entitled  to  the  prize-award. 

The  Association  then  adjourned  for  dinner,  and  upon  reassem- 
bling the  reports  of  officers  were  listened  to. 

Robert  Clarke,  of  Boston,  judge  of  the  sketches,  awarded  the 
title  to  "Professor  Flumtree"  by  Stuyvesant. 

James  Austin  Fynes,  dramatic  editor  of  the  New  York  Clipper, 
who  acted  as  judge  of  the  essays,  awarded  the  title  to  Chas. 
Zaring  for  the  essay,  "Graveyards." 

W^atkyns  was  awarded  the  title  historian  laureate  by  Clarence 
E.  Stone. 

Mr.  Edgar  A.  Enos  awarded  the  poet  laureateship  to  Stuyves- 
ant for  the  poem  entitled  "The  Legion  of  the  Aqueduct." 

The  committee  upon  the  revision  of  the  constitution  was  then 
heard  through  its  chairman,  Mr.  Legler,  and  a  general  discussion 
of  the  amendments  proposed  followed,  some  being  adopted.  The 
most  important  of  these  provides  for  an  executive  committee, 
consisting  of  three  judges,  chosen  annually  by  the  Association. 

The  election  of  officers  was  next  declared  in  order,  and  the 
president  appointed  as  committee  to  examine  the  proxies  Messrs. 
Harrison,  Brown,  Ginsburg  and  Stringer,  together  with  Heath, the 
secretary.  Harrison  and  Kempner  were  also  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  the  treasurer's  accounts,  and  see  if  they  could 
be  straightened  out  to  any  extent, so  that  it  could  be  ascertained  at 
least  who  were  in  r.rrears  for  dues.  C.  C.  Kickert  had  been 
previously  appointed  treasurer  pro  tern.  These  committees  with- 
drew to  perform  their  duties. 

In  their  absence  the  business  of  amending  the  constitution  was 
again  taken  up.  Harty  tried  to  get  through  an  amendment 
abolishing  altogether  voting  by  proxy,  but  he  was  unsuccessful  in 
the  attempt.  The  fact  that  Stuyvesant  had,  carried  off  the 
honors  in  two  branches  of  literature,  besides  holding  the  poet 
laureateshi[)  two  years  in  succession  seemed  to  displease  some 
some  of  the  members,  and  various  amendments  were  proposed  to 
alter  the  conditions  of  the  contest,  but  all  failed.  An  amend- 
ment was  passed,  to  prevent  a  person  from  holding  the  same 
laureateship  two  years  in  succession. 

.   Charles  M.  Heiiieman  made  an  effort   to    reduce    the    dues    to 
50  cents.     Harrison  came  out  of  the  committee  room  lono-  enough 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  129 

to  protest  against  it,  saying  it  was  better  to  increase  than  to 
reduce  the  dues  under  the  present  condition  of  affairs.  The 
motion  to  reduce  was  lost.  Heineman  immediately  moved  to 
increase  the  dues  to  $2,  but  the  proposition  met  with  little 
support.* 

We  moved  that  the  reports  of  the  laureate  judges  be  printed  in 
the  National  Amateur.     The  motion  carried. 

Harrison  reported  that  the  books  of  the  treasurer  had  been  so 
badly  kept  during  the  two  past  administrations  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  determme  the  condition  of  the  treasury  or  the  standing 
of  the  members,  with  any  degree  of  certainty. 

Kempner  proposed  that  he  be  appointed  a  committee  of  one  to 
investigate  farther,  and  proceed  to  Buffalo,  obtain  all  thn  infor- 
mation and  money  he  could  from  the  two  ex- treasurers,  Fischer 
and  Parsons,  and  arrange  a  settlement  of  accounts,  if  possible. 
He  was  so  appointed  by  the  convention,  and  instructed  to  report 
in  the  National  Amateur  as  soon  as  his  labors  were  completed. 

The  examining  committee  reported  through  Harrison  that  the 
proxy  votes  had  some  been  sent  to  Barker,  some  to  Mercur  and 
some  to  Heath,  numbers  of  them  being  unsealed,  and  as  it  was 
impossible  to  determine  whether  members  had  paid  their  dues  or 
not,  or  even  who  were  members,  a  motion  was  earned  that  the 
election  be  thrown  into  the  hands  of  the  convention  assembled. 

It  was  moved  that  the  ballots  be  informally  couutedf  and  the 
result  made  known.     The  convention  then  adjourned. 

The  Association  reassembled  in  the  evening  and  immediately 
proceeded  with  the  election  of  officers. 

Will  C.  Brown  nominated  Stowell  in  a  considerable  speech  and 
Ginsburg  gave  it  a  second.  Harrison  placed  us  in  nomination. 
Ginsburg  and  Harrison  were  appointed  tellers  and  the  convention 
proceeded  to  a  ballot  which  resulted  twenty-two  to  ten  in  Stowell' s 
favor.  Legler  then  relinquished  the  chair  to  Stowell,  who 
accepted  the  position  in  a  short  speech. 

Heath  and  Hancock  were  nominated  for  first  vice-president, 
the  former  being  elected  by  the  same  vote  as  before. 


*A  feature  of  the  afternoon  was  the  persistency  with  which  Presi- 
dent Legler  failed  to  see  Mr.  Heinemarn  when  he  desired  to  speak. 
More  than  a  score  of  times  the  latter  would  arise  and  address  the 
chair,  and  then  some  other  person  would  call  upon  the  president  and 
be  recognized,  leaving  Mr.  Heineman  standing  shamefacedly.  This 
w^as  before  the  day  of  Czar  Reed,  but  Mr.  Legler  certainly  understood 
the  art  of  looking  through  a  delegate  and  seeing  another  behind  him. 
The  several  attempts  of  Mr.  Heineman  to  gain  recognition  were  finally 
greeted  with  roars  of  laughter. — T.  J.  Spencer,  National  Amateur, 
March,  1900. 

fThere  were  about  sixty-one  ballots  cast  in  all,  of  which  Mr.  Barker 
had  twenty-five. — T.  J,  Spencer,  National  Amateur.  March,  1900. 


130  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUK   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

For  second  vice-president,  Will  J.  Heiiiemjin  was  nominated 
and  Harrison  presented  tiie  claims  of  J.  H.  Ives  Miinro.  Heine- 
man  was  the  successful  can<lidate. 

W .  8.  M©ore  was  elected  to  the  office  of  third  vice-president. 

For  recording  secretary,  M.  F.  Boechat  was  the  only  nominee, 
and  was  therefore,  elected  without  opposition. 

For  correspoudino  secretary,  Hancock  put  in  nomination 
Maurice  J.  Harty.  Harty  tried  to  decline  the  honor,*  but  it  was 
no  use,  for  he  was  unanimously  given  the  office,  nolens  volens^ 
and  entreated  to  make  a  speech,  which  he  finally  did,  accepting 
the  office  under  protest  and  promising  to  do  his  dutj. 

Kempner  presented  our  name  for  treasurer  and  we  were  unani- 
mously elected. 

An  exciting  contest  had  been  gomg  on  for  the  office  of  official 
editor.  Kempner  nominated  Miller  and  Legler  nominated  Barker. 
The  latter,  however,  withdrew  his  name;  consequently  Miller's 
election  was  unanimous  in  its  character. 

For  the  next  place  of  meeting  the  sentiment  seemed  to  be  in 
tavor  of  Chautauqua,  which  was  nominated  by  someone.  Harri- 
son placed  Boston  in  nomination.  Bowersock  put  up  Washing- 
ton, Kempner  nominated  Philadelphia.  Heineman  vigorously 
advocated  Pittsburg.  Several  speeches  were  made  and  a  ballot 
was  taken,  Boston  having  a  large  majority. 

The  selt'cfion  of  the  next  place  of  meeting  finished  the  formal 
business  of  the  evening,  and  under  a  suspension  of  the  rules  Har- 
rison arose  and  proceeded  to  deliver  an  amusing  and  humorous 
address  upon  politicians  in  general,  in  the  midst  of  which  he  held 
aloft  a  wisp  broom  tied  to  the  end  of  a  cane,  and  proceeded  with 
mock  ceremonies  and  formalities  to  present  the  same  to  Louis 
Kempner,  as  a  memento  of  the  clean  sweep  he  had  effected  for 
Joseph  Dana  Miller.     The  broom  was  inscribed  as  follows: 


*The  writer  nominated  Mr.  George  E.  Day  for  corresponding  secre- 
tary, and  the  applause  wdiich  greeted  his  name  seemed  to  indicate  his 
election.  Tt  was  declared  however,  that  Mr.  Day  was  not  a  member. 
As  a  matter  of  fact  Mr.  Day  had  been  accepted  by  the  credential  com- 
mittee and  had  paid  his  initiation  fee  and  dues  to  the  treasurer,  but 
through  official  neglect  his  name  was  not  reported  to  the  convention. 
Here  there  was  a  lull  in  the  proc3edings  for  a  moment.  Then  Mr. 
Heineman,  catching  sight  of  the  classical  features  of  Mr.  Harty,  sug- 
gested to  Mr.  Hancock  that  it  would  be  a  good  joke  to  nominate  him^ 
The  idea  took,  and  IMr.  Hancock,  in  an  eloquent  speech  presented  his 
name.  The  idea  was  greeted  with  thunders  of  applause  which  caused 
the  windows  to  rattle  and  the  chandelier  to  vibrate.  Mr.  Harty,  blush- 
ing like  a  maiden  of  sixteen,  tried  to  decline,  but  young  Mr.  Bowersock 
moved  that  the  secretary  cast  one  ballot  as  the  voice  of  the  convention 
in  Mr.  Harty 's  favor,  which  was  carried  with  enthusiastic  cheers.  Mr. 
Harty  had  taken  the  convention  by  storm. — T.  J.  Spencer,  National 
Amateur,  March.  1900. 


UISTORY   OF   TIIK    NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  131 

S  PRESENTED     TO  "if 

^  LOUIS  KEMPNER,  I 

IN     HONOR     OF     THE  ^ 

I  JOSEPH   DANA  MILLER  BOOM  I 

^  WITH     COMPLIMENTS     OF    THE  ^ 

I  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.  | 

It  MILWAUKEE.  JULY  9,  1884.  $ 

Harrison  was  in  his  most  happy  vein,  and  ediQed  the  wliole 
convention  with  his  reinarixS.  Kenipner  responded  in  a  felicitous 
manner,  saying  he  was  pleased  to  know  that  the  assembled 
amateurs  had  money  enough  to  purchase  so  valuable  a  [present, 
and  tlie  convention  after  adjourned  in  good  spirits. 

Before  the  convention  was  called  to  order  Thursday  morning, 
the  boys  arranged  themselves  in  the  convention  hall  and  were 
photographed  in  a  group. 

Harrison  had  been  circulating  two  articles  of  impeachment,  one 
against  Jud  Russell,  for  unseemly  conduct,  and  one  against 
Martin  and  Fischer,  for  their  actions  in  connection  with  the  proxy 
ballots  in  New  York,  and  upon  the  convention  being  called  to 
order  he  presented  them.  Someone  moved  that  the  convention 
go  into  the  committee  of  the  whole  to  investigate  the  matter. 
The  motion  was  carried  and  Kempner  was  chosen  chairman. 
Action  was  taken  in  a  decisive  manner,  Russell  being  expelled 
unanimously  and  Martin  and  Fischer,  with  four  members  protest- 
ing. 

Following  the  impeachments  came  the  miscellaneous  business 
of  the  session,  consisting  mostly  of  amendments  to  the  consti- 
tution. 

The  prize  of  $5  for  the  best  edited  paper  was  discontinued,, 
though  the  honor  is  still  to  be  awarded  each  year. 

The  afternoon  was  devoted  to  the  usual  bail  game.  Harrison 
had  charge  of  one  side  and  Hancock  the  other.  Five  innings 
were  played,  Heath  acting  as  umpire,  and  Hancock's  division 
was  declared  triumphant  by  a  score  of  24  to  16. 

In  the  evening  the  amateurs  attended  Schlitz  park  in  a  bodj', 
and  witnessed  the  first  act  of  "lolanthe."  We  were  forced  to 
leave  early  to  attend  the  banquet,  which  was  to  be  held  in  tlie 
Cosmopolitan  Restaurant  at  11  a'clock.  The  spread  was  very 
good  and  ample  justice  was  done  it.     Geo.  W.  Hancock  acted   as. 


132 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 


toast-master.     As  Will  C.  Brown  bad  to  leave  early,  bis  address, 
"A  Plea  for  Amateur  Journalism,"  was  listened  to  iu  advance. 

Stowell  responded  to  tbe  toast,  "Our  Conventions."  Antis- 
del  discussed  tbe  question  of  "Our  Young  Lady  Amateurs— sball 
we  encourage  them?"  Ginsburg  followed  with  "Our  Relations 
to  Society"  and  Kempner  responded  to  "Tbe  Cause  in  New 
York— why  it  has  degenerated."  Legler  responded  to  "Tbe 
Literature  of  tbe  Future."  "Our  Country — may  it  be  governed 
by  Americans"  was  treated  by  Aruett.  Harrison  was  the  last 
speaker,  and  bis  remarks,  given  under  no  particular  head,  were 
rambling.  During  tbe  evening  Mr.  Aldrich,  of  the  Chicago 
Tribune,  being  present,  was  called  upon  for  a  few  remarks,  and 
responded  iu  a  very  eloquent  and  able  speech,  which  w^as  one  of 
the  events  of  tbe  evening.  Tbe  next  day  Mr.  Aldrich  wrote  a 
very  pleasing  and  commendable  article  upon  the  subject  for  tbe 
Tribune. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  present  during  part  or 
all  of  the  convention : 

New  Y^ork — Louis  Kempner. 

Connecticut— T.  J.  Spencer,  L.  H.  Spencer. 

Pennsylvania — Hiram  T.  Mercur,  C.  M,  Heiueman. 

Ohio— Will  C.  Brown,  C.  C.  Rickert,  O.  L.  Knapp,  F.  S. 
Arnett. 

Indiana— T.  O.  Harrison,  W.  J.  Sellman. 

Illinois— L.  B.  Stringer,  G.  ^Y.  Haacock,  H.  M.  Carter,  N. 
M.  Eberhardt,  R.  M.  Mumford,  A.  R.  Parrish. 

Michigan— W.  R.  Antisdel,  B.  Ginsburg. 

Kansas— F.  H.  Bowersock,  J.  D.  Bowersock. 

Wisconsin- A.  jf.  Burt,  E.  DeWolf,  Fred  F.  Heath,  H.  E. 
Legler,  H.  Heyn,  W.  J.  Roe,  H.  Skinner,  W.  P.  Cramer,  T.  S. 
Buckner,  J.  E.  Urban,  Jr.  ;  E.  M.  Phillips,  Fred  T.  Mayer, 

Arkansas — Al.  E.  Barker. 

Missouri— M.  J.  Harty. 

Iowa— E.  E.  Stowell. 

The  next  morning  after  the  banquet,  with  Legler  as  a  guide, 
most  of  the  amateurs  set  out  to  view  tbe  town. 

The  contests  for  the  various  laureatesbip  were  quite  spirited 
this  year,  the  entries  being  as  follows : 

Poems:— The  Legend  of  the  Aqueduct,  Stuyvesant ;  A  Life's 
Poem,  Galatea;  Beyond  the  Clouds,  H.  H.  Trebla ;  Perfected 
Love,  Bertha;  Apple  Blossoms,  Annie  Fellows ;  The  Age  of  Man, 
F.  R.  Lester ;  Beyond  Recall,  Geo.  E.  Day ;  Twilight,  Mae ; 
Onward,  Luof ;  The  Way,  Ralph  Metcalf ;  A  Vision  of  the 
World's  Wise  Men,  J.  D.  Miller;  The  Angel  Gift,   B.  P.  Emery. 

Sketches: — Prof.  Plumiree,  Stuyvesant;  To   Gain  Experience, 


HISTORY    OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  133 

IJfiirv  E.  Hntsford  ;  The  Mistake  My  Wife  Made,  Jos.  D.  Miller ; 
]jOve,  Bertha ;  A  Queer  Case,  Will  Warner,  Calico  Party,  Albert 
HiilchiDsoii. 

EssLiys:  — Graveyards,  Chas.  Zaring ;  Hamlet,  T.  J.  Spencer; 
Hawliiorue,  EmoiT  ;  Light,  Fellows. 

Tiie  following  were  the  amendments  to  the  constitution  adopted 
at  the  Milwaukee  convention: 

Akticle  IV.—OJicers.  Substitute:  The  officers  of  the  National 
Amateur  Press  Association  shall  consist  of  a  president,  first,  second 
and  third  vice-president,  recording  and  corresponding  secretaries, 
treasurer,  official  editor  and  three  judges,  the  latter  to  constitute  a 
judiciary  committee. 

AiiT.  y. — [Expunge  sections  5  and  7  and  renumber  the  sections.] 

Insert  Art.  YIII. — Duties  of  the  Judicicory  Committee,  SECTION  1.  It 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  committee  to  organize  witbin  one  month  from 
date  of  convention,  by  the  election  of  a  president,  vice-president  and 
secretary.  They  shall  be  in  session  durino:  the  entire  year,  and  it  shall 
be  their  duty  to  act  upon  all  questions  of  dispute  appertaining  to  the 
affairs  of  the  2s.  A.  P.  A,;  to  decide  promptly  all  contested  election 
cases;  to  act  on  resignations  of  officers,  when  not  otherwise  provided 
for  by  the  constitution:  and  to  act  in  all  respects  for  the  Association 
in  convention  assembled;  provided,  they  shall  perform  no  duties  con- 
tiietirg  with  the  duties  of  other  active  officers. 

Sec.  2.  The  decisions  of  the  committee  shall  be  final  till  the  subse- 
quent convention,  when  one  or  more  members  may  take  an  appeal,  and 
if  sustained  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  the  decision  shall  be  reversed. 

Sec.  8.  The  committee  shall  make  no  decisions  on  controversies 
until  officially  referred  to  them  by  one  or  more  members,  who  shall 
present  their  case  in  w^riting.  It  shall  then  be  the  duty  of  the  com- 
mittee to  notify  parties  interested  to  reply  within  one  month,  and 
they  shall  judge  the  case  in  accordance  with  facts  presented. 

AiiT.  XIII — [Expunge  sections  6  and  7  and  renumber  the   sections.] 

Art.  XIV— Amend  section  2  :  Each  ballot  shall  be  filled  out  with 
the  member's  choice,  and  in  the  right-hand  lower  corner  the  name  of 
the  person  casting  the  ballot,  otherwise  it  shall  be  defective  and  illegal. 

Art.  XIV — Add :  Sec.  9.  Members  in  good  standing  attending 
convention  may  withdraw  their  ballots  if  cast  at  any  time  previous  to 
the  count  and  substitute  other  ballots.  And  such  members  who  have 
not  previously  cast  a  ballot  may  do  so  at  any  time  previous  to  the 
count. 

Art.  XVI — [Expunge  the  w^ords,  '-or  a  printer  of  amateur  publica- 
tions" from  section  1.  Amend  section  3  of  same  article;  Five  black 
balls  shall  be  sufficient  to  reject  a  name  proposed  for  membership.] 

BY-LAWS, 

Article  1. — [Amend  section  1  by  eliminating  number  11  from  order 
of  business.] 

Art.  VII.— [Substitute  -honorary  mention"  instead  of  the  words 
'■a  prize  of  $5."] 

Art,  VIII— [Amend  by  substituting  the  words  "a  two -thirds  vote" 
for  an  •'unanimous  vote,"  where  they  occur  in  last  sentence.] 

Amend  article  relating  to  membership:     -'That  an  editor  shall  pub- 


134      HISTOKY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

lish  at  least  three  numbers  of  his  or  her  paper  during  the  six  months- 
preceding  his  or  her  application  for  membership,  and  an  author  shall 
have  published  at  least  three  articles  in  amateur  publications  six 
months  preceding  his  or  her  application  for  membership. 

President  Stoweii  appointed  as  a  credential  eomrailtee  Messrs. 
Louis  Kempner,  chairman  ;  Al.  E.  Barker  and  Jos.  D.  Miller. 

As  executive  committee  lie  appointed  the  then  judges  of 
the  Association,  MessiP.  T.  G.  Harrison,  H.  E.  Legler  and 
B.  Ginsburg. 

Louis  Kempner,  who  volunteered  to  visit  Jiut'falo  and  try  and 
get  a  settleuient  out  of  Ex-Treasurers  Parsons  and  Fischer  re- 
ported in  the  September  National  Amateur.  A  report  from 
Treasurer  Parsons  lia'i  been  made  to  the  Milwaukee  convention, 
which  is  liere  appended; 

FINANCIAL  STANDING  OF  THE  N.    A.    P.    A.— TREASURER'S 

REPORT.' 

Buffalo,  March  28,  1884. 
receipts: 

Received  from  Ex-Treasurer  Fischer %    20  00 

And  22  badges  valued  at 55  00 

Received  from  C.  G.  Steele,  Jr.,   one  year's  dues  and 

subs,  to  National  Amateur 3  25 

Total  dues  and  initiation  fees  received 7  00 

Total I  85  25 

disbursements: 

Paid  F,  A.  Grant  on  account  printing  bill , . . .%  19  00 

Paid  C.  G.  Steele,  Jr.,  on  account  printing  bill 5  75 

Total %    24  75 

Balance  in  treasury — cash,  $5  50;  badges,  $55;  total.  .$    60  50 
Balance  yet  due  from  Ex-Treasurer  Fischer,  about. . .       60  00 

Grand  total $  120  50 

Signed:  T.  H.  Parsons,  Treasurer  N.  A.  P.  A. 

Mr.  Kempner's  report  was  voluminous,  covering  the  ground 
thoroughl}'.      We  append  it  in  full. 

REPORU    OF    LOUIS    KEMPNER,     APPOINTED    TO  IN- 
VESTIGATE   THE    ACCOUNTS    OF    EX-TREAS- 
URERS FISCHER  AND  PARSONS. 

New  York,  Oct.  15,  1884. 
Mr.  President  and  Members: — When  I  acctpted   the  a[)point- 
ment  as  a  committee  to  investigate  the  linancial   relations  of  our 
Association  with  our  late   treasurers,  I  determined    that    nothing 
should  prevent  my  making  a  full  and  complete  report. 

I  found  in  the  first  place  that  the  method  of  keeping  accounts 
was  a  poor  one.      It   was   impossible  to   tell    by    what    treasurer 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRE88   A68OC1ATI0N.  135 

moneys  were  collected.  I  overcame  this  dilemma  by  seeing 
Messrs.  Fischer  and  Parsons  together,  and  with  them  going  over 
every  member's  accounts.  I  thus  ascertained  by  whom  the 
moneys  were  collected.  In  order  to  prevent  such  complications 
in  the  future,  I  present  to  the  Association  a  book  to  be  kept  by 
the  treasurer,  which  I  have  devised  to  simplify  all  such  matters  in 
the  future.  On  the  debit  side  the  treasurer  enters  the  amount  of 
dues  every  year,  and  on  the  credit  side  the  sums  paid  into  the 
treasury  by  the  members.  The  treasurer  collecting  such  moneys 
must  place  his  signature  opposite  the  amount  collected.  This 
will  show  at  any  time  the  sum  collected  by  a  treasurer  during  his 
administration. 

The  result  of  investigation  of  Ex-Treasurer  Fischer's  accounts 
is  as  follows : 

receipts: 
Received  from  Acting  Treasurer  Ortman   at  Detroit 

convention |    80  00 

Collected  for  dues  to  July,  1883 119  00 

Thirteen  badges  badges  at  $2  50 32  50 

Total $  231  50 

disbursements: 

Paid  Rickert's  bill $  14  00 

Rent  in  Detroit    10  00 

Pelham  (for  what  I  could  not  ascertain) 7  50 

Watkyns' bill  for  badges    10  00 

Personal  expenses 3  50 

Purchased  thirty-five  badges  at  $2  50 87  50 

Total $  132  5a 

Balance. 99  00* 

$  231  50 
From  this  balance  of  $99  Fischer  has  paid  to  his  successor,  T. 
H.  Parsons,  Sl8,  which  leaves  Fischer's  indebtedness  to  the 
Association  $81.  I  have  credited  the  above  account  with  thirty- 
five  badges  at  $2.50  each.  Now  I  have  since  learned  that  only 
those  badges  cost  $2.50  which  were  enameled.  Fischer  paid  for 
ten  badges  at  the  rate  of  $2.50  each,  amountiug  to  $25,  and 
twenty-five  badges  at  $1.75  (^.  e.,  those  not  enameled),  amount- 
ing to  $43.75.  At  this  rate  the  thirty-five  badges  cost  only 
$68.75,  making  a  difference  of  $18.75.*^  Add  this  to  Fischer's- 
balance  as  above,  and  the  result  will  be  $99.75. 

Fischer  sold  thirteen   badges,    and    he    handed   the   remaining 
twenty-two  to  Parsons. 

Parsons^  account  is  as  follows: 

receipts: 

From  Ex-Treasurer  Fischer $      18  00 

Dues  and  subscription  from  Oflficial  Editor  Steele  ...  4  50 

Collected  for  dues,  etc 36  50 


136     HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMaTEIR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Four  badges  at  $2  50 10  00 

Total $  68  50 

disbursements: 

Ex-President  Grant's  bill $  26  00 

Paid  Steele  on  account 10  00 

Parsons'  bill  for  1883 7  75 

Parsons'  bill  for  1884 9  50 

Total $      52  75 

Balaree 15  75 

I      68  50 

This  leaves  Parsons'  iadebtedness  to  the  Association  at  $15.75. 
Parsons  has  informed  me  that  as  the  Association  owes  Editor 
Steele  a  balance  of  $30  on  bill  of  $40  for  issuing  official  organ, 
that  he  will  pay  amount  of  balance  to  Steele. 

Parsons  has  delivered  to  his  successor  eighteen  badges. 

The  next  thing  I  did  was  to  find  out  how  much  the  members 
owed  to  the  Association.  Below  I  give  the  name  of  every  mem- 
ber, with  the  amount  of  his  dues,  including  $1  due  at  the  Boston 
convention.  By  doing  this  1  believe  it  will  be  a  simple  matter  to 
learn  who  is  m  good  standing  at  the  next  convention.  There  are 
130  names  on  the  roll  at  present. 

A.  E,  Barker's  dues  are  paid  for  the  next  convention. 

The  following  sixty-four  members  must  pa}^  at  or  before  the 
next  convention  the  sura  of  $1  each:  W.  R.  Antisdel,  L.  C. 
Altemus,  W.  C.  Brown,  H.  E.  Batsford,  M.  F.  Boechat,  C.  R. 
Burger,  T.  Bodenwein,  H.  P.  Burt,  F.  H.  Bowersock,  J.  D. 
Bowersock,  T.  S.  Buckner,  F.  H.  Chamberlain,  W.  P.  Cramer, 
H.  M.  Carter,  E.  Q.  Daly,  W.  W.  Delaney,  J.  E.  Diamond,  W. 
J.  Doran,  E.  H.  Dyer,  E.  DeWolf,  Jr.,  B.  P.  Emery,  J.  D. 
Earle,  C.  S.  Elgutter,  N.  M.  Eberhardt,  E.  C.  Fay,  F.  A.  Grant, 
A.  D.  Grant,  J.  W.  Grant,  R.  F.  Griggs,  VV.  E.  Griggs,  B. 
Ginsburg,  G.  P.  Griffith,  C.  M.  Heineman,  W.  J.  Heiueman, 
C.  Holcomb,  M.  J.  Haity,  T.  G.  Harrison,  F.  F.  Heath,  C. 
Heywood,  E.  E.  Hamilton,  E.  B.  Hill,  E.  Heyn,  R.  VV.  Hough- 
ton, Louis  Kempner,  J.  F.  Kavanaugh,  G.  A.  Kinney,  H.  E. 
Legler,  W.  S.  Moore,  R.  H.  Mumford,  W.  R.  Nichols,  A. 
Osgoodly,  E.  S.  Pierot,  A.  R.  Parrish,  W.  S.  Roe,  W.  Riley,  Jr., 
Ed.  E.  Stowell ,  T.  J.  Spencer,  L.  H.  Spencer,  VV.  J.  Sellraan, 
L.  B.  Stringer,  H.  Skinner,  J.  E.  Urban,  Jr.,  VV.  O.  VVylie, 
Bertha  S.  York. 

The  following  fifty-nine  members  must  pay  at  or  before  the 
next  convention  the  sum  of  $2  each:  F.  S.  Arnett,  F.  H.  Bol- 
ton, W.  J.  Baker,  P.  A.  Burke,  W.  J.  Boies,  E.  A.  Brewster, 
W.  J.  Brodie,  G.  E.  Boehm,  F.  E.  Chipman,  H.  A.  Clarke,  E. 
M.  Gaddy,  R.  Gehlert,  C.  C.    Hollenback,   H.    W.  Hogue,    W. 


HISTORY  OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION.      137 

M.  Hewitt.  G.  W.  Hancock,  J.  A.  Imrie,  H.  Jacobs,  H.  S.  Jaf- 
frev,  J.  H.  Kuhlraaa,  G.  T.  Kast,  L.  Kilmarx,  Jr.,  J.  H.  Kol- 
lock,  Jr.,  J.  D.  Miller,  F.  L.  Mills,  H.  T.  Mercur,  H.  S.  Mc- 
Elroy,  R.  Metcalf,  F.  Metcalf,  J.  W.  McClain,  Sam  Marks,  W 
J.  Niles,  H.  S.  Nelson,  R.  Ort.nann,  W.  G.  Orendoff,  T.  H. 
Parsons.  A.  D,  Pulis,  F.  N.  Reeve,  C.  C.  Rickert,  E.  R.  Riale, 
Russell  Robb,  H.  K.  Sanderson,  Cbas.  G.  Steele,  Jr.,  Albert 
Smart,  F.  J.  Streibio^,  W.  T.  Scofield,  S.  S.  Smitli,  W.  E.  Smith, 
C.  E.  Stone,  R.  B.  Teachenor,  B.  L.  Taylor,  M.  H.  Tennant, 
Coles  Veeder,  John  J.  Weissert,  V.  Winters,  Jr.,  C.  K.  A. 
Watkyns,  J.  F.  Walsh,  Jr.,  F.  E.  Williams,  E.  J.  Whitney. 

The  following  six  members  must  pay  the  sum  of  $3  at  or  before 
the  next  convention:  H.  J.  Calvert,  B.  B.  Pelham,  R.  A.  Pel- 
ham,  G.  M.  Stebbins,  A.  J.  Stranojerand  Alex.  A.  Stewart. 

This  is  the  sum  of  ray  labors.  1  l)elieve  I  have  accomplished 
something  which  should  be  put  to  advantage  by  those  who  accept 
the  position  of  treasurer  in  the  future.  Let  them  always  remem- 
ber that  one  of  the  mainstays  of  our  Association  is  a  correct 
record  of  each  member's  financial  standing.  Respectfully  sub- 
mitted. Louis  Kempner. 

President  Stowell  accepted  the  presidency  of  both  the  National 
and  Western  Amateur  Press  Associations,  expecting  to  do  his 
duty.  Shortly  after  the  conventions  he  resigned  the  latter  office. 
His  health  was  very  bad,  and  he  decided  to  seek  a  change  of 
climate.  For  this  reason  he  left  Iowa  and  made  his  home  in  Cal- 
ifornia. This  move  was  made  in  August,  and  at  the  time  Mr. 
Stowell  intended  to  fulfil  his  obligations  as  president  of  the 
National.  Time  passed,  however,  no  Junior  Press  appeared  and 
no  word  was  heard  from  Mr.  Stowell,  and  finally  the  executive 
judges  decided  that  it  was  time  to  act.  Accordingly  they  had 
published  in  the  December  National  Amateur  the  following  report : 

The  executive  judges,  after  consideration,  have  voted  to  re-or- 
ganize the  board  of    officers   of  the  Association  as  follows: 

President,  F.  F.  Heath;  first  vire-president,    Louis  Kempner 
second  vice-president,  W.  S.  Moore:  third  vice-president,    E.  H. 
Dyer;  recording  secretary,  B.  S.  York;  corresponding  secretary, 
M.  J.  H  arty ;  treasurer,    T.    J.    Spencer;    (official    editor,  J.    D, 
Miller. 

The  above  named  o:eutlemen  are  hereby  invested  with  said 
offices,  and  will  retain  s^uch  until  their  successors  are  chosen  by 
the  Boston  c»>iiveiitiun,  provided  they  do  not  in  the  interim  resign 
or  become  ineligible. 

The  executive  judges  ex!.eGt  activity  from  the  above-nominated 


138      BISTORT   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

gentlemsu,  not  oaly  in  the  discharge  of  their  o!fijiai  duties,  but 
also  ia  the  raaks  of  Amateur  Journalisin,  au  1  if  these  gentletnea 
take  hold  as  it  is  expected  they  will,  the  affairs  of  the  Associatioa 
will  undoubtedly  prosper. 

The  list  of  members  eligible  to  office  governed  by  Art.  XVII, 
Sec.  2,  is  very  small ;  otherwise  the  executive  judges  might  see  fit 
to  depose  other  elected  officers  than  they  have.  But  they  have 
nominated  the  above  board  in  full  trust  that  tliey  have  done  the 
best  that  now  lies  ia  their  power  for  the  benefit  of  the  Associa- 
tion, and  they  sincerely  hope  an  accepta.ble  measure  of  activity 
will  mark  the  re-or gainzation. 

it  is  self-evident  that  the  affairs  of  the  National  A.  P.  A.  are 
in  a  critical  condition,  and  it  becomes  the  duty  of  every  member 
to  len:l  all  assistance  in  his  power  towards  the  advancement 
and  building  up  of  the  prosperity  of  the  Association.  The 
executive  judges  hence  expect  no  captious  criticism,  no  detri- 
mental fault-fin  ling  upon  the  step  they  have  taken,  and  to  every 
amateur  journalist  who  has  regard  for  the  welfare  of  their  repre- 
sentative Association,  they  command  "Fall  in  line.'^ 
(Signed)  T'  G.  Harrison, 

H.  E.  Legler, 

B.   GiNSBURG, 

Executive  Judges. 
Mr.  Heath  did  not  take  charge  until   the   opening    of    the  new 
3'ear. 

Among  the  prominent  papers  of  the  year  1884  may  be  named, 
the  American,  Galesburg,  Ills.  ;  the  American  Sphinx,  New 
Bri^nin,  Conn.  ;  Boys  and  Girls,  Flushing,  Mich.  ;  Boy^^  Serald, 
C!iic:io'o;  Critique,  New  York;  Cornel,  Leominister,  Mass.  ;  News, 
Downui.'ic,  Mich.  ;  Exchange- Journal ,  Judsonia,  Ark.  ;  Fact  and 
Fancy.  San  Francisco;  Gonden^s  Gnome,  Des  Moines,  la.; 
Go- Ahead.  Worcester,  Mass.;  Imp,  New  York;  Index,  Lowell, 
jMm<--.  :  Kansas  Zephyr,  Lawrence,  Kans.  ;  Larli,  Gardner,  Mass. ; 
Messenger,  Ripon,  Wist.;  New  Moon,  San  Francisco;  Nuggef, 
New  Glasgow,  N.  S.  ;  National  Star,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  ;  Oracle, 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.  ;  Pacijic  Conrant,  San  Francisco ;  Picayune, 
Cincinnati ;  Pw/icA,  Bradford,  Penn.  ;  Bound  Table,  Westfield, 
Mass.  ;  Rambler,  New  York  ;  Sentinel,  Newburgh,  N.  Y. ;  Stars 
and  Stripes,  Milwaukee,  Wis.;  Signal,  Brooklyn;  Spartan, 
L^ui-ville,  Ky.  ;  Semi-Monthly,  Butler,  Pa.  ;  Telephone,  St.  Louis; 

Violet,     Cincinniiti ;    Wise   and    Otherwise,    Marietta,   O.,   and 

Touth^s  Journal,  Leominister,  Mass, 


HISTORY  OF  THX  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 


139 


Volume  7  of  the  National  Amateur  contained  sixteen  pages, 
being  divided  into  three  issaes,  the  first  of  eight  pages  and  the 
other  two  of  four  pages  each.  The  September  issue  contains 
the  full  reports  of  the  laureate  judges,  a  collection  of  other  official 
reports,  an  article  on  the  writings  of  Ex-President  Snyder,  a 
<.' lass  ill  cation  of  editors  and  poets,  (instead  of  papers,  as  given 
by  Mr,  Harrison  the  previous  year),  the  president's  message 
Louis  Kempuer's  report  on  the  condition  of  the  looted  treasury 
and  some  editorial  matter.  The  Milwaukee  minutes  were  omitted 
purposely,  attention  being  called  to  this  fact.  The  December 
Amateur  contains  the  executive  judges'  announcement  that  Mr. 
Heath  had  been  advanced  to  the  presidency,  an  article  on  the 
writings  of  Chas.  C.  Heuman,  amendments  adopted  at  Milwau- 
kee, announcement  of  the  prospective  Young  Ladies  A.  P.  A.  and 
editorial  matter.  The  March-June  issue,  closing  the  volume, 
contains  a  poem  by  Mercurious,  a  Talk  About  Old  Amateur 
Papers,  a  communication  announcing  that  postal  authorities 
would  hereafter  bar  no  paper  from  postal  rights  merely  because 
it  was  published  by  an  amateur,  a  message  from  President  Heath 
and  the  usual  complement  of  matter  by  Editor  Miller. 


CH/IFTER  12. 

THE  ''HALCYON  DAYS"   RETURNED. 
Heath  Assumes    the    Presidency. — Historian   Laureate    Re- 
corder's Report. — "Mugwump's" Convention  Accolnt. — 
Election    of     Sullivan. — Grant-York     Wedding.— The 
Banquet. — Papers  of  the  Year. 

THE  3'ear  1885  ^as  a  very  busy  one  in  Amateur  Journal- 
ism. We  can  best  express  our  meaning  by  quoting  from 
\hQ  National  Amateur^  when,  in  December,  Official  P^ditor 
Emery  said : 

The  year  past  [1885]  has  been  one  of  unusual  prospeiiiy. 
The  number  of  new  papers  is  really  wonderful,  and  they  all  seem 
to  grasp  the  true  principles  of  Amateur  Journalism  ;  they  seem  to 
understand  that  we  are  in  Amateurdom  to  improve  ourselves,  not 
to  learn  the  tricks  of  politicians.  Our  literature  is  receivinjv 
more  attention ;  our  corps  of  authors  is  larger  than  ever  before, 
and  a  better  spirit  prevails  among  them.  Our  critics  are  beginning 
to  learn  what  criticism  should  be;  personal,  feeling  is  left  out  of 
consideration  ;  the  merits  of  a  work  are  the  only  things  to  be 
considered.  These  things  are  significant.  The  halcyon  days 
of  Amateur  Journalism  have  returned. 

When  Fred  F.  Heath  assumed  charge  as  president  of  the 
National  Amateur  Press  Association,  a  wave  of  activity  was  at 
hand.  Mr.  Heath  was  one  of  the  hardest  workers  that  has  ever 
filled  the  executive  chair,  and  his  duties  were  discharged  in  a 
conscientious  manner. 

President  Heath's  first  message  appeared  in  the  March-June, 
1885,  National  Amateur.     From  it  vve  quote: 

I  recommend  that  all  documents  of  value  be  published  in  the 
official  organ,  where  practicable,  thus  insuring  the  preservation  of 
important  matter.  In  this  connection  I  desire  to  call  yonr  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  that  the  Association  is  without  a  complete  file  of 
its  own  official  organ.  This  is  not  as  it  should  be,  for  if  pre- 
vious issues  of  that  journal  liave  been  com|»iled  in  accordance 
with  the  intent  of  the  drafters  of  the  constitution,  such  a  file 
would  oe  of  great  value.  I  have  written  past  official  editors  for 
files  of  the  Amateur  issued  under  their  respective  managements^ 
and  have  received  such  from  Messrs.  Steele  and  Harri.^o;^ 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  141 

The  medal  offered  last  year  by  Acting-President  Wylie,  for  the 
best  holiday  issue  was  awarded  Mr.  Chamberlain,  of  Wise  and 
Otherwise. 

As  reception  committee  for  the  next  convention  I  hereby 
appoint  Chas.  E.  Wilson,  Edwin  H.  Dyer,  Clarence  E.  Stone  and 

E.  C.  Fa}'.  Joseph  Dana  Miller,  'J  hos.  G.  Harrison  and  Ralph 
Metcalf  I  hereby  constitute  a  committee  on  editorial  prize,  in 
accordance  with  Art.  VII  of  the  by-laws.  As  a  standing  com- 
mittee on  revision  of  the  constitution  I   appoint  T.    J.    Spencer, 

F.  H.  Bowersock  and  Will  J.  Roe.  As  national  laureate  recorder 
I  appoint  Brainerd  P.  Emery. 

The  historian  laureate  recorder's  report  gives  an  account  of  the 
progress  of  Amateur  Journalism  from  convention  to  convention 
and  follows  in  full : 

When  the  excitement  of  the  Milwaukee  convention  had  died 
away,  then  came  the  usual  relapse  into  inactivity.  This,  however, 
did  not  last  as  long  as  usual,  and  before  the  end  of  July  a  number 
of  papers  appeared,  the  most  notable  being  the  literary  issue  of 
the  Union  Lance,  the  initial  number  of  the  Gauntlet  and  the  liter- 
ary Nugget.  August  showed  a  waking  activity  and  a  handsome 
display  of  papers.  The  Union  Lance  issued  the  largest  number, 
the  Messenger  the  best.  The  most  prominent  new  journal  w£S 
the  Ficayune.  Progress  created  quite  a  sensation  by  the  controver- 
sies in  which  it  was  engaged.  September  was  ushered  in  with 
glowing  prospects,  Phantasmas  appeared  and  was  pronounced  one 
of  the  finest  publications  of  the  year.  All  the  smaller  papers 
were  noticeable  for  the  excellence  of  their  typography.  TLe 
•Kansas  Zephyr  improved  immensely  that  month.  October  ard 
November  were  successful  eras.  Milwaukee  showed  remarkable 
activity.  Wisconsin  sent  out  several  new  papers,  notably  the 
Magnet.  At  this  time  a  very  neat  number  of  the  Go  Ahead 
appeared.  The  American  Sphinx  began  the  publication  of  a  series 
of  verj-  elaborate  articles  on  poetry.  The  Visitor  came  out  with 
the  best  convention  report,  as  usual.  The  annual  issue  of  Harty's 
Galaxy  was  published.  December^t  first  showed  few  papers,  but 
toward  the  last  of  the  month  and  early  in  January  the  holiday 
numbers  came  out.  Those  of  the  Messenger ,  Netv  Century,  Signal 
and  Violet  were  the  best.  About  this  time  a  hitch  in  the  affairs 
of  the  National  took  place.  Owing  to  ill  health  Mr.  Stowell  was 
obliged  to  resign  the  presidency  and  Mr.  Heath  took  the  reigns  of 
government.  Mr.  Rickert's  "Amatturdcm  Leaders"  appeared. 
Boston's  inactivity  about  this  time  caused  much  comment,  the 
Waverly  and  Youth  being  the  only  papers  sent  out  from  the  Hub. 
The  final  issue  of  Northern  Breezes  appeared.  Our  American 
Youth  assumed  the  garb  and  size  of    a    professional    publication. 


142  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

The  ih'st  number  ot  the  Amateur  i\ppiii\ved,  and  was  eh>s*^ly  fol- 
lowed by  another.  January  and  February  showed  a  continuance 
of  activity,  especially  in  New  England.  Milwaukee  sent  out  a 
twenty-page  Will- o' -the- Wisp.  In  January  the  Index  ahtxu^ed  to 
Youth.  Mr.  Grant  issued  ]5ertha'«  poems  in  book  form  under 
title  of  '-Only  Buds."  Bric-a-Brac  appeared  from  Canada. 
The  political  contest  became,  interesting  at  this  time,  and  as  a 
consequence  papers  multiplied.  Even  Boston  began  to  show 
signs  of  an  awakening,  and  the  success  of  the  coming  convention 
was  assured.  June  and  July  showed  an  enormous  increase  in 
journals  and  enthusiasm.  Extra  sized  numbers  began  to  appear, 
and  all  was  activit3^  The  executive  judges  removed  delinquent 
officers  and  substituted  active  ones.  Mr.  Heath's  adiniiiislr;ilion 
was  i)r(»nounced  a  gi'eat  success.  Mr.  l^^igel  published  ■•riie 
Lanrl  of  the  Sunset  Sea,"  a  collection  of  Miss  Gage's  poems. 
The  most  prolific  authors  of  the  year  were  Jos.  D.  Miller,  h\ 
Ray  Lester,  PMith  M.  Dowe,  Geo.  E.  Day,  L.  A.  Mayjiard, 
Rubina,  Ernest  E'lkins,  Sfuyvesant  and  Arthur  L.  Tubbs. 
Many  new  writers  entered  the  ranks  and  the  laureateships  were 
nobly  contested.  Amateur  exhibitsvvere  given  dt  the  Wisconsin 
and  California  State  fairs.  Recru'ts  were  secured  in  large  n um- 
bers and  general  success  held  sway.  A  comparison  of  the  year 
past  with  the  preceding  one  shows  us  to  be  numerically  and 
intelleclually  stronger.  Amateur  Journalism  is  on  the  road  to 
success,  and  the  })ast  year  has  been  one  of  great  prosperity,  its 
only  misfortunes  being  the  sad  death  of  Wallie  Sellman  and  the 
retirement  of  "Stuyvesant."  Bliainelid  P.  Emeiiy, 

Historian  Laureate  Recorder. 

The  two  candidates  for  the  presidency  were  Fred  F.  Heath, 
the  incumbent,  and  Dennie  A.  Sullivan,  editor  of  Yoyth,  Lowell, 
Mass.  The  friends  of  the  two  candidates  were  agressive  and  a 
vigoious  campaign  was  carried  on.  Mr.  Heath's  following  was 
mosily  from  the  west,  while  Mr.  Sullivan  was  essentially  the  can- 
di<la'e  of  the  east. 

Youth,  early  ia  the  campaign,  outlined  a  ''New  System  of 
Suffrage"  which  its  editor  championed.  It  provided  for  mem- 
bership in  the  National  through  membership  in  subordinate 
sectional  associations. 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Association,  the  mem- 
bers on  the  Pacific  slope  demanded  recognition,  by  having  the 
'86  convention  awarded  to  them.  The  coast  papers  all  carried 
the  sign  "  'Frisco  in  '86"  at  the  tpp  of  their  columns. 

'i  he  campaign  was   full  of  sensations — charges    and   counter- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 


143 


charges — and  when  the  convention  met  the  relations  between  the 
two  factions  were  not  as  friendly  as  could  be  desired. 

A  lengthy  account  of  the  Boston  convention  was  published  in 
Youth,  and  signed  simply     "Mugwump."       From  it  we  quote: 

At  10  p.  m.  the  supporters  of  Heath  and  Sullivan  betook  them- 
selves to  their  respective  caucus  rooms,  the  former  holding  a 
brief  session  and  agreeing  on  a  plan  of  action,  while  the  latter 
held  forth  till  1  a,  m.,  and  nominated  a  full  ticket,  besides  ar- 
ranging the  other  details  of  tomorrow's  work. 

The  morning  of  the  15th  dawned  clear  and  bright,  and  quite 
earl\  were  the  amateurs  astir.  Those  who  attended  the  conven- 
tion of  the  New  England  A.  P.  A.,  at  Providence,  arrived  at 
Boston  at  10  a.  m  ,  and  swelled  the  gathering,  until  the  olfice 
and  corridors  of  the  Quincy  were  packed. 

At  11:45  President  Heath  opened  the  meeting.  He  read  his 
message  and  followed  with  announcing  the  laureates  for  the  com- 
ing year  as  follows :  Poet,  George  E.  Day ;  essayist,  B.  P. 
Emery;  sketchist,  F.  T.  Mayer;  historian,  Fred  F.  Heath  ;  serial, 
Edith  May  Dowe. 

The  roil  call  was  read,  to  which  forty  members  responded, 
after  which  the  credential  committee  reported  the  names  of  thirty 
more,  who  were  accepted  as  members.  Geor  e  W.  Baiidon  arose 
and  asked  why  his  name  was  not  called,  and  after  debate  it  was 
decided  that  he  was  a  member  au'l  entitled  to  full  privileges  when 
his  dues  were  paid. 

A  recess  was  taken  to  enable  members  to  liquidate  their  in- 
debtedness to  the  Association,  and  half  an  hour  later  the  con- 
vention came  to  order. 

Tlie  minutes  of  the  Milwaukee  convention  were  called  for. 
Somebody  suggested  that  the  lengthy  affidavits  relating  to  the 
fraud  at  the  Ne^v  York  convention  be  dispensed  with,  whereat 
Frank  -J.  Martin  jumped  to  his  feet  and  said  :  --Mv.  President, 
I  demand  that  those  affidavits  be  read.  I  have  come  here  for 
justice,  anl  want  the  whole  story  told!"  They  were  read,  but 
action  on  the  minutes  -vms  deferred  until  ifter  the  '!ecti(m  of  offi- 
cers, the  latter  having  been  made  the  spe.-ial  o.  ler  for  3  p.  m. 
Adjournment  was  taken  for  dinner. 

At  3  o'clock  the  convention  reassembled.  The  chair  appointed 
Messrs.  Legler,  Grant,  Emery  and  Graham  as  a  committee  to 
examine  and  count  prox^'  vote,  and  thej^  repaired  to  an  adjoining 
parlor  with  the  secretary  and  treasurer.  A  recess  was  taken  to 
await  the  report  of  the  committee,  which  was  not  presented  until 
5  o'clock,  a.->d,  with  Louis  Kempner  in  the  chair,  the  result  of 
the  proxy  votes  was  read  by  Mr.  Grant,  as  follows: 

Whole  number  of  proxiefe  cast 48 


144      HISTOKY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Illegal .     12 

D.  A.  Sullivan 19 

Fred  F.  Heath 17 

Nominations  beirio  declared  in  order,  Herbert  C.  Parsons  nom- 
inated Fred  F.  Healli  as  a  candidate  for  president,  and  he  was 
seconded  by  Miss  Smith,  Ralph  Metcalf,  J.  W.  Graham,  H.  E. 
Legler  and  others.  Charles  S.  Elgutter  followed  with  the  name 
of  D.  A.  Sullivan,  and  he  was  seconded  by  F.  A.  Grant,  H.  K. 
Sanderson,  Frank  A.  Brown  and  Geo.  VV.  Balldon. 

Messrs.  Grant,  Legler  and  Metcalf  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  sort  and  count  ballols.  The  roll  was  called,  each  member 
coming  forward  and  depositing  his  vote  in  the  box.  After  con- 
siderable delay,  the  votes  were  counted,  and,  added  to  the  proxies 
made  the  following  result: 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast 105 

Xecessary  to  a  choice 53 

FredF.  Heath 51 

D.  A.  Sullivan , 54 

The  victorious  candidate  made  a  speech. 

A  recess  was  then  taken. 

On  reassembling,  the  election  of  officers  was  continued,  Mr. 
Kempner  in  the  chair. 

W.  S.  Mooie  liaviiit:  no  opponent  for  Ihe  first  vice-presidency 
(Mr.  Roe  declining  to  run),  the  secretary  was  instructed  to  cast 
one  b.illot  for  him  and  he  was  declared  elected. 

F.  H.  Bowersock  was  elected  second  vice-president  over  Miss 
A.  K.  Richards. 

Miss  Zelda  Arlington  (Mrs.  Swift)  received  the  unanimous 
vote  for  third  vice-president,  and  Charles  N.  Andrews  was  chosen 
treasurer. 

At  this  juncture  Mr.  Legler  arose  and  announced  that  Mr.  Fin- 
lay  A.  Grant  and  Miss  Bertha  S.  York  were  united  in  the  holy 
bonds  of  matrimony  that  morning,  and  were  now  at  Young's 
Hotel,  prepared  to  receive  their  friends.  The  con\ention  then 
adjourned  until  0  o'clock  next  da^'. 

To  Young's  H(  tel  the  boys  all  filed  in  a  body,  and  were 
ushered  up  stairs,  into  the  parlor,  where  the  ideal  worker  and 
ideal  poetesof  our  little  world  were  congratulated,  over  and  over 
again,  and  wished  health,  wealth,  prosperity  and  happiness. 
Music  enlivened  the  o  cision,  which  was  altogethsr  pleasant  and 
enjoyable. 

'J'hursda^'  was  a  lovely  day,  and  at  9  on  the  morning  President 
Sullivan  called  the  meeting  to  order. 

The  election  of  officers  were  taken  up.  Miss  Gracia  A.  Smith 
was  elected  recording  secretary  over  F.  C.  Wicks  by  a  vote  of 
29  to  25. 

For  corresponding  secretary  H.  W.  Robinson  and   J.   H.    Ives 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      145 

Muuro  were  placed  iu  noraiuation.  Oq  the  first  ballot  there  was 
no  choice,  though  Mr.  Robinson  led  considerably  on  the  proxies, 
but  on  another  ballot  being  taken,  the  proxies  were  thrown  out, 
according  to  the  constitution,  and  Mr.  Munro  was  elected, 
38  to  isf 

For  official  editor  Messrs.  Burger,  Edkins  and  Emery  were 
nominated.  On  the  second  ballot  P>mery  was  elected  over 
Edkins,  32  to  25. 

The  constitution  was  then  amended,  giving  the  judges  power  to 
change  place  of  meeting  if  the  activity  in  t!»e  city  selected  did  not 
warrant  a  successful  convention.  San  Francisco  v/as  chosen  as 
the  next  place  of  meeting. 

Unfinished  business  was  next  in  order,  and  the  reconls  of  the 
Milwaukee  convention  were  taken  up  and  discussed,  the  matters 
relating  to  the  expulsion  of  Frank  J.  Martin  and  Judson  D.  Rus- 
sell beiu'j;  the  bone  of  contention.  It  was  finally  voted  to  give 
the  chair  power  to  appoint  two  committees  to  investigate  both 
cases,  and  after  they  were  appointed,  it  was  voted  to  adjourn  till 
they  were  ready  to  report. 

After  dinner,  sixtj'-two  amateurs  gathered  outsioe  the  Quincy 
House  and  had  a  photo  taken.  Then  followed  another  session, 
at  which  the  committees  reported.  The  Martin  committee 
reported  in  favor  of  his  reinstatement,  and  its  report  was  adopted. 
The  Russell  committee  reported  in  favor  of  giving  him  a  year's 
membership  on  probation,  but  the  report  was  not  accepted,  and 
o-u  motion  the  minutes  were  adopted,  striking  out  tlie  clause  relat- 
ing to  Martin's  expulsion.  Adjourned  subject  to  call  of 
president. 

A  rush  was  then  made  for  the  common,  where  a  gam 3  of  base 
ball  was  played  betwesn  the  Easterners  and  Westerners, 
resulting  in  a  score  of  8  to  2  in  favor  of  the  latter. 

The  banquet  was  held  on  Thursday  eveaiug,  commencing  at 
8:30.  Chas.  H.  Fowle,  Fred  Sayer,  L.  E.  Tildeu  and  other  old- 
time  amateurs  graced  the  occasion  with  their  presence.  At  the 
opening  Rev.  Mr.  Emery  invoked  divine  blessing.  Feasting 
over,  Charles  S.  Elgutter  addressed  the  assemblj',  and  closed  by 
reading  letters  of  regret  at  inability  to  be  present,  from  promi- 
nent men. 

The  toasts  w-ere  all  excellent.  C.  E.  Wilson  responded  to 
"Our  Visiting  Amateurs,"  and  was  followed  by  Finlaj^  A.  Grant 
with  a  speech  on  "The  Worker."  The  latter  was  scarcely  seated 
when  Mr.  Sullivan,  in  behalf  of  the  amateurs,  addressed  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grant,  and  presented  them  with  a  magnificent  ice  pitcher 
and  goblet  as  a  token  of  esteem.  Mr.  Grant  feelingly  returned 
thanks.  Truman  J.  Spencer  next  responded  to  "Our  Cause' 
and  was  followed  by  Brainerd  P.  Emery  on  "Our  State  Associa- 


146  IIISTOKY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

tions.**  "The  Ladies"  was  the  subject  of  Fred  Metcalf's 
response.  Ralph  Metcalf  next  presented  the  retiring  and  incom- 
ing presidents  with  handsome  bouquets,  in  behalf  of  the  amateurs. 
The  Other  toasts  were  "Our  Authors,"  by  Charles  H.  Fowle ; 
•'The  Future  of  Amateur  Journalism,"  by  Will  R.  Antisdel ; 
'-Our  Critics,"  by  E.  A,  Edkins;  "Our  Politicians,"  by  L.  E. 
Tildeu,  and  "The  Press,"  by  D.  A.  Sullivan. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  Friday  evening.  Considerable 
routine  business  was  acted  on.  It  was  voted  that  the  convention 
be  resolved  into  a  committee  to  consider  the  question  relating  to 
reducing  the  dues.  The  most  animated  and  interesuing  debate  of 
the  session  took  place,  Messrs.  Grant,  Truax,  Sullivan,  Kempner 
and  Metcalf  favoring  a  reduction,  and  Messrs.  Legler,  Metcalf, 
Day,  Pinckney  and  Swift  opposing.  It  was  finally  voted  to  leave 
the  dues  just  as  they  are. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  three,  was  appointed  to  take  steps 
towards  incorporating  the  Association. 

It  was  then  voted  to  adjourn  to  meet  at  San  Francisco  in  1886. 

The  official  minutes  give  the  proxy  vote  as  follows- 

For  president— F.  F.  Heath,  18;  D.  A.  Sullivan,  19. 

For  first  vice-president— W.  S.  Moore,  17;  W.  J.  Roe,  7  ; 
scattering,  10. 

For  second  vi,  e-president — J.  E.  Urban,  Jr.,  12;  F.  H.  Bow- 
ersock,  10 ;  scattering,  10. 

For  third  vice-president — Zelda  Arlington,  25  ;  scattering,  8. 

For  recording  secretary— C.  E.  Wilson,  8  ;  E.  H.  Dyer,  5  ; 
scattermg,  15. 

For  corresponding  secretary— H.  W.  Robinson,  19  ;  scattering, 
14. 

For  treasurer— C.  N.  Andrews,  21 ;  Louis  Kempner,  12  ;  scat- 
tering, 2. 

For  official  editor— C.  R.  Burger,  21  ;  E.  A.  Edkins,  6  ;  scat- 
tering, 7. 

For  place  of  meeting — San  Francisco,  21 ;  Chicago,  6  ;  scat- 
tering, 8. 

For  judges,  Legler,  Grant  and  Harrison. 

Therein  h  also  found  the  following  information  not    given   by 

"Mugwump"; 

For  president: 

Votes  cast 103 

D.A.Sullivan 53 

F.  F.  Heath !.'.'..".'*.*..'.*!".]!!'.!.'".*.!.".*!!  50 

For  second  vice-president: 

W.  J.  Roe 34 

F.  H.  Bowersock 28 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  147 

J.  E.  Urban 4 

No  election.     Second  ballot : 

E.  H.  Dyer 1 

Blank 1 

Miss  A.  K.  Richards 24 

F.  H.  Bowersock 29 

Mr.  C.  N.  Andrews  had  42  voles  f(u-  treasurer  and  Mr.    Louis 

Kenipner  25. 

For  recording  secreta'v : 

F.S.C. Wicks 32 

0.  E.   Wilson ..26 

No  election.     Second  ballot: 

F.  S.  C.  Wicks  25 

Miss  G.  A.  Smith 29 

For  corresponding  secretary  : 

Blank 1 

H.W.Robinson 18 

J.  H.  I.  Miinro 30 

For  official  editor  : 

B,  P.   Emery 27 

E.  A.  Edkins 28 

C.  R.   Burger 25 

F.S.C.  Wicks 1 

No  electiun.      Second  ballot: 

E.  A.  Edkins 25 

B.P.Emery 32 

The  secretary  cast  a  unanimous  vote  for  executive  judges,  H. 
E.  Legler,  T.  J.  Spencer  and  F.  S.  C.  Wicks. 

There  are  a  number  of  discrepancies  between  the  figures  given 
in  the  minutes  and  those  given  in  the  report   published  by  Youth, 

The  following  amendments  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  constitution 
were  adopted  : 

Article  II.  Section  1.  Lady  members  of  this  Association  shall  be 
entitled  to  all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  membership  without  paying 
dues. 

Art.  XVII.  Sec.  2.  Bat  this  shall  not  be  construed  to  appy  to  lady 
members. 

Art.  VIII.  Sec.  4.  In  case  the  place  of  meeting  chosen  does  not 
show  sufficient  activity  to  warrant  a  successful  convention,  the  judi- 
ciary committee  shall  have  power  to  select  another  city  in  the  same 
section. 

TREASURER'S  REPORT. 

DR.  • 

1884— 

To  Harrison  for  official  organ $  30  00 

Rent  of  hall  in  Milwaukee  5  00 

Printing'constitutions 6  00 

1885—' 
Treasurer's  Book 6  50 


148      HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMA.TEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Steele,  balance  of  bill 22  00 

Miller,  for  official  organ 60  00 

Silk  badges,  etc 5  00 

Invitations  and   blanks 5  00 

Invited  guests  at  banquet     3  50 

Cash  on  hand 89  00 

Total $    230  00 

CR. 
1884-5— 

By  fees  and  dues • 217  00 

Badges  sold 10  00  - 

Constitutions  sold 3  00 

Total    $    230  00 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Truman  J.  Spencer,  Treasurer. 

In  his  first  quarterly  message,  President  Sullivan  proposed  to 
organize  a  recruit  committee  of  three  members  in  each  State.  He 
also  announced  that  there  would  be  an  exhibit  of  amateur  papers 
at  the  New  Orleans  Exposition.  Announcement  was  made  that 
no  paper  would  be  refused  pound  rates  of  postage,  merely  because 
it  was  an  "amateur."  The  following  appointments  were  made: 
Historian  laureate  recorder,  O.  A.  Mueller;  credential  committee, 
A.  E.  Barker,  chairman  ;  H.  W.  Robinson  and  L.  P.  Lang. 

After  the  convention  new  papers  sprang  up  on  every  side. 
The  September  Amateur  chronicled  the  advent  of  thirty-one  and 
the  December  issue  of  twenty-eight  more. 

Volume  VIII  of  the  National  Amateur  consisted  of  three 
eight-page  and  one  four-page  issue.  The  September,  1885,  issue 
contained  the  president's  message,  historian  laureate  recorder's 
report,  bulletin  of  new  papers,  changes  of  address  and  elections 
in  minor  associations,  reports  of  laureate  judges,  amendments 
adopted  at  Boston,  a  classification  of  all  papers  issued,  minutes 
of  the  Boston  convention  and  editorials.  The  December  issue, 
the  four  pager,  contains  the  address  of  welcome  by  James  R. 
Gleason  to  President  D.  A.  Sullivan  at  a  dinner  given  the  latter 
by  the  Long  Island  Amateur  Press  Association,  classification, 
bulletin  and  editorials.  The  March,  1886,  issue  contained  a 
second  message  from  President  Sullivan,  four  pages  of  editorials, 
the  classification,  bulletin,  etc.  The  June  issue  contains  the 
usual  departments,  president's    message,    proposed    amendments 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  149 

to  tlie  constitution,  and  an  extract  from  a    History    of    Amateur 
Journalism,  then  being  prepared  by  President  D.  A.  Sullivan.* 

Leading  papers  of  the  year  were  the  American  Sphinx,  of  which 
the  farewell  number  was  the  finest  amateur  paper  ever  issued  to 
that  time;  Bric-a-Brac,  Montreal,  Can.,  an  ably  edited  publica- 
tion ;  5o?/s'  Folio,  i)y  James  H.  IvesMunro;  Bumble  Bee,  as 
quarrelsome  as  its  name  would  indicate ;  Chic,  Berkle}^  Cal.  ;  the 
Comet,  by  Vanderbilt  Hros.  ;  Dowaglac  News,  Dowagiac,  Mich.  ; 
Kansas  Zephyr,  Lawrence,  Kan.  ;  Messenger,  Oshkosh,  Wis.  ; 
Norm,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  iirst  published  anonymously,  and  credited 
to  several  persons,  entirely  innocent,  but  never  to  the  real  editor, 
M.  F.  Boechat ;  New  Century,  Milwaukee  ;  iV^^^e^,  New  Glasgow, 
N.  S.,  at  that  time  a  paper  \vithout  a  paragraph  from  start  to 
finish,  to  save  time  and  space,  and  thus  the  recipient  of  much 
comment;  Our  Optic,  East  Concord,  N.  H.  ;  Our  Knight  Errant, 
by  President  Heath  ;  Pacific  Coura.nt,  San  Francisco,  ujidoubtedly 
the  ablest  all-editorial  journal  of  the  j^ear ;  Progress,  with  a  dif- 
ferent staff  of  editors  on  almost  every  issue,  yet  always  lilted  with 
interesting  matter ;  Sentinel,  Newburgh,  N.  Y.,  a  leader  in  the 
publication  of  good  literature:  Stars  and  Stripes,  Milwaukee, 
illustrated  ;  Violet,  Cincinnati,  edited  by  Mrs.  Swift,  then  known 
to  Amateurdora  as  Miss  Zelda  Arlington;  Youth,  Lowell,  Mass., 
President  Sullivan's  paper. 


*The  editor  acknowledges  receipt  from  Mr.  Sullivan  of  the  copy  for 
a  portion  of  the  first  chapter  of  this  book.  More  was  promised  later, 
but  repeated  requests  have  failed  to  secure  it. 


CHflFTER  13, 

"'FRISCO  IN  '86." 

Political  Phases. — The  San  Francisco  Convention. — Munuo 
Elected  President. — Judiciary  Committee's  Report. — 
Papers,  Authors  and  Books  of  the  Year. 

IN  February,    1887,    a   hook    entitled    "Anne^ils    of    Amateur 
Journalism  in  1886"  was  published  by    Will   S.    Dunlop,  of 
Milwaukee.     It  was  edited  and  complied   by  Mr.    Woollen, 
assisted    by   Messrs.    Moore    and    Heath.       From   Mr.   Moore's 
article,  "Political  Phases  of  '86,"  we  extract: 

Hardly  bad  the  smoke  of  battle  of  that  bitter  and  hotly  con- 
tested campaign  of  1885,  between  the  forces  of  DenniejA.  Sullivan 
and  Fred  F.  Heath  cleared  away,  then  the  politicians  of  the 
amateur  fraternity  began  to  start  the  ball  rolling  for  the  following 
canvass.  In  fact,  within  the  very  walls  of  the  Quincy  House,  at 
Boston,  before  the  18S5  election  had  occurred, a  scheme  was  con- 
cocted by  which  it  was  intended  to  place  Louis  Kempner,  of  New 
York  City,  in  the  presidential  chair  at  the  1886  convention. 
Plans  for  the  consummation  of  this  plot  progressed  through  cor- 
respondence, from  the  time  of  the  Boston  convention  until  a 
denoument  was  made  by  a  few  outside  parties  who  had  been 
advised  of  the  movement,  and  as  a  result  the  campaign  for  Mr. 
Kempner  was  prematurely  forced  to  the  surface  before  his  adher- 
ents CG'iild  concentrate  their  forces.  The  prevailing  sentiment 
adverse  to  early  campaigning  vented  itself  upon  the  projectors  of 
this  plan,  and  as  a  result  they  lost  faith,  and  a  short  time  there- 
atter  it  was  authoritively  announced  that  Mr.  Kempner  would  not 
be  a  candidate.  About  one  month  after  this  annoncement  went 
forth,  the  New  York  contingent  entered  the  arena  with  a  boom 
for  Howard  L.  Pinckney,  of  New  York  City,  The  candidacy  of 
this  gentleman  did  not  meet  with  any  great  favor,  and  save  for 
a  few  scattering  papers  in  the  Empire  State,  the  campaign  lagged 
slowly  duward  with  the  dying  year.  The  admirers  of  Will  R. 
Antisdel,  of  Detroit,  Mich.,  also  placed  his  name  in  nomination 
for  the  presidency,  but  his  inactivity  in  amateur  matters,  and  the 
UDsatisfactory  discharge  of  his  duties  as  president  o^  '-he  Western 
Amateur  Press  Association,  prevented  a  large  ^6  ppoit  from 
gathering  under  his  standard.  eJ 

Thus  the  matter  stood  until  the  opening  of   the  j^iew  year,    at 
which  lime  three   strong  candidates  were    placed   m    nomitation 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATION -VL  AMATKaR  PREi^S  ASSOCIATION.  151 

almost  simultaueously.  President  Sullivan,  by  the  energetic  and 
successful  administration  which  he  had  given  the  Association  up 
to  that  date,  had  gained  great  popularity,  and  was  strongly 
endorsed  for  reelection.  At  a  time  when,  to  accept  the  suffrages 
of  his  friends  once  more  almost  guaranteed  his  election,  he 
declined  the  nomination  in  favor  of  Official  Editor  Brainerd  P. 
Emery.  Mr.  Emery  had  given  the  Association  one  of  the  best 
administrations  as  official  editor  that  it  had  ever  had,  and  at  the 
first  mention  of  his  name  support  was  offered  to  him  from  all  sec- 
lion*^.  At  this  time  the  course  of  ^Yill  S.  Moore,  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, Cal.,  was  watched  with  considerable  interest.  He  had 
brouoht  himself  prominently  before  Amateurdom  as  an  advocate 
of  San  Francisco  for  the  1886  meeting  place.  Some  of  those  who 
opposed  the  election  of  that  city  baserl  their  opposition  upon  the 
argument  tl.at  Mr.  Moore  had  personal  aims  to  gratify  in  endeav- 
oring to  take  the  convention  away  from  the  bulk  of  tiie  amateur 
frateruity.  In  the  campaign  preceding,  that  gentlenien  refuted 
all  such  (.harges  and  pledged  himself  not  to  accei)t  the  presiden- 
tial noniiiiation  for  1886.  Therefore,  when  a  large  number  of  his 
friends  offered  him  their  support,  it  was  generally  conceded  that 
he  would  waver  in  his  determination.  However,  he  declined  the 
nomination,  and  his  following  was  given  over  to  Mr.  Emery.  For 
two  months  the  amateur  press  resounded  with  plaudits  for  that 
gentlemen,  and  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  amateur 
press  an  unanimous  support  of  the  National  Association  w:is 
given  to  one  individual.  On  May  29,  in  a  letter  addressed  to 
his  numerous  constituents,  Mr.  Emery  declined  the  nomination 
and  his  act  left  the  political  field  barren,  insofar  as  the  presidency 
was  concerned. 

While  the  campaign  for  the  highest  office  lulled  into  rJ.v^'.vl'Ue 
quietude,  the  contest  for  the  minor  offices  became  spirited.  It 
was  generally  understood  that  the  election  would  (lei)end  solely 
upon  the  proxy  vote,  as  the  great  distance  of  San  Francisco  from 
the  East  would  prevent  a  representative  attendance  from  tliat 
section  of  the  country'.  Recognizing  that  fact,  every  ambitious 
amateur  who  had  friends  at  all,  was  placed  in  nomina'Jon  for  some 
one  of  the  offices.  For  first  vice-president  the  principal  candi- 
dates were  Frank  C.  Wicks,  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  Harry  W. 
Robinson,  of  Montreal,  Can.  For  recording  secretary,  Fred  L. 
Hunter,  of  San  Francisco,  was  the  favorite  candidate.  Ernest  A. 
Edkins,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  who  had  been  defeated  by  a  close 
vote  at  Boston,  was  again  nominated  for  official  editor,  and  his 
only  opponent  was  Edith  May  Dowe,  a  talented  young  lady  of 
Worcester,  Mass.  For  a  short  time  the  contest  for  this  office 
presented  an  animated  aspect.  As  convention  time  drew  near 
Mr.  Edkins  rapidly  developed  a  remarkably  increasing   support^ 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

and  in  a  short  time  his  election  was  predicted.  For  tlie  1887 
convention  seat  two  cities  were  nominated  :  Phialdelphia,Pa.,  and 
Montreal,  Can.  As  with  the  editorship  this  contest  was  lively 
for  a  short  time,  but  the  survival  of  the  fittest  was  signealizad  by 
the  withdrawal  of  Montreal  in  favor  of  the  Quaker  City. 

In  June  Jas.  H.  Munro,  of  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  opened  his 
campaign  for  the  presidency,  and  in  a  few  weeks  time  his  support 
had  assumed  formidable  proportions.  A  number  of  amateurs 
unfavorably  inclined  towards  Mr.  Munro,  prevailed  upon  Fred 
F.  Heath  to  once  more  accept  the  nomination.  The  contest 
narrowed  down  between  these  two  candidates,  and  a  close  and 
exciting  campaign  was  waged  between  their  respective  forces. 
Neither  of  these  candidates  were  present  at  the  convention,  but 
no  third  nomination  was  made. 

Early  in  March  H.  E.  Legler,  one  of  the  executive  judges, 
tendered  his  resignation  to  President  Sullivan,  because  of  a  press 
of  other  work.     No  successor  was  appointed. 

Al.  E.  Barker  resigned  as  chairman  of  the  credential  committee, 
and  H,  W.  Robinson  was  appointed  in  his  stead.  S.  S.  Stinson 
was  also  added  to  the  committee. 

The  convention  was  called  by  President  Sullivan  in  the  follow- 
ing notice : 

TA  CALL. 

In  accordance  with  the  power  vested  in  me,  the  members  of  the 
National  Amateur  Press  Association  are  hereby  requested  to 
assemble  in  San  Francisco,  on  the  28th  day  of  July,  1886,  and 
transact  any  and  all  such  business  as  may  legally  come  before 
them.  D.  A.  Sullivan, 

President. 

President  Sullivan  appointed  First  Vice-President  Moore  as 
chairman  of  the  reception  committee  for  the  San  Francisco  con- 
vention, and  in  the  June  National  Amateur  Mv.  Moore  announced 
the  following  committees  and  sub-committees. 

General  and  reception  committees — California  Amateur  Jour- 
nalists' Association. 

Entertainment — F.  L.  Hunter,  chairman;  Lee  Weil,  M.  J. 
Sideman,  E.  D.  Taylor,  Percy  Goldstone. 

Literary — F.  S.  Arnett,  chairman  ;  T.  P.  Andrews,  J.  C.  Bull, 
A.  L.  and  M.  G.  McClinton. 

Banquet — J.  R.  B.  Bookman,  chairman ;  J.  A.  Ephriam,  D. 
L.  Hollub,  G.  B.  Taylor,  M.  G.  Jonas. 

Badges — Misses  Zebbie  Hunt,  Alice  Mason  and  Jennie  Martin. 

Reception  committee,  northern  district — E.  B.   Devlin,    chair- 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRE88   ASSOCIATION.  153 

man;    Messrs.     Woodson,    Palmer,   Chadderdon,    Cunningham, 
Luce,  Blackwell  and  Atkinson,  of  Sacramento. 

Reception  committee,  southern  district — E.  E.  Stowell,  chair- 
man ;  P.  R.  and  F.  E.  Ruth,  of  Pomona. 

A  good  report  of  the  San  Francisco  meeting  of  1886  is  found 
in  (7aiia(?a,  the  paper  of  President  Munro.  The  article  is  un- 
signed, and  as  Mr.  Munro  was  not  present  at  the  convention,  we 
do  not  know  the  author : 

First  day — Wednesday,  July  28  :  Firsr  business  session.  Also 
evening  session. 

Secondday— Thursday,  July  29.  Morning:  Final  business 
session.  Afternoon:  Excursion  on  San  Francisco  Bay.  Even- 
ing:     A  trip  through  Chinatown. 

Third  day— Friday,  July  30.  Morning  and  afternoon  :  Visits 
to  state  mining  bureau,  Sutro's  library,  U.  S.  mint,  and  other 
interesting  points  in  the  city.  Evening:  Literary  entertainment 
and  hop. 

Fourthday— Saturday,  July  31.  Morninor:  A  visit  to  Ala- 
meda. Annual  baseball  game.  A  sail  on  lake  Merrit,  Oakland. 
Evening :     Annual  banquet. 

OnJuly28the  eleventh  annual  convenMon  of  the  National 
Amateur  Press  Association  was  called  to  order  by  First  Vice- 
President  William  S.  Moore.  After  roll-call  the  folloTving  officers 
Were  appointed  pro  tern  :  Vice-presi<lent,  G.  R.  Lukens  ;  secre- 
tary, Miss  Jennie  Martin  ;  treasurer,  Philip  I.  Figel ;  credential 
committee:  Fred  L.  Hunter,  D.  L.  Hollub  and  M.  G.  Jonas. 

The  report  of  the  judo^es  was  read  and  adoi)ted.  Ne2.t  came 
the  reports  of  the  officers.  Miss  Gracia  A.  Smith,  recording 
secretary,  gave  a  report  and  presented  the  Association  with  a 
handsome  gavel.  There  were  about  fifty  new  natnes  reported  as 
applying  for  membership.  Here  are  the  nnmes  of  those  who  took 
part  in  the  convention :  Miss  Hanirah  13.  Gage,  Miss  Zebbie 
Hunt,  MissEphriam  (Ruth  Ellis),  Miss  Alice  Mason,  Miss  Jen- 
nie Martin  ;  Messrs.  Philip  I.  Figel,  Fred  L.  Hunter,  T.  P. 
Andrews,  Will  S.  Moore,  A.  L.  McClinton,  G.  R.  Lukens,  Philip 
Hastings,  J.  Robinson,  M.  G.  McClinton,  J.  R.  B.  Bockman,  J. 
A.  Ephriam,  Ed  Tavlor,  E.  Alexander,  D.  L.  Hollub,  D.  P. 
Dolan,  L.  S.  Boruck,  M.  G.  Jonas.  P.  Goldbtone,  T.  B.  Sullivan, 
A.  Goldstone,  E.  F.  Giiiudoii,  M.  J.  Sideman,  S.  M.  Van  Wick, 
Jr.,  L.  E.  James,  F.  S.  Arnett,  J.  I).  Bowersock,  A.  H.  Red- 
ington,  F.  M.  Woodson,  A.  W.  Whitney,  S.  Smith,  C.  Faud  and 
G.  F.  AUardt. 

The  afternoon  session  resumed  work  by  hearing  the    report    of 
the  constitutional  committee. 

The  judges  did  not  send  in  their  reports  to  the  president,    con- 


154      HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

seqnently  the  winners  of  laureate  titles  could  not  be  announced. 

This  evening  the  convention  was  again  called  to  order  at  8:30 
p.  ra.  The  minutes  of  the  Boston  convention  were  then  read  and 
{ulo[)te(l.  Acting  Treasurer  Philip  I.  Figel  reported  thirty  mem- 
bers present  and  clear  on  treasurer's  books.  The  election  of 
officers  was  now  in  order.  It  was  somewhat  late  when  this  order 
of  busiiaess  was  reached,  and  in  order  that  an  adjournment  could 
be  had  at  a  reasonable  hour,  it  was  proposed  to  count  the  proxy 
vote  for  president  only,  and  continue  to  count  for  the  other  offi- 
cers the  following  day,  which  proposition  was  carried.  Recess 
taken.  The  following  committee  was  appointel  to  count  the 
proxy  votes:  Miss  Jennie  Martin,  Messrs.  Philip  I.  Figel,  F.  S. 
Arnett  and  M.  G.  McClinton. 

After  a  short  absence  the  committee  reported  that,  as  no 
authentic  record  of  the  financial  condition  of  those  sending 
proxies  was  in  the  hands  of  the  committee,  it  recommended  that 
article  II,  section  2,  of  the  by-laws  be  temporarily  suspended,  and 
that  all  those  who  have  sent  proxies  have  them  counted.  The 
ifeport  was  accepted  and  the  committee  returned  to  work. 

The  committee  on  proxies  was  out  an  hour.  In  the  interim 
Jonas  rushed  into  the  room,  claiming  a  report  from  the  commit- 
tee on  proxies.  It  read:  Munro,  47;  Heath,  44.  Andrews 
jumped  upon  a  grand  piano  and  proposed  three  cheers  for  J.  H. 
Ives  Munro,  and  they  were  given  with  a  vim.  But  it  was  only 
a  joke. 

The  convention  was  then  called  to  order  with  T.  P.  Andrews  in 
the  chair.  Some  fun  was  in  the  air.  The  chairman  spoke  of  the 
necessity  there  was  for  united  and  harmonious  action  on  the  part 
of  those  present,  for  the  success  and  welfare  of  the  Association. 
That,  after  due  consideration,  the  Heath  men  through  Lnkens, 
and  the  Munro  men  through  Andrews  had  concluded  to  sacrifice 
their  ideals  in  favor  of  a  good  "dark  horse."  Those  in  the  joke 
spoke  with  much  oratorial  ability.  The  stenographers  pegged 
away  as  the  eloquence  grew  warmer  and  deeper.  l^ukens  suc- 
ceeded Anrlrews,  and  in  a  fifteen  minute  speech  depicted  the 
many  good  results  of  a  "dark  horse/'  and  cited  Garfield  as  an 
€xarnple.  Applause  again  greeted  the  speaker.  Then  California's 
rno^t  polished  and  accomplished  speaker,  Andrews,  addressed  the 
assernl)ly,  and  the  affair  was  getting  more  and  more  hilarious 
wlien  ihe  convention  was  thrown  into  excitement  by  the  action  of 
the  'dnrk  horse,"  who  stampeded. 

The  committee  then  returned  and  reported  as  follows: 

T'^tal  number  of  proxies  cast 09 

Thrown  out* 2 


*The  official  minutes  ignore  these  ballots  here  shown  as  thrown  out 
an  1  give  Mr.  Heath  27  votes. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRES3    ASSOCIATION.  155 

Total 67 

Munro 38 

Heath 25 

A.D.Grant 1 

W.J.Niles 1 

B.  P.  Emery 1 

M.  H.  Shelp 1 

Nominations  for  president  wer  now  in  order.  Silence  reigned 
supreme.  Arnett,  Moore,  Lukeus  and  other  heavy  constituents 
of  Heath  looked  enquiringly  at  the  Munro  men.  The  great  ora- 
torical battle  was  about  to  begin.  ir'hilip  I.  Figel  broke  the 
silence,  nominating  J.  H.  Ives  Munro.  Thos.  P.  Andrews  sec- 
onded the  nomination.  McClinton  and  Ephriam  followed. 
Heath  was  placed  in  nomination  by  Frank  S.  Arnett,  seconded 
by  Lukens  and  others.  Ballots  were  prepared  and  Figel  and 
Lukeus  were  appointed  tellers.  While  the  ballots  were  beiug 
collected  everyone  was  on  the  qui-vive  of  excitement.  That  the 
result  would  be  pretty  close  everyone  knew,  and  it  recalled  vividly 
the  scene  at  Boston  when  the  chair  was  announcing  the  votes. 
Vice-President  Moore  was  in  the  chair. 

The  result  as  announced  was:  Number  of  votes  cast  in  con- 
vention, 30 ;  Munro,  12;  Heath,  18.  Grand  total  and  in  con- 
vention :   * 

N  umber  of  votes  cast 97 

Munro 50 

Heath 43 

Scattering 4 

Munro' s  majority 3 

Munro's  plurality 7 

A  scene  followed  that  no  pen  can  portray.  The  Munro  men 
marched  around  the  hall  in  a  body  singing  "Glory,  Glory,  Halle- 
lujah!" At  even  that  late  hour  they  marched  down  town  to  the 
Tivoli  Cafe.     In  the  dining  hall  all  sat  around  a  long  table. 

Tuesday,  July  29. — The  convention  again  in  session.!  Tlii 
committee  on  proxies  proceeded  to  complete  their  count,  and 
after  considerable  earnest  and  painstaking  work  the}'  reported 
that  no  candidate  received  a  majority  of  votes  except  Ernest  A. 
Edkins,  whose  vote  stood  38  to  21  scattering.  Montreal  having 
withdrawn  in  favor  of  Philadelphia,  the  vote  resulted  in  an  over- 
whelming choice  in  favor  of  the  citj^  of  brotherly  love. 

For  first  vice-president  Robinson  was  defeated  by  Wicks. 
Kugler  got  8  votes. 

*  The  official  minutes  vary  from  these  figures,  giving  98  votes  cast, 
and  Heath  44, 

tThis  session  was  held  at  the  Mason  House,  917  Market  street,  W. 
S.  Moore  in  the  chair,  Mr.  Moore  retired  with  the  proxy  committee 
and  Mr.  Lukens  took  the  chair.  Mr.  Hunter  read  the  minutes  of  pre- 
tIous  day's  session. 


156  HI-STORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOGIATION 

For  second  vice-president  Jert)nie  C.  Bull  defeated  W.  W, 
Carpenter. 

For  third  vice-president,  J.  D.  Bowersock,  of  the  Kansas 
Zephyr^  who  was  present,  was  unanimously  chosen. 

Fred  L.  Hunter  was  elected  recording  secretary,  his  opponent 
being  Lester  E.  James. 

For  corresponding  secretary,  William  B.  Baldwin,  editor  of  the 
Palladium^  was  tlie  unanimous  choice  to  succeed  President 
Munro. 

Mrs.  Zelda  A.  Swift  was  elected  treasurer. 
Ernest   A.   Edkins,    of    Albany,   N.    Y.,    was    elected    official 
editor. 

William  S.  Moore,  Frank  S.  Arnett  and  Braiuerd  P.  Emery 
were  elected  executive,  judges. 

Friday  evening — The  literary  entertainment  was  of  great 
interest,  and  is  a  feature  that  should  be  perpetuated.  Tho  fol- 
lowing is  the  program:  Piano  solo,  Frank  S-  Bentley  ;  recitation, 
J.  R.  B.  Bockman  ;  essa^-,  Frank  S.  Arnett;  mandolin  solo,  Prof. 
S.  Adelstein  ;  scene  from  Julius  Caesar,  J.  R.  B.  Bockman,  M. 
G.  Jonas;  recitation,  M,  0.  Jonas;  piano  solo,  Miss  Ephriam  ;. 
impromptu   debate,    G.    R.  Luken^,  TCugene  Alexander. 

Saturday  evening  in  Cambrian  hall — The  banquet  came  off. 
It  was  quite  a  success.  The  menu  and  toast  cards  were  tast3% 
Toasts  were  responded  to  as  follows: 

Birth  of  the  National  Association F.  S.  Arnett 

National  Amateur  Press  Association D.  L.  HoUub 

Presidents  of  the  National .  M.  G.  McClinton 

Amateur  Journalism  as  ar  Educator G.  R.  Lukens 

Amateur  Literature J.  D.  Bowersock 

Youjig   Woman's  A.  P.  A Miss  Zebbie  A.  Hunt 

Our  Faith F.  L.  Hunter 

The  New  England  Association .  L.  E.  James 

Our  Lady  Amateurs ,  .  .  .  W.  S.  Moore 

Our  Gentlemen  Amateurs Miss  Jennie  Martin 

Our  Absentees A.  L.  McClinton 

Our  Future M.  J.  Sideman 

Our  President    P.  I.  Figel 

The  eleventh  annual  convention  of  the  National  ended  with  the 
resonant  cry,  N — A — P — A. 

The  official  minutes  gave  the  following  additional  information! 

Roll  call  showed  the  followmg  members  to  be  present:  Messrs. 
J.  R.  B,  Bockman,  D.  L.  Hollub,  F.  S.  Arnett,  W,  S.  Moore, 
F.  L.  Hunter,  P.  Goldstone,  E.  D.  Taylor,  M.  J.  Sideman,  L. 
E.  James,  P.  I.  Figel  and  J.  A.  Ephriam. 

On  motion  of  F.  S.  Arnett  :\  constitutional  committee  of  three, 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  157 

the  presiding  officer  to  act  as  chairman,  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  W.  S.  Moore,  F.  S.  Arnett  and  G.  R.  Lukens. 

The  report  of  the  credential  committee  was  submitted  and  the 
following  members  admitted : 

Herbert  L.  Reed,  Chas.  Gates,  Jr.,  W.  B.  Baldwin,  E.  E. 
Bryant,  C.  W.  Henderson,  F.  Jameson,  J.  A.  Shannon,  F.  D. 
Woollen,  J.  T.  Miniter,  B.  S.  Emory,  Zebbie  A.  Hunt,  Jennie 
M.  Martin,  P.  R.  Ruth,  Miss  A.  Tomlinson,  F.  C.  Lindsley, 
Mabel  F.  Noyes,  Lottie  Smith,  F.  A.  Fartenheimer,  Abbie  E, 
Underwood,  John  Evans,  Homer  Green,  G.  E.  Frye,  Bertha 
Wuest,  Ella  Murray,  E.  M.  Clarke,  A.  M.  Murtaugh,  O.  A. 
Mueller,  S.  S.  Stinson,  May  Alice  Mason,  Fred  Kemp,  J.  Swain 
Garrison,  W.  C. -Davis,  J.  H.  McDonald,  JohnG.  Kugler,  Nathan 
Block,  W.  E.  Melinger,  J.  E.  Jones,  Will  S.  Dunlop,  Frances  A. 
Parsons,  Alice  L.  Anderson,  Eva  Hutchinson,  Miss  McEwan,  L. 
Sanger,  Anna  Munro,  Jessie  Todman,  Mary  McKercher,  Mary 
Wilson. 

Mr.  Bockman  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  some  non-mem- 
bers were  voting,  and  aiso  that  two  of  the  officers  did  not  belong 
to  the  Association.  First  Vice-President  Lukens  asked  to  be 
allowed  to  resign  the  chair.  Mr.  Arnett  appointed  first  vice- 
president  j?ro  tern.,  in  his  stead. 

The  report  of  the  auxiliary  credential  committee  was  adopted, 
the  following  being  admitted : 

Miss  Ellis,  Messrs.  G.  R.  Lukens,  T.  B.  Sullivan,  L.  Gold- 
stone,  E.  Alexander,  A.  L.  McClinton,  M.  G.  McClinton,  Eugene 
F.  Guindon,  A.  H.  Redington,  P.  Dolan,  L.  S.  Boruck  and  M. 
Backus. 

The  convention  adjourned  to  meet  at  Cambrian  Hall  at  8  p.  m. 

At  8:15  the  convention  was  called  to  order,  W.  S.  Moore  in 
the  chair. 

Auxiliary  credential  committee  recommended  the  names  of  F. 
M.  Woodson  and  J.  Robinson  for  membership.     Report  adopted. 

Report  of  retiring  recording  secretary  read  and  adopted,  with 
a  vote  of  thanks  to  Miss  Smith  for  ber  gift  of  a  minute-book. 

Amendment  for  which  Goldstone  had  moved  for  a  reconsidera- 
tion was  again  read  and  adopted. 

The  counting  of  proxy  ballots  being  in  order,  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Jennie  M.  Martin,  chairman ;  W.  S.  Moore,  P.  D. 
Figel,  F.  S.  Arnett  and  M.  G.  McClinton  withdrew  from  the 
room. 

Report  of  examining  committee,  second  day's  session: 

Wednesday,  July  28,  1886. 
Mr.  President  and  members  of  theNational  Amateur  Press  Association: 

Your  committee  having  opened  and  counted  all  duplicate  proxy 
votes  received  by  the  first  vice-president,  report  as  follows . 


158  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Candidates  for  but  three  offices  have  a  majority  of  all  votes  cast,  viz  . 
President— Munro  38,  Heath  25,  scattering  4. 

Official  editor— Edkins  38,  Dowe  11,  Hunter  7,  Moore  4,  scattering  9. 
Meeting  place— Philadelphia  56.  Montreal  9,  scattering  2. 
For  presdent  Mr.  Munro's  majoritv  is  9  votes,  for  official   editor  Mr. 
Edkins'  majority  is  7  votes,  and  tor  the  next  place  Philadelphiji  receives 
a  majority  of  45  votes. 

The  votes  for  the  other  offices  are  so  widely  scattered  that  it  will  be  im- 
possible to  elect  any  of  the  candidates  on  the  proxy  vote  taken  in  con- 
nection with  the  votes  of  the  conA^ention.  In  order  to  expediate 
matters,  your  committee  would  recommend  that  the  proxy  votes  be 
counted  only  for  the  three  offices  aforesaid. 

For  executive  judges  the  following  have  received  the  largest  number 
of  votes :     Spencer,  Moore  and  Grant. 

Respectfully  Submitted, 

Jennie  M.  Martin,  chairman. 
Will  S.  Moore, 
Frank  S.  Arnett, 
Myron  G.  McClinton, 
Philip  I.  Figel. 
Nominations  for  first  vice-president  being  now  in  order,    F.  S. 
Wicks  was  nominated.     John  G.  Kugler  was  nominated  by  D.  L. 
Hollub  and  seconded  by  J.  A.  P^phriam.     Kugler  8,    Wicks    18. 
Wicks  declared  elected. 

For  second  vice-president  Will  S.  Moore  nominated  W.  W. 
Carpenter,  the  nomination  seconded  by  G.  R.  Lukens.  Jerome 
C.  Bull  was  nominated  by  Miss  Zebbie  A.  P.  Pluut,  and  seconded 
by  Eugene  F.  Guindon.  The  vote  resulted  in  a  tie.  On  the 
second  ballot  it  stood;  Bull  14,  Carpenter  12.  Bull  declared 
elected. 

Jus.  D.  Bowersock  was  nominated  for  third  vice-president  by 
Philip  Hastings.  Thomas  P.  Andrews  seconded  the  nomination. 
On  motion,  the  secretary  was  requested  to  cast  a  vote  as  the 
voice  of  the  assembly.  Mr.  Bowersock  was  then  escorted  to  the 
chair. 

Nominations  for  treasurer  now  being  in  order,  W,  S.  Moore 
nominated  Mrs.  Zelda  Arlington  Swift.  G.  R.  Lukens  seconded 
the  nomination.  C.  N.  Andrews  w^s  placed  in  nomination  by 
M.  G.  Jonas,  seconded  by  T.  P.  Andrews.  Mrs.  Swift  21,  C. 
N.  Andrews  2,  scattering  3.  Mrs.  Swift  was  declared  elected. 
On  motion  the  election  was  made  unanimous. 

For  recording  secretary  Fred  L.  Hunter  was  nominated  by  F. 
S.  Arnett,  seconded  by  W.  S.  Moore  and  D.  L.  Hollub.  Lester 
E.  James  was  nominated  by  T.  P.  Andrews,  seconded  by  Philip 
Hastings.  Hunter  13,  James  11,  scattering  1.  Hunter  elected. 
William  B.  Baldwin  was  nominated  for  corresponding  secretary 
by  J.  R.  B.  Bockraan,  seconded  by  W.  S.  Moore,  Miss  Zebbie  A. 
P.  Hunt  and  G.  R.  Lukens.  l^ester  E.  James  was  nominated 
b^'  Philip  Hastings,  seconded  byM.  G.  McClinton.     Baldwin  21, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


]59 


James  2,  scattering  2.  \V.  B.  Baldwin  (leclaued  elected:  Moved 
and  seconded  that  the  election  be  made  ntianimons.     Carried. 

For  ottlcial  editor  Ernest  A.  Edkms  was  nominated,  and  on 
motion  the  secretary  was  requested  to  cast  a  ballot  for  Mr. 
Edkins  as  the  vote  of  the  convention. 

David  L.  Hollub  nominated  Philadelphia  for  meeting  place. 

The  following  vote  was  cast : 

Philadelphia 19 

Milpitas 3 

Huntsville 1 

Scattering 2 

rhiladelphia  having  received  G5  votes  on  the  proxies,  had  in 
all  84  votes.     It  was  therefore  declared  next  meeting  place. 

P'or  executive  judges  the  following  gentlemen,  receiving  the 
highest  number  of  votes,  were  declared  elected:  Messrs.  Emery 
Arnett  and  Moore. 

The  following  is  the  report  of  the  work  of  the  judiciary  com- 
mittee made  at  the  convention : 

Immediately  after  our  election  the  committee  organized  by  the 
election  of  Truman  J.  Spencer,  president;  Henry  E.  Legler, 
vice-president,  and  Frank  S.  C.  Wicks,  secretary,  and  in  pursu- 
ance with  the  constitution  of  the  Association  remained  in  session 
duriuT  the  year,  ready  to  act  upon  any  matter  that  might  be 
referred  to  it. 

Early  in  the  year  a  discussion  arose  in  the  columns  of  the 
National  Amateur  in  regard  to  what  was  called  the  sanctity  of 
the  minutes,  and  upon  'being  appealed  to,  the  president  of  your 
committee,  seeing  that  it  arose  from  a  misapprehension  of  the 
disposition  of  the  Milw^aukee  minutes,  wrote  to  the  olficial  editor 
the  true  action  taken  at  the  Boston  convention,  which  satisfac- 
torily settled  the  difficulty. 

In  March  your  judges  received  the  resignation  of  Second  Vice- 
President  F.  H.  Bowersock,  which  was  accepted.  Believing  it 
to  be  the  spirit  if  not  the  letter  of  the  constitution  that  vacancies 
in  the  corps  of  vice-presidents  should  belilled  by  the  next  in  rank, 
Miss  Zelda  Arlington  was  promoted  to  the  office,  and  Mr.  Ernest 
A.  Edkins,  of  Hartford,  Conn.,  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  of 
third  vice-president. 

During  the  month  of  April  your  committee  were  pained  to 
receive  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Legler  of  his  position  on  the  com- 
mittee, a  step  much  regretted  by  the  remainiuij  members.  In 
justice  to  him,  however,  they  felt  constrained,  under  the  circum- 
stances, to  accept  his  resignation,  which  was  reluctantly  done, 
and  the  board  for  the  remainder  of  the  j^ear  was  deprived  of  his 
sage  advice  and  valuable  counsel. 


160  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION 

Although  your  judges  felt  confident  that  the  selection  of  a 
successor  to  Mr.  Legler  devolved  upon  them,  yet,  as  there  seemed 
to  be  some  doubt  upon  the  subject  in  the  minds  of  some  of  the 
members,  and  the  remaining  time  of  their  executive  existence 
being  short,  they  deemed  it  best  not  to  fill  the  vacancy.  In 
order,  however,  that  the  question  might  be  set  at  rest  forever, 
they  have  here  recorded  their  decision,  subject  to  your  approval. 
Their  decision  is  based  upon  the  following  interpretation  of  the 
constitution  :  The  filling  of  a  vacancy  in  the  judiciary  committee 
is  not  expressly  provided  for  in  that  document,  except  that,  inas- 
much as  by  article  IV  the  judges  are  put  upon  a  common  footing 
with  all  other  officers,  the  method  of  procedure  would  seem  to  be 
detailed  in  section  1  of  article  VIII,  which  says : 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  judiciary  committee  *  *  ♦  to  fill  all 
vacancies  in  the  corps  of  oflicers  when  not  otherwise  provided  for  by 
the  constitution. 

In  the  absence  of  any  express  provision  on  the  subject,  power 
would  also  be  conferred  by  another  clause  of  the  same  section, 
which  provides  that  the  judiciary  committee  shall  "act  in  all  re- 
spects for  the  Association  in  convention  assembled." 

At  the  last  convention  an  amendment  to  the  c®nstitution  was 
adopted,  providing  that  if  "the  activity  of  the  city  selected  as  the 
next  place  of  meeting  be  not  sufficient  to  warrant  a  successful 
convention,  the  judiciary  committee  shall  have  power  to  change 
said  meeting  place."  Under  date  of  April  3  the  president  called 
the  attention  of  your  committee  to  the  state  of  affairs  then  exist- 
ing in  San  Francisco,  and  requesting  them  to  take  some  action  in 
the  premises.  After  a  careful  investigation  of  the  subject,  your 
committee  came  to  the  conclusion  that  not  only  was  San  Fran- 
cisco the  most  active  city  in  the  west,  but  that  the  existing  cir- 
cumstances would  not  materially  affect  the  success  of  the 
convention,  and  therefore  decided  that  no  action  in  the  case  was 
necessary,  to  which  decision  Presidert  Sullivan  acquiesced. 

The  only  specific  matter,  we  believe,  which  was  left  for  the 
consideration  of  your  committee  by  the  convention  was  the 
question  of  incorporating  the  Associati(^n.  Your  committee 
have  examined  into  the  matter  and  have  procured  lecral  advice 
upon  the  subject.  They  find  that  there  are  two  methods  of  pro- 
cedure. First,  by  State  action,  in  which  case  the  Association 
would  have  to  present  at  least  a  nominal  point  of  headquarters 
in  the  State  in  whicli  the  act  was  procured.  Or,  it  mighl,  by 
changing  its  system  of  organization,  become  a  body  corporate 
under  tiie  laws  of  some  State,  embodying  the  law  of  that  State 
in  its  constitution,  and  after  that  members  from  other  Sfates 
'jouldjoin.  The  other,  and  undoubtedly  the  true,  plan  would 
be  to  apply  t  >  the  National  Congress  for  an  act  of  incorporation. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION  161 

This  would  place  upon  it  certain  restrictions,  and  make  it  amen- 
able to  that  body  for  the  faithful  performance  of  its  obligations. 
The  advantages  of  the  step  would  be  principally  these :  The 
Association  could  issue  charters  to  State  and  local  associations, 
and  make  them  responsible  to  the  central  head  in  all  matters  the 
power  to  act  in  which  the  Association  deemed  best  not  to  dele- 
gate. As  at  present  constituted,  this  would  be  of  no  benefit  to 
the  Association,  but  in  what  your  committee  believe  to  De  the 
ideal  system  of  organization,  and,  in  fact,  what  will  be  the  ulti- 
mate position  of  our  associations  where  all  subordinate  organiza- 
tions are  amenable  to  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association, 
subject  to  its  decisions  and  controlled  by  its  actions,  such  a  power 
would  be  indispensable.  Another  advantage  would  be  that  the 
Association  would  have  power  to  enforce  its  orders  and  decrees 
through  the  courts.  It  would  seem,  however,  as  though,  with 
proper  amendments  to  the  constitution,  that  document  could  be 
made  binding  enough  for  the  present.  But  there  is  difficulty  upon 
the  point.  Congress  has  no  jurisdiction  over  any  foreign  coun- 
try, and  the  orders  of  the  Association  would  not  be  binding 
upon  our  Canadian  members,  thus  putting  them  upon  an  en- 
tirely different  status  from  the  other  members,  and  if  your  com- 
mittee is  correctly  informed,  rendering  them  ineligible  to  office, 
or  excluding  them  from  the  Association  altogether,  which  would 
be  an  unwise  move.  As  at  present  constituted,  the  Association 
could  maintain  an  action  at  law  for  the  recovery  of  its  property. 
Taking  everything  into  consideration,  at  the  present  stage  of  the 
history  of  the  Association,  your  committee  do  not  feel  justified 
in  recommending  that  the  steps  be  taken. 

TREASURER'S  REPORT. 

RECEIPTS  : 

Received  from  Ex-Treasurer  Spencer $    87  00 

Received  from  dues,  etc 39  00 

Total    I  126  00 

DISBURSEMENTS  : 

Printing  oflicial  organ  and  invitations $  70  00 

Money  orders  and  expressage 1  50 

Envelopes,  telegrams,  postage,  etc 5  00 

Cash  on  hand  33  25 

Total $126  00 

Respectfully  submitted, 

e.  X.  Andrew^s,  Treasurer  ■85-''86. 

The  constitution  committee  rendered  a  report,  but  there  is  no 
record  as  to  what  part  of  it  was  adopted  and  what  rejected.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  the  following  is  a  correct  record  of  the 
amendments  adopted ; 


162  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Article  X.  Section  4. — During  the  interval  between  conventions 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  judiciary  committee  to  receive  and  act  upon 
all  charges  preferred  against  a  member  by  another  member  in  good 
standing.  They  shall  have  power  to  suspend  a  member,  such  action 
being  subject  to  final  decision  by  the  convention  immediately  follow- 
ing. 

Add  to  article  XIII,  section  5  : 
All  constitutional  amendments  made  at   any  convention   shall  be  pub- 
lished in  that  issue  of  the   official  organ  immediately  following  said 
convention. 

Add  to  article  XV,  section  1 : 
and  in  order  to  insure  their  being  counted  must  be  fjroperly  filled  out 
and  forwarded  to  the  respective  officers  having   them  in  charge,    at 
least  two  wrecks  preceding  the  time  of  convention. 

Art.  XXIII.  Sec.  6. — The  president  shall  api^oint  a  committee  to 
be  known  as  the  document  committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  make 
copies  of  all  documents  pertaining  to  the  Association,  its  oflicers  and 
members,  place  the  same  on  file  and  publish  such  of  them  as  they 
deem  necessary  in  the  number  of  the  National  Amateur  immediately  fol- 
lowing the  convention. 

Wherever  the  word  "Amateurdom"  occurs,  the  words  "Ama- 
teur Journalism"  -were  substituted. 

The  young  ladies  were  subject  to  the  same  money  claims  as  the 
other  members. 

There  were  two  other  suggestions,  the  fate  of  which  we  have 
been  unable  to  ascertain : 

We  suggest  that  section  3  of  article  IV  be  amended  by  striking 
out  the  words  "of  the  constitution"  and  preceding  "and  the 
first  vice-president." 

We  further  suggest  that  section  5  of  article  XVI  be  stricken 
out. 

Long  after  the  convention  the  laureate  judges  reported.  The 
judge  of  essays,  Mr.  J.  J.  O'CoDnell,  gave  the  laureateship  to 
Mr.  Ernest  A.  Edkins,  for  his  entry  "A  Forgotten  Poet."  Mr. 
Charles  C.  Heuman  bestowed  the  poet  laureateship  on  Miss 
Edith  Callender  for  the  entry  "In  Summer  Woods." 

The  first  number  of  the  National  Amateur  did  not  appear  until 
late  in  November.  President  Munro's  message  occupied  almost 
four  columns  of  space.      From  it  is  quoted: 

The  great  need  there  is  for  some  way  of  preserving  the  records 
of  our  Association  has  induced  me  to  complete  arrangements  for 
the  publication  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  Year  Book,  to  contain  the 
following:  A  brief  history  of  our  Association,  the  constitution 
and  by-laws,  a  list  of  members  and  papers,  the  laureate  articles, 
a  complete  report  of  the  last  convention,  and  all  other    data   that 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 


16B 


is  worth  a  place  in  a  chronicle  of  the  year's    doings.       The  book 
will  consist  of  about  one  hundred  pages. 

I  hereby  appoint  the  following  gentlemen  as  a  credential    com- 
mittee:    Mr.  Harry  W.  Robinson,  Mr.  W.  E.  Mellinger,  Mr.  J 
G.  Kugler. 

The  one  issue  of  the  National  Amateur  following  the  conven- 
tion and  preceding  the  new  year,  consisted  of  eight  pages.  It 
contained  the  president's  message,  minutes,  reports  of  various 
officers  and  almost  four  pages  of  literary  criticism. 

The  papers  of  the  year  are  carefully  reviewed  by  F.  D.  Woollen 
in  "Annals  of  Amateur  Journalism  in  1886."  From  it  we 
quote: 

For  the  amateur  to  fully  realize  the  great  improvements  which 
our  papers  have  undergone  since  the  '70's,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
read  the  National  Amateur  for  September,  1883,  when  Tommy 
Harrison  was  official  editor.  Judged  even  by  the  papers  of  1883, 
when  Harrison,  Reeve,  Arnett,  Spencer,  Bodenwein  and  Kemp- 
ner  formed  a  brilliant  coterie  of  editors,  our  papers  of  today  are 
in  every  sense  the  superior  of  the  papers  of  all  previous  years. 
We  have  more  papers,  better  edited  papers,  and  papers  contain- 
ing better  literary  composition  than  any  year  previous  to  1884, 
at  least,  can  boast  of  possessing. 

In  1883,  Mr.  Harrison,  as  official  editor,  included  in  his  class- 
ification table  the  names  of  eleven  papers,  ranking  as  first  class 
and  the  names  of  twenty  others  ranking  as  second  class. 

The  National  Amateur  under  Mr.  Emery's  editorship  mentions 
thirty  papers  as  belonging  to  the  first  class  and  nineteen  as 
belonging  to  the  second  class.  If  we  compare  the  eleven  papers 
ranking  as  first  class  with  the  best  eleven  papers  of  1886,  we  will 
see  our  superiority  distinctly  enough.  Most  of  the  papers  of 
1883.  which  rank  in  the  higher  grade,  are  still  represented  in 
Amateur  Journalism  by  the  editors  who  then  issued  them,  and 
the  latter  are  no  more  highly  renowned  for  ability  than  many  of 
our  new  editors  who  have  but  lately  sprung  up.  Arnett,  Kemp- 
ner,  Emery,  Grant  and  McClain  still  keep  up  their  connection 
with  Amateur  Journalism,  and  with  the  exception  of  Emery 
neither  of  them  ranks  in  the  very  highest  class  of  amateur 
journalists. 

It  is  true  we  have  a  multitude  of  small  papers  which  are  of  no 
use  or  value  whatever,  and  serve  to  excite  more  contempt  in  the 
minds  of  strangers  for  our  institution  than  all  our  good  papers 
are  capable  of  removing. 

It  is  a  great  source  of  relief  to  turn  from  the  mass  of  medioc- 
rity as  displayed    in  these  petty   sheets    whose   editors   have  not 


164  HISTORY  OP  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

yet  changed  their  swaddling  clothes,  to  examine  the  pages  of  our 
best  papers,  where  we  delight  in  the  soft,  smooth  verse  of  Day, 
with  its  delicate,  artistic  grace  and  charming  color,  its  odor  of 
golden-rod  and  purple-misted  hills,  its  autumn  nuellowness  and 
sad  beauty ;  where  we  linger  with  delight  over  the  finely-balanced 
periods,  the  smooth,  flowing,  yet  caustic  style  of  O'Connell; 
where  we  eagerly  scan  the  last  critical  essay  of  the  polished, 
scholarly  Edkins ;  where  we  carol  the  songs  of  Batchelder  and 
Stinson,  Emery  and  Bergen ;  where  we  gather  faith  and  pride  in 
the  strengh  of  our  institution  from  the  romances  of  Batsford, 
Bull,  Bergen  and  Dowe,  the  sketches  of  Kitchen,  Cleveland,  Mil- 
ler and  Lester  and  the  essays  of  Emery,  Edkins,  Stephens, 
Hughes,  Doughty  and  Martin,  and  the  editorials  of  Moore,  Hun- 
ter, Shelp,  Robinson  and  McClinton.  Also  where  we  take  so 
much  pleasurable  pride  in  witnessing  the  triumphs  of  a  numerous 
junior  class  of  litera,  who,  though  far  from  being  perfection,  are 
gradually  working  up  to  higher  things,  and  who,  occasionall}^ 
by  some  burst  of  inspiration,  strike  off  lines  worthy  of  our  best 
authors. 

Of  all  our  most  prominent  journals,  the  Violet  has  been  the 
medium  through  which  the  greatest  number  of  our  real  literary 
recruits  have  gained  the  ear  of  our  institution,  although  Leisure 
Moments  bids  fair  to  outrival  Mrs.  Swift's  journal  in  this  respect. 
Among  those  amateur  authors  whose  productions  first  appeared 
in  the  first  named  magazine  we  mention  James  W.  Doughty, 
Emma  J.  Bates,  Dora  Sheldon,  L.  W.  Kitchen  and  the  writer 
of  this  article.  Leisure  Moments  was  the  means  of  introducing 
H.  D.  Hughes,  Sam  S.  Stinson,  Robert  Tilney,  Bertha  Wuest  and 
several  others  of  lesser  note. 

In  Leisure  Moments  we  have  Hughes,  Stinson,  Tilney  and 
Batchelder,  who  give  to  it  a  tone  derived  from  their  thought  and 
mode  of  expression.  Just  so  we  find  the  Sentinel  and  Aihenia 
deriving  individuality  from  Edkins,  Emery,  O'Connell  and  Buck- 
ley. Consequently  these  journals  are  sharp,  caustic,  sarcastic, 
flattering  and  diffuse  all  in  one. 

The  Violet  derives  its  peculiar  tone  from  writers  of  a  far  dif- 
ferent individuality.  This  magazine  is  not  so  much  the  represen- 
tative of  any  certain  coterie  of  writers  as  it  is  the  representative 
alma  mater  of  the  embryo  amateur  literati.  The  editorial  pages 
of  Violet  have  never  equaled  those  of  the  Brilliant,  Faciflc  Cour- 
ant  or  Bric-a-Brac,  but  they  have  always  been  generous  and  kind, 
directed  for  the  good  of  Amateur  Journalism  ;  sincere,  sympa- 
thetic, and — what  others  have  not  alwaj^s  been — consistent. 

Probably  the  most  conservative  of  our  papers  was  the  Micro- 
gram. Its  editorials  were  free  from  vituperation,  and  were  noted 
for  strong,  good  sense.     What  literary  matter  it   published   was 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION,  165 

sometimes  of  the  best,  never  of  the  poorest.  Quartz,  another 
California  paper,  leaped  into  popularity  on  its  first  appearance.  It 
showed  a  marked  individuality  which  was  rather  quaint  and 
unique.  Another  paper  which  does  not  fail  to  attract  attention, 
and  which  one  cannot  help  thinking  of,  when  thinking  of  'Frisco,  is 
the  Pacific  Courant.  This  paper  has  always  been  a  power  among 
the  all-editorial  sheets,  and  the  influence  of  its  columns  is  second 
to  none. 

Away  up  in  Canada  Amateur  Journalism  is  represented  by 
several  good  papers,  which  are  known  as  the  Nugget,  Catmda 
and  Bric-a-Brac.  The  'Nugget  issued  a  literary  number  m  June 
that  was  a  conspicuous  sample  of  the  literary  ability  of  Canadian 
authors.  During  the  year  only  three  numbers  of  Youth  appeared. 
As  Sullivan's  term  as  president  drew  to  a  close  the  paper  expired. 
Progress  was  another  publication  which  was  short-lived  after  the 
new  year  of  1886  had  come  in.  It  was  issued  but  once  during 
the  year. 

We  must  not  forget  to  mention  in  this  article  the  paper  which 
is  known  as  our  official  organ,  the  National  Amateur.  Under 
Mr.  Emery's  management  it  leceived  much  praise  from  the 
amateur  press  in  general.  Emery's  classification  scheme  was 
favorably  received,  and  he  was  as  correct  and  impartial  in  his 
judgment  as  one  could  well  be.  Edkins  has  issued  but  one 
number  of  the  paper.  Judging  from  this  we  believe  that  the 
official  organ  for  '87  will  be  one  of  which  we  will  long  feel  proud. 

Besides  the  Violet,  Ohio  is  particularly  proud  of  two  other 
papers — the  Palladium  and  Picayune.  Both  are  bright,  clean, 
interesting  journals,  a  credit  to  the  institution  of  which  they 
form  a  part. 

O'he  last  year  has  chronicled  no  serious  '-w^ordy  war,"  except 
what  was  known  as  the  Empire  State  trouble.  Here  an  associa- 
tion of  amateurs  disagreed  among  themselves,  divided  off  into  two 
antagonistic  parties,  and  fell  to  calling  names  like  a  crowd  of 
street  gamins.  Happily  the  trouble  did  not  continue  for  any 
great  length  of  time,  and  the  papers  outside  the  Empire  State 
remaining  neutral,  the  affair  had  no  serious  effect.  The  Cali- 
fornia papers  also  engaged  in  a  little  civil  war,  which  came  near 
costing  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  a  convention. 

Among  the  new  journals  of  the  year,  One  commanded  general 
attention,  partly  from  the  fame  of  its  editor,  and  partly  from  its 
own  intrinsic  worth.  Two  appeared  shortly  after,  not  unworthy  to 
follow  in  the  footsteps  of  such  an  illustrioiis  predecessor.  Fred 
Heath's  old  Stars  and  Stripes  was  ably  conducted  by  Will  Dunlop, 
while  the  former  gentleman  issued  Our  Kyiiglit  Errant,  a  paper 
which  bade  fair  to  eclipse  all  his  other  publications,  but  which, 
alas!  survived  only  a  few  months.     Other  new  papers  sprang  up 


166  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

which  coDtinued  on  till  the  eod  of  the  year,  and  a  few  like  the 
Frairie  Zephyr,  Norm,  Commentator,  FricJily,  Fear  and  Osceola 
Star  gained  not  a  little  influence  in  the  fraternity.  The  FricJcly 
Pear  had  a  distinct  individuality  about  it,  which  in  the  same 
degree,  was  not  possessed  by  any  other  paper.  It  had  much 
pith  and  no  little  humor,  and  its  weekly  visits  were  heartily  wel- 
comed. The  Commentator  commanded  general  respect  for  its 
sensible  editorials,  and  much  consideration  for  the  business-like 
energy  of  its  chief  editor. 

The  Norm  was  the  journalistic  sensation  of  the  year.  Upon 
its  first  appearance,  which  was  anonymously,  it  attracted  so  much 
attention  that  all  Amateurdom  was  in  a  quandary  regarding  the 
person  who  edited  it.  Many  declared  that  it  was  Steele,  while 
others  loudly  proclaimed  the  editor  to  be  none  other  than  Par- 
sons. What  was  the  surprise  of  everybody  then,  when  the  paper 
suddenly  changed  tactics,  and  came  out  with  the  name  of  Boechat 
as  editor  and  publisher. 

Among  the  number  of  small  western  journals  which  showed 
more  than  average  ability,  we  must  make  honorable  mention  of 
the  Dowagiac  News,  Kansas  Zephyr,  New  Moon  of  'Frisco,  Glean- 
ings, Fen  and  Fress,  Chrysalis  and  Golden  Gate.  And  in  the 
same  connection  we  must  place  the  names  of  those  eastern  journals 
like  Quartette,  Flanet,  Solo,  Breeze,  Duett,  Spear,  Forest  City 
SparJc  and  the  Monthly  News. 

The  Year  Book  reviews  the  work  of  the  editors  at  length,  and 
the  following  is  extracted  : 

It  would  be  difficult  quite  to  decide  whether  the  Brilliant  is 
more  welcomed  for  its  beautiful  literary  features  or  its  highly 
polished  editorial  effects.  The  assertion  will  find  no  gainsayers 
that  among  all  our  editorial  writers  Mahlon  H.  Shelp  and  D.  B. 
Stephens,  of  the  Brilliant,  are  by  far  the  most  brilliant,  the  most  > 
polished  and  the  most  logical.  It  is  true  the  Brilliant  appears  no 
of tener  than  the  changes  of  seasons,  four  times  a  year,  yet  its 
influence  upon  each  appearance  is  marked  and  lasting,  for  good. 
As  the  foremost  all-editorial  paper,  the  Facific  Courant  has 
accustomed  its  readers  to  several  styles  of  ability  which  in  brilli- 
ance can  affect  no  comparison  with  that  of  the  Brilliant.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  editors  of  the  Courant  possess  the  other 
rare  quality  of  simplicity.  The  setting  is  never  so  elegant,  but 
the  gems  are  quite  as  rare.  Harry  VV.  Robinson  represents 
another  style  of  writing  from  either  of  the  above.  The  force  he 
develops  in  a  few  words  is  electrifying.  Robinson  does  not  hedge 
about  fearful  of  giving  offense;  he  is  frank,  fearless,  uses  no 
dissimulation  and  cuts  right  to  the  line  regardless  of  consequen- 
ces.    These  are  valuable  traits,   and   the  editor   of   Bric-a-Brac 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        167 

could  heighten  Ihem  considerably  by  observing  some  approach  to 
regularity.  Frederic  Faries  Heatii  has  been  president  of  the 
National  for  part  of  a  terra,  and  has  accomplished  such  an  amount 
of  recruiting  work  as  none  but  himself  can  ever  know  or  appreci- 
ate. His  Stars  and  Stripes  in  '83  and  '84  led  the  van,  with  its 
finely  engraved  headings,  illustrations  and  readable  editorials. 
The  Kansas  Zephyr  has  gained  a  world-wide  reputation  for  reg- 
ularity and  good  common  sense.  Fred  and  Justin  Bowersock 
have  placed  the  imprint  of  their  broad,  honest,  Christian  charac- 
ter upon  the  pages  of  the  Zephyr  \u  marked  relief.  The  style  of 
Bowersock  brothers  is  plain,  unaffected  and  never  fatiguing.  W. 
E.  Mellinger,  of  the  Chicago  Commentator,  is  fast  winning  a  name 
among  the  forcible  yet  truthful  editors  of  our  institution.  R.  L. 
Colman,  in  his  Flant,  and  later  in  Our  Compliments,  discovers 
the  making  of  a  tirst-class  amateur  editor  and  journalist.  Frank 
C.  Liudsley  and  W.  B.  Baldwin,  of  the  FaUadium,  have,  in  a 
comparatively  short  time  raised  their  journal  to  a  leading  position 
among  its  contemporaries.  Fred  D.  Cole,  of  the  Globe,  Abbott 
Village,  Me.,  has  made  visible  progress  witliin  the  year,  and  this 
can  be  said  truthfully  of  a  score  uf  others,  who  possess  peculiari- 
ties of  style  with  a  nearly  even  degree  of  accomplishment.  A.  L. 
McClinton  and  Jerome  C.  Bull,  of  San  Francisco,  have  stepped 
out  from  the  ranks  and  taken  advanced  positions  which  they  are 
Well  qualified  to  maintain.  McClinton  displays  great  indepen- 
dence of  character  and  Bull  remarkably  diversitied  powers  of 
observation.  W.  A.  Cowley,  of  Our  Optic  fame,  proves  a  most 
interesting  editor.  The  impression  never  fails  to  a  reader  of 
Cowley's  editorials  that  tiie  truth  and  nothing  but  the  truth 
should  prevail. 

The  "schemes"  of  the  year  are  thus  described  in  Dunlop's 
"Annals:'* 

Several  new  schemes  were  originated  during  the  3'ear  1886,  one 
providing  for  the  publication  of  a  "year  book,"  another  to  pro- 
vide a  permanent  meeting  pla'je,  and  a  third  to  establish  a  uni- 
form page  system.  The  first  idea  was  broached  by  Mr.  Munro, 
and  caused  considerable  comment.  tlis  plan  was  for  the  Asso- 
ciation to  publish  yearly  a  large  book,  to  ct)ntain  a  complete 
history  of  all  important  events  occurring  in  the  amateur  fraternity. 
As  such  a  plan  would  involve  the  Association  in  great  expense, 
the  plan  was  not  favorably  considered  at  the  San  Francisco  con- 
vention. The  idea  of  a  permanent  meeting  place  was  first  pro- 
mulgated by  W.  C.  Davis,  of  Denver,  Cuio.  Much  discussion 
was  provoked  over  the  matter,  but  owing  to  its  utter  impractica- 
bility it  was    linally    abandoned.      Fred   Heath   brought   forward 


168  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUK   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

what  was  known  as  the  Stars  and  Btrifpes  uniform  page   plan.     It 
was  stated  thus : 

It  is  proposed  to  effect,  after  July  1,  1887,  a  change  in  the  page  form 
of  all  amateur  papers,  to  agree  Avith  a  standard  size  (to  be  agreed  on 
hereafter) .  The  paper  issued  during  the  official  year  to  be  gotten 
together,  passed  upon  by  a  committee  at  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  convention, 
and  bound  by  the  Association  into  a  volume.  This  volume,  or  better, 
the  volume  in  triplicate,  to  then  be  i3resented  to  three  reliable  public 
libraries,  respectively  in  prominent  cities,  that  will  guarantee  tbem 
safe  keeping,  and  w^ere  they  will  be  on  hand  for  reference,  the  same 
as  other  books. 

The  idea  was  generally  commended,  and  the  indications  at  the 
end  of  the  year  were  that  it  would  go  into  effect  wt  the  time 
specified. 

In  "Annals  of  Amateur  Journalism  in  1886"  Frank  D. 
Woollen  writes: 

Our  Authors — May  God  bless  them  everyone. 

Our  literature  has  been  remarkable  this  year  for  the  wide  range 
it  has  taken,  for  the  depth  of  thought  displayed,  for  a  certain 
elegance  m  style,  and  lor  the  number  and  ability  of  our  authors. 
Undoubtedly  our  essayists  have  shown  a  nearer  approach  to  the 
perfect  than  ever  before,  and  they  continue  to  gain  in  strength 
day  by  day.  The  romancers  and  story-writers  are  becoming 
much  more  entertaining  and  original,  and  the  historical  novel  has 
for  the  first  time  stepped  in  to  play  an  important  part  in  the  his- 
tory of  our  literary  realm.  Tlie  poets  have  been  content  to  sing 
less  this  year,  as  a  general  thing,  and  the  result  has  been  benefi- 
cial. More  hard  thinking  performed.  In  fact,  our  authors  are 
just  beginning  to  think.  They  are  becoming  convinced  of  the 
futility  of  penning  poor  verse  when  excellent  prose  is  at  their 
command.  Knowing  the  fate  of  Phaeton,  they  are  wise  in  drop- 
I)ing  the  reins  which  refuse  to  control  their  Pegasus,  and  thus  are 
saved.  Plain  prose  is  doing  much  for  us  today,  has  done  much 
for  us  the  past  year,  and  will  accomplish  still  more.  Through 
the  influence  of  this  new  reform  in  prose  our  views  of  things  are 
enlarging  and  becoming  clearer,  we  are  plunging  deeper  into  intel- 
lectuality, our  eyes  are  beginning  to  fatbom  the  deep  abysm  of 
truth,  we  are  becoming  students  more  aiul  more. 

All  in  all,  we  have  had  a  great  year — a  year  of  reform,  of 
progress,  of  development.  A  push  in  the  rigbt  direction  has  been 
given  us;  if  we  keep  moving  forward,  the  annalist  will  have  still 
l)righter  pages  to  record  for  Amateur  Journalism  in  the  years  to 
come. 

Mr.  Woollen  thus  treats  amateur  book  publishing: 

I)urin<j^  the  vear  1885-6  four  books  of  considerable  size  and 
inil)orlance  wereissuc<l  Irom  the    i)resses    of  amateur   publishers. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  169 

Our  poet  laureate  for  1885-6,  George  E.  Day,  gathered  together 
some  twenty  poetical  fragments  which  were  published  in  book 
form  under  the  name  of  "Wild  Rose  and  Thistle."  This  book 
gained  favor  upon  its  first  appearance,  and  is  still  regarded  as  a 
most  excellent  little  volume,  both  in  typographical  appearance 
and  literary  finish. 

"Leaders  of  Today,"  published  by  John  Moody,  is  a  book  of 
fifty-seven  pages,  containing  short  biographies  of  twenty-six 
prominent  amateurs,  mostly  editors  and  politicians.  Those  who 
have  obtained  notice  in  this  work  are  Andrews,  Bigelow,  Burger, 
Clymer,  Cherry,  Day,  Dunlop,  Dowe,  Edkins,  Emery,  Gonden, 
Hough,  Hollub,  Kimball,  Moore,  Munro,  Metcaif,  Mueller, 
Pinckne3%  Sullivan,  Stone,  Smith,  Truax,  Winchell,  Wyckoff  and 
Wicks. 

"Finlay  Arnon's  Faie,"  published  by  Bert  H.  Gonden,  is  a 
very  excellent  little  volume  from  the  pen  of  Frank  W.  Lee,  wherein 
is  told  the  story — true  or  not  we  cannot  say — of  Finlay  Grant's 
wooing  of  Bertha  York,  the  poetess  of  Amateurdom.  This  book 
had  a  large  sale  and  was  favorably  criticised  throughout  the  *Dom. 

"Phillis  the  Fair,"  published  by  Will  S.  Dunlop,  owes  its 
existence  to  the  pen  of  Edith  May  Dowe,  whom  O'Connell  des- 
ignates as  "that  marvelous  little  tot." 

Official  Editor  Edkins  issued  but  one  number  of  the  Notional 
Amateui\  He  was  followed  by  Wm.  B.  Baldwin  who  finished 
the  term.  The  March  (1887)  issue  contained  a  review  of  the 
various  associations,  committee  reports,  editorial  and  president's 
message,  consisting  of  eight  pages.  The  June  issue  of  six  pages, 
contained  the  constitution  as  revised,  treasurer's  report,  edi- 
torials, etc. 


CHflFTER  14. 

THE  LITERARY  LYCEUM  OF  AMERICA. 

Mr.  Emery's  Reasoning. — Whoelsecoulditbe  to  Lorenzo. — 
Announcement  and  Constitution  of  the  Lyceum. — The 
Executive  Board's  Manifesto. — Spencer's  Open  Letter 
TO  Emery. — Action  of  Judiciary  Committee. — The  Refor- 
mation Over. 

IN  the  closing  months  of  18S6  Athenia,  edited  by  Brainerd  f. 
Emer3',    appeared    as    the'   representative    of    the    literary 
reformer  in  amateur  journalism.      By    way  of   iutroduction, 
Athenia  said : 

If  you  ask  the  average  Amateur  Journalist  why  he  pubhshes  a 
paper,  he  will  answer,  for  self-improvement  in  literature ;  but 
when  you  come  to  see  his  paper  you  willlind  it  filled  with  politics. 
This  is  the  way  he  improves  himself  in  literature;  He  knows 
exactly  whether  Mr.  Jones  can  preside  well  over  the  bawling  of  a 
convention ;  he  can  tell  you  precisely  how  many  numbers  of  a 
paper  Mr.  Smith  has  issued,  but  whether  the  papers  were  well 
edited  he  doesn't  care  a  rush,  nor  can  he  tell  whether  they  were 
or  not.  He  can  explain  how  Mr.  Robinson  managed  Mr. 
Soforth's  campaign  and  got  defeated  ;  he  can  show  where  the 
err©rs  of  judgment  occurred,  but  he  is  very  likely  to  think  Dante 
wrote  "Paradise  Lost"  and  to  suppose  Milton  gave  the  world  the 
"Inferno."  He  glories  in  describing  the  educational  facilities  of 
Amateur  Journalism — and  fills  bis  columns  with  politics  and  bad 
grammar.  It  will  be  seen  from  this  that  the  average  amateur 
believes  in  precept  and  practice  agreeing.  He  is  called  the  plod- 
der, the  Philistine,  and  for  him  Athenia  has  a  cordial  hatred.  It 
is  to  quite  another  class  that  Athenia  is  to  be  devoted  —  to  the 
amateur  who  is  honestly  interested  in  literature,  who  is  what  he 
pretends  te  be.  He  is  known  as  the  Reformer,  and  on  his  head 
the  Philistine  delights  to  shower  the  full  power  of  his  abuse  and 
bad  grammar.  Strange  to  say,  the  Reformer  survives  and 
increases  in  strength  each  year.  He  is  the  true  amateur  jour- 
nalist and  the  only  amateur  journalist  worthy  the  name.  The 
Philistine  is  an  ignoramus  and  a  blackguard.  His  days  are 
numl)ered.  He  is  to  be  kicked  out  and  an  Amateur  Journalism 
of  Reformers  remain.  When  that  "consummation  devoutly  to 
be  wished"  is  reached,  Athenia  will  have  fulfilled  its  mission  and 
will  fold  up  its  tents  and  silently  steal  away. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  171 

The  National  Amateur  Press  Association  is  supposed  to  foster 
the  literary  spirit,  inasmuch  as  it  is  devoted  to  the  best  interests 
of  Amateur  Journalism  ;  but  literary  exercises  are  noticeable  for 
their  absence,  and  no  literary  qualifications  are  necessary  to  render 
a  person  eligible  to  membership.  Another  thing:  The  N.  A. 
P.  A.  encourages  recruiting  with  no  discrimination — an  illiterate 
recruit  being  as  welcome  as  one  really  desiring  to  gain  literary 
culture.  Now  this  is  all  wrong.  An  Association  which  endeav- 
ors to  represent  a  literary  institution  should  foster  literary 
studies,  should  require  some  literary  attainments  of  its  members. 
Otherwise  it  fails  in  its  object.  We  see  that  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  to 
be  really  useful,  must  make  literary  attainments  one  of  the  qualifi- 
cations to  be  considered  in  electing  officers  and  members.  No 
illiterate  person  should  be  admitted.  A  rigid  standard  should 
be  adopted.  Indiscriminate  recruiting  must  be  discouraged. 
Can  this  be  done  and  the  present  organization  be  retained?  It 
may  be,  and  it  may  not.     But  it  must  be  done,  any  way. 

There  is  no  middle  course  if  Amateur  Journalism  is  to  be  saved 
and  made  useful.  The  Philistine  must  be  driven  out.  Make  our 
cause  something  more  than  child's  play,  discourage  and  banish 
politics,  and  he  will  lose  all  interest  and  retire.  We  must  do  our 
utmost  to  bring  this  about.  Our  literati  must  be  stirred  up  to 
greater  efforts.  Some  of  them,  even,  have  dabbled  in  politics  to 
the  detriment  of  literature.  They  should  remember  that  in  set- 
ting so  bad  an  example  they  are  damaging  Amateur  Journalism 
and  themselves.  Let  them  return  to  literature  and  work  for 
Amateur  Journalism,  an  institution  which  is  a  reality  and  not  a 
sham.  If  any  amateur  wants  politics,  let  him  form  a  new  society 
and  call  it  by  another  name — true  Amateur  Journalism  is  far 
higher  and  nobler  in  its  aims.  To  destroy  politics  and  banish 
the  Philistine — this  should  be  our  object. 

We  propose  that  at  the  Philadelphia  convention  of  the  National 
A.  P.  A.,  a  series  of  essays  be  prepared  and  read  by  prominent 
amateurs  selected  by  the  president  sufficiently  long  before  to  give 
them  ample  opportunity  to  prepare  themselves  well.  And  we 
also  propose  that  the  president  appoint  four  critics,  who,  at  a 
subsequent  session,  shall  prepare  and  read  criticisms  on  the 
essays  read.  Then  let  a  ballot  be  taken  as  to  which  essayist  has 
treated  his  subject  best. 

*  *  *  *  The  knell  of  the  Philistine  has  been  sounded, 
and  his  overthrow  is  only  a  question  of  time.  The  day  of  the 
political  trickster  is  over.  The  leaders  of  our  little  world,  to 
whom  she  must  look  for  salvation,  are  Edkins,  Da3^,  O'Connell, 
Hey  wood,  Shelp,  Stevens,  Batchelder,  Miller,  Mrs.  Grant  and 
Gleasou.  If  they  will  put  their  shoulders  to  the  wheel  they  can 
set  the  chariot  of  reform   rolling.       And  they  are  going  to  do  it. 


172  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Politics  mean  death  to  our  institution.     They  shall  be  abolished. 

A  "letter"  written  by  James  J.  O'Connell,  also  appeared  in 
this  issue: 

A    LETTER 

From  an  Amateur  of  Nowhere,  Who  is  Visiting  the  United 

States,  to  His  Friend  Lorenzo,  Grand  Scribe  of  the 

Amateur  Author's  Association  op  Nowhere. 

My  Dear  Lorenzo: — Several  months  have  .  elapsed  since  I  left 
the  island  of  Nowhere,  in  order  to  inquire  into  the  workings  of 
Amateur  Journalism  in  America.  I  have  not  forgotten  my  prom- 
ise to  send  you  a  brief  account  of  the  things  I  have  seen,  so  that 
you  could  better  comprehend  the  report  I  will  render  upon  my 
return  to  our  honored  Amateur  Author's  Association.  But,  the 
truth  is,  I  have  seen  so  many  things  that  are  so  strange  and  won- 
derful to  a  foreigner,  that  I  have  despaired  of  making  myself 
fully  understood  by  you.  My  notes  are  yet  in  the  utmost  dis- 
order, so  this  letter  cannot  be  otherwise  than  rambling.  I  will, 
therefore,  content  myself  with  hitting  off  for  you  a  few  of  the 
most  salient  features  of  Amateur  Journalism  in  America,  leaving 
the  details  until  I  am  once  more  with  you  and  our  brother  Bo- 
hemians in  the  land  of  pipes  and  lager  beer. 

I  find  Amateur  Journalism  to  be  an  institution  without  any 
organization  whatever.  There  are  no  records  of  how  it  originated  ; 
it  is  merely  known  that  for  years  it  has  struggled  on  through  a 
spasmodic  existence — at  times  full  of  life,  and  then  again  so 
moribund  that  its  pulse  has  almost  ceased  to  beat.  It  has  never 
had  any  fixed  object  in  view,  and  resembles  a  large  school — but 
a  school  without  a  master,  in  which  each  scholar  follows  the  bent 
of  his  own  mind.  An  institution,  owing  its  being  to  such  circum- 
stances as  these,  can  never  accomplish  any  good.  Individual 
members  may  improve  themselves  by  their  own  exertions,  but  the 
institution  itself  is  impotent  for  good. 

Of  late  years  the  constitution  of  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association  has  offered  an  apology  for  an  object  by  the  iuserting 
of  a  somewhat  equivocal  clause,  stating  that  its  aim  is  the  advance- 
ment of  Amateur  Journalism  and  as  a  side  issue,  it  professes  to 
be  opposed  to  sensational  Uterature.  But  these  things  mean 
nothing  at  all,  except  that  Amateur  Journalism  has  for  years 
been  sailing  under  false  colors.  The  average  amateur  is  not 
noted  for  his  scholarly  attainments — he  does  little  reading  and 
still  less  thinking — but  whenever  he  doas  read,  it  is  the  very 
class  of  periodicals  by  condemning  which  he  has  sought  to  gain 
public  recognition  for  his  cause.  Thus,  with  a  lie  upon  its  face, 
is  it  strange  that  the  outside  world  has  always  given  Amateur 
Journalism  a  very  cold  shoulder? 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


173 


Lorenzo,  I  have  not  forgotten  year  last  request  of  me  when 
leaving:  "Be  sure  and  send  me  the  complete  works  of  all  the 
presidents  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association."  I  would 
willingly  do  so,  but,  the  truth  is,  that  with  one  exception,  none 
of  the  presidents  have  ever  written  anything.  As  soon  as  an 
amateur  becomes  educated  and  learns  how  to  write,  he  is  no 
longer  eligible  to  the  office.  If  all  the  presidents,  from  Harrison 
down  to  the  present  day,wefe  put  into  a  bag  and  well  shaken  up, it 
is  a  question  as  to  which  would  come  out  first.  Perhaps  Reeve, 
Grant  and  Sulhvan  were  more  conscientious  than  the  others,  but 
they  have  all  been  dulness  personified.  Indeed,  there  is  a  tradi- 
tion that  upon  the  birth  of  every  president  a  miracle  takes  place, 
similar  to  the  one  described  by  Dryden : 

The  midwife  placed  her  hand  on  his  thick  skull, 
With  this  prophetic  blessing:    "Be  thou  dull." 

This  National  A.  P.  A.  is  entirely  different  from  our  Amateur 
Author's  Association.  Our  body  is  magnificently  organized  ;  all 
our  members  are  imbued  with  the  literary  instinct,  and  when 
they  improve  themselves  they  improve  one  another.  We  have 
four  grades  of  members — freshmen,  sophomores,  juniors  and 
seniors.  The  association  has  no  officers,  in  the  ordinary  sense  of 
the  word,  but  is  governed  by  the  seniors,  who  come  together 
whenever  it  is  necessary  to  choose  a  new  executive  and  scribe, 
which  are  all  the  officials  needed  in  an  association  of  this  kind. 
Instead  of  using  a  ballot,  which  invariably  creates  jealousy  and 
disturbance,  the  seniors  merely  cast  lots  for  the  offices.  Any 
member  is  thus  liable  to  be  chosen,  but  ^  no  one  can  be  a  senior 
until  he  has  shown  marked  ability,  and  as  all  the  members  are 
thus  equal,  it  does  not  matter  which  of  the  seniors'  names  should 
happen  to  be  drawn.  For  this  reason  we  have  always  capable 
men  at  the  head  of  our  association,  and  there  is  ever  a  noble 
rivalry  among  our  younger  members  as  to  which  will  be  the  first 
to  be  promoted  to  a  higher  grade. 

With  the  National  A.  P.  A.  all  is  different.  It  nieets  annually 
and  elects  a  long  list  of  officers  who  have  nothing  to  do,  and  who 
take  good  care  to  do  it.  The  president  has  no  duties  to  perform, 
except  to  issue  his  paper  every  month.  He  is  judged  by  that 
alone.  If,  at  the  end  of  his  term,  he  has  pubhshed  twelve  num- 
bers of  his  paper,  he  is  handed  down  to  posterity  as  a  good  presi- 
dent;  if  he  hasn't  done  so,  he  is  handed  down  as  a  bad  one. 
Tthe  vice-presidency  is  a  soft-soap  office,  generally  given  to  the 
defeated  presidential  candidate,  or  to  one  of  his  henchmen.  The 
other  vice-presidencies  are  figure-head  offices,  created  to  recon- 
cile dissatisfied  factions.  The  recording  secretary  is  entrusted 
with  the  books.  He  generally  keeps  them  ;  for  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism has  no  archives.     The  other  secretary  wastes  his  time  and 


174  HISTORY   OP  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

depletes  tbe  treasury  by  valueless  correspondence.  The  treasurer 
waits  until  there  is  a  round  hundred  in  the  box,  when  he  becomes 
a  fossil  and  is  never  heard  of  any  more.  The  official  editor  does 
more  work  than  all  the  other  officers  combined,  but  as  the  Asso- 
ciation itself  is  merely  a  plaything,  the  official  organ  is  seldom 
much  better.  As  for  the  business  transacted  at  these  conventions, 
it  is  the  most  vulgar  and  trivial  that  can  be  imagined.  The  first 
one  I  attended  took  me  entirely  by  surprise,  for  I  had  pictured  to 
myself  a  meeting  somewhat  similar  to  those  of  our  Amateur 
Author's  Association,  where  each  member  of  the  senior  class 
reads  a  carefully  prepared  essay  upon  the  subject  given  out 
months  before  by  the  executive.  At  these  meetings  many  famous 
men-of-letters  are  present,  who  aid  us  in  our  work  by  passing 
judgment  upon  our  essays.  But  I  had  made  a  big  mistake. 
There  was  no  fear  of  missing  the  place  of  convention.  I  heard 
it  on  the  street  a  block  away.  But  when  I  entered  the  room  I 
thought  I  must  have  made  a  mistake,  and  got  among  a  party  of 
lawyers'  apprentices.  The  din  was  deafening ;  a  couple  of  loud- 
mouthed bullies  were  blackguarding  each  other  from  opposite 
sides  of  the  room.  Occasionally  a  weaker  voice  could  be  heard 
calling  for  the  previous  question  or  rising  on  a  point  of  order. 
Then  a  ballot  was  taken  which  ended  in  more  confusion,  after 
which  the  convention  adjourned  to  play  a  game  of  ball.  I  was 
dumbfounded,  and  went  home  to  ponder  over  the  scene  I  had  just 
witnessed.  Here  I  had  attended  a  convention  of  amateur  jour- 
nalists, who  claim  to  belong  to  a  literary  institution,  and  yet  I 
did  not  hear  the  word  literature  mentioned  once  during  the  entire 
session. 

I  have  already  told  you  that  there  is  no  organization  about 
Amateur  Journalism.  Anyone  can  become  a  member,  without 
having  previously  shown  any  ability  or  taste  for  literature ;  so,  it 
is  not  strange  that  most  of  the  amateurs  are  drawn  from  the  un- 
educated classes  of  society.  Quantity  counts  for  more  than 
quality,  and  "the  worker,"  who  is  merely  a  recruiting-sergeant, 
is  never  so  happy  as  when  he  picks  up  a  red-headed,  dirty-nosed 
Bowery  urchin  and  introduces  him  to  the  fraternity  as  a  promis- 
ing recruit,  who  is  destined  to  become  one  of  the  most  prominent 
amateurs  in  the  ranks.  The  introduction  invariably  winds  up 
with  the  information  that  the  neophyte  will  shortly  issue  the  Blad- 
der, and  editors  are  kindly  requested  to  send  him  copies  of  their 
papers.  As  a  natural  consequence,  nine-tenths  of  the  amateurs 
are  intellectually  deaf,  dumb  and  blind  ;  and  Amateur  Journalism, 
instead  of  being  a  literar}^  institution,  is  merely  an  expensive  pas- 
time, where  the  members  play  at  make-believe  politics.  They  do 
nothing  but  wrangle  from  one  year's  end  to  the  other,  and  if 
brought  to  task  will  plead  that  the3^  are  fighting  for  a  principle. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


175 


This  so-called  principle  has  no  existence  outside  the  shallow  brain 
of  some  wire-puller,  who  makes  it  a  pretext  for  involving  the  fra- 
ternity in  a  squabble,  for  a  month  after  he  has  fought  and  gained 
his  point  he  will  be  over  on  the  otiier  side  with  a  brand  new 
principle,  and  will  fi^ht  with  renewed  vigor  to  undo  the  very  work 
he  accomplished  only  the  month  before. 

The  female  amateurs,  being  recruited  from  the  same  circles  of 
society  as  the  males,  of  course,  very  few  of  them  are  mentally  at- 
tractive. They  do  not  indulge  so  much  in  politics  as  their  brother 
amateurs,  but  this  is  not  because  there  is  anything  literary  about 
them,  but  simply  for  the  reason  that  they  are  not  built  that  way. 
As  a  substitute  for  politics  they  deluge  the  amateur  press  with 
school-girl  compositions  on  "Friendship,"  "Hope,"  "Mother" 
and  "Heaven."  These  are  so  atrociously  bad  that  even  if  handed 
in  as  school  exercises  their  writers  would  probably  all  be  treated 
to  a  good  spanking.  Poetry  is  by  no  means  neglected,  and, 
thanks  to  the  editor  of  Youth,  we  are  each  month  treated  to  a  fine 
display  of  female  amateur  verse.  It  does  not  matter  what  the 
theme  may  be,  the  substance  is  always  the  same.  The  author  is 
discovered  sitting  in  the  twilight,  thinking  of  all  the  troubles  there 
are  in  this  world.  Then,  just  as  her  trials  are  becoming  unbear- 
able, she  sees  a  cloud  with  a  silver  lining.  After  this  she  begins 
to  doze  and  hears  the  heavenly  band.  It  takes  a  dozen  rheumatic 
lines  to  convey  her  to  heaven,  when  she  begins  flying  about  with 
nothing  on  but  a  pair  of  wings.  Heaven,  I  may  incidentally  state, 
IS  always  described  as  having  pearly  gates  and  golden  streets. 
Where  there  are  several  female  amateurs  in  one  town 
they  generally  organize  a  local  association.  To  study 
literature,  you  ask  ?  No,  indeed ;  to  indulge  in  kissing  games. 
I  was  once  introduced  to  one  of  tUese  female  amateurs,  having 
been  previously  informed  that  she  was  of  the  literati.  I  began 
wondering  whether  she  was  as  brilliant  and  intellectual  as  the 
women  of  our  Author's  Associaiion.  I  became  sceptical  when 
she  pronounced  "Amateiirdom"  Amachewerdumb,  and  the  illu- 
sion altogether  vanished  when  I  noticed  that  both  her  teeth  and 
her  finger  nails  were  innocent  of  a  brush. 

I  send  you  a  clipping  from  the  San  Francisco  Examiner.  It 
is  an  article  on  Amateur  Journalism,  illustrated  with  the  por- 
traits of  eighteen  alleged  prominent  amateurs.  With  the  possible 
exception  of  Arnett  (and  he  owes  the  dubious  distinction  to  the 
accident  of  being  a  resident  of  San  Francisco  at  the  time  the 
article  was  gotten  up),  you  have  probably  never  heard  of  any  of 
them.  The  female  amateurs  are  represented  by  a  Mrs.  Swift 
and  a  Miss  Smith,  while  not  a  word  is  said  about  Miss  Brown  or 
Miss  Dowe  (that  marvelous  litile  tot),  who,  intellectually,  are 
worth  a  hundred  Zelda  Arlington's  and  all   the  female    poetasters 


176  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

and  authorlings  who  smear  their  drivel  through  the  dirty-looldng, 
misspelled  pages  of  the  Youth. 

Despite  all  I  have  related,  my  dear  Lorenza,  I  am  confident 
that  Amateur  Journalism  could  be  made  as  great  a  power  for 
good  as  our  own  Amateur  Author's  Association,  if  the  institution 
were  but  properly  organized  and  managed.  The  great  majority 
of  the  recruits  are  attracted  to  the  cause  by  the  prospect  of  hav- 
ing a  little  fun.  Uneducated,  and  with  no  desire  to  educate 
themselves,  they  must  look  for  amusement  outside  of  literature. 
They  thus  turn  Amateur  Journalism  into  a  playhouse  and  organ- 
ize associations  just  for  the  sake  of  fighting  for  the  offices.  For 
years  the  presidency  of  the  National  has  been  an  empty  honor, 
conferred  upon  those  who  had  not  the  ability  to  succeed  in  liter- 
ature. The  proper  place  for  these  persons  is  of  course,  in  the 
various  debating  and  social  clubs  which  exist  all  over  the  country, 
but  they  are  too  ignorant  to  perceive  that  the  greatest  mistake 
they  ever  made  was  in  joining  a  literary  institution.  There  are 
hundreds  of  young  men  and  women,  educated  and-  of  literary 
taste,  who  would  be  only  too  glad  to  join  an  institution  which 
was  devoted  to  the  study  and  pursuit  of  perfection,  but  they  do 
not  feel  disposed  to  waste  their  time  just  seeing  which  dullard  is 
going  to  get  the  greatest  number  of  votes  for  an  office  which  has 
no  intrinsic  value  or  significance.  That  this  picture  is  not  over- 
drawn, it  is  merely  necessary  to  state  that  Amateur  Journalism, 
during  its  entire  existence,  has  never  yet  produced  a  man  of 
superior  talents.  Out  of  the  host  of  amateurs  graduated  every 
year,  not  a  dozen  could  make  their  salt  at  newspaper  work,  let 
alone  at  literature.  This  fact  has  not  escaped  the  notice  of  even 
the  average  amateur,  for  he  attempts  to  atone  for  it  by  claiming 
as  former  members  many  famous  men-of -letters  who  died  before 
the  institution  came  into  existence.  It  is  folly  to  contend  that  a 
man  was  an  amateur,  in  the  sense  which  theso  persons  use  it,  just 
because  he  wrote  a  manuscript  magazine  in  his  youth.  The 
name  of  Nathaniel  Hawthorne  is  most  commonly  paraded  as  a 
graduate  of  Amateur  Journalism  by  the  very  persons  who,  were 
Hawthorne  an  amateur  at  the  present  day,  would  try  to  drive  him 
out  of  the  ranks  because  he  was  a  man  of  education. 

A  very  intelligent  young  person  recently  gave  his  experience  as 
an  amateur.  He  was  born  and  bred  a  gentleman,  his  parents 
being  of  literary  habits.  He  was  induced  to  become  an  amateur 
under  false  pretenses,  one  of  the  "workers"  having  told  him  that 
Amateur  Journalism  was  a  literary  institution.  After  being  a 
member  for  a  month,  and  attending  one  convention,  his  eyes 
were  opened  and  he  saw  he  had  been  deceived.  While  neither 
proud  nor  liaughty,  he  had  suflficient  self-respect  to 
see  that  he  was  mingling  with  young  men   who  were  both  intellec- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        177 

tually  and  socially  far  beneath  him.  He  had  no  hard  feeling 
toward  them  ;  many  of  them  were  "good  fellows"  in  their  way, 
but  there  was  nothing  in  common  between  them.  He  retired, 
and  was  soon  forgotten. 

If  the  Story  of  this  young  man,  who  washed  his  hands  of  Ama- 
teur Journalism  the  moment  he  found  out  what  it  really  was,  is 
sufficient  to  arouse  our  sj^mpathy,  how  much  more  sorry  must 
we  feel  for  those  few  line  spirits  who  have  remained  amateurs 
just  for  the  sake  of  trying  to  redeem  the  cause  in  the  eyes  of  the 
outside  world.  They  have  been  sneered  at  as  only  the  careless 
can  sneer ;  abused  as  only  the  ignorant  can  abuse;  hounded  as 
only  the  brutal  can  hound.  And  so,  with  no  hope  of  any  other 
reward  than  the  consciousness  of  battling  for  the  truth,  they  have 
dashed  themselves  to  pieces  against  the  Philistinism  of  the  ama- 
teur press.  Some  have  fought  with  Spartan  courage,  whilst  others, 
weaker  and  less  hopeful,  have,  like  Shelley,  merely  *' beaten  in 
the  void  their  luminious  wings  in  vain."  Daring  spirits  are  con- 
stantly springing  up  to  carry  on  the  good  work  of  the  reform 
movement.  They  move,  but  their  progress  is  slow.  For  years 
Amateur  Journalism  has  been  living  an  unhealthy  life,  oscillating 

Between  two  worlds ; 
One  dead,  the  other  struggling  to  be  born. 

Adieu,  my  dear  Lorenzo,  for  I  find  that  the  candle  is  burning 
low  in  the  socket.  Whoelsecoulditbe. 

The  publication  of  this  "Letter"  and  its  accompanying  com- 
ment attracted  widespread  attention  in  amateur  papers.  A  num- 
ber of  letters  were  published,  addressed  to  imaginary  persons, 
mostly  on  the  Philistine  side  of  the  controversy.  As  an  answer 
to  these  Afhenia  in  the  January,  1887,  issue,  printed  another  letter, 
signed  "Philistine,''  in  which  the  same  ground  was  taken,  by  sar- 
castic thrusts  at  the  "plodders." 

A  circular  accompanied  January  Athenia,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing is  a  copy; 

THE  LITERARY  LYCEUM  OF   AMERICA. 

Announcement  and  Provisional  Constitution  Adopted  at  the 
Organization  Meeting. 

We  believe  that  Amateur  Journalism  is  primarily,  and  should 
be  actually,  a  literary  institution. 

That  the  interchange  of  intelligent  thought  and  of  refined  criti- 
cism should  constitute  alike  the  object  and  the  aim  of  its  ad- 
herents ; 

That  all  subjects  foreign  to  this  design  should  be  rigidly  ex- 
cluded from  all  papers  published  under  its  auspices ; 


178  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

That  all  meetings  of  its  Associations  shall  be  given  entirely  to 
proceedings  of  a  nature  calculated  to  improve  the  literary  culture 
of  those  participating. 

We  believe  that  the  present  *'Araateurdom"  fails  of  these  re- 
quirements, and  we  demand  a  change  in  the  existing  order. 

To  that  end  we  have  organized  under  the  name 

THE    LITERARY    LYCEUM    OF     AMERICA, 

and  have  adopted  the  following  provisional  Constitution : 

1.  The  general  business  of  the  Lyceum  shall  be  administered 
by  an  executive  board,  to  consist  of  three  members,  who  shall  be 
appointed,  at  each  annual  meeting,  by  their  predecessors  in  office. 
The  executive  board  shall  choose  their  own  chairman. 

2.  The  executive  board  shall  draught  and  report  at  a  special 
meeting,  to  be  held  for  that  purpose,  a  list  of  the  names  of  such 
persons,  papers  and  associations  as  are  now  and  may  be  then  con- 
nected with  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association,  or  with 
"Amateurdom,"  or  whose  opinions  are  inimical  to  the  principles 
hereinabove  expressed.  Such  names  as  shall,  by  a  two-thirds 
vote  of  the  members  present,  be  included  in  said  list,  shall  con- 
stitute the  "proscription  list.'' 

3.  The  Lycteum  shall  meet  annually  during  the  month  of  July, 
at  such  place  as  may  be  chosen  at  the  foregoing  meeting. 

4.  No  member  of  the  Lyceum  shall  in  any  manner  discuss  the 
affairs  of  the  institution  known  as  "Amateurdom." 

5.  No  member  shall,  after  1st  March,  1887,  send  any  paper, 
contribution  or  subscription  to  any  paper,  person  or  association 
included  included  in  the  proscription  list  of  the  Lyceum,  and  he 
shall  accept  no  copies  of  papers  so  mentioned,  nor  subscriptions 
from  any  such  paper  or  persons.  He  shall  not  attend  any  meet- 
ing of  any  associations  prescribed  by  the  Lyceum. 

6.  No  person  shall  be  eligible  to  membership  in  the  Lyceum 
who  is  not  fully  in  sympathy  with  its  aims,  nor  until  his  or  her 
credentials  have  been  favorably  passed  upon  by  the  executive 
board.  J.  Rosevelt  Gleason, 

Brainerd  p.   Emeuy, 
Ernest  A.  Edkins, 

Executive  Board. 
B.  P.  Emery,  Secretary  of  the  Board,  244  Grand  St., 

December  20,  1886.  Newburgh,   N.  Y. 

The  executive  board  explains  its  action  in  this  issue  of  ^^J^ema, 
under  the  heading,  ''The  Parting  of  the  Ways:" 

Recent  expressions  of  opinion  show  that  the  reform  movement 
is  unpopular  in  Amateur  Journalism.  The  majority  prefer,  and 
always  have  preferred,  the  predominance  of  politics  over  literature 
and  indulgence  in  unprofitable  amusement,  rather  than  the  exer- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEL'R   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  179 

cise  of  those  faculties  which  the  institution  is  designed  to  improve. 
Every  one  whose  sj^mpathies  were  with  reform  has  been  maligned  ; 
everj^  one  who  has  entered  Amateur  Journalism  with  the  idea  that 
it  was  a  body  of  young  men  and  young  women  engaged  in  the 
"study  and  pursuit  of  perfection"  has  been  repudiated.  A  pre- 
mium has  been  placed  upon  dullness  and  a  ban  upon  brains. 
Circumstances  such  as  these  have  held  down  Amateur  Journalism 
so  that  it  is  today  regarded,  wherever  it  is  known,  as  a  band  of 
self-satisfied  upstarts.  Strong  as  the  vulgar  sentiment  has  been, 
the  evidences  of  inherent  improvement  are  discernible ;  for  the 
irresistible  forces  of  reform  have  gradually  beaten  down  some  of 
the  greatest  barriers.  Yet,  after  all,  we  doubt  whether  the  reform 
movement  could,  even  b}^  the  most  arduous  endeavor,  overcome 
many  of  the  existing  evils  which  are  incidental  to  State  associations 
and  the  National  A.  P.  A.  ;  whether  it  could  bri'ig  its  principles 
to  be  the  settled  policj'.  In  view  of  these  circumstances,  the 
reformers  feel  that  they  can  better  attain  their  ends  by  withdraw- 
ing from  Amateurdom  and  organizing  an  institution  wherein  liter- 
ary endeavor,  alone,  shall  be  stimulated  ;  whose  members  will  find 
all  the  advantages  of  Amateur  Journalism  in  its  best  sense,  with- 
out its  course  features  ;  an  institution  wherein  there  will  be  no 
politics,  no  campaigning,  no  wrangling,  no  baseball.  This  will 
be  called  the  Literary  Lyceum  of  America.  It  will  draw  only  its 
nucleus  from  Amateur  Journalism.  The  Lyceum  will  be  honest 
and  consistent.  It  will  welcome  all  who  seek  the  inestimable 
advantages  of  polite  writing  and  candid  criticism.  It  will  debar 
no  one  because  he  is  not  a  clever  author,  a  poet  of  melodious  verse 
Of  a  master  of  polite  diction  ;  but  it  shaU  exclude  the  man  who 
will  not  strive,  with  all  his  native  abilitj-,  to  approach  these 
standards. 

With  this  number  of  Athenia  a  provisional  constitutianal  of  the 
Lyceum  is  issued. 

We  do  not  suppose  that  the  founders  of  the  new  institution  will 
escape  the  malignant  lury  of  the  Philistines,  whose  copious  cal- 
umny will  ascribe  every  surreptitious  motive  to  the  Lyceum  and 
its  friends.  Upon  this  point  there  can  be  no  argument.  If 
the  politicians  do  not  want  the  literati  in  Amateurdom,  let  them 
stone  the  literati  when  they  depart. 

The  plan  and  purpose  of  the  new  institution  is,  then,  self-evi- 
dent. We  invite  every  member  of  Amateur  Journalism  who  is 
prepared  to  live  up  to  the  constitutional  provisions,  to  join  the 
Lyceum. 

We  invite  those  who  believed  '  Amateurdom"  a  seminary  of 
literature  and  who  found  it  a  cemetery  of  intelligence;  everyone 
who  is  content  to  take  his  position  according  to  the  vitality  and 
refinement  of  his  thought ;  ail  these  we  call   upon   to    co-operate 


180  HrSTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

with  the  committee  whose  announcement  accompanies  this  copy 
of  Athenia.  The  day  of  destiny  is  come;  the  little  empire,  whose 
king  is  ignorance,  shall  totter ;  the  thunder  of  reform  shall  roar 
with  four  years'  accumulated  fury ;  the  field  upon  the  right  and 
that  upon  the  left  shall  spring  apart,  leaving  a  chasm  which  no 
voice  can  traverse  and  no  bridge  can  span. 

Executive  Board. 

Under  date  of  January  20,  1887,  the  following  card  appeared 
in  Quartz: 

The  judiciary  committee  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Asso- 
ciation fully  appreciate  the  necessity  of  prompt  and  decisive 
action  in  crushing  out  the  recent  attempt  to  ruin  the  N.  A.  P.  A., 
and  would  request  that  all  members  who  are  loyal  exercise  a 
small  degree  of  patience,  and  grant  the  committee  sufficient  time 
to  thoroughly  canvass  the  movement.  All  may  rest  a&,sured  that 
the  best  interests  of  the  Association  will  be  protected,  and  treason 
quelled  at  any  cost.  Will  S.  Moore, 

President  Judiciary  Committee  N.  A.  P.  A. 

As  a  type  of  the  manner  in  which  many  amateurs  viewed  the 
L.  L.  of  A.,  portions  of  an  article  from  Juvens  Vade  Mecum, 
June,  1887,  are  reproduced : 

AN  OPEN  LETTER  TO  MR.   B.  P.  EMERY. 

My  Dear  Friend: — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  polite  note  inviting 
me  to  become  a  member  of  the  Literary  Lyceum  of  America.  It 
is,  perhaps,  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  that  1  have  been  one  of 
those  who  looked  for  and  worked  for  the  reformation  and  improve- 
ment of  Amateur  Journalism,  and  that  any  movement  toward 
that  end,  which  seemed  to  me  wise  in  its  methods,  has  met  with 
my  approval  and  support.  During  the  past  year  I  have  watched 
the  struggle  from  afar,  regretting  that  my  circumstances  were 
such  that  I  could  not  join  with  you  in  the  good  work,  but  never 
for  a  moment  doubting  the  final  success  and  triumph  of  the  move- 
ment having  for  its  object  the  elevation  of  the  cause.  Judge, 
then,  of  my  surprise  when  I  suddenly  learned  that  the  Reformers, 
if  I  may  make  use  of  that  term,  had  become  discouraged  by  the 
immensity  of  the  task  before  them,  "given  it  up  as  a  bad  job,'* 
and  retired  from  the  ranks,  leaving  Amateur  Journalism  to  be 
saved  by  other  hands.  You  must  excuse  me  if  I  confess  that  I 
expected  different  things,  that  I  had  thought  you  possessed  of 
greater  courage,  pertinacity  and  perseverance  than  to  give  the 
matter  up  so,  publicly  acknowledging  that  the  Philistine,  as  you 
term  him,  is  too  strong  for  you,  and  that,  after  all,  the  game  is 
hardly  worth  the  candle. 

When  in  1882  Mr.   O'Connell   declared  that,  except   as  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  18l 

T^v'orld  improves,  "Amateur  Journalism  can  never  improve;"  that 
its  scope  migbt  he  enlarged  and  its  numerical  strength  increased, 
"but  that  is  all  the  advancement  it  can  ever  make,"  not  only  did 
he  show  that  his  judgment  in  matters  of  this  kind  is  not  always 
to  be  depended  upon,  but,  if  his  words  had  been  accepted  as 
true  by  the  molders  of  public  sentiment  at  the  time,  Amateur 
Journalism  would  not  now  be  enjoying  even  as  high  a  state  of 
development  as  it  is. 

Mr.  O'Connell  would  now  abolish  politics  altogether,  yet  it  was 
he  who  wrote  that  "Amateur  Journalism  without  its  campaigns 
would  be  insipid  and  monotonous."  In  this  statement,  as  usual, 
he  has  gone  to  an  extreme,  but  he  is  partially'  right.  It  it  cer- 
tainly true,  however,  that  the  politics  of  Amateur  Journalism  have 
done  harm  to  the  cause,  for  there  is 

■•Xonght  so  good,  but.  strained  from  that  fair  use, 
Kevolts  from  true  birth,  stumbling  on  abuse.'' 

Buf who  is  to  blame  for  this  present  condition  of  affairs?  I 
lay  a  large  share  of  the  responsibility  directly  at  the  door  of 
the  literati. 

In  a  conversation  held  in  this  city  last  July  with  Mr.  Edkins, 
now  of  your  executive  board — and  who,  by  the  way,  I  had  hoped 
and  expected  to  help  elect  president  of  the  National  at  Jr'hihidel- 
phia,  as  a  practical  step  toward  the  end  we  have  in  view — I 
ventured  the  remark,  and  he  aoreed  with  me,  that  it  is,  in  a  great 
measure,  so  with  our  politics.  Some  of  our  so-called  reformers, 
such,  for  example,  as  Shelp  and  O'Connell,  have  in  recent  years 
had  considerable  to  say  about  the  dirt}^  pool  of  politics,  but  instead 
of  attempting  to  turn  itinto  the  right  channel,  as  they  might  easily 
have  done,  they  have  held  aloof,  refused  to  attend  our  conven- 
tions, aud  let  the  worst  elements  manage  things   for   themselves. 

In  the  spring  of  1883,  in  delining  the  objects  of  the  Reformers, 
Mr.  O'Connell  stated  one  of  them  was  to  abolish  politics  --to  an 
extent."  Thus  far  I  was  with  him.  I  differ  from  you  in  this: 
You  would  annihilate  Amateur  Journalism,  I  would  reform  it; 
you  would  banish  politics,  I  would  improve  it. 

As  for  the  Lyceum,  I  cannot  see  how  it  can  fill  the  lif Id  that 
Amateur  Journalism  occupies.  In  the  first  place,  two  somewhat 
<;orrelated  objections  occur  to  my  mind.  To  illustrate,  take  the 
•case  of  Mr.  O'Connell.  When  in  1877  he  published  the  P/ioem>, 
filled  with  politics,  puzzles, slang  and  vulgarity, do  3'ou suppose  the 
executive  boar.l  would  have  considered  him  using  every  effort  to 
attain  liis  highest  literary  powers,  and  have  admitted  him  to  the 
Lyceum?  Aud  was  he  likely  to  have  been  attracted  at  that  time 
to  an  institution  of  that  nature?  And  yet  Mr.  O'Connell  is  now 
"the  high  priest  of  the  Reformers.^'  It  is  no  disparagement  to 
Mr.  O'Connell  to  point  to  the  depths  from  which  he  has  come  ;  it  is 


182  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

rather  a  high  compliment  to  his  industry  and  genius,  when  we 
consider  his  present  eloquent  writings  and  well-rounded  periods. 
But  he  says  he  "recognizes  how  much  Amateur  Journalism  has 
done  for  him."  Amateur  Journalism  has  done  this,  the  Lyceum 
would  have  failed  to  reach  him.  Mr.  O'Connell  in  1882  declared 
the  California  papers  at  that  time  to  be  puerile  and  picayune  and 
thought  affairs  on  the  Pacific  coast  had  degenerated.  That  Mr. 
Harrison,  Philistine  though  he  may  have  been,  possessed  a  clearer 
vision  when  he  said  that  these  journals  were  yet  in  their  infancy, 
and  that  when  they  reached  man's  estate  they  would  show  that 
Amateur  Journalism  had  advanced,  is  shown  by  the  California 
journals  of  recent  years.  And  yet,  Mr.  Moore,  with  his  La  Whale, 
would  neither  have  applied  nor  have  been  admitted  to  the  Lyceum. 
Amateur  Journalism  has  produced  the  Pacific  Courant.  I  shall 
give  but  one  more  example — that  of  my  own  career.  The  fact 
that  3'ou  liave  asked  me  to  join  your  association  is  sufficient 
evidence  to  me  that  you  now  think  me  worthy  to  be  one  of  you, 
but  when,  five  years  ago,  I  first  entered  the  ranks,  I  think  it  alto- 
gether unlikely  that  you  would  have  admitted  me  to  your  societ3\ 
And,  however  that  may  have  been,  I  am  sure  that  at  that  time  I 
should  have  felt  little  interest  in  a  literary  lyceum.  Amateur 
Journalism  has  done  much  for  me ;  the  Lyceum  would  not  have 
reached  me.  There  is  in  Amateur  Journalism  a  strong,  uplifting 
evolutionary  tendency,  which  leads  one  into  the  proper  channels, 
if  he  but  takes  an  interest  in  his  work. 

Only  last  July  Mr.  O'Connell  said  in  your  Sentinel  that  Ama- 
teur Journalism  had  become,  as  much  as  it  ever  can,  a  literary 
institution.  I  have  always  said  that  Amateur  Journalism  was  not 
wholly  a  literary  organization.  There  is  the  business  training, 
the  love  of  debate,  the  practice  of  oratory,  tlie  knowledge  of 
parliamentary  law  and  tactics,  and  many  other  things,  which 
though  of  course  subordinate  to  its  literary  features,  are,  never- 
theless, legitimate  parts  of  the  whole.  Mr.  O'Connell  has  sug- 
gested as  a  definition  of  Amateur  Journalism,  ''the  Jacob's  lad- 
der to  professional  journalism."  I  should  rather  term  it  an 
engine  of  mutual  intellectual  culture.  I  have  myself  received 
incalculable  benefit  from  my  connection  with  Amateur  Journalism, 
and  it  has  not  been  all  of  a  literary  nature  either.  I  have  reaped 
advantages  from  our  political  campaigns,  bad  as  they  may  have 
been,  and  derived  much  good  from  our  conventions,  poorly  con- 
ducted though  they  may  have  been.  If,  then,  it  can  accomplish 
so  much  in  its  present  state,  what  can  it  not  achieve  when  each 
and  every  feature  is  relegated  to  its  proper  sphere?  The  Lyceum 
loses  all  this.  And  so — call  me  a  Philistine,  if  you  will — I  cannot 
but  express  the  opinion  that  your  association  can  never  equal 
Amateur  Journalism,  even  though  it   attain    that    ideal    state    of 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  183 

perfection  it  has  reached  iu  that  county  so  felicitously  described 
by  Mr.  O'Counell  as  "the  land  of  pipes  and  lager-beer." 

In  conclusion,  to  use  a  Shaksperian  expression,  iny  dear 
Emery,  chew  upon  this :  there  is  in  Amateur  Journalism  such  a 
latent  power  and  innate  tenacity,  and  its  principles  and  methods 
are  so  well  grounded,  that  the  withdrawal  of  half  a  dozen  of  its 
members  and  the  formation  of  a  literary  association  will  never 
destroy  it.  It  will  press  on,  despite  the  Lyceum,  in  its  useful  and 
educating  work.  These  are  some  of  the  reasons  which  have 
influenced  me  in  decliniog  3^our  invitation  to  join  your  association. 
But  while  I  cannot  honestly  wish  your  institution  success,  for  its 
individual  members,  severrd  of  whom  are  my  personal  friends,  I 
have  but  the  best  wishes  for  their  prosperity.  Believe  me  to  be 
as  ever  your  sincere  friend,  Tklman  J.  Spexcer. 

Hartford,  Conn.,  March  1,  1887. 

Under  date  of  March  10,  1887,  the  judiciary  committee 
rendered  a  report  which  was  publised  iu  the  March  Amateur,  and 
dealt  with  the  L3'ceum  as  follows : 

The  Amateur  Author's  Lyceum  of  America,  organized  secretly, 
by  members  of  our  Association,  who  endorsed  sentiments  antag- 
onistic to  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association,  i»  a  circular 
letter  sent  out  under  date  of  December  20,  1886,  was  thoroughly 
investigated  by  your  committee,  and  we  found  it  to  be  a  direct 
attempt  to  cause  the  downfall  and  ruin  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association.  Recognizing  this  fact,  your  committee 
obtained  the  names  of  all  members  of  our  Association  said  to  be 
connected  with  the  scheme,  and  forwarded  to  each  of  them  a  copy 
of  the  following  letter : 

Office  Judiciary  Committee  National  Amateur  Press  Association. 

Mr 

Dear  Sir: — Our  attention  has  been  called  to  a  circular  headed  the 
Literary  Lyceum  of  America,  issued  under  date  of  Dec.  20,  1886,  and 
signed  by  Messrs.  J.  R.  Gleason,  B.  P.  Emery  and  E.  A.  Edkins,  as 
an  executive  board.  While  our  committee  recognizes  the  rights  of 
individuals  to  form  organizations  for  self-improvement  or  amusement, 
or  both  combined,  it  appears  to  them,  from  a  careful  perusal  of  the 
circular  referred  to,  that  the  purposes  of  the  Literary  Lyceum  of 
Amerioa  are  antagonistic  to  and  intended  to  injure  or  destroy  the 
National  Amateur  Press  Association.  Entertaining  this  belief,  we 
cannot  understand  how  any  member,  and  especially  an  official  mem- 
ber, of  the  National  A.  P.  A.  can  enter  into  such  an  organization  as  the 
aforementioned  Lyceum.  The  committee  can  easily  conceive  how 
members  of  the  National  A.  P.  A.,  so  inclined,  could  form  a  second 
and  select  literary  association,  without  in  the  least  conflicting  v'ith 
our  National  Association,  and  to  this  there  could  be  no  possible 
objection.  The  regulations  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  provide  that  any  mem- 
ber thereof  may  resign  his  or  her  membership,  and  this  having  been 
done,  the  future  action  of  such  individual  would  not  be  within   the 


184      HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

purvne  of  our  Association;  but  AA^hen  a  member,  while  retaining  his  or 
her  connection  with  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association,  enters 
into  another  and  antagonistic  organization,  apparent  y  making  use 
of  the  advantages  derived  from  their  connection  with  the  Association 
for  the  purpose  oi  organizing  any  such  antagonistic  association,  it 
appears  to  us  that  the}^  place  themselves  in  a  position  which  leaves 
but  one  consistent  course  for  the  National  A,  P.  A.  to  pursue,  with 
regard  to  them.  As  your  name  has  been  given  us  as  one  of  the  mem- 
bers and  supporters  of  said  Lyceum,  we  desire  to  hear  from  you  in 
response  to  this  communication  and  at  your  very  earliest  convenience. 
If  we  have  been  misinformed  or  are  laboring  under  any  wrong 
impression  in  regard  to  the  intents  of  the  Lyceum,  we  shall  be  glad  to 
be  corrected.  Yours  most  respectfully. 

Judiciary  uommittee, 
Per  Will  S.  Moore,  President. 

While  this  matter  was  pending,  Mr.  Arnettt  resigned  his  posi- 
tion as  secretary  of  the  judiciary  committee,  giving  as  a  reason 
that  his  sympathies  were  with  the  Lyceum  and  while  entertaining 
such  feelings,  he  could  not  conscientiously  hold  office  in  an 
Association,  whose  cause  he  could  no  longer  espouse.  Your 
committee  appointed  Edwin  B.  Swift  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

First  Vice-President  Wicks,  under  date  of  Feb.  7th,  tendered 
his  resignation  from  his  office,  because  of  excessive  studies  at 
college.  Mr.  Wicks'  sympathies  are  also  with  tlie  Lyceum,  but 
he  states  that  he  is  not  a  member  of  that  society.  Your  committee 
accepted  this  resignation  and  appointed  Second  Vice-President 
Bull  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Third  Vice-President  Bowersock  has 
been  promoted  to  the  second  vice-presidency,  and  Mr.  F.  D. 
Woollen  has  been  made  third  vice-president. 

Resignations  from  membership  in  our  Association  were  sent  in 
by  Miss  Martin  and  Messrs.  Carpenter,  EnTer_y  and  Edkins. 
The  latter  two  gentlemen  likewise  resigned  their  ofllcial  positions. 
That  of  Miss  Martin  was  accepted,  she  having  resigned  her 
allegiance  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  before  joining  the  Literary  Lyceum, 
In  the  cases  of  Messrs.  Carpenter,  Edkins  and  Emery,  your  com- 
mittee decided  that  emphatic  action  and  a  severe  penalty  were 
necessary. 

Your  committee  concluded  to  reject  the  resignations  of 
these  gentlemen  and  declare  them  no  longer  officers  or  mem- 
bers in  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association.  It  is  only  after 
mature  deliberation  that  such  action  was  taken  and  we  feel 
asssured  that  the  members  in  convention  assembled 
at  Philadelphia,  will  agree  with  us,  that  to  insure  the  perpetuity 
and  continued  success  of  our  Association  it  is  necessary  to  punish 
the  movers  in  all  attempted  insurrections  in  the  severest  manner 
possible.  This  is  the  time  when  all  loyal  members  of  our  Asso- 
ciation must  rally  to  the  standard  and  prove  its  everlasting 
stability. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      185 

Your  committee  has  further  found  it  advisable  to  reorganize 
the  preseut  board  of  officers  as  follows  : 

President,  Jas.  H.  Ives  Munro;  first  vice-president,  Jerome  0.  Ball; 
second  vice-president,  Jus.  D.  Bowersock;  third  vice-president,  Frank 
D.  Woollen;  recording  secretary,  Fred  L.  Hunter;  corresponding 
secretary,  Walter  E.  ]Vlellinger;  treasurer.  Zelda  A.  Swift;  official  ed- 
itor, William  B.  Baldwin:  judiciary  committee— Will  S.  Moore,  presi- 
dent; Fred  F.  Heath,  vice-president;  Edwin  B.  Swift,  secretary. 

A  circular  letter  was  issued  by  President  Munro,  under  date 
of  May  1,  1887,  in  which  he  reviewed  the  reform  movement  and 
urged  loyalty  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 

At  the  1887  convention  that  part  of  the  judiciary  committee's 
report  dealing  with  the  action  taken  concerning  the  Lyceum  was 
stricken  out ;  also  all  reference  to  resignations  of  Emery  and 
Edkins.     Thus  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  did  nothing. 

President  Stinson,  in  his  first  message— September,  1887, 
Amateur — reviewed  the  subject: 

I  shall  not  go  into  a  lengthy  discussion  of  reform  here,  being 
assured  from  careful  observations  that  we  are  even  now  under- 
going a  course  of  unconscious  reform.  I  have  never  entertained 
theenmity  toward  the  Literary  Lyceum  of  America  so  bitterly 
expressed  by  many  of  our  papers,  and  would  only  be  too 
pleased  to  welcome  its  adherents  back  to  the  National.  I  have  no 
hesitancy  in  saying  that  from  the  beginning  I  have  been  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  principles  of  the  movement,  but  objected  to  the 
manner  of  carrying  tliem  out.  The  action  taken  at" the  Philadel- 
phia convention,  when  the  Association  refused  to  entertain  the 
judiciary  committee's  report  relating  to  the  L.  L.  of  A.,  forcibly 
demonstrates  the  fact  that  its  members  would  be  received  in  a 
spirit  of  kindliness.  Clearly  we  cannot  afford  to  lose  the  men 
who  have  done  so  much  toward  building  up  our  literature,  and 
who,  for  the  most  pa:t,  are  sincere  in  their  work  for  reform. 

In  the  initial  number  of  Our  Free  Lance,  September,  1888, 
Mr.  Emery  printed  the  following,  closing  the  days  of  the  Literary 
Lyceum  of  America; 

To  us  belong  the  ashes  of  defeat;  to  you,  former  comrades  in 
Amateur  Journalism,  the  palm  of  victory.  We  make  this  con- 
fession in  all  candor ;  we  have  in  the  past  pursued  a  mistaken 
course;  ytQ  ioo^  avi  ignus fatuus  for  a  true  light;  w^e  carried  a 
reform  to  such  an  extreme  that  it  ceased  to  be  a  reform.  Now^ 
we  can  see  all  this,  and  that  is  why  we  are  back  in  Amateur 
Journalism,  to  try,  by  earnest  work,  to  atone  for  past  mistakes. 


CH/irTCR  15. 

PHILADELPHIA'S  SECOND  CONVENTION. 

Campaigns  Open  the  Year. — The  Philadelphia  Meeting. — 
Proxies  Thrown  Out. — Reports  of  Officers. — Moore's 
Review  of  the  Year. — The  National  Amateur. 

THE  opening  of  the  year  1887  and  the  events  of  its  first 
half  are  thus  briefly  outlined  i.i  the  second  Year-Book,  by 
Frederick  Lindsay  Hunter: 

Ere  January,  1887,  it  became  evident  that  the  campaign  which 
was  to  culminate  in  the  ensuing  July  would  be  most  closely  con- 
tested. It  was  quite  evident  ere  the  New  Year  that  William  S. 
Moore,  of  California,  and  Michael  F.  Boechat,  of  New  York,  would 
be  rival  candidates  for  the  presidency.  The  former's  friends 
agreed  upon  a  campaign  committee,  of  which  Fred  L.  Hunter 
was  constituted  chairman,  which  labored  zealously  in  the  interests 
of  its  candidate.  Mr.  Boechat's  prospects  were  in  the  hands  of 
New  York  amateurs,  who  were  loyally  devoted  to  their  leader. 

In  May,  1887,  the  Buffalo  Amateur^  a  campaign  sheet, 
appeared  under  the  management  of  John  J.  Ottinger,  which  con- 
tained Mr.  Boechat's  letter  of  acceptance.  Written  in  excellent 
taste,  it  was  chiefly  open  to  criticism  in  the  writer's  failure  to 
touch  upon  some  important  points  involved  in  the  canvass.  The 
letter  declared  for  more  popular  laureate  awards,  condemned  the 
literati  movement,  spoke  of  the  value  of  our  conventions,  made  a 
number  of  recommendations  relative  to  our  official  organ  and  urged 
the  necessity  of  activity.  ^ 

Mr.  Moore's  letter  of  acceptance  appeared  in  the  June 
Ubiquitous.  In  it  he  denied  that  his  canvass  was  being  made 
upon  sectional  issues,  congratulated  the  fraternity  upon  the  high 
character  of  the  campaign  as  being  conducted  by  both  sides, 
declared  against  "slates"  and  favored  a  greater  interest  on  the 
part  of  the  members  in  amateur  politics.  He  declared  that  a 
good,  conservative,  business-like  policy  should  be  our  aim, 
favored  a  reduction  in  membership  fees,  urged  the  preservation 
intact  of  the  proxy  system,  and  finished  by  urging  the  importance 
of  recruiting  in  our  work. 

As  with  all  letters  of  acceptance,  these  epistles  had  little  or  no 
effect  upon  the  canvass,  they  standing  in  about  the  same  relation 
to  a  canvass  as  does  the  preface  to  a  book. 

Mr.  Frank  C.  Liudsley,  of  Cincinnati,  in   bis  paper,  The  Pah 


HISTORY  OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.     187 

ladium,  gave  a  graphic  account  of  the  1887   convention.      From 
it  we  quote : 

Tuesday,  July  12,  about  3  p.  m.,  the  convention  was  called  to 
order  by  President  Munro,  and  C.  R.  Burger  was  appointed  secre- 
tary pro  tem.  Members  present  were  Messrs.  Munro,  Boechat, 
Kempner,  Stinson,  Kugler,  McClain,  Burger,  Will  J.  Heineman, 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Swift  and  F.  C.  Lindsley ;  and  candidates  for  mem- 
bership on  hand  were  Messrs.  Chrystie,  W.  P.  Hopkins,  LaRue, 
Wolffe,  Goeway,  Conolly,  Sheridan,  Hochstadter,  Hughes,  Cope, 
Lewis,  F.  E.  Schermerhorn,  Potter,  Chiles,  Perot,  Edmunds, 
Bell,  Burke  and  Hanly,  upon  all. of  whom  the  committee  reported 
favorably.  Russell  was  reinstated  by  special  act,  no  one  object- 
ing.    E.  G.  Wyckoff  arrived  next  day. 

Messrs.  Kempner,  Burger,  Stinson,  Cope,  Swift  and  the  treas- 
urer, ex-officio,  were  appointed  to  examine  the  proxies,  and  the 
convention  adjourned  till  evening^. 

Many  of  the  amateurs  then  visited  points  of  interest  in  the 
city.  Upon  the  return  to  the  Continental  it  was  learned  that  a 
large  number  of  proxies  had  been  opened  before  reaching  the 
committee,  and  this  fact  raised  keen  apprehension  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Moore  men. 

The  president  rapped  for^  order  at  9  : 30.  Kempner,  of  the 
committee  on  proxies,  reported  sixty-four  proxy  ballots  cast,  the 
duplicates  of  forty-eight  of  which  had  been  opened  by  First 
Vice-President  Bull  by  mistake.  The  originals  were  sealed  and 
tallied  with  the  duplicates.  Of  the  sixteen  not  previously  opened, 
thirteen  were  for  Moore  and  three  for  Boechat.  The  convention 
was  then  resolved  into  committee  of  the  Whole  on  the  proxies, 
and  Kempner  called  to  the  chair.  Russell  moved  that  all  the 
proxies  be  thrown  out.  After  some  discussion  the  motion  was 
withdrawn.  Wolffe  now  made  a  point  of  order  that  the  proxies 
were  illegal  and  therefore  could  not  be  considered  by  the  com- 
mittee. The  chair  ruled  the  ballots  illegal.  An  appeal  was  at 
once  taken  by  the  Moore  men,  but  it  failed  for  lack  of  a  two- 
thirds  vote.  If  our  memory  is  not  at  fault,  the  question  was  then 
put  to  rise  and  report  the  proxies  illegal  and  thrown  out,  which 
was  declared  carried  by  one  majority,  including  the  vote  of  the 
chair  in  the  affirmative.  All  this  was  done  rapidly  and  the  excite- 
ment was  intense.  Kempner  quickly  relinquished  the  chair, 
and  Wolffe  abruptly  moved  an  adjournment  to  midnight,  which 
was  put  and  declared  carried  amid  great  confusion.  The  local 
Moore  adherents  left  in  anger  declaring  they  would  denounce  the 
proceedings  as  illegal,  and  that  they  would  participate  no  further 
in  the  affairs  of  the  convention. 

At  the  midnight  session  there  were  present  Messrs.   Boechat, 


188  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Munro,  Stinson,  Kugler,  McClain,  Heiiieraan,  Kempner,  Burger, 
Wolffe,  Russell,  LaRue,  Chrystie,  Hopkins,  Conolly,  Goeway, 
Sheridan,  Swift  and  Lindsley. 

Everyone  must  have  felt  that  injustice  had  been  done.  The 
trick  to  get  rid  of  the  Philadelphia  boys  was  too  i^alpable.  Mr. 
Stinson  saw  this  when  he  moved  to  adjourn  till  next  day.  Mr. 
Boechat  felt  it  deeply  when,  in  a  determined  voice,  he  declined 
the  nomination  for  president,  and,  on  a  question  whether  he 
would  accept  if  the  meeting  should  adjourn  till  the  morning,  re- 
plied in  a  tone  closel}^  bordering  on  the  angry,  that  under  710 
consideration  would  he  accept  the  oiBce  at  the  hands  of  ttiis 
convention.  This  exhibition  of  honor  and  manly  dignity  was 
heartily  applauded ;  and  when  Russell  bluntly  expressed  his  dis 
taste  of  a  leader  who  spurned  the  victory  w^on  at  such  a  cost,  the 
ringing  retort  from  Boechat,  that  he  thanked  heaven  there  were 
different  tastes,  thrilled  everyone  present  into  silent  respect,  and 
many  into  contrition  over  their  share  in  the  disgrace. 

Few  had  the  assurance  to  endeavor  to  proceed  with  business. 
Enthusiasm  was  dead.  Russell  moved  to  go  on  with  the  election 
of  president  and  official  editor.  The  response  was  feeble.  In 
turn  Swift,  Munro  and  McClain  declined  a  nomination.  Stinson 
was  named.  He  rose  to  decline,  expressing  misgivings  as  to  his 
fitness,  but  his  hesitating  manner  proclaimed  to  the  "leaders" 
their  la^t  chance,  and  he  was  howled  down  and  elected  b}^  accla- 
mation. Woollen  was  elected  unanimousl3\  Adjournment  fol- 
lowed and  was  heartiij^  welcomed. 

Wednesday  the  convention  was  slow  to  assemble.  Manj^  were 
glad  so  good  a  man  as  Mr.  Stinson  had  been  made  president,  but 
nearlv  all  regretted  that  the  act  had  not  been  left  to  the  calmer 
judgment  of  the  morning.  The  proceedings  thenceforward  were 
more  harmonious,  and  marked  by  some  observance  of  parlia- 
mentary law  and  the  rights  of  members.  Several  Philadelphia 
boys  put  in  an  appearance  rather  tardily,  and  some  of  them  at 
first  declined  to  take  an}^  part  in  the  balloting. 

Arrangements  for  the  banquet  were  abandoned.  The  conven- 
tion was  a  disappointment  to  most  of  the  visiting  amateurs,  and 
the^^  were  anxious  to  start  for  home. 

Mr.  Lindsley's  article  fails  to  make  mention  of  the  election  of 
minor  officers,  and  from  the  Violet,  Mrs.  Zelda  A.  Swift's  paper, 
the  following  is  taken : 

On  reassembling  Boechat  was  elected  first  vice-president  by 
acclamation.  After  several  nominations  and  withdrawals  Miss 
Phillips  was  elected  second  vice.  The  election  of  third  vice  post- 
poned, and  Burger  elected  recording  secretary.  For  treasurer, 
Lindslev  received  twelve  votes,  and  was  elected  after  four   ballots 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRE6S    ASSOCIATION.  189 

being  taken.  For  third  vice  McClinton  and  Ephriara  were  nomi- 
nated. Ephriam  was  elected.  Kngler  received  twelve  votes  and 
was  elected  corresponding  secretary.  Munro,  Kerapner  and 
Figel,  judiciary  committee.  Chicago  next  meet! nor  place.  An 
elegant  medal  was  here  presented  to  the  editress  of  the  Violet. 
Adjourned. 

The  official  minutes  give  additional  infornintion  :. 

The  following  new  members  were  ndmilted  :  Messrs.  M.  C. 
Allen,  W.  H.  Bell,  —lUirke,  N.  N.  Block,  T.  L.  Chrystie,  W. 
C.  Chiles,  P.  F.  Cope,  L.  D.  Downer,  B.  A.  Connolly,  E.  A. 
Goeway,  C.  H.  Hall,  W.  P.  Hopkins,  H.  I).  Hughes,  H.  C. 
Hochstadter,  B.  M.  LaRue,  A.  G.  Kreidler,  \V.  C.  Lewis,  A.  C. 
Mellville,  Leon  A.  Mitchell,  S.  A.  Nelson,  J.  J.  Ottinger,  C.  U. 
Potter,  F.  E.  Schermerhorn,  R.  B.  Sheridan,  A.  P.  Windolph, 
H.  Wolffe,  C.  VV.  Edmunds,  George  Moore,  H.  F.  Thompson 
ami  F.  D.  Cole;  Miss  Maud  Potter. 

The  following  treasurer's  report  was  submitted  to  the  con- 
re  ntion  : 

receipts: 

C.  IST.  Andrews.  12  badges  and $  33  25 

Philip  L  Figel 34  70 

William  S.  Moore 25  00 

Initiation  fees  and  dues J  27  00 

Badges  sold 21  50 

Total $  241  45 

disbursements: 

National  Amateur $  57  00 

Proxies,  invitations,  etc 1175 


Receipt  book ^o 

Postage  for  official  organ 3  00 

Munro's  bill  for  1886 7  65 

Amount  returned  for  back  dues    (E.  B.  Hill  $2,   E.  E. 
Stowell  $2,  Michael  F.  Boechat$l.  C.  R.  Burger  $1, 

—  Pierrot  $1,  E.  T.  Capen  $1,  W.  J.  Heireman  $2.) .  10  00 

Total $     91  90 

Balance  in  treasury 1-^9  55 

:N'umber  of  names  crossed  from  roll  for  non-payment  of  dues  or  in- 
activity, 98.  Respectfully  submitted,  Zelda  A.  Swift  . 

The  progress  of  Amateur  Journalism  during  the  year  is  thus 
treated  by  Mr.  Will  S.  Moore  in  the  Year-Book: 

To  quote  the  famous  words  of  John  Winslow  Snyder,  the  first 
president  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association,  "the  cause 
of' Amateur  Jonrnalism  is  a  spark  which  perpetually  renews 
itself."  Political  dissensions  maj^  arise  and  personal  differences 
exist,  petty  jealousies  may  tug  at  the  heart  strings  of  the  average 


190  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

amateur  journaiist,  but  withal  the  glorious  cause  of  true  Amateur 
Journalism  is  destined  to  flourish.  The  identity  of  the  cause  is 
necessarily  embraced  in  its  publications,  and  it  is  by  the  standard 
of  our  papers  that  the  progression  or  retrocession  of  the  cause 
must  be  established. 

Assuredly  tlie  amateur  press  association  is  in  a  measure  the 
very  life  of  the  amateur  cause,  but  it  is  not  to  the  association 
that  the  writer  would  refer  if  asked  to  give  a  true  exemplification 
of  Amateur  Journalism.  Only  too  often  are  our  associations 
made  unfit  representatives  of  Amateur  Journalism  by  petty 
quarrels,  which,  sad  to  say,  in  many  instances  characterize  their 
existence.  First,  it  is  the  amateur  papers  that  should  gauge  the 
standard  of  excellence  in  our  work,  and  secondly,  the  book- 
publishing  interests  must  be  considered.  Many  books  issued 
under  the  management  of  tyros  in  the  rough  sea  of  journalistic 
experience — amateurs  we  mean — would  reflect  credit  upon  more 
experienced  men.  Notably  as  amongst  these  might  be  mentioned 
Mr.  Figel's  "Land  by  the  Sunset  Sea  and  Other  Poems,'*  Mr. 
Stone's  "Poems  and  Sketches,"  Mr.  O'Connell's  "Stanzas  and 
Sketches,"  Mr.  Harrison's  "Career  and  Reminiscences  of  an 
Amateur  Journalist,"  and  more  latterly  in  appearance,  but  by 
no  means  less  in  importance,  Mr.  Boechat's  "N.  A.  P.  A.  Year 
Book  for  1886-7."  All  of  the  above  named  books  are  elegantly 
gotten  up  mechanically,  and  ably  compiled. 

But,  coming  back  to  the  subject  proper  of  this  article — our 
progression — we  may  justly  claim  that  the  progression  of  the 
amateur  cause  has  been  steady  during  the  past  year.  Our  authors 
and  editors  are  attaining  a  degree  of  proficiency  and  polish  as 
surprising  as  it  is  true,  the  like  of  which  has  never  before  been 
witnessed.  The  amateur  author  of  today  is  in  many  instances  a 
devoted  student  of  literature.  Amateurs  are  beginning  to  appre- 
ciate the  fact  that  our  cause  is  one  wherein  literary  distinction 
may  be  obtained  and  true  genius  recognized.  It  was  not  so  very 
long  ago  that  the  writers  who  figured  conspicuously  in  our  belles 
letters  were  actuated  solely  from  mercenary  motives.  They  wrote 
by  measurements,  and  each  subdivision  of  literary  measurement 
commanded  its  fixed  price,  and  in  many  cases  a  good  round  price 
it  was,  too.  But  now  how  changed.  The  author  of  today  seldom 
becomes  so  prolific  that  his  effusions  may  be  had  as  commonly 
as  in  days  of  old.  Indeed,  the  average  author  of  these  times 
thinks  much  more  and  writes  much  less  than  did  his  less  con- 
scientious brother  of  a  few  years  since.  As  a  natural  consequence 
we  have  a  much  more  enlightened  tone  to  our  literature.  In 
originality  of  thought,  logic,  style  and  versatility,  how  favorably 
do  Edkins,  Stephens,  Arnett  and  Lukens  compare  with  the  essay- 
ists of  eight  years  ago.     Among  our  sketch-writers  look  to  Shelp, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION  1^1 

Bull,  Dowe,  Cleveland,  Emery,  Bergen  and  Lynch.  Contrast 
them  with  the  sketch- writers  of  that  much  discussed  previous 
time  yclept  "ye  halcyon  days,"  and  you  cannot  but  notice  the 
superiority  of  our  latter  day  talent.  How  much  greater  in  ability 
are  Day,  Edkius,  Emery,  Heywood  and  Tubbs  than  any  of  our 
early  day  poets.  Originality  and  poetic  spirit,  combined  with 
literary  skill  and  simplicity  are  observed  in  their  productions  in 
so  great  a  degree  as  the  "old  timers"  never  even  conceived  in 
thought,  much  less  committed  to  verse.  Certainly  the  authorial 
field  in  our  cause  has  rapidly  progressed. 

Our  papers,  too,  are,  as  a  general  rule,  superior  to  those  of 
previous  times.  The  two  classes — literary  and  all-editorial — are 
certainly  good  evidences  of  the  benefits  derived  from  participat- 
ing in  our  cause,  viewing  the  matter  from  a  literary  standpoint. 
Let  us  note  a  few  of  our  best  literary  papers.  The  Brilliant, 
that  magnificent  magazine,  replete  with  the  very  choicest  contrib- 
uted and  editorial  matter,  larger  and  by  far  superior  to  any  other 
magazine  yet  published  by  amateur  journalists.  The  Falladium, 
Irving  Magazine,  Bijou,  Nulli  Secundus,  Mistletoe,  Violet  and 
Norm  are  all  worthy  specimens  of  our  work.  Who  can  possibly 
read  through  these  journals  and  fail  to  recognize  the  rapid  strides 
of  progress  made  in  our  work  ? 

The  all-editorial  paper  is  comparatively  a  new  growth  in  our 
institution,  but  it  is  from  the  sound  and  logical  utterances  of 
these  editorial  mouth  pieces  that  the  public  opinion  of  our  little 
world  is  moulded.  The  editor  of  the  editorial  sheet,  provided 
he  possesses  the  requisite  vim,  intelligence  and  personality,  com- 
mands a  potent  influence  over  his  contemporaries.  The  editorials 
prove  the  calibre  of  the  man,  much  more  plainly  than  a  story  or 
poem  possibly  could.  There  is  a  deal  of  difference  in  the  writer 
expressing  other  people's  thoughts  through  the  mediem  of  a 
sketch,  and  expressing  his  own  in  the  editorial  "we."  A  fair- 
minded,  consistent  editorial  writer  is  a  blessing  to  the  cause  of 
Amateur  Journalism,  and  there  are  many  such  among  us   today. 

In  conclusion,  we  may  say  that  the  progress  and  growth  of  our 
cause  has  been  rapid,  and  as  the  year  1887-1888  has  proven,  it  is 
lasting.  That  Amateur  Journalism  is  today  enjoying  its  greatest 
prosperity  is  a  fact  that  cannot  be  gainsayed.  That  it  will  con- 
tinue to  advance  and  gain  power  is  the  fervent  wish  not  only  of 
the  writer,  but  of  all  those  who  have  enjoyed  and  observed  its 
manifold  advantages  as  a  literary  institution. 

Volume  X  of  the  National  Amateur  was  published  in  bi- 
monthly numbers.  The  September  issue  was  of  ten  pages,  con- 
taining a  page  of  "representative  amateur  verse;"  an  article  on 
Amateur  Journalism ;  minutes  of   the   Philadelphia   convention ; 


192  HISTORY    OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

reports  of  offiners ;  bulletin  of  new  papers;  "news  'round  the 
circle,"  from  various  localities;  editorial  paragraphs  and  the 
president's  message.  The  December  issue  was  eight  pages,  con- 
taining several  reprinted  poems,  "some  gossip  about  amateur 
papers,"  several  critical  articles,  news  'round  the  circle,  bulletif> 
and  editorials.  The  January  issue  of  eight  pages,  contained 
"some  amateur  sonnets,"  an  entry  for  the  essay  laureateship^ 
by  B.  P.  Emery ;  a  classification  of  poets,  story  and  sketch 
^■riters,  essayists,  editors,  critics  and  papers;  news  'round  the 
circle^  bulletin,  president's  message,  editorial,  etc.  The  March 
issue,  eight  pages,  contained  the  usual  amount  of  v.erse,  the 
treasurer's  report,  bulletin,  editorial,  news  'round  the  circle, 
classification,  etc.  The  May  issue,  eight  pages,  contained  several 
poems;  a  critical  article  on  H.  D.  Hughes  by  S.  S.  Stiuson,  edi- 
torials, bulletin,  news  'round  the  circle,  personals,  aad  the  first 
part  of  an  article  on  "some  old  amateur  papers."  The  July  issue^ 
four  pages,  contained  the  conclusion  of  the  article  on  old  amateur 
papers  and  editorial  notes. 


CHAPTER  16. 

A  YEAR  OF  GOOD  WORK. 
I^AUREATE  Recorder  Barker's  Report. — Review  of  the  Year's 
Work. — The    Chicago    Convention. — Barker    Elected, 
Over  Woollen.— Moore's  Name  Put  on  the  Presidential 
Roster. — The  National  Asatilcr. 

LAUREATE  Recorder  Albert  E,  Barker  reviewed  the  year's 
woik  from  convention  to  convention  as  follows: 
At  Philadelphia  in  1887,  after  an  exciting  campaign, 
in  which  Mr.  Will  S.  Moore's  election  to  the  presidency  of  the 
National  Association  seemed  a  foregone  conclusion,  circumstances 
arose  which  resulted  in  Mr.  Moore's  defeat  and  the  election  of 
Mr.  S.  S.  Stinson,  of  Philadelphia. 

Upon  the  accession  of  Mr.  Stinson,  Amateur  Journalism  was  in 
a  seriously  divided  state  of  mind.  Mr.  Moore's  friends  were 
positive  in  their  convictions  that  their  favorite  had  been  illegally 
deprived  of  his  rights,  while  upon  the  other  hand  a  majority  of  the 
delegates  present  at  the  convention  were  equally  as  positive  in 
theircouvictions  that  no  other  action  could  have  been  taken,  and 
that  Stinson' s  title  was  bej/ond  question. 

New  England  amateurs  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  their  way, 
and  no  revival  was  apparent  in  that  section/  Some  slight  com- 
motion was  caused  by  the  efforts  of  the  Eastern  Association  to 
secure  a  foothold  in  Ne TV  England,  but  the  New  England  Asso- 
ciation, which  met  in  Hartford  in  January,  effectually  disposed 
of  that  question,  for  the  lime  being,  by  a  vigorous  resolution 
denouncing  all  New  England  men -who  should  in  any  manner  give 
countenance  or  support  to  the  efforts  of  the  Eastern  Association. 
Fred  D.  Cole's  Smiles  and  Satire  increased  the  reputation  it  had 
fast  been  winning  as  a  bright  and  sparkling  all-editorial  sheet. 
The  Yade  Mecum  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  Truman 
J.  Spencer,  who,  becoming  enthused,  re-enlisted  under  the  ban- 
ner he  had  served  so  faithfully  and  well  in  days  gone  by.  The 
Bay  State  Amateur  assumed  the  lead  of  Massachusetts  papers, 
under  the  management  of  W.  E.  Baldwin,  an  enthusiastic  and 
talented  young  man  of  Pittsfield,  while  the  old  Nutmeg  State 
developed  a  promising  recruit  in  the  person  of  Newton  C.  Smith, 
of  Waterbuiy. 

After  the  usual  period  of  inactivity  so  prone  to  follow  the 
meetings  of  our  prominent  associations,  New  York  shook  off  its 
lethargy  and  aroused  the  energies  of  Brodie,    Heislein,  Connolly, 


394  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

Block,  and  other  well  known  leaders  in  behalf  of  their  former 
love.  Messrs.  Cramer  and  Wolffe  issued  perhaps  the  finest  mag- 
azine of  the  season,  under  the  title  of  the  Irving  Magazine.  Mr. 
Boechat's  paper  appeared  regularly  for  several  months  succeed- 
ing the  convention,  an  admirable  departure  and  example  set  to 
defeated  candidates.  Mr.  Ottinger's  Nulli  Secundus  made  a 
struggle  to  prove  true  to  its  name.  Mr.  Kempner  issued  a  num- 
ber of  his  Union  Lance  and  Joseph  Dana  Miller  apparently  at 
last  and  in  earnest  retired  from  his  active  authorial  duties.  The 
Amateur  Mews,  under  the  management  of  Messrs.  Chrystie  and 
Dodd,  soon  placed  itself  in  the  first  rank  of  literary  journals. 
New  York  was  the  head  center  of  all  activity  in  book  publishing 
this  year.  Mr.  Boechat  had  the  honolr  of  puDlishing  the  first 
N.  A.  P.  A.  year  book  our  Association  had  ever  seen.  Although 
a  private  enterprises,  it  was,  nevertheless,  so  entirely  and  exclu- 
sively devoted  to  matters  of  interest  and  moment  to  our  National 
Association,  that  its  name,  though  never  officially  authorized,  was 
but  natural  and  proper.  It  proved  so  valuable  as  a  book  of 
reference  that  its  continuancec  from  year  to  year  seemed  a  matter 
of  necessit}^  and  thanks  to  Mr.  Ottinger,  the  year  book  for 
1887-8  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  subscribers  on  the  first  of  June, 
fully  illustrated,  and  a  volume  indi^pensible  to  the  amateur 
student.  "Coral  Gems,"  '^Rosebuds,"  "Flutterings  of  Rhyme," 
"Morning  Glories,"  and  two  or  three  other  volumes  of  more  or 
less  value  were  also  given  to  the  public  by  our  New  York  friends. 

New  Jersey  was  enlivened  by  the  return  of  John  Moody  and 
Herbert  Reid,  while  several  promising  recruits  were  enlisted 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Burger. 

As  usual  in  a  convention  city,  the  amateurs  of  Philadelphia, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  took  their  customary  sleep.  The  Ideal, 
under  Messrs.  Schermerhorn  and  Hochstadter ;  the  Bising  Age, 
with  W.  C.  Chiles  as  editor,  and  the  Arena  of  our  worthy  presi- 
dent, were  notable  exceptions.  The  latter  journal  is  remarkable 
for  the  large  number  of  laureate  entries  it  succeeded  in  presenting 
to  the  literary  lovers  of  our  Association. 

Osborne  I.  Yellott,  of  Towson,  Md.,  by  original,  though  crude, 
illustrations,  and  earnest  work,  made  for  himself  a  reputation  and 
name  which  few  secure  in  so  short  a  time. 

The  Southern  States  did  not  display  great  activity.  Except 
Texas,  which  sent  out  two  or  three  journals,  Kentucky  was  the 
only  state  in  this  section  to  distinguish  itself,  which  it  did  through 
the  earnest  efforts  of  Anthony  G.  Kreidler,  of  Dayton,  whose 
Xi^era  Jfa^a2;me  ranked  among  the  finest  of  its  class  in  Ama- 
teurdom. 

Cincinnati  sent  out  but  one  or  two  journals  of  prominence,  the 
€hief  of  which  was  Mr.  Lindsley's  Falladiuni.     The  holiday  num- 


HISTORY  OF  THK  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 


195 


ber  of  this  journal  was  especially  admiral)le.  Mrs.  Swift  discon- 
tinued lier  editorial  labors,  while  her  husband  undertook  a  con- 
tinuance of  the  same.  One  number  of  the  Fio?e<  appeared  under 
his  control,  when  it  finally  suspended.  Tiffin  and  Cleveland  were 
the  only  other  cities  to  show  activity  in  Ohio. 

Indiana's  principal  worker,  Harry  F.  'I  hompson,  editor  of 
Bizarre,  was  compelled  to  go  south  for  iiis  health  earlj'  in  the 
winter,  which  caused  a  decided  lull  in  amateur  affairs  of  that 
State. 

Illinois  held  her  own.  President  Carter,  in  connection  with 
the  writer,  resurrected  the  old  Exchange- Journal,  and  with  the 
March  number  they  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  R.  B.  Teachenor, 
one  of  its  original  editors.  H.  R.  Cody  in  the  Bay  had  one  of 
the  leading  papers  of  the  West,  while  the  Covwientator ,  although 
deprived  of  Mr.  Mellinger's  services,  held  the  high  position  it 
had  formerly  obtained,  both  editorially  and  in  the  excellence  of 
its  contributions.  The  Chicago  Junior  Press  Club  was  reorgan- 
ized in  January,  and  its  menbership  was  increased  to  between 
thirty-five  and  forty  by  the  first  of  July.  Mendota.  Ottnua  aid 
several  other  cities  continued  their  labors  for  the  can-e. 

Wisconsin  was  gladdened  early  it  the  fall  by  the  return  toacli\iry 
of  Messrs.  Mueller  and  Phillips,  whose  Truth  at  once  assumed  a 
prominent  position  as  an  all-editorial  journal.  It  wa*  further 
eiriched  later  on  by  the  return  of  Ex- President  H^^nHi  from 
Florida,  and  his  immediate  activity.  .  Ex-President  Grant  and 
wife  removed  from  their  Dakota  home  to  Milwaukee  early  in  the 
year.  W.  S.  Dunlop  returned  to  activity  with  a  masazTne,  and 
Fish  and  Barnett  materially  improved  the  Youth.  Upm  the 
whole,  Wisconsin  showed  the  most  signs  of  a  healthy  orowth  of 
any  State  in  the  Union. 

West  of  the  Mississippi  slight  activity  was  witnessed.  Iowa's 
amateur  centers  were  Davenport,  Marion  and  Fort  Madison. 
Messrs.  Kellogg  Brothers,  of  Davenport,  sent  out  a  novelty  in  the 
shape  of  a  magazine  called  the  Mikado.  Hal  C.  Bixby's  Bazoo 
appeared  as  usual,  while  the  Helios  Magazine,,  under  the  editor- 
ship of  Stempel  Brothers,  assumed  considerable  prominence  as  a 
literary  journal.  E.  E.  Bryant's  Pen  and  Press  appeared 
regularly  from  St.  Cloud,  while  the  Brilliant  maintained  its 
former  high  reputation  for  true  merit.  Nebraska's  sole  represen- 
tative was  Etchings,  which,  under  the  management  of  F.  D. 
Woollen  stood  very  near  the  head  of  onr  literary  magazines. 
From  Colorado  appeared  Ifixed  PicMes.  by  Bert  Cui»ningham, 
and  PricUy  Pear,  by  W.  C.  Davis.  California's  activity  steadily 
degenerated.  Mr.  Moore's  Pacific  Courant  ai)peared  regularly 
with  Messrs.  Hunter,  James  and  Hollub  as  associates.  Mr. 
Ephriam's   New  Moon  appeared  once,  and  with  the  exception  of 


196  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

tlie  Coster  froti)  Sauta  Barbara,  and  one  or  two  minor  sheets, 
these  were  the  only  journals  which  served  to  keep  alive  the 
interest  of  that  S*^^ate,  until  late  in  the  spring,  when  Mr.  Magill 
rei»!sued  his  Bumble  Bee, 

Upon  the  whole  Aniatenrdoin  finds  little  encouragement  in  the 
Yfar  just  drawn  to  a  close.  The  general  quality  of  our  papeis 
has  baen  l>uL  little  above  mediocrity,  editorially  as  well  as  in  a 
literary  sense. 

The  campaign  lor  the  presidency  opened  with  the  new  year, 
the  candidates  being  Frank  D.  Woollen  and  Albert  PI  Barker. 
The  main  political  interest  centered  in  the  presidential  contest, 
and  the  canvass  was  vigorously  made  on  both  sides. 

In  Stars  and  Stripes  for  September,  1888,  Mr.  John  T.  Nixon 
gave  an  account  of  the  1888  convention,  at  Chicago,  from  which 
the  following  is  taken  ; 

The  following  notice  was  tacked  up  in  the  Tremont  hotel  office: 

The  thirteenth  annual  convention  of  the  Xutional  Amateur  Press 
A,«sociatlon  will  be  Ciiilod  to  order  at  10.30.  a.  in..  July  5, 1888. 

Sam  S.  Stinson,  The  One  President. 

The  caucuses  were  held  that  evening,.  Stinson  alone  attending 
neither. 

The  next  tnorning  at  10  :45  President  Stinson  rapped  the  coii- 
vpii ion  to  order. 

;;>o-!it  out   tlie   fact    ihat    there    were    t  wcnty-rliree 
1  oent.      Recording  Secu'etary  Isuroer  read  the  minutes 

ot  the  Phi huieiphia  convention  from  the  National  Amaieur.  The 
Tote  stood  fourteen  for  and  six  against  adopting  (hem,  the  chair- 
man and  two  otlier  members  not  voting. 

At  12:16  the  second  session  was  called  to  order,  Stinson  it  the 
chair.  Minor  committee  work  transacted.  The  convention  we  it 
into  commiitee  of  the  whole  on  the  new  constitution,  Mellinger  in 
the  clitiir.  Action  deferred  until  old  and  new  constitutions  could 
be  oriiite^l  side  by  side  for  comparison.  Proxy  committee 
aj^poinied  and  convention  adjourned  until  7  p.  m. 

At  7:oO  tlie  third  session  vvas  called  to  order.  Report  of  the 
crelp  i''''-.!  t'o-.nirlttce  rea.l.  Objections  made  to  several  appli- 
canes,  but  overruled  on  a  vote. 

Committee  on  proxies  reported  tliroutrh  Hochstadter,  chairmar. 
Sixty-two  proxies  were  accepted;  one  thrown  out.  Over  this  one 
proxy  ballot  there  arose  the  bitterest  fight  of  the  convention 
The  illegality  of  the  ballot  lay  in  the  fact  that  it  was  not  signed. 
It  was  on  an  official  blatik,  |)roperly  enclosed  and  sealed  in  an 
official  envelope,  which  was  marked  with  name  of  sender.  Bur- 
ger moved  that  it  be  thrown  out.       An    aye   aiid    nay    vote    was 


HISTORY   OF   THK   NATIONAL   AMATEUK    PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      197 

oalled  for  and  Secretary  Burger  announced  the  vote  as  thirteen 
nays  and  twenty-nine  ayes.*  From  the  smaller  side  of  the  house 
there  immediately  came  objections  to  the  count.  Many  of  us  had 
tallied  the  vote  as  called,  and  counted  sixteen  nays.  The  chair 
requested  those  who  had  voted  "nay"  to  range  themselves  in  line 
along  the  wall  to  be  counted.  The  line  contained  Woollen, 
Lindsley,  Dunlop,  Day,  Antisdel,  Davenport,  McCabe,  Heath, 
Nixon,  Bigelow,  Hochstadter,  Houghton,  Bull,  Davis  and  two 
Heyn  brothers— sixteen  in  all.  Secretary  Burger  glanced  down 
the  line,  and,  bending  again  to  the  desk,  announced  "thirteen." 
The  miscounted  sixteen  were  all  mad,  and  numerous  uncompli- 
mentary remarks  were  cast  at  the  secretary.  Again  the  line 
formed  and  again  they  were  counted— this  lime  by  Sliuson. 
"Thirteen"  was  his  an  noun  cement  also. 

The  situation  was  a  trying  one,  and  a  fouilh  count,  calling 
each  voter  by  name,  con-ectly  recorded  us  as  sixteen.  In  justice 
to  Mr.  Stiason,  who,  I  am  sure,  was  trying  to  be  fair  to  all  parties, 
I  will  state  that  three  of  the  side  were  standing  back  of  ihe  table, 
and  in  his  excitement  he  failed  to  notice  them.  The  other  side 
was  correctly  counted  and  Heath  moved  a  vote  of  censure  on  Mr. 
Burger  "or  an  aliemp;:  to  f al  dry  the  records.  It  was  lo.:;  by  a 
strict  party  vole.  Barger  moved  Laat  the  vote  as  iiislauaounced 
— thirteen  to  tweuty-nme — be  accepted  as  the  true  voie,  and  so 
entered  on  the  minutes.     This  was  carried  by  another  party  vote. 

♦Recording  secretary  reported  the  motion  carried,  it  having  received 
the  necessary  two-thirds  vote,  29  to  13.  Mr.  Hochstadter  demanded 
a  division.  On  standing  vote  President  Stinson  declared  the  result  to 
be  28  to  13.  Mr.  Heath  protested  that  the  negative  vote  was  not 
correct,  and  asked  permission  to  have  the  members  form  in  line. 
Unanimously  granted.  On  this  count  Messrs.  Hochstadter  and  Heyn, 
who  were  recorded  in  the  affirmative,  changed  to  the  negative,  ana 
Messrs.  Bigelow  and  McCabe.  having  finished  their  conv^^rsation  in 
one  of  the  windows,voting  in  the  negative,  made  the  result  17.— Official 
minutes  of  Chicago  convention.  National  Amateur,  September,  1888, 

A  motion  w^as  made  and  carried  that  the  minutes  [of  the  Chicago 
convention]  be  adopted  as  read,  and  that  Mr.  Hochstadter  go  on  record 
having  objected  to  the  statement  of  his  vote.— Official  minutes  of 
Buffalo  convention,  National  Amateur,  September,  1889. 

We  see  by  the  minutes  of  the  National  convention  at  Chicago,  as 
published  in  the  National  Amateur,  that  McCabe  and  Bigelow  are  said 
to  have  voted  in  the  negative  on  the  Mcintosh  proxy  question,  on  the 
last  ballot,  ^'having  finished  th^^ir  conversation  in  one  of  the  windows." 
This  is  a  mistake.  We  voted  nay  in  the  first  place,  voted  the  same 
when  the  division  was  called  for,  and,  wten  the  permission  to  form  in 
line  was  given,  we  stood  directly  in  front  of  one  of  the  windows, 
against  which  we  naturally  rested  our  wearied  frames.  We  were 
conversing  in  a  low  tone  at  times,  as  were  others,  but  as  w^e  were  in 
the  direct  line  with  others  on  either  side,  and  with  none  but  those 
voting  standing  on  the  floor,  we  felt  a  natural  certainty  of  being 
counted.— Lewis  C.  Bigelow  in  Dowagiac  News,  October,  1888. 


198  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

The  uusealed  ballots  of  Di.  and  Mrs.  Swift  were  accepted.  The 
committee's  report  as  a  whole  was  then  accepted,  and  President 
Stinson  announced  that  nominations  for  his  successor  were  in 
order.  Hope  R.  Cody  nominated  Barker.  The  nomination  was 
seconded  by  Messrs.  Hotz  and  Ryan,  of  Chicago.  George  E. 
Da}^  nominated  Woollen,  the  nomination  being  seconded  by  Heath. 
Tellers  were  appointed.  Amid  comparative  silence  the  ballots 
were  dropped  in  the  hat,  and  after  the  count  the  result  was 
announced  as  follows :  Barker,  fifty-live;  Woollen,  forty-eight; 
Barker  elected. 

Immediately  there  arose  a  great  din.  "What's  the  matter  with 
Barker?"  "He's  all  right!"  were  echoed  and  re-echoed,  and 
three  cheers  were  given  the  elected  and  defeated  candidates. 
Barker  took  the  chair  and  made  a  speech,  beginning,  "This  is  the 
proudest  moment  of  my  fife."  A  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered 
Stinson,  and  to  loud  cries  of  "speech"  he  resjK)nded  in  a  short 
talk.  He  accusred  the  prt'sident  of  ph  gairizing  his  opening 
sentence,  as  he  distinctly  remembered  hearing  Russell  at  the 
Philadelphia  convention  exclaim,  "This  is  the  proudest  moment 
of  my  life."  A.  G.  J)avis  wis  nominated  for  first  vice-president, 
and  the  convention  adjourned  until  morning. 

Next  morning  a  convention  photo,  with  forty  faces,  was  taken. 
At  the  fourth  session,  election  of  first  vice-president  was  in  order. 
There  was  no  election  on  the  first  ballot  and  a  second  was  taken, 
resulting:  Spencer,  thirty-one;  MacK',  lone ;  A.  G.  Davis,  five. 
Spencer  declared  elected.  Barker  ruled  out  the  proxies  after  the 
first  ballot,  without  tlie  formality  of  voting  on  it.  For  second 
vice-president  the  first  ballot  stood  :  Mrs.  Ottinger,  twenty-five  ; 
Miss  Philips,  nineteen  ;  Cody,  two ;  Cramer,  five ;  Mack,  fif- 
teen;  scattering,  thirty-five.  Second  l)allot,  Mrs.  Ottinger, 
twenty-two;  Miss  Phillips,  eighteen;  Mrs.  Ottinger  elected.  For 
third  vice-president  Lewis  C.  Bigelow  was  nominated  :  proxies 
thrown  out  and  Bigelow  elected  unanimously.  For  recording 
secretary  Block  and  Burger  were  nominated.  The  ballot  stood: 
Burger,  seventeen;  Chrystie,  thirteen;  Block,  thirty-three; 
Scattering,  thirty- three.  No  choice.  Before  another  ballot  was 
taken,  Burger  in  a  long  speech,  withdrew  his  name.  A  letter  was 
read  from  Christie,  also  declining,  and  Block  was  elected  unani- 
mously. For  corresponding  secretary,  George  W.  Dodd  was 
elected  on  the  first  ballot,  recei\ing  forty-five  of  the  eighty-nine 
votes  cast.  For  treasurer,  'J  omlinson  and  Hopkins  were  nomin- 
ated. Tomlinson  elected  on  first  ballot,  receiving  fifty-one  votes. 
For  ofUcial  editor,  Messrs.  Mellinger,  Brodie,  Cole,  Spencer  and 
and  Mrs.  Bertha  Grant  were  nominated.  The  chair  ruled  that 
any  member  could  be  elected  to  all  the  officers  within  the  gift  of 
the  Association.     'J'his  made  Spencer  eligii)Ie.     The  vote  of   the 


HISTOHV  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION  199 

convention  lay  between  Spencer  and  Mrs.  Grant.  First  ballot: 
Spencer,  forty-six ;  Brodie,  fifteen  ;  Mrs.  Grant,  fourteen  ;  Cole, 
nine ;  Mellinger,  two.  No  choice.  Second  ballot :  Spencer,  nine- 
teen ;  Mrs.  Grant,  fifteen  ;  Brodie  one.     Spencer  declared  elected. 

Adjourned  until  7  :30  p.  m.  After  dinner  came  the  ball  game 
at  Lincoln  park.  Legler  and  Stinson  headed  the  sides.  At  the 
end  of  the  second  inning  darkness  began  to  close  in  and  the  game 
was  called.  The  score  stood:  Leglers,  six;  Stinsons,  eight. 
H.  E.  Heyn  umpired  the  first  half  of  the  game  under  an  umbrella, 
but  ingloriously  retired  when  hit  by  the  ball. 

At  8  p.  m.  the  fifth  (and  last)  session  assembled.  On  second 
ballot  Buffalo  was  selected  for  next  meeting  place  by  a  majority 
of  four  votes.  For  executive  judges,  Woollen,  Day  and  Boechat 
were  selected  after  quite  a  tussel.  Mellinger  presented  Brodie' s 
"scheme"  for  the  benefit  of  fossils,  and  it  was  adopted.  Legler, 
after  a  short  introductory  speech,  read  the  following  set  of  resolu- 
tions, and  moved  they  be  adopted  by  the  convention  : 

The  jS'ational  Amateur  Press  Association  in  convention  assembled 
in  Chicago,  July  6,  1888,  recognizes  the  honest,  indefatigable  and 
effective  work  done  by  S.  S.  Stinson  while  acting  president  of  the 
Association  during  the  past  twelve  months.  It  commends  him  for  his 
wise,  careful  and  prudent  admmistration,  which  it  fully  endorses,  and 
it  honors  him  for  the  manly,  unselfish  manner  in  which  he  took  hold 
of  the  administrative  duties  of  the  presidential  office  under  the  most 
trying  circumstances,  and  absolves  him  from  any  blame  whatever  in  the 
unfortunate  chain  of  circumstances  that  led  to  the  defeat  of  the  popular 
will  at  Philadelphia  last  July. 

Believing  that  justice  to  Will  S.  Moore,  justice  to  S.  S. 
Stinson,  and,  above  all  justice  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  demands 
that  the  will  of  the  majority  should  not  be  stifled,  especially  under 
pretexts  controverting  the  principles  and  direct  stipulations  of  the 
constitution,  this  convention  hereby  declares  that  Will  S.  Moore, 
according  to  all  law  and  evidence,  received  a  majority  of  the  legal 
votes  cast  in  Philadelphia  for  the  presidential  office,  and  shall  here- 
after figure  on  the  roll  of  presidents  of  this  Association. 

The  chair  ruled  the  motion  to  adopt  out  of  order  while  the 
minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  convention  remained  as  adopted  at  a 
previous  session.  In  explanation,  Mr.  Legler  stated  that  he  had 
no  desire  to  erase  Mr.  Stinson's  name  from  the  list  of  presidents. 
No  action  of  the  Chicago  convention  could  change  the  decisions 
of  the  officers  who  presided  at  Philadelphia,  and  any  attempt  to 
change  the  minutes  of  that  gathering  would  be  wrong,  and  would 
tend  to  falsify  the  records.  The  minutes,  he  argued,  were  merely 
a  record  of  the  transactions  of  the  convention,  and  as  such  the 
minutes  of  the  Philadelphia  meeting  should -not  be  altered.  The 
positi®n  of  the  chair  was  ably  defended  by  Mr.  Burger  and 
others,  and  the  discussion  waxed  warm.  An  appeal  was  made 
from  the  chair's  (decision,  which  was  carried  by  a  vote  of  13  ayes  to 
5  nays..    The  decision  being  thus  reversed,  the  motion   was  put 


200 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


and  carried,  live  members  voting  nay,  tlie  rest  voting  aye  or 
remaining  silent. 

There  was  considerable  confusion.  Tiie  room  was  stifling 
hot,  and  man}-  of  the  amateurs  were  tired  out.  The  convention 
had  done  nothing  but  elect  officers,  and  had  been  in  session  two 
whole  days.  Carter  had  made  several  attempts  to  adjourn  until 
the  morrow,  but  had  been  voted  downeveiy  time.  A  motion  was 
made  to  adjourn,  and  the  chair  warned  the  members  that  if  it 
carried  he  could  not  call  the  meeting  until  next  July,  and  then  in 
Buffalo.  To  the  surprise  of  many  it  carried,  and  the  convention 
adjourned  sine  die. 

Immediately  there  arose  a  great  hubbub.  The  visiting  ama- 
teurs were  tired  of  staying  there,  but  some  of  Chicago's  famous 
debaters  were  not  satisfied  with  their  manipulation  of  the  politics 
of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association.  Individuals  whose 
sole  claim  as  amateur  journalists  lay  in  the  fact  that  they  had 
"t'ead  origioal  essays  at  late  meetings  of  the  Chicago  Junior  Press 
Club,  paced  the  halls,  loudly  reviling  those  who  had  come  many 
miles  to  be  present  and  participate  in  the  exercises.  Fraud  was 
claimed  and  talk  of  a  special  meeting  indulged  in,  but  finally  the 
neated  ones  cooled  off. 

As  a  number  of  the  boys  were  to  leave  in  the  mor>;iug,  i-.Vi  oi  us 
sat  up  late,  indulging  in  chat  with  ams.  whom  we  might  never 
meet  again. 

The  official  minutes  give  additional  details : 

President  Stinson  appointed protem  officers:  W.  E.  Melliuger, 
first  vice-president;  N.  N.  Block,  second  vice-president;  H.  C. 
Hochstader.  third  vice-president;  H.  M.  Carter  and  P.  A.  Burke, 
associate  members  of  credential  committee  with  G.  E.  Day  as 
chairman. 

Following  members  present:  W.  R.  Antisdel,  P.  A.  Burke, 
C.  R.  Burger,  J.  C.  Bull,  H.  M.  Carter,  G.  E.  Day,  H.  A. 
Heyn,  H.  C.  Hochstadter,  F.  C.  Lindsley,  W.  E.  Mellinger,  J.  J. 
Ottinger,  A.  R.  Parrish,  J.  D.  Russell,  S.  S.  Stinson,  F.  D. 
Woollen. 

N.  N.  Block's  name  added  to  list. 

Following  amateurs  elected  to  membership:  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Barker,  L.  C.  Bigelow,  E.  H.  Barnard,  R.  B.  Cramer,  H.  R. 
Cody,  M.  A.  Cohen,  B.  E.  Cunningham,  F.  B.  Davenport,  A. 
G.  Davis,  George  W.  Dodd,  N.  H.  Ferguson.  W.  J.  Hunter,  F. 
Hanchett,  E.  C.  Hall,  J.  S.  Hall,  D.  P.  Hurlburt,  H.  Strom,  F. 
R.  Luescher,  E.  J.  Mock,  R.  G.  Mackav,  W.  F.  Moody,  S.  O. 
Mumford,  R.  D.  McAllister,  J.  J.  Mack,  W.  Muirhead,  J.  T. 
Nixon,  Mrs.  John  J.  Ottinger,  J.  P.  Paret,  W.  E.  Price,  E.  G. 
Palmer,  O.  Praeger,  R.  M.Rawlins,  I.  J.  Romer,   M.    H.   Shelp, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        ^01 

N.  C.  Smith,  J.  D.  Steffian,  A.  C.  Stempel,  P.  W.  Sweet,  J.  L. 
Tomlinson,  M.  VV.  Van  Winkle,  H.  W.  Warner,  O.  I.  Yellott, 
W.  C.  Collins,  W.  C.  Pinckoey,  E.  P.  Knowles,  W.  B.  Burger, 
J.  T.  Walton,  Louis  Drake,  J.  D.  Carr,  C.  F.  Goodrich,  E.  P. 
Cook,  Oscar  Reum,  B.  H.  J.  Gonden,  A.  G.  Holland,  E.  Heyn, 
J.  Heyn,  L.  O.  VanRiper,  E.  O.  Vanderslice,  C.  S.  Zimmerman, 
— Ryan,  C.  H.  Frost,  Richard  Ferris,  E.  A.Hotz,  Frederick  Kemp. 

Mr.  Mellinger  offered  the  following  amendment  to  the  consti- 
tution, which  was  adopted: 

Article  X,  Section  5,  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding 
secretaiy  to  receive  copies  of  current  amateur  publications  for  distri- 
bution among  such  of  the  inactive  members  of  the  Association  as  may. 
on  payment  of  twenty-five  cents  yearly  dues,  request  the  same. 

The  reports  of  the  laureate  judges  showed  that  J.  D.  Miller 
had  won  the  essay  title  with  his  entry,  "Laud  Nationalization''  ; 
J.  J.  Mack  the  sketch  laureateship  with  "Hezekiah,  or  the  Pink 
Lady,"  and  B.  P.  Emery  the  poet  laureateship  with  "Pan,  Pan 
is  Dead." 

President  Barker,  just  after  the  convention,  announced  the 
following  committees : 

Revision  of  constitution — l^ouis  Kempner,  chairman  ;  M.  F. 
Boechat,  H.  R.  Cody. 

Credentials— C.  R.  Burger,  chairman  ;  F.  D.  Cole,  H.  H.  Eish. 

Editorial  award— 7F.  A.  Grant,  chairman ;  Miss  Helen  G. 
Phillips,  M.  J.  Harty. 

He  also  announced  the  appointment,  by  both  president  and 
judiciary  committee,  of  Warner  J.  Brodie  as  first  vice-president,  in 
place  of  Mr.  Spencer,  who  had  resigned  because  he  was  nlso 
elected  official  editor. 

Volume  XI  of  the  National  Awiateur  was  the  prettiest  and  best 
edited  volume  yet  sent  out.  It  consisted  of  four  issues,  two  of 
eight  and  two  of  four  pages  each.  The  September  issue  contained 
the  official  minutes,  the  new  constitution  offered  by  the  revision 
committee,  president's  message  and  editorial  matter.  The 
December  issue  contained  the  reports  of  laureate  recorder,  news 
of  the  associations  and  editorial  matter.  The  March  issue  con- 
tained president's  message,  notices  on  the  death  of  Messrs,  Reeve, 
Stowell,  and  Steele  and  Mrs.  Gracia  S.  Woffenden,  an  editorial 
review  of  proposed  changes  in  the  constitution,  and  editorial 
notes.  The  concluding  issue  of  the  volume  contained  the  usual 
official  matter,  an  explanatory  article  oil  Amateur  Journalism  and 


202  HI8T0BY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PBESS  ASSOCIATION. 

several  pages  of  editorial.  Mr.  Spencer  made  the  Amateur  an 
official  organ  in  fact,  and  quite  a  contrast  to  that  of  Mr.  Woollen. 

In  his  message  in  the  March,  1889,  Amateur,  President  Barker 
named  July  4,  5  and  6  as  the  date  of  the  1890  convention,  and 
Messrs.  M.  F.  Boechat,  chairman;  J.  J.  Ottinger,  N.  N.  Block, 
T.  H.  Parsons  and  M.  A.  Cohen  as  reception  committee. 

Mr.  W.  O.  Wylie  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  committee  on 
editorial  award,  vice  Miss  Helen  G.  Phillips,  resigned. 

Mr.  H.  M.  Carter  was  appoiMted  laureate  recorder. 

In  the  June  National  Amateur  President  Barker  announced 
the  selection  of  C.  N.  Andrews  as  corresponding  secretary,  vice 
G.  W.  Dodd,  resigned. 


CMflFTER  17. 

BUFFALO'S  SECOND  CONVENTION. 

The  Conservative  Party  Organized. — The  Buffalo  Conven- 
tion.^Election  of  Officers. ^The  New  Constitl'tion.— 
Alumni  Organizations. 

ARLY  in  the  year  1889  a  circular  letter  was  sent  out  to  a 
select  number  of  amateurs,  containing  announcement  of 
the  organization  of  a  new  party.     This  circular  read  as 
follows : 

THE  CONSERVATIVE  PARTY  OF  AMATEURDOM. 

announcement. 
This  is  to  give  notice  that  a  number  of  amateur   journalists, 
from  strictest  motives   of    uprightness   and   a   desire   to  benefit 
amateur  politics,  have  organized  a  political  party  to  be  known  by 
the  above  caption. 

This  party  is,  in  part,  the  crystallization  of  the  opposition  to 
radical  movements  of  this  and  other  years,  and  as  it  is  founded 
by  conscientious  amateurs,  it  is  expected  to  reflect  the  virtue  of 
well-meaning  amateurs  and,  in  the  correction  of  political  abuses,  to 
be  of  immeasurable  good  to  the  cause.  Its  reasons  for  existence 
are  manifold : 

1.  Because  there  are  print'i[)les  that  need  its  championship 
and  demand  its  existence ;  in  its  work  of  concentrating  these 
principles  and  in  firmly  establishing  them,  it  will  become  a  mighty 
medium  for  good  results. 

2.  Because  Amateuidora's  highest  ofl^ces  should  be  placed  in 
most  competent  hands  and  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  ruled  by  its  greatest 
minds.  Its  solicitous  workers  of  long  service  who  bear  its  bur- 
dens on  unflinching  and  devoted  shoulders  should  stand  foremost 
in  its  councils.  To  place  the  "laurels"  where  most  deserved  shall 
be  the  Conservative  party's  constant  endeavor.  The  Conservative 
party  believes  that  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  offices  should  be  so  guarded 
that  the  only  means  of  official  distinction  would  be  through  an 
honorable  and  devoted  career  in  the  cause. 

3.  Because  laxity  has  been  rampant  too  long  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  our  oflSces,  a  condition  the  party  aims  to  supplant  with 
business-like  and  sj'stematic  methods  ;  and  lastly- — 

4.  Because  it  realizes  the  evils  of  promiscuous  nominations  and 
its  co-evil,  that  of  personal  ambitious  office-seeking,  often  seating 
the  inefficient  and  the  unwortbv. 


204      HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

PLATFORM. 

I.  The  Consrvative  party  is  in  hearty  sympathy  with  the  line 
Amateurdom  has  hewn  for  itself,  providing  a  popular  educating 
process,  accessable  alike  to  the  humblest  youth  and  the  more 
fortune-favored.  It  believes  in  the  intermixture  of  practical 
literary  work  with  the  opportunities  afforded  for  general  informa- 
tion on  diverse  subjects  useful  to  young  people,  and  affording 
them  such  a  knowledge  of  government  and  parliamentary  matters 
as  to  store  them  with  that  which  will  stand  them  in  good  stead  in 
after  3'ears. 

II.  The  Conservative  party  is  in  direct  sympathy  with  the 
endeavor  to  place  Amateurdom  before  the  public  in  its  true  nature 
as  an  educational  factor  in  the  development  of  the  rising  genera- 
tion. It  is  opposed  to  indiscriminate  recruiting,  but  favors  the 
judicious  advertising  of  the  work,  that  those  of  literary  bent  may 
identify  themselves  with  it. 

III.  The  party  believes  in  the  encouragement  of  the  better 
class  of  our  authorial  talent,  while  not  despising  the  tyro  in  the 
paths  of  composition.  It  hopes  for  the  advancement  of  our 
literary  standard,  champions  the  national  laureate  system,  and 
advocates  the  encouragement  of  literary  discussion,  in  the  English 
language,  in  our  journals.  The  party  recognizes  the  editor  as 
equally  important  with  the  author,  poet  or  essayist. 

IV.  The  Conservative  party  is  opposed  to  all  hasty,  radical 
and  ill-considered  legislation,  and  is  unalterably  opposed  to  early 
campaigning,  which  tends  to  subordinate  literary  applications. 
The  party  earnestly  champions  the  present  proxy-voting  system, 
and  believes  in  the  spirit  as  well  as  in  the  letter  of  the  present 
laws  governing  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  and  believes  in  strict  adherence 
to  them.  It  believes  only  in  the  election  to  office  of  such  mem- 
bers as  are  tried  and  competent  workers  in  the  cause,  who  are 
actively  connected  with  some  journal  in  the  capicity  of  editor  or 
associate  editor  during  their  entire  term,  a  pledge  to  that  effect 
being  required  of  them  upon  the  acceptance  of  a  nomination  for 
official  trust.  The  party  believes  in  the  sancity  of  the  official 
records  and  in  the  necessity  for  their  being  carefully  compiled  and 
preserved  by  publication  in  the  official  organ. 

The  circular  further  explained  that  the  government  of  the 
party  was  to  be  in  the  hands  of  a  central  committee,  of  seven 
members,  each  from  a  certain  district.  Nominations  were  to  be 
made  annually,  during  the  month  of  April,  for  president,  record- 
ing secretary  and  official  editor,  by  postal  card  ballots  sent  to  the 
various  district  heads,  who  gave  returns  to  the  chairman,  who  in 
turn  announced  the  nominees.      The    circular    was    signed   by 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.     205 

Frederick  F.  Heath,  chairman,  an(ithe  central  committee  was 
announced  as  follows  :  First  district,  F.  D.  Cole  ;  second  dis- 
trict, N.  N.  Block;  third  district,  W.  E.  Mellinger,  fourth  dis- 
trict, Frederick  F.  Heath;  fifth  district,  ;  sixtii    district,  F. 

D.  Woollen  ;  seventh  district,  Robert  Mackay. 

Tlie  country  was  divided  into  districts  as  follows. 

First — Maine,  New  Hamphire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Con- 
necticut, Rhode  Island. 

Second — New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Wesi  Virginia,  Virginia, 
New  Jersey,  Maryland. 

Third — Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Tennessee. 

Fourth — Minnesota,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  MicUigan. 

Fifth — North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Florida, 
Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Texas,  Arkansas. 

Sixth — Idaho,  Montana,  Dakota,  Wyoming,  Nebraska,  Utah.^ 
Colorado,  Kansas,  Indian  Territory,  New  Mexico,  Missouri. 

Seventh — Washington,  Oregon,  California,  Nevada,  Arizona. 

About  the  same  time  announcement  was  made  that  Louis 
Kempjier  was  a  candidate  for  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  presidenc}^  and 
an  active  campaign  was  carried  on  in  his  behalf.  The  Knicker- 
bocker A.  P.  A.  endorsed  him,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  can- 
vass was  carried  on  under  its  direction. 

At  the  election  of  the  conservative  party  M.  F.  Boechat  was 
nominated  for  president.  The  two  candidates  named  ,  were  the 
only  ones  before  the  members  of  the  National  at  the  Buffalo  con- 
vention. The  conservative  party  existed  only  for  this  one 
campaign. 

Laureate  Recorder  Howard  M.  Carter,  writing  of  the  year's 
work  from  convention  to  convention,  said  : 

The  administration  of  President  Barker  cannot  be  said  to  have 
been  notable  for  great  things,  but  for  careful  attention  to  all  bus- 
iness  and  for  complete  conscientious  labor  in  all  departments,  it 
has  seldom  been  equalled.  The  membership  increased  about 
twenty  per  cent.  ;  Official  Editor  Spencer  issued  the  National 
Amateur  regularly  and  abl}-,  and  every  officer   did  his  work  well. 

From  Mr.  Carter's  report  we  also  take  the  following  paragraphs 
of  interest : 

Book  publishing  was  not  quite  as  active  as  last  year. 
•'Amenophra,"  by  Ernest  A.  Edkins,  from  the  press  of  Edwin 
B.  Hill,  was  the  most  pretentious  work  of  the  year.  O.  A. 
Mueller  issued,  in  February,  a  volume  of  his  poems,  and  towards 


206  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

the  close  of  the  year  Scherraerhorn  published  a  voliime  of   poems 
and  sketches  by  H.  D.  Hughes. 

The  first  annual  banquet  of  the  California  Alumni  took  place 
in  August,  and  was  a  brilliant  success.  In  November  the  New 
York  Amateur  Associated  Press  celebrated  its  anniversary  with 
a  merry  spread  at  their  club  room.  Speeches  were  made  by  a 
host  of  prominent  amateurs.  Most  of  the  conventions  of  the  year 
were  made  occasions  for  a  feast,  that  at  Buffalo  surpassing  all 
others.  On  the  whole,  the  social  features  of  our  institution  were 
by  no  means  slighted. 

Prominent  papers  of  the  year  were  Union  Lance,  by  President 
Kempner ;  the  National  Amateur ;  the  Visitor,  ever  on  time ;  the 
Empire  State  Amateur,  containing  a  valuable  series  of  articles  on 
the  N.  A.  P.  A.  conventions ;  Our  Free  Lance,  of  high-class  lit- 
erature ;  Stars  and  Stripes,  illustrated ;  Facific  Courant,  etc. 

In  the  Ideal,  Frank  L.  Schermerhorn  gave  an  account  of  the 
convention,  from  which  we  quote : 

The  1889  meeting  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association, 
at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  on  July  4,  5,  and  6', -was  the  most  successful 
and  most  pleasant  convention  held  for  several  years. 

The  morning  session  on  July  4  was  called  to  order  by  President 
Barker  at  9  :30  a.  m. 

After  some  minor  business  and  the  appointment  of  the  commit- 
tee on  proxies,  comprising  Messrs.  Burger,  Block,  Cody,  Stin- 
son  and  Grant ;  and  also  the  committee  on  documents,  on  which 
Messrs.  Block,  Chiles  and  Boruck  were  selected  to  serve,  the  as- 
sembly resolved  itself  into  a  committee  of  the  whole  to  discuss  the 
newl}^  proposed  constitution.  This  occupied  the  remainder  of 
the  morning  meeting. 

At  the  evening  session  the  discussion  and  amendment  of  the 
constitution  were  finished,  and  it  was  moved  that  the  committee  of 
the  whole  rise,  and  at  9  a.  m.  on  the  morrow,  report  in  favor  of 
its  adoption. 

July  5 ,  the  convention  was  called  to  order  rather  late  on  this 
day,  but  as  soon  as  convened  the  new  constitution  was  adopted. 

The  nomination  and  election  of  oflacers  was  then  declared  in 
order.  For  President,  Mr.  M.  F.  Boabat  was  nominated  by  W. 
O.  Wylie,  seconded  by  Messrs.  Mellinger,  Chrystie,  Heyn  and 
Block.  Mr.  Louis  Kempner  was  nominated  by  J.  D.  Miller, 
seconded  by  Messrs.  Cody,  Cohen,  Carter  and  others.  The 
proxy  votes  were  counted  and  Mr.  Louis  Kempner  was  declared 
elected  on  the  first  ballot. 

The  afternoon  session  was  opened  with  nominations  for  the 
first  vice-presidency.     Messrs.  Fish  and  A.  B.  Grant  were  tb« 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION  207 

contestants.  Mr.  Grant  won  in  the  convention,  but  the  proxies 
gave  Mr.  Herbert  H.  Fisb,  of  Neenab,  Wis.,  tbe  victory  on  the 
first  ballot. 

For  second  vice-president,  Miss  Harriet  C.  Cox  and  Messrs. 
W.  W.  Carpenter  and  F.  E.  Schermerhorn  were  nominated.  The 
latter  gained  a  plurality  on  the  first  ballot,  but  Miss  Cox,  of 
Abington,  Mass.,  was  declared  elected  on  the  second  ballot. 

Messrs.  N.  N.  Block,  of  Buffalo,  and  Hope  R.  Cod}^,  of 
Naperville,  111.,  were  nominated  for  the  office  of  recording  secre- 
tary. Mr.  Cody  declined  in  favor  of  Mr.  Block,  who  was  accord- 
ingly declared  elected. 

For  corresponding  secretary  the  race  was  interesting.  Messrs. 
Chiles  of  Philadelphia,  Brown  of  Baltimore  and  Boruck  of  San 
Francisco  were  the  nominees.  At  first  there  was  a  considerable 
plurality  for  Brown,  but  the  second  ballot  decided  the  election 
for  Mr.  Walter  C.  Chiles. 

Mr.  Carter  was  nominated  for  official  editor  by  Mr.  Cody ;  Mr. 
W.  E.  Mellinger  by  Mr.  Leuscher.  On  the  first  ballot  Mr. 
Howard  M.  Carter  was  declared  elected. 

The  next  question  was  the  selection  of  a  convention  seat  for 
1890.  Milwaukee,  Chicago,  Cleveland  and  Detroit  were  placed 
in  nomination.  The  first  ballot  showed  no  decision.  On  the 
second  ballot  Cleveland  won. 

The  executive  judges  were  selected,  to  be  Messrs.  Brainerd  P. 
Emery,  A.  D.  Grant  and  Al.  E.  Barker. 

Adjourned  until  after  the  literary  entertainment. 

The  session  of  Friday  evening  was  begun  before  11  o'clock, 
but  did  not  terminate  until  after  1  a.  m.  For  two  hours  the  con- 
vention debated,  pro  and  con,  the  adoption  of  a  resolution 
presented  by  Mr.  Cochrane,  of  the  Pioneer.  It  was  moved  by 
him  that  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  should  recog- 
nize the  malicious  influences  of  the  saloon  on  the  character  of 
America's  young  men,  and  should  declare  itself  forever  opposed 
to  rum-rule,  not,  however,  necessarily  in  favor,  either  directly  or 
indirectly,  of  prohibition  or  of  high  license,  but  as  an  advocate 
of  temperance.  The  resolution  and  its  adoption  were  discoursed 
upon  until  the  morning  hours  of  July  7.  This  session  was  by 
far  the  most  exciting  of  the  whole  series,  and  the  apparent  efforts 
of  certain  anti-resolution  men  to  prevent  an  aye  and  nay  vote 
upon  the  article  were  quite  ingenious,  but  futile  in  the  end.  It 
was  argued  that  such  a  paper  had  no  place  in  the  proceedings  of 
the  Association.  Attempts  were  made  to  table  the  motion  to 
adopt,  but  with  unsuccessful  results.  Amendments,  proposed  to 
divert  and  alter  the  meaning,  were  likewise  ineffective.  Finally 
tbe  vote  was  taken,  and  the  resolution  was  not  adopted.  This 
decision  reached,  the  minutes  were  read  and  adopted,  and  one 


208      HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

of  the  most  successful  of  all  N.  A.  P.  A.  conventions  came  to  an 
end,  as  every  good  thing  must. 

On  Saturday  morning,  some  thirty  amateur  journalists  em- 
barked on  board  a  steamer  chartered  for  the  purpose,  and  were 
transported  along  the  Niagara  river  to  Grand  Island.  Here  the 
annual  ball  game  was  played,  resulting  in  a  complete  victory  for 
the  Eastern  nine.  The  principal  features  of  the  game  were  the 
heavy  batting  of  Stinson,  the  brilliant  pitching  of  Oltinger  and 
Boruck,  the  wonderful  base  running  of  Chrystie,  the  startling 
success  of  Heath  as  an  umpire  ably  assisted  by  Brown  and  the 
remaining  members  of  both  nines,  the  mignifijent  work  of 
Crossley  at  first  base,  and  last  but  not  least,  trie  persistent  efforts 
of  Wj'lie  to  secure  fair  play.  The  game  took  about  two  hours, 
one-half  of  which  was  consumed  in  wading  tlirough  swamps  and 
hay  fields  in  search  of  the  ball-;  the  rest  in  chasing  it  over  the 
diamond  when  thrown  to  a  baseman  or  when  struck  by  a  lucky 
batsman. 

In  the  afternoon  an  excursion  was  madie  to  Niagara.  The 
party  arrived  safely  in  Buffalo  in  time  for  a   10  o'clock  supper. 

When  3  o'clock  sounded  from  the  cnurch  tower  on  Sunday  morn- 
ing, the  last  festive  amateur  has  scampered  off  to  bed,  and 
Buffalo  in  '89  was  a  thing  of  the  past. 

The  following  amateurs  were  in  attendance  at  one  or  more 
sessions  of  the  Buffalo  convention : 

C.  N.  Andrews,  W.  R.  Autisdel,  Al.  E.  Barker,  N.  N.  Block, 
M.  F.  Boechat,  L.  S.  Boruck,  W.  J.  Brodie,  Geo.  S.  Brown,  C. 
R.  Burger,  W.  B.  Burger,  H.  M.  Carter,  W.  C.  Chiles,  T.  L. 
Chrystie,  A.  D.  Cochrane,  H.  R.  Codv,  M.  A.  Cohen,  Harriet 
C.  Cox,  Harry  Crossley,  W.  F.  Dainforth,  W.  W.  Delaney, 
Geo.  W.  Dodd,  Jr.,  Duhme  (proxy  W.  G.  Muirchead),  E.  A. 
Edkins,  J.  R.  Gleason,  E.  A.  Goeway,  A.  D.  Grant,  Fred  Han- 
chett,  F.  F,    Heath,  C.    M.    Heineman,    H.    J.    Heislein,    J.    G. 

Heyn,  Heyn,  E.  B.  Hill,  H.  C.  Hochstadter,  Jas.  Kavanagh, 

Louis  Kempner,  F.  R,  Luescher,  F.  T.  Mayor,  W.  E.  Mellinger, 

Metcalf,  J.  D.  Miller,  Cora  Ottinger,  J.  J.  Ottinger,  T.  H. 

Parsons,  E.  F.  Pugh,  H.  B.  Saunders,  F.  E.  Schermerhorn,  S.  S. 

Stinson, Symonds,  J.  L.  Toralinson,  E.  G.  VVvckoff,  W.  O. 

VVylie. 

The  ofBcial  minutes  give  additional  information  : 

The  following  new  members  admitted  : 

Johnson,  Leslie,  Theill,  Price,  Corbett,  Smith,  Brown,  Apple- 
ton,  Moss,  Ott,  Baker,  Pendell,  Cochrane,  Mosier,  Stevenson, 
Mayer,  Hall,  Cunningham,  Tomlinson,  Smith,  Miss  Underwood, 
Miss  Truman,  Miss.  Cox,  H.  Crossley,  F.  Crossley,  Barnett^ 
Jensen,  Voss,  Miss  Tullar,  Rasmussen,  Newton,  Bailey,  Ander- 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEl'R    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  209 

•son,  Knight,  Allen,  Stanley,  Pugb,  Sheffeld,  Gleason,  Wagner, 
Bearhope,  George,  Steinberg. 

Committee  on  official  list  of  presidents  reported  the  following 
roster : 

1876,  J.  W.  Snyder;  1877,  A.  W.  Dingwall;  1878,  W.  T. 
Hall;  1879,  J.  E.  Briggs ;  18S0,  W.  L.  Wright,  T.  G.  Harrison, 
T.  H.  Parsons;  1881,  F.  N.  Reeve;  1882,  F.  A.  Grant;  1883, 
W.  O.  Wylie,  H.  E.  Legler ;  1884,  E.  E.  Stowell,  F.  F.  Heath; 
1885,  D.  A.  Sullivan;  1886,  J.  H.  I.  Munro;  1887,  S.  S.  Stin- 
son,  W.  S.  Moore;  1888,  A.  E.  Barker. 

Editorial  prize  awarded  to  the  Union  Lance. 

The  proxy  votes  were  as  follows : 

For  president— Boechat,  22;  Kempner  39. 

For  first  vice-president— scattering,  11;  Fish,  35. 

For  second  vice-president— scattering,  10;  C.  W.  Smith  9;  Scherm- 
erhorn,  12;  W.  W.  Carpenter,  16. 

For  third  vice-president— scattering,  17;  C.  F.  Goodrich,  11,  L  S. 
Boruck;  17. 

For  recording  secretary— scattering,  4;  Brodie,  5;  Block  14;  Codv  27. 

For  corresponding  secretary- scattering,  19;  H.  F,  Thomoson,  1 1; 
Andrews,  15. 

For  treasurer—scattering  6;  Blork;  5;  Tomlinson,  45. 

For  official  editor^-scatte:!  ::^  7:  lloVi'n^Qv,  15:  C^'rtci,  40. 

For  ^oaven.Io:!  seal— scj.LLer'ii  :.  5.  Caic.:o;o,  13,  M;:w!..:^e«%  32:  y' w 
York,  1.  -  i^  ,      ,  -,      . 

For  judiciary  committee— scattering,  39;  Miller,  7;  Andrews,  11; 
Grant  13;  Mack,  18;  Barker,  20;  Emery,  28. 


Ballot  for  president 

L.  Kempner.. . 
M.F.  Boechat.. 
Ballot  for  first  vice-president: 


Proxy.    Convention.    Total, 

L.  Kempner 39  20  59 

M.  F.  Boechat 23  14  37 


Proxy.    Convention.   Total. 

A.D.Grant 1  21  22 

H.  H.  Fish 35  12  47 

For  second  vice-president  the  official  minutes  merely  state : 
First  ballot,  no  choice.  Second  ballot ;  Carpenter,  1 ;  Scher- 
merhorn,  14 ;  Miss  Cox,  20,  and  elected. 

Ballot  for  corresponding  secretary: 

Prox}'.  Convention.  Total. 

Andrews 15  ..  15 

Thompson 11  .  11 

Chiles 13  13 

Brown ]2  12 

Boruck 7  ^ 

Second  Ballot: 

Boruck 4 

Brown 8 

Chiles * 21 


210  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Ballot  for  official  editor: 

Miller     1 

Antisdel 1 

Mackay 4 

Gleason 5 

Scattering  8 

Mellinger 22 

Carter 69 

For  convention  seat,  tbe  minutes  say:  "Cleveland  elected  on 
second  ballot,  19  to  14."  As  Detroit,  Chicago  and  Milwaukee 
were  in  nomination,  the  vote  is  not  easily  understood. 

The  laureate  titles   were  awarded  as  follows :     Poet,  to  Fanny 
Kemble  Johnson  ;  essay  to   E.  B.  Hill ;  sketch  to   Harriet  C,  Cox. 
Treasurer  Tomlinson's  report  to  the  Chicago  convention: 

receipts: 

From  Ex-Treasurer  Lindsley $161  85 

Initiation  fees  and  dues  ($2  each)  from  twenty-six  mem- 
bers  52  00- 

Dues  ($1  each)  from  seventy-eight  members 78  00 

Unexpended  balance  fund  Cincinnati  Exposition 6  00 

From  Ex-Treasurer  Lindsley,  dues  of  three  members. .       3  00 

Total I  300  85 

disbursements: 

Dues  refunded |  19  00 

Tremont  House,  for  convention 15  00 

Expressage  on  Treasurer's  book, ... 45 

Checks  discounted. 25 

T.  J.  Spencer,  printing  four  issues  National  Amateur 60  00 

Credential  committee 2  00 

Invitations,  proxies,  etc 31  56 

Reception  committee  bill 72  00 

Treasurer's  sundries 5  00 


Total $  205  26 


Balance  on  hand. $95  59 

THE  NEW  CONSTITUTION. 

PREAMBLE. 

The  amateur  journalists  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  believing 
that  by  thorough  organization  they  will  be  better  able  to  further  the 
interests  and  extend  the  influence  of  an  institution  destined  to  be  an 
important  educational  factor  for  the  youth  of  America,  have  formed 
themselves  in  an  Association,  and  hereby  adopt  a  constitution  and 
by-laws  consisting  of  such  measures  as  seem  practicable  for  the  fur- 
therance of  their  aims  and  objects. 

CONSTITUTION. 

Article  I— Name.  This  Association  shall  be  known  as  the 
National  Amateur  Fress  Association. 


HlffMRY    OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PREB8    ASSOCIATION.  21  f 

Art.  II — Object.  The  aim  of  this  Association  shall  be  to  unite  ama- 
teur forces  so  that  the  principles  represented  may  be  fully  developed. 

Art.  Ill-Government.  In  order  that  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association  may  attain  its  object,  and  consistently  become  the  repre- 
sentative organization  of  the  fraternity,  a  system  of  proxy  voting  is 
provided,  whereby  each  qualified  member  of  this  Association  shall  be 
enabled  to  have  a  voice  in  its  proceedings. 

Art.  1Y— Membership.  SECTION  1.  Any  person  who  edits,  publishes 
or  contributes  in  prose  or  poetry  to  an  amateur  paper,  and  \vl)o  lesides 
in  the  United  States  or  Canada,  is  eligible  to  membership  in  this 
Association. 

Sec.  2.  Any  distinguished  ajthor  who  has  by  some  nor  manifested 
an  interest  in  Amateur  Journalism,  may  be  elected  an  honorary  mem- 
ber, at  any  regular  meeting,  a  unanimous  vote  of  those  present  being 
necessary  to  elect. 

Sec.  3.  Applicants  for  membership,  as  provided  for  in  section  1, 
shall  send  their  names  to  the  secretary  of  credentials,  and.  receiving 
a  favorable  reply,  shall  remit,  within  thirty  days,  to  the  treasurer,  the 
sum  of  $2,  as  an  initiation  fee  and  dues  for  one  year. 

Art.  \.— Officers  and  Their  Duties.     Seo.  1.     The  otRcers  of  this  As- 
sociation shall  consist  of  a  president,  a  first  and  second  vice-president 
a  recording  and  a  corresponding  secretary,  an  editor,  three  executive 
judges  and  a  treasurer. 

Sec.  2.  The  president  and  treasurer  must  be  present  at  the  con- 
vention at  which  they  are  elected  to  such  oflSces. 

Sec.  3..  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president,  upon  assuming  his 
office,  to  present  a  message  to  the  convention  assembled,  wherein  he 
shall  name  a  board  of  advisors  of  three  members,  who  shall  be  desig- 
nated as  follows:  Secretary  of  credentials,  national  laureate  recorder 
and  librarian. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  preside  at  all  con- 
ventions of  the  Association,  and  perform  such  other  duti  s  as  are 
called  for  in  conformity  with  the  constitution  and  these  by-law.s  and 
the  adopted  parliamentary  authority. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  countersign  a  1  bills 
standing  against  the  Association  and  presented  to  the  treasurer  for 
payment. 

Sec.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  remain  active 
during  his  term  of  oftice  by  publishing  at  least  six  numbers  of  a  joui- 
nal,  at  regular  intervals,  within  that  period.  If  he  fails  so  to  do,  it 
shall  be  his  duty  to  resign.  No  issue  of  his  journal  shall  be  delayed 
more  than  one  month  after  its  regular  date  of  publication. 

Sec.  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  demand  the  resigna- 
tion of  any  officer  of  this  Association  who  shall  neglect  his  duties.  If 
such  resignation  be  not  forwarded  without  delay  the  presi(-ent  shall 
immediately  discharge  such  o^cer. 

Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  appoint  the  recep- 
tion committee  and  such  other  committees  as  shall  from  tiuje  to  time 
be  necessary. 

Sec.  9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  secure  the  first  four 
named  judges  of  aw^ard  as  hereinafter  provided,  and  to  make  known 
their  acceptance  through  the  columns  of  the  official  organ  not  later 
than  its  third  number.     He  shall  also  appoint   the  fifth  judge,  and 


■212 


HISTORY    OF   THK    NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PREfcS    ASSOCIATION. 


-make  known  his  aeceptaDce  not  later   than  the  third  number  of  the- 
♦official  organ. 

Sec.  10.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president,  after  roll  call,  to  fill 
;all  vacant  offices  caused  by  absence  from  the  convention;  he  shall  also 
appoint  two  members  to  assist  and  act  with  the  secretary  of  creden- 
tials on  the  credentials  of  applicants  for  membership  presented  at  the 
convention. 

Sec.  11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  appoint  an  active 
member  as  custodian  of  ballots.  His  appointment  shall  be  made 
during  the  month  of  March  of  each  year;  notice  of  appointment  shall 
be  inserted  in  the  official  organ,  and  the  title,  name  and  full  address 
of  the  appointee  shall  be  placed  in  a  conspicuous  place  in  all  issues 
of  the  oificial  organ  appearing  after  date  of  appointment  The  custo- 
dian of  ballots  must  be  a  resident  of  the  city  where  the  next  conven- 
tion meets. 

i^EC.  12.     "^^riie  Association  shall  faaitsb  the  custodian  with  a  print- 
ed book  COD taiuiug-  the  (blowing  foriiis  with  stub  attachments: 
Forml.     The  Eece;i)L 


IS. 


Mr 


f  hxi':  ''h'.<   -ia;/  Tif-elcrd .    du'i/    sea.k'd,'yovr 
I       proxy  ballot  for  the    Xational   Amaicin-    Press 
Association. 

.  .    Custodian. 


Form  2.     The  Stub. 


.^.IS.. 

Received  this  date  from 

proxy  ballot  postmarJced  at 

on 18.  . 

Custodian. 


It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  custodian  of  ballots  to  receive,  either 
personally  or  by  mail,  the  proxy  ballots  from  the  members,  giving  a 
receipt  therefor. 

Sec  13.  The  custodian  of  ballots  shall  retain  in  his  possession  all 
ballots  received,  until  the  convention  is  called  to  order,  when  it  shall 
shall  b«  his  duty  to  deliver  them  to  the  presiding  officer,  taking  ac- 
knowledgment for  receipt  book  and  for  the  number  of  proxy  ballots 
so  delivered. 

Sec.  14.  Resignation  of  members  and  officers,  excepting  that  of 
the  president,  are  to  be  directed  to  the  president  for  action.  Vacan- 
cies throughout  the  year  in  the  board  of  officers,  other  than  the  pres- 
idency, are  to  be  filled  by  the  president. 

Sec.  15.    In  the  event  of  a  t^acancy  in  the  presidency,  caused  by 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  213 

resignation,  death,  or  by  violation  of  section  6  of  this  article,  the 
executive  judges  shall  appoint  from  among  the  active  members  a 
president  to  fill  the  unexpired  term. 

Sec.  10.  Durin''  the  interval  between  conventions  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  executive  judges  to  receive  and  act  upon  all  charges  pre- 
ferred by  one  member  against  another.  They  shall  have  povyer  to 
suspend  a  member,  such  action  being  subject  to  final  (.ecjsion  by 
the  next  convention.  'J'he  decision  of  the  executive  judges  shall  be 
final  until  such  convention,  when  one  or  more  members  may  appeal 
from  the  decision,  a  two-thirds  vote  being  necessary  to  reverse  the 
action  of  the  executive  judges.  They  shall  take  no  action  against  a 
member  unless  specific  charges  are  made  (in  writing)  by  one  member 
aizainst  another;  it  shall  then  be  the  duty  of  the  executive  ju«lges  to 
notify  the  persons  interested,  by  sending  a  copy  of  the  charges  and 
demanding  an  immediate  reply.  In  all  cases  the  executive  judges 
shall  render  decisions  promptly  and  in  accordance  with  the  facts  pre- 
sented. 

Sec.  17.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  credentials  to  re- 
ceive and  pass  upon  all  applications  for  active  membership  during 
his  term  of  office,  and  promptly  notify  each  applicant  of  his  or  her 
acceptance  or  rejection.  When  the  credent  als  of  an  applicant  have 
been  favoraoly  pa>setl  upon,  the  secretary  of  credentials  shall  imme- 
diately send  the  name  an  !  adiress  of  the  same  to  the  president,  cor- 
responding secretarv.  e  litor  and  treasurer.  The  actions  of  the  secre- 
tary of  credentials  shall  be  subject  to  approval  of  the  Association  in 
convention  assemble  i.  During  the  conventions  the  secretary  of  cre- 
dentials shall  be  assisted  by  two  members,  as  provided  for  in  section 
10  of  this  artude. 

Sec.  18.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  national  laureate  recorder  to 
writb  a  complete  reconl  of  the  atiairs  of  Amateur  Journalism  taking 
place  during  his  term  of  office,  and  prepare  such  record  for  publica- 
tion in  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  librarian  to  furnish  in  formation 
pertaining  to  Amateur  .lournalism  and  supply  copies  of  current  ama- 
teur publications  to  such  recruits  or  inactive  members  as  may  come 
to  his  notice.  He  shall  make  a  file  of  all  amateur  papers  published 
during  his  term  of  office,  and  sen. I  the  same  to  the  convention  for  the 
benefit  and  inspection  of  menibers  and  visitors,  To  this  end  he  shall 
(all  upon  all  publishers  of  amateur  papers  and  books,  to  send  him  for 
the  above  purpose  as  many  copies  of  their  publications  as  they  can 
spare. 

Sec.  20.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  first  vice-president  to  perform 
all  duties  devolving  upon  the  i)resident,  in  the  case  of  the  latter's 
absence  from  or  disability  in  convention.  It  sliall  be  the<lut5^  of  the 
first  vice-president  to  have  charge  of  the  departments  specified  in 
article  XIII,  section  3.  He  shall  receive  all  articles  sent  to  these 
departments,  arrange  them  alphabetically  and  enter  the  title  of  each 
together  wilh  the  author's  name  or  nom  de  plume  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose.  He  shall  retain  one  copy  of  each  of  the  papers 
containing  articles  entered  for  competition,  and  deliver  one  copy  to 
the  judge  of  awar.l  at  least  two  months  prior  to  the  eonvention,  to- 
gether with  a  list  of  entries. 

Sec.  21.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  second  vice-presi  lent  to  as- 
sume the  chair  in  case  the  officers  preceding  him  in  rank  are  absent 
from  ponvention.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  second  vice-president 
to  have  charge  of  the  departments  specified  in  article  XIII,  section  3, 


214  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

and  shall  conduct  them  in  accordance  with  the  rules  laid  down  for 
the  departments  conducted  by  the  first  vice-president. 


Sec.  22.    It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  recording  secretary  to  keep  a 
.....  A. 

list  of  members  in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose,  and  to  perform 


true  record  of  all  the  transactions  of  tliis  Association,  and  a  complete 


such  other  duties  as  are  customary  under  parliamentary  usage.  He 
shall  enter  upon  the  minutes  a  copy  of  the  treasurer's  bond.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  recording  secretary  to  receive  the  duplicate  proxy 
ballots  from  the  members  and  have  such  ballots  at  the  convention, 
which  are  to  be  used  only  in  the  case  of  the  non-appearance  of  the 
original  ballots. 

Sec.  23.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  secretary  to  act 
as  assistant  editor,  and  in  case  of  the  death,  disability  or  resignation 
of  the  editor,  he  shall  act  as  editor  until  the  vacancy  is  filled  by  the 
president.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  secretary  to  pre- 
pare printed  lists  containing  the  names  and  addresses  of  all  the  mem- 
bers, a  copy  of  which  he  shall  send,  free  of  charge,  to  any  member  ol' 
recruit  who  may  request  the  same. 

Sec.  24.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  editor  to  take  entire  charge  ol 
the  oflicial  organ  with  the  assistance  of  the  corresponding  secretary; 
to  issue  the  official  organ  as  provided  for  m  article  VI,  and  shall  mail 
to  each  member  of  this  Association  one  copy  of  each  number,  as  soon 
as  it  is  issued.  He  shall  prepare  a  list  of  the  names  and  addresses  of 
such  persons  as  are  not  members  of  this  Association  but  are  actively 
interested  in  Amateur  Journalism,  and  mail  to  each  of  them  one  copy 
of  the  oflicial  organ.  He  shall  invite  the  members  to  contribute  then- 
best  efforts  for  publication  in  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  25.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treasurer  to  collect  all  moneys 
due  the  Association,  aud  to  pay  all  bills  countersigned  by  the  presi- 
dent. He  shall  keep  a  complete  list  of  the  members  of  this  Associa- 
tion in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose,  also  a  complete  and  true 
account  of  al!  moneys  received  and  disbursed.  The  treasurer  shall, 
immediately  upon  his  election,  file  with  the  recording  secretary  the 
following  bond  signed  by  five  members  of  the  Association : 


We,  the  undersigned  members  of  the  National  Ama- 
teur Press  Association,  do  hereby  jointly  and  severally 
agree  to  be  responsible  for  all  moneys  and  property 

intrusted  to as  treasurer  of 

the  above  Association  elected  at on 

July ,  18. . . .,  for  the  period  of  one  year.     We  also 

jointly  and  severally  agree,  if  called  upon  by  a  written 
request  signed  by  the  president  and  recording  secre- 
tary, to  pay  to  them  as  representatives  of  this  Associa- 
tion such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as  may  be  due  to  the 

Association  from as  treasurer. 

We  expect  our  interests  in  the  premises  to  be  protected 
by  receiving  a  true  account  of  the  treasurer's  books  be- 
fore any  demand  is  made  upon  us  for  moneys  due  the 
Association  from  the  treasurer  above  named. 

(Signed  by  five  members.) 

In  presence  of 

President. 

Recording  Secretary. 


Such  bond,  duly  executed,  shall  be  in  the  hands  of  the  recording 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  215 

secretary  before  any  other  business  is  bronu^ht  before  the  convention. 
The  secretary  in  whose  possession  the  bond  shall  be  placed  shall  not 
be  permitted  to  act  as  a  bondsman.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  treas- 
urer to  furnish  a  written  report  for  publication  in  the  September  and 
March  numbers  of  the  otlicial  organ. 

Sec.  26.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  the  officers  to  remain  active  dur- 
ing their  term  of  office  by  publishing  at  least  four  numbers  of  a 
journal  at  regular  intervals,  within  that  period.  No  issue  to  be  de- 
layed more  than  one  month  after  its  regular  date  of  publication.  This 
provision  shall  not  conflict  with  article  V.  section  6.  It  shall  be  the 
duty  of  all  the  officers,  in  addition  to  other  duties  prescribed  in  this 
constitution,  to  present  at  the  annual  convention  a  report  of  all  duties 
performed  during  their  term  of  office,  and  to  deliver  to  their  respective 
successors  all  books,  papers  or  property  of  any  kind  belonging  to  the 
Association. 

Sec.  27.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  Association  to  appropriate  at 
each  convention  a  sum  of  money  sufficient  to  meet  all  necessarj'  ex- 
penditures by-  the  officers  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties,  as  pre- 
scribed in  this  constitution. 

Akt.  Yl -Official  Organ.  SEC.  1.  The  Association  shall  publish 
quarterly  a  paper  which  shall  be  known  as  the  National  Amateur.  This 
paper  sliall  consist  of  not  less  than  eight  pages,  the  size  of  each  page 
to  be  9xlS  inches,  set  in  long  primer  type.  lOUO  copies  of  each  issue 
shall  be  printed. 

Sec.  2.  This  journal  shall  be  under  the  supervision  of  the  editor, 
who  shall  edit  the  same  in  the  interests  of  Amateur  Journalism  and 
the  National  Amateur  Press  Association. 

Sec.  3.  This  journal  shall  be  issued  promptly  during  the  official 
year,  on  the  first  day  of  each  of  the  following  months:  September. 
December,  March  and  June. 

Sec.  4.  This  journal  shall  contain  nothing  of  a  political  nature,  nor 
anything  of  the  nature  of  an  advertisement.  It  may.  however,  contain 
an  imprint  such  as  the  following:  "'Press  of  Richard  Eoe,  123  Fourth 
street,  Philadelphia.  Pa." 

Sec.  5,  The  names  and  addresses  of  all  the  officers  and  standing 
committees  shall  be  published  at  the  head  of  the  editorial  page,  with 
full  information  regarding  the  manner  of  joining  the  Association. 
The  September  number  shall  contain  the  minutes  of  the  preceding 
convention  and  all  constitutional  amendments  adopted  thereat.  The 
official  organ  shall  contain  reports  of  new  associations,  items  of  inter- 
est regarding  old  associations,  and  as  much  information  regarding 
new  papers,  consolidations,  changes,  and  such  letters  and  reports 
from  officers,  committees,  and  members  upon  national  topics,  as  the 
editor  can  use  in  the  best  interests  of  this  Association.  It  shall  con- 
tain on  the  last  page  of  every  number  in  alphabetical  order  of  states, 
the  name  and  address  of  every  member  whose  name  appears  on  the 
Treasurer's  book.  An  amount  not  to  exceed  $100  shall  be  annually 
appropriated  for  the  publication  of  the  oificial  organ. 

Art.  VII. — Conventions.  Sec.  1.  This  Association  shall  convene 
annually  during  the  month  of  July,  the  date  to  be  made  by  the  presi- 
dent and  announced  in  the  March  number  of  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  2.  The  conventions  of  this  Association  shall  be  held  in  an 
eastern  and  western  city  alternately,  the  seat  of  the  succeeding  con- 
vention to  be  chosen  in  the  same  manner  as  the  officers  and  at  the 
same  time. 


216  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Sec.  3.  Should  the  activity  of  the  city  selected  be  not  sufficient  to 
warrant  a  successful  convention,  the  president  shall  have  power  to 
change  said  meeting  place  to  some  more  active  city  in  the  same  sec- 
tion of  the  country. 

Art.  yiU.—Election  of  Members.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  secretary  of  credentials  >  to  present  a  list  of  accepted 
applicants  immediately  after  the  appointments  of  officers 
pro  tempore  as  provided  for  in  article  V,  section  10.  By  a 
majority  vote  of  members  present  such  list  may  '  be 
favorably  acted  upon  in  its  entirety.  Thereupon  such  applicants  after 
the  payment  of  their  initiation  fee  and  dues  for  one  year  shall  be  en- 
titled to  the  privileges  of  active  membership.  By  the  request  of  ten 
raembers  present  any  number  of  names  on  the  secretary  of  creden- 
tials' hst  may  be  voted  upon  separately,  when  ten  negative  votes 
shall  be  necessary  to  reject  any  applicant  for  membership. 
^  Sec.  2.  The  name  of  any  member  who  does  not  each  year  issue  at 
least  one  number  of  an  amateur  paper,  or  contribute  at  least  one  po^m,, 
essay  or  sketch  to  an  amateur  publication  shall  be  dropped  from  the 
roll  of  membership,  but  should  he  again  become  active  he  may  re- 
apply for  membership  in  the  usual  manner.  Ex-members  applying 
for  membership. are  exempt  from  the  payment  of  an  initiation  fee. 

Art.  IX.— Election,  of  Officers.  Sec.  1.  Each  member  whose  name 
appears  on  the  treasurer's  book,  and  all  accepted  applicants  for  mem- 
bership, shall  be  furnished  with  official  blanks  for  the  purpose  of 
proxy  voting  for  officers  and  upon  proposed  amendments  to  the  con- 
stitution or  by- la  vys. 

Sec.  2.  These  blanks  shall  be  furnished  bv  the  corresponding  sec- 
retary, together  with  twA,addressed  envelopes,  beariug  the  name  and 
addrgss  ot  the  custodian  of  ballots  and  recording  secretary  respective- 
ly; m  the  upper  left  hand  corner  of  the  envelope  shall  be  printed  the 

following^:     "N.  A.  P.  A.  Proxy  ballot  from " 

.3m.  3.,,  Tbe  corresponding  secretary  shall  furnish  these  blanks  at 
least  thirty  days  previous  to  the  date  of  convention,  and  in  or-ler  to 
insure  their  being  counted  thev  must  be  properly  filled  out  by  the 
members  and  be  received  by  the  custodian  of  ballots  on  or  before  the 
morning  01  the  convention. 

..Sec.  4.  No  proxy  ballot  shall  be  legal  unless  the  dues  of  each 
tn^mber  so  voting  shall  have  been  paid,  for  the  current  year,  before 
the  examining  committee  shall  have  retired  to  count  the  proxy  bal- 
lots, as  provided  in  article  IX,  section  8. 

Sec.  5.  After  the  custodian  shall  have  turned  over  the  proxy  bal- 
lots to  the  presiding  officer,  no  ballots  shall  be  accepted  unless  pre- 
sented in  person  to  the  presiding  officer. 

Sec.  6.  Members  attending  the  convention  may  withdraw  their 
proxy  ballots.  When  such  ballots  be  withdrawn,  the  presiding  officer 
sball  write  in  ink,  across  the  face  of  the  stub,  the  word  '^withdrawn." 

Sec.  7.  Any  official  blank  or  blanks,  having  been  tilled  out,  as 
heretofore  stated,  for  proxy  voting  and  found  to  be  defective,  for  anv 
reason  except  non-membership  or  non-payment  of  dues  for  the  current 
year,  shall  be  submitted  by  the  examining  committee,  through  the 
presiding  officer,  to  the  Association,  which  shall,  by  a  majority  vote  of 
the  members  present,  decide  whether  the  blanks  in  question  are  legal 
or  not.     If  decided  to  be  illegal,  they  shall  not  be  counted. 

S^EC.  8.  The  mode  of  procedure  for  the  election  of  officers  shall  be 
as  follows,  beginning  when  that  section  of  the  order  of  business  shall 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  217 

be  reached :  The  president  shall  appoint  from  among  the  members 
an  examining  committee,  to  consist  of  the  first  vice-president  as  chair- 
man, the  recording  secretary,  the  treasurer  and  four  others.  The 
president  shall  then  turn  over  to  the  chairman  of  the  examining  com- 
mittee the  proxy  ballots  and  stubs  of  same  received  by  him  from  the 
custodian  of  ballots.  A  recess  for  a  specified  time  shall  be  taken  to 
enable  the  examining  committee  to  make  their  count. 

Sec.  9.  The  examining  committee,  in  rendering  their  report,  shall 
give  the  entire  returns,  as  follows,  viz:  Number  of  votes  cast,  num- 
ber of  blanks,  number  of  votes  cast  out  for  illegality,  and  the  respec- 
tive number  of  legal  votes  cast  for  all  the  candidates  for  each  office. 
The  blank  ballots  shall  not  be  included  with  the  total  vote  cast. 

Sec.  10.  The  president  shall  reconvene  the  meeting  promptly  at 
the  expiration  of  the  specified  time,  when  the  chairman  of  the  exam- 
ining committee  shall  render  his  report.  Nominations  for  president 
shall  be  declared  in  order,  and  the  vote  cast  in  convention  shall  be 
added  to  the  vote  cast  by  proxy,  as  reported  by  the  examining  com- 
mittee; a  majority  of  all  the  legal  votes  cast  shall  constitute  an  elec- 
tion. This  same  procedure  shall  be  followed  out  for  all  the  officers, 
and  if  no  candidate  shall  receive  a  majority  of  all  the  legal  votes 
cast  for  election  to  any  office  after  the  second  ballot,  the  proxy 
votes  shall  be  dispensed  with,  and  the  members  in  convention 
assembled  shall  elect  such  officer  or  officers,  a  majority  of  the  votes 
cast  being  necessary  to  a  choice. 

Sec.  11.  The  duplicate  proxy  ballots  sent  to  the  recording  secre- 
tary by  the  members  shall  be  considered  the  legal.ballot  sof  the  Asso- 
ciation, in  the  absence  of  the  original  proxy  ballots  sent  to  the  custo- 
dian of  ballots  And  the  foregoing  sections  shall  govern  the  dupli- 
cate ballots  in  the  absence  of  the  originals. 

Art.  ^.—Quorum.  Such  officers  and  members  as  are  present  at  a 
regular  convention  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of 
business. 

Art.  'XI.— Parliamentary  Authority.  This  Association  shall  be  gov- 
erned by  Cushing's  Manual,,  wheren  it  does  not  conflict  with  this 
constitution  and  these  by-laws. 

Art.  Xll.—Rectption  Committee.  A  committee  on  reception,  consist- 
ing of  five  members,  residents  of  the  city  where  the  Association  meets, 
or  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  said  city,  shall  be  appointed  by  the 
president.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  reception  committee  to  procure 
suitable  meeting  rooms  for  this  Association,  and  to  perform  such 
other  duties  as  the  president  may  direct. 

Art.  Xlll.— Laureate  Titles.  Sec.  1.  In  order  to  stimulate  the 
interest  and  activity  of  our  editors  and  authors,  and  promote  the 
general  tone  of  amateur  literature,  this  Associatiod  shall  confer  the 
title  laureate,  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  2.  In  order  to  compete  for  the  title  laureate  in  any  branch, 
an  author  must  have  his  article  printed  in  an  amateur  publication  at 
least  two  months  prior  to  the  date  of  the  convention,  and  send  two 
copies  of  the  paper,  with  such  article  marked,  to  the  officer  who  shall 
have  charge  of  the  particular  department  in  which  the  article  is 
entered. 

Sec.  3.  Articles  may  be  written  under  the  following  heads,  and 
$ent  to  the  officer  whose  title  precedes  them: 

First  vice-president  \  Serials,  stories  and  sketches  or  poems. 

Second  vice-president  \  History  of  Amateur  Journalism  and  essays. 


218  HISTORY  OP  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

Sec.  4.  There  shall  be  five  judges  of  award,  each  of  whom  shall 
have  a  distinct  department,  thus:  The  first  shall  have  charge  of 
serials,  the  second  shiall  have  charge  of  stories  and  sketches,  the  third 
shall  liave  charge  of  poems,  the  fourth  shall  have,  charge  of  essays, 
the  fifth  shall  have  chargeof  histories  of  Amateur  Journalism. 

Sec.  5.  Four  of  these  judges  of  award  shall  be  literary  men  of 
known  ability,  not  actively  connected  with  Amateur  Journalism.  The 
fifth  judge  of  award  shall  be  an  active  amateur. 

Sec.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  these  judges  of  award  to  examine 
closely  every  article  sent  to  them,  and  to  report  to  the  president  as 
soon  as  practicable  the  one  which  they  believe  to  be,  in  a  majority  of 
respects,  the  best,  giving  their  reasons  therefor.  ITie  judges  of  award 
shall  also  name  the  second  highest  rating  entry  of  each  department. 

Sec.  7.  The  title  "laureate''  shall  be  conferred  upon  the  author 
selected  by  the  judges  of  award,  for  contributing  the  best  article  in 
each  department  specified  in  section  3 . 

Sec.  S  .  Upon  receipt  of  a  certificate  signed  by  the  president  and 
recording  secretary,  the  persons  receiving  such  awards  shall  be  al- 
lowed to  place  the  title  in  full  under  their  names  or  nom  de  plume, 
when  writing  for  the  press,  until  the  date  of  the  next  convention,  and 
thereafter,  by  adding  the  year  in  which  the  title  was  awarded.  A 
certificate  of  "honorable  mention'"  shall  be  awarded  to  the  second 
highest  rating  entry  of  each  department. 

Sec.  9.  Any  individual  or  State  or  local  association  may  give  this 
Association  one  or  more  medals  to  be  presented  in  connection  with  the 
title  laureate,  to  either  of  the  successful  competitors. 

Art.  XIV. — Editorial  Laureate.  Sec.  1.  Any  member  publishing 
four  or  more  number;*  of  his  paper  during  the  year  is  entitled  to  enter 
such  publication  in  competition  for  the  title  editorial  laureate,  which 
shall  be  awarded  at  each  convention,  by  the  president. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  appoint  from  the 
active  members  a  committee  of  three,  who  shall  receive  copies  of  pub- 
lications entered  in  competition  for  the  title  editorial  laureate. 

Sec.  3.  This  committee  shall  be  known  as  the  committee  on  edito- 
rial award,  and  their  names  and  addresses  shall  be  inserted  in  each 
number  of  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  4.  This  committee  shall  recommend  to  the  Association  the 
publication  which  in  their  best  judgment  is  most  worthy  of  the  title 
mentioned  in  section  1  of  this  article. 

Sec.  5,  Upon  receipt  of  a  certificate  signed  by  the  president  and! 
recording  secretary,  the  editor  receiving  such  title  may  place  the  same 
in  f  jll,  under  the  heading  of  his  paper,  until  the  date  of  the  next  con- 
vention, and  thei-^after  by  adding  the  year  in  which  the  title  was 
awarded. 

Art.  XV — Amendments.  Sec.  1.  No  part  of  this  constitution  shall 
be  suspended  except  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  members  present. 

Sec.  2.  Proxy  votes  sent  to  this  Association  for  the  amendment  of 
any  part  of  this  constitution  shall  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  record- 
ing secretaiy,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  have  them  counted,  when  such 
amendment  shall  be  voted  upon  in  convention. 

Sec.  3.  Amendments  to  be  voted  on  by  proxy  shall  have  appeared 
in  the  September,  December  or  March  numbers  of  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  4.  Amendments  to  this  constitution  can  be  made  by  a  two- 
thirds  vote  of  all  the  votes  cast. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  219 

Sec.  5.  This  constitution  shall  take  effect  July  8.  1889,  and  all  laws 
previously  adopted  for  the  goTernment  of  this  Association  shall  be 
thereupon  declared  null  or  void. 

BY-LAWS. 

Article  A — Order  of  Business.  First  day — 1,  roll  call;  2,  appoint- 
ment of  officers  pro  tempore^  in  the  event  of  any  vacancy  caused  by 
absence  or  otherwise;  3,  appointment  of  two  members  as  assistants  to 
secretary  of  credentials;  4.  report  of  secretary  of  credentials;  5,  elec- 
tion of  members;  6,  annual  report  of  officers  and  committes.  Second 
day — 1,  unfinished  business  of  the  previous  day;  2,  election  of  officers; 
3,  execution  and  filing  of  treasurer's  bond;  4,  installation  and  message 
of  president-elect:  5,  literary  exercises  and  announcement  of  laureate 
awards;  6,  banquet.  Third  day— 1,  unfinished  business  of  the  previous 
day;  2,  miscellaneous  business;  3.  reading  and  adoption  of  minutes  of 
this  convention;  4,  adjournment. 

Art.   B  -Eules  of  Order.     1.  A  motion  to  adjourn  shall  be  debatable. 

2.  An  appeal  from  the  decision  of  the  chair  on  any  question  shall 
be  considered  in  the  same  manner  as  a  regular  motion.  It  shall  be 
made  by  a  member,  seconded  by  another,  and  a  majority  vote  of  those 
present  shall  be  necessary  to  sustain  or  reverse  such  decision. 

3.  To  reconsider  a  vote  already  passed  a  motion  must  be  made  and 
seconded  in  the  usual  manner.  A  motion  to  reconsider  shall  be  in 
order  only  upon  questions  acted  upon  at  the  convention  at  which  the 
original  vote  has  been  taken. 

4.  These  by-laws  shall  not  be  amended  except  by  a  two-thirds  vote 
of  the  meuibers  present  at  a  convention. 

5.  No  part  of  these  by-laws  shall  be  suspended  except  by  the  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  members  present. 

6.  These  by-laws  shall  take  effect  July  8,  1889,  and  all  laws  pre- 
viously adopted  for  the  government  of  this  Association  shall  be  there- 
upon declared  null  and  void. 

At  the  Buffalo  convention  an  Alumni  Association  was  organ- 
ized, with  Joseph  D.  Miller  as  president  and  Will  R.  Autisdel  as 
secretary. 

The  second  annual  banquet  and  reunion  of  the  Alumni  Asso- 
ciation of  California  Amateur  Journalists  was  held  at  the  Maispn 
Doree  parlors,  San  Francisco,  August  31,  1889.  About  twenty 
were  in  attendance. 

The  Alumni  Association  of  New  England  was  organized  with 
a  banquet  at  the  Quincy  house,  Boston,  November  21,  1889. 
Chas.  H.  Fowle  was  elected  president  and  VVillard  O.  Wylie 
secretary. 


CH/IFTEK18. 

THE  BOSTON  CONFERENCE  OF  1890. 
Amateurs    in    Attendance. — Subjects  Discussed. — The  Ban- 
quet AND  Toast  Responses. 

ON  FEBRUARY    22,     1890,  a     conference    of   amateur 
journalists  was  held  at  Boston,  Mass.     Progress  ipuh- 
lished  a  full    report  of  tins  coaferen<3e,  from  which  we 
condense  the  following: 

The  conference  was  called  to  order  at  4  p.  m.,  bj  the  president, 
Willard  O.  VVylie,  with  the  following  named  persons  in  atten- 
dance: 

Messrs.  Louis  Kempner,  Charles  E.  Wilson,  Willard  O.  Wylie, 
D.  A.  Sullivan,  George  PI  Day,  Ralph  Metcalf,  Fred  Metcalf ,  C, 
H.  Fowle,  Henry  W^olffe,  Truman  J.  Spencer,  J.  Whidden  Gra- 
ham, Charles  R.  Burger,  Howard  K.  Sanderson,  Louis  N. 
Geldert,  Clarence  W.  Small,  George  W.  Dodd,  Jr.,  Franklin  C. 
Johrson,  Everett  C.  Fay,  Jerome  C.  Bull,  Elisha  T.  Read,  Ros- 
coe  L.  Colman,  Alfred  H.  Nash,  Albert  R.  Moulton,  Guy  Met- 
calf, Charles  A.  Sheffield,  Oscar  L.  Stevens,  Ernst  Schadee,  J. 
F.  Morton,  Jr.,  W.  O.  Whipple,  Robert  Carey,  Dan  J.  Chris- 
holm,  George  L.  Crockett,  Edward  W.  Odlin,  Thomas  J.  Ander- 
son, E.  S.  Spaulding,  C.  F.  Harper,  Charles  S.  Greene,  E.  A. 
Durgiu,  W.  D.  Cram.  L.  H.  Nutter,  George  H.  Lewis,  Frank  C. 
Smith,  A.  M.  Rice,  Will  S.  Coggan,  Mills  Hoyt,  W.  L.  Jack- 
man,  A.  S.  Guttersou,  W.  A.  Grover;  Misses  Harriet  C.  Cox, 
Jennie  M.  Day,  Frances  E.  Parsons,  Minna  Noyes,  Mabel  S. 
Barrows,  Lillian  Foster,  Mary  Cox,  A.  B.  Richards,  Marie  Hunt. 
Mabel  F.  Noyes ;  Mrs.  Cox,  Mrs.  W.  O.  Wylie,  Mrs.  C.  E, 
Wilson,  Mrs.  Ella  Maud  Frye. 

In  his  opening  remarks,  Mr.  Wylie  first  spoke  of  the  reasons 
he  had  in  calling  such  a  meeting,  and  expressed  his  gratification 
with  the  number  of  amateurs,  active  and  otherwise,  who  had 
responded  to  his  ca|l.  We  had  met  to  discuss  the  best  methods 
for  recruit  work,  and  in  every  way  enlarging  and  benefitting  our 
work.  It  was  certainly  a  thoroughly  representative  gathering 
both  as  regarded  the  members  present  and  the  papers  represented, 

Mrs.  Ella  Maud  Frye  read  a  paper  entitled  "Our  Authors — 
what  incentive  can  we  off er  them  to  secure  greater  activity?" 
The  paper  was  discussed  by  Louis  Kempner,  George  E.  Day,  T, 
J.  Spencer,  Fred  Metcalf,  E.  T.  Read,    C,    E.    Wilson,    Harriet 


9 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  221 

Cox,  J.  C.  Bull.  J.  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  Fiauklin  C.    Johuson  and  C, 
R,  Burger. 

Mr.  Wylie  read  an  "apptjaL  /or  contributions  for  laureate 
fund,"  which  he  said  would  be  sent  to  all  amateurs  in  the  course 
of  a  few  weeks, 

Chas.  H,  Fowle.  a  well-known  old-timer,  was  then  introduced. 
Miss  Cox  read  a  paper  on  "Recruit  work," 
A   number    cf    telegrams  and  letters    of  regret   from    absent 
amateurs  were  here  read. 

Chas,  R,  Burger  introduced  a  resolution,  favoring  Boston  as 
next  meeting  place  for  the  National  Association,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted.  Resolutions  were  also  adopted  endorsing 
the  admistration  of  Louis  Kempner,  president  of  the  National  A, P. 
A.  ;extending  sympathy  to  Finlay  A,  and  Bertha  Grant  for  the  loss 
of  their  son,  Guy,  and  to  President  A.  G.  Davis,  of  the  New 
England  A,  P,  A.,  on  account  of  his  own  serious  illness. 

A  banquet  was  held  at  7  :30  o'clock,  at  which  forty  amateurs  sat 
down.  After  a  faithful  discussion  of  the  viands  set  before  the  ama- 
teurs, speechmaking  began.  Mr,  D,  A.  Sullivan  acted  as  toast- 
master.     The  following  were  the  toast  responses : 

Address  of  welcome  to  President  Kempner,. Chas.  E,  Wilson 

Response Louis  Kempner 

What  Our  Literature  Owes  to  Shakspere. Truman  J.  Spencer 

Youth Robert  Carey 

The  Tariff Joseph  D.  Miller 

(Read  by  Elisha  T,  Read) 

Professional  Jonrnalism .Thos.  P.  Anderson 

New  England  A.   P.  A Harriet  C.  Cox 

Protection J.  Whidden  Graham 

The  Canadian  Amateur Ella  Maud  Frye 

The   Ladies Ralph  Metcalf 


CHflFTER  13. 

AMATEURS  GATHER  AT  INDIANAPOLIS. 

President  Kempnku's  Official  Appointments.  —  Meeting 
Changed  from  Cleveland.— The  Grant  and  Dunlop 
Campaigns. — Swift  as  Convention  Chronicler. — The 
Membership  Revised. — Constitutiok  Amended. 

PRESIDENT  KEMPNER  announced  the  following  appoint- 
ments in  the  September,  1889,  Amateur  : 
Secretary  of  credentials,  B.  P.  Emery ;  National  lau- 
reate  recorder,   W.   S.  Dunlop;  Librarian,  Leiand   S.  Boruck. 

Executive  judge,  vice  Mr.  Emery,  resigned — Wm.  W.  Car- 
penter. 

Committee  on  award  of  editorial  laureate — C.  M.  Heineman, 
chairman;  C.  S.  Elgutter,  J.  J.  Ottinger. 

Constitution  committee — C.  R.  Burger,  chairman ;  W.  O. 
Wylie,  F.  E.  Schermerhorn. 

Recruiting  Managers: 

First  district,  Canada — A.  D.  Grant. 

Second  district,  New  England— H.  C.  Cox,  W.  O.  Wylie,  C. 
A.  Sheffeld,  C.  W.  Smith. 

Third  district,  New  York  state,  except  New  York  and  Brooklyn 
—Fred  Hanchett,  W.  W.  Carpenter,  M.  A.  Cohen,  N.  N. 
Block,  E.  A.  Goeway,  E.  F.  Pugh,  B.  P.  Emery. 

Fourth  district.  New  York,  Brooklyn  and  New  Jerse}' — C.  R. 
Burger. 

Fifth  district,  Pennsylvania— W.  C.  Chiles,  F.  E.  Scher- 
irerhorn,  W.  J.  Heineman. 

Sixth  district,  Maryland,  District  of  Columbia,  Delaware  and 
Virginia — G.  S.  Brown. 

Seventh  district.  North  and  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and 
Florida — N.  H.  Ferguson. 

Eighth  district,  Ohio  and  Kentucky — W.  J.  Brodie. 

Ninth  district,  West  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Alabama  and  Mis- 
sissippi— Everard  Appleton . 

Tenth  district,  Michigan — L.  C.  Bigelow. 

Eleventh  district,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota — H .  H .  Fish, 
Bessie  E.  Tuliar,  W.  S.  Dunlop. 

Twelfth  district,  Illinois,  Missouri  and  Indiana— H.  R.  Cody, 
H.  M.  Carter,  J.  L.  Tomlinson,  S.J.  Steinberg. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      223 

Thirteenth  district,  Texas  and  Arkansas — H.  F.  Thompsoa, 
J.  T.  Walton. 

Fourteenth  district,  Iowa,  Dakota  Nebraska  and  Kansas — 
W.J.  Hunter,  E.  J.  Mock. 

Fifteenth  district,  Wyoming,  Colorado,  Montana,  New  Mexico, 
Arizona,  Washington,  Oregon,  Nevada  and  California— L.  S. 
Boruck,  C.  E.  Christiancy,  Jr.,  R.  G.  Mackay. 

In  November,  1889,  the  official  board  was  changed  as  follows: 
Frank  E.  Schermerhorn  appointed  librarian,  vice  Leland  S. 
Boruck,  resigned.  Sam  J.  Steinberg  appointed  recording  secre- 
tary, vice  Nathan  N.  Block,  resigned.  Wesley  J.  Hunter  ap- 
pointed first  vice-president,  vice  H.  H.  Fish,  removed.  Later 
in  the  official  3. ear,  Mr.  Hunter  resigned  and  Mr.  Fish  was 
replaced  as  first  vice-president.  These  appointments  were  all 
by  President  Kempner. 

Volume  XII  National  Amateur  contained  28  pages  in  four 
numbers.  The  September  issue  was  of  twelve  pages,  containing 
the  president's  message,  minutes  of  the  Buffalo  convention,  com- 
mittee and  official  reports,  the  new  constitution  in  full,  member- 
ship list  and  editorial  matter.  The  December  issue  contained 
the  laureate  winners,  recorder's  report,  official  reports,  account 
of  California  alumni  meeting  and  editorial  matter — eight  pages. 
The  March  issue,  of  four  pages,  contained  an  account  of  the 
Boston  conference.  New  England  alumni,  a  review  of  the  ama- 
teur world,  president's  message  and  editorial.  The  July  issue, 
also  four  pages,  contained  two  pages  of  reprinted  amateur  litera- 
ture and  two  pages  ofnnatter  by  Official  Editor  Carter.  During 
this  term  the  Awiateur  was  ably  edited  and  almost  a  modtl 
official  organ. 

President  Kempner  changed  the  next  meeting  place  from 
Cleveland,  O.,  to  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  naming  July  24-26  as  the 
dates.  Thos.  G.  Harrison  was  appointed  custodian  of  ballots 
and  S.J.  Steinberg,  T.  G.  Harrison,  F.  B.  Davenport,  Misses 
Harting  and  Steinberg,  reception  committee . 

The  political  phases  of  1900  were  handled  by  Will  S.  Dunlop 
as  laureate  recorder,  from  which  we  quote: 

It  was  generally  understood  at  the  close  of  the  Buffalo  con- 
vention that  Official  Editor-elect  Carter  would  be  a  candidate  for 
the  presidency  the  succeeding  year.  Mr.  Carter  represented 
what  has  been  called  the  political  section  of  Amateurdora .      The 


224     HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

literitry  section,  during  the  latter  part  of  1889,  begun  easting 
about  for  a  suitable  candidate  to  represent  their  views.  A.  D. 
Grant  was  selected .  Work  on  both  sides  went  on,  quietly  until 
the  opening  of  1890,  when  the  literary  men  began  to  discuss  their 
man  in  their  papers .  Willard  O .  Wylie  was  selected  to  manage 
the  Grant  campaign.  He  organized  his  forces  thoroughly,  drew 
up  a  platform,  appointed  a  campaign  committee  and  soon  had  a 
large  following  for  his  man.  The  Carter  men  seemed  to  be  do- 
ing nothing.  Grant  was  gaining  ground  every  day.  Finally, 
in  April,  after  the  Grant  campaign  sheet.  Our  National  Can- 
didate, was  issued.  Grant  had  almost  the  entire  support  of  the 
members,  and  it  was  rumored  that  Carter  would  not  run.  The 
election  of  Mr.  Grant  seemed  a  certainty.  Fate  ordained  other- 
wise. Upon  the  advice  of  his  physician,  his  family  and  his 
immediate  friends,  Mr.  Grant  withdrew,  feeling  that  his  health 
would  not  stand  the  strain  of  the  onerous  duties  to  be  per- 
formed by  a  president  of  this  Association.  Mr.  Grant  withdrew 
May  15th  in  favor  of  William  S.  Dunlop.  Like  a  thunderbolt 
from  a  clear  sky  did  the  news  of  Grant's  withdrawal  and  Dunlop' s 
acceptance  strike  the  amateur  world  when  it  was  first  circulated 
by  an  extra  edition  of  Dilettante.  Mr.  Wylie  continued  to 
manage  the  party's  affairs,  and  endeavored  to  hold  the  support 
gamed  for  Grant  for  the  new  candidate.  In  this  he  was  only 
partially  successful.  The  Idiom  nominated  Walter  E.  Mellinger, 
Many  who  were  dissatisfied  with  Dunlop  as  a  substitute  for 
Grant  supported  Mellinger.  Carter  refused  to  run,  and  the 
campaign,  which  toward  the  last  was  very  interesting  and  ex- 
citing, narrowed  down  to  a  contest  between  Dunlop  and  Mellinger. 
Wylie  issued  another  number  of  Our  National  Candidate,  and 
Leuscher  the  Lance  and  Shield  for  Mellinger. 

The  oflace  of  official  editor  was  the  only  other  office  for  which 
a  thorough  canvass  was  instituted.  Charles  R.  Burger  was  the 
nominee  of  the  political  party,  while  William  S.  Dunlop  was  the 
candidate  of  the  literary  party.  Burger  finally  refused  to  run. 
Dunlop's  nomination  for  the  presidency  left  the  literary  party 
temporarily  without  a  candidate.  Miss  Harriet  C.  Cox  was 
mentioned  for  the  office.     She  proved  a  strong  candidate. 

In  Syperion,  Dr.  Edwin  B.  Swift  gave  a  concise  account  of 
the  Indianapolis  convention,  from  which  we  quote: 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary Chiles,  who  announced  that  nominations  for  temporary 
chairman  were  in  order.  Burger  was  elected  over  Swift  by  a 
vote  ten  to  six.  He  appointed  Carter  and  Mueller  vice  presi- 
dents and  named  Barker  for  member  of  proxy  committee.  Objec- 
tion was  raised  by  Grant  that  Barker  was  not  a  member  in  good 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.     225 

Standing.  Objection  sustained.  Phillips,  Brown,  Chiles  and 
Schermerhorn  were  then  appointed.  Report  of  credential  com- 
mittee received.  Then  came  reports  of  retiring  officers  and 
adjournment. 

Second  session.  Temporary  Chairman  Burger  called  the 
meeting  to  order.  Proxj-  committee  reported  seventy-seven 
votes  c^st ;  twenty-five  thrown  out  as  being  received  too  late, 
six  for  non-payment  of  dues.  Several  were  also  withdrawn  by 
those  casting  them  being  present. 

The  proxv  vote  for  president  stood:  Dunlop,  26;  Mellinger, 
8;  Tomlinson,  4.  In  convention:  Dunlop,  10;  Mellinger,  10; 
Brown,  4. 

Schermerhorn  received  eleven  proxies  and  enough  in  conven- 
tion to  elect  him  first  vice-president.  Scattering  proxies  pre- 
vented election  of  second  vice  on  first  two  ballots,  which  were  then 
thrown  out  and  Burke  elected  by  the  members  present.  Stein- 
berg received  twenty-four  proxy  votes  and  was  elected  recording 
secretary.  He  resigned  and  Mueller  was  then  elected  by  the 
members  present.  Hardcastle  was  elected  corresponding  secre- 
tary by  the  members  present,  and  treasurer  by  the  proxies. 
Resigning  the  latter  office.  Swift  was  elected  over  Brown  by  a 
vote  of  thirteen  to  ten.  Miss  Cox  was  elected  official  editor  by 
a  practically  unanimous  vote.  Philadelphia  received  thirty-one 
votes,  Boston  thirty.  Mrs.  Swift  seventeen.  Grant  fourteen, 
Mellinger  thirteen  was  the  vote  of  the  elected  members  of  the 
executive  committee,  after  a  total  of  six  ballots. 

Lewis,  Hardcastle  and  Mrs.  Swift  were  appointed  editorial 
laureate  committee,  and  awarded  the  title  to  the  Nugget,  giving 
the  Messenger  honorable  mention.  The  Bising  Age  was  also 
given  honorable  mention  by  the  meeting. 

The  convention  decided  that  proxies  received  up  midnight  of 
the  9  th  were  legal. 

Except  editorial  laureate  the  entries  for  this  year  were  cast  out. 
Wylie  reported  a  balance  of  $21  in  laureate  fund.     [This  was 
ordered  returned  to  donors.] 

Swift,  Mellinger  and  Hardcastle  were  appointed  to  examine  the 
treasurer's  books,  and  reported  them  all  right,  with  a  balance  of 
$47.40  to  be  handed  over  to  the  new  treasurer. 

Badge  committee  reported  in  favor  of  blue  button  with  gold 
lettering.  It  was  accepted,  the  design  was  turned  over  to  Swift 
who  is  authorized  to  sell  them  at  50  cents  each. 

The  following  amateurs  were  in  attendaice  at  one  or  more  ses- 
sions of  the  Indianapolis  convention:  Albert  Barker,  Charles 
Bier,  Justin  Bowersock,  Q.  S.  Broivn,  Charles  Bu^er,'T.  Arthur 
Burke,  Howard  Carter,  Walter  Chiles,  Will  Dunlop,  A.  D.  Grant, 


226  HI8TORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

E.  J.  Hardcastle,  Ida  Hailing,  Tlios.  Harrison.  Frederick  Heath, 
Harry  Hochstadter,  OltoKamber,  W.  A.  Kennedy,  E.  St.  Elnao 
Lewis,  Walter  Mellinger,  Mrs.  Mellinger,  Oscar  Mueller,  Emanuel 
Phillips,  Frank  Schermerhoru,  Rose  Steinberg,  Sam  Steinberg, 
Edwin  Swift,  Zelda  Swift,  Harry  Thompson,  John  Toralinson, 
Willard  Wylie. 

The  official  minutes  give  additional  information  : 
Committee      composed     of     Messrs.    A.    D.    Grant,     W.     C. 
Chiles  and  S.  J.  Steinberg  reported  and  report  adopted,  dropping 
following  names  from  membership  roll : 

R.  E.  Kimbell,  T.  P.  Andrews,  J.  R.  B.  Bockman,  J.  A. 
Ephriam,  P.  I.  Figel,  Percy  Goldstone,  L.  Goidstoue,  Philip 
Hastings,  Zebbie  Hunt,  M.  G.  Jonas,  Lester  James,  G.  R.  Luken, 
Jennie  M.  Martin,  Alice  Mason,  Myron  McClinton,  Geo.  J. 
Moore,  E.  G.  Palnaer,  A.  H.  Rediugton,  L.  S.  Robinson,  M.  J. 
Sideman,  T.  B.  Sullivan,  E.  D.  Taylor,  Leo  Weil,  J.  VV.  Graham, 
J.  H.  Ives  Muuro,  Frederick  Kemp,  W.  D.  Ross,  W.  C.  Davis, 
W.  P.  Hopkins,  Jud  D.  Russell,  L.  H.  Spencer,  Geo.  N.  Truax, 
R.  D.  McAllisiter,  F.  B.  Davenport,  W.  H.  Stanley,  Al  E.  Bar- 
ker, Myra  I.  Barker,  Ed  P.  Cook,  D.  P.  Dolan,  R.  J.  Eerris, 
C.  H.  Frost,  H.  K.  Gilbert,  A.  G.  Holland,  R.  S.  Hotz,  A.  R. 
Parrish,  A.  J.  Ryan,  F.  L.  Tomlinson,  W.  J.  Vanderslice,  L.  O, 
VanRiper,  C.  S.  Zimmerman,  F.  H.  Bowersock,  J.  D.  Bowersock, 
H.  S.  Chapman,  F.  D.  Cole,  A.  G.  Davis,  C.  VV.  Small,  Frtd 
Sma'l,    D.    C.    Mcintosh,    James  G.  Knoght,  K.    H.    Bancroft, 

F.  L.  Biscoe,  George  A.  Dunn,  Jennie  M.  Day,  Wm.  M.  Emery, 
E.  C.  Fay,  A.  H.  Gleason,  F.  H.  Green,  R.  J.  Griffen,  H.  H. 
Hilton,  Geo.  N.  Hall,  Geo.  A.  Hough,  A.  R.  Moulton,  Helen  C. 
Phillips,  F.  A.  Plympton,  M.  L.  Penn,  H.  C.  Parsons,  E.  H, 
Rockwell,  Alfreda  K.  Richards,  H.  K.  Sanderson,  C.  A.  Sheffield, 

A.  A.  Stewart,  D.  A.  Sullivan,  H.  W.  Smith,  A.  C.  Whitney,  F. 
C.  Wicks,  F.  S.  Arnett,  J.  C.  McCabe,  Warren  J.  Niles,  E.  E. 
Bryant,  Ralph  Metcalf,  M.  J.  Harty,  W.  A.  Cowley,  E.  H. 
Barnard,  R.  T.  Moore,  C.  I.  Rogers,  W.  B.  Burger,  H.  C.  Cross- 
ley,  Geo.  W.  Dodd,  Jr.,  W.  C.  Puickney,  Lewis  T.  Stevens,  M.  F. 
Boechat,  Geo.  W.  Baildon,  T.  L.  Chrystie,   B.   A.   Connolly,  R. 

B.  Cramer,  M.  A.  Cohen,  A.  D.  Cochrane,  W.  W  Delaney,  W 
J.  Doran,  James  Delaney,  J.  D.  Earle,  B.  H.  Gonden,  H.  J. 
Heislica,  Henry  Jacobs,  J.  F.  Kavanagh,  E.  P.  Knowles, 
L.  P.  Lang,  B.  J.  Mosier,  J.  J.  Moore,  S.  A.  Nelson, 
A.  B.  Osgoodby,C.  T.  Ott,T.  H.  Parsons,  H.  L.  Pinckuey,  E.  F. 
Pugh,  H.  W.  Robinson,  W.  T.  Scofield,  H.  L.  Smith,  H.  W. 
Warner,  Henry  Wolffe,  E.  G.  Wyckoff,  M.  Adler,  W.  B.  Bald- 
win, W.  J.  Brodie,  J  as.  D.  Carr,  H.   A.  Clarke,  F.  C.   Lindsley, 


HISTORY  OF  THB  NATIONAL  AMATKLll  PKKSS  ASSOCIATION.         227 

J.  J.  VVeissert,  W.  H.  Bell,  W.  H.  Burke,  H.  D.  Hughes,  VV.  T. 
Hanley,  C.  T.  Hall,  C.  M.  Heinemnn,  W.  J.  Heinernan.  \V.  A. 
Lewisi  John  W.  McClain,  C.  H.  Potter,  R.  B.  Slieridan,  R.  M. 
Rawlings,  Jr.,  Otto  Praeger,  Jas.  T.  Walton,  C.  F.  Goodrich, 
A.  L.  McClinton,  R.  W.  Houshton,  Herbert  Hein,  Joseph  Hein, 
H.  E.  Legler,  W.  J.  Roe,  J.  E.  Urban,  Jr.,  J.  A.  Shannon. 

Following  applicants  elected  to  membership:  C.  E.  Chris- 
tiancy,  George  Frye,  John  Cole,  E.  J.  Hardcastle,  E.  J.  DaVis, 
H.  VV.  Ireland,  W.  B.  Newgeon,  H.  D.  Ross,  E.  St.  Elmo  Lewis, 
Ida  Halting,  Jessie  Hood,  Rose  Steinberg,  Harry  Sizer,  Charles 
Bier,  James  Morton,  Jr.,  Charles  Lawson,  E.  T.  Read,  John 
Stover.  W.  W.  Darby,  D.  G.  Melloy,  C.  B.  Palmer,  A.  E, 
Taylor,  G.  A.  Salmon,  E.  T.  Price,  Ella  Frye,  L.  H.  Nutter,  A. 
G.  Bouney,  J.  C.  Landis,  Kittie  Wolffe,  Theodore  Thiele,  C.  A. 
Moxley,  Frances  Parsons,  Charles  S.  Greene,  A.  VV.  Sutherland^ 
R.  L.  Mitchell,  F.  D.  Lackey,  Harry  Carson,  Mabel  Noyes. 

The  reports  of  laureate  judges  were  rejected.  Later  the  chair 
appointed  judges  who  awarded  the  sketch  laureateship  to  Irving 
J.  Romer,  the  essay  laureateship  to  VV.  O.  VVylie  and  the  poet 
laureateship  to  H.  C.  Hochstadter.  These  awards  were  then 
rejected  by  the  convention. 

The  treasurer's  report  submitted,  to  the  convention,  showed 
receipts  for  initiation  fees  and  dues,  $70  ;  dues  $55  ;  two  badges 
sold.  $5  ;  amount  on  hand  at  close  of  Buffalo  convention,  $95.59, 
making  total  receipts,  $225.59.  Expenditures,  for  various  pur- 
poses,  $177.19,  leaving  $48.40  on  hand. 

Numerous  amendments  were  made  to  the  constituion  at  Indian- 
apolis.    The  various  parts  amended  were  made  to  read  as  follows : 

Article  V.  Section  23.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding 
secretary  to  act  as  assistant  editor,  and  in  case  of  the  death,  disability 
or  resignation  of  the  editor,  he  shall  act  as  editor  until  the  vacancy  is 
filled  by  the  president.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  sec- 
retary to  issue  notices  of  convention  and  provide  the  members  with 
official  blanks  necessary  for  proxy  voting,  as  provided  for-  in  article 
IX,  sections  2  and  3.  . 

Sec.  26.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  officers  to  remain  active  during 
their  term  of  office  by  publishing  at  least  four  numbers  of  a  journal 
at  regular  intervals,  within  that  period,  or  by  contributing  at  least 
four  articles  to  the  amateur  press,  during  the  year,  three  of  which 
shall  be  printed  prior  to  February  of  each  year.  No  issue  to  be 
delayed  more  than  one  month  after  its  regular  date  of  publication. 
This  provision  shall  not  conflict  with  article  V,  section  H.  It  shall  be 
the  duty  of  all  the  officers,  in  addition  toother  duties  prescribed  in 
this  constitution,  to  present  at  the  annual  convention  a  report  of  all 
duties  performed  during  their  term  of  office  and  to  deliver  to  their 
respective  successors  all  books,  papers  or  property  of  any  kind  belong- 
ing to  the  Association. 


228  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

Art.  YIII.— Election  of  MemUra.  Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  secretary  of  credentials  to  present  a  list  of  accepted 
applicants  immediately  after  the  appointments  of  officers  pro 
tempore  as  provided  for  in  article  V,  section  10,  and  report  the  names 
of  those  who  by  reason  of  inactivity  shall  be  dropped  from  the  mem- 
bership list.  By  a  majority  vote  of  members  present  such  list  may  be 
favorably  acted  upon  in  its  entirety.  Thereupon  such  applicants  after 
the  payment  of  their  initiation  fee  and  dues  for  one  year  shall  be  en- 
titled to  the  privileges  of  active  membership.  By  the  request  of  ten 
members  present  any  number  of  names  on  the  secretary  of  creden- 
tials' list  maybe  voted  upon  separately,  when  ten  negative  votes  shall 
be  necessary  to  reject  any  applicant  for  membership. 

Art.  IX.  Sec.  1.  Each  member  whose  name  appears  on  the  treas- 
urer's books,  and  all  accepted  applicants  for  membership,  shall  be 
furnished  with  official  blanks  for  the  purpose  of  proxy  voting  for 
president,  official  editor  and  next  place  of  meeting,  and  upon  proposed 
amendments  to  the  constitution  or  by-laws. 

Sec.  3.  The  corresponding  secretary  shall  furnish  these  blanks  at 
least  thirty  days  previous  to  the  date  of  convention,  and  in  order  to 
-insure  their  being  counted  they  must  be  properly  filled  out  by  the 
members,  and  be  received  by  the  custodian  of  ballots,  through  the 
postoffice,  three  days  prior  to  the  convention. 

Art  XI. — Parliamentary  Authority.  This  Association  shall  be  gov- 
erned by  Eoberts'  Eules  of  Order,  wherein  it  does  not  conflict  with 
this  constitution  and  these  by-laws. 

Art.  XIII.  Sec.  2.  In  order  to  compete  for  the  title  laureate  in 
any  branch  a  member  must  have  his  article  printed  in  an  amateur 
publication  by  June  15  of  each  year,  and  send  two  copies  of  the  paper, 
with  such  articles  marked,  to  the  officer  who  shall  have  charge  of  the 
particular  department  in  which  the  article  is  entered. 

Sec.  4.  There  shall  be  five  judges  of  awards  each  of  whom  shall  have 
a  distinct  department,  thus:  The  first  shall  have  charge  of  serials, 
the  second  shall  have  charge  of  stories  or  sketches,  the  third  shall 
have  charge  of  poems,  the  fourth  shall  have  charge  of  essays,  the  fifth 
shall  have  charge  of  history  of  Amateur  Journalism. 

Art.  XV.  Sec.  1.  No  part  of  this  constitution  shall  be  suspended 
except  by  the  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  present. 

Eliminate  section  5  of  article  XV  of  constitution.  Also  sec- 
tion 6  of  article  B  of  by-laws.  Amend  article  A  of  by-laws  so 
that  sixth  order  of  business  on  second  day  shall  read  as  follows : 
«6.     Miscellaneous  and  new  business. 

Leading  papers  of  the  year  were  Nugget,  notable  for  literary 
and  editorial  matter ;  Union  Lance,  also  ably  edited ;  Our  Gompli" 
'ments,  with  a  lady  editor-in-chief ;  Mercury  Magazine,  issued 
like  clock  work ;  Commentator,  the  leading  all-editorial  publica- 
tion; Bising  Age,  Amateur  Journalist,  Dilettante,  Our  Venture, 
etc.  , 


CHflFTER  20. 

THE  SECOND  BOSTON  CONFERENCE. 
Amateurs   in   Attendakce. — Papers   Read   and   Thoroughly 
Discussed. 

THE  miuutes  of  the  second  Boston  conference  were  pub- 
lished in  Dilettante,  from  which  we  quote : 
In  the  parlors  of  the  American  house,  Boston,  Mass., 
on  the  afternoon  of  February  23,  1891,  a  conference  of  amateur, 
journalists  was  called  to  order  by  Chairman  James  F.  Morton,  Jr. 

There  were  present  Mrs.  Miniter,  Misses  Noyes,  M(  r:on, 
Abbott  and  Cox;  Messrs.  Wilson,  Wylie,  Capen,  Burger,  Chiles, 
Hochstadter,  Nutter,  Cram,  Spencer,  Read,  Porter,  Morton  and 
Dr.  Swift;  and  among  the  visitors  were  Mrs.  Cox,  Mrs.  Cameron, 
Mrs.  Wjlie,  Mrs.  Wilson,  Misses  Robbins,  Barrows,  Wentfailh 
and  Cox;  Messrs.  Lewis,  Stone,  Gallagher,  Gettemy,  Morion, 
Sr.,  Schadee  and  several  others. 

Mr.  Morton  welcomed  those  assembled  and  declared  that  the 
purpose  of  the  meeting  was  for  the  discussion  of  the  scone,  prac- 
tical value  and  present  needs  of  Amateur  Journalism. 

The  first  topic  was  "The  Scope  of  Amateur  Journalism."  Mrs. 
Miniter  read  a  paper,  followed  by  Willard  O.  \A  ylie  with  ar- 
other.  Letters  relating  to  the  subject  were  read  from  Everard 
Appleton  and  Jeanette  Swing. 

Mr.  Moore's  paper  on  "The  Scope,  Present  Needs  and  Prac- 
tical Advantages  of  Amateur  Journalism"  was  then  read.  The 
subject  was  announced  as  open  for  general  discussion  and  Mr. 
Chiles,  Mr.  Capen,  Mr.  Wylie  and  Miss  Cox  partici[  ated. 

Mr.  Morton  read  Mrs.  Frye's  paper  on  "The  Practical  Value 
of  Amateur  Journalism  to  tie  Author."  Also  the  paper  pre- 
pared by  Mr.  John  L.  Tomlinson,  on  its  value  to  the  editor. 

Miss  Cox  prefaced  Mr.  Pugh- s  paper,»My  College  of  Journal- 
ism," by  the  remark  that  it  was  of  particular  value,  inasmuch 
as  Mr.  Pugh  was  very  successful  as  a  journalist,  and  knew 
whereof  he  spoke,  both  from  his  own  experience  and  from  that 
of  his  old-time  amateur  friends.  Mr.  Spencer  spoke  of  the  prac- 
tical value  to  the  printer. 

Opinions  were  then  called  for  from  the  company.  Mr.  Chiles, 
Mr.  Gallagher  and  Miss  Cox  responded. 

Mr.  Morton  read  a  paper  written  by  Mrs.  Ella  M.  Frye  on 
"The  Present  Need  of  Amateur  Journalism."  This  was  dis- 
cussed by  Dr.  Swift,  Mr.  Read  and  Miss  Cox. 

After   adopting  some  resolutions   the    conference    adjourned. 


CH/IFTER  21. 

RED-LETTER  DAYS. 
A  Triangular  Presidential  Contest. — The   Fine    Array    of. 
Papers  in  1891. — Spencer's  Magnificent  Volume. — Mor- 
ton's   Account    of    the    Philadelphia    Meeting. — The 
Official  Minutes. 

THE  contest  for  the  presidency  in  1891  was,  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  the  National  Amatenr  Press  Associa- 
tion, a  tliree-cornered  tight.  Ti»e  candidates  were  Edwift 
B.  Swift,  Frank  E.  Schermerhorn  and  John  L.  Tomljnson.  Dr. 
Swift,  an  amateur  of  long  standing,  was  the  candidate  of  the 
literary  party  of  Araateurdom,  the  campaign  being  under  the 
personal  direction  of  James  V.  Morton,  Jr.,  an  energetic  and 
shrewd  politician  as  well  as  a  most  prolitic  author.  Mr.  Morton 
bad  assistants  throughout  the  country,  an(i  did  iiis  work 
thoroughly.  The  Scliermerhorn  party  was  the  party  of  Ama- 
teurdom's  younger  element,  Mr.  Harry  C.  Hochstadter  being 
in  charge.  The  wa^chwonlsof  the  campaign  were  '•Schermerhorn 
and  manhood."  The  Tomlinson  campaign  was  managed  by 
Messrs.  C.  R.  Burger  and  W.  C.  Chiles,  and  it  was  generally 
understood  —and  afterwards  proven — that  its  following  consisted 
mainly  of  ''fossils"  and  "recruits." 

The  era  about  which  we  are  now  writing  has  been,  03'  general 
consent,  styled  the  ''Red-Letter  Days"  of  Amateur  Journalism,, 
from  the  title  of  the  leading  magazine  of  the  year.  In  his  ruinual 
report,  Laureate  Recorder  Frank  D.  Woollen  says: 

In  ihe  past  we  have  had  some  reall}^  brilliant  magazines ;  we 
have  had  poeuis.  sketches,  essays,  criticisms,  books;  but  when 
iu  one  single  year  before  have  we  boasted  of  a  Stylus,  Bed-Letter 
Days  and  New  Era;  of  a  Miss  Johnson,  Miss  Parsons,  Edkins, 
Emery,  Mack.  Shelp,  Batsford,  Antisdel,  Hill,  Spencer  and  the 
"Literary  Cycbpedia?"  Add  to  these  the  fine  volume  of  th« 
National  Amateur,  Investigator,  Monthly  Visitor,  Onr  Compli- 
ments and  Quartette,  from  New  England;  Progress,  Ivy  Leaf, 
Fern  Leaf,  Ideal,  Wm.  Penn,  New  Century,  Delawarean,  Bising 
Age,  Lotus  Leaves  and  Our  Quill,  from  the  Middle  States; 
Southern  Critic,  South,  Texas  and  Appleton's  "Uuiquii  Series," 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUK   PKES8   ASSOCIATION.      251 

from  the  South ;  Hyperion,  Messenger,  Gold  Foil,  Commentator, 
Pansies,  Ink  Drops,  Pacific  Gourant  and  Bowagiac  News,  from 
the  West,  and  a  fair  estimate  may  be  formed  of  the  extent  and 
vahie  of  Amateur  Journalism  for  the  year. 

The  most  valuaf)Ie  product  of  the  year  was  beyond  doubt 
Truman  J.  Spencer^s  "Literary  Cyclopedia  of  Amateur  Journal- 
ism,'* a  volume  of  512  pnges,  handsomely  bound,  containing 
selections  entire  from  the  works  of  over  eighty  amateur  authors, 
covering  the  whole  field  of  amateur  literature  from  the  days  of 
Gerner,  Huss,  Fyiies  and  Clossey  to  the  present  era.  It  con- 
tains Clossey's  famous  poem,  "Red-Letter  Days,"  Gleason's 
fine  lines  beginninty 

My  pipe  is  peace  to  me 
On  languid  summer  eves, 
as  also  Shelp's  masterpiece,  "The  Sheik,"  and  Batsford's  un- 
rivalled "Doctor  Dick."  There,  too,  is  Buckley's  "Missoury," 
Hey  wood's  "In  Praisentia  Mortis,"  Day's  "In  the  Castle  Gar- 
den," Metcalf's  "Lines  to  My  Waiting  Love,"  Sluyvesant's 
^'Professor  Plum  tree,"  Miller's  "Dead,''  etc. 

In  February,  1891,  President  Dunlop  removed  Second  Vice- 
President  Burke,  for  inactivity,  and  appointed  John  L.  Tomlin- 
soD  in  his  stead. 

An  epoch  of  activity  in  the  South  was  made  the  occasion  for  a 
vigorous  campaign  for  New  Orleans  as  the  seat  of  the  1892  con- 
vention. The  campaign  committee  was  headed  by  John  T.  Nix- 
on, whose  South  was  at  this  time  the  leading  amateur  paper  of  the 
section. 

The  convention  met  at  Philadelphia,  July  14,  at  2:45  p.  m. 
The  following  account  of  the  convention  is  from  Dilettante  and 
by  James  F.  Morton,  Jr. 

At  2  p.  m.  of  July  14,  President  Dunlop  called  the  convention 
to  order  in  the  parlors  of  the  Lafayette  hotel.  About  sixty  were 
present.  In  the  absence  of  the  corresponding  secretarj'  Walter 
C.  Chiles  was  appointed  to  serve  in  place  of  that  officer. 

The  names  of  candidates  admitted  during  the  past  year  were 
read  by  Mr.  Hochstadter,  the  secretary  of  credentials.  Motioa 
being  made  to  accept  the  report,  Mr,  Heath  arose  and  asked 
that  73  names  which  he  read  be  acted  on  separately.  By  rising 
vote  these  applicants  were  blackballed. 

With  one  or  two  exceptions,  the  reports  of  officers  and  commit- 
tees presented  little  of  special  interest.  The  report  of  Miss  Cox 
as  official  editor  was  greeted  with  loud  applause,  and  the  conven- 
tion voted  to  present  her  with  a  suitable  testimonial,  in  recogni- 


232  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

tion  of  her  services.  The  convention  then  adjourned  to  10  a.  m. 
of  the  following  day. 

The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  and  the  entire  evening  were 
devoted  mainly  to  caucusing  and  pplitical  discussion.  A  union 
between  the  Swift  and  Tomlinson  forces  was  decided  on. 

The  first  order  of  business  jii  the  morning  was  the  election  of 
officers.  Mr.  Schermerhorn,  'who  was  chairman  of  the  proxy 
committee,  was  absent.  After  considerable  delay,  Charles  R. 
Burger  presented  a  report  of  the  committee,  signed  by  five  of  its 
seven  members.  This  recognized  as  legal  every  proxy  ballot 
cast  by  a  member  in  good  standing  whose  dues  were  paid  and 
whose  ballot  had  arrived  on  time.  On  the  motion  to  accept  the 
committee's  report  a  tie  vote  was  announced,  whereupon  Presi- 
dent Dunlop  cast  the  deciding  vote  in  favor  of  the  report.  The 
Schermerhorn  faction  then  attempted  to  force  an  adjournment, 
and  when  they  found  themselves  unable  to  do  this,  bolted  the 
convention  in  a  body. 

The  convention  meanwhile  proceeded  with  the  regular  order  of 
business.  Dr.  E.  B.  Swift  was  nominated  for  president  by  Ci 
R.  Burger.  He  received  87  votes  out  of  113,  and  was  declared 
duly  elected.  Harriet  C.  Cox  was  elected  first  vice-president 
and  Charles  H.  Lawson  second  vice,  John  Moody  recording  sec- 
retary, Oscar  A.  Reum  corresponding  secretary  and  Hope  R. 
Cody  treasurer,  with  no  opposition.  Walter  C.  Chiles  received 
85  votes  for  official  editor,  and  was  declared  elected.  John  L. 
Tomlinson,  Willard  O.  Wylie  and  Truman  J.  Spencer  were 
elected  as  executive  judges.  For  convention  seat  the  first  two 
ballots  revealed  no  choice.  On  the  third,  Boston  was  elected  by 
acclamation,  the  constitution  having  previously  been  suspended 
to  allow  the  convention  to  meet  in  an  eastern  city.  The  con- 
vention then  adjourned  to  2  p.  m. 

On  reassembling,  it  was  found  that  the  bolters  had  taken  pos- 
session of  the  room,  and  were  holding  a  so-called  convention, 
with  Carter  in  the  chair.  After  a  brief  consultation  it  was  de- 
cided to  claim  the  room  as  rightfully  belonging  to  the  National 
Association.  Accordingly,  the  members  quietly  filed  in  and 
took  their  seats,  while  President  Dunlop,  taking  the.  gavel  from 
Carter's  hands,  assumed  his  position  as  chairman.  The  Scher- 
merhorn faction,  realizing  that  they  had  no  right  to  the  use  of 
the  room,  hastily  adjourned  to  their  headquarters. 

Dr.  Swift  was  then  installed  as  president.  He  returned  thanks 
for  the  honor  in  a  brief  but  eloquent  speech,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  announced  the  following  appointments :  Secretary  of 
credentials,  Charles  R.  Burger ;  laureate  recorder,  James  F. 
Morton,  Jr.  ;  librarian,  Charles  W.  Edmunds.  Announcement 
-was  made  of  the  award  of  poet  laureateship  to  Miss  Stella  Trumam 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION  233 

for  ''A  Soldier's  Meditation,"  with  honorable  mention  to  Miss 
Capitola  L.  Harrison  for  "Marguerite."  The  title  of  historian 
laureate  was  conferred  on  Mrs.  Ella  M.  Frye  for  "A  Miniature 
World  of  Letters,"  with  honorable  mention  to  Warren  J.  Brodie 
for  '-The  National  Amateur  and  Its  Official  Editors."  E.  St. 
Elmo  Lewis  received  the  essay  laureateship  for  "The  Art  Divinity 
in  Amateur  Literature."  The  committee  awarded  the  editorial 
laureate  to  the  Ideal,   with  honorable  mention  to  the  South. 

The  credential  committee  presented  a  report  favoring  the 
admission  of  the  73  members  previously  blackballed.  The  report 
was  accepted.  Some  discussion  arose  over  the  name  of  Abel  P. 
Caldwell,  who  was  also  favorably  reported  on  by  the  committee. 
On  testimony  that  the  applicant  was  not  objected  to  on  the 
ground  of  color,  but  because  his  paper  was  in  no  sense  an 
amateur  paper,  his   name  was  referred  back  to  the  committee. 

Willard  O.   Wylie  then  presented  the  following  resolutions: 

Whereas,  Certain  meinbers  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association, 
known  as  the  Scherinerhorn  faction,  have  refused  to  obey  the  voice  of  a  ma- 
jority of  the  members  of  that  body,  and  have  proven  themselves  disloyal  to 
it  and  its  best  interests ;  and 

Whereas,  In  the  corridors  of  the  Lafayette  hotel,  the  Schermerhorn  fac- 
tion has  disgraced  itself  in  its  flippant  references  to  an  attending  lady  dele- 
gate ;  be  it 

Eesolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  in  convention  assem- 
bled, denounce  all  such  actions  expressing  our  disapproval  in  the  most 
emphatic  manner ;  and  be  it  further 

llesolved,  That  the  professional  press  of  this  city  be  furnished  a  copy  of 
these  resolutions. 

The  resolutions  were  adopted,  and  the  convention  then  ad- 
journed to  10  a.  m.  of  the  following  day.  The  regular  conven- 
tion banquet  was  held  in  the  evening  at  the  Colonnade  hotel.  It 
was  a  success  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  Over  thirty  were 
present.  Willaed  O.  Wylie  presided  as  toastmaster.  The  post 
prandial  exercises  were  opened  with  a  piano  solo  by  Miss  Helen 
Lawson.  John  L.  Tomlinson  responded  to  the  "Conventions  of 
the  Fast,"  and  Truman  S.  Spencer  to  "The  National  Amateur 
l^ress  Association."  Miss  Harriet  C.  Cox  read  an  original 
sketch  entitled  "Tim's  Query."  Ex-President  Dunlop  responded 
to  "The  Ladies"  after  which  he  presented  Miss  Cox,  in  the 
name  of  the  Association,  with  a  handsome  diamond  ring,  in 
recognition  of  the  excellent  work  performed  by  her  during  the 
year  in  her  capacity  as  official  editor.  Other  responses  and 
literary  exercises  were  "The  Western  Amateur  Press  Associa- 
tion," Walter  E.  Mellinger;  a  reading  by  James  F.  Morton, 
Jr.;  "The  Fossil,"  Ex-President  Louis  Kempner;  "Our  Local 
Clubs,"  Mrs.  Ella  Maud  Frye;  "Our  Hobbies,"  Charles  R. 
Burger  ;   "The  Successful  Candidate,"  President  Edwin  B.  Swift ; 


234  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIOiJAL  AMATEUR  PRtsfe  ASSOCIATIOF. 

^'Eastern  Amateur  Press  Association,"  John  Moody;  "New 
England  Amateur  Press  Association,"  James  F.  Morton,  Jr.  ; 
reading  by  George  Dodd  ;  "The  Politician,"  Walter  C.  Chiles. 
At  the  close  of  the  exercises  President  Swift  read  a  letter  just 
received  from  the  judge  of  the  entries  for  the  sketch  laureate- 
ships.  The  title  was  awarded  to  Mrs.  Ella  Maud  Frye  for  "Who 
Was  to  Blame,"  with  honorable  mention  to  Everard  Appleton, 
for  "Nor  Live  Nor  Love." 

The  session  of  the  following  morning  was  eminently  a  busines 
session.  The  constitution  committee  reported  a  number  of 
important  changes,  which  were  adopted.  An  elaborate  scheme 
with  reference  to  thciColumbiau  exposition  was  presented  by  Mr. 
Cody  for  J4jdsbn  D.  Russell,  and  adopted  by  the  convention.  It 
was  voted  that  measures  be  taken  for  the  incorporation  of  the 
Association,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  for  the  purpose. 
During  the  proceedings,  Frank  E.  Schermerhorn,  E.  J.  Hard- 
castle  and  C.  W.  Edmunds  entered  the  hall,  and  Mr.  Schermer- 
horn read  the  following: 

Fellow  amateurs  assembled:  We,  the  undersigned  committee, 
representing  a  body  of  Amateur  Journalists,  ask  the  appointment  of  a 
like  committee  to  meet  us  in  conference  to  discuss  and  settle,  if  pos- 
sible, the  difficulties  that  exist  as  a  result  of  the  proceedings  of  the  past 
two  days.  We  make  these^overtures,  willing  to  forego  that  for  which 
we  have  personally  contended  in  the  interests  of  the  cause  which  we 
all  love.  Our  cause  has  never  been  strong  enough  even  in  the  most 
prosperous  days,  to  stand  the  breach  that  now  threatens,  and  it  is  in 
goodfaith  that  we  ask  for  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  difficulties 
now  existing. 

The  request  was  complied  with,  and  President  Swift  appointed 
Wylie,  Spencer  and  Morton  as  such  committee.  A  recess  was 
taken  to  2  p.  m. 

For  some  reason,  the  committee  representing  the  Schermerhorn 
faction  failed  to  materialize.  After  waiting  more  than  half  an 
hour,  the  committee  from  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  made  an  appointment 
with  the  only  member  of  the  otlier  committee  present,  at  1 :45. 
The  Schermerhorn  committee,  consisting  of  Carter,  Heath  and 
Baker,  when  the  conference  finallj'  met,  declared  their  wish  to 
be  that  the  entire  proceedings  of  the  convention,  subsequent  to 
its  desertion  by  the  Schermerhorn  party,  be  declared  null  and 
void.  To  this  theN.  A.  P.  A.  committee  refused  to  accede.  Mean- 
while the  convention  had  been  called  to  order.  Mr.  Tomlinson 
obtained  the  floor  and  described  the  manner  in  which  he  had 
been  approached  b}'  the  Schermerhorn  faction,  who  proffered  him 
the  presidency  in  return  for  his  assistance  in  overthrowing  the 
proceedings  of  the  convention.  He  declared  himself  stronglj" 
opposed  to  such  methods,  and  moved  that  the  convention  adjourn 
sine   die.     There   being    no    further  business   to   consider,    the 


BrSTORY   OF  THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  236 

motioa   was  carried.     The  cotntnittee  remaiiiel  in    session   for 
some  time,  but  no  satisfactory  agreement  was  reached. 

The  official  minutes  give  additional  details  as  follows: 

Hope  Reed  Cody  and  James  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  appointed  to 
assist  secretary  of  credentials. 

Committee  on  countingr  proxy  ballots:  F.  E.  Schermerhorn, 
chairman;  Walter  C.  Chiles,  Edwin  B.  Swift,  Willard  O.  Wylie, 
Ciiarles  R.  Burger,  Truman  J.  Spencer  and  Harry  C.  Hoch- 
stadter. 

Roll  call  showed  following  members  present:  Miss  Cox,  Mrs 
Frye,  Mrs.  Swift,  Messrs^  Spencer,  Cole,  Hardcastle,  Ross 
Lawson,  Taylor,  Salmon,  Mitchell,  Carter,  Cody,  Meilinger, 
Reum,  Tomiinson,  Heath,  Baker,  Wylie,  Morton,  Burger 
Moody,  Stover,  Sizer,  Swift,  Chiles,  Edmunds,  Hochstadter, 
Kugler,  Lewis,  Schermerhorn,  Melloy,  Mellville,  Smith  and  Dun- 
lop. 

Following  applicants  for  membership  accepted :     Messrs.  Vin- 
nedge,  French,  Emerick,  Nulty,  Stout,  Tubbs,  Gilbert,  Aldrich, 
Reid,    Peacock,   Grossman,   Robinson,    Lord,    Porter,   Clinton, 
Wade,  White,   Schwartz,    Carr,   Sizer,    Palen,    Ball,    Mace,   G. 
Boughton,    W.     Bougiiton,     Fellows,     Stewart,    Haskell,    Hall 
Rosenfield,    G.  Melloy,   Walker,   Lloyd,   Beckers,   F.    Noonan 
Bailey,  Deats,  Davis,  Sheldon,  Davis,  Russell,  Sutherland,  Sayre 
WilHams,  White,  Groff,  W.  Walker,  Munro,  Ha3'den,  Whitney 
W.   Grant,   R-    Edmunds,   Pinckney,    H.    Jaehne,  Bouchet,    ^. 
Carey,  Grabam,  Brubaker,  O.  Pratt,   F.   Pratt,   Vail,   Teniey, 
Church,  Mayor,  W.   Lawson,  Howard,  Praeger,  Walling,  Cope 
Donovan,  D.  Newbold,  E.  Newbold,  Russell,  Billheimer,  Cowles 
Heineman,  M^nn,  White,  Shannon,  Hassard,   Gooder,   Siemon 
T.  Carey,  Foss,  Magurn,  Goldenhorn,   Wolff e,  Barker,  Hodges 
Potter,  Bell,  S^'l»oneman,  W.  Burke,   Williams,  Nelson,  Marten, 
Knauer,  Baer,  F-  Tomiinson,  Holland,  Frick ;  Mrs.  Allen,  Mrs. 
Kugler ;  Misses  Sallie  Stanberry,  Addie  Humble,  Elma   Johnson 
Rosa  Mara,  Jea^^tte  Swing,  E.  Trust  Foster.  C.  A.  Hardesty, 
Adell  Ray.  Ida  Gruth,   Emma   Keim,    Nettie    Woodzelle,    Hattie 
Marpe,  Edith  C.  Cooper,  Rose  Williams,  Mabolm  Douglas,  Mrs. 
E.  B.  Summers,   J-  J-   Weissert,    Frank  Lindsley,  W.   A.  Paul, 
William  Harrison,  J^-  O-  Addison. 

Messrs.  Heath,  Ross,  Cole,  Hardcastle,  Baker,  Taylor, 
Salmon,  Melloy,  Carter  and  Schermerhorn,  objected 
to  and  Messrs.  Baker,  Hardcastle,  Salmon,  Stewart, 
Carter,  Peacock,  Melloy,  Cole,  Hochstadter,  Heath  and 
Schermerhorn  blackballed,  the  following  applicants,  rejecting 
them:  Messrs.  Polster,  W.  Burger,  J.  C.  Burger.  Kimball, 
Anderson,  Engel,  J.  Wilson,   Knapp,  Duhme,  Dalton,  Quinlan, 


236        HISTORY  oy  the  national  amateur  press  association. 

D.  Noonau,  Murray,  Earle,  Hall,  Trafford,  Rivers,  Tiltoii, 
Longstreet,  Hughes,  Hewins,  Townsend,  Hamilton,  Ed'.  Miller, 
Petit,  J.  Yellott,  Devendorf,  H.  Sedgwick,  Vilas,  A.  Sedgwick, 
Fesmier,  Parsons,  Whately,  Craig,  Evans,  Frazer,  C.  Jaebne, 
Dusel,  G.  Wilson,  Langer,  Delane}^,  Wells,  Bearhope,  Isen- 
schmid,  Hall,  Hine,  Ward,  Waggoner,  Lovett,  Holland,  Parrish, 
Ferris,  Verrinder,  Peters,  Bays,  Paul  Jaehne,  Fred  Jaehne, 
Deakin,  Pike,  Bixby,  Care,'Vanderslic,  Van  Riper,  Ryan;  Misses 
Lillie  Hawkins,  Nan  Lawson,  Helen  Lawson,  Etta  Hawkins, 
May  Parsons,  Mabel  Vail,  Annie  Parsons,  Jennie  Morris,  May 
Verrinder. 

The  secretary  reported  the  following  dropped  for  inactivity : 
Bull,  Mackay,  P.  Ruth,  R.  Ruth,  Nervgeon,  Hunter,  Strom, 
Metcalf,  Tewksbury,  Harrison  and  Miss  Hood. 

T.  J.  Spencer  appointed  chairman  constitution  committee: 

Second  day.  Proxy  committee's  report  rendered  by  Mr.  Bur- 
ger: 246  votes  cast;  78  thrown  out  for  non-payment  of  dues, 
73  blackballed,  4  received  too  late,  3  non-membership.  Total 
cast  out,  158  ;  counted,  88. 

For  President -Swift  62,  Schermerhorn  19,  Tomlinson  6,  Mellingerl. 

For  official  editor — Chiles  .59,  Mayor  7,  Mack  4,  Mueller  1,  Lewis  2, 
Tomlinson  1,  Kugler  2.  Miss  Ooxl,  Miss  Steinberg  1,  HoUub  2,  Hoch- 
stadter  2. 

For  convention  seat— Buffalo  .3(5,  New  Orleans  25,  Boston  14,  Albany 
4.  Cincinnati  3,  Fargo  J ,  New  ^'  ork  ] . 

Vote  for  president : 

E.  B.  Sw ift    87 

F.  E.  Schermerhorn 39 

J.  L.  Tomlinson 6. 

W.  E.  Mellinger 1 

Accordmg  to  the  official  minutes,  in  voting  for  the  other  officers, 
following  the  president,  the  secretary  was  instructed  to  cast  the 
ballot  for  the  candidate  elected. 
Vote  for  meeting  place : 

ProxT.  Convention  Total 

Boston 14  16  30 

New  Orleans 25  . .  25 

Buffalo. 36  4  40 

Scattering 9  1  10 

Total  number  cast.  105  ;  necessary  for  a  choice,  53. 
Second  ballot: 

Pi-oxv.  Convention  Total 

Boston 14  P)  30 

Buffalo 8(i  ;i  39 

New  Orleans 25  25 

Scattering  .     9  .  .  9 

Total  number  cast,  103;  necessary  for  a  choice,  51. 


HISTOUy   OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      237 

Secretary  instructed  to  cast  the  vote  of  the  convention  for 
Boston. 

Mr.  Burger  moved  that  the  seventy-three  applications  rejected 
be  reconsidered  ;  carried.  These  applicants  all  elected  to  mem- 
bership. 

Third  day's  session.  Constitution  committee  reported.  Fol- 
lowing changes  made : 

Article  VIII,  section  1  amended  so  that  a  two-thirds  vote  shall 
be  necessary  to  reject  any  applicant  for  membership. 

Article  XIV.  Section  1.  Any  member  or  accepted  applicant 
publishing  four  or  more  numbers  of  his  paper  during  the  year  is  entitled 
to  enter  such  publication,  one  month  before  the  convention,  in  compe- 
tition for  the  title  editorial  laureate,  which  shall  be  awarded  at  each 
convention  by  the  president. 

In  article  XIII,  section  2,  the  words  "or  accepted  applicant" 
were  inserted  after  the  word  "member,"  in  the  second  line. 

Article  V,  section  20  was  amended  by  striking  out  the  words, 
"at  least  two  months,"  and  inserting  "before  June  15." 

The  last  two  lines  of  article  VI,  section  1,  were  stricken  out, 
and  the  sentence  '  'the  editor  shall  use  the  electrotyped  heading  of 
previous  years"  inserted.  Section  5  was  amended  so  as  to  read: 
"It  shall  contain  on  the  last  page  of  the  first  and  last  number — ." 

In  article  V,  section  12,  the  words  "either  personally  or" 
were  stricken  out. 

Treasurer  Swift  rendered  a  report  to  the  Philadelphia  conven- 
tion showing  collections  during  the  year  of  $243.15,  disburse- 
ments of  $177.40,  leaving  a  balance  on  hand  of  $114.15.  The 
balance  a  year  before  had  been  $48.40. 

The  committee  on  conference  appointed  during  the  convention, 
had  no  opportunity  to  report  to  the  convention  before  adjourn- 
ment, and  published  their  report  in  Progress.  It  reviews  the 
work  of  the  convention  up  to  Thursday  morning  and  continues; 

Thursday  morninor  after  disposing  of  much  important  miscel- 
laneous business,  Mr.  Schermerhorn  appeared  and  presented  a 
communication  [which  is  printed  on  page  234]. 

The  request  embodied  in  this  note  was  granted,  and  Messrs. 
Wylie,  Spencer  and  Morton  weie  appointed  such  committee. 
A  vote  was  passed  instructing  the  committee  that  the 
election  of  President  Swift  was  not  to  be  nullified.  Your 
comuiittee  orgauized  with  Mr.  Wylie  as  chairmam,  and  Mr.  Spen- 
cer as  secretary.  Your  committee  found  that  they  were  not 
expected  to  meet  the  committee  named  in  the  communication,  but 
that  another  committee,  composed  ®f  Messrs.  Heath,  Carter  and 
Baker  sood  back   of  them.      Waiving  this  point,   after   several 


238  HISTORY   OF   THE   HATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

iueffectiial  efforts  on  their  part  to  get  their  committee  together, 
your  committee  met  them  in  session  at  1:45  p.  m.  Mr.  Heath 
for  his  committee  said  that  they  had  received  tacit  instructions  to 
the  effect  that  the  body  of  the  amateurs  whom  they  represented 
would  return  to  the  Association  upon  condition  that  all  business 
which  had  been  transacted  after  the  report  of  the  proxy  committee 
be  reconsidered,  and  that  they  have  a  voice  in  the  proceedings 
from  that  time.  Mr.  Wylie  voiced  the  instructions 
your  Association  gave  the  committee,  and  stated  the  proposition 
offered  mu«t  be  declined.  Mr.  Heath  then  asked  for  a  proposition 
from  your  i;ommittee.  Mr.  Wylie,  speaking  for  the  committee, 
said  that  they  had  met  to  listen  to  any  proposition  that  might  be 
made  to  them,  but  saw  no  necessity  for  offering  any  on  their  part. 
The  body  of  amateurs  who  had  asked  for  the  conference,  were 
members,  in  good  standing,  of  the  Association,  and  would  be 
welcomed  at  its  sessions  at  any  time.  At  this  point  Mr.  Heath 
announced  to  your  committee  that  the  convention  had  adjourned 
sine  die.  After  considerable  fnrther  discussion  the  conference 
was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent. 


CHAPTER  21. 

THE  SCHERMERHORN  BOLT. 

The  Minutes  on  Which  Thky  Based  the  Legality  of  Theih 
ACTIONS. — Full  Report  of  the  Proxy  Committee. — How 
OvFicEss  Were  Elected. — Resolutions  Adopted. — Pecu- 
liarities OF  THE  Case. 

TH^  observant  reader  will  have  noted  a  few  pages  back 
that  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  took  occasion  to  notice  a  bolt 
from  its  ranks  at  the  Philadelphia  convention.  These 
bolters,  daiming  that  the  refusal  of  President  Dunlop  to  put  a 
motion  to  adjourn  gave  Mr.  Carter  the  right  to  put  it  himself 
and  adjourn  the  meeting,  claimed  for  themselves  the  regular 
organizatfen  and  published  a  National  Amateur.  This  chapter 
will  take  irp  the  faction  from  the  point  at  which  Mr.  Burger  read 
his  proxy  report.  We  quote  from  the  mmutes  as  published  in 
the  Amateur : 

Calls  for  the  chairman  of  the  committee.  Moved  by  Mr. 
Hochstadter  to  adjourn.  President  Dunlop  refused  to  put  the 
motion.  An  appeal  made  but  ignored.  Point  of  order  by  Mr. 
Cope  that  a  motion  to  adjourn  was  always  in  order ;  chair  ruled 
the  point  of  order  out  of  order.  Moved  by  Burger  to  accept  his 
own  report.  A  count  of  the  votes  by  Mr.  Burger  reported  as 
23  to  23.  Cries  that  Mr.  Burger  hnd  incorrectly  counted  the 
vote.  His  count  accepted  by  President  Dunlop,  who  cast  the 
deciding  vote  in  favor  of  the  acceptance  of  the  report.  Moved 
and  seconded  to  adjourn  by  several  members,  but  movers  not 
recognized  by  President  Dunlop.  After  repeated  requests,  Mr. 
Carter,  who  had  moved  to  adjourn,  put  the  motion,  which  was 
carried  by  a  vote  of  28  to  22. 

Called  to  order  at  2  p.  m.  Vice-President  Schermerhorn  in 
the  cliair.     Mr.  Hochstadter  secretary  pro  tern. 

Proxy  committee's  report  submitted  by  Chairman  Scher- 
merhorn : 

The  proxy  committee  met  at  10:45,  Tuesday  evening,  July  14.  It 
was  VQted  that  all  proxies  received,  bearing  Philadelphia's  postmark 
of  July  11  up  to  2  p.  m.  be  counted. 

It  ^^8  recommended  that  all  rejected  proxy  ballots  be  filed  with  the 
recor(^ng  secretary,  and  if  such  be  not  called  for  upon  the  appearance 
of  the^  National  Amateur,  that  they  be  destroyed  by  said  official  without 
any  knowledge  of  how  said  votes  were  cast. 


240      HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

On  count  it  was  found  that  the  total  number  of  proxies  cast  was  246. 

Proxies  from  the  following  named  persons  were  thrown  out  for  non- 
membership  in  the  Association:  ,  G.  J.  Moore,  E.  R.  Townsend,  A.  E. 
Tilton,  David  Noonan,  John  Dalton,  John  J.  Yellott,  Jr.,  W.  W. 
Delaney,  H.  E.  Parsons,  W.  J.  Vanderslice,  R.  B.  Teachenor,  G.  A. 
Longstreet,  J.  J.  Hughes,  John  Quinlan,  E.  C.  Hall,  Guy  E.  Wells, 
Mary  Parsons,  L.  O.  Van  Riper,  Etta  Hawkins,  Lillie  Hawkins,  Annie 
Parsons,  N.  O.  Whitney,  P.  J.  Ferris,  E.  F.  Waggoner,  A.  G.  Holland, 
W.  F.  Fesmer,  I.  J.  Hewins,  Charles  H.  Trafford,  John  Bearhope,  A.  P. 
Ward,  A.  J.  Ryan,  Millie  Henderson,  J.  C.  Benendorf,  John  Hamil- 
ton, Helen  Lawson,  H.  W.  Frozer,  M.  S.  Dockstadter,  E.  W.  Miller, 
J.  H.  Evans,  R.  Petit,  Nan  Lawson,  Paul  Jaehne,  Fred  Jaehne, 
Edward  Dusel,  Charles  Jaehne,  J.  S.  Peters,  George  Bays,  D.  E.  Pike, 
J.  C.  Burger,  J.  D.  Earle,  F.  H.  Polster,  C.  0.  Deakin,  J.  Morris,  S. 
Isenschmit,  C.  L.  Kimball,  P.  M.  Vilas,  A.  R.  Parrish,   F.  Rivers,   A. 

A.  Langer,  C.  L.  Hine,  Isaac  Lovett,  J.  D.  Carr.  M.  AV.  Knapp,  F.  B. 
Massey,  J.  H.  Case,  W.  B.  Burger,  I).  E.  Murray,  M.  S.  Vail,  Jos 
Wilson,  Jr.,  A.  M.  Duhme,  W.  Verrinder,  Jr.,  Man  Verrinder,  G.  B. 
Craig,  H.  C.  Bixby  W.  A.  Engel,  A.  W.  Anderson,  N.  J.  Sedgwick,  H. 
G.  Sedgwick,  Luther  C  Aid,  Norman  Reisenfelt,  Adam  J.  Wagner,  J. 
G.  Ballard,  G.  A.  Nelson,  W.  B.  Donelson,  Mamie  B.  Wentz,  W.  G. 
Hadcock,  A.  C.  Watkins,  George  J.  Ressenfeld,  Clinton  S.Zimmerman. 

Following  cast  out  for  non-payment  of  dues:  Robert  uarey,  George 
S.  Brown,  I.  Goldenhorn,  Frank  Stout,  Jr.,  O.  Yellott,  0.  A.  Mueller, 
George  A.  Vail,  Charles  S.  Sheffield,  A.  H.  Nash,  A.  Bouchet,  J.  D. 
Miller,  H.  L.  Pinckney,  Henry  Wolffe,  F.  D.  Lackey,   H.  D.  Siemon, 

B.  William  Corbett,  E.  A.  Magurn,  H.  H,  Fish,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Fish,  E. 
A.  Johnson,  C.  S.  Zimmerman,  Charles  Jensen,  Al.  E.  Barker,  F.  S. 
Whitney, C.  H.Frost,  J.  Hesscock,  Jr.,  L.  C.  Auld,  C  E.  Church,  M- 
Robinson,  H.  H.  Hodges,  G.  Gooder,  H.  S.  Johnson,  H.  Strom,  T.  E. 
CroBsley,  G.  J.  Rissenfeld,  N.  Rissenfeld,  G.  G.  Ballard,  Jr.,  L.  C. 
Bigelow,  Bert  Phillips,  Emma  Keim,  James  S.  Wilson,  W.  G.  Roome, 
P.  J.  Hayden,  S.  A.  Nelson,  A.J.  Wagner,  Ben  A.  Baer,  L.  S.  Boruck, 
Charles  Knauer,  A.  C.  Watkins,  Mrs.  J.  G.  Kugler,  Mamie  Wentz, 
Elsie  Kemp,  L.  L.  Williams,  H.  L.  Reid,  J.  H.  I.  Munro,  W.  C.  Carr, 
F.  L.  Toralinson,  A.  R.  Hazzard,  J,  S.  Hall,  B.  M.  LaRue,  F.  E,  Wil- 
liams, Abbie  E.  Underwood,  G.  H.  Wilson,  Theodore  B.  Thiele,  J. 
Whidden  Graham,  Theo.  Carey,  Louis  Kempner,  W.  B.  Donaldson. 

Cast  out  for  having  arrived  too  late:  John  T.  Nixon,  Lillie  Wood- 
zelle,  George  French,  Harry  R.  Carson. 

Following  votes  declared  legal:  Rose  L.  .Mara,  F.  B.  Noonan,  Adell 
Ray,  E.  R.  Aldrich,  H.  E.  Deats,  F.  D.  Woollen,  E.  A.  Edkins,  Nettie 
Woodzelle,  Jessie  Dillon.  E.  O.  Sheldon,  J.  W.'  Foss,  Mary  Morton,  M. 
H.  Grossman,  W.  G.  Muirhead,  Capitola  Harrison,  C'  B.  Palmer, 
Orman  Pratt,  Fred  Pratt,  D.  P.  Hurlburt,  Will  S.  Moore,  W.  W.  Car- 
penter, Alex.  D.  Grant.  Charles  Elgutter,  W.  C.  Tennev,  Charles  E. 
Wilson,  Elisha  Read,  E.  T.  Capen,  G.  G.  Melloy,  L.  H.  Nutter,  C.  W. 
Smith,  W,  A.  O.  Paul,  Fred  C.  Addison,  E.  W.  Martin,  A.  G.  Bonney, 
George  Frye,  W.  H.  Walker,  Jr.,  J.  K.  Walker,  J.  P.  White,  Jr.,  vE.  A. 
Becker,  Jr.,  Everard  Appleton,  Kneeland  Ball,  Dewitt  Clinton,  E.  B. 
Hill.  David  Hollub,  Warren  Brodie,  Joe  Mack,  C.  H.  Williams,  Frank 
Lindsley,  G.  M.  Purcell,  Wm.  Harrison,  S.  O.  Addison,  H.  H.  Zumstein, 

C.  D.  Cowles,  A.  S.  Mann,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Summers,  Charles  Schwartz, 
Edith  C.  Cooper,  Hattie  Marpe,  P.  Arthur  Burke,  Rose  Williams,  J.  J. 
Weissert,  Malcolm  Douglas,  D.O,  Groff,  A,W.  Sutherland, C.A.Moxley. 
F.  C.  Johnson,  IdaHarting,  A.  G.Kreidler,  Rose  Steinberg,  Richard 
Edmunds,  Stella  Truman,  Annie  Hardesty,  Addie  Humble,  Stuart  L. 
White,  Otto  Praeger,  Sal  lie  Stanberry,   George  Billheimer.   J.  Robert 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR  FRE8S    ASSOCIATION.  241 

Wale,  W;  B.  Wells,  C.  M.  Vinnedge,  Charles  E.  Lloyd,  E.  D,  Melville, 
W.  A.  Kennedy,  S.  J.  Steinberg,  N.  H.  Ferguson,  C  F.  Bailey,  Charles 
E.  Bier,  C,  E,  Christiancy,  Jr..  Abbie  B.  Allen,  T.  J.  Nulty,  l.eola  B. 
White,  total  90. 

The  vote  resulted  as  follows: 

For  president— Swift  61,  Tomlinson  6,  Schermerhorn  19,  Melhnger  1, 
blank  2— total  89.*  ,  ,     ,    ^ 

For  official  editor— Chiles  58,   Mayor  7,    scattering    18,  blank  t>-- 
total  89.  f 

For  convention  seat— Buffalo  34,  Albany  5,  New  Orleans  2o,   Boston 
15,  scattering  6,  blank  4— total  89. 

The  above  respectfully  submitted  by  the  proxy  committee. 

Report  accepted. 

Mr.  Heath  took  the  floor  to  move  that  every  proxy  that  ap- 
peared to  have  been  cast  in  good  faith  be  counted,  and  that  their 
dues  be  regarded  as  paid,  it  being  clear  that  the  money  by  which 
many  members  had  arranged  to  have  their  dues  paid,  had  been 
withheld  at  the  last  moment  by  Mr.  Burger,  for  political  reasons. 
This  he  considered  a  clear  piece  of  rascality  and  held  that  inno- 
cent members  should  not  be  made  to  lose  their  vote  by  reason  of 
it.     His  motion  seconded  and  carried. 

Messrs.  Cole,  Carter  and  Hochstadter  appointed  to  recount 
the  proxies.     Recess. 

Reassembled.  Proxy  committee  reported  that  the  proxy  vote 
stood:  For  president— Tomlinson  58,  Swift  64,  Schermerhorn, 
25.  For  official  editor  Chiles  had  enough  votes  to  elect.  For 
convention  seat— Albany  52,  New  Orleans  32,  Buffalo  23, 
Boston  17. 

F.  E.  Schermerhorn  nominated  for  president.     Ballot  taken: 

Proxy.  Convention  Total 

Swift 64  ..  64 

Tomlinson 58  . .  58 

Schermerhorn 25  24  49 

Total 171 

Second  ballot : 

Proxy.  Convention  Total 

Swift 64  ..  64 

Tomlinson 58  .  ^  58 

Schermerhorn 25  25  50 

Total 172 

On  the  third  ballot,  the  proxies  being  thrown  out,  as  per  con- 
stitution, Mr.  Schermerhorn  was  unanimously  elected. 

Other  officers  unanimously  chosen  :  First  vice-president,  John 
G.  Kugler;    second  vice-president,  George  A.  French;  record- 

*This  total  is  given  as  90  in  the  National  ^matcMr— evidenty  a  typo- 
graphical error. 

tThe  Amateur  gives  this  total  141— another  glaring  error. 


242  HISTOBY    OP   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

ing  secretary,  Jobn  H.  Cole;  correspondiog  secretary,  Harry  S, 
Sizer;   treasurer,  Arthur  E.  Baker. 

For  official  editor  Mr.  Chiles  was  elected,  but  refused  to 
recognize  tlie  convention  as  legal.  His  office  declared  vacant 
and  Frederic  F.  Heath  elected. 

Two  ballots  for  convention  seat,  both  alike : 

Proxy.  Convention  Total 

Albany 52  ..  52 

'New  Orleans 32  1  33 

Buffalo : 23  24  47 

Boston 17  ..  17 

Total*... ,.149 

Adjourned  to  8  p.  ni. 

Fourth  session,  8:30  o'clock,  President  Schermerhorn  in 
chair.  Constitutional  clause  relative  to  annual  meeting  place 
suspended.  Buffalo  chosen  on  third  ballot.  Roll  call — 22 
present. 

Executive  judges  chosen:  S.  8.  Stinson,  chairman;  E.  J. 
Hardcastle,  A.  D.  Grant. 

Adopted  that  a  demand  be  made  on  retiring  officials  for  all 
Association  property. 

Article  V,  section  25  of  the  constitution  amended  by  inserting 
the  words  "not  exceeding  $100"  in  place  of  ^'such  sums." 

An  assistant  editor  added  to  the  board  of  officers  and  a  new 
section  added  to  article  V  reading  "It  shall  l>e  the  duty  of  the 
assistant  editor  to  assist  the  official  editor." 

Fifth  session,  10:30  a.  m.,  President  Schermerhorn  in  chair. 
Roll  call — 16  in  attendance. 

A  communication  drawn  up  [it  appears  on  page  234]  and  com- 
mittee, Messrs.  Schermerhorn,  Hardcastle  and  Edmunds,  ap- 
pointed to  consult  with  the  amateur  journalists  assembled  in  the 
parlor,  in  the  hope  of  reuniting  all  the  delegates  at  the  conven- 
tion.     A  recess  taken. 

On  reassembling,  the  committee  reported  arrangements  for  a 
conference.  Messrs.  Heath,  Baker  and  Carter  appointed  a  con- 
ference committee.     Adjourned  subject  to  call. 

At  a  session  held  late  in  the  afternoon  the  conference  com- 
mittee reported.  This  report  stated  that  the  committee  had 
failed  to  secure  an  amicable  adjustment  of  differences.  The  re- 
port was  accepted  and  the  following  re?olutions  adopted : 

Whereas,  We  have  been  outraged  b\-  the  corrupt  use  of  money  for 
political  advantage,  by  the  dishonorable  rulings  of  an  arbitrary  and 
partisan  president,  and  by  the  indignities  heaped  upon  our  hosts  by  a 
minority  faction -of  the  delegates  present  at  the  convention  just 
closing;  be  i,t 

*In  the  Amateur  this  total  appears  as  17i?— a  \  alpab:e  error. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION  243 

Resolve<3,  That  we  respectfully  submit  to  the  impartial  consideration 
of  our  fellow  amateurs  of  the  United  States  the  following  statement  of 
our  grievances : 

1.  We  denounce  the  action  of  the  Tomlinson  campaign  committee, 
in  attempting  to  force  into  membersnip  in  our  Association  a  large 
number  of  persons  connected  in  no  legitimate  way  with  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism, and  in  many  cases  unlit  to  be  received  as  members  of  the  N.  A. 
P.  A. 

2.  We  call  attention  to  the  fact  that  of  the  members  and  applicants 
for  membership  who  were  supporters  of  John  L.  Tomlinson,  only  four 
had  paid  their  dues  prior  to  the  assembling  of  the  convention,  proving 
conclusively  as  was  openly  admitted  that  it  was  the  intent  of  the  Tom- 
linson committee  to  buy  the  election  of  their  candidate. 

3.  We  denounce  the  misuse  of  the  treasurer's  office  by  which  for 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Association,  the  djes  of  every  voter 
for  a  certain  presidential  candidate,  were  paid— that  candidate  being 
the  treasurer. 

4.  We  denounce  Ex- President  Dunlop  for  (1)  his  unparliamentary, 
unconstitutional  and  partisan  rulings  in  refusing  to  put  to  vote  amotion 
duly  recognized  and  seconded,  an  appeal  duly  recognized  and  seconded, 
and  a  motion  to  adjourn  duly  recognized  and  seconded;  (2}  for  appoint- 
ing as  assistant  secretary  a  uian  notoriously  unfit  to  fulfill  the  duties  of 
the  office  honestly  and  fairlj'. 

5.  We  deny  the  varacity  of  the  records  of  the  meeting  which 
accepted  the  report  of  prox>'*  committee,  and  thus  defrauded  a  candi- 
date of  his  just  representation. 

6.  We  denounce  the  dishonorable  action  of  the  Swift  faction  in 
accepting  onr  proposal  to  arbitrate  through  duly  appointed  com- 
mittees representing  both  parties,  and  In  adjourning  sine  die  while  this 
joint  committee  was  in  conference. 

7.  We  denounce  the  actions  of.the  Swift  faction  in  insulting  our  hoits, 
the  Philadelphia  members  by  scurrilous  resolutions  concerning  them, 
by  interfering  with  the  arrangements  of  the  reception  committee,  and 
by  their  general  discourtesy  to  the  resident  amateurs. 

8.  We  refuse  to  recognize  the  validity  of  the  proceedings  of  their 
meeting  after  the  motion'to  adjourn  was  carried  by  the  majority.  We 
repudiate  the  pretended  officers  of  the  Association. 

9.  In  conclusion,  we  appeal  with  confidence  to  our  fellow  amateurs 
of  the  United  States  for  support  and  vindication. 

Adjourned  at  8  p.  m. 

Reassembled. 

CoiistitutioDal  amendraeDt:  "with  the  assistance  of  the  cor- 
responding secretary,"  stricken  from  article  V,  section  24. 

F.  T.  Mayor  elected  assistant  editor. 

Laureate  winners  announced  [as  alread  noted]  and  conven- 
tion  adjourned. 

After  a  careful  study  of  the  vote  cast  in  this  meeting  we  have 
decided  that  all  proxies  that  had  been  cast  were  counted,  except 
those  of  the  unfortunate  seventy-three  who  were  blackballed.  If 
this  was  Lite  case,  the  result  shown  is  remarkable.     The  votes  re- 


244     HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

jected  by  the  blackballing  were  all  Tomlinson  votes,  and  as  he 
got  58  anyway,  as  the  Schermerhorn  people  acknowledged,  the 
73  additional  would  give  him  131  out  of  a  total  of  246  •proxies. 
It  is  an  amusing  fact  that  the  National  Amateur  issued  by  Mr. 
Heath  carried  the  names  of  the  rejected  applicants  as  full-fledged 
members  of  the  Association. 

President  Schermerhorn  appointed  John  H.  Cole  chairman  of 
bureau  of  recruits  with  Messrs.  Salmon,  Taylor,  Peacock,  Hard- 
castle  and  Ross  to  assist  him.  Howard  D.  Ross  was  appointed 
secretary  of  credentials.  Miss  Addie  Humble,  national  laureate 
recorder  and  C.  E.  Christiancy,  librarian. 

Much  could  be  written  on  both  sides  of  the  controversy  that 
split  asunder  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  The  writer  of  this  volume  care- 
fully and  honestly  studied  arguments  made  through  amateur 
papers  and  private  letters  and  finally  decided  that  Dr.  Swift  was 
the  legal  president  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  That  was  the  decision  of 
the  majorit}'  of  non-attending  amateurs.  At  the  same  time  it 
was  generally  recognized  that  the  Schermerhorn  men  were  more 
sinned  against  tliau  sinning.  They  left  the  convention  in  the 
heat  of  the  moment,  when  filled  with  righteous  indignation  over 
the  unjust  rulings  of  an  arbitrary  chairman.  They  made  an 
effort  to  return  but  were  prevented  by  the  early  adjournment  of 
the  Association. 

The  campaign  of  Mr.  Tomlinson  for  the  presidency  was  some- 
thing unique  in  amateur  histor3^  The  Tomlinson  campaign 
committee  printed  a  large  number  of  small  papers,  containing 
about  fifty  words  each  of  original  matter,  and  used  as  editors  the 
names  of  five  or  six  persons  to  each  paper.  These  persons  had 
filled  out  for  them  proxy  votes,  and  Messrs.  Tomlinson  and 
Burger  carried  to  Philadelphia  with  them  the  money  to  pay  the 
dues  of  these  "amateurs" — in  fact,  the  purchase  price  of  the 
National  presidency. 

The  Schermerhorn  faction  held  a  banquet  on  Thursday  night 
at  the  Colonnade  hotel.  There  were  thirty-four  present.  Porter 
F.  Cope  was  toastmaster  and  toabts  were  responded  to  by  E, 
St,  Elmo  Lewis,  Frank  ¥j.  Sthermerhoru,  Frederic  Heath,  F,  T. 
Mayor,  Arthur  E.  Baker,  Mr,  Charles  Morris  (a  visitor),  .John 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PREgS   ASSOCIATION.  245 

G.  Kugler,  Harry  D.  Hughes,  H.  C.  Hochstadter,  and  Samuel 
S.  Stinson. 

Iq  March,  1892,  President  Schermerhorn  accepted  the  resig- 
nation of  Official  Editor  Heath,  appointing  Harry  S.  Sizer  in  his 
stead.  He  also  appointed  Charles  W.  Gans  as  director  of  re- 
cruiting in  the  northwest. 

Mr.  Heath  was  appointed  corresponding  secretary.  A,  E. 
Baker  resigned  as  treasurer  and  Frank  J.  Fellows  was  appointed. 

The  Schermerhorn  party  sent  out  three  issues  of  the  Natioiud 
Amateur.  The  first  issue,  October,  1891,  was  of  eight  pages. 
It  contained  the  minutes,  official  documents  and  editorial  matter/ 
The  February,  1892,  issue,  was  of  four  pages,  containing  a  por- 
tion of  Laureate  Recorder  Woollen's  report,  a  page  about  ama- 
teur affairs  in  England,  and  editorial.  A  third  number,  by 
Harry  S.  Sizer,  was  issued,  but  we  have  never  seen  it.  A  few 
copies  only  are  in  existence. 


CH/irTER  23. 

SWIFT'S  ADMINISTRATION— BOSTON  CONVENTION. 

Dr.  Swift's  Personal  Work. — Trouble  With  Officers. — 
Spencer  a  Candidate  for  President. — The  Boston  Con- 
vention AND  Its  Business. 

THE  administration  of  Edwin  B.  Swift  as  president  of 
the  National  Amateur  Press  Association  was  fraught 
with  many  disagreeable  features,  viewed  from  that  gen- 
tleman's standpoint,  but  he  bravely  took  up  the  work  and  car- 
ried it  on.  A  retrospective  glance  over  twenty-five  years  of 
amateur  effort  justifies  the  statement  that  to  President  Swift, 
more  than  to  any  other  president  of  the  National,  was  due  the 
activity  displayed  during  his  term  of  office.  Tlie  papers  of  the 
year  were  many  and  valuable.  There  were  many  active  authors 
in  the  ranks,  and  minor  associations  were  numerous. 

President  Swift's  official  board,  however,  was  not  of  the  best. 
The  entire  board  was  chosen  from  amateurs  present  at  the  con- 
vention, and  it  seems  the  choice  w^as  made  in  a  hurry.  The  best 
member  of  the  board,  Miss  Harriet  C.  Cox,  resigned  her  position 
as  first  vice-president.  John  T.  Nixon  was  appointed.  Later 
he  resigned  and  James  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  was  given  the  place. 

Messrs.  O.  A.  Reuni,  corresponding  secretary,  and  Hope  R. 
Cody,  treasurer,  were  removed  from  office  for  inactivity  and 
successors  appointed.  For  some  reason  the  action  was  rescinded, 
and  they  retained  their  places.  The  official  editor.  Walter  C. 
Chiles,  in  the  March  issue  of  the  Amateur  took  occasion  to  ac- 
cuse President  Swift  of  a  failure  to  keep  his  pledges,  and  later 
on  sent  out  a  begging  letter  to  a  number  of  amateurs,  asking 
their  assistance  so  that  the  Amateur,  eould  be  issued  as  he  had 
originally  planned,  and  again  accusing  Dr.  Swift  of  breaking 
pledges.  This  led  to  the  printing  of  considerable  matter  tljat 
should  have  no  place  in  the  National's  official  organ. 

OflQcial  Editor  Chiles  issued  the  largest  volume  of  tlie  National  ' 
Amateur.   It  was  bi-monthly.    The  September  issue,  eight  pages, 
contained  the  minutes  and  other  official  matter.     The  November 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION.      247 

issue  was  of  sixteen  pages.  It  contained  the  poem  winning  the 
laureateship,  the  laureate  recorder's  report,  an  installment  of  a 
continued  story,  other  literary  matter,  a  classification  of  amateur 
papers,  news  from  various  points  and  editorial.  The  January 
issue  was  of  eight  pages,  modeled  after  the  previous  issue.  The 
March  issue  was  eight  pages.  May  issue  sixteen  and  July  issue 
six.     The  various  issues  followed  the  style  adopted  in  the  first. 

At  one  time  during  the  year  Mr.  Chiles  decided  to  leave  Ama- 
teur Journalism  and  resigned  his  oflftcial  position  and  his  member- 
ship in  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  Before  his  resignations  had  been  acted 
on  he  withdrew  them.  His  reasons  were  never  very  clearly 
understood. 

In  March  Charles  H.  Lawson  resigned  as  second  vice-president 
and  Theo.  B.  Thiele  was  appointed.  Hope  R.  Cody  resigned  as 
treasurer  and  John  L.  Tomlinson  was  appointed. 

Laureate  Recorder  Morton  thus  briefly  outlines  the  political 
work  of  the  year : 

The  political  campaign  opened  late,  though  rumors  concerning 
it  were  spread  abroad  almost  immediately  after  the  Philadelphia 
convention.  The  expected  candidacy  of  Mr.  Tomlinson  and 
later,  that  of  Mr.  Burger,  failed  to  materialize.  The  name 
of  Truman  J.  Spencer  awakened  almost  unanimous  support. 
No  candidate  was  named  in  opposition  to  him. 

Progress  gave  a  convention  account,  from  which  is  taken  the 
following : 

Monday,  July  4,  at  10  o'clock,  the  convention  was  cnlled  to 
order,  forty  persons  being  present.  The  constitution  and  b}-- 
laws  were  amended  in  various  ways.  The  most  prominent  amend- 
ments put  miscellaneous  in  the  order  of  business  for  the  first 
day,  as  well  as  second,  gives  the  president  more  power  in  the  re- 
moval of  officers  and  the  supervision  of  all  official  Association 
matter  puolished. 

After  being  photographed  at  4  p.  m.,  the  National  was  again 
called  to  order  by  President  Swift,  and  the  matter  of  reconcilia- 
tion with  the  seceding  faction  was  brought  up.  Charles  li. 
Burger  stated  that  reconciliation  could  be  affected  under  certain 
conditions,  and  he  was  in  favor  of  making  such  an  attempt.  He 
believed  that  should  President  Schermerhorn  be  re-elected  the 
holding  of  a  union  mid-winter  convention  at  Buffalo  and  placing 
Schermerhorn' s  name  on  the  roll  of  presidents  would  bring  about 
harmony.  This  step  was  opposed  by  Wilson,  Morton,  Emery 
and   Wylie,  who  claimed  that  we  were  in  no   way   beholden   to 


248  HISTOEY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

recognize  Schermerhorn's  acts  as  legal.  The  matter  was  finally 
disposed  of  by  empowering  the  president  to  nominate  a  com- 
mittee to  arbitrate  with  a  similar  committee  from  the  other  side. 
At  5 : 30  o'clock  the  convention  adjourned  until  9  :30  o'clock  the 
following  morning. 

As  soon  as  the  convention  bad  adjourned  a  Spencer  caucus 
was  held  with  all  the  delegates  present  in  attendance,  excepting 
Jas.  F.  Morton,  who  refused  to  participate  in  any  political  pro- 
ceedure.  Brainerd  P.  Emery  served  as  chairman  of  the  caucus, 
and  the  ticket  was  nominated  that  was  on  the  day  following 
elected.  The  most  noteworthy  feature  of  the  caucus  w^as  the 
tilt  upon  the  nomination  for  official  editor.  Brainerd  P.  Emery 
nominated  Everard  J.  Appleton,  but  Charles  R.  Burger  took  the 
floor  and  swept  Appleton's  candidacy  to  the  winds,  the  latter  re- 
ceiving but  one  vote. 

Tuesday,  July  5,  again  the  delegates  assembled,  this  time  for 
the  election  of  officers.  The  secretary  of  credentials  reported  on 
the  names  of  a  large  number  of  new  members.  The  first  real 
contest  of  the  convention  came  up  on  Morton's  special  com- 
mittee report  to  drop  inactive  members.  Morton  insisted  on  the 
step  being  taken,  while  others  insisted  that  action  should  be  de- 
layed until  the  next  session.  When  a  vote  was  taken,  only  one 
vote  could  be  found  against  laying  the  matter  on  the  table.  The 
committee  on  proxies  reported,  after  which  came  the  election  of 
officers.  Truman  J.  Spencer  was  nominated  by  Willard  O. 
Wylie.  Sam  J.  Steinberg  nominated  by  Dr.  E.  B.  Swift.  The 
result  of  the  ballot  was : 

Truman  J.  Spencer 44 

Sam  J.  Steinberg • 3 

and  Truman  J.  Spencer  was  declared  elected.  The  rest  of  the. 
ticket  elected  was  follows ;  First  vice-president,  F.  S.  Whitney, 
Tacoma,  Washirgton ;  second  vice-president,  Leola  B.  White, 
Opelousas,  La. ;  corresponding  secretary,  Alson  Brubaker, 
Fargo,  N.  D. ;  recording  secretary,  Theo.  B.  Thiele,  Chicago, 
Hi.;  official  editor,  Brainerd  P.  Emery,  Newburg,  N.  Y.  ;  next 
place  of  meeting  Chicago,  111.  With  completion  of  election,  ad- 
journment was  affected  until  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  when  miscellaneous 
business  was  brought  up.  A  motion  expressing  disapproval  of 
the  use  of  the  official  organ  as  a  medium  for  indulging  in  political 
discussion  was  laid  on  the  table.  It  was  noted  that  a  majority 
vote  shall  be  sufficient  to  reject  applicants  for  membership  in 
place  of  two-thirds. 

President  Spencer  announced  the  laureate  awards  as  follows : 
Sketch  writer  laureate,  Miss  Harriet  C.  Cox,  entry,  ^ 'Tim's 
Query;"  Essayist  laureate,  Truman  J.  Spencer,  entry,  "The 
Christian  Merchant  and  Jewish  Banker;"  Poet  laureate,. Brain- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION  249 

erd  P.  Emery,  entry,  "The  Wizard;"  Serial  laureate,  Walter 
G,  Muirbeid,  entry,  "A.  Remnant  of  Lace."  At  3:30  p.  m. 
the  convention  adjourned  to  meet  the  following  morning  on  the 
Plymouth  steamer. 

Wednesday,  July  6,  a  very  short  session  was  held  on  the 
steamer  bound  to  Plymouth.  Prohibition  resolutions  introduced  by 
Morton  were  laid  on  the  table,  and  an  attempt  to  take  from  the 
table  the  official  organ  matter  of  the  day  previous  was  unsuccess- 
ful.    The  convention  then  adjourned  si7ie  die. 

Delegates  present:  Dr.  Edwin  B,  Swift,  Willard  O.  Wj^lie, 
Geo.  E.  Frye,  Correl  Kendall,  Truman  J.  Spencer,  Elisha  T. 
Read,  Ered.  W.  Small,  John  L.  Tomlinson,  Robert  Carey, 
Brainerd  P.  Emery,  Miss  Harriet  C.  Cox,  Fred  W.  Pratt,  Fred 
Metcalf,  Mrs.  Ella  Maud  Frye,  Miss  Mabelle  F.  Noyes,  Charles 

E.  Wilson,  Moses  H.  Gossman,  Charles  R,  Burger,  James  F. 
Morton,  Jr.,  W.  W.  Carpenter,  Thomas  Carey,  Miss  Annie  L. 
Lynde,  Guy  Metcalf,  A.  H.  Nash,  A.  H.  Spence,  Miss  M.  K. 
Cameron,  Walter  H.  Thorpe,  Mrs.  E.  M.  Miniter,  Miss  Mary 
Morton,  Geo.  W.  Dodd,  Jr.,  Geo.  E.  Day,  E.  T.  Capen,  Chas. 

F.  Porter,  Oscar  L.  Stevens,  Chas.  F.  Gettemy,  Miss  Jennie  E. 
Day,  Miss  Hattie  F.  Burnham,  Miss  Susie  B.  Robbins,  A.  W. 
Sutherland,  John  W.  Foss,  D.  T.  Clark,  Miss  Frances  A.  Par- 
sons, Miss  F.  A.  McKensie,  Miss  Lauretta  A.  Bowes,  Mrs.  F. 
L.  Leaming-Llegge,  Miss  Helen  Sullivan,  Miss  E.  J.  Robbins. 

The  official  minutes  give  additional  details : 

New  members  admitted:  Annie  Laurie  Lynde,  Everard  Ap- 
pleton,  W.  H.  Thorp,  J.  F.  VanDerCook,  Jr.,  Kathleen  F. 
Smith,  Frank  Bernhard,  J.  H.  Phillips,  F.  Ellis  Reed,  J.  \V. 
Cole,  Marian  Skinner,  Hugh  Lorentz,  Alfred  Robinson,  Charles 
H.  Allen,  Agues  Chipman,  Charles  Trowbridge,  Albert  Spence, 
Jr.,  Hattie  Burnham,  Susie  Robbins,  M.  K.  Cameron,  Florence 
L.  Leaming-Llegge,  Norton  C.  Whitley,  Helen  M.  Sullivan, 
Lauretta  A.  Bowes. 

Amendments  to  constitution :  Add  following  article,  reiium- 
bering  following  sections : 

Article  V.  Section  12.  All  official  matter  shall,  upon  request  of 
the  president,  be  submitted  to  him  for  approTal  before  publicatioii,  or 
the  bills  therefor  shall  not  be  paid. 

Insert  following,  renumbering  other  sections : 

Art.  V.  Sec.  17.  The  president,  on  concurrence  of  four  members 
of  the  executive  judges  and  board  of  advisers,  shall  have  authority  to 
suspend  any  minor  officer  during  the  year,  such  action  to  be  subject  to 
appoval  of  the  association  at  the  succeeding  convention. 

In  article  V,  section  26,  strike  out  "three  of  which  shall  be 
printed  prior  to  February  of  each  year.  No  issue  to  be  delayed 
more  than  one  mouth  after  the  regular  date  of  publication"  and 


^50  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

insert  "the  first  of  vvhicli  simll  be  printed  not  later  than  Septem- 
ber following;  the  rereaininor  numbers  to  be  not  more  than  three 
months  apart." 

Add  to  order  of  business  for  first  day  "miscellaneous  and  new 
business."     Section  1  of  article  B  of  b3^~laws  stricken  out. 

Following  resolutions  adotjted : 

Whereas.  During  the  past  year  there  has  been  an  association  formed 
for  similar  purposes  as  the  N.  A.  P.  A.,  and  yet  is  antagonistic  to  the 
welfare  of  Amateur  Journalism  and  this  organization,  and 

Whereas.  This  Association,  feeling  that  by  right  of  age  and  stability 
it  is  justified  in  extending  the  hand  of  reciprocity  towards  bodies 
formed  for  a  similar  purpose,  therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  appoint  a  committee  of  five  to  meet 
alike  committee  from  any  Association  that  cares  to  confer  with  them. 

The  proxy  committee  reported  34  proxies  received.  Six  were 
rejected  for  non-payment  of  dues.  The  remaining  28  were 
counted.  There  were  no  contests,  every  election,  save  that  of 
oflBcial  editor,  being  on  the  first  ballot,  and  all  counting  the 
proxies.      For  these  reasons  the  vote  in  detail  is  here  omitted. 

Constitutional  amendment:  In  article  VIII,  section  1,  strike 
out  "two-thirds"  in  line  18  and  substitute  "majority." 

Section  in  regard  to  making  motions  to  adjourn  debatable 
reinstated. 

Treasurer  Tomlinson  reported  receipt  of  $123.25  from  Ex- 
Treasurer  Swift  and  receipts  since  of  $80.  Disbursements  were 
$111,  leaving  $92.25  on  band. 


CH/IFTER  24. 

THE  SCHERMERHORN   FACTION  AT  BUFFALO. 

Amateurs  in  Attexdance. — Amalgamation  with  the   Mutual 
Benefit  Association.— Election  of  Officers  and  Banqlet. 

THE  annual  raeeliug  of  the  Schennerhorn  faction  of  the  Na- 
ional  Amateur  Press  Association  was  held  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  July  4-6,  1892.  The  following  account  is  taken 
from  the  minutes  of  A.  H.  Snyder,  in  the  National  Amateur  is- 
sued b\^  H.  S.  Sizer,  from  Buffalo  in  September,  1892 : 

The  first  session  was  called  to  order  in  association  hall  of  the 
Y.  M.  C  A.  building  on  the  afternoon  of  the  fourth  by  President 
Frank  Earle  Schermerhorn.  After  addressing  the  convention  the 
president  announced  the  following  officers  pro  tempore:  First 
vice-|)resident,  F.  F.  Heath;  second  vice-president,  I*^.  J.  Hard- 
castle;  recording  set-retary  and  assistant,  J.  K.  Walker  and 
Kneeland  Ball,  resijectively  ;  W.  Hicks  Bell  and  C.  D:  Cowles, 
associates  on  the  credential   committee. 

The  following  members  were  present:  Misses  l^lraa  A.  John- 
son an<l  Mabel  A.  Lyiies;  Messrs.  E.  J.  Harrlcastle,  H.  D.  Ross^ 
H.  C.  Hochstadter,  F.  E.  Schermerhorn,  VV.  H.  Bell,  F.  h\ 
Hesth,  J.  H.  Phillips,  A.  H.  Snyder,  J.  K.  Walker.  L.  S.  Spire,. 
C.  H.  Williams,  E.  J.  Fellows,  H.  S.  Sizer,  D.  C.  Rockwood,  S. 
H.  Stilling,  W.  DeC.  Moore.  E.  V.  Rockwood,  F.  C.  Rupp,  H. 
G.  Johnson,  C.  D.  Cowles,  F.  W.  Lynes,  S.  H.  Woodruff,'  W. 
S.  Sizer.  W.  H.  Walker,  Jr.,  Kneeland  Ball,  W,  A.  Runp.  G.  O. 
Smith,  J.  J.  Ottinger,  F.  T.  Mayor,  G.  Williams.  F.  Clans,, Jr. 

The  following  names  were  added  to  the  membersliip  roll: 
Harry  E.  Montgomery,  Dwight  C.  Rockwood,  Edward  V.  Rock- 
wood, W.  S.  Sizer,  Gordon  Williams,  Charles  W.  Ketmey.  Sidney 
H.  Stilling,  Mabel  H.  Lynes,  Frank  W.  Lynes.  August  Binde- 
man,  Fred  Clans,  L.  D.  Spire,  W.  A.  Fisher,  Will  J.  Roe,  J.  G. 
Heyn,  E.  T.  Heyn,  Frank  F.  Bassett,  Bert  H.  Gondon.  H.  J. 
Keudrick,  Granville  P.  Alexander,  J.  Herbert  Phillips.  Emma  A. 
Johnson,  Harry  G.  Johnson,  Frank  J.  Fellows.  W.  H.  Walker. 
Jr.,  Graham  O.  Smith,  William  A.  Rupp,  Walter  DeC.  Moore. 
S.  H.  Woodruff.  ^ 

Mr.  Heath  spoke  at  length  concerning  the  admissi(>n  of  the 
Mutual  Benefit  Amateur  Press  Association  into  membership.  Mr. 
Snyder,  representing  the  Mutuals,  replied:  "Mr.  Heath  has 
said  all  that  need  be  said.      I  now  await  your  pleasure." 


252  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION 

It  was  moved  by  Mr.  Heath  and  seconded  by  Mr.  Hoebstadter, 
that  the  members  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Amateur  Press  Associa- 
tion be  admitted  into  membership  into  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association,  and  that  they  be  exempt  from  the  paymment 
of  initiation  fees.     Unanimously  carried. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  M.  B.  A. 
P.  A.  thus  admitted  in  a  body :  Lennox  D.  Browne,  R.  M, 
Oliver,  E.  B.  Henneman,  R.  O.  Howard,  Fred  P.  Goodwin,  E. 
Harsie  Smith.  Clarence  E.  Knight,  Marshall  Smith,  Richard  O. 
Nehls,  Albert  H.  Snyder.  John  M.  Everett,  James  Balen,  Albert 
Cook,  Mayuard  L.  Daggy,  John  \"\'esley  Geiger,  Albert  Gang, 
Otto  A.  Kamber,  J.  Noland,  Emmanuel  Snel,  Horace  Springer, 
Alexander  Wolcott,  George  A.  Dean,  Wm.  H.  Eck,  Sarah  Hr- 
bek,  John  Bicknell,  JefRe  R.  Hudson,  C.  E.  Bray,  S.  E.  Shan- 
nahan,  Harry  W.  VVhite,  H.  Boyce,  Farrand  H.  Borgman,  C. 
A.  Behn,  Charles  Bockleman,  Fred  Bircher,  George  Euler,  Wm. 
V.  Huss,  E.  C.  Melshelmer,  George  F.  Munsa,  James  W.  Scars- 
dale,  Thomas  P.  Smith,  Alvin  Soost,  J.  A.  Wardner,  Harry 
Weisles,  Benjamin  Barnett,  H.  T.  Cook,  Emma  L.  Hauck, 
Melvin  King,  Edward  Moore,  G.  \V.  Schelker,  P.  M.  Bailey, 
Charles  O.  Beirne,  Albert  C.  Smith,  Herbert  G.  West,  Frank 
Barr,  Orvil  West,  Howard  C.  Hillegass,  Ned  M.  Selkregg,  W. 
H.  Sheahan,  George  A.  Huss,  William  Little. 

At  the  second  session,  President  Schermerhorn  appointed  the 
following  proxy  committee :  Messrs.  Heath,  Bell,  Walker,  Cow- 
les,  Ross  and  Snyder.  After  a  recess  the  committee  rendered 
this  report  which  was  accepted. 

Whole  number  of  proxy  votes  cast  18,  one  defective. 

For  president— H.  C.  Hochstadter  9,  F.  E,  Schermerhorn  3,  J.  J. 
Ottinger  3,  T.  J.  Spencer  2,  total  17. 

For  official  editor— H.  S.  Sizur  9,  F.  F.  Heath  1,  H.  C.  Hochstadter 
2,  E.  J.  Ilardcaslle  2,  J.  L.  Tomlinson  1,  Kugler  1,  Blank  1,  total  17. 

For  convention  seat— Chicago  11,  Milwaukee  6,  total  17. 

Mr.  Heath,  seconded  by  Mr.  Cowle.,  nominated  Mr.  Hoch- 
:t:tadter  for  president.  Of  the  coavention  votes,  18  were  for  Mr. 
Hochstadter  and  7  for  Mr.  Schermerborn.  Added  to  the  proxy 
vote,  Mr.  Hochstadter  had  27  votes,  Mr.  Scl^-ermerhorn  10.  Mr. 
Hochstadter  declared  elected. 

At  3:45  p.  m.  the  third  session  was  called  to  order  by  PreJ?;- 
dent  Schermerhorn  aad  the  following  officers  elected  :  First  vice- 
president,  E.  J.  Hardcasde ;  second  vice-piTsident,  Miss  Addie 
Humble;  recording  secretary,  A.  H.  Snyder;  corresponding 
secretary,  J.  H.  Phillips;  treasurer,  E.  J.  Fellows;  official  editor, 
H.  S.  Siger;  assistant  official  editor,  F.  F.  Heath;  convention 
.scat,  Chicago;  executive  judges,  Messrs.  Schermerhorn,  Kamber 
and  Wells. 

On  the  evening  of   July  6,  the  annual  banquet  was  held  at  the 


HISTORY  OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION.     25i$ 

Niagara  hotel,  fifty  persons  being  seated.  Mr.  Robert  Palen 
acted  as  toastmaster.  He  read  letters  from  E.  St.  Elmo  Lewis 
and  E.  H.  Butler,  the  latter  editor  Buffalo  Eaening  News.  The 
following  toasts  were  ojiven:  .,  _  . 

The  National  Amateur  Press  Association 

F.  E.  Schermerhorn 

Our  Country Fred  W.  Glaus 

*    Wilmington  Club E.  J.  Hardcastle 

Amateur  Critics H.  C.  Hochstadter 

Buffalo  Amateur  Journalists  Chib Harry  S.  Sizer 

The  Benefits  of  Amateur  Journalism Sidney  H.  Stilling 

The  Relations  of  tiie  Amateur  to  the  Professional  Press 

F.  F.  Heath 

The  Western  Amateur J.  Herbert  Phillips 

The  Ladies Edward  V.  Rock  wood 

In  accordance  with  a  proposal  by  President  Hochstadter,  a 
silent  toast  to  the  memory  of  Ex-President  Thomas  H.  Parsons, 
who  died  the  day  before,  was  drunk  standing. 

Just  before  respondiiii  to  his  toast.  President  Hochstadter  for- 
mally took  his  seat  as  president  and  delivered  Ins  inaugural  ad- 
dress. At  the  close  of  the  evening's  proorram,  \w.  announced  his 
appointments  for  the  year:  E.  St.  Elmo  Levvis.  laureate  re- 
corder; Kneeland  Hall,  librarian, -Howard  I).  Ross,  secretary  of 
credentials. 

The  last  session  of  the  convention  was  held  on  July  6^  at 
9:45  a.  m.,  in  the  cabin  of  the  "VVilliam  Henry  Harrison,''  bt- 
tween  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

Mr.  Heath  presented  an  amendinent  to  the  constitution,  chang- 
ing the  size  of  the  otficial  Organ  to  Century  size,  not  to  be  less 
than  eight  pages  and  cover,  which  was  carried. 

Mr.  Heath,  seconded  by  Mr.  Hardcastle,  moved  that  during 
the  coming  year,  the  president,  official  editor  and  the  executive 
committee,  constitute  a  committee  on  harmony.      Carried. 

After  passsing  a  memorial  on  the  death  of  Ex-President  Thomas 
H.  Parsons  and  expressing  appreciation  for  the  courtesies  of  the 
Buffalo  amateurs,  the  convention  adjourned  to  meet  in  Chicago 
in  1893. 


CH/irTER  25, 


WiiELiK  THE  Association  was  Planned. — Dunlop's  Election 
Made  it  Cehtain. — Call  fok  Organization. — Success 
Inst  ANT  A\K<)u.s.— The  Mutual  Coxferenok. — Absorption 
BY  THE  National. 

Contrihuled  hi/  Oito  A.  Kamber. 

{'V  was  about  the  mutdle  <»f  February,  l-SyO,  at  an  informal 
<iatberiiig  ot  ainaleuiH,  that  umatenr  affairs  in  ijenernl  and 
the  NaliojitU  in  par>ioular  were  diacusseci.  One  of  the  gentle- 
men present  vv;is  :ni  apj^iieanl  for  nietnber8hi|)  in  that  oroanization, 
and  the  question  catne  up  what  his  object  was  in  seeking  niem- 
bers!^[}  in  an  oriianization  which  he  admitted!  was  not  altogether 
l!)  his  liking.  Me  potidered  for  a  moment  ai»d  Iheti  exclrvimed  : 
'I  iuive  changed  my  tnin.I.  There  is  nothing  consistent  in  be- 
coming a  member  of  an  organization  whicli  is  so  at  variance  with 
my  conception  of  what  an  organization  of  amateur  journalists 
should  i)e."  The  conversation  finally  drifted  ns  to  the  advisa- 
bility of  farming  a  separate  organization,  the  obstacles  it  would 
hnve  to  overcome  and  the  responsil)ility  it  would  have  to  assume. 
]t  was  the  senliment  of  those  present  thai  a  new  organization  was 
a  great  desideratum.  Some  were  in  favor  of  commencing  active 
operations  at  once,  Ijut  more  const  rvative  judgment  prevailed. 
1]  was  the  sense  of  the  meeting  that  the  amateurs  be  -'sounded," 
and  if  sufficient  en(^ouragem&nt  was  received,  to  begin  the  work 
of  nrgui>ization. 

A.t  thi::  informed  meeting  there  were  two  of  the  shrewdest  or- 
ganizers known  to  Amateur  Journalism;  men  who  watched  for 
oppurt;iniLies  and  knew  how  to  take  advantage  of  them.      With- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      255 

out  disparagement  it  may  be  said  that  they  were  better  organizers 
than  journalists.  One  was  George  M.  Huss,  of  St.  Louis ;  the 
Other  was  "Robert  Davis,"  of  Indianapolis.  That  was  the  name 
by  which  he  went ;  and  to  forestall  a  very  hoary  campaign  canard^ 
the  writer  will  make  the  avowal  that  his  name  did  not  begin  with 
a-K." 

The  Illustrated  Age  started  the  ball  rolling  by  publishing  a 
series  of  cartoons.  The  St.  Louis  Amateur  began  printing  a  few 
caustic  editorials.  By  June  of  that  year  it  was  evident  that  the 
cause  of  independent  journalism  was  gaining  ground.  There 
were  perhaps  a  dozen  |>apers  in  open  revolt.  But  the  leadejs  in 
the  new  organizations  movement  did  not  act;  they  were  awaiting 
the  outcome  of  the  convention  of  the  National  Association,  wluch 
•was  to  convene  at  Indianapolis  in  a  few  days.  They  had  hopes 
that  Mr.  Mellinger  would  be  elected,  as  it  was  understood  that 
he  was  in  sympathy  with  the  reform  idea — that  he  would  «:U?  liis 
utmost  to  rectify  the  evils  into  which  the  National  was  fast  drift- 
ing I  do  noc  believe  that  the  new  orgaaizatiort  movement  svouid 
have  come  to  a  locus  if  Mr.  Mellinger  had  lieen  selected  us  the 
head  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 

The  means  by  which  Mr.  Duaioi-  feocured  the  picsidenry  is  a 
matter  of  history.  It  was  ree®gnizer.  that  the  hope  of  reform 
was  an  eifervescent  dream  so  long  it  lit  National  chose  men  in 
ohaige  of  its  affairs  whose  only  qualiticriiion  was  a  well  pod.led 
pooketbook.  The  leaders  of  the  new  movement  were  not  slow  to 
take  advantage  of  the  grove  mistake  made  by  the  delegates  as- 
sembled in  convention  at  Indianapolis.  An  active  committee 
covering  several  States  was  selected,  with  George  M.  Huy>*,  as 
chairman.  The  writer  was  detailed  with  the  mission  of  meeting 
several  Eastern  amateurs  who  had  become  identified  with  vhe 
new  movement  to  discuss  plans  looking  to  a  more  active  campaign 
in  that  section  of  the  country,  and  incidentally  to  take  such  steps 
as  were  found  necessary  to  secure  recruits  from  the  demoralized 
ranks  of  the  Eastern  amateurs. 

On  the  first  of  October,  1890,  the  call  was  issued  and  a  tem- 
porary organization  affected.  The  committees  at  work  had  not 
been  idle,  as  will  be  conceded  when  it  is  known  that  sixty  odd 
amateurs  from  a  dozen  different  States,  raid  re[)resenting  almost 


256  HtSTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AM ATEim  PRESS   ASSOCIATION 

a  score  of  papers,  had  been  pledged  to  the  new  movement. 
George  M.  Hnss  was  selected  as  acting  president.  He  was  a 
firm  believer  in  systematic  recruit  work,  and  appointed  recruiting 
committees  in  every  State  where  a  member  of  the  organization 
could  be  pressed  into  service.  These  committees  were  instructed 
to  report  every  week  the  progress  made.  He  was  an  inde- 
fatigable worker  and  made  free  use  of  postage  stamps  and  the 
wire.  It  is  my  opinion  that  the  success  of  the  Mutual  was  due 
to  this  feature  more  than  anything  else.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  recruiting  work  was  carried  on  in  a  verj^  spasmodic  manner 
up  to  that  time. 

Though  the  errors  in  the  National  were  very  apparent,  it  was 
by  no  means  an  easy  matter  to  avoid  all  of  them  after  the  new 
organization  became  in  "working  order."  There  is  one  thing  it 
did  overcome  very  effectively,  and  that  is  the  complete  turning 
down  of  the  perennial  office  seeker.  Six  copies  of  a  paper  had 
to  be  published  before  any  member  of  the  Mutual  was  eligible  to 
become  a  candidate.  It  also  originated,  I  think,  the  manuscript 
bureau,  which  has  since  been  adopted  by  the  National.  It  en- 
couraged the  illustrated  amateui  paper,  and  I  believe  the  credit 
belongs  to  the  Mutual  for  having  fostered  "the  illustrated  idea." 
It  had  six  illustrated  papers,  while  the  National  was  handicapped 
in  this  respect. 

In  Februarj',  1891,  a  year  after  the  meeting  of  that  informal 
gathering,  the  Mutual  had  trouble  of  its  own — if  I  may  term  the 
selecting  of  a  suitable  official  board  by  such  an  appellation. 
Samuel  E.  Shanahan,  of  Easton,  Md.,  John  D.  Leisure,  f  f  Lan- 
sing, Mich.,  and  George  F.  Munsa,  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  were  all 
being  boomed  by  their  respective  friends  for  president.  It  was 
to  fill  the  unexpired  time  of  President  Huss,  who  was  forced  to 
turn  over  the  affairs  of  the  Association  to  a  successor  on  account 
of  ill  health.  The  campaign  was  very  spirited  and  resulted  in  the 
election  of  Mr.  Leisure,  George  F.  Munsa  first  vice-president, 
William  V.  Huss  second  vice-president,  Albert  C.  Smith  treas- 
urer, Miss  Sarah  Hrbek  official  editor,  Albert  H.  Snyder  corres- 
ponding secretary,  and  Jacob  S.  Rupp,  recording  secretary. 

Ten  days  before  the  Veiled  Prophets  festivities  at  St.  Louis, 
F  irst  Vice-President  Munsa  issued  a  call  for  a  conference.     There 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        257 

had  been  some  dissatisfaction  at  the  way  President  Leisure  was 
performing  the  duties  connected  with  the  presidency.  I  am 
well  satisfied  that  he  was  not  negligent ;  but  the  rapid  pace  set  by 
Mr.  Huss  he  could  not  keep  up.  The  conference  was  a  surprise 
to  all.  There  were  eighteen  outside  ametaurs,  all  members  of  the 
Mutual,  in  attendance.  This,  coupled  with  the  presence  of  the 
large  St.  Louis  contingent,  made  the  number  present  considerably 
larger  tbau  the  convention  held  by  the  National  at  Indianapolis, 
which,  if  my  memory  serves  me  correctly,  was  attended  by 
twenty-three  delegates.  Mr.  Munsa  was  unanimously  elected 
president  after  making  an  impassioned  address  in  which  he  criti- 
cized rather  sharply  "the  head  of  the  largest  and  grandest  organi- 
zation of  amateur  journalists  in  America."  Mr.  Herbert  G. 
West,  of  Springfield,  Ohio,  was  elected  first  vice-president.  The 
remainder  of  the  ofl3cial  board  was  re-elected. 

All  in  attendance  were  deeply  gratified  at  the  rapid  progress 
that  had  been  made.  The  organization  was  then  in  the  heyday 
of  its  glory.  It  had  thirty-six  regular  publications,  six  being 
illustrated,  one  being  a  bi-monthly  and  one  a  quarterly.  Its 
membership  list  had  increased  to  117.  This  exceeded  the  N.  A. 
P.  A.  membership  at  that  time  by  exactly  a  score. 

It  is  my  opinion  that  this  remarkable  growth  was  not  due  en- 
tirely to  the  merits  of  the  Mutual  organization.  I  well  remem- 
ber an  incident  which  leads  me  to  take  this  view.  One  of  the 
members  present  displayed  a  threatening  letter  written  by  Presi- 
dent Dunlop.  I  remember  the  exclamations  of  surprise  when  a 
number  of  those  present  displayed  similar  letters  either  from  Mr. 
Dunlop  or  Mr.  Mueller,  who,  despite  his  carrying  a  yataghan  at 
the  Indianapolis  convention  as  a  means  of  intimidation,  was  a 
very  harmless  sort  of  a  fellow.  I  sincerely  believe  under  other 
circumstances  the  Mutual  would  have  been  doomed  to  failure. 

One  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  year  had  been  appropriated 
for  the  publication  of  the  oflScial  organ,  the  Mutual  Amateur,  the 
first  issue  of  which  was  published  in  March,  1892.  It  consisted 
of  sixteen  pages.  Century  size,  containing  pictures  of  the  oflScial 
board.  This  issue  contained  a  scathing  denunciation  of  some  of 
the  Schermerhorn  supporters  by  a  Mutual  member,  and  as  nego- 
tiations were  then  in  progress  looking  to  the  amalgamation   of 


258 


HISTORY    OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 


both  orgauizatious,  it  was  deemed  advisable  not  to  mail  it  ex- 
cepting to  a  few  individual  members.  There  are  only  a  few 
copies  known  to  be  in  existence. 

President  Munsa  was  untiring  in  his  efforts  to  bring  about  a 
union  of  amateur  journalists.  He  was  firmly  convinced  that  the 
consummation  of  such  a  step  would  not  only  be  a  benefit  to  the 
cause,  but  that  the  standard  would  be  enhanced.  The  aims  of 
the  two  organizations  were  practically  the  same ;  to  quote  the 
Illuminator  "the  one  concurred  with  the  other  in  what  it  pro- 
nounced undesirable."  Mr.  Snyder  fully  concurred  in  this  view, 
which  was  shared  by  the  more  conservative  members,  and  used 
his  best  efforts  in  bringing  about  the  much-desired  result.  The 
thoroughness  of  the  work  performed  by  the  officials  can  be 
gleaned  from  the  results  of  the  balloting  at  the  Buffalo  conven- 
tion, when  the  entire  Mutual  membership  was  elected  without 
one  dissenting  vote. 

With  this  closed  the  last  chapter  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Amateur 
Press  Association  as  an  aggressive  factor  in  Amateur  Journalism. 
I  cannot  see  that  the  cause  of  Amateur  Journalism  has  suffered 
for  its  having  existed.  The  influence  it  exerted  was  for  the  bet- 
ter, while  the  activity  that  manifested  itself  was  unparalleled. 
It  was  the  protest  of  a  potent  cause  against  flagrant  evils  ;  and 
that  it  fulfilled  its  mission,  in  part,  at  least,  there  can  be  no 
doubt. 


The  AumtuMATon^ 


CH/IFTEK26. 

THE     NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PROTECTIVE    ASSOC'N. 

^Sketch    of  the  Association, — How  it  Was  Organized, — Of- 
ficers AND  Work  Accomplished. 

IN  1891  an  orgauization  was  made,  known  as  the  National 
Amateur  Protective  Association,  To  distinguish  it,  it  was 
spoken  of  as  "T.  N.  A.  P.  A."  The  following  bj  Wm.  H. 
Eck,  fiom  Juvenile  Press,  September,  1893,  explains  this  organi- 
-^atiou,  which  lived  less  than  three  years: 

On  March  15,  1891,  having  been  defrauded  b}' several  adver- 
tisers, I  conceived  the  idea  of  getting  up  an  association  for  the 
protection  of  amateur  publishers  against  these  advertising  frauds, 
so  in  the  April  issue  of  the  Midget^  inserted  an  appeal  urging 
publishers  to  co-operate  in  getting  rid  of  the  frauds. 

In  the  next  issue  of  the  Midget  the  following  article  appeared : 
ATTENTION  EDITORS. 

In  answer  to  the  article  in  last  month's  issue  in  regard  to  frauds, 
%ve  have  received  many  letters  and  papers  containing  expressions  of 
approval  and  encouragement,  with  the  hope  that  an  organization 
might  be  perfected  in  the  near  future.  Acting  upon  an  expression  of 
the  amateur  press,  we  submit  the  following  proposal:  If  you  wish  to 
43ecome  a  member  of  the  order  to  be  known  as  ''The  National  Ama- 
teur Protective  Association,"  (T.  N.  A.  P.  A.,)  fill  out  the  blank  be- 
low and  return  it  to  this  office.  A  president,  vice-president,  corres- 
ponding secretary,  and  treasurer  will  be-  elected  from  the  member- 
.Bhip.  The  pre&id«-nt  will  appoint  a  committee  to  plan  laws  and  gen- 
>eral  proceeciings  of  organization,  to  define  the  duties  of  officers,  fix 
(fees,  penalties,  etc. 

Thirty-two  publishers  sent  in  applications  for  membership. 

The  election  resulted  in. the  selection  of  \V.  H.  Eck,  as  presi- 
<Ient;  J.  \V.  Donovan,  vice-president;  R.  L.  Owenle}',  corres- 
poding  secretary;  Henry  Norman,  treasurer. 

As  president  I  appointed  as  a  committee  to  agree  upon  and 
4idopt  plans  to  govern  The  National  Amateur  Protective  Associa- 
tion, Jeffie  R.  Hudson,  chairman  ;  John  Chapman  and  Albert  H. 
Snyder.  This  committee  made  its  final  report  on  or  about  Sep- 
tember 1,  1891,  which  was  accepted  by  me  as  president  of  the 
Association. 

About  the  middle  of  December,  1891,  the  first  number  of  the 
official  organ  was  issued.  The  vice-president  dropped  out  of 
Tanks,  and  I  appointed  F.  W.  Kaler  in  his  place.  Mr,  Oweuly 
resigned  and  W.  E.  D.  Williams  was  appointed  secretary. 


260  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PREBB  ASSOCIATION. 

After  Mr.  Williams'  appointment  the  Association  settled  down 
to  business  and  several  complaints  came  in  against  frauds.  The 
secretary  wrote  to  these  parties,  who  had  swindled  members  of 
T.  N.  A.  P.  A.,  and  the  most  of  them  settled  their  bills  rather 
than  be  exposed  through  the  organization. 

On  February  1,  1893,  another  election  was  held  resulting  in 
Wm.  H.  Eck  being  elected  president;  Frank  W.  Kaler,  vice- 
president,  Jeffie  R.  Hudson,  corresponding  secretary  and  Henry 
Norman,  treasurer.  At  one  time  we  had  about  sixty-five  mem- 
bers who  had  been  accepted  by  the  executive  committee  and 
about  forty-five  of  these  were  in  good  standing. 

Some  publishers  have  asked  me  of  what  benefit  is  the  Associa- 
tion to  its  members?  To  this  question  I  will  make  an  answer  by 
saying  since  the  Association  was  organized  it  has  collected  nearly 
$75. 

Cards  were  sent  to  each  member  in  good  standing  for  election 
of  officers  for  the  year,  beginning  February  1,  1891,  and  the 
result  was  as  follows:  H.  L.  Peabody,  president;  Miss  O. 
Wood,  vice-president;  Fred  W.  Steckman,  corresponding  sec- 
retary and  Henry  Norman,  treasurer.  This  election  closed  the 
10th  of  August,  1893. 


CHAPTER  27. 

THE  WORLD'S  FAIR  MEET. 

The  Year  Reviewed. — Mrs.  Leola  Nixon  as  Convenvion 
Chronicler. — Amateurs  in  Attendance. — The  Amalga- 
mation Report.— A  New  Ex-President  and  the  Discus- 
sion Provoked. — Banquet  at  the  Leland. 

AMATEUR  JOURNALISM"  says  Mrs.  Bertha  York  Grant, 
laureate  recorder  for  1893,  "may  be  likened  to  a  mighty 
river.  Although  the  river  sometimes  sinks  to  a  narrow 
stream,  it  flows  unceasingly,  and  there  will  soon  come  the  freshet 
time  for  the  low  river  of  Amateur  Journalism,  when  all  the  little 
rivers,  down  to  the  purling  brooks,  will  hasten  to  swell  the  volume 
of  the  big  river." 

From  Mrs.  Grant's  report  we  condense  the  year's  history: 
The  year  began  well,  the  prevailing  sentiment  being  one  of 
implicit  confidence  in  our  new  leader,'  with  a  general  impression 
that  if  the  opposing  factions  of  Amateur  Journalism  were  ever  to 
be  amalgamated,  President  Spencer's  administration  would  not 
end  until  such  a  consummation  was  attained. 

A  review  of  the  year's  work  from  a  literary  standpoint  is  cer- 
tainly discouraging.  There  were  a  few  single  publications  dur- 
ing the  year  worthy  of  much  praise,  notably  Stylus,  Moods  and 
Papyrus.  The  midwinter  number  of  the  Investigator  is  the  most 
superb  magazine  ever  published  as  the  product  of  the  amateur 
journalist,  author  and  printer.  It  consists  of  120  pages  and 
cover,  is  profusely  illustrated  and  arranged  in  the  highest  stj^le 
of  the  printer's  art.  The  holiday  number  of  Ink  Drops,  32 
pages  and  cover,  ranked  second  to  that  magazine,  both  in  beauty 
and  in  contents.  It  was  devoted  exclusively  to  members  of  the 
official  board.  By  actual  count  314  papers  are  known  to  have 
been  published  during  the  official  year.  There  were  a  few  papers 
sent  out  regularly — the  Investigator,  the  Monthly  Visitor,  Inlc 
Drops,  Frairie  Breezes,  the  Northwest,  the  South  and  the  (Mass.) 
Sentinel. 

The  National  Amateur,  volume  XV,  consisted  of  five  issues. 
Brainerd  P.  Emery  edited  three,  of  eight  pages  each.  Harry  C. 
Hochstadter  edited  the  other  two,  one  of  eight  pages  and  the 
other  of  four.     The  September,  1892,  issue  contained  official  re- 


262  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION 

ports,  including  the  Boston  convention  minutes ;  a  classification* 
of  papers  and  authors ;  membership  lis*^,  etc.  The  November- 
issue  contained  the  laureate  recorder's  report,  official  documents 
and  a  critical  department.  The  January  issue  contained  a  story 
by  Everard  Appleton,  a  critical  department  and  editorials.  The 
April  issue,  Mr.  Hochstadter's  first,  contained  a  number  of 
literary  contributions,  reviews  of  late  papers  and  editorial  matter. 
The  June  issue  contained  a  plan  for  the  systematic  study  of 
literature,  review  of  current  events  and  official  matter. 

The  Schermerhorn  party  sent  out  a  sixteen  page  Amateur  dated 
September,  1892.  It  contained  the  minutes  of  the  Buffalo  con^ 
ventiou,  a  banquet  account  and  various  official  documents. 

There  was  no  politcial  activity  preceding  the  Chicago  conven- 
tion. The  amalgamation  of  the  two  National  Associations  was  an- 
accomplished  fact,  and  every  one  looked  forward  to  Chicago  as- 
the  proper  place  foi  a  love  feast  and  re-union  of  old  friends. 

THE  CHICAGO  CONVENTION  OF  1893. 
Contributed  by  Mrs.  Leola  White  Niicon. 

The  eighteenth  annual  convention  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association,  assembled  in  Chicago,  July  4-6,  1893.  It  was 
the  most  representative  gathering  in  the  history  of  the  Association. 
Delegates  from  nineteen  States  were  in  attendance  at  one  or  more 
sessions,  the  total  number  being  about  seventj-.  The  double 
attraction  of  the  great  World's  Fair  and  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  coa- 
vention  was  responsible  for  the  full  attendance.  There  were 
amateurs  present  from  Nova  Scotia  and  Massachusetts  on  the 
east,  to  Oregon  and  California  on  the  west;  from  Dakota  and 
Michigan  on  the  north,  to  Kentucky  and  Louisiana  on  the  south.. 
All  factions  and  classes  of  amateurs  were  represented  ;  tlie  old" 
timer,  filled  with  memories  of  past  meetings ;  the  raw  recruit^ 
experiencing  his  first  convention  ;  the  literatus,  with  his  dignity 
and  learning  ;the  plodder,  earnest  and  open-eyed;  the  politician, 
with  schemes  and  expectations ;  the  lady  amateur,  smiling  and 
winning. 

In  spite  of  the  varied  and  cosmopolitan  personnel  of  the  conven- 
tion, harmony  and  good  feeling  prevailed,  comradeship  and  gen- 
uine friendship  cemented  the  body  into  one  great  family. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUK  TRES«   ASSOCIATION  263 

The  following  amateurs  were  present:  David  L,  Hollub,  A. 
D,  Grant,  Annie  L.  Lynde,  T.  J,  Spencer,  L.  H.  Spencer,  Sadie 
Wbitenack,  Allan  R,  Parrish,  C.  E.  Schwartz,  J.  J.  Ottinger,  A. 

A.  J.  Robinson,  F.  B.  Davenport,  O.  A.  Reura,  J.  L.  Tomlinson, 
H.  M.  Carter,  E.  A.  Edkins,  J.  H.  Phillips,  C.  Harrison  Frost, 
Ada  Campbell,  Alice  Fitzgerald,  Cathaiine  litzgerald,  G.  M. 
Jones,  H.  R.  Cody,  H.  C.  Bixby,  C.  A.  Luhnow,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
W.  E.  Mellinger,  A.  H.  Snyder,  George  W.  Hancock,  Rose 
Steinberg,  O,  A.  Kamber,  Howard  McCormick,  George  Terhune^ 
Edna  Horwitz,  Hal  Kellogg,  Jeanette  Swing,  Stella  Traman, 
Leola  B.  White,  John  Kendall,  J.  T.  Nixon,  J.  F.  Morton,  Jr., 
George  A.  Dunn,  L.  C.  Bigelow,  P.  Arthur  Burke,  C.  R.  Burger, 
Robert  Carey,  C.  N.  Andrews,  W,  T.  Scofield,  T.  L.  Chrystie, 
C.  C.  Hunt,  F.  A.  Grant,  Bertha  York  Grant,  Alson  Brubaker, 
Jessie  Dillon,  Blanche  Dillon,  F.  D.  Woollen,  E.  B.  Swift,  Zelda 
Swift,  W.  J.  Brodie,  F.  E.  Schermerhorn,  Will  R.  Antisdel, 
Mrs.  Antisdel,  Eugenie  D.  Smith,  W.  Bittle  Wells,  W.  S.  Dun- 
lop,  F.  F.  Heath,  H.  E.  Legler. 

President  Truman  J.  Spencer  called  the  convention  to  order  in 
committee  room  65  of  the  Auditorium,  about  10:15  on  the  morn- 
ing of  July  4.  He  gave  a  short  resume  of  the  year's  work,  then 
proceeded  with  the  regular  order  of  business. 

The  secretary  of  credentials,  Robert  Carey,  and  his  assistants, 
Alson  Brubaker  and  Albert  H.  Snyder,  presented  the  names  of 
the  following  persons  as  eligible  to  membership.  The  report  was 
unanimously  accepted :     Messrs.  Will  Hancock,  F.  S.  George,  G. 

B.  Terhune,  C.  B.  Duffy,  H.  A.  Schoenfeld,  R.  W.  Bennett,  Lin- 
den Dey,  John  Kendall,  August  Bindemann,  Ernest  Simmons, 
L.  W.  Green,  Chris  Luhnow,  E.  R.  Gardner,  and  Misses  Alice 
Fitzgerald,  Eugenie  D.  Smith,  Sadie  Whitenack  and  Ada 
Campbell. 

All  officers  were  present  and  gave  their  reports  in  person,  with 
the  exception  of  the  first  vice-president  and  official  editor. 

The  report  of  the  official  editor,  Mr.  Hochstadter.  was  read  by 
the  secretary.  He  proposed  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to 
consider  a  plan  for  literary  study,  which  he  had  fully  explained 
in  the  National  Amateur.  Such  a  committee  was  ordered  and^ 
Messrs.  F.  A.  Grant,  E.  A.  Edkins  and  Mrs.  Swift  appointed,. 


264 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


with  instructioDS  to  report  at  next  session.     On  the  following  day 

the  comnjittee  reported  that  owing  to  the  changeable  character  of 

the  organization,  so  ephemeral  in  membership,   they  deemed  the 

plan,  though  excellent  in  itself,  impracticable  for  the  N.  A.  P. 

A.     This  report  was  accepted. 

After  considerable  discussion,  it  was  decided  not  to  accept  a 

verbal  report  from  the  executive  judges,   but  to  require  one  in 

writing  at  2  p.  m.    At  the  evening  session  the  following  report  was 

presented  and  accepted,  thus  uniting  and  healing  the  division 

which  had  occurred  in  1891: 

The  agreement  entered  into  in  regard  to  the  amalgamation  of  the 
divisions  of  the  Association  was  as  follows : 

1.  Kecognition  of  Mr,  Spencer  as  president  and  the  acts  of  the 
Boston  convention. 

2.  A  reorganized  board  of  officers,  containing  members  of  both 
divisions. 

3.  The  two  treasuries  consolidated  in  Mr.  Tomlinson's  hands. 

4.  Members  elected  at  Buffalo  to  be  accepted  as  members  of  the 
Association  upon  qualifying  at  Chicago  by  the  payment  of  dues. 

The  board  of  officers  appointed  by  President  Spencer  added  to  the 
list  Kneeland  Ball  as  first  vice-president;  A.  H.Snyder  as  recording 
secretary;  H.  C.  Hochstadter  as  official  editor;  H.  M.  Carter  as  exec- 
utive judge.  0 .  R.  Burger, 
[Signed]  E.B.  Swift, 

H.  M.  Carter. 

The  proxy  committee,  composed  of  Leola  B.  White,  ex-ofRcio 
chairman;  A.  J.  Robinson,  A.  H.  Snyder,  J.  F.  Morton,  Jr., 
D.  L.  Hollub,  John  Kendall  and  J.  L.  Tomlinson,  reported  18 
legal  proxies  cast. 

When  the  election  of  oflScers  was  declared  in  order,  Mr.  Carey 
nominated  our  worthy  president,  Truman  J.  Spencer,  for  re-elec- 
tion. Mr.  Spencer  refused  to  allow  his  name  to  be  considered, 
and  Dr.  Swift  nominated  John  L.  Tomlinson  of  Commentator 
fame.  This  nominaton  met  with  favor,  and  the  secretary  was 
instructed  to  cast  the  ballot  of  the  convention  for  Mr.  Tomlinson 
as  our  chief  executive  for  the  coming  year. 

Robert  Carey,  a  brilliant  young  man  from  New  Jersej',  was 
unanimously  elected  first  vice-president.  The  vivacious  Miss 
Rose  Steinberg,  of  Indianapolis,  was  unanimously  elected  second 
vice-president.  Miss  Susan  B.  Robbins,  of  Massachusetts,  a 
sketch  writer  of  undoubted  ability,  was  unanimously  chosen  re- 
cording secretary.  Mr.  Alson  Brubaker  was  elected  correspond- 
ing secretary,  but  tendered  his  resignation — and  later  this  was 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  265 

accepted  and  a  ballot  taken  on  the  names  of  Hancock  and 
Schoenfeld.     Mr.  Hancock  was  declared  elected. 

Alfred  J.  Robinson  and  Samuel  J.  Steinberg  were  placed  in 
nomination  for  the  treasurership,  and  a  lively  contest  followed. 
Two  ballots  were  taken,  there  being  no  election  in  either  case. 
The  proxies  were  then  constitutionally  discarded  and  Mr.  Robin- 
son was  chosen  treasurer  by  the  convention  vote  of  17  to  10. 

For  official  editor,  four  persons  were  nominated.  John  T. 
Nixon,  nominated  by  Kendall;  Chas.  R.  Burger,  b}^  Jones  ;  J. 
Herbert  Phillips,  by  Steinberg ;  Miss  Capitola  Harrison,  by  Frost. 
Mr.  Phillips  declined  the  nomination.  On  ballot  Mr.  Nixon  was 
declared  official  editor. 

Misses  Truman  and  Cox  and  Mr.  Spencer  were  elected  execu- 
tive judges,  and  Boston  was  chosen  for  the  next  meeting  place. 

We  cull  the  following  paragraph  from  Mr.  Spencer's  account 
in  the  August,  '93,  Investigator. 

It  was  now  about  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  the  interest 
aroused  by  the  election  of  officers  having  subsided,  the  conven- 
tion, as  we  announced,  that  miscellaneous  business  would  be  in 
order,  settled  down  into  something  like  lethargy.  But  it  was  a 
calm  which  preceded  a  tempest.  The  convention  was  settling 
itself  to  sleep  at  the  very  moment  when,  unknown  to  most  of  the 
members,  there  was  about  to  break  over  the  heads  of  the  assem- 
bled delegates  the  heaviest  and  fiercest  storm  of  the  entire  session. 
It  came  without  warning ;  with  typical  Chicago  suddenness,  from 
an  apparently  clear  sky.  Mr.  Tomlinson  sent  to  the  secretary's 
desk  for  the  action  of  the  convention  the  following  resolution : 

Resolved,  Thfit  in  view  of  the^  estimable  services  of  Frank  E. 
Schermerhorn  in  behalf  of  Amateur  Journalism,  and  the  National  Am- 
ateur Press  Association  in  particular,  the  secretary  be  authorized  to 
add  his  name  to  the  list  of  presidents  for  the  period  of  1891-92. 

Mr.  Morton  instantly  moved  that  the  resolution  be  laid  on  the 
table,  but  his  motion  was  lost.  Mr.  Tomlinson  moved  the  adop- 
tion of  the  resolution.  Mr.  Morton  secured  the  floor  and  opposed 
the  motion  in  a  speech  of  great  force.  He  threw  his  whole  soul 
into  it,  and  impressed  every  one  with  his  terrible  earnestness.  It 
was  conceived  in  the  best  spirit,  however,  without  a  particle  of 
bitterness  or  malice,  and  was  a  straightforward  plea  for  constitu- 
tional law  and  legal  rights.  Finlay  Grant  replied  to  him.  He 
referred  to  the  precedent  that  had  been  established,  in  cases  where 
there  was  a  dispute  as  to  the  election  of  president,  of  adding  both 
names  to  the  list,  a  precedent  he  did  not  approve  of,  but  which 
he  thought  should  be  carried  out  in  this  case.     Mr.  Hollub  who 


266      HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRES^^-ASSOCIATION. 

spoke  next,  did  not  believe  in  standing  by  a  precedent  which  wa» 
confesedly  a  bad  one.  Messrs.  Heath,  Burger  and  Nixon 
spoke  in  iavor  of  the  resolution.  Mr.  Morton  spoke  again,  then 
Mr.  Legler  arose  and  delivered  an  eloquent  plea  for  the  extension 
of  the  olive  branch.  He  argued  for  peace  and  harmony,  and 
urged  the  convention  to  be  magnanimous,  making  a  very  grace- 
ful speech  of  some  length  and  much  eloquence.  He  had  no 
sooner  taken  his  seat  than  Mr.  Carey  electrified  the  convention 
with  one  of  his  ringing,  spirited  and  magnetic  speeches.  He 
pleaded  with  the  members  to  stand  by  principle  and  not  be  ruled 
by  sentiment.  Mr.  Grant  again  spoke.  He  claimed  that  there 
was  a  time  when  convictions  should  yield  their  claims,  and  hoped 
the  time  would  never  come  when  he  should  turn  a  deaf  ear  to 
sentiment.  It  was  evident  to  an  impartial  observer  that  both  the 
most  effective  orators  and  the  weight  of  the  argument  were  on  the 
side  of  the  opponents  of  the  resolution.  Upon  motion  of  Dr. 
Swift  the  convention  ordered  the  yeas  and  nays  upon  the  resolu- 
tion, the  result  being  18  in  favor  of  its  adoption  and  13  opposed. 
The  resolution,  which  does  not  touch  the  vital  matters  in  dispute 
at  Philadelphia,  was  passed  by  the  votes  of  the  opponents  of  the 
socalled  Schermerhorn  faction,  simply  because  they  believed  that, 
to  quote  from  Mr.  Legler's  eloquent  speech,  "It  is  the  prevailing 
party  that  can  afford  to  be  mag^naflimous.  " 

The  following  addition  to  article  IV  of   the  constitution    was 

adopted : 

Section  4.  Former  amateurs  attending  conventions  shall  nave  the 
privilege  of  the  floor  upon  paying  dues. 

On  Wednesday  morning  the  new  officers  took  their  places. 
The  committee  on  the  feasibility  of  establishing  a  permanent 
library  reported  favorably.  Their  report  was  accepted  and  the 
following  amendment  to  the  constitution  proposed  by  Mr.  Mor- 
ton and  adopted  by  the  convention : 

Article  V.  Section  3,  The  president  shall  appoint  each  year  a 
librarian,  who  shall  collect  such  papers,  books,  etc..  as  are  of  interest 
to  the  Association,  and  shall  be  authorized  to  expend  annually  a  sum 
not  to  exceed  $10  for  binding. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  T.  J.  Spencer,  the  library  was  located  tem- 
porarily at  Boston. 

At  a  recess  taken  between  the  sessions  Wednesday,  an    Alumn 
Association  was  formed  with  Mr.  Legler  as  president,  Mrs.    Swift 
secretary,  and  Dr.  Swift    official    editor.     No  dues,    conventions 
to  be  held  annually  in  connection  with  the  national,  the  members 
to  rotate  in  regular  succession  through  the  offices  of  president  and 


HItTJRY   OF  TH3   NATIONAL  AMATtUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION.  26^ 

secretary  and  all  those  having  been  connected  with  Amateur 
Journalisna  for  five  years  eligible  to  membership,  were  the  main 
points  of  the  organization. 

Excellent  photographs  were  obtained  both  of  the  convention 
proper  and  of  the  charter  members  of  the  newly  organized  Alumni 
Association.  Thirt3'-six  faces  appear  in  the  former  and  eighteen 
in  the  latter. 

The  banquet  at  the  Leland  Wednesda}^  evening  was  a  most 
pleasant  affair.  Forty  amateurs  were  seated  around  the  social 
board.  Dr.  Swift  acted  as  toastmaster.  The  majority  of  the 
toasts  were  impromptu  and  hence  did  not  attain  a  ver3'  ^^g^ 
standard  ;  at  the  same  time  they  were  interesting  and  well  received. 
The  responses  were: 

'^The  National" T.  J.  Spencer 

"Our  Literature," F.  D.  Woollen 

-The  Ladies," F.  A.  Grant 

"Our  Editors," J.  F.  Morton 

"Our  Lady  Amateur?," Mrs.  Zelda  Swift 

"The  West," W.  E.  Mellinger 

"The  South," J.  T.  Nixon 

Mr.  A.  D.  Grant  and  Mr.  Burger  also  made  a  few  remarks. 
Mr.  George  W.  Hancock,  of  the  old  timer  Chch,  mnde  a  very 
impressive  and  much  appreciated  talk.  "Our  honored  dead"  was 
responded  to  by  Mr.  Robert  Carey  and  was  indeed  fine.  Its 
noble  sentiments,  beautifully  expressed,  were  delivered  with  an 
eloquence  seldom  heard  at  an  amateur  banquet.  After  an 
exchange  of  souvenirs  in  the  wa}'  of  autographs  and  cards,  the 
company  disbanded  with  the  singing  of  "Auld  Lang  Syue." 

The  convention  was  over  but  many  amateurs  remaiued  to 
attend  the  fair  and  several  pleasant  social  reunions  were  had. 

The  laureate  awards  were  as  follows:  Poet  Inureateship 
awarded  to  Miss  Mary  W.  Morton  for  her  poem  eutiiled  "The 
Summit,"  Miss  Capitola  Harrison's  "The  Lilies'  Easter  Dawn" 
receiving  honorable  mention.  Essay  laureateship  awarded  to 
James  F.  Morton  for  his  essay  entitled,  "A  Forgotten  Tragedy." 


CH/IFTER  28- 

A  YEAR  OF  MANY  CHANGES. 

The  Breach  Healed.— Financial  Influences  on  Amateur 
Journalism.- — The  Boston  Convention  Elects  Burgee 
rREsiDENT. — Reception  and  Banquet. — New  Constitu- 
tion Adopted. 

THE  laureate  recorder,  Truman  J.  Spencer,  in  a  thorough 
manner  reviewed  the  progress  of  Amateur  Journalism 
after  the  Chicago  convention  : 
The  year  which  closed  with  the  Boston  convention  of  1894 
was  a  peculiar  one  in  the  annals  of  Amateur  Journalism.  The 
Chicago  convention,  one  of  the  most  representative  and  largely 
attended  conventions  of  recent  years,  had  taken  the  last  step 
which  effectually  healed  the  breach  existing  between  the  various 
organizations  in  the  ranks,  and  the  National  organization  started 
out  once  more,  with  a  united  membership  and  capable  officials, 
and  the  prospects  seemed  exceedingly  bright  for  a  most  success- 
ful year  in  Amateur  Journalism.  But  hardly  had  the  members 
returned  to  their  homes  when  the  great  financial  panic  of  1893 
broke  over  the  country,  and  its  effects  were  immediately  felt  in 
our  little  worM.  In  the  fall  President  Tomlinson  and  Official 
Editor  Nixon  resigned  their  offices.  The  executive  judges  ap- 
pointed Alson  Bru baker  president,  who  appointed  Finlay  Grant 
official  editor.  In  the  meantime  Corresponding  Secretary  Han- 
cock had  issued  the  December  ^National  Amateur.  Mr.  Robinson 
resigned  as  treasurer,  and  Miss  Hauck  was  appointed.  It  was  a 
comparatively  quiet  year  among  sectional  and  local  associations. 
The  papers  issued  for  the  year  were  comparatively  few  in  number, 
and  as  a  rule  were  not  remarkable  for  quality,  though  some  very 
excellent  issues  were  sent  out.  But  one  book  was  issued  during 
the  year.  This  was  entitled  'Verses  from  a  Vagrant  Muse,'/  be- 
ing the  selected  poems  of  Joseph  Dana  Miller.  It  is  a  book  of 
120  pages,  bound  in  cloth,  and  was  published  by  T.  J.  Spencer. 
The  campaign  of  1894  was  a  very  quiet  and  peculiar  one.  No 
Teal  candidates  for  the  office  of  president  were  in  the  field  up  to 


*This  December  Amateur  was  made  up,  in  great  part,  of  matter  pre- 
pared and  arranged  by  the  retiring  ofticial  editor.  Mr.  Nixon's  resig- 
nation was  presented  to  President  Tomlinson  in  November,  after  he 
had  prepared  all  the  copy  required  for  the  December  ^mai5ewr,  allowing 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION  269 

the  hour  of  balloting.  Several  members  had  been  mentioned  for 
the  position  at  various  times  with  more  or  U'ss  emphasis,  but  no 
real  campaign  work  was  done  for  anybod}'  but  Charles  R.  Burger. 

Volume  XVI  of  the  National  Amateur  consisted  of  four  issues, 
32  pages.  The  September,  1893,  issue  was  edited  by  John  W 
Nixon.  It  consisted  of  10  pages,  containing  minutes  of  the 
Chicago  convention,  news  of  associations,  classification  of  recent 
papers,  bulletin  of  new  addresses,  news  letters  from  various 
points  and  other  official  documents.  The  December  number  was 
edited  by  Will  Hancock.  It  was  of  4  pages,  containing  official 
communications,  bulletin,  'round  the  circle  department  aiid  edi- 
torial notes.  The  March  issue,  edited  by  Finla^^  Grant,  was  of 
10  pages.  It  contained  a  reminiscent  letter  from  Will  T.  Sco- 
field,  the  laureate  recorder's  report,  a  review  of  the  past  year's 
laureate  entries,  bulletin  and  three  pages  of  editorial  matter.  The 
June  issue,  8  pages,  contained  articles  on  amateur  topics  from 
Willard  O.  Wylie  and  Ella  Maud  Frye,  official  letters  and  reports, 
bulletin  and  three  pages  of  editorial.  The  Amnteur  go=^\  the  As- 
sociation less  this  3'ear  than  any  other  of  its  existence— S 15. 
Mr.  Nixon  donated  $10  of  his  bill,  and  Messrs.  Hancock  and 
Grant  the  entire  amount  for  printing  their  issues. 

In  Bohemia,  September,  1894,  \V.  E.  Mellinger  reviews  the 
convention  of  that  year,  from  which  we  take  the  following: 

The  nineteenth  annual  convention  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association  was  held  at  the  United  States  hotel,  Hoston, 
Mass.,  July  17-18-19,  1894.  The  great  railroad  strike  interfered 
materially  with  the  attendance  of  meml)ers  from  the  west,  and  as 
the  mails  were  also  delayed,  over  thirty  proxy  votes  were  missing 


a  column,  as  instructed,  for  the  president's  message.  This  resignation 
was  accepted  late  in  January  by  the  executive  judges.  President  Tom- 
llnson  having  entirely  ignored  it.  The  general  understanding  has 
been  that  the  official  editor  wilfully  neglected  his  duty,  and  thus  left 
the  Association  without  an  organ.  The  |act  is  that  when  the  resigna- 
tian  was  sent  to  President  Tomlinson  it  was  accompanied  by  a  state- 
ment that  the  MSS.  for  the  December  issue  was  ready  for  the  printer, 
and  asking  for  instructions.  These  instructions  never  came.  The 
writer's  ambition  since  his  entry  in  Amateur  Journalism  has  been  to 
edit  a  volume  of  the  National  Amateur.  The  great  disappointment  of 
his  career  has  been  the  fact  that  when  the  opportunity  came  he  was 
unable,  through  no  fault  of  his  own,  to  complete  the  vohime  he 
started. 


270  HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRKSS    ASSOCIATION. 

that  were  en  route.  Nevertheless  the  amount  of  work  performed 
will  compare  very  favorably  with  former  conventions.  Most  of 
the  delegates  arrived  on  Monday  and  spent  the  afternoon  at  the 
New  England  Association  convention  held  at  Abinojton,  Mass. 

In  the  ab-<ence  of  President  Brnbaker  and  both  vice-presidents, 
the  secretary.  Miss  Susan  B.  Robbins.  called  the  convention  to 
order  at  10  o'clock,  and  Ex-President  Truman  J.  Spencer  was 
elected  chairman,  who  appointed  the  following^  temporary  officers, 
first  vice-president,  W.  E.  Mellintrer;  second  vice-president,  J. 
H.  Stover.      'I'he  treasurer.  Miss  Emma  Hauck,  was  present. 

The  follow  n:i  new  members  were  elected:  Misses  E.  Flora 
At  wood,  Florence  A.  Cobb,  M.  E.  Wynjie.  Agnes  Butler,  Anna 
Braun,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Mellinger,  Messrs.  A.  W.  Dennis,  C.  W. 
Kissinger,  M.  T.  Valeutiiie,  J.  H.  Chasp.  and  D.  G.  Davis. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  ,  Burger  the  constitution  was  amended, 
abolishing  the  initiation  fee,  and  a  recess  was  taken  to  allow  new 
members  to  pay  dues  for  the  ensuing  year.  The  president  then 
appointed  committees:  On  association  |)in,  Mr.  Geo.  W.  Dodd, 
Jr  ,  chairman  ;  on  revision  of  constitution,  consisting  of  Messrs. 
E.  H.  Smith,  George  Dodd  find  \V.  E.  Mellinger  and  the  praxy 
commit^e,  Messrs.  Morton,  Smith,  Chase,  Mellinger,  and  Misses 
Cox,  Robbins  and  Hnuck. 

The  Association  adjourned  at  11:30,  and  after  luncheon  the 
convention  photo  was  taken,  over  thirty  being  in  the  group.  In 
the  evening  tlie  reception  committee  had  arranged  a  moonlight 
boat  ride  to  Nantasket,  and  most  of  the  delegates  went. 

The  second  day's  session  beoan  promptly  on  time,  Mr.  Spencer 
relinquishing  tf>e  chair  to  Mr.  Mellinger,  who  presided  until  the 
new  pre-ideiit  was  installed.  After  the  reading  of  various  tele- 
grams tiie  proxy  coiumiltee  repor^^^ed  as  follows: 

For  president.  C.  R.  Bnr<rer.  19  votes. 

For  treasurer,  E.  H.  Smith,  7;  Miss  Hauck.  8. 

For  official  editor.  J.  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  5;  Will  Hancock,  7. 

For  next  convention  seat  Cincinnati,  15;  New  Orleans,  5;  San  Fran- 
cisco. 4. 

The  e'ectio!!  was  then  held  and  resulted  as  follows:  President. 
C.  R.  Burger,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.;  (irst  vice-president,  VV .  E. 
Mellinoer.  Chicago,  111.  ;  second  vice-president,  Linden  Dey, 
Ja(ksf)nville,  Fla  ;  recording  secretar}^  Miss  Emma  Hauck, 
White  Plains.  N.  Y.  ;  corresponding  secretary,  H.  A.  Schoen- 
feld.  Seatt'e,  Wash.  ;  treasurer,  T.  J.  Spencer,  New  Britain, 
Ctmn.  ;  otflcial  editor.  F.  C.  Johnson,  Boonville,  N.  Y.  ;  next 
convention  seat,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

The  election  of  Mr.  Burger  was  a  foregone  conclusion,  although 
he  sturdily  refused  it  before  his  election,  yet  when  he  saw  the 
result  of  tlie  voting  he  bowed  gracefully  to  the  inevitable.  There 
were  so  many  names  on  the  proxy  committee's   report   for   first 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.     271 

vice-president,  that  the  convention,  after  followinor  the  constitu- 
tional requirements  and  rnakinof  no  choice,  selected  for  that  posi- 
tion, the  only  a:entleman  delegate  from  the  west. 

Mr.  Dey,  Mr.  Spencer  and  Miss  Hauck  were  elected  very 
easily,  but  there  was  a  spirited  contest  for  the  official  editorship. 
Mr.  Morton  absolutely  refused  to  accept  the  position,  as  his 
sense  of  "justice"  would  not  allow  him,  a  Boston  man,  to  accept 
any  office  from  a  convention  held  in  his  own  city.  The  fight  was 
between  Mr.  Hancock  and  Mr.  Johnson,  resulting  on  the  fifth 
l)allot  in  the  election  of  the  latter. 

When  the  first  ballot  was  announced  on  the  next  convention 
«eat,  it  was  discovered  that  there  were  more  votes  of  members 
present  for  San  Francisco  than  for  Cincinnati ;  but  notwithstand- 
ing the  eloquent  appeals  of  Messrs.  Morton,  Wylie  and  Munro^ 
the  final  ballot  showed  a  majority  in  favor  of  Cincinnati. 

The  election  consumed  so  much  time  that  the  ladies  barely  had 
time  to  prepare  their  toilettes  for  the  reception  and  literary  exer- 
cises, which  took  place  at  4  p.  m.  in  the  parlors  at  the  hotel. 
Over  two  hundred  invitations  had  been  issued  for  this  event,  and 
the  guests  were  received  by  the  following  committee:  Mrs.  Ella 
Maud  Frye,  chairman;  Mrs.  Edith  Miniter,  Miss  Kate  Cameron, 
Miss  Harriet  Cox,  Dr.  J.  W.  Foss,  T.  J.  Spencer,  E.  T,  Capen, 
A.  W.  Dennis,  Jas.  H.  Chase  and  C.  E.  Wilsoii. 

After  an  hour  spent  in  social  intercourse,  a  short  program  was 
rendered,  including  an  address  of  welcome  by  Ex-President 
Willard  O.  Wylie,  a  flute  solo  by  Miss  Alice  McLaughlin,  a  read- 
ing by  Miss  Margaret  Mullaney,  a  violin  solo  by  Miss  Anna  Winn, 
a  reading  by  Miss  Maud  Murray,  a  vocal  solo  by  Clarence  Wilson 
and  an  address  on  professional  journalism  by  Stephen  O'Meara, 
of  the  Boston  Journal. 

After  the  reception  the  banquet  followed — "that  summit  of 
happiness"  to  which  all  had  looked  forward.  The  delegates 
marched  in  couples  from  the  parlors  to  the  banquet  hall.  Forty 
covers  were  spread  in  the  large  dining  hall  of  the  hotel ;  three 
long  tables  forming  three  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  which  were 
beautifully  decorated  with  flowers.  Long  stemmed  roses  were  in 
the  center  before  the  toast  master,  and  by  the  plate  of  each  lady 
was  a  bunch  of  sweet  peas,  and  for  the  gentlemen  carnation  pinks 
were  provided. 

Mr.  Spencer  acted  as  toastmaster,  and  after  the  menu  was  dis- 
-cussed  the  following  program  was  enjoyed  : 

Boston's  Welcome, W.  O.  Wylie 

TheN.  A.  P.  A. J.  H.  LMunro 

Reading, Miss  L.  A.  Bowes 

The  Fossil p:.  H.  Smith 

The   Politician George    W.  Dodd,  Jr 


2/2     HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

Reading Jas.  F.  Morton ,     Jr 

The  Ladies .W.  E.  Mellinger 

The  Gentlemen Mrs.  Edith  Miniter 

The  third  day's  session  was  called  to  order  by  the  vice-presi- 
dent at  10  o'clock,  and  listened  to  reports  from  the  various  com- 
mittees. Mr.  Dodd  reported  for  the  committee  on  pin  as  having 
selected  one  which  consisted  of  a  laurel  wreath,  surmounted  by 
an  antique  lamp,  with  a  quill  passing  diagonally  through  the 
wreath,  the  letters  N.  A.  P.  A.  on  same.  The  revision  committee 
presented  a  long  report,  suggesting  many  changes,  the  most 
important  of  which  was  the  formicg  of  a  life  membership,  the 
establishment  of  a  permanent  librarian  and  the  abolishing  of  the 
initiation  fee. 

A  telegram  from  Mr.  Schoenfeld  having  been  received,  abso- 
lutely declining  to  accept  the  office  of  corresponding  secretary  if 
San  Francisco  was  defeated,  his  resignation  was  accepted  with 
regret,  and  Clifford  W.  Kissinger,  of  Reading,  Pa.,  elected  to 
that  position.  The  credential  committee  reported  two  additional 
applications,  Mr.  Jos.  O'Gorman  and  Miss  Henrietta  N.  Imovilli, 
who  were  elected  to  membership.  The  board  of  executive  judges 
was  elected,  consisting  of  Mr.  Alson  Brubaker,  Miss  Susie  B. 
Robbins  and  Mrs.  E.  M.  Frye. 

The  new  president  was  installed  and  in  a  happy  speech  assumed 
his  position  and  made  the  following  appointments :  Secretary 
of  credentials,  Fred  VV.  Pratt,  of  Dover,  Me.  ;  librarian,  E.  H. 
Smith,  of  Washington,  D.  C.  ;  laureate  recorder,  J.  F.  Morton, 
Jr.,  of  Boston.  The  award  of  historian  laureate  for  the  past  year 
was  made  to  Mr.  Smith,  and  the  Investigator  was  awarded  the 
editorial  laureateship. 

Mr.  Morton  made  a  final  unsuccessful  attempt  to  change  the 
convention  seat,  but  was  promptly  voted  down.  After  the  read- 
ing and  adoption  of  the  minutes,  the  convention  adjourned 
sine  die. 

On  Tuesday  the  older  amateurs  assembled  hnd  effected  a  pro- 
visional organization  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism, Mr.  Burger  being  chairman.  Miss  Cox  was  appointed  a 
committee  on  membership  and  Messrs.  Spencer,  Morton  and 
Mellinger  on  constitution.  Wednesday  noon  a  formal  organiza- 
tion was  effected  and  the  following  officers  elected  :  President, 
T.  J.  Spencer,  vice-president,  Mrs.  Bertha  York  Grant,  secretary- 
treasurer,  George  W.  Dodd,  Jr. 

A  constitution  was  adopted  which  states  that  anyone  who  has 
been  a  member  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  three  years,  or  an  amateur  five 
3'ears,  is  eligible  to  membership  ;  it  also  calls  for  annual  meetings 
in'connection  with  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  conventions,  the  secretary- 
treasurer  being  empowered  to  arrange  programs. 


UrSTOKY   OK   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      273 

The  constitution  committee  reported  a  new  constitution  vvbicli 
we  fiud  to  be  practicall3'  the  constitution  of  1889  with  amend- 
ments made  at  latter  sessions  and  other  amendments  by  tlie  com- 
mittee. The  reader  is  referred  to  the  documcLt  as  printed  on 
pages  210  to  211).  All  clianges  from  that  document  are  noted 
below.  When  an  article  or  a  section  is  entirely  omitted  from  the 
followino^,  it  indicates  that  it  remained  exactly  as  it  stood  in  188t^ 
after  the  adoi)tion  of  the  then  new  constitution: 
Article  IV — Membership. 

Section  3.  Applicants  for  membership  shall  send  their  application 
with  credentials  and  one  dollar  annual  dues  to  the  secretary  of 
credentials. 

Sec.  4.  Any  person  who  has  been  a  member  of  the  Association 
three  years  or  more,  may  become  a  life  member  upon  payment  of  five 
dollars.  All  ex-presidents  shall  be  enrolled  as  life  members  unless 
expelled  for  cause. 

Sec.  5.  Life  members  shall  be  entitled  to  all  the  rights  of  member- 
ship wdthout  regard  to  requirements  of  section  2,  article  IX,  and  be 
exempt  fiom  further  payment  of  dues.  Life  members  may  resign,  or 
be  expelled  for  cause. 

Article  V — Officers  and  Their  Duties. 

Sec.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president,  upon  assuming  his 
office,  to  present  a  message  to  the  convention  assembled,  wherein 
shall  be  named  a  board  of  advisers  of  three  members,  who  shall  be 
designate<l  as  follows:  secretary  of  credentials,  national  laureate 
recorder  and  chairman  of  recruit  committee.  The  president  shall  also 
name  the  recruit  committee,  as  provided  for  in  article  XIII,  section  1. 

Sec  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  remain  active  dur- 
ing the  term  of  office  by  publishing  at  least  six  numbers  of  a  journal, 
at  regular  intervals,  within  that  period.  Failing  to  do  so  the  presi- 
dent shall  resign.  No  issue  of  the  journal  shall  be  dela>  ed  more  than 
one  month  after  its  regular  date  of  publication. 

Sec.  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  appoint  the  recruit 
and  reception  committees,  and  such  other  committees  as  shall  from 
time  to  time  be  necessary. 

Sec  9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  to  secure  the  first  four 
named  judges  of  awards  as  hereinafter  provided,  and  to  make  known 
their  acceptance  through  the  columns  of  the  official  organ  not  later 
than  its  March  number;  and  shall  also  appoint  the  fifth  judge,  and 
make  known  the  acceptance  not  later  than  the  March  number  of  the 
official  organ. 

Sec  10.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  president  after  roll  call  to  fill 
all  vacant  offices  caused  by  absence  from  the  convention. 

Sec.  12,  It  shall  be  the  dut}^  of  the  custodian  of  ballots  to  receive 
the  proxy  ballots,  giving  a  receipt  therefor  if  desired. 

Sec.  13.  Tne  custodian  of  ballots  shall  retain  all  proxies  received 
until  the  convention  is  called  to  order,  when  they  shall  be  delivered 
to  the  presiding  officer. 

Sec  16.  During  the  interval  between  conventions  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  executive  judges  to  receive  anl  act  upon  all  charges  pre- 


274  HISTORY   OP  Ti^E   NATDNAL  AMATEUR   TRBSS   ASSOCIATION. 

ferrel  by  one  member  against  another.  They  shall  have  power 
to  saspend  a  member,  such  action  being  subject  to  final  decision  by 
the  next  convention. 

Sec.  17.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  credentials  to 
receive  and  pass  upon  all  applications  for  membership  during  the  term 
of  office,  to  promptly  notify  each  applicant  of  acceptance  or  rejection, 
and  turn  over  to  the  treasurer  all  moneys  received  from  such  appli- 
cants within  thirty  days  after  acceptance  of  application.  ^Vhen  the 
credentials  of  an  applicant  have  been  favorably  passed  upon,  the 
secretary  of  credentials  shall  immediately  send  the  name  and  address 
of  the  same  to  the  president,  corresponding  secretary,  editor,  treasurer 
and  chairman  of  recruit  committee. 

Sec.  18.  The  secretary  of  credentials  shall  enroll  as  life  members, 
applicants  as  provided  in  article  IV,  section  5.  The  action  of  the 
secretary  of  credentials  shall  be  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Associa- 
tion in  convention  assembled. 

Sec.  19.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  chairman  of  the  recruit  com- 
mittee to  act  a  chairman  and  ex-offido  member  of  the  recruit  com- 
mittee, and  to  apportion  the  States  of  each  section  among  their  rep- 
resentatives. 

Sec.  20.  It  snail  be  the  duty  of  the  librarian  to  receive  and  keep  a 
record  of  articles  defined  in  article  VI  and  to  preserve  them  in  such  a 
form  that  they  shall  be  constantly  accessible  for  inspection.  The 
librarian  shall  at  all  times  furnish  to  members  such  reasonable  infor- 
mation as  may  be  desired  by  any  member,  and  shall  furnish  a  report 
at  each  convention. 

Sec.  21.  A  sum  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  shall  be  appropriated  at 
each  convention  to  meet  the  necessary  expense  connected  with  the 
management  of  the  librar3\ 

Sec.  22.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  first  vice-president  to  perform 
all  duties  devolving  upon  the  president  in  the  case  of  the  latter's  absence 
from  or  disability  in  convention.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  first  vice- 
president  to  have  char^-e  of  the  departments  specified  in  article  XIV, 
section  3,  and  to  receive  articles  sent  to  these  departments.  The  first 
vice-president  shall  retain  one  copy  of  each  of  the  papers  containing 
articles  entered  in  competition,  and  deliver  one  copy  to  the  judge  of 
award  on  or  before  June  15,  together  with  list  of  entries. 

Sec.  23.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  second  vice-president  to  assume 
the  chair  in  case  the  officers  preceding  in  rank  are  absent  from  the 
convention.  The  second  vice-president  shall  have  charge  of  the 
departments  specified  in  article  XIV,  section  3,  and  shall  conduct 
them  in  accordance  with  the  rules  laid  down  for  departments  con- 
ducted by  the  first  vice-president. 

Sec  24.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  recording  secretary  to  keep  a 
true  record  of  all  the  transactions  of  this  Association,  and  a  complete 
list  of  members,  in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose;  to  enter  upon 
the  minutes  a  copy  of  the  treasurer's  bcmd,  and  to  perform  such  other 
duties  as  are  customary  under  parliamentary  usage.  The  recording 
secretary  shall  receive' the  duplicate  proxy  ballots,  and  have  such 
ballots  at  the  convention,  which  are  to  be  used  only  in  case  of  the 
non-appearance  of  the  original  ballots. 

Sec.  25.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  corresponding  secretary  to  issue 
notices  of  the  convention,  and  provide  official  blanks  necessary  for 
proxy  voting,  as  provide'l  for  in  article  X,  sections  1,  2,  3. 


HlfeTORY   OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  275 

Sec.  26.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  editor  to  take  entire  charge  of 
the  official  organ,  and  issue  same  as  provided  for  in'article  VII,  and 
mail  to  each  member  and  accepted  applicant  one  copy  of  each  number 
as  soon  as  issueil.  The  editor  shall  publish  the  names  and  addresses 
of  such  persons  brought  to  notice  as  are  not  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion, but  are  actively  interested  in  Amateur  Journalism,  and  mail  to 
each  the  official  organ. 

Section  25  of  the  18S9  constitution  is  divided  into  sections  27 
and  28  of  the  new  instrument.  It  is  identical  in  the  introduction 
and  the  wording  of  the  treasurer's  bond.  Beneath  the  bond  it  is 
changed  to  read  as  follows : 

The  recording  secretary  shall  retain  possession  of  the  bond,  but 
shall  not  be  one  of  the  bondsmen. 

Sec.  29.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  the  officers  to  remain  active 
during  their  term  of  office,  and  in  addition  to  other  duties  prescribed 
in  this  constitution,  to  present  at  the  annual  convention  a  report  of  all 
duties  performed  during  their  term  of  office,  and  to  deliver  to  their 
respective  successors  all  books,  papers  or  property  Of  any  kind 
belonging  to  the  Association. 

Sec.  30.  The  president,  first  and  second  vice-presidents,  treasurer, 
secretary  of  credentials,  librarian,  and  chairman  of  recruit  commmit- 
tee  shall  every  three  months  forward  written  reports  to  the  editor  for 
publication  in  the  official  organ. 

Article  VI. — Library. 

A  permanent  library  of  amateur  papers,  books,  photographs  and 
miscellaneous  relics  of  Amateur  Journalism  shall  be  established  at 
Boj^ton .  The  officer  in  charge  shall  be  known  as  the  librarian,  and 
shall  be  a  member  of  the  Association  appointed  by  the  president  to 
serve  until  resignation  or  removal. 

Article  VII. — Official  Organ. 

Sec.  1.  The  association  shall  publish  quarterly  a  paper  whicti  shall 
be  known  as  the  National  Amateur.  This  paper  shall  consist  of  not  less 
than  eight  pages,  the  size  of  each  page  to  be  9x13  inches. 

Section  2  is  identical  with  section  3  of  article  VI  of  1889,  and 
section  3  with  section  2  of  1889.  Section  5  of  1889  is  divided 
into  two  sections — 4  and  5. 

Article    VIII. — Conventions. 

Sec.  1.  The  Association  shall  convene  annually,  during  the  month 
of  July,  the  date  to  be  named  by  the  president  and  announced  in  the 
March  number  of  the  official  organ. 

Sec.  2.  The  conventions  of  this  Association  shall  be  held  in  an 
Eastern  and  Western  city  alternately,  the  seat  of  the  succeeding  con- 
vention to  be  chosen  in  the  same  manner  as  the  officers,  and  at  the 
same  time. 

Article  IX.— Election  of  Members. 

Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  secretary  of  credentials  to  pre- 
sent a  list  of  accepted  and  rejected  applicants  immediately  after  the 
appointment  of  officers  pro  tempore  as  provided  for  in  article  V,  section 
10;  such  applicants,  afterpayment  of  annual  dues  and  election  to  mem- 
bership, shall  be  entitled  to  privileges  of  active  membership.     By  the 


276  HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

request  of  ten  members  present  any  number  of  names  on  the  secretary 
of  credentials'  list  may  be  voted  upon  separately,  when  ten  negative 
votes  shall  be  necessary  to  reject  any  applicant  for  membership. 

Sec.  2.  Any  member,  who  does  not  each  year  issue  at  least  one 
number  of  an  amateur  paper,  or  contribute  at  least  one  poem,  essay  or 
sketch  to  an  amateur  publication,  shall  not  be  be  entitled  to  vote  dur- 
ing the  election  of  officers,  and  may  be  dropped  from  membership,  but 
should  he  or  she  again  become  active,  shall  be  entitled  to  all  rights  of 
membership,  after  payment  of  annual  dues. 

Article  X. — Election  of  Officers^ 

Sec.  1.  Every  member  and  accepted  applicant  shall  be  furnished 
with  official  blanks  for  the  purpose  of  proxy  voting  for  every  officer 
and  next  place  of  meeting,  and  upon  proposed  amendments  to  the  con- 
stitution or  by-laws. 

Sec.  4.  ^o  proxy  ballot  shall  be  legal  unless  the  member  so  voting 
is  qualified  as  to  activity,  and  the  dues  have  been  paid  before  the 
examining  committee  shall  retire  to  count  the  proxies. 

Sec.  5.  After  the  custodian  shall  have  turned  over  the  pro;xy  ballots 
to  the  presiding  officer  no  ballot  shall  be  accepted  unless  presented 
in  person  to  the  presiding  officer. 

Section  6  of  1889  is    eliminated,    thus  advancing  all  following 

sections  one  number. 

Article  XII — Parlirnentary  Authority. 

This  association  shall  be  governed  by  Eoberts'   Rules  of  Order,' 
wherein  it  does  not  conflict  with  this  constitution  and  these  by-laws. 
A  rticle  XIII —  Committees , 

Sec.  1.  The  president  shall  appoint  a  recruit  committee  of 
twelve  active  members,  three  of  whom  shall  be  residents  respectively 
of  the  Northern,  Southern,  Eastern  and  Western  sections  of  the 
country. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  committee  to  furnish  information 
pertaining  to  Amateur  Journalism,  and  supply  copies  of  current 
amateur  papers  to  such  recruits  and  inactive  amateurs  as  may  come 
to  notice.  The  committee  shall  endeavor  to  organize  local  press  clubs, 
and  secure  as  members  of  the  Association  all  persons  interested  in 
Amateur  Journalism, 

Sec.  3.  A  committee  on  reception,  consisting  of  at  least  five  mem- 
bers, residents  of  the  city  where  the  Association  next  meets,  or  in  the 
immediate  vicinity,  shall  be  appointed  by  the  president.  It  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  reception  committee  to  procure  suitable  meeting  rooms 
for  this  Association,  and  to  perform  such  other  duties  as  the  presi- 
dent may  direct. 

Article  XIV— laureate  Titles^ 

Sec.  2  In  order  to  compete  for  the  title  laureate  in  any  branch  a 
member  must  have  the  article  printed  in  an  amateur  publication  by 
June  15th  of  each  year,  and  send  two  copies  of  the  paper,  with  such 
articles  marked,  to  the  officer  who  shall  have  charge  of  the  particular 
department  in  which  the  article  is  entered. 

Article  XV — Editorial  Award, 

Sec.  1.  Any  member  or  accepted  applicant  publishing  four  or  more 
numbers  of  a  paper  during  the  year  is  entitled  to  enter  such  publica- 
tion, on  or  before  June  15th,  in  competition   ior  the  title  editorial 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


277 


laureate,   whicn    shall     be    annouaced    at  each  ^convention  by  the 
president. 

Article  XVI — Amendments. 

Sec.  1.    No  part  of  this  constitution  shall  be  amended  or  suspended 
except  bj^  the  two-thirds  vote  of  members  present  at  a  convention. 

Sec.  3.    Amendments  to  be  voted  on  by  proxy  shall  have   appeared 
in  the  September,  December  or  March  number  of  the  official  organ. 

Sections  4  and  5  of  1889  eliminated. 

By-laws  unchanged  except  that  rule  6  of  article  B  is  eliminated. 


CH/IFTER  29. 

WHEN  THE  PRESS  CLUBS  FLOURISHED. 

Conferences  at  Boston  and  San  Feancisco. — President  Bur- 
ger's Work  as  an  Organizer. — Death  of  Franklin  C. 
Johnson.  —The  Chicago  Convention. — Blackballing  Of 
Candidates  for  Membership. — Compromise  Measures. — 
The  Result. 

A  CONFERENCE  of  amateur  journalists  was  held  at  Boston, 
February  22,  1895.  There  were  present  Messrs.  Capen, 
Burger,  Morton,  Dennis,  Hochstadter,  Murray,  Wiggin  ; 
Misses  Bean,  Cameron,  Wynne,  Morton ;  Mrs.  Frye,  Mrs.  Mini- 
ter,  Mrs.  Small. 

The  proceedings  of  this  conference  were  published  in  the  Hub 
Official,  from  which  we  quote: 

A  paper  was  read  by  Mrs.  Frye,  ^'Advantages  and  Disadvan- 
tages of  Sectionalism  to  Amateur  Journalism."  The  paper  was 
thoroughly  discussed  by  all  present.  Following  this  came  a 
symposium  on  "Amateurdom's  Need — Is  it  External  Work  or 
Internal  Reform?"  Letters  on  the  subject  were  read  from  John 
L.  Tomlinson,  David  L.  Hollub  and  Miss  Stella  Truman,  and  it 
was  then  discussed.  A  great  many  splendid  ideas  were  brought 
out.  A  paper  was  to  have  been  sent  in  by  Linden  D.  Dey  on 
"The  Value  of  Organization  to  Amateur  Journalism,"  but  as  it 
bad  not  appeared,  the  subject  was  informally  discussed. 

A  conference  of  amateur  journalists  for  the  purpose  of  discuss- 
ing the  affairs  of  the  National  Association  and  of  nominating 
candidates,  was  held  in  San  Francisco,  May  1,  1895.  Ed  A. 
Hering  presided,  Walter  Radius  secretary'. 

There  were  present  Messrs.  Ackermann,  Bachmau,  Bioch,  Da}% 
Farnham,  Faucompre,  Hauser,  Hering,  S.  and  J.  Hamilton, 
Hollub,  Hinkle,  Igoe,  Jackson,  Johnson,  Kolberg,  Miss  Loh- 
meyer,  Levy,  Lind,  Meyer,  Moore,  McCarthy,  Mortimer,  Morris, 
Miss^Neal,  Peltret,  Phillips,  Miss  Rothchild,  Radius,  Rothchild, 
Miss  Schoenf eld,  Stevens,  Shirke,  Steeves,  Schoenfeld,  Voorsan- 
ger  and  Weihe, 

The  proceedings  are  here  quoted  from  the  official  minutes  pub- 


HISTORY  OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.     279 

lished  in  the  Pacific  Cor^ference^  issued  immediately  after  the 
gathering  : 

Several  committees  were  appointed  and  then  a  symposium  was 
announced,  consisting  of  extemporaneous  speeches.  Mr.  Hollub 
treated  "Reform  and  Progress."  Among  other  things  he  said 
that  an  amateur  who  wished  to  join  the  National  should  have  at 
least  six  months'  standing.  Mr.  Schoenfeld  spoke  upon  "The 
Ideal  Editorial."  Mr.  Peltret  paid  tribute  to  "The  Ladies  in 
Amateurdom."  "The  Coast  Candidates"  was  delivered  by  Mr. 
Da_y.  Mr.  Phillips  did  justice  to  "The  Scope  of  the  Amateur 
Advertising  Solicitor."  "The  Ideal  President"  was  treated  by 
Mr.  Mortimer.  He  said  that  such  honorable  positions  in  ama- 
teur organizations  demanded  men  of  dignity,  purpose  and  intelli- 
gence. "Is  Sectionalism  on  the  Decline?"  was  delivered  b}'  Mr. 
Morris.  Mr.  Hauser  spoke  on  "Public  Schools  as  a  Field  for 
Recruiting."  "Amateur  Journalism  From  a  Young  Ladies' 
Standpoint"  was  Miss  Lohmeyer's  subject.  Mr.  tiering  showed 
a  thorough  knowledge  of  his  subject,  "The  l\ypographical 
Appearance  of  Papers." 

Resolutions  were  adopted  endorsing  candidates  for  president 
and  official  editor.  At  this  point  it  was  decided  to  appoint  an 
executive  committee  of  five  Coast  amateurs,  to  name  a  full  ticket. 
The  chairman  appointed  D.  L.  Hollub,  H.  C.  Morris,  D.  J,  Mc- 
Carthy, C.  A.  Bow  and  H.  A.  Schoenfeld.  The  balance  of  the 
time  was  consumed  in  variously  resoluting  and  discussing. 

The  executive  committee  on  May  21  promulgated  the  following 
ticket:  President,  D.  L.  Hollub;  recording  secretary,  Albert 
E.  Barnard;  corresponding  secretary,  Edward  A.  Hering ;  treas- 
urer, Alson  Brubaker ;  official  editor,  Will  Hancock ;  executive 
judges,  Charles  R.  Burger,  Emma  L.  Hauck,  James  F.  Morton, 
Jr.;  convention  seat,  New  Orleans. 

The  administration  of  Charles  R.  Burger  as  president  of  the 
National  Association  was  one  different  from  all  preceding  and 
following,  because  of  the  systematic  method  of  recruiting  adopted 
and  carried  on  b}^  Mr.  Burger.  The  laureate  recorder,  James  F, 
Morton,  Jr.,  says: 

President  Burger  set  the  example  of  working  with  an  energy 
which  no  preceding  president  had  shown,  traveling  thousands 
of  miles  to  visit  the  different  amateur  centres,  everywhere  organ- 
izing local  clubs,  and  adding  new  members  to  the  roll  of  the 
National  Association.  In  his  arduous  labors  he  was  warmly 
seconded  by  the  recruit  committee,  headed  by  Edwin  H.  Smith 
and  John  H.  Stover,  together  with  manj-  individual  men^bers  of 
the    Association.     Thousands  of  circulars    were  published  and 


280  HI8T0RY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

very  widely  distributed,  and  innumerable  letters  written.  Sev- 
eral prominent  professional  papers  and  mao^azines  published 
articles  on  Amateur  Journalism  written  by  differient  members. 
The  result  of  this  and  other  forms  of  recruit  work  was  the 
swelling  of  our  membership  list  to  an  unprecedented  degree. 

While  all  rejoiced  at  so  desirable  an  outcome,  some  difference 
of  opinion  arose  concerning  certain  of  the  methods  employed. 
It  was  feared  by  some  that  the  credentials  of  applicants  were  not 
scrutinized  with  sufficient  care,  and  that  the  membership  list 
was  being  overloaded  with  dead  wood.  The  request  made  by 
the  administration  and  followed  by  many  editors  that  papers 
should  not  be  sent  to  amateurs  who  refused  to  join  the  N.  A. 
P.  A.,  also  awakened  severe  criticism  in  seme  quarters  and 
warm  commendation  in  others.  The  election  of  Cincinnati  as 
meeting  place  was  regarded  as  a  severe  blow  by  the  active 
amateur  element  of  the  Pacific  coast,  which  had  asked  that  the 
convention  meet  at  San  Francisco.  The  complete  inactivity  of 
Cincinnati  gave  more  than  usual  color  to  their  complaint.  An 
unfortunate  misprint  in  the  minutes  of  the  convention  caused  a 
hasty  cry  of  fraud  to  be  raised  by  some  of  the  Westerc  mem- 
bers. The  partisans. of  the  opposing  side  retorted  with  no 
little  acrimony ;  and  a  violent  conflict  was  preciptated,  greatly 
marring  the  harmony  of  the  Association. 

Almost  before  the  Boston  convention  had  adjourned,  political 
l^lans  were  being  matured.  Edwin  H.  Smith  was  the  first  name 
prQrainently  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  presidency.  He 
was  supposed  to  be  the  adraiuistratioo  candidate.  The  contest 
finally  narrowed  down  to  Mr.  Smith  and  David  L.  Hollub,  the 
latter  representing  the  Pacific  Coast  and  its  sympathizers.  7  he 
campaign  was  an  unusually  bitter  one.  By  reason  of  the 
inactivity  of  Cincinnati,  the  convention  seat  was  changed  to 
Chicago.  At  the  last  moment  President  Burger  announced  his 
intention  of  standing  for  re-election,  inasmuch  as  the  attitude 
of  the  Pacific  Coast  was  interpreted  by  him  as  a  direct  assault 
on  the  administration.  Up  to  the  hour  of  tlie  convention  the 
result  was  doubtful. 

Volume  XVII  of  the  National  Aynateur  consisted  of  54  pages 
and  a  full  page  plate  containing  the  pictures  of  the  entire 
official  board.  The  first  two  issues  were  edited  by  Franklin 
C.  Johnson.  The  September  issue  w^s  20  pages — 16  pages  of 
^ma^et^r  proper  and  a  4-page  "official  mail  list."  In  this  issue 
is  found  the  Boston  minutes,  official  reports,  new  constitution 
and  much  news  of  papers  and  persons.  The  December  issue 
— 16  pages — contained    several    literary    articles,    the    laureate 


HISrORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PREfcg   AgSOCIATION.  281 

recorder's  report,  reports  of  new  press  clubs,  oflScial  documents 
and  editorial.  Franklin  C.  Johnson,  the  editor  of  these  two 
issues,  died  at  Nice,  France,  on  January  6,  1895,  of  meningitis. 
His  death  was  sudden  and  unexpected.  Albert  W.  Fen  lis  was 
appointed  as  his  successor.  His  March  Amateur  was  10  pages 
and  contained  several  laureate  entries,  editorial  matter,  official 
documents,  etc.  The  June  issue  was  of  8  pages.  There  were 
two  pages  of  literary  matter,  the  balance  reports  of  officers, 
communications  and  editorial. 

Prominent  papers  of  the  year  were  Progress,  the  Investigator, 
Itilc Drops,  Some  Remarks,  Monthly  Visitor,  Criteria,  Cycle,  Dav:n, 
Dilettante,  Fr air ie  Breezes,  etc. 

The  work  of  recruiting  was  given  great    prominence  this  year. 

In  Ocean  Waves,  Harrie  C.  Morris  thus  describes  the  Chicago, 
1895,   convention: 

Over  forty  amateurs  assembled  at  the  Wellington  hotel.  Chi- 
cago, on  the  morning  of  July  16th,  1895",  to  attend  the  twentieth 
annuiil  convention  of  the  National  Amateur  Press  Association. 
At  that  convention,  the  majority  of  whose  attendants  were  active 
amateurs,  were  discussed  the  methods  of  perpetuating  and 
increasing  the  benefits  of  our  institution  ;  at  that  convention  was 
elected  tlie  most  active  and  satisfactory  board  or  officers  ever 
in  control  of  the  National.  While  it  is  true  that  the  work  of 
some  of  the  members  at  times  was  nnfair,  they  w^re  forced  to 
refute  their  action  later  on,  and  with  the  majority,  a  spirit  of 
fairness  prevailed. 

Shortly  after  the  hour  appointed  President  Burger  called 
the  meeting  to  order,  and  appointed  Walter  C.  Chiles  and  Hope 
R.  Cody  to  be  temporary  vice-presidents.  Calling  Chiles  to  the 
chair.  Burger  took  a  seat  among  the  members.  A  point  was  here 
raised,  MrT  D.  L.  Hollub  claiming  that  Mr.  Burger  could  not 
vacate  the  chair  unless  he  desired  to  speak  on  some  certain 
question.  With  Mr.  Chiles  in  the  chair  recognition  could  not  be 
gained  for  some  time,  but  at  last  Mr.  Hollub  was  recognized  ami 
demanded  that  Mr,  Burger  occupy  the  president's  proper  posi- 
tion. Mr.  Chiles  having  declared  him  out  of  order,  he  appealed 
from  his  decision,  but  his  appeal  was  laid  on  the  table.  Will 
Hancock  was  selected  recording  secretary  and  John  L.  Tomlinson 
secretary  of  credentials.  Up  to  this  time  eight  or  ten  old-timers 
had  been  running  the  convention,  but  the  credential  secretary 
now  proceeded  to  make  his  report,  beginning  with  Illinois.  When 
asked  why  he  commenced  at  such  State,  he  said  he  did  so  in 
deference  to  those  who  were  entertaining  the    convention,     but 


282 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 


proceedino^  with  Indiana,  he  was  again  interrupted  and  requested 
to  proceed  alphabetically.  Omitting  Alabama  and  Arizona,  he 
commenced  at  California  and  the  first  six  names  were  accepted. 
The  name  of  Herbert  Hauser  being  reached,  Charles  K.  Burger 
requested  that  the  application  be  rejected.  Backed  by  nine 
others,  he  succeeded,  and  Mr.  Hauser  was  not  accepted.  The 
name  of  William  F.  Yates  was  also  rejected.  Burger  now 
demanded  that  the  names  of  all  the  other  California  applicants 
be  voted  on  in  a  bunch,  and  when  the  ballot  was  taken  they  had 
the  necessary  ten  votes  to  cast  out  the  names,  and  every  Cali- 
fornia application  was  rejected. 

Proceeding  with  Alabama  all  names  were  accepted.  Next 
came  the  name  of  Herbert  K.  Patrick  of  Arizona,  and  when  a 
ballot  was  demanded  on  his  name  by  ten  members  as  provided  for 
in  the  constitution,  the  demand  was  not  listened  to  on  the  floor 
of  the  convention.  Repeated  demands  to  ballot  separately  on 
certain  pames  were  all  denied.  After  the  secretary  of  credentials 
had  finished  reporting,  no  other  names  having  been  thrown  out, 
it  was  decided  to  adjourn  until  7  p.  m.  Coming  to  order  at  the 
appointed  time,  Burger  in  the  chair,  the  amateurs  listened  to 
reports  from  the  various  officers,  read  by  George  L.  Colburn. 
A  fifteen  minute  recess  being  declared,  the  representatives  of 
Charles  R.  Burger,  acknowledged  their  defeat  by  offering  to 
compromise  on  Hancock.  Positive  of  success,  the  supporters 
of  Hollub  at  first  positively  refused  to  be  a  party  to  the  outrage- 
ous proceedings  of  the  morning  by  compromising,  but  feeling  it 
would  be  death  to  tbe  N.  A.  P.  A.  in  California  and  the  West, 
they  rallied  to  the  standard  of  the  Association,  and  the  name  of 
Will  Hancock  of  Fargo  was  put  through  for  president.  Albert 
W.  Dennis  was  chosen  official  editor.  After  having  agreed  that 
the  only  legal  way  to  admit  the  rejected  applicanls  was  to 
obliterate  all  mention  of  the  black  balling,  the  applicants  were 
accepted.     Adjournment  followed. 

President  Burger  called  the  meeting  to  order  at  10  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  and  Harrie  C.  Morris  acting  as  chairman  of  the 
proxy  committee,  rendered  the  report,  after  which  nominations 
for  first  vice-president  were  declared  in  order.  Colburn  nomi- 
nated Morris,  who  declined  in  favor  of  Alfred  J.  Robinson,  of 
Chicago,  Morris  being  elected  second  vice-president  on  the 
proxies, .resigned,  and  Miss  Zelda  Wesley  Thurman,  of  Chicago, 
was  unanimously  elected.  Mr.  Colburn  was  then  nominated  for 
treasurer  by  Mr.  Barnard  and  was  unanimously  elected.  For 
recording  secretary  Albert  Barnard,  of  Chicago,  was  elected  on 
the  proxies.  For  the  corresponding  secretaryship,  there  was  a 
vary  close  proxy  vote.  Colburn  having  a  lead  over  Bering ;  the 
Seattleite's  support  in  the  convention  was  unanimous  however,  and 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  283 

would  have  elected  him  with  ease,  but  au}'  need  of  a  contest  was 
avoided,  Colbura  bavinor  already  been  chosen  to  an  office. 
Therefore  Edward  A.  Hering,  of  Seattle,  was  unanimously 
elected  correspending  secretary.  A  strong  effort  was  made  to 
elect  Mr.  HoUub  to  an  executive  judgeship,  but  a  ballot  being 
taken,  it  was  found  that  the  proxies  had  selected  Charles  R.  Bur- 
ger, of  Jersey  City,  John  L.  Tomliusou,  of  Spokane,  and  Stella 
Truman,  of  Opelousas,  La. 

Considerable  interest  was  shown  in  the  selection  of  the  next 
convention  city.  Washington  was  nominated,  after  which,  Mr. 
Daniel  made  an  impassioned  speech  for  New  Orleans,  which  city 
he  nominated,  seconded  by  Morris.  President  Burger  declared 
New  Orleans  ineligible,  and  his  decision  was  appealed  from  by 
Daniel,  seconded  by  Morris ;  the  appeal  was  lost.  Washington 
was  unanimously  elected.  The  treasurer's  bond  was  then  filed 
and  the  convention  adjourned  until  12  ;30. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  in  the  afternoon,  and  Presi- 
dent Will  Hancock  announced  his  appointments  as  follows: 
Secretary  of  credentials,  Nathan  Hill  Ferguson,  Level  Plains,  N. 
C.  ;  national  laureate  recorder,  Mrs.  Mabel  C.  Lucas,  Spokane, 
Wash.  ;  chairman  of  recruit  committee,  H.  C.  Morris,  San  Fran- 
cisco, together  with  the  other  members  of  the  committee.  Col- 
burn  introduced  a  resolution  to  make  the  Mississippi  river  the 
dividing  line  between  the  east  and  the  west  in  order  to  settle  all 
further  disputes  in  relation  to  the  selection  of  future  convention 
seats ;  it  w^as  seconded  and  unanimously  carried,  A  resolution 
was  introduced  by  Frost  to  change  the  National  Amateur  into  a 
four  page  monthly.  This  matter  was  referred  to  a  committee  of 
Spencer,  Robinson  and  Morris.  Further  business  of  a  minor 
nature  was  disposed  of  and  meeting  adjourned  until  10  a.  m. 

The  afternoon  was  spent  at  the  photographer's  until  4  o'clock, 
after  which  all  proceeded  to  the  hotel,  where  a  public  reception 
was  held.  Instrumental  and  vocal  music  and  recitations  were  in 
order.  The  Morgans,  Miss  Thurman,  Mr.  Loel  and  others 
kindly  contributed  their  talents  to  the  afternoon's  entertainment. 

In  the  evening  the  banquet  was  held,  and  all  who^attended  pro- 
nounced it  a  grand  success.  The  toasts  were  well  rendered  and 
an  enjoyable  evening  was  spent. 

President  Hancock  called  the  meeting  to  order  promptly  on 
Thursday  morning  and  all  unfinished  and  miscellaneous  business 
was  disposed  of.  Fifteen  dollars  was  voted  to  pay  for  engross- 
ing resolutions  on  the  death  of  Franklin  C.  Johnson,  the  engrossed 
copy  to  be  presented  to  the  parents  of  the  deceased. 

The  recruit  committee^:eceived  an  appropriation  of  twenty-five 
per  cent  of  the  annual  receipts  for  use  in  extending  the  work. 
The  board  of  officers  were  constituted  a  committee   to   assist  in 


284 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


raaking  the  exhibit  of  the  G.  S.  A.  F.  A.  at  the  Mechanics'  Fair 
in  this  city  a  success.  Afler  several  other  items  were  disposed 
of,  the  retiring  treasurer  rendered  a  report,  showing  a  balance 
on  hand  of  $1.25  as  against  a  deficit  of  $85  at  same  time  last 
year. 

The  minutes  were  then  read  and  adopted  and  the  conventioa 
adjourned  sine  die. 


CHflFTERiO. 

BACK  AT  THE  NATIONS  CAPITAL. 

Changes  rs  OrrciAi.  Board. — Pkssident  Hasc*>ck"$  V»iws  a>t» 
His  Work. — New  Members. — ^Thk  Washixgtox  Coxtex- 
Tiox.  AS  Sees-bt  Lisdex  Det. — ^The  New  CoxsTrrcxrox. 

TH£  ttJiD  of  President  Will  Haincock  was  one  of  an  active 
presitlert.  bat  partiallj  assisted  bj  his   official  boai^. 
The  work  of  nHrruiting  was  TigoroasSj  t?ained  en,  and 
the  membeiship  of  the  National  grew  apace. 

The  resignation  of  A«  W.  Dennis  as  official  editor  was  accepted, 
immediately  after  the  Chicago  convention,  and  Mis.  £dith  Mini- 
ter  was  appointed  in  his  place.  Nathan  H.  Ferguson  was 
appointed  secretary  of  credentials,  Mrs.  Maibel  C.  Lucas  national 
laureate  recorder,  and  Mrs.  EUa  M.  Fiye,  librarian.  The  recruit 
work  was  put  in  charge  of  Hanie  C.  Motris,  with  assistants  ia 
«very  secticm  and  State. 

In  a  message  to  the  A^ociation  President  Hancock  thus 
encouragingly  noted  the  progress  of  the  work: 

There  has  been  no  especial  boom,  but  a  great  deal  of  quiet  but 
effective  work  has  been  done  by  the  entire  official  board.  A 
special  effort  has  been  made  to  bring  the  memboship  Ibt  up  to 
50Q  by  January  1.     The  effort  will,  I  am  sure,  be  successful. 

Late  in  the  term  Mr.  F.  Stacy  Whitney  was  appoinlted  first 
Tice-president,  Mr.  Joseph  0*6orman  second  Tice>president^  and 
Mr.  Gus  A.  Schuldt  treasurer,  to  fill  vacancies  caused  by 
resignation. 

The  jr«f»oiHil  Amatemr^  volume  XVIII,  consisted  of  four  num- 
bers of  8  pages  each.  The  contents  of  the  various  issues  were 
uniform,  consisting  of  required  official  documents,  a  small  quan- 
tity of  contributed  matter,  and  notes  and  comments  on  amateur 
topics  by  the  editor.  Mrs.  Miniter^s  writings  are  always  appre- 
<ciated,  and  the  volume  shows  much  of  her  individuality. 

During  the  term  Secretary  of  Credentials  Ferguson  reported 
a«3cepte<tl  applications  for  membership  from  Frank  W.  Lovering, 
Will  C.  Price,  George  A.  Alderman^  Edward  Hicksoa,  George 


286      HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

W.  Buchanan,  G.  Edward  Harrison,  Eugene  Smith,  Edward  S 
Peterson,  Xavier  S.  Honer,  Butte  H.  Tipton,  Edgar  Levy, 
Edniond  C.  Stone,  Clarence  W.  Chase,  Sue  F.  Nail,  John  H. 
Campbell,  Jr.,  Melvin  R.  King,  Charles  Beamish,  F.  A.  Adams, 
Robert  M.  Meisel,  D.  G.  Knerr,  Philip  A.  Barry,  D.  A.  Bow- 
man, Elmer  B.  Boj^d,  Eliza  Hancock,  Samuel  W.  Ball  and  Roy 
L.  Porte. 

Efforts  were  made  to  change  the  convention  from  Washington, 
but  they  were  unsuccessful.  The  internal  trouble  of  the  Burger 
administration  was  not  yet  over,  although  all  recoganized  Presi- 
dent Hancock  as  a  faithful  officer. 

The  Villa  de  Laura  Times  issued  a  handsome  convention  num- 
ber following  the  Washington  meeting.  From  Linden  D.  Dey's 
convention  account  we  quote  the  proceedings  : 

The  twentj^-flrst  annual  convention  was  held  in  Hotel  Page, 
Washington  city,  July  7,  1896.  A  telegram  from  President  Han- 
cock announced  to  the  amateurs  that  he  had  missed  connection. 
It  was  fully  11  o'clock  when  Gus.  A.  Schuldt,  treasurer,  called 
the  meeting  to  order,  and  requested  J.  Edson  Briggs,  president 
of  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  in  1^79  to  take  the  chair.  Mr.  Briggs  took  the 
gavel  and  appointed  Eleanor  C.  Dowden,  recording  secretary, 
and  Linden  D.  Dey,  secretary  of  credentials,  and  asked  the  latter 
for  his  report  which  was  read  and  on  his  motion  accepted. 
The  president  then  appointed  a  proxy  committee  consisting  of  J. 
Edson  Briggs,  Liaden  D.  Dey,  Gus  A.  Schuldt,  Milton  Tibbetts, 
W.  R.  Moscow,  Elizabeth  Tyler  and  Creed  M.  Fulton.  A  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Emerj^  Wilber  and  Moscow  was  appointed 
to  prepare  resolutions  upon  the  death  of  Ex-President  Will  S. 
Moore  and  other  members  deceased  during  the  year.  On  motion 
of  Smith  the  president  appointed  a  committee  on  the  revision  of 
the  constitution,  consisting  of  Smith,  Emerj^,  Moscow,  Ada  S. 
Love,  and  Sarah  W.  Howe.  The  rest  ®f  the  afternoon  was 
occupied  in  committee  work  and  sight  seeing,  so  that  the  different 
amateurs  become  pretty  well  separated.  During  the  afternoon 
and  early  evening,  several  more  amateurs  arrived. 

In  the  evening,  after  a  lengthy  and  very  pleasant  social 
period,  the  caucus  was  called  to  order,  and  "Tommy"  chosen 
chairman.  It  was  more  of  an  informal  gathering  to  see  how  tke 
sentiment  ran  than  a  regular  political  caucus,  and  no  one  was 
considered  bound  to  support  its  nominees,  but  it  was,  in  reality, 
a  forecast  of  the  morrow.  Confusion  reigned  supreme, 
despite  the  clear  and  forcible  tones  of  -'Tommy,"  demanding 
order,   and  offices  were  passed  and  repassed  over    and  over,  and 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        287 

taken  up  again  and  again  with  the  rapidity  to  dazzle  the  brain 
of  even  an  expert  parliamentary  lawyers.  Morton  was  unani- 
mously proposed  for  president.  Hering,  Burger  and  Hollub 
were  named  for  first  vice-president  and  Hering  proposed.  F©r 
second  vice-president,  Miss  Truman  and  Dey  were  named,  and 
the  former  endorsed,  the  latter  declining  to  stand.  Here  Smith, 
as  chairman  of  the  constitutional  revision  committee,  caused  no 
little  amusement  by  nominating  candidates  for  offices  never 
before  heard  of  in  tha  Association,  which  can  be  explained  by 
the  fact  that  the  new  constitution  proposed  changes  in  the 
names  of  several  of  the  offices,  and  with  which  he  as  chairman 
of  the  above  named  committee,  whicii  had  finished  its  work  in 
the  afternoon,  was  familiar.  He  was  constantly  reminded  by 
Morton  that  the  offices  had  not  yet  been  created.  Miss  Howe 
was  unaniftiously  endorsed  for  recording  and  foreign  secretary, 
as  was  Smith  for  general  secretai*}'.  For  treasurer  a  whole 
string  of  names  was  presented  with  Kissinger  as  the  nominee. 
For  official  editor  there  were  were  no  nominations,  as  Smith 
said  the  office  would  be  abolished  b\'  the  r.ew  constitution. 
For  the  board  of  directors,  formerly  executive  ju«lges,  several 
were  named  with  Burger,  Hancock  and  Hollub  in  the  lead.  For 
next  convention  seat,  Fargo  and  San  Francisco  were  named,  and 
the  latter  easily  endorsed. 

It  wa-;  quite  late  when  Ex-President  Briggs  called  the  sec  ii  1 
session  to  order  Wednesday  morning.  In  a  few  well-chosen 
words  he  yielded  the  chair  to  President  Hancock,  who  had  arrived 
in  the  night,  and  the  regular  ordr  of  business  was  calied. 
The  committee  on  resolutions  up*on  the  death  of  members 
rendered  its  report  and  the  same  was  accepted.  Several  names 
were  presented  for  membership.  The  proxy  committee  presented 
its  report  showing  forty  votes  cast.  This  was  evidently  a  point 
for  discussion  and  opposition.  Mr.  Emery  asked  if  the  dues  of 
every  member  who  had  cast  a  prox}'  hnd  been  j)aid.  Mr.  Schuldt 
said  he  did  no  know.  Mr.  Emery  asked  him  if  he  could  furnish 
a  list  of  all  who  had  paid  to  him,  and  he  said  he  could.  Mr. 
Fulton  said  it  would  be  impossible  to  find  out  who  had  or  had 
not,  paid  Owing  to  the  disorganized  state  of  the  treasury  record^, 
and  the  only  way  to  protect  the  innocent,  was  to  count  the 
proxies.  After  some  more  discussion  the  report  was  accepted  as 
read. 

The  committee  on  revision  of  the  constituion  presented  its 
report,  and  the  convention  resolved  itself  into  a  committee  of 
the  whole,  Mr.  Morton,  chairman.  Mr.  Smith  read  the  new 
constitution,  which  was  adopted  by  the  committee  and  so  pre- 
sented to  the  ccmvention.  The  report  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of 
twenty-two  to  eight.      After  this  came  a  recess  of  twenty  minutes. 


238  HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

liiiHiediately  upon  reasseHiblino;,  tlie  election  of  officers  was 
taken  up.  NoTuiiiations  for  president  being  culle<l,  Kissinger 
placed  in  nomination  James  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  seconded  by  Dey 
and  Emery.  Smith  withdrew  his  proxy  and  on  his  motion  the 
secretary  cast  the  entire  cimvention  and  proxy  vote  for  Morton. 
Upon  the  fourth  ballot  Hering  was  elected  first  vice-president. 
For  secon-l  vice-president  the  ballot  resulted  in  favor  of  Freeman. 
For  recording  an:]  foreign  secretary  Miss  Sarah  IloWvi  was  iinani- 
moufily  chosen.  For  treasurer  Kissinoer  was  elected  without  any 
opposition.  For  board  of  directors  the  proxies  were  cast  out  as 
the  (iuties  of  executive  ju  icres.  for  which  they  had  been  cist,  were 
different,  aiid  tiie  names  presenteti,  Hancock,  HoUub  and 
Burger,  were  elected  l)y  acclamation.  For  historian,  Miss  Irene 
l^isonnette  was  elected.  For  the  next  convention  seat  Fargo  and 
San  Francisco  were  named.      On  the  third  ballot   the  vote  stood: 

Proxj^  Convention  'I'otal 

San  Francisco , ....  IS  12  30 

Fai-o-o 16  12  28 

A  motion  to  adjourn  until  10  o'clock  Thursday  was  carried. 

A  publii;  reception  to  the  retiring  and  incoming  presidents  was 
lieid  Wednesday  afternoon,  from  3  to  6  o'clock  in  the  parlors  of 
liotel  P.'ioe, 

Just  before  the  banquet,  when  everyone  appeared  at  their  best, 
our  regular  convention  photo  was  taken  by  flasldight.  It  was  a 
general  regret  that  we  could  not  have  an  outdoor  one,  but  Wash- 
ington was  not  kind  enough  to  give  us  sunnv  days  while  the  con- 
vention lasted. 

Like  all  the  previous  meetings,  the  banquet  was  the  event  of 
the  conventi(m.  Tiie  banquet  hall  was  an  ideal  one,  large,  airy, 
well-lighter]  and  ventilated  and  conducive  to  the  best  effects  of 
the  speech-making.  The  table  was  very  prettily  arranged  in 
the  sh.ape  of  a  '"T,"  the  toast  master,  incoming  and  retiring  pres- 
idents and  ex-presidenis  sitting  at  tlie  head,  and  the  rest 
arranged  on  both  sides.  About  thirt3'-six  covers  were  laid. 
The  ta])le  was  beautifully  decorated  with  roses  and  other  flowers, 
and  it  was  a  tempting  sight  just  i)efore  we  were  seated.  The 
menu  (;ards  were  very  tastefully  rotten  up.  On  the  first  page  was 
the  customary  banquet  <lescription.  On  the  next  page  appeared 
the  menu  with  appropriate  amateur  names  for  the  dishes,  as: 
'^'i'humb  Nail  Clams,"  '-New  McCarthy  Potatoes,"  "Ice  Cream 
Washinorton  Style,"  and  prefixed  by  the  title  "Our  Compliments" 
and  the  assertion,  "The  band  for  the  occasion  is  kindly  furnished 
by  Lord  Knowswho." 

The  succeeding  page  was  devoted  to  the  list  of  toasts,  headed 
"Some  Remarks,"  and  with   the   warning,    "Any   speaker  men- 


HISTORY  OF  TH:'.  NATIONAL  A:\IATEUU   PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        289 

tioning  Lester  Kirk  will  be  dealt  with  according  to  the  coastita- 
tion." 

The  fourth  page  was  devoted  to  signatures,  with   the  headinor, 
'•Ink  Drops,"  and  the  indication  "A good  thing — push  it  along," 

and  "Return  to ."     The  last  leaf  contained  the  names  of  the 

reception  committee  and  the  first  verse  of  old  -'Auld  LangSyue." 
After  the  delicious  repast,  the  toastmaster,  Brainerd  P,  Emery, 
performed  his  office  most  successfully  and  acceptably-,  and  intro- 
duced the  toasts  and  their  speakers  as  follows: 

The  N.  A.   P.  A Will  Hancock 

Our  Foreign  Bretheru J.  H.  Stover 

Literature  and  Litterateurs Brainerd  P.  Emery 

Our  Press  Clubs Linden  D.  Dey 

Politics   and  Politicians Charles  R.  Burger 

Remarks   Miss  Irene  Bissonette 

The  Ladies Creed  M.  Fulton 

Our  Fossils Clifford  VV.  Kissinger 

The  Next  Convention John  L.  Tomlinson 

Amateur  Journalism  in  1996 James  F.  Morton,  Jr 

The  Professional  Press 

Dr.  Franklin  T.  Howe,  of   Washington  Star 

The  C.  C.  C.  of  A.  J : E.  H.  Smith 

Immediately  after  the  banquet,  the  tables  and  chairs  were 
cleared  away  and  what  had  just  been  a  banquet  hall  was  now 
transformed  into  a  dancing  room  where  an  informal  and  delight- 
ful soiree  was  had. 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  in  third  session  by  Presi- 
dent Hancock,  at  about  10:30  o'clock,  Thursday  morning.  The 
chair  appointed  Misses  Love  and  Howe  as  a  committee  to  escort 
President-Elect  Morton  to  the  chair.  Upon  taking  the  office,  the 
new  president  made  a  very  enthusiastic  address,  thanking  the 
Association  for  the  honor  conferred,  and  urging  everyone  to  lay 
aside  personal  feeling  and  aid  the  Association,  by  helping  its 
president  in  his  new  duties.  The  treasurer  rendered  his  final 
report,  and  the  president  named  a  committee  consisting  of  Tom- 
linson, Wilbur  and  Miss  Keim  to  audit  his  accounts.  While 
waiting  for  the  report  of  the  auditing  committee,  Ex-President 
Briggs  distributed  files  of  his  paper.  The  Imp,  published  by  him 
during  his  early  connection  with  A.  J.,  during  the  '70's  and 
copies  of  his  work  containing  the  laureate  entries  during  the  year 
1879,  while  he  was  president.  The  auditing  committee  reported 
the  treasurer's  books  all  right.  It  was  moved  and  carried  that 
the  minutes  of  the  convention  be  approved  as  they  stand,  without 
being  read.  On  motion  the  twenty-first  annual  convention  was 
declared  by  the  president  to  be  adjourned  sine  die. 

It  was  a  merry  little  party  that    took    the   trolley  cars  Thurs- 


290        iiiBTorwY  OF  THE  national  amateur  press  association. 

day  afternoon  for  Mount  Vernon.  The  manj'  iiiteresting  sights 
to-be  seen  in  and  around  this  historical  spot  are  certainly  worth 
a  trip  to  Washington  to  see,  and  it  was  a  great  treat  to  all  of  us 
to  examine  the  old  mansion  of  thi-;  father  of  our  country,  and 
the  beautiful  grounds  surrounding  it. 

The  number  in  attendance  at  the  convention  was  quite  large 
and  fairl}^  representative,  there  being  twelve  States  represented, 
from  Washington  on  the  West  and  Massachusetts  on  the  East 
and  from  North  Dakota  on  the  North  and  Florida  on  the  South. 
The  following  is  the  list:  Edwin  H.  Smith,  Sarah  W.  Howe, 
Pease  Potter,  Ada  S.  Love,  Gertrude  M.  Walsh,  Eleanor  C. 
Dowden,  Helen  I.  Walsh,  Elizabeth  Tyler,  Gus  A.  Schuldt,  John 
E.  M.  Hall,  Brainerd  P.  Emery,  Linden  D.  Dey,  Wm.  R.  Mos- 
cow, Mortimer  K.  Wilber,  Wm.  R.  Stewart,  Robert  L.  Stone, 
Albert  O.  Penny,  Katie  L.  Howe,  W.  A.  Page,  Creed  M.  Fulton, 
Milton  Tibbetts,  J.  L.  Tomlinson,  Howard  E.  Bokman,  Clifford 
W.  Kissinger,  J.  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  Jay  M.  Fallass,  F.  B.  Lord,  D. 
G.  Davis,  Wm.  \V.  Delane3%  J.  L.  Feeney,  Horace  Freeman, 
J.  H.  Stover,  Charles  Beamish,  William  Hancock,  Irene  Bis- 
sonette,  Corene  J.  Bissonette,  Emma  Keim,  John  G.  Lallice, 
Walter  C.  Gosling,  Lucille  Dawson,  Dr.  Frank  T.  Howe,  Mrs. 
Frank  1\  Howe,  Frank  T.  Howe,  Jr.,  Marie  Howe,  Millard  J. 
Holmes,  Wilber  Underwood,  Washington  Topham,  John  E. 
Briggs,  Charles  A.  Darr,  Mary  Dennebaum,  Ed  J.  H^irdcastle, 
Annie  M.  Lee  and  Mary  E.  Howe, 

The  new  constitution  adopted  at  Washington  follows  in  full; 

CONSTITUTION  AND  BY-LAWS. 

PREAMBLE. 

The  amateur  journalists  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  believing 
that  organization  will  extend  the  principles  and  iDfluence  of  a 
cause  destined  to  be  an  important  educational  factor  for  the  rising 
generation,  herby  form  into  an  association  and  adopt  constitution  and 
by-laws. 

CONSTITUTION. 
Article  I. — Name. 
This  organization  sball  be   known  as   the   National  Amateur  Press 
Association  of  America. 

Article  II. — Membership. 
Any  person  residing  in  the  United  States  or  Canada    w^ho  edits    or 
contributes    prose    or    poetry    to    an    amateur    paper    is    eligible   to 
membership. 

Article  III. — Officers. 
The  officrs  shall  be  a  president,  a  first  and  a   second  vice-president, 
a  recording  and  foreign  secretary,  a  general  secretary,  a  treasurer, 
an  historian,  three  directors,  a    librarian,  and  a  chairman  of  recruit 
committee. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NATIONAL   AM^TEL'K    PRESS    ASSOCIATK/X.  2')1 

'Article  IV.  —  E'.ectiom. 

Section  1.  The  president  and  treasurer  must  attend  the  conven- 
tion at  which  they  are  elected.  The  vice-presidents  shall  not  be 
residents  of  the  same  section. 

Sec.  2.  The  first  vice-president,  general  secretary,  treasurer,  cus- 
todian of  ballots,  and  three  members  shall  be  the  committee  to 
examine  proxies. 

Sec.  3.  Xo  proxy  shall  be  accepted  after  committee  haj-.  retired 
and  no  proxy  shall  be  examined  unless  tlie  voter  has  qualified  a?  to 
activity  and  paid  dues. 

Sec.  4.  The  committee  shall  rcDovt  number  of  proxies  received^ 
number  counted,  number  cast  out,  and  legal  number  for  each  candi- 
date for  each  office. 

Sec.  5.  The  vote  in  convention  shall  be  added  to  the  vote  by 
proxy  and  a  majority  shall  elect.  If  there  be  no  election  after  second 
ballot  the  proxies  of  lowest  candidate  shall  be  withdrawn,  but  remain- 
ing proxies  shall  be  counted.  If  there  be  no  election  after  fourth 
ballot  all  proxies  shall  be  cast  out  and  the  convention  elect. 

Sec.  6.  In  the  absence  of  original  proxies  the  duplicates  shall  be 
le^al  and  be  examined. 

Article  V. — Duties  of  Officers. 

Sec.  1.  The  president  shall  appoint  the  librarian,  recruit  commit- 
tee and  chairman,  reception  committee,  judges  of  award,  custodian 
of  ballots  (who  must  be  a  resident  of  next  convention-city),  and 
three  members  of  proxy  committee,  and  appoint  with  approval  of 
directors  the  critics  in  charge  of  departments  in  official  organ.  The 
president  shall  publish  a  monthly  paper;  remove  officers  who  neglect 
their  duties  or  become  inactive:  fill  vacancies  caused  by  death,  resig- 
nation or  removal ;  change  convention-seat  within  same  section  should 
activity  of  city  elected  not  assure  successful  meeting;  select  and  make 
known  dates  of  convention  sixty  days  previous. 

Sec,  2.  The  first  vice-president  shall  be  a  manager  of  the  manu- 
script bureau  and  chairman  of  the  proxy  committee. 

Sec.  3.  The  second  vice-president  shall  be  a  manager  of  the  manu- 
script bureau. 

Sec.  4.  The  recording  and  foreign  secretary  shall  record  the  pro- 
ceedings of  convention,  correspond  with  individuals  and  associations  in 
foreign  countries  and  arrange  international  exchange  of  reports  and 
papers. 

Sec.  5.  The  general  secretary  shall  accept  or  reject  applicants  sub- 
ject to  approval  of  next  convention;  mail  in  April  notice-call  for 
observance  of  activity  clause  and  present  the  returned  credentials  to- 
convention ;  and  mail  members  thirty  days  previous  to  convention 
invitation  and  proxy  blanks  with  two  envelopes  printed:    X.  A.  P.  A. 

(original  or  duplicate)    Proxy  from ,  the  original  addressed 

to  custodian  of  ballots  and  duplicate  to  vice-president  resident  in  the 
section  of  convention. 

Sec.  6.  The  treasurer  shall  collect  all  money  due  and  pay  bills 
countersigned  by  president;  mail  notice  to  delinquents  thirty  days 
previous  to  convention;  and  furnish  directors  a  bond  for  one  thousand 
dollars  ($1,000)  within  thirty  days  after  convention. 

Sec.  7.  The  historian  shall  present  to  the  convention  the  literary 
and  political  history  of  the  year. 


292     HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Sec.  8.  The  directors  shall  receive  and  act  on  charges  preferred 
against  members ;  enforce  president's  activity,  and  appoint  successor 
when  vacancy  occurs  therein;  receive  and  record  laureate  entries  and 
furnish  prizes  authorized. 

Sec.  9.     The  librarian  shall  receive  an^  preserve  donations  to  library. 

Sec  10.  The  custodian  of  ballots  shall  receive  original  proxies  and 
give  receipt  vi^hen  requested. 

Sec.  11.  The  chairman  of  recrjit  committee  shall  supervise  the 
work  and  furnish  papers  and  circulars  necessary  to  is  development. 

Sec  12.  All  officers,  elected  and  appointed  must  publish  or  con- 
tribute to  a  paper  every  two  months,  present  report  at  convention,  and 
deliver  to  successors  all  property  of  the  Association. 

Article    VI. — Conventions. 
The  association  shall  convene  annually  during  July,  alternately  east 
and  west  of  the  Mississippi  river. 

Article  VII — Emblem. 
The  official  emblem  shall  be  a  scroll  cossed  by  a    quill    with  letters 
N.  A.  P.  A. 

Article  VIII. — Official  Organ. 

Sec  1.  The  official  organ  shall  be  the  National  Amateur,  a  magazine 
of  at  least  eight  pages  Century  size,  published  monthly. 

Sec  2.  The  publishers  shall  be  The  National  Amateur  Publishing 
comprising  at  least  three  members.  Fifty  cents  of  each  member's 
dues  shall  be  paid  to  the  publishers  as  an  annual  subscription. 

Sec  3.  Critical  departments  shall  be  established  therein  under  the 
heads:  Poetry,  serials,  sketches  and  short  stories,  essays,  histories 
and  biographies,  editorial,  typography  and  book  publishing. 

Article  IX. — Library.' 
A  permanent  library  of  papers,  books,  photos  and  relics  shall  be 
established  at  Boston,  Mass. 

Article  X — Laureateships. 
To  arouse  interest  and  activity  and  promote  standard  of  literature 
the  titles  laureate  and  honorable  mention  shall  be  conferred  as  here- 
inafter provided. 

Article  XI — Manuscript  Bureaus. 
Two  manuscript  bureaus   shall  be  established,  one  east  and  one 
west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  to  receive  manuscript  from  writers  and 
dispense  to  editors,  the  managers  to  use  discretion  in  accepting  articles. 

Article  XII — Amendments. 
This  constitution  may  be  suspended  or  amended  by  two-thirds  vote 
of  members  present  in  convention. 

BY-LAWS. 

Article  I. — Election  of  Members. 

Sec  1.     A pplicats  shall  send  application  with  credentials  and  one 

dollar  (|1)  for   certificate,   annual  dues   and  subscription   to  official 

organ  to  the  general  secretary.      Ten  negative  votes  in  convention 

shall  be  necessary  to  reject. 

Sec  2.  Any  member  who  fails  to  publish  one  paper  or  contribute 
an  article  during  the  year  shall  be  dropped  from  membership  at 
convention. 


F1I3TOKY    OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      293 

Sec.  3.    Ex-presidents  shall  be  enrolled  as  life-members,  unless 
expelled,  but  shall  vote  only  when  qualified  as  to  activity. 
Article  II — Committees. 

Sec.  1.  The  recruit  committee  shall  consist  of  one  member  from 
every  State  and  Territory,  each  to  have  charge  of  the  particular  sec- 
tion. They  shall  interest  persons  in  Amateur  Journalism  and  induce 
them  to  join  the  Association  and  shall  organize  press  clubs. 

Sec.  2.  The  reception  committee  shall  consist  of  at  least  five  mem- 
bers, residents  of  nextconrention-city,  and  shall  provide  headquarters 
and  arrangements. 

Article  III — Laureateships. 

Sec.  1.  Laureate  entries  shall  be  seiials,  short  stories,  sketches, 
essays,  poems,  histories  of  Amateur  Journalism  including  biographi- 
cal sketches,  editorial  and  book  publishing. 

Sec.  2. — A  member  who  competes  must  have  the  article  printed  in 
an  amateur  publication  and  send  marked  copy  to  any  of  the  directors 
by  June  1.  No  paper  shall  be  considered  in  the  editorial  contest 
unless  at  least  four  numbers  have  been  issued  by  June  1. 

Sec.  3.  Five  of  the  judges  shall  be  professional  authors  uncon- 
nected with  Amateur  Journalism  and  each  shall  have  a  department, 
thus:  Serials,  short  stories,  sketches,  essays,  poems.  The  judge  of 
editorial  shall  be  a  professional  journalist.  The  judge  of  book  pub- 
lishing shall  have  a  practical  knowledge  of  printing.  The  judge  of 
histories  and  biograghies  shall  be  a  prominent  Amateur  Journalist. 

Sec.  4,  The  certificate  laureate  shall  be  awarded  annually  to  the 
member  receiving  the  highest  rating  in  each  department  and  certifi 
cate,  honorable  mention,  be  awarded  to  second  highest  rating  entry. 

Article  IV, — Order  of  Business^ 

First  day.  1,  roll  call;  2,  appointment  of  ofiicers  in  event  of  absence; 
3,  reading  of  communications;  4,  reports  of  officers  and  committees;  5, 
election  of  members;  6,  appointment  of  committees. 

Second  day.  1,  roll  call;  2,  reading  of  communications;  3,  reports 
of  committees;  4,  election  of  officers;  5,  installation  of  officers:  6,  liter- 
ary exercises  and  announcement  of  laureate  awards;  7,  miscellaneous 
business. 

Third  day.  1,  roll  call;  2,  appointment  of  officers  and  committees; 
3,  miscellaneous  business;  4,  reading  and  adoption  of  minutes  of  con- 
vention; 5,  adj  ournment  sine  die. 

Article  V — Quorum. 

Such  members  as  -are  present  at  a  regular  convention-session  shall 
constitute  a  quorum. 

Ar.icle  VI — Parliamentary  Authointy. 
Eoberts' Rules  of  Order  shall  govern  wherein  it  does  not  conflict 
with  the  constitution  and  by-laws. 

Article  VII — Amendments. 

These  by-laws  may  be  suspended  or  amended  by  two-thirds  vote  of 
members  present  in  convention. 


CHAPTER  31. 

BACK  TO  THE  GOLDEN   GATE. 
The  Storm  Following  the  Washington  Convektion.— Lxactivk 
Officials. — The    San    Francisco   Gathering. — Another 
"New"   Constitution. — An   Interesting   Election. — The 
Business  Transacted. 

THE  news  from  the  Vv'nsbingLon  convention  eanie  ii!ce  u  clap 
of  thunder  to  the  slay-at-home  amateurs.  The  new  con- 
stitution was  to  them  an  unnecessary  innovation,  and  the 
abolition  of  the  official  editor  and  placing  of  the  National  Amateur 
in  other  hands  was  bitterl}^  denounced.  The  work  of  Mr.  Edwin 
H.  Smith  was  recognized  throughout  the  changes,  and  grave 
fears  were  expressed  that  his  rule  would  be  the  ruin  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

Miss  Irene  Bissonette,  historian  of  the  Association,  in  her  re- 
port aptly  says : 

In  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution  the  curtain  did  not 
fall  on  the  last  act  Of  thedraina;  other  acts  were  played  during 
the  year. 

In  October  the  machinery  of  the  Association  seemed  to  be  in 
good  working  order.  Two  numbers  of  the  National  Amateur 
appeared  simultaneousl.y,  September  and  October,  quite  satis- 
factory in  every  respect.  The  former  contained  the  Washington 
convention  reports ;  the  latter  is  the  t3"pical  magazine  for  which 
the  constituticn  provides. 

The  president  duly  appointed  his  recruit  committee  and  chair- 
man. A  generous  bundle  of  printed  matter  was  sent  to  each 
State  manager— everything  necessary  to  inspire  a  recruit  officer 
to  do  the  work  so  nicel}^  planned  for  him. 

November  came,  but  with  it  no  National  Atnateur.  December 
found  the  amateurs  still  waiting  for.  the  official  organ,  and  rumors 
of  distrust  of  the  National  Amateur  Publishing  Company  began 
to  spread. 

In  the  January  issue  of  his  paper,  the  West,  Mr.  Schoenfeld 
opened  a  tirade  on  the  official  board  for  inactivity  and  published 
an  address  to  the  N.  A.  P.  A.  members,  in  which  he  asked  for 
their  aid  and  co-operation  in  promoting  activity,  and  in  which  he 
elected  himself  "director  of  activity  and  advancement."  In  the 
foUowinor  six  months  Mr.  Schoenfeld  continued  his  warfare  on  in- 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PEESS    ASSOCIATION.  295 

fictivit}',  and  was  instrumental  in  hiving  petitions  sent  to  Direc- 
tors Hancock.  Biirj^erand  Hollub  for  the  removal  from  office  of 
Treasurer  Kissinger  and  General  Secretary  Smith,  and  to  Presi 
dent  Morton  a  petition  for  his  resignation  on  account  of  his 
alleged  official  inactivity  and  failure  to  enforce  constitutional 
provisions. 

Since  January  considerable  discussion  on  the  condition  of  Na- 
tional affairs  iuive  appeared  in  our  papers.  In  the  discontinuance 
of  its  official  or2:an  our  Association  lost  its  balance  wheel.  Kept 
in  the  dark  on  matters  which  they  should  have  known,  the  ama- 
teurs, naturally,  lost  coiffidence  in  their  official  board.  Our  offi- 
cers gave  no  satisfaction  to  their  inquiries,  and  it  was  only 
diligent  investigation  in  other  sources  of  information  that  facts 
can  be  ascertaiiied, 

Amateur  papers  were  not  so  plentiful  during  the  year  1806-7, 
-as  compared  with  others.  The  Monthly  Visitor,  and  Monthly 
Beacon  were  the  most  regularly  issued.  The  largest  paper  of  the 
year  was  the  convention  issue  of  the  Villa  de  Laura  Times.  Among 
other  valuable  papers  were  Criteria,  Athenia.  Prairie  Breezes  and 
Amateur  Bohemian. 

Two  issues  only  of  the  National  Amateur  appeared.  They 
were  of  the  Century  size.  The  first— September — issue  was  of 
12  pages,  containing  an  account  of  the  Washington  conven- 
tion, official  minutes  and  minor  matters.  The  October  issue  was 
of  18  pages  and  cover.  It  contaiued  much  reprinted  matter, 
some  pictures  of  N.  A.  P.  A.  officers,  departments  of  various 
kinds,  official  reports  and  membership  list. 

President  Morton  appointed  Allison  C.  Brokaw  chairman  of 
the  recruit  committee.  Members  were  appointed  for  each  State. 
In  a  message  printed  in  the  Monthly  Beacon,  April  and  May, 
1897,  he  appointed  the  reception  committee  for  the  San  Francisco 
convention  :  David  L.  Hollub,  William  A.  Day,  Harrie  C.  Mor- 
ris, Herbert  Hauser,  Edward  M.  Lind,  Leon  M.  Pinkson,  John 
L.  Peltret,  Daniel  J.  McCarthy,  and  Leon  M.  Voorsanger. 
Herbert  Hauser  was  appointed  custodian  of  ballots,  the  conven- 
tion being  called  for  July  7-9. 

The  presidential  candidates  previous  to  the  convention  were 
David  L.  Hollub  and  H.  A.  Schoenfeld.  The  latter's  absence 
defeated  him  and  Harrie  C.  Merris  was  used  by  Schoenfeld's 
friends  as  a  candidate  against   Hollub.      No  amateurs   from   the 


296      HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

East  were  present  at  the  convention.  Tbe  following  account  was 
contributed  by  Herbert  M.  Shirek  to  tbe  Junior  Eeporter, 
August,  1897 : 

The  twenty-second  annual  convention  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association  is  now  but  a  piece  of  tiie  history  of  that 
institution.  However,  that  piece  of  history  will  always  be  dear 
and  wll  remembered  by  those  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  be 
present  at  the  sessions  of  the  San  Franciso  gathering. 

From  the  time  Treasurer  Morris  called  the  convention  to  order 
until  President  Hollub  declared  it  adjourned  the  meetings  were 
exciting  and  enjoyable.  The  social  features  were  well  planned 
and  we  can  truly  say  that  from  every  standpoint  the  convention 
Mas  a  success.  The  political  and  literary  element  both  had 
their  time ;  it  was  a  convention  full  of  life,  vigor  and  enjoyment 
and  well  worthy  the  trouble  and  expense  which  it  brought  about. 

On  the  morning  of  July  7,  tbe  convention  was  called  to  order 
by  Treasurer  Morris.  Mr.  \Vm.  A.  Day  was  elected  temporary 
chairman. 

At  the  first  day's  session  constitution,  proxy  and  resolution 
committees  were  appointed.  Provisions  were  made  for  the 
appointment  of  a  committee,  with  J.  Ives  Munro  as  chairman, 
for  the  purpose  of  reporting  upon  the  advisability  of  holding 
an  international  convention  in  Paris  in  1900. 

The  politician  was  now  beginning  his  work.  The  absence  of 
Mr.  Schoenfield  brought  about  a  series  of  difficulties ;  his 
supporters  wished  to  turn  down  the  clause  in  the  constitution 
requiring  the  attendance  of  the  president.  When  the  xjonstitu- 
tion  committee  reported,  this  was  attempted,  but  a  motion  to 
strike  it  out  was  lost  by  two  votes. 

Schoeufeld  was  nominated  by  McCarty,  who  at  the  same  time 
moved  that  the  clause  requiring  the  presence  of  the  president  be 
suspended.  Lind  rose  to  a  point  of  order,  contending  that  as 
the  convention  was  under  the  head  of  nominating  , nothing  else 
could  be  considered.  Of  course  Chairman  Day  declared  tbe 
point  not  well  taken  and  an  appeal  hastily  put  by  Voorsanger 
resulted  in  the  upholding  of  the  decision  of  the  chair,  But  tbe 
original  motion  was  lost  and  Schoenfield' s  fate  was  sealed. 

Mr.  Morris  was  nominated  by  Mr.  Peltret  and  Mr.  Hollub  by 
Mr.  Bow. 

The  proxy  committee  reported  and  it  was  seen  that  Hollub  was 
virtually  elected,  but  McCarty,  who  was  one  of  the  tellers,  raised 
a  point  of  order  which  the  chair  stood  by  and  the  report  declared 
illegal. 

After  some  deliberation,  during  which  time  excitement  pre- 
vailed, Hollub  was  declared  elected  with  48  votes  in  his  favor. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  297 

After  au  intermission  for  lunch  the  conveation  reassembled  and 
the  following  other  officers  were  elected:  First  vice-president, 
Freeman  ;  second  vice-president, Clarke  ;  recording  secretary', Dey  ; 
corresponding  secretary,  Miss  Kreiner;  treasurer.  Bow;  official 
editor,  Hering;  executive  judges,  Morton,  Lind  and  Whitney; 
'98  convention  seat.  New  York  City. 

The  evening  of  the  7th  was  given  up  to  a  theatre  party.  The 
attraction  was  a  well  known  Chinese  play  and  it  appealed  to 
everybody. 

Thursdaj^  afternoon  a  trip  was  taken  around  Frisco  Bay  on  a 
government  tug.  It  was  very  enjoyable  and  aside  from  Voor- 
sanger^s  little  experience  with  the  captain,  drinking  water,  etc., 
all  passed  off  well. 

Thursday  evening  a  reception  was  tendered  by  the  G.  S.  A.F.A. 
to  the  National.  Over  a  hundred  invitations  had  been  sent  out 
and  a  large  gathering  was  the  result.  After  the  entertainment 
the  trip  through  Chinatown  begun. 

Friday  evening  the  banquet  took  place.  The  beautiful  deco- 
rated table,  combined  with  those  around  it,  made  a  beautiful 
sight.     The  Amateur  Bohemian  was  the  menu  card. 

Saturday  afternoon  the  baseball  game  was  in  order,  and  the 
final  score  was  12  to  11  in  favor  of  the  home  team. 

A  fitting  wind-up  of  the  week's  festivities  was  a  party  across 
the  bay  at  Fruitvale,  Saturday  evening,  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Hauser.  The  trip  was  delightful  and  though  the  stay  was  short 
the  time  was  advantageously  spent. 

I  believe  that  the  '97  conventi  -n  compares  favorably  with  other 
National  conventions  and  will  long  be  remembered  by  attending 
amateurs. 

The  San  Francisco  convention  found  it  necessary  to  again 
revise  the  constitution.  The  document  adopted  at  Washington 
was  not  at  all  satisfactory.  The  new  constitution  was  practically 
the  one  discarded  at  Washington.  As  the  document  has  already 
been  printed  in  this  book,  we  give  below  explanations  of  it  that 
will  enable  the  searcher  for  information  to  read  the  document 
complete : 

Preamble  and  articles  I,  II  and   III   as   found   on  pages   210 

and  211  of  this  book. 

Article  IV,  section  1:  -or  design"  added  after  "poetry." 
Sections    2,    3    and    4.      See    sections    3,   4  and  5  article  IV, 

page  273, 

Sec.  5.  Any  person  who  has  by  some  act  manifeted  an  interest  in 
Amateur  Journalism  may  be  elected    an    honorar.v   member,  at  any 


298  HlfcTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR    TRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

rjgular  meeting,  a  unanimous  vote  of  those  present  being  necessary 
to  elect.  The  privilege  of  suffrage  shall  not  be  open  to  honorary 
members. 

Sec.  6.  To  foster  ond  encourage  the  organization  of  amateur  press 
clubs,  this  Association  will  allow  one  full  vote  at  all  of  its  « lections, 
to  all  organizations  of  not  less  than  ten  members;  two  full  votes  at  all 
its  elections  for  not  less  than  fifteen  members;  three  full  votes  for  not 
less  than  twenty  members,  and  thereafter  one  vote  for  every  five 
members  over  twenty-five.  It  is  understood  that  the  word  members 
as  used  in  this  constitution  and  particularly  in  this  section,  refers  to 
bona  fide  accepted  members  of  the  National,  and  amateurs  delinquent 
in  their  dues  shall  not  be  considere  I  in  the  light  of  members.  The 
subordinate  Associations  by  a  majority  vote  shall  direct  some  mem- 
ber to  cast  its  vote  or  votes  in  such  manner  and  for  such  candidates 
as  it  may  see  fit,  provided  that  no  section  of  this  constitution  and  by- 
laws is  violated  thereby. 

Article  V,  section  1,  add  "a  historian''  at  close  of   section,    to 

same  section  on  page  211.     Section  2,  4,  5    and   7     as    on   page 

211  ;  seclion  11  as  o;i  page  2  12  ;  S83ti  mi  3,  6,  8,  9,  10,  12,  13  and 

16  as  on  page  273;   sections  14  and  15  as  on  page  212  ;  sections 

17,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23,  24  and  25   as  on  page  274;    sections 

26    and    30   as    on    page  275  ;   sections  27  and   28   as  noted   on 

page  275, 

Sec.  29.  All  officers,  elected  and  appointed,  must  publish  or  con- 
tribute to  a  paper  every  two  months,  and  in  addition  to  other  duties 
prescribed  in  this  constitution,  to  present  at  the  annual  convention 
a  report  of  all  duties  performed  during  their  terem  of  office,  and  to 
deliv.er  to  their  respective  successors  all  books,  papers,  or  property  of 
any  kind  belonging  to  the  Association. 

Article  VI  and  article  VII,  section  1  as  on  page  275  ;  section  2 
identical  with  section  3  on  page  215  followed  by  "and  shall 
contain  nothing  of  a  political  nature  ;"  section  3  identical  with  sec- 
tion 5,  page  215,  ending  "amendments  adopted  thereat."  Sec- 
tion 4  identical  with  balance  of  section  5,  page  215. 

Article  VIII. — Conventions. 
Sec.  1.  Conventions  of  this  Association  shall  be  held  annually, 
during  the  month  of  July,  alternatel}'  east  and  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  the  date  to  be  named  by  the  president  and  announced  in  the 
March  number  of  the  official  organ,  the  seat  of  the  succeecdng  conven- 
tion to  be  chosen  in  the  same  manner  as  the  officers,  and  at  the  same 
time. 

Section  2  of  tliis  article  identical  with  section  3  at  top  of 
page  216. 

Article  IX,  sections  1  and  2  as  on  pages  275  and  276. 

Article  X,  section  1,  4  and  5  as  on  page  276  ;  sections  2  and'  3 
as  on  page  216;   section  6  identical  with  section  7  on  i)age  216, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION 


2S9 


all  other  sections — 7,  8,   9  and   10— identical    with    sections    on 
pages  216  and  217  having  numbers  one  higher. 

Article  XI  identical  with  article  X  on  page  217. 

Article  XII  and  XIII  on  page  276. 

Article  XIV,  section  1  identical  with  article  XIII,  section  1, 
on  page  217;  section  2  as  on  page  276,  except  date  changed 
from  Jane  15  to  June  1  ;  section  3  identical  with  section  3  at  bot- 
tom of  page  217  by  adding  '-and  design"  to  end  of  section. 

IsEO.  4.  There  sha'l  be  five  judges  ot  award,  each  of  whom  shall 
have  a  distince  department,  thus:  the  first  shall  have  charge  of 
stories,  sketches  and  serials;  the  Becond  shall  have  charge  of  poems, 
the  third  shall  have  charge  of  essavs,  the  fourth  shall  have  charge  of 
histories  of  Amateur  Journalism,  the  fifth  shall  nave  charge  of  design. 

Sec.  5.  Three  of  these  judges  of  award  shall  be  literally  men  or 
women  of  known  ability,  not  activly  connected  with  Amateur  Journal- 
ism;  the  fourth  shall  be  an  active  member  of  the  Association;  the 
fifth  shall  be  an  artist  of  repute. 

Sections  6,  7,  8  and  9  identical  with  same  sections  on  page  218. 

Article  XV,  section  1  same  as  on  page  276,  except  date 
changed  from  Juue  15  to  June  1.  Sections  2,  3,  4  and  5  same 
as  same  sections,  article  XIV,  page  218. 

Article  XVI — Amendments. 

Sec.  1.  Xo  part  of  this  constitution  shall  be  amended  except  by 
two- thirds  of  the  total  vote  cast  at  a  convention,  provided  that  no 
proposition  for  amendment  shall  be  acted  upon  unless  the  same  has 
been  published  in  the  official  organ  not  later  than  the  March  number 
and  printed  on  all  proxy  ballots.  It  may  be  suspended  by  a  two- 
thirds  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a  regular  convention. 

Sec  2.  Proxv  votes  for  the  amendment  of  any  part  of  this  consti- 
tution shall  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  recording  secretary,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  have  them  counted  when  such  amendment  shall  be 
voted  upon  in  convention. 

Article  A  of  by-laws  amended  as  follows  (compared  with  same 
on  page  219):  No.  3  made  to  read  "appointment  of  commit- 
tees. No.  7  (first  day)  eliminated.  Roll  call  made  1  on  second 
and  third  day.  On  second  day  banquet  omitted  and  following 
added,  '-7,  miscellaneous  and  new  business." 

Article  B,  1  as  on  page  219. 

2.  A  motion  to  reconsider  shall  be  in  order  only  upon  questions 
acted  upon  at  the  convention  at  which  the  original  vote  has  been 
taken. 

3.  These  by-law^s  shall  not  be  amended  or  suspended  except  by  a 
two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a  convention. 


CH/IFTER  32. 

GATHERING  IN  GOTHAM  AGAIN. 

Necessary  Changes  in  Official  Board. — Chicago  Amateur 
Press  Club's  Handsome  Act. ^Steinberg's  Account  of 
the  New  York  Convention. 

THE  election  of  officers  at  San  Francisco  was  not  as  sLiccess- 
.  fully  carried  on  as  had  been  hoped.  After  the  conven- 
tion had  adjourned  it  was  discovered  that  Ross  Clark, 
second  vice-president,  and  Stella  T.  Wayne,  historian,  were  not 
members,  and,  of  course,  their  places  were  filled  by  others. 
President  Hollub  appointed  Hubert  Hauser,  second  vice-presi- 
dent and  F.  W.  Fahnestock,  historian.  The  Association  was 
entirely  without  funds,  and  heavily  in  debt.  Mr.  E.  H.  Smith, 
late  general  secretary,  had  presented  a  statement  at  the  con- 
vention showing  that  he  had  expended  all  the  money  he  could  get 
and  still  the  Association  owed  him.  As  bills  for  two  years  back 
were  still  unpaid,  President  Hollub  had  no  ordinary  term  before 
him. 

Mr.  Hering,  official  editor,  did  not  care  to  stand  the  expense 
of  publishing  the  official  organ  himself  and  so  handed  in  his  resig- 
nation. President  Hollub  appointed  Walter  C.  Chiles  editor. 
The  Chicago  Amateur  Press  Club  volunteered  to  pay  the  printer's 
bill  on  four  eight  page  issues,  which  was  accepted  and  the  con- 
tract was  carried  out. 

We  quote  from  Historian  Fahuestock's  report: 

The  chairman  of  the  recruit  committee  did  very  efficient  work 
during  the  year  in  securing  new  members.  According  to  the 
records  the  National  has  in  good  standing  187  members,  exclud- 
ing ex-presidents.  In  September,  1896,  we  had  103  members, 
and  in  September,  1897,  we  had  over  173 — probably  about  200, 
as  about  40  additional  members  claimed  they  were  in  good 
standing. 

President  Hollub  started  his  term  of  office  with  a  very  lauda- 
ble ambition,  namely,  to  clear  the  Association  of  debt,  and  his 
efforts  have  borne  good  fruit,  as  our  present  debt  is  small.  The 
National  should  feel  proud  of  the  official  board  elected  at  the  San 
Francisco  convention,  as  it  has  certainly  pushed  the  Association 


HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.      301 

forward  and  shown  a  marked  contrast  to  the  bickerings  of  last 
year. 

Among  the  prominent  papers  of  the  year  were  Dilettante^  by 
President  Hollub  and  Mr.  Steinberg;  Ocean  Waves,  a  typographi- 
cal gem  ;  Bising  Age.  unique  as  to  typography  and  interesting 
as  to  contents  ;  Inli  Drops  and  Frairie  Breezes. 

The  iVa/iow«7^m«feMr,  volume  XX,  contained  four  issues  of 
8  pages  each.  The  September  number  contained  the  official 
minutes,  new  constitution  and  other  documents.  The  December 
issue  contained  the  historian's  report,  a  page  of  tributes  to  Ex- 
President  Finlay  A.  Grant,  official  documents  and  editorial. 
The  March  issue  contained  the  foreign  secretary's  report,  laureate 
reports  and  other  official  matter.  The  June  issue  contained  the 
winning  the  laureateship,  official  matter  and  an  article  on  "Ama 
teur  Journalism  in  Brooklyn,"  b}^  Chas.  N.  Andrew>!.  This 
volume  was  carefully  edited  and  ranks  high,  Mr,  Chiles  gave 
the  credit  for  the  issuance  of  the  volume  to  Messrs.  Jnj-  M. 
Fallass,  Warren  R.  H.  Sawj-er,  Linden  D.  Dey,  Hervey  H.  Dorr, 
Alfred  J.  Robinson,  Henry  C.  Johannes,  Allison  C.  Brokaw, 
Francis  P.  Goss  and  Samuel  J.  Steinberg. 

In  the  March  Amateur  amendments  were  offered  to  the  con- 
stitution, so  that  they  could  be  voted  on  b}^  proxy.  They  were 
as  follows: 

Article  V.  Section  2.  The  treasurer  must  be  present  at  the 
convention  at  which  he  is  elected  to  office. 

Art.  XVI.    Sec  1.    No  part  of  this  constitution  shall  be  amended 
except  by  two-thirds  of  the  total  vote  cast  at  a  convention.    It  may 
be  suspended  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  members  present  at  a  regu 
lar  convention. 

The  campaign  was  comparatively  a  spiritless  one.  For  presi- 
dent Mr.  Horace  Freeman  had  been  named,  but  had  refused  to 
accept  the  nomination.     He  was  unable  to  attend  the  convention. 

President  Hollub  appointed  John  H,  Stover  chairman  of  the 
reception  committee,  with  Horace  Freeman,  Charles  N.  Andrews, 
A.  H.  Delano,  Frank  E.  Williams  and  Edith  V.  Kreiner,  Chas. 
N.  Andrews  was  appointed  custodian  of  ballots  and  the  conven- 
tion was  called  for  July  5-7. 

The  following  account  of  the  New  York  convention  of  1898  is 
taken  from  Mr.  S.  J.  Steinberg's  chronicle  in  October  Dilettante-. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th,  it  was  discovered    that   not  one  of 


302      HISTORY    OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

the  official  board  was  present,  and  John  Stover,  as  president  of 
the  local  club  called  tho  convention  to  order.  According  to 
previous  arrangement  I  nominated  Peltret  for  permanent  chair- 
man and  the  motion  was  duly  carried.  Miss  Kriener  not  being 
present  Mrs.  Rowe  acted  as  recording  secretary  until  she  came. 
Mis-!  Howe  was  appointed  vice-i)resident  and  I  was  given  tempo- 
rary treasurership. 

After  a  recess,  as  secretary  of  credentials,  I  reported  the 
acceptance  of  fifty-four  names  and  the  rejection  of  three  names 
for  lack  of  credentials. 

Reports  were  received  from  Vice-Presidents  Freeman  and  Hau- 
ser,  Secretary  De}',  and  Treasurer  Bow.  Bow  reported  a  bal- 
ance of  S29.65  in  the  treasury.  Miss  Kreiuer  reported  verbally 
as  to  the  manner  in  which  she  had  performed  her  duties. 

By  virtue  of  her  appointipent  as  vice-president,.  Miss  Howe  was 
entitled  to  the  chairmanship  of  the  pi  oxy  committee,  but  she  found 
it  impossible  to  serve.  Mrs.  Miniter  was  given  her  place — her 
assistants  being  Kugler,  Hurlev,  Konwiser,  Miss  Cox  and  myself. 
After  a  little  more  routine  businesss,  the  convention  adjourned 
for  the  day. 

After  adjournment,  the  proxy  committee  proceeded  to  their 
duties. 

The  proxies  were  scattering.  For  president,  Freeman  had  23, 
Chiles  10,  Steinberg  2.  Bow  led  with  19  votes  for  first  vice- 
president ;  for  second  vice-president  Davis'  11  votes  gave  him  a 
good  start.  For  recording  secretary  Miss  Kreiner  had  12  votes 
and  Delano  had  10  votes ;  Tipton  was  given  36  out  of  the  51 
votes  cast  for  corresponding  secretary.  For  treasurer,  Mrs. 
Spencer  headed  the  list  with  11  votes,  Andrews  being  second  with 
8  votes.  Out  of  tifty-three  votes  cast  for  official  editor  I  was 
given  31 ;  Lind  getting  22.  Chicago's  47  votes  to  four  scattering 
easily  settlpd  where  the  next  convention  was  to  be  held.  The 
vote  for  executive  judges  was  scattering  as  usual,  Hollub  had  26, 
Mellinger  18,  Spencer  12,  Dey  12,  Freeman  10.  There  were 
47  votes  cast  on  the  first  amendment,  28  for,  and  19  against. 
The  second  amendment  had  46  votes,  22  for,  24  against. 

It  will  be  well  to  state  here  that  some  time  before  the  conven- 
tion Chicago  endorsed  a  complete  ticket.  Here  is  the  slate  we 
made  up  and  when  it  is  compared  with  the  new  official  board, 
it  will  be  observed  that  Chicago's  influence  was  felt:  president, 
Chiles  ;  first  vice-president  Bow  ;  second  vice-president,  Davis  ; 
corresponding  secretary,  Tipton  ;  recording  secretary,  Delano; 
official  editor,  Steinberg ;  treasurer,  Mrs.  Spencer;  convention 
seat,  Chicago;  executive  judges  Hollub,  Mellinger,  Freeman. 
This  will  explain  how  it  happened  that  some  of  those  voted  on 


IIISTOIiY  OF  THZ  NATIONAL  AMATPIL'U   PUKS-^j  ASSOCIATION.        S03 

received  SO  m\ny  votes,     Cuicago,  by    the  way  east  -15  votes  at 
this  convention. 

Wednesday  morning  after  the  convention  was  called  to  order 
my  supplementary  report  of  applicants  accepted  was  received. 
The  reports  of  the  laureate  judges  were  read.  Eleanor  Atkinson 
awarded  the  esssay  title  to  Spencer  for  h.is  '-Lady  or  the  Tiger." 
Jerome  Case  Bull  gave  the  poet  huireateship  to  Goodenough  and 
honorable  mention  to  Andrew  A.  Veatch.  Editorial  laureateship 
was  given  to  Dilettante. 

The  proxy  conunittee's  re[)ort  was  accepted  as  read,  after 
which  Peltret  declared  nominatious  for  president  in  order. 

Before  we  entered  into  the  election  of  officers  a  motion  was 
made  and  carried  to  the  effect  tliat  the  amendments  voted  on  in 
the  proxies  be  acted  upon.  After  a  ballot  the  chair  declared 
th-^m  both  carried.  As  there  was  no  pronounced  opposition  to 
these  amendments,  it  was  no  wonder  that  some  member  did  not 
care  to  verify  by  actual  calculation  the  chairman's  ruling. 

Acting  under  the  supposition  that  the  amendments  were  carried 
Kugler  nominated  Freeman  and  I  nominated    Chiles.     After    a 
number  of  speeches  had  been  made  in  Freeman's    favor,    I    with- 
drew Chiles'  name.     The  secretary   was    instructed     to   cast  the 
ballot  of  the  convention  for  Mr.  Freeman. 

It  was  decided  to  elect  the  official  editor  at  once.  Kugler 
put  my  name  before  the  convention,  Dorr  seconded  it  with 
a  very  pretty  speech.  Peltert  relinquished  the  chair  to  the 
vice-president,  and  put  Lin  1  in  nomination.  Stover  seconded  it. 
The  ballot  resulted : 

Proxy  Convention  Total 

Steinberg 31  13  64 

Lind 22  3  25 

When  the  chair  declaied  me  elected  Mrs.  Spencer  was  the  first 
to  congratulate  me.  After  we  adjourned  for  lunch  a  number 
took  occasion  to  tell  me  how  pleased  they  were  over  my  election. 
Of  course  I  was  called  on  for  a  speech  and  I  think  I  made  one. 

The  election  of  the  rest  of  the  officers  was  a  very  mild  affair, 
Charles  A.  Bow  and  Edwin  Davis  were  elected  first  and  second 
vice-presidents  respectively,  without  opposition.  I  nominated 
Hurley  for  corresponding  secretary,  but  Miss  Krieuer  named  a 
winner  when  she  put  up  Linden  Dey.  Tipton  easily  secured 
the  corresponding  secretaryship  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 
Mr.  Stover  attempted  to  interfere  with  Chicago's  slate  by  nom- 
inating Truman  J.  Spencer  for  treasurer,  but  my  nomination 
of  Mrs.  Spencer  easily  settled  Stover's  candidate. 
Charlie  Andrew's  lead  in  the  proxies  gave  him  an  easy  victory 
for  historian,  and  Hollub,  Mellinger  and  Spencer  were  elected 
executive  judges    after  the  usual    number    of  tiresome  ballots. 


394     HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Dorr  and  I  made  a  speech  apiece  placing  Chicago  in  nomination 
and  Chicago's  nomination  was  an  easy  one ;  whether  because  of 
our  speeches,  or  in  spite  of  them  I  am  unable  to  sa}'. 

An  adjournment  was  then  taken,  after  which  we  placed  our- 
selves in  the  hands  of  the  arrangement  committee  who  were  to 
take  us  to  Central  Park  to  have  our  official  convention  photograph 
taken.  Two  pictures  were  taken  by  the  photographer.  If  the 
one  accepted  by  the  committee  is  the  best  of  the  two  the  rejected 
one  must  have  been  pretty  bad.  After  the  official  photographer 
had  finished,  the  nnofficial  photographers  took  matters  in  hand 
and  photographed  various  people  in  various  groups.  It  was  one 
continual  series  of  posing  and  looking  pleasant. 

The  banquet  that  night  brought  around  a  number  of  old  timers 
who  had  not  the  opportunity  of  coming  around  during  the  day. 
Spencer,  as  toast  master,  took  the  head  of  the  table  with  Mrs. 
Spencer.  Owing  to  Freeman's  absence  I  was  the  highest  National 
officer  present,  and  had  a  seat  of  honor  close  to  to  the  head. 
I  was  seated  between  Miss  Cox  and  Mrs.  Miniter  and  had  every 
opportunity  of  realizing  my  good  fortune.  The  toasts  had  not 
been  prearranged  and  Spencer  divided  his  attention  between  the 
menu  and  arranging  speakers.  With  the  exception  of  Spencer's 
introduction  to  each  speaker,  there  was  nothing  brilliant  in  any- 
of  the  toasts  that  evening.  Mr.  Spencer's  remarks  and  stories 
that  evening  were  exceptionally  good.  It  is  possible  that  the 
other  speeches  were  poor  only  by  comparison. 

The  last  day  of  the  convention  was  as  cool  and  pleasant  as  the 
two  succeeding  days.  The  program  for  the  day  was  to  attend  to 
the  constitution  the  larger  part  of  the  day,  to  finish  up  all  remain- 
ing matters,  and  then  to  take  a  trip  to  Riverside  Park  and  see 
Grant's  tomb. 

There  has  been  no  great  improvement  in  our  constitution  since 
the  document  known  as  the  Kempner  constitution  was  adopted  at 
Buffalo  in  1889.  There  have  been  a  few  amendments  of  some 
value,  but,  in  the  main,  the  original  was  as  excellent  a  set  of 
rules  as  could  be  adopted.  It  was  our  intention  to  use  them  as 
a  basis  for  our  work  during  the  da}^  but  a  copy  of  the  constitu- 
tion could  not  be  found.  It  seemed  Kugler's  idea  to  adopt  the 
constitution  in  its  entirity  without  being  read.  This  was  opposed 
by  a  number  of  us.  Kugler's  motion  that  a  committee  to  revise 
the  constitution  be  appointed  was  amended  by  my  motion  that 
they  report  at  the  next  convention.  With  a  few  changes,  I  felt 
sure  that  we  cauld  pull  through  for  another  year.  The  amend- 
ment and  motion  were  both  carried  and  the  chair  ignoring 
Kugler's  claim  to  the  chairmanship,  put  me  in  that  position. 

My  scheme  of  about  five  years'  nourishment,  to  reduce  the 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  305 

National  Amateur  to    the    uniform    size,    aud  have  it  issued  bi- 
monthly, went  through  without  any  opposition. 

A  motion  was  made  and  carried  to  congratulate  Ex-President 
Louis  Kempner  for  his  good  f«»rtune  in  being  selected  to  assist  in 
extending  the  postal  facilities  in  Cuba,  after  which  the  usual 
motion  to  thank  everything  and  everybody  was  made  and  the 
convention  then  adjourned. 

The  following  amateurs  were  present  at  New  York :  John  L. 
Peltret,  Truman  J.  Spencer,  Capitola  Spencer,  Sarah  W.  Howe, 
Hervey  H.  Dorr,  Sam  J.  Steinberg,  Harriet  C.  Cox,  Edith  Mini- 
ter,  John  J.  Hurley,  Donat  J.  Lefebore,  Edith  V.  Kreiner,  H. 
M.  Kon wiser,  John  H.  Stover,  Frank  E.  Williams,  Emma  H. 
Rowe,  John  G.  Kugler,  .Arthur  L.  Tubbs,  Samuel  DeHayne, 
J.  Fred  Crosson,  Herbert  E.  Woodward. 


CHflFTER  33. 

CHICAGO'S  FIFTH  CONVENTION. 

Mr.  Thiele's  Objections. — The  Historian's  Report,  Con- 
densed.— The  Chicago  Convention,  as  Seen  by  FiiANCis 
P.  Goss. — The  National  Amateur  Clearing  House. — 
List  of  Members. 


M 


R.  THEO.  B.  THIELE  inspected  very  closely  the  report 
of  the  New  York  convention,  and  discovered  that  the 
constitutional  amendnnents  had  not  been  carried  by  a 
two-thirds  majority.  On  the  strength  of  this  discovery  he  protested 
against  Hor.-ce  Freeman  acting  as  president.  The  executive 
•judges  listened  to  this  complaint,  acknowledged  that  it  was  cor- 
rect and  appointed  Mr.  Freeman  as  president,  thus  correcting 
the  error  of  the  convention.  Mr.  Thiele  then  additionally  pro- 
tasted  against  the  publication  of  ibe  i\^a/io??«Z  Amateur  in  the  new 
form,  after  the  issuance  of  the  September  number.  The 
decision  being  the  same  on  this  c^se  as  on  tiie  other,  Mr.  Stein- 
berg resigned  rather  than  change  his  plans  and  John  G.  Kugler 
was  appointed.*  Butte  H,  Tipton  resigned  as  corresponding 
secretary  and  John  M.  Acee  was  appointed.  Francis  P.  Goss 
resigned  as  chairman  of  the  recruit  committee,  and  Walter  C. 
Chiles  to  his  place. 

Historian  Charles  N.  Andrews  reviewed  the  year's  work  as 
follows : 

The  one  prominent  feature  of  the  3'ear  was  the  lack  of  interest 
taken  in  amateur  affairs.  Papers  were  few  in  number,  and,  with 
but  few  exceptions,  of  little  merit. 

To  Walter  C.  Chiles  and  Linden  D.  Dey,  both  of  Chicago, 
credit  is  due  for  having  issued  what  was  undeniably  the  most 
dainty  creation  in  magazine  making  of  the  year — The  Bising  Age. 
This  little  magazine  ccmsisted  of  some  twenty  or  more  pages  each 
issue,  printed  on  beautiful  deckle  edge  paper  and  encased  in  a 
cover  of  l»andsome  design,  done  in  quaint  old  style  lettering.  Mr. 
Dey  also  published  independently  The  Villa  de  Laura  Times, 
modeled  after  and  somewhat  in  keeping  with  tiie  Age.  Both 
magazines  were  unique  as  to  construction,  being  not  alone  dainty 


UrSTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION.  307 

ill  geueral  appearance  but  cultured  in    both    the  literary  and  the 
editorial  departments. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Truman  J.  Spencer  also  sent  out  a  most  delight- 
ful paper,  both  iu  the  quality  of  its  contents  and  in  its  perfect 
typography.  The  name  given  their  paper,  however,  was 
uueuphonious  enough  for  almost  any  modern  dictionary  and 
would  not  do  to  stump  the  State  with  on  a  platform  of  sliort 
planks.  Even  Noah  V^ebster  has  reasons  to  thank  an  all  merci- 
ful Providence  that  he  died  before  HoiionficabiUt ltd Initcct thus  came 
to  task  alike  editor  and  printer.  Despite  its  name  the  Spencers 
gave  us  a  charming  literaiy  magazine,  its  convention  number 
of  the  1898  meet  being  especially  noteworthy. 

Mr.  Horace  Freeman,  president  of  the  National  Association, 
sent  out  with  unfailing  regularity  heis  comevY^tive  Criteria.  In 
its  literary  department  appeared  some  of  the  year's  best  work, 
both  iu  prose  and  verse, 

Theodore  B.  Thiele,  of  Chicago,  sent  out  a  number  of  inter- 
esting issues  of  the  Pirate,  mostly  all-editorial  and  being  conspic- 
uous for  the  length  of  the  editorials  and  the  unusually  good  style 
iu  which  they  were  written,  Samuel  J.  Steinberg  also  sent  out 
several  issues  of  Dilettante  containing  some  really  good  literar}^ 
efforts. 

Other  notable  papers  of  the  year  were  Hervey  H.  Dorr's  La 
Critique,  Edwin  B.  Hill's  one  issue  of  The  Stylus,  Prairie  Breezes, 
Amateur  Becord,  Aftermath,  Sebe,  Epocha,  Crusader,  Le 
Premier  and  Hot  Shot. 

Through  complications  arising  from  a  misinterpretation  of  the 
National  constitution  as  regards  the  size  of  the  official  organ, 
Samuel  J.  Steinberg,  who  had  been  elected  official  editor  at  the 
New  York  convention  of  1898,  deemed  it  advisable  to  tender  his 
resiornation  after  having  issued  his  first  number  of  the  National 
Amateur.  This  number  of  the  official  organ,  sent  forth  in 
Century  size,  was  an  admirable  document,  and  many  were  the 
regrets  that  the  National  constitution  would  not  permit  its  con- 
tinuance in  that  form.  Mr.  John  G.  Kugler  was  duly  appointed 
by  President  Freeman  to  the  position  left  vacant  by  Mr.  Stein- 
berg's resignationr  and  the  year  closed  with  the  three  remaining 
issues  printed  in  the  old  familiar  blanket  form. 

Among  the  authors  whose  names  appeared  most  frequenth'  and 
whose  work  it  may  be  claimed  equaled  that  of  bygone  days,  may 
be  mentioned  Annie  Laurie  Lynde,  Vincent  F.  Howard,  Arthur 
H.  Delano,  Everett  Horn,  Edward  S.  Peterson  and  Ross  Clarke. 
To  President  Freeman  all  credit  is  due  for  his  careful  perform- 
ance of  duty,  and  I  am  sure  members  everywhere  feel  a  deep 
sense  of  obligation  for  his  untiring  efforts  in  clearing  the  Associ- 


308  HJBTORY   OP  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

ation  of  the  indebtedness  that  confronted  bina  upon   assuuaing  the 
duties  of  office. 

As  reception  committee  for  tbe  Cbicago  convention    Tresideu 
Freeman  appointed  Hervey  H.  Dorr,  cbairman  ;  Linden  D.  Dey, 
Francis  P.  Goss,  W.  E.  Mellinger,  A.  J.  Robinson,     Mr.   Dorr 
was  appointed  custodian  of  ballots,  tbe  convention  being  called 
for  July  5,  6,  7. 

The  first  issue  of  volume  XXI  of  tbe  National  Amateur  was 
in  tbe  popular  Century  size,  16  pages.  It  contained  much  official 
matter,  including  tbe  minutes,  and  a  new  department  "Papers 
received."  Tbe  first  page  was  adorned  witb  a  pretty  beading, 
and  tbe  issue  was  generally  commended.  Tbe  succeeding  issues 
were  in  tbe  old  size,  edited  by  Mr.  Kugler,  and  of  8  pages  each. 
Tbe  December  issue  contained  tbe  historian's  report,  official 
documents,  papers  received,  and  considerable  chat  about  old- 
timers.  The  March  issue  was  composed  wholly  of  official  matter 
and  editorial.  Tbe  June  issue  contained  tbe  1898  laureate 
winners,  and  official  ard  editorial  matter. 

Sam  J.  Steinberg  and  Theodore  B.  Thiele  were  candidates  for 
president  before  tbe  Chicago  convention.  Tbe  result  was  doubt- 
ful until  tbe  ballot. 

Tbe  twenty-fourth  annual  convention  of  tbe  N.  A.  P.  A.  was 
held  in  tbe  Great  Northern  hotel,  Chicago,  July  5-7,  1899. 

The  following  account  is  taken  from  the  report  of  Francis  P. 
Goss  in  the  July- August  issue  of  The  Beview,  of  Blissfield,  Mich 

Rumor  of  tbe  contemplated  fight  for  chairmanship  of  tbe  con- 
vention filled  tbe  air;  each  faction  held  caucuses  long  before  the 
convention  was  called  to  order.  The  Thiele  contingent  was  better 
organized  than  that  of  the  Steinbergites,  though  each  side  betrayed 
some  little  anxiety  as  to  the  probable  outcome  of  the  preliminary 
session.  Delegates,  who  thus  far  had  remained  neutral  in  the 
presidential  contest,  were  buttonholed  by  the  campaign  managers  ; 
arguments  pro  and  con  were  freely  used,  but  in  many  cases  with- 
out avail.  Messrs.  Clarke  and  Fallass  looked  after  Steinberg's 
interests  and  Goss  busied  himself  attending  to  Thiele's. 

Precisely  at  10  o'clock,  Recording  Secretary  Dey,  in  the 
absence  of  president  and  vice-presidents,  called  the  delegates  to 
order.  Mr.  Dey  delivered  a  brief  but  appropriate  speech,  at  the 
conclusion  of  which  be  rapped  tbe  table  with  bis  gavel  and 
declared  the  twenty-fourth  annual  convention  of  the  N.  A,  P.  A. 
in  session.     He  then  called  for  nominations  for  cbairman.      Wal- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        ^^9 

terC.  Cliiles  nominated  Charles  R.  Burger  and  Mr.  Bnrorer  was 
elected  by  acclamation.  The  chairman  appointed  Horward  M. 
Carter,  vice-president;  Walter  C.  Chiles,  treasurer;  and  Francis 
P.  Goss,  secretary  of  credentials.     The  secretary  read  the  roll. 

The  secretary  of  credentials  read  his  report.  After  several 
conflicting  motions  had  been  made  concerning  the  disposition  to 
be  made  of  it,  the  convention  accepted  the  report  and  elected  the 
applicants  to  membership.  The  reports  of  absent  officers  were 
read  and  ordered  placed  on  file. 

The  chairman  appointed  a  proxy  committee,  consisting  of  the 
vice-president,  treasurer,  secretary  of  credentials,  Warren  J. 
Brodie,  John  M.  Acee,  R.  P.  Kelley  and  VV.  R.  Thurman.  The 
convention  adjourned  till  Thursday  morning  at  10  o'clock. 

Thursday  July  6,  the  Milwaukee  amateurs  arrived  early;  W. 
C.  Ahlhauser,  P.  Knoelke  and  Ed.  F.  Daas  came  together.  Mrs. 
Grant  registered  the  night  before  from  Fargo,  N.  D.  Mr,  Heyn, 
one  of  the  old  timers,  registered  from  Milwaukee.  H.  E.  Legler, 
aUv  put  in  an  appearance  along  with  Wm.  Dnnlop.  Of  the  lady 
amateurs  present,  Mrs.  Grant  was  easily  the  most  popular, 

It  was  late  when  President  Burger  called  the  convention  to 
order ;  excitement  was  evident  on  all  sides,  for  today  we  were  to 
elect  officers.  Secretary  called  the  roll ;  several  motions  of  slight 
importance  were  made  and  carried,  little  interest  being  taken  tilt 
the  chairman  called  for  the  report  of  the  proxy  committee.  W. 
R.  Thurman  read  the  report  which  was  listened  to  with  eager 
interest  but  received  with  silence.  The  proxy  vote  was  larger, 
eighty-five  proxies  being  voted,  ten  of  which  we^-e  thrown  out 
for  non-payment  of  dues.  The  report  was  accepted.  Burger  then 
called  f«r  nominations  for  president  and  appointed  Chiles  and 
Brodie  tellers.  Chiles  nominated  Theodore  B.  Thiele  ;  Mellinger 
nominated  Steinberg.  The  result  of  the  ballot  was  announced  as 
follows: 

Proxy  Convention   Total 

Steinberg 24  14  38 

Thiele ..50  10  60 

The  chairman  declared  Mr.  Thiele  duly  elected  president  for 
the  ensuing  term.  For  first  vice-president,  Goss  nominated  Acee, 
who  was  elected  by  acclamation.  For  second  vice-president, 
Barnard  nominated  Ahlhauser,  Steinberg  nominated  Lester  M. 
Ajves.  The  proxies  were  dropped  and  Ahlhauser  was  declared 
elected.  For  recording  secretary,  Thurman  nominated  Everett 
B.  Horn,  who  was  elected  by  acclamation.  For  corresponding 
secretary,  Mellinger  nominated  Miss  Frees;  Burger  nominated 
Goss;  proxy  vote  stood  Frees,  15;  Goss,  28;  proxies  were 
dropped  and  a  ballot  taken  which  resulted  in  Goss  receiving  20 
votes  and  Frees  14.       Goss   declared    elected.       For    treasurer. 


iii:;      HISTCEV    Gi    THE   KATIOIvAL   AMATEUR    PEES*   ASSOCIATION. 

jMollinoer  iDininated  Ijurger  who  was  ele^jted  by  acclamation. 
Fov  offi'-ia!  editor,  liroriie  was  nominated.  The  proxies  stood, 
E  H.  Srn^th.  19;  Bio  lie.  47;  Brodie  elected  by  acclamation. 
Horace  Freeman,  Waiter  C.  Chiles  and  Miss  Sarah  W.  Howe  were 
nominated  for  executive  jad2;e3,  and  elected  by  acclamation.  For 
lit-xt  meeting  place  Robinson  nominated  Atlanta,  Acee  seconded 
t'te  nomination.  Mel'in';>er  {.)laced  Boston  in  nomination.  Proxies 
were  droi^ped  and  a  isallot  taken  which  resnlted  as  follows,  At- 
lanta, 6  :    Boston  14  ;  Boston  declared  elected. 

Amendment  nnmber  o-u-ti  failed  to  receive- a/two-t'hirds  vote  aad 
AvfiS  lost.  Amendment 'h'limber  two  was  resferred  to  the  conven- 
tion to  convene  in  1002.'  O^Rcers  were  installed,  appropriate 
speeches  were  made  by  the  officers  elect,  after  which  the  conven- 
tion adjonrned  nntil  FridaV  at  10  :30  a.  m. 

In  the  afternoon  we  met  by  appointment  at  the  Art  Institute 
ai]d  submitted  to  the  commands  of  a  photographer.  Several  of 
n^;  had  kodaks  and  many  snap  shots  were  secured. 

The  banquet  held  in'  the  evening  wos  a  huge  success,  fifty 
people  sat  down  to  table  and  everybody  was  on  good  terms  with 
everybody  else.  Hope  Reed  Cody  was  happy  in  the  position  of 
toastmaster. 

The  following  toasts  were  responded  to; 

Introductory  address H.  K.  Cody 

The  C.  A.  P.  C H.  E,  Nothomb 

The  National  Amateur W.  J.  Brodie 

The  Ladies W.  E.  Mellinger 

The  Gentlemen Miss  C.  E.  Schermerhorn 

TheN.  A.  P.  A ........   T.   B,  Thiele 

Impromptu  speeches  were  made  by  Messrs.  Steinberg,  Burger, 
Chiles,  Acee,  Carter  and  Goss.  After  the  banquet  was  over  we 
were  the  guests  of  Mrs.  Grant  who  occupied  a  suite  of  rooms  on 
the  floor  above.  Here  we  listened  to  tales  of  the  mistj^  past  and 
it  was  long  after  the  midnight  hour  when  we  parted. 

On  Friday,  July  7,  the  taris  1900  report  was  considered  and 
accepted,  E.  H.  Smith  being  appoiiited  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee and  the  committee  being  given  full  power  to  raise  funds 
for  the  arrangements.  On  motion  of  Steinberg  a  committee 
composed  of  Steinberg,  Brodie  and  Burger  was  appointed  to 
draft  resolutions  on  the  members  deceased  during  the  past  year, 
same  to  be  published  in  the  National  Amateur.  On  motion  of 
Goss  a  committee  consisting  of  Thiele,  Goss  and  Dorr,  was  ap- 
pointed to  draw  up  resolutions  thanking  the  retiring  executive 
board  for  services  rendsred. 

Reports  of  laureate  judges  were  next  read  and  the  following 
titles  were  awarded:  Poet  laureate,  Vincent  F.  Howard;  sketch 
ilaureate,   Geo.    D.   Galloway;    essay  laureate,    A.    H,   Delano; 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    NATIONAL    AMATKIR    PRESS    ASSOCIATION.      fill 

design  laureate,    R.    K.    Bostrom  ;    editorial  laureate,  Linden  D. 
DeyT 

Prior  t(^  adjonrnnieut  the  convention  listened  to  impromptu 
remarks  on  the  subject  '-How  to  obtain  recruits  and  build  up  the 
National."  There  beiuor  no  more  busines>;  to  transact  the  con- 
vention adjourned  sine  die. 

The  following  amateurs  were  present  at  Chicago  in  1809: 
Bertha  Y.  Grant,  Warren  J.  Brodie,  John  M.  Acee,  John  L. 
Tomlinson,  Charles  R.  Burger,  Henry  E.  Legler,  WillS.  Dunlop, 
Wm.  C.  Ahlhauser,  Edward  F.  Daas,  Paul  H,  Knoelk,  Alf  B. 
Hvale,  E,  H.  Whitaker.  Allan  R.  Parrish,  Ross  Clarke,  Alice  C, 
Fitzgerald,  Theo.  B,  Thiele,  Albert  E.  Barnard,  John  Byrne, 
Frank  J.  Carr,  Walter  Chiles,  Hope  R.  Cndv,  Linden  D.  Dey, 
Hervey  H.  Dorr,  Jay  Fallass,  Amanda  E.  Frees,  Francis  P. 
Goss,  R.  Percival  Kelly,  W.  E.  Mellinger,  Thos,  F,  McDonald. 
H,  E.  Nothomb,  Oscar  A.  Reum,  A.  J.  Robinson.  Carrie  E. 
Schermerhorn,  Sam  J.  Steinberg,  Wallace  R.  Thurman,  Joseph 
G.  Heyn,  Lewis  C.  Bigelow,  Kittie  C.  Wolfe,  C.  H.  White,  Mrs. 
Vv  .  E.  Mellinger. 

As  secretary  of  credentials  President  Thiele  appointed  Wallace 
R.  Thurman.  A.  S.  Guerard  was  appointed  cl:airmati  recruiting 
committee. 

As  reception  committee  at  the  Boston  convention  he  has  named 
Edith  Miniter,  chairman;  HaiTiet  C.  Cox,  F.  S.  C.  Wicks, 
Everett  B.  Horn  and  Willard  O.  Wylie.  Mr.  Wicks  is  custodian 
of  ballots  and  the  convention  is  set  for  July  4,  5  and  6. 

The  National  Amatenr,  volume  XXII,  is  tlje  finest  ever  issued. 
Mr.  Brodie,  the  editor,  began  his  work  by  reprinting  Nos.  3  and 
4  of  the  first  volume.  These  papers  were  of  4  pages  each.  Only 
a  few  copies  were  known  to  be  in  existence,  and  these  reprints 
have  2one  into  many  files.  Volume  XXII  consists  of  six  issues, 
five  of  whicli  have  been  issued  at  this  writing.  The  September, 
1890,  issue  (onsisted  of  8  pages;  October,  8  pages;  December, 
10  |)ages:  March,  8  pages;  June,  12  pages.  It  is  our  ui.der- 
standing  tliat  the  Ju\y  issue  will  also  be  12  pages.  The  Amateur 
has  contained  nu  ch  oft^cial  and  editorial  matter;  accounts  of  two 
conventions,  and  several  valuable  departmemts — news  'round  the 
circle,  and  papers  received  notably.     Mr.  Brodie  is  the  or'g'na'r  r 


312     HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

of  the '' National  Amateur  Cleanng  House"  which  he  describes 
in  the  Amateur  itself : 

Some  months  ago  we  succeeded  in  completing  our  file  of  the 
National  Amateur  from  the  first  number.  It  was  only  after  3  ears 
of  correspondence  that  this  long  sought  goal  was  reached,  and 
during  all  these  years  we  accumulated  a  large  number  of  rare 
duplicates.  With  the  purpose  in  view  of  piaciu£r  these  duplicates 
where  they  would  be  the  most  prized,  we  offered  in  the  columns 
of  the  Random  Amateur'  to  send  to  applicants  such  copies  as 
might  be  needed  of  those  we  had  on  hand.  The  immediate  de- 
mand which  was  made  for  these  papers  was  remarkably  large- 
much  gretiter  than  we  had  supposed  it  would  be — and  the  thought 
then  suggested  itself  to  us  that  it  would  be  an  excellent  oppor- 
tunity to  gather  v\  stray  copies  of  the  National  Amateur,  copies 
that  were  going  to  waste,  and  to  also  place  them  in  the  hands  of 
those  who  would  prize  them.  We  therefore  printed,  in  the  March 
number  of  our  paper  an  article  offering  to  supply  collectors  of 
files  »nissi nof  copies  as  fast  as  they  were  received  l)y  us,  provided 
the  applicant  would  would  send  to  us  all  of  the  duplicate  copies 
that  he  might  have  on  hand,  and  at  the  same  time,  called  upon 
all  other  amateur  journalists  who  had  co|)ies  or  files  of  the  official 
organ  for  which  they  di<l  not  care,  to  mail  them  to  the  clearing 
house. 

In  brief,  this  is  the  way  the  clearing  house  originated,  and  the 
idea  was  at  once  mo^t  cordially  received  by  the  amateur  press  of 
today  and  the  old-time  amateurs  who  were  still  keeping  their 
files  of  the  official  organ  up  to  date.  The  work  which  the  clear- 
ing house  has  accomplished  is  something  remarkable,  as  we  have 
b3ei  able  to  supply  to  the  various  files  throughout  the  country, 
se  e-al  hundred  mi-sing  numbers  of  the  N.  A.,  yet  the  stock  to 
draw  from  has  been  steadily  increasing,  until  today  the  clearing 
house  is  a  permanent  thing  or  at  least  we  propose  to  continue  it 
iadefinitely. 

We  have  not  been  and  do  not  propose  to  send  oiit  copies  pro- 
miscuously to  any  out*  asking  for  them,  but  to  only  such  people 
na  have  fairly  representative  files  to  start  with  and  who  are  able 
to  send  lis  one  or  more  copies  in  the  way  of  exchange.  We  keep 
an  account  with  every  file  we  are  trying  to  perfect,  and  by  this 
means  know  just  what  1  umbers  are  wanted.  Some  of  the  issues 
ae  exceedn^ly  rare,  and  we  are  sometimes  able  to  give  in  ex- 
change from  two  to  ten  or  more  copies  for  a  single  number,  as 
there  are  many  issues  of  which  we  have  in  stock  from  fifty  to  sev- 
enty-five copies.  At  the  present  writing  our  stock  of  duplicates 
numbers  from  800  to  900  copies  of  various  issues  reaching  back 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AVATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      3X3 

as  far  as  volume  XI.  However,  there  are  maay  issues  of  which 
we  canuot  supply  a  sinorle  copy. 

We  call  upon  every  old-timer  in  the  country  to  forward  to  us 
:nll  of  the  old  copies  of  the  National  Anmtenr  he  can  spare,  or  if 
sie  finds  his  file  a  burden,  or  in  danger  of  becoming  lost,  send  it 
on  to  us.  As  an  inducement  to  those  who  mieht  hesitate  about 
parting  with  their  files,  thinking  that  they  might  in  time  regret  it, 
we  would  say  that  the  clearing  house  is  how  in  such  shape  that  it 
can  return  to  any  such  person  a  file  which  will  probably  be  as 
nearly  complete  as  any  that  he  may  supply  us,  and  this  the  clear- 
ing house  will  undertake  to  do,  as  long  as  it  is  continued  under 
the  writer. 

Representative  files  of  the  National  Amateur  are  in  the  hands 
of  the  following  persons,  and  can  probably  be  consulted,  on 
application : 

Warren  J.  Brodie,  487  the  Arcade,  Cleveland,  0. 

Theodore  B.  Thiele,  722  Monroe  street,  Evanston,  111. 

Edwin  Hadley  Smith,  107  Barclay  street,  New  York  City. 

Michael  F.  Boechat,  704  Fargo  avenue,  Buflfalo,  N.  Y. 

Truman  J.  Spencer,  New  Britain,  Conn. 

James  H.  I.  Munro,  New  Glasgow,  Nova  Scotia. 

John  T.  Nixon,  Crowle\-.  La. 

James  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  43  Sheridan  street,  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

N.  H,  Ferguson,  Level  Plains.  N.  C. 

Alson  Brubaker  and  Bertha  York  Grant,  Fargo,  N.  D. 

Samuel  J.  Steinberg  and  Alfred  J.  Kobinson,  Chicago,  111. 

Charles  A.  Bow,  100  East  Twelfth  street,  Fortlanl,  Ore. 

H.  E.  Deats,  Flemington,  N.  J, 

Percy  L.  Dey,  1  Alpine  Villas,  Pinderfield  Road,  Wakefield,  Eng. 

I'he  National.  Amateur  prints  on  a  "'roll  of  honor"  the  ten 
best  amateur  papers  of  the  year.  The  latest  list  is  a^ follows: 
Bising  Age,  Villa  de  Laura  Times,  Inh  Drops,  Pirate,  Interpoli- 
tan,  Review,  Dewey,  American  Gem,  Quillings,  Arrows. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  National  Amateur 
Press  Association,  as  shown  by  the  June,  1900,  issue  of  the 
Jfational  Amateur: 

ALABAMA. 

Davis,  Harry,  Hargrove. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Crosby,  Chester  E,,  box  103,  Arlington  Place. 

tDolan,  Geo.  A.  1223  Cortland  avenue,  San  Francisco. 

Hauser,  Herbert,  1423a  Bush  street,  San  Francisco. 

*Hollub,  David  L.  848  Cedar  street,  Alameda. 

Lafranchi,  O.  J.,  Reclamation. 

•*Ex-Presidents. 

,t Accepted  since  the  last  convention. 


314     HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Lind,  Edward  M.  box  2482,  San  Francisco. 
Lyle,  J.  G.,  715  Oak  street,  San  Francisco. 
Morris,  Harrie  C,,  1348  Nebraska  street,  San  Francisco. 
Morris,  Mrs.  J.  C,  1348  Nebraska  street,  San  Francisco, 
*MortoD,  Jas.  F.  Jr.,  236  Clinton  park,  San  Francisco, 
Schwartz.  Chas.  E.,  Stanford  University. 
Steinberg,  Samuel  J.,  8i8  Cedar  street,  Alameda. 
Voorsanger,  Leon,  1249  Franklin  street,  San  Francisco. 

CANADA. 
Brown,  Walter  J.,  Toronto. 
Munro,  Agnes,  New  Glasgow,  Nova  Scotia. 
*Munro,  J.  H.  I.,  New  Glasgow,  Nova  Scotia. 

COLORADO. 
*Burger,  Chas,  R.,  box  901,  Colorado  Springs. 
CONNECTICUT. 

Lyude,  Annie  Laurie,  Chester. 

Nugent,  Lieut.  Geo,  A.,  Fort  Trumbull,  New  London. 
Spencer,  Mrs.  T.  J.,  10  Suffield  street,  Hartford. 
*Speucer,  Truman  J.,  320  Maiu  street,  New  Britain. 
tWedge,  Franklyn  Curtiss,  263  Main  street,  Torringt<«ii. 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

*Briggs,  JolmE,, Comptroller  of  Currency's  Office,  Wnsliiagton, 
Dowden,  Eleanor  C,  29  K  street,  N.  E.,  Washington.. 
Howe,  Sarah  Willard,  1419  Corcoran  street,  ^V^^shingt  'u, 
*Ivempner,  Louis,  3415  Holmead  avenue,  \Va.shingto:i. 

GEORGIA, 
Acee,  John  M.,  box  222,  Atlanta. 
tBlumberg,  H.,La  Grauo;e. 

Bostrom,  Robert  E.,  51  Houston  street,  Atla:]ta. 
Guerard,  A.  S.,  drawer  G,  Atlanta. 
tSmith,  P'red  B.    box  SS,  Atlanta. 
tWilHams,  Wilmer  W,,  P.  O.  box  222,  Atlanta. 

ILLINOIS. 
*Barker,  Albert  E.,  165  South  Water  street,  Chicago. 
Barnard,  Albert  E.,  229  South  Lincoln  street,  Chicago. 
Byrne,  John  A.,  1231  Stock  Exchange,  Chicago. 
Carr,  F.  J.,  1231  Stock  Exchange,  Chicago. 
Carter,  Howard  M.,  Marquette  building,  Chicago. 
Chiles,  Walter  C,  775  E.  Fort^^-third  street,  Chicago. 
Clarke,  Ross,  Maywood. 
Dey,  Linden  D.  758  West  Fourteenth  place,  Chicago. 


*Ex-Presidents. 

t Accepted  since  the  last  convention . 


HISTORY    OF   THE    NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

*Di.i3gvvall,  A.  W.,  MoVicker's  theatre,  Chicago. 
Dorr,  Hervey  H.,  6601  Drexel  avenue.  Chicago. 
Fallass,  Jay  M.,  6352  Drexel  avenue,  Chicago. 
Fitzgerald,  Alice  C.  Wiunelka. 

Frees.  Amanda  E.,  191  West  Chicago  avenue,  Chicago. 
*Hall,  Will  T.,  3519  Calumet  avenue,  Chicago. 
Johannes,  Henry C,  3603  South  Halsted  street,  Chicago. 
Kelly,  R.  P.,  537  Washburue  avenue,  Chicago. 
McDonald,  Thos.  F.,  1231  Stock  Exchange,  Chicago. 
Mellinger,  Walter  E.,'917  Walnut  street,  Chicago. 
Nothomb,  H.  E.,  144  South  Albany  street,  Chicago. 
Parrish,  A.  R,,  May  wood. 

Pelletier,  Thomas,  1231  Stock  Exchange,  Chicago. 
Reura,  Oscar  A.,  Room  40,  Reaper  block,  Chicago. 
Robinson,  A.  J.,  621  South  Fairfield  avenue,  Chicago. 
Sawyer,  L.  Halstead,  6601   Drexel  avenue,  Chicago. 
Schermerhorn,  Carrie  E.,    6401    Normal  avenue,   Station   O., 
Chicago. 

Smith,  Kathleen  F.,  442  East  Mason  street,  Decatur. 
Spelz,  John  P\,  1231  Stock  Exchange,  Chicago. 
Thiele,  'Jheo.  B.,  722  Monroe  street,  Evanston, 
Thurman,  Wallace  R.,  770  Jackson  boulevard,  Chicago. 
*Tomlinson,  John  L.  6130  Kimbark  avenue,  Chicago. 
Walsh,  George  L.,  1231  Stock  Exchange,  Chicago. 
Uhitaker,  E.  H.,  La  Salle, 

INDIANA. 
Bucher,  Nelson,  328  West  Jefferson  street.  Fort  Wayne. 
Fogarty,  W^illiam  M.,  1617  Spann  avenue,  Indianapolis, 
*Harrison,  Thos.  G.,  132  E.  Court  street,  Indianapolis. 
Kamber,  Otto  A.,  Terre  Haute. 
tThomas,  Walter,  Greencastle. 

KENTUCKY. 
Arnold,  JohnK.,  Mount  Sterling. 

MASSACHUSETTS, 

Cox,  Harriet  Caryl,  Abington. 

Horn.  Everett  B.,  11  Greenwich  park,  Boston. 

Miuiter,  Edith,  220  Devonshire  street,  Boston. 

Morton  Nelson  G.,  51  Hancock  street,  Boston. 

Smith,  C.  W.,  Haverhill. 

*Sullivan,  D.  A.,  Lowell. 

Wicks,  F.  S.  C,  10  Sparhawk  street,  Brighton  District,  Boston. 

Wilbur,  M,  E.,  box  183,  West  Medford. 

*Wylie,  Willard  O.,  Beverly. 


*Ex-Presidents. 

fAccepted  since  the  last  convention. 


316     HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRES?   ASSOCIATION. 

MICaiGAN. 
fBaldwin,  R.  T.,  924  Pine  street.  Port  Huron. 
Brittain,  George  C,  229  Ottawa  street,  Grand  Rapids. 
Goff,  Walters.,  Blissfield. 
Kellogg,  J.  William,  Battle  Creek. 
tMar^hall,  Roy,  114  Jones  street,  Dowagiac. 
Tripp,  Albert  E.,  319  South  Jefferson  avenue,  Saginaw. 

MINNESOTA. 
Butterfield,  John,  139  Thireenth  street,  St.  Paul. 
tCohen,  Louis  J.,  921  A Idrich  avenue,  Minneapolis. 

MISSOURI. 
*Snyder,  Jno.  W.,  Kansas  City. 
Wendenauth,  Chas.  A.,  7805  Ivory  avenue,  St.  Louis. 

MONTANA. 
Tipton,  Butte  H.,  Helena. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 
Elkins,  Mattie  E.,  Peterborough. 
Hurd,  Willis  E.,  Newport. 
Morton,  Mary  W.,  Andover, 

NEBRASKA. 
Jessen,  Arthur,  2807  Franklin  street,  Omaha. 
Jessen,  H.,  2807  Franklin  street,  Oraaba, 
Swift,  Zelda  A.,  Omaha. 

NEW  JERSEY. 
Ayres,  Leston  M.,  31  Peace  street.  New  Brunswick. 
fClerkin,  Jas.  A.,  563  Jersey  avenue,  Jersey  City. 
Deats,  H.  E.,  Flemington. 

*Freeman,  Horace,  218  N.  Seventh  street,  Newark. 
Kon wiser,  H.  M.,  36  Barbara  street,  Newark. 
tReilly,  Jas.  M.,  Jr.,  386  Summit  avenue,  Jersey  City. 
tSelover,  Jesse,  South  River. 

NEW  YORK. 
Acee,  Marion  S.  35  E.  Tenth  street,  New  Y^ork  City. 
Boechat,  M.  F.,  604  Fargo  avenue,  Buffalo. 
Delano,  A.  H.,  Lexington  avenue,  Brooklyn. 
tHoutain,  Geo.  J.,  282  Putnam  avenue,  Brooklyn. 
tMoss,  B.  P>anklyn,  132  Eldert  street,  Brooklyn. 
Smith,  Edwin  H.,  general  delivery.  New  York  City. 
Stover,  John  H.,  18  Dey  street,  New  York  City. 
tTownsend,  J.  Wm.,  41  Jackson  avenue,  Long  Island  City. 


*Ex- Presidents.  ^ 

fAccepted  since  the  last  convention. 


mSTOBY  0»  Ta»  KATIONIL  AMATRCJl  PBK8S   ASSOCIATION.  317 

Williams,  F.  E.,  583  St.  Marks  avenue,  Brooklyn. 
NORTH  CAROLINA. 

tAlderraan,  Geo.  A.,  216  North  Fifth  street,  Wilmington. 
Ferguson,  Nathan  H.,  Level  Plaias. 

NORTH  DAKOTA. 
Bissouette,  Irene,  941  First  avenue,  S.,  Fargo. 
*Brubaker,  Alson,  box  1984,  Fargo. 
Goss,  Francis  P.,  care  Plaindealer,  Grand  Forks, 
Grant,  Bertha  York,  Hotel  Waldorf,  Fargo. 
*Hancock,  Will,  510  Third  street,  N.,  Fargo. 

OHIO. 
tAnderson,  Dwight,  219  Streator  avenue,  Cleveland. 
Brodie,  Warren  J.,  478  the  Areade,  Cleveland. 
Mario w,  Harry  R»,  Warren. 
*Swift,  Edwin  B.,  131  Garfield  place,  Cincinnati. 
tWing,  Charles  E..  246  Lincoln  avenue,  Cleveland. 

OREGON. 
Bow,  Chas.  A.,  100  East  Twelfth  street,  Portland. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 
tBeck,  Royal  E.,  315  North  Marshall  street,  Philadelphia. 
Fischer,  A.  Lincoln,  Eighth  and  Washington  streets,  Reading. 
Grubb,  Wallace  B.,  2110  Marshall  street,  Philadelphia.'; 
Heitler,  P.  M.,  849  North  Eighth  street,  Reading. 
Kissinger,  C.  W.,  box  236,  Reading, 
Kissinger,  Mrs.  C.  W.,  box  236,  Beading. 
Kuglef,  John  G.,  240  High  street,  Pottstown. 
Kugler,  Mrs.  Maude  H.  ,  240  High  street,  Pottstowu. 
Muukel,  C,  J.,  box  3662,  station  K,  Philadelphia 
Reno,  Claude  T.,  399  Chew  street.  AHentown. 
*Schermerhorn,  F.  E.,2033  North  College  avenue, Philadelphia. 
Steinhaeuser,  W.  P.,  box  62,  Allentown. 
*Stinson,  S.  S.,  care  Record^  Philadelphia. 

TENNESSEE. 
fStarring,  Louis  M. ,  Grand  View, 

TEXAS. 
Davis,  Edwin,  112  Galveston  avenue,  Fort  Worth, 

UTAH. 
Peterson,  A.  V.,  485  Fourth  street,  Salt  Lake  City. 

VIRGINIA. 
fThompson,  Racheal,  Rustburgh. 


*Ex-President8. 

tAccepted  since  the  last  convention. 


318  HlfiTORY  OP  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

Woodzelle,  Nettie  E.,  Cleek's  Mills,  Bath  county. 
Wood,  Elmer  C. ,  box  208,  Hampton. 
WISCONSIN. 
Ahlhauser,  WillC,  495  First  avenue,  Milwaukee. 
Daas,  Edw.  F.,  1717  Cherry  street,  Milwaukee. 
*Dunlop,  Wilis.,  419  Marshall  street,  Milwaukee. 
*Heath,  Frederick  F.,  C3ive  Sentinel,  Milwaukee. 
Hvale,  A.  B.  194  Seventh  street,  Milwaukee. 
Knoelk,  PaulH.,  629  Greenfield  street,  Milwaukee. 
*Legler,  Henry  E.,  City  Hall,  Milwaukee. 

As  these  lines  are  being  written  the  1900  convention  is  less 
than  a  month  ahead,  yet  there  does  not  seem  to  be  much  polit- 
ieal  excitement.  Warren  J.  Brodie  has  demanded  that  young 
amateurs  take  the  offices  and  Linden  D.  Dey  has  seoonded  it. 
Maj^  the  best  man  win  and  may  the  National  Amateur  Press 
Association  continue  to  prosper. 

*Ex-Pre6idents. 


CHflFTER  34. 

LITERATURE  OF  AMATEUR  JOURNALISM. 

Gropikg  for  the  Light  .in  Eakly  Days. — Amateurdom's  Great 
Serial  Stories. — The  New  Era  of  1882. — The  Reaction 
AND  Its  Results. 

Contributed  by  Truman  J.  Spencer. 

THE  literature  of  the  first  few  years  of  the  organized  exis- 
tence of  Amateur  Journalism  was  practically  ephemeral, 
and  but  little  of  it  survives.  It  was  weak  in  conception 
and  powerless  in  expression.  Its  poetry,  so  called,  was  weakly 
sentimental  and  conventioually  didactic  in  matter  and  jingle 
and  doggerel  in  manner.  Its  essays  were  cyclopediac  and  com- 
moDplace,  its  stories  were  broadl}',  often  vulgarly,  humorous  and 
cheap!}'  sensatioual.  Of  course  there  was,  here  and  there,  an 
exception  to  the  general  rule,  but  such  was  the  general  status  of 
affairs  doWn  to  the  year  1876.  Up  to  this  time  Richard  Geruer 
had  been  the  leading  literarj^  lig^t.  writing  stories  and  poems 
with  eqaal  versatilit}-;  his  productions  being  numbered  by  the 
hundreds,  but  the}'  were  all  without  exception  of  a  weak  and 
childish  nature.  A.  N.  Demarest  was  perhaps  the  most  popular 
story  writer  of  these  early  days,  his  sketches  being  mostly  impos- 
sible detective  stories  and  tales  of  Indian  warfare  and  adventure. 
The  powerful  formulative  influences  of  the  institution  had  not  as 
yet  had  time  to  make  themselves  felt. 

But  even  in  those  early  days  of  feeble  and  uncertain  steps  in 
groping  for  light,  an  occasional  glimpse  of  the  coming  brighter 
day  was  discernible.  Henry  S.  Barler  wrote  several  stanzas  which 
are  real  poetry  and  gave  considerable  promise  of  effective  work, 
but  alas,  in  the  early  months  of  1876  his  hand  was  rendered  cold 
by  death,  and,  to  quote  his  own  words: 

"His  life  is  done  to  soon 
His  bright  sun  gone  down  at  nojn 
Into  night." 

Charles  K.  Farley,  better  known  as -'Karl  C.    Yelraf,"    wrote 

a  few  pieces  of  finely  molded  prose  in  these  years,  although  his 

greatest  work  was  done  later. 


320  HISTOBY   OP  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

la  1877  John  W.  Snyder,  then  the  first  president  of  the  N. 
A.  P.  A.  commonly  known  as  "Winslow,''  (For  in  those  days 
few  wrote  under  their  own  names.)  gained  great  prominence  as 
an  essayist*  His  work  was  ponderous  and  weight}',  showing 
deep  thought,  but  coached  in  more  or  less  bombastic  form. 
He  Was  undoubtedly  overestimated,  and  has  been  greatly 
excelled  by  later  authors,  but  he  was  certainly  the  greatest 
prose  writer  of  those  daj's.  Farley,  in  this  year,  wrote  his  last 
and  greatest  serial,  "Two  Fair  Bedouins,"  the  longest  story 
ever  printed  in  an  amateur  journal,  a  work  not  without  merit, 
but  not  of  the  highest  literary  order.  Libbie  Adams, 
("Nettie  Sparkle"),  the  first  young  lady  of  any  note  in  Amateur 
Journalism,  wrote  many  poems  at  this  time.  In  them  was  found 
some  striking  lines,  such  as; 

"A  world  of  words  is  not  one  tear.' ' 

J.  Austin  Fynes  wrote  poems  and  sketches  with  a  light,  airy 
grace  and  considerable  charm  of  expression  M.  W.  Benjamin 
("Feramorz")  was  oneof  the  best  poets  of  the  times  and 
Delle  E.  Knapp  was  the  most  talented  lady  writer  of  the  70' s. 

In  1878  appeared  the  one  supreme  poet  of  the    first   decade  of 

organized  journalism,  in  the   person   of   George  M.    Huss.     His 

fame  rested  on  one  poem,  "Music",  but  "one  great  poem  makes 

a  great  poet,"  and  this  certainly  is  a  great    poem.     These  lines 

have  been  widely  quoted  : 

''The  insect's  tiny  note 
That  stabs  the  stillness  of  the  summer's  day." 

Caxton  Stanley  ("John  G.  Canfield")  was  the  most  popular 
poet  of  the  day,  and  he  wrote  many  fine  lines,  Stephen  S.  Bart- 
iett  ("John  Quildriver")  was  the  sketch  writer  of  the  times, 
but  his  style  was  inverted  and  artificial,  and  the  matter  bordered 
on  the  melodramatic  and  sensational. 

In  the  next  two  years  there  were  many  writers,  both  in  prose 
and  verse  but  none  of  marked  meri*.  S.  A.  Wood  (^'Quince") 
wrote  society  and  lightly  humorous  verse  containing  some  neat 
conceits.  James  L.  Elderdice  ("Hermit'')  was  a  more  ambi- 
tious poet,  but  his  long  poems  were  not  sustained  although  con- 
taining some  poetic  lines.  He  was  very  i)opular  and  prolific. 
Joseph  Dana  Miller  was  also  a  popular  writer  of  verse,  but  his 
greatest     power  was  not  developed    until    later.       Thomas    G. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEL'R   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 


321 


Harrison  ("Nameless")  wrote  a  few  poems  poetic  in  conception, 
but  crude  in  constrnction.  Elihu  Palmer  wrote  some  lines  of 
considerable  dramatic  power,  and  Minta  R.  Stevens,  better  known 
as  "Rubina",  wrote  some  true  poetry. 

In  1881  appeared  one  of  the  three  great  serial  stories  of   Ama- 
teurJournairsin,"Missoury"  by  William  F.  Buckley, a  story  super- 
ior to  Farley's  '-Two  Fair  Bedouins",  although  inferior  to  Bats- 
ford's  "Dr.  Dick",     Maximus  A.  Lesser  wrote  much  verse,    but 
little  of  superlative  merit  and   Thomas  G.    Watkins    ("Mercur- 
ious") was  a  very  prolific,  but  common-place,   writer  of    poems, 
sketches    and     essays.       Joanna    M.     Brown    ("Stuyvesant") 
began  to  show  considerable  power  as  a  poet  this  year.       Hannah 
B.  Gage  published    her    novel    in    verse,     "Jack's    Mistake." 
Clarence  E,  Stone  wrote  much   verse  but  to  little    purpose.     J. 
Rosevelt  Gleason  published  another  of  the  really  great  poems  of 
Amateur  Journalism,  entitled  "Lines  on  Breaking  a  Clay  Pipe." 
The  year  1882  seemed  to  mark  a  new    era    in    the    annals    of 
Amateur  Journalism.     The  first  real  literary    criticism    may  be 
said  t@  have  seen  the  light  then,  although  Arthur  J.  Huss  and  one 
or  two  others  had  occasionally  written  a  true  critique  some  years 
before,  but  now  James  J.  O'Connell,  VVillT,  Scofield,  and  a  little 
later,   Ernest  A.   Edkins,    Charles    Heywood   and  Brainerd   P. 
Emery  took  up  this  work  in  earnest,  and  the   effect   of   it    wf.s 
manitest.     At  this  time  O'Connell  did  his  best  work  in  poem, 
story  and  critique.     Gleason   wrote  most  of  his   highly    polished 
sketches,     Buckley    published    some    of    his    scholarly  stories, 
and  Miller  wrote  excellent  poems  and  essays.     Joseph  P.  Clossey 
published  his  poem,  "Red-Letter  Days,"  up  to   that   time  the 
greatest  poem  of  amateur  literature,  and,  in  its  own  style,   per- 
haps never  surpassed  since. 

The  next  few  years  were  ones  of  great  activity  in  literary 
circles,  and  many  fine  specimens  of  authorial  work  were  the 
result.  Mrs.  Bertha  Grant,  earlier  known  as  Bertha  York,  wrote 
some  of  the  most  sympathetic  and  feeling  verses  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism has  had,  couched  in  lines  of  great  beauty  and  melody, 
and  also  wrote  some  very  powerful  stories.  Miss  Brown  reached 
the  acme  of  her  career  and  wrote  several  excellent  sketches  and 
poems.     Emery  was  very  prolific  and  ofttimes  wrote  true  poetry, 


322     HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Batsford  gave  to  the  world  his  "Dr.  Dick,"  the  greatest  seiia 
story  written  by  an  amateur.  Clara  H.  Tardy,  the  chief  literary 
representative  of  the  South  in  these  days,  wrote  much  pleasing 
verse  and  some  strong  stories,  and  Will  11.  Antisdel  wrote  verse 
bioth  witty  and  quaint.  Some  very  beautiful  and  musical  verses 
were  written  by  George  E.  Day  and  some  very  fine  stories  by  F. 
T,  Mayor. 

A  little  later  there  was  a  reaction.  Some  of  the  more  proniin- 
ent  authors  retired  from  the  field  and  a  school  of  poetry  sprang 
up  which  seemed  to  pay  more  attention  to  form  and  sound  than 
sense  and  beauty.  Sam  S.  Stinson  was  tlie  foremost  writer  in 
this  field,  and  perhaps  never  equaled,  although  Frank  R.  Batchel- 
der  was  very  facile  in  this  way.  The  ballade,  triolet,  roundel, 
sonnet  and  other  fixed  forms  of  verse  were  much  in  vogue,  but 
the  spirit  of  poetry,  was  in  the  main,  lacking.  But  this  period 
did  not  last  long,  and  the  few  years  that  succeeded  have  probably 
never  been  equaled  in  the  quantit}^  of  literary  productions  of 
absolute  merit.  Edkins,  one  of  the  really  great  poets  of  Amateur 
Journalism,  reached  the  climax  of  his  career;  Hey  wood  published 
some  fine  poems,  Mahlon  H.  Shelp  wrote  a  number  of  clear-cut 
crystals  in  verse,  Annie  J.  Fellows  wrote  one  or  two  true  poems 
of  great  delicacy  of  imagination,  Edith  Callender  surpassed  all 
but  a  few  in  true  poetic  instinct  and  striking  metaphors,  and 
Fanny  Kemble  Johnson,  by  many  regarded  as  the  greatest  poet 
of  Amateur  Journalism,  was  now  at  her  best.  In  prose,  too, 
there  was  no  lack  of  good  work.  Miss  Johnson  wrote  sketches, 
one  of  which,  "Alternatives,"  is  by  some  considered  the  best 
short  story  ever  written  by  an  amateur  journalist,  although  others 
award  the  palm  to  "Phantasus''  by  Edkins.  Shelp  published 
one  of  the  really  great  stories,  "The-Shiek,"  a  sketch  which  in 
many  respects  is  unrivaled.  Frank  D.  Woollen,  besides  a  num- 
ber of  poems  of  considerable  merit,  wrote  at  least  one  story  of 
much  power,  "V?as  He  a  Sphinx?."  Pauline  Wesley  wrote 
some  true  poetry  and  an  excellent  story  entitled  "Carmen," 
Katharine  Loomis  Parsons  was  not  so  prolific  as  many  wTiters, 
but  l^er  work  in  prose  and  in  verse  was  of  the  best.  D.  B. 
Stephens  also  did  some  ver^^  finevvork.  In  the  portrayal  of  cer- 
tain phases  of  child  life,  in  power  of  minute  description,    united 


HISTORY   OF   THE    NATIONAL   AMATEUR   TRESS   ASSOCIATION.  323 

with  a  powerful  sense   ol  t life  (hawKi tie,    Mis.    Mimter,    formerly 
known  as  Edith  Dowe,  probably  never*  had  an  equal. 

In  1891  and  the  next  few  years,   many  young  writers   made 
themselves  felt  in  literary  circles.     Some  of  them  had  been  writ- 
ing more  or  less  for  some  time,  but  in  such  a  way  as  not  to  bring 
them  into  prominence.     Among  the  foremost  of  these   authors 
was    Everard     Appleton.        His    stories    were     both    genuinely 
humorous    and    veritably    pathetic,   and   evinced   much   skill   in 
character  drawing.     John  J.  Mack  was  one  of  the  leading  authors 
of  this  period,  publishing  some  fine  sonnets  and  carefully  polished 
prose.     Jerome  C.  Bull  published  a  few  stories  of  a  high  order  of 
merit  in  which  there  was  much  cliarm  of  description,    atmosphere 
and  background.      Another  phase  of  cliild  life  than  that  heretofore 
treated  to  any  extent,  that  of  the  street  Arab  and  newsboy,  found 
its  delineator  in  Harriet  C.  Cox,  whose  stories  were  very  popular, 
and  told  in  a  direct  yet  powerful,  style,   which   claimed  the  atten- 
tion.    Susan  B.  Robbins  wrote  in  a  very   original  and   quaintly 
humorous  manner,  and  her  sketches  seemed  like   photographs   of 
real  people. 

The  South  at  this  time  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the  literary 
work  of  Amateur  Journalism,  Besides  the  strong  work  of 
Misses  Johnson  and  Parsons,  to  wijich  reference  has  been  made, 
and  which  continued  for  some  years,  there  was  much  of  merit 
written  by  otiiers.  One  of  the  best  poets  of  the  section  was 
John  Kendall,  who  was  not  prolilic,  but  who  was  a  genuine 
I)oet.  Stella  Truman  wrote  so. ne  verse,  but  excelled  in  story 
writing,  and  in  the  delineation  of  negro  character  and  ways 
siie  had  n^)  equal.  The  WoodzeUe  ^isteis —Fannie,  I  i  lie  and 
jS^elt'e — wrote  mtiuy  interesting  sketches.  Capitola  L.  Harrison 
publisiied  a  number  of  poems  marked  by  poetic  instinct  and 
sincere  feeling,  and  Blanrl  R.  Huddleston  wrote  versp  of  con- 
si.lei able  power,  while  m  prose  Leola  White  and  Addie  A' aye 
Humble  added  to  the  laurels  of  this  section. 

The  science  of  p-olitical  economy  found  exponents,  not  only 
in  Joseph  Dana  Miller,  but  in  Mrs.  Lucas  in  story  and  Mrs. 
E.  M.  Frye  in  essays,  the  latter  probably  standing  first  in  the 
field  of  controversial  literature.  Kathleen  F.  Smith  wrote  a  large 
uumber  of  stories  of  great  vivacity  of  expression  and  engrossing 


324  HISTORY   OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

interest.  A  poet  of  much  promise  was  Maud  L.  Fuller,  whose 
untimely  taking  away  robbed  us  and  the  world  of  a  true  poet, 
but  the  one  among  these  newer  writers  to  attain  the  greatest 
heights  was  Mary  W.  Morton,  whose  poems  were  marked  by 
great  dramatic  power  of  expression  and  deep  thought.  James 
F.  Morton,  Jr.,  wrote  several  searching  essays  of  a  literary 
character.  Annie  Laurie  Lynde  wrote  some  pleasing  poems,  but 
she  did  her  best  in  story  writing,  in  which  field  she  did  some 
excellent  work,  her  stories  exhibiting  great  freshness  of  treatment, 
quiet  humor,  excellent  portraiture,  and  simple,  but  telling, 
expression.  Maud  Hannan  wrote  a  number  of  verses.  Arthur 
H.  Goodenough  was  very  prolific  of  stanzas,  mostly  of  the 
didactic  nature  and  some  of  them  of  considerable  poetic  worth. 

At  the  present  writing  there  are  a  great  number  of  authors  who 
are  rising  into  prominence,  and  will  soon  make  their  mark  in  our 
literary  world. 

May  12,  1898. 


CHflFTER  55. 

IN  MEMORY  OF  THOSE  GONE  BEFORE. 

Tributes  to  Ex-Fresidents  Wright,  Parsons,  Reeve,    Grant, 
Stowell  and  Moore. — Others  who  Have  Passed   Away. 


In  memory  of 

mwm  t,\K\m%tm  Ulrigbt 

Fifth  President  N.  A.  P.  A. 

CDomas  I).  Parsons 

Seventh  President  N.  A.  P.  A. 

THOMAS  H,  PARSONS.  The  mere  writing  of  that  name 
crowds  my  pen  with  memories.  It  was  more  than  twenty 
years  ago  I  first  met  him.  He  was  then  the  editor  of  the 
Buffalo  Amateur,  a  diminutive  but  artistic  paper,  with  an  edi- 
torial department  us  quaint  and  witty  and  as  full  of  enthusiasm 
for  the  cause  of  Amateur  Journalism  as  one  would  expect  from 
one  of  his  characteristics.  It  was  at  the  New  York  state  conven- 
tion of  amateur  journalists  which  met  in  Syracuse,  in  Januaiy, 
1879.  The  writer  was  then  a  youth  of  sixteen  and  Parsons,  I 
think,  two  years  older.  We  conceived  at  that  time  a  strong  lik- 
ing for  each  other  which  later  rooted  into  such  a  close  and  inti- 
mate friendship  that  we  came  to  be  known,  throughout  the 
Amateur  Journalistic  world,  as  the  "Siamese  twins."  No  one 
could  know  Parsons'  well  without  liking  him,  for  he  was  possessed 
of  a  fiank  and  sunny  nature,  and  he  continually  bubbled  over 
with  a  quaint  humor.  He  was  tall,  thin  and -^  angular,  wore 
glasses,  and  had  a  way  of  moving  about  that  was  inimitable.  At 
conventions  he  was  always  busy  with  all  mauner  of  pranks,  and 
nobody  ever  knew  what  to  expect  next  from  him.  At  Boston, 
during  a  N.  A.    P.   A.    meet,  lie   issued    an  anonymous  paper,. 


326     HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATELK   TJRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

printedon  large  paper  bags,  which  he  styled  the  Bladder,  which 
was  filled  with  witty  squibs  concerning  the  convention  and  its 
attendants,  ard  which  created  quite  a  commotion  amongst  those 
who  were  hit  hardest.  That  is  only  a  sample  of  his  many  conven- 
tion pranks,  and  the  writer  remembers  them  all,  for  he  used  to 
hiive  to  shoulder  one-half  the  responsibility  for  them,  and  one-half 
tlite  censure  if  any  resulted  from  them,  although  he  was  usually 
innocent.  Parsons  amateur  career  covered  a  period  of  nearly 
ten  years.  He  never  could  quite  separate  himself  from  the  asso- 
ciations and  friendships  of  his  Amateur  Journalistic  days,  and 
only  a  short  time  before  his  death  the  writer  received  a  letter 
from  him  in  which  he  expressed  the  desire  to  re-enter  the  'Dom 
and  make  "things  hot  for  awhile."  He  was  an  artistic  printer, 
married  well,  was  blessed  with  two  children,,  and  at  his  untimely 
death  was  the  owner  of  a  fine  printing  and  lithographing  plant  in 
Buffalo.  He  had  everything  to  live  for.  'j'o  this  day  the  writer 
misses  "Tommy"  Parsons  as  he  could  no  other  friend  whom  he 
has  known  during  his  lifetime.  Will  T.  Scofield. 


frank  Hewton  Win 

P:ighth  President  N.  A.  P.  A. 

I<  FIBST  met  Frank  N.  Reeve  in  1880,  at  the  Cincinnati  meet- 
:  ing  of  the.N;  A.  P.  A.  He  was  then  a  candidate  for  the. 
first  vice-presidency.  He  had  strennonsly  opi)osed  my 
candidacy  for  the  presidency,  and 'my  attention  was  naturally 
attracted  to  him.  Reeve  had  first  obtained  prominence  in  Ama- 
teui'  Journalism  in  1879,  his  publication,  the  Independent  Times, 
being  the  me<lium  through  which  he  addressed  tlie  fraternity. 
Hejiever  entered  the  field  of  the  amateur  authc»r^  or  at  least  only 
to  a  very  limited  extent,  his  fame  resting  upon  liis  work  as  an 
tditor,  and,  in  later  years,  as  a  politician. 

Reeve  was  a  capable  aiid  bright  writer.  He  was  an  cnlliusiast 
in  Amateur  Journalism.  Fiis  interest  in  it  was  unbounded,  and 
his  energy  tremendous.  He  was  naturally  fitted  to  become  a 
le^dej'f  and.when Wrignt  declit»ed  the  election  as  president  of  the^ 
N.  A.  P,  A.  at dncinnati^. Reeve  was  tendered  and    could    easi'v> 


HTSTOKY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION.      327 

have  llien  been  elected  to  this  much  sought  for   position.      He 
refused  to  accept  a  nomination  and  I  was  elected. 

At  the  next  meeting,  Reeve  was  the  only  candidate  worth  con- 
sidering for  tlie  presidency.  He  was  opposed  by  Max  Lesser,  of 
New  York,  but  the  strength  of  the  opposition  was  inconsiderable. 
Reeve  £tssumed  the  presidency  when  the  affairs  of  the  Association 
were  in  a  very  disorganized  condition.  He  at  once  proceeded  to 
vitalize  the  organization. 

Reeve  certainly  made  a  model  president  of  the  N.  A.  P.  A. 
Under  his  administration  the  Association  assumed  stabilit}'. 
Order  was  wrought  out  of  chaos,  and  a  complete,  harmonious 
and  respectable  Association  was  turned  over  to  his  successor. 

In  looking  back  through  tlie  veil  of  years  which  now  obscures 
his  memory,  I  am  impressed  with  llie  thought  that  Frank  N. 
Reeve  was  "a  fine  fellow."  He  was  loyal  to  his  friends,  generous 
to  his  enemies  (and  as  he  had  a  very  positive  character,  he  had 
many  of  these)  and  was  receptive  of  good  and  noble  impressions. 
His  ideals  were  high.  Honor  was  born  in  him.  His  mistakes 
were  those  of  youth  and  youthful  impulsiveness. 

He  was  a  tireless  worker  and  by  his  exanple  inspired  zeal  in 
others.  He  was  essentially  the  "man  of  the  hour*'  in  1881-2, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  Reeve  it  is  almost  Certain  that  the  N.  A. 
P.  A.  would  have  floundered  in  the  sea  of  adversity  and  became 
extinct,  at  least  for  a  time. 

For  several  years  (1882-G)  I  was  intimately  associated  with 
Reeve.  I  visited  him  at  his  home,  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  and  became 
well  acquainted  with  his  private  life.  His  duties  as  a  traveling 
salesman  for  a  manufacturing  jewelry  house  brought  him  to 
Indianapolis  three  or  four  times  each  year,  and  every  time  I  met 
him  my  respect  for  his  integrity  and  ability  increased. 

Frank  N.  Reeve  was  worthy  to  hold  a  place  on  the  roster  of 
the  presidents  of  the  N.  A,  P.  A.  His  career  as  an  amateur 
journalist,  his  moral  character  and  abilities,  were  such  as  to  ren- 
der it  proper  to  pay  homage  to  his  memor3'. 

Thos.  G.  Harrison. 

Indianapolis,  December  8,  1807. 


A 


328  HISTORY   OF  TflE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRE8S   ASSOCIATION. 

Tinlay  Hrnon  Grant 

Ninth  President  N.  A.  P.  A. 

[From  National  Amatem\  December  1897.] 
DOZEN  years  ago  a  distinguished  clergyman  of  this  city 
used  these  words:  "It  is  a  great  thing  to  have  lost 
such  a  man  as  Ex-President  Grant,  but  it  is  a  greater 
thing  to  have  such  a  man  to  lose."  These  words  spoken  of  the 
dead  general  who  n©w  sleeps  on  the  banks  of  the  classic  Hudson, 
are  as  appropriate  in  our  world  when  applied  to  his  distinguished 
namesake  who  has  so  recently  left  us.  For  I  regard  as  one  of 
the  brightest  pages  in  the  records  of  Amateur  Journalism  that  it 
attracted  to  and  held  within  its  ranks  such  a  man  as  Finlay 
Grant;,  and  upon  the  other  hand,  it  is  safe  to  say,  that  no  other 
one  man  ever  did  so  much  for  Amateur  Journalism  as  did  he. 
I  would  not  pluck  one  laurel  from  the  brow  of  our  other  leaders. 
In  the  early  '80's,  against  the  machinations  of  the  party  headed 
by  Maximus  A.  Lesser,  it  needed  the  iron  arm  and  nerve  of  steel 
of  Frank  Newton  Reeve,  but  had  it  not  been  for  the  labors  of  his 
successor,  the  enthusiastic,  sagacious  and  untiring  Finlay  Grant, 
the  work  of  Keeve  had  been  in  vain.  He  threw  himself  into  the 
work  with  the  enthusiasm  born  of  sincere  conviction,  an  intelli- 
gence that  sprang  from  a  profound  mind,  and  an  industry  unpar- 
alleled in  the  annals  of  Amateur  Journalism  and  left  an  impress 
upon  that  institution  that  has  never  yet  and  never  will  be  effaced. 
But  behind  and  above  the  work  there  was  always  the  man.  To 
me  the  news  of  his  death  came  with  all  the  shock  of  a  personal 
bereavement,  I  knew  him  and  I  loved  him  as  a  brother,  and 
surely  no  man  was  ever  more  worthy  of  the  respect,  admiration 
and  love  of  his  associates  than  was  he.  It  is  difficult  to  speak 
of  Finlay  Grant  in  terms  other  than  those  which,  to  those  who 
knew  him  not,  must  seem  to  be  the  grossest  flattery,  but  those 
who  have  simply  met  him  can  partly  guess  what  those  who  knew 
him  as  I  did,  in  sunshine  and  shadow,  Icnow^  that  in  Finlay  Grant 
there  was  given  to  the  world  one  of  the  finest  natures  that  was  ever 
moulded  of  human  clay.  Slightly  modernizing  the  words  of 
Prince  Henry  in  the  play,  I  can  sincerely  say  of  Finlay  Grant : 
"The  earth  that  bears  thee  dead,  bears  not  alive  a   truer   gentle- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION         329 

man.''     The  words  that  Shakespeare  pi)ts  in  the  mouth  of   Marc 

Antony  over  the  dead  body  of  Marcus  Brutus   on   the  plains   qf 

Pbillippi  have  become  worn  and  hackneyed   with  almost  constant 

use  since  first  they  fell  from  the  pen  of  the  great   dramatist,   and 

never  in  all  these  centuries  have  they  been  more  fittingly  applied 

than  they  may  be  to  our  departed  leader,  Finlay  Grant: 

His  life  was  gentle,  and  the  elements 

So  mixed  in  him  that  Nature  might  stand  up 

And  say  to  all  the  world,  '-This  was  a  man!'" 

Truman  J.  Spencer. 

Gdwara  £nmt  Stowell 

Twelfth  Presideut  N.  A.  P.  A. 

[From  the  Progress,  Pomona,  Cal.,  Feb.  0,  1888,  of  which  Mr. 
Stowell  was  editor.] 

•'There  is  no  chance,  no  destiny,  no  fate. 

Can  circumvent,  or  hinder,  or  control 

The  firm  resolve  of  a  determined  soul; 
Gifts  count  for  nothing;  Will  alone  is  great; 
All  things  give  way  before  it  soon  or  late. 

What  obstacles  can  stay  the  mighty  force 

Of  the  sea-seeking' river  in  its  course, 
Or  cause  the  ascending  orb  of  day  to  wait? 

Each  well  born  soul  will  win  what  it  deserves. 
Let  the  fool  prate  of  luck;  The  fortunate 

Is  he  whose  earnest  purpose  never  swerves ; 

Whose  slightest  action  or  inaction  serves 
The  onegreat  aim.     Why,  even  Death  stands  still 
And  waits  an  hour,  sometimes,  on  such  a  VVill!'" 

NO  words,  perhaps,  could  more  fittingl}^  describe  the  last 
days  of  Mr.  Stowell,  whose  death  occured  last  Monday 
morning,  than  the  above  selection  taken  from  one  of  his 
papers,  published  by  him  years  ago.  For  weeks  and  months,  the 
treacherous  disease  which  had  marked  him  for  it*  own  had  been 
slowly  sapping  his  strength.  IJis  death,  .while  possibly  not 
wholly  unexpected,  was  yet  a  surprise  to  all  and  a  shock  to  the 
entire  community.  So  recently  had  he  been  upon  the  streets  of 
our,  city  attendicg  to  his  duties,  that  few  outside  his  immediate 
friends  even  knew  of  his  illness,  much  less  realized  its  serious 
nature.  All  hoped  at  least  for  a  temporary  recovery ;  but  it  was 
otherwise  nilled. 

Words  at  such  a  time  are   wholly  inadequate  to  express  the 


330     HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

sentiments  of  the  heart.  Like  a  true  hero,  with  the  same 
courageous  spirit  that  prompted  him  to  face  the  worlds  its  cares, 
troubles,  disappointments  and  buffetings,  he  watched  the  approach 
of  the  Destroyer,  tenaceously  disputing  every  step,  but  conscious 
how  the  conflict  must  inevitably  end.  Young,  active,  ambitious, 
hopeful,  he  toiled  on  earnestly,  faithfully  and  presistently,  and 
laid  his  armor  b}'  only  at  the  last  imperative  command.  Calmly 
he  laid  down  his  pen,  beholding  an  end  of  the  worthy  aims  and 
cherished  hopes  of  his  early  boyhood,  and  quietly  and  peacefully 
yielded  up  his  soul  to  Him  who  gave  it.  Mr.  Stowell,  though 
young  in  years  and  impulsive  in  nature,  was  mature  in  judgment, 
brilliant  and  talented  far  beyond  the  ordinary.  Fertile  in  imagin- 
ation, quiet  in  decision  and  prompt  in  execution,  he  possessed  a 
rare  tact.  Fearless  and  independent,  he  still  remained  courteous 
and  affable.  Generous,  highminded  and  magnanimous,  he  would 
not  stoop  to  anything  low  or  unworthy.  Of  limited  early  educa- 
tion and  with  only  the  newspaper  as  his  college,  he  nevertheless 
possessed  a  cultured  mind  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  current 
literature  and  the  history  of  events,  as  well  as  a  remarkable 
acquaintance  with  the  men  and  measures  of  the  time. 

As  the  founder  and  editor  of  Progress,  he  shrank  from  no  toil 
that  would  ensure  its  success ;  it  was  his  pride,  the  last  work  of 
his  hands,  his  care,  solicitude  and  ambition.  The  readers  of  the 
paper  will  miss  him  ;  Pomona,  which  he  fervently  loved  and  for 
which  he  labored,  will  miss  him.  His  familiar  form  and  cheerful 
countenance  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  His  influence  and  exam- 
ple will  long  be  remembered,  yet 

"Oh !  for  the  touch  of  a  vanished  hand, 
And  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still!'' 


mwm  Sbelby  moore 

Seventeenth  President  N.  A.  P.  A. 

IF  YOU  ask  me  to  mention  a  single  figure  that  more  than  any 
other  recalls  ''the  bright,  particular  days"  of  Amateur 
Journalism,  the  genial  presence  of  Will  S.  Moore  comes 
instinctively  before  me.  In  a  time  that  was  pervaded  with  a 
young  man's    first  radiant  outlook  on  the    life    lying  beyond  the 


HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PBE88   ASSOCIATION.  331 

school  room,  and  when  the  stars  always  remained  before  the 
vision,  and  never  fell  before  the  gaze,  "  *Frisco  Billy"  was.  the 
ideal  amateur  journalist  in  agroupingthat  was  in  the  itself  of  ideal 
nature. 

There  are  lights  and  shadows  in  an  amateur  journalist's  life 
which  long  linger  in  the  paintings  which,  perchance,  the  old-timer 
may  hang  before  memory.  Here  in  California,  some  of  that 
lively  band  of  other  days  are  dead  and  gone,  some  scattered  to 
unknown,  perhaps  forgotten  haunts,  and  the  remainder  immersed 
in  business  lives  which  have  no  unceasing  from  activities,  seldom 
meet.  But  when  the  group  sometimes  come  together,  and  the 
days  of  Amateur  Journalism  are  recalled,  then  we  miss  the  lov- 
able and  inspiring  presence  of  Will  Moore.  The  forgetf ulness 
and  oblivion  which  the  grave  so  often  achieves  cannot  obtain  in 
his  instance. 

He  had,  in  the  first  place,  a  magnetism  that  invariably  attracted 
— what  we  call  a  personal  magnetism ,  in  speakiflg  of  the  character- 
istics of  some  leaders  in  thought  and  action  among  men  and 
women.  It  is,  at  its  best,  a  rare  quality.  Few  intuitively  pos- 
sess it.  But  those  among  us  who  knew  Mr.  Moore  in  California, 
and  those  who  met  him  at  the  Boston  convention  of  '85,  felt  the 
convincing  and  ever-present  realism  of  his  powers  to  attract  the 
rank  and  file  to  the  support  of  ideas  whose  success  he  favored. 

Again,  be  was  filled  with  a  vitalizing,  contagious  enthusiasm. 
The  days  might  seem  dark  and  dreary,  and  Amateur  Jounnalisra 
in  its  decadence,  but  his  optimism  turned  laggards  into  active 
amateurs,  and  the  young  editor  destroj^ed  his  farewell  "leader," 
and  entered  with  renewed  vigor  into  the  work  be  had  been  about 
ready  to  drop.  1  have  seen  some  of  the  letters  which  the  faint- 
hearted and  discouraged  young  amateurs  wrote  to  Mr.  Moore  in 
those  days ;  I  have  seen  his  sanguine,  all-quickening  responses, 
and  among  that  number  are  some  of  those  who  are  yet  associated 
with  Amateur  Journalism,  and  have  been  honored  among  your 
number. 

Among  Californians,  he  was  not  a  great  writer  like  '-Enc," 
and  he  lacked  Russ  Lukens'  fine  diction,  but  he  was  logical  in 
all  that  he  said  or  wrote.  He  put  propositions  plainly  and 
cogently — the  chief  object  of  an  editorial.     It  was,  however,  in 


532  HieTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS  ASSOCIATION. 

bis  personal  relations  with  the  Irateroity  that  Will  Moore  wielded 
his  greatest  influence.  He  was  in  active  touch  with  all  going  on 
about  him.  He  made  friends  readily,  he  kept  faith  with  them. 
He  alwaj's  bred  enthusiasm.  The  memorable  campaign  for 
'Frisco  in  '86  comes  naturally  to  the  mind  in  this  connection. 
What  a  great  campaign  that  was !  Some  of  our  number  were 
■enthusiastic,  some  were  apathetic,  some  sulked  in  their  tents, 
but  through  it  all—during  the  eventful  days  of  '84  and  the  spring 
of  '85,  Mr.  Moore  covered  every  point  in  Amateurdom  that  cor- 
respondence could  reach,  kept  the  banner  of  'Frisco  in  '86  at 
the  Courant  mast-head,  and  then  packed'  his  grip  and  went  before 
the  Boston  convention  with  his  plea.  'Frisco  Billy!  That 
glorious  campaign  will  remain  his  lasting  monument  in  Amateur 
Journalism. 

The  honors  conferred  by  the  National  Association  are  some- 
times inadequate  when  the  services  of  some  of  its  leaders  are  con- 
cerned. 7his  wa^  so,  I  believe,  in  the  case  of  Will  S.  Moore. 
The  Association  placed  his  name  upon  the  roll  of  its  presidents — 
some  sort  of  compensation  for  the  services  which  he  had  per- 
formed—but no  mere  political  honor  of  the  kind  meted  out  as 
in  this  instance  could  balance  the  scale.  Like  Ex-President 
Finlay  A.  Grant,  when  Mr.  Moore  passed  out  of  Amateur  Jour- 
nalism there  was  no  one  to  readily  occupy  his  peculiar  place. 

Will  has  worked  out  the  great  problem.  The  short  life  is  ended, 
he  has  passed  that  point  where  all  human  philosophy  ends,  and 
eternity  begins.  The  secrets  in  God's  keeping  which  we 
shall  know  by  and  by  are  his.  But  he  is  forever  away  from  the 
company  of  the  mortals.  And  so  when  the  group  meets,  and 
the  memories  of  Amateur  Journalism  are  stirred  into  being,  we 
miss  his  genial  companionship,  as  we  ever  shall. 

Come?     Give  us  your  hand  again  in  friendly  clasp,  as  in  those 
other  days^then  hail,  and  farewell!      Fredkrick  L.  Hunter. 
San  Prancisco,  January  4,  1898. 


Alexander,  Eugene,  San  Franciso,  Cal.,   Oct.    26,    1886;    18 
years. 

Allen,  Guy,  Hutchinson,  Kan.,  1889;  17  years. 
Andrews,  James  E.,  California,  Oct.  or  Nov.,  1888. 


HISTdkY  OF  TffE  KATIONAL  AitATErft  fRESS   ASSOCIATION.  333 

Angleman,  M.  L.,  Plainfield,  N,  J.,  A«g.  12,  1879  ;  20  years. 
Bailet.  Cbks.  T.,  Klamath  KiVer,  €al.,  1893. 
Baker,  Will  W.,  San  Diego,  Cal.,  No^.  29,  1888 ;  19  years. 
Barlbr,  Harry  S.,  Alton,  III.,  June  29,  1876. 
Barnett.  John  H.,  Texas,  1876. 

Bing,  Wilbur C,  Portsmouth,  O.,  March  10,  1879;  23  years. 
Block,  Nathan  N.,  Edraoud,  Okla,,  Aug.  9,  1890;   20  years. 
Booth,  Harry  E.,  Seattle,  Wash.,  Feb.  19,  1896;  19  years. 
Brewster,  Eugene,  Jr.,  New  York  State,  1892. 
Brown,  A.  P.,  1879. 

Brown,  Fred  R.,  Walthara,  Mass.,  May,  1888. 
Buckner,  Tully  S.,  St.  Paul,  Minn..   1886. 
Burke,  Roger,  Jr.,  New  York,  1886. 
Capen,  Ernest  T. ,  Boston,  1900. 

Case,  Fred  E.,  Hartford,  Conn.,  Dec.  3,  1881 ;  20  years. 
Chamberlain,  Frank  H.,  Marietta,  O.,  Ang.  5,  1888. 
Cody,  HopeR.,  Chicago,  Dec.  7,  1899  ;  32  years. 
Cohen,  Joe,  Chicago. 
CooMS,  Charles  F.,  Cincinnati,  1876. 
Cooper,  Thos.  C,  Santa  Crnz,  Cal,,  1874. 
Cornell,  Fred  M.,  Summit,  N.  J..  Aug.  19,  1889. 
CuRRAN,  Catherine  A.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Nov.    26,    1898;    17 
years. 

Daniels,  P.  A.,  New  Orleans,  1897. 

Dauber,  Lizzie  M.,  Jackson,  O.,  April  23,  1891. 

Demaeest,  a.  N.,  Chicago,  1876. 

Donohue,  Henry  F.,  Chicago,  Sept.  20,  1883. 

Dresser,  Clarence  P.,  Kansas  City»  April  24,  1891. 

Duffy,  Frank  H,,  Washington,  D.  C,  April  5,  1880. 

Duncan,  Will  A.,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  Feb,  7,  1893;  21  years. 

Ely,  Charles  A.,  Frederick,  Md.,  Dec.  10,  1881. 

Emerson,  Florence,  Indiana,  Jan.  20,  1892. 

Farwell,  Edward  A.,  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  11,  1871. 

Fieldwisch,  Henry  L.,  Denver,  Nov.,  1887;  34  years. 

Fiske,  Wm.  A.,  187—. 

FiTTLE,  John  F.,  Brooklyn,  Aug.,1880;21  j'ears. 

Fuller,  Maud  L.,  South  Boston,  Mass.,  Dec.  9,  1896. 

Gang,  Albert,  Indianapolis,  Ind..  1893. 

Gans,  Chas.  W.,  Banning,  Cal.,  March  5,  1893;  22  years. 

Gerner,  Richard,  England,  July  30,  1885  ;  29  years. 

GoDLEY,  Harry  C,  Jersey  City,  N.  J.,  Jan.  13,  1892. 

GoFF,  Charles  L.,  Bowling  Green,  O.,  Aug.  12,  1899. 

Grant,  Alex.  D.,  New  Glasgow,  N.  S.,  1899. 

Grant,  Finlay  A.,  Fargo,  N.  Dak.,  May  2,  1897 ;  34  years.  ^ 

Grummond,  George M,,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich., March  11,  1887. 

GuiNDON,  Eugene  F,,  San  Francisco,  Aug.  29,  1886  ;  22  years. 


331  HISTORY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

Hanks,  Chas.,  Covington,  Ky.,  1879. 

Hart,  Henry  S.,  Philadelphia,  April  27,  1881 ;  21  years. 

HicKEY,  D.  J.,  New  York  City,  1888. 

HiLLTER,  Will  S.,  1885. 

HoTT,  George  M.,  California,  Jan.  23,  1888;  28  years. 

Imovilla,  Henrietta  N.,  Everett,  Mass.,  April  20,1896;  14 
years. 

Johnson,  B.  N.,  Barker,  N.  Dak.,  1891. 

Johnson,  Franklin  C,  Nice,  France,  Jan.  6,  1895. 

Kitchen,  L.  W.,  Logan,  la.,  June  23,  1891. 

Kellner,  Fred  M.,  Wilmington,  Del.,  Aug.  14,  1881,  17 
years. 

Koelle,  Fred  J.,  New  York  City,  1881 ;  23  years. 

Lautz,  Will  H.,  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  Dec.  11,   1895  ;  21  years. 

Leaning,  WillE.,  Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  summer,  1890. 

Lee,  Franklyn  W.,  Minnesota,  1898. 

Lloyd,  Chas.  E.,  University,  Cal.,  April  27,  1894. 

LooNEY,  Ralph  M.,  Sedalia,  Mo.,  May  24,  1880;  19  years. 

Marun,  Pauline,  East  Oakland,  Cal.,  Jan.  17,  1896  ;  17  years, 

McClinton,  R.,  San  Francisco,  April,  1882 ;  11  years. 

McCune,  Arthur,  New  Orleans,  1895. 

McGreevy,  Cornelius,  Vaakleek  Hill,  Ont.,  Dec.  6,  1881. 

Moore,  Alva  P.,  Rivers  Station,  Cal.,  May  15,  1895  ;  18  years. 

Moore,  Wm.  S.,  San  Francisco,  Feb.  1,  1896. 

Morris,  Samuel  L.  C,  Greensburg,  Pa,,  Sept.  7,  1878;  17 
years. 

Newcomer,  EdwardP.,  Cedar  Rapids,  la.,  April  19,  1893. 

Nicholson,  R.  B.,  Lyber  Beach,  Ga.,  Sept,  13,  1881 ;  20 
years. 

NiEDERMEYER,  Otto  A.,  June,  1878. 

Nutter,  Lewis  H.,  Boston,  June  2,  1893. 

Oakley,  Walter  D.,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Aug.  25,  1878  ;  22  years. 

Oberlies,  M.,  Jr.,  New  York,  July  8,  1893  ;  21  years. 

Parsons,  Thos.  H.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  July  4,  1892. 

Paty,  Emma  T.,  Abington,  Mass.,  Sept.  4,  1896. 

Penn,  Myron  L. 

Pfeiffer,  Francis,  Scarboro,  Ga.,  Aug.  6,  1885  ;  15  years. 

Redick,  BertL.,  Seattle,  Wash.,  Feb.  8,  1896. 

Reeve,  P^ankN.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  April  19,  1888. 

Robinson,  Edmond,  Auburn,  Cal.,  Aug.  25,  1886;   19    years. 

Ross,  Wm.,  New  York,  April,  1882. 

Russell,  W.  H.,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  Sept.  13,  1878;   19  years. 

Sanford,  G.  O.,  Nova  Scotia,  1881. 

Selden,  Frank  H.,  Moodus,  Conn.,  Feb.  2,  1882 ;  20  years. 

Sellman,  Wallie  J.,  Evansville,  Ind.,  April  28,  1885  ;  19  years. 

Sheddy,  Martin  J.,  New  York,  July  21,  1881 ;  25  years. 


HISTORY  OF   THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.     335 

Shelp,  MabloaH.,  St.  Paul,  Minu.,  May,  1896. 

Smith,  Benton  V.,  Muskegon,  Mich. 

Smith,  Frank  H.,  Haverhill,  Miss.,  Dec.  9,  1896. 

Spencer,  Lucius  H.,  Essondale,  Cal.,  Feb.  12,  1897. 

Standerwick,  James  S.,  San  Francisco ;  Sept.,  1881 ;  18  years. 

Steele,  Chas  G.,  Jr.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  11,  1888;  27  years. 

Stempel,  Austin  C,  Chicago,  III.,  July  18,  1889  ;  19  years. 

Stone,  Clarence  E. 

Stowell,  Edward  E.,  Pomona,  Cal.,  Feb.  5,  1888  ;  24  years. 

Sutter,  Chas.,  Port  Blakeley,  Wash.,  Jan,  9,  1895  ;  19  years. 

Sweet,  George  M.,  Nova  Scotia,  1881. 

Sweet,  Millard  F.,  Florida,  1882  or  3. 

Thoma,  Aloys  A.,  Rochester,  N.  Y.,   April  3,  1887 ;  22  years. 

Tully,  Laura  Lowden,  San  Antonio,  Tex.,  1896. 

Waters,  Harry  L.  B.,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  March  20,1886,  21 
years. 

Welles,  Harry  T.,  Chicago,  111.,  Feb.  17,  1888 ;  17  years. 

Wheeler,  George  H.,  Findlay  O.,  1878. 

Whipple,  W.  O.,  Massachusetts,  1891. 

White,  Claude  M.,  Homer,  La.,  1889  or  '90. 

Williams,  Clay,  Cincinnati,  O.,  Feb.  4,  1882,  14  years. 

Williams,  Oswald,  Cincinnati,  O.,  July  17,  1880. 

WoFFENDEN,  Gracia  A.  Smith,  Springfield,  Mass.,  May  28, 
1888. 

WooDZELLE,  Fannie  H.,  Cleek's  Mills,  Va.,  May  28,  1888. 

Wright,  Will  L.,  Los  Angelos,  Cal.,  1887. 


CHtfrTER  36. 

THE  INVESTIGATOR. 

Review  of  a  Volume  of  the  Finest  Amateur  Magazine  Ever 
Published. 

Contributed  by  Mrs.  Leola  White  yixon. 

ONE  of  the  most  highly  prized  volumes  in  our  library  is  a 
large,  black  morocco-bound,  book,  bearing  this  inscrip- 
tion: "The  Investigator — Spencer."  Its  dignified 
appearance  and  the  erudite  sound  of  its  title,  often  attracts  atten- 
tion. It  is  a  volume  of  which  any  amateur  should  be  proud. 
Beautifully  printed  on  fine  paper,  attractively  arranged  and  illus- 
trated, it  is  a  high  exponent  of  the  printers'  art.  It  contains 
some  of  the  best  amateur  literature  ever  published,  the  most 
t.'vlented  composers  of  the  time  contributing  to  its  pages.  It  was 
edited  by  Truman  Joseph  Spencer,  of  New  Britain,  Conn.,  and 
covers  a  period  of  four  years.  The  first  number  appeared  in 
June,  1891,  and  the  handsome  "Farewell"  Investigator  in  1895. 
The  entire  volume  contains  twenty-four  issues  and  640  beautiful 
pages.  Without  doubt  it  is  the  finest  volume  of  an  amateur 
paper  ever  published. 

The  fourth  issue  was  a  superb  "New  Year's  Number"  of  fifty 
pages.  With  an  artistic  cover,  a  full  page  frontispiece — "The 
Venetian  Moor"  by  L.  H.  Spencer — beautiful  initial  letters  and 
vignetted  pages,  it  almost  took  the  breath  of  the  happy  amateur 
recipients.  Such  authors  as  Fanny  Kemble  Johnson,  Frank  D. 
Woollen,  Bertha  Grant,  Frederic  Theo  Mayor,  Brainerd  Prescott 
Emery,  Harriet  C.  Cox,  Joseph  Dana  Miller,  Edith  Miniter, 
Everard  Appleton,  Ernest  A.  Edkins,  Alice  T.  Thayr  and  Tru- 
man J.  Spencer  contributed  to  this  issue,  assuring  one  of  the 
high  quality  of  its  contents. 

The  Investigator  was  issued  every  second  month  during  the 
first  year,  but  volume  II,  beginning  in  July,  1892,  was  sent  out 
in  monthly  numbers,  being  completed  with  the  December  issue. 

Another  delightful  surprise  came  to  Amateurdom  in  the 
"Midwinter  Number"  oi  ihQ  Investigator.     It  is   similar   to    the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION  337 

''New  Year's  Number,"  only  larger  and  finer.  With  its  120 
pages,  uniquely  illustrated,  filled  witli  meritorious  sketches, 
essays,  poems  and  editorial  comment,  completed  with  a  hand- 
some medallion  ornamented  cover,  it  is  the  finest  single  issue  of 
any  amateur  paper  ever  published.  The  contributors  to  this 
issue  are  Bertha  Y.  Grant,  Bland  R.  Huddleston,  Fanny  Kemble 
Johnson,  Edith  Miniter,  Brainerd  P.  Emeiy,  John  Winslow  Sny- 
der, Clara  Tardy  Gresham,  Frederic  Theo  Mayor,  Joseph  Dana 
Miller,  Ella  Maud  Frye,  Annie  Laurie  Lynde,  Kathlene  F.  Smith, 
Mary  W.  Morton,  George  Edgar  Frye,  Waldo  P.  Johnson, 
Alice  T.  Thayr,  Ernest  A.  Edkins,  Frances  A.  Parsons,  Susan 
B.  Robbins,  Capitola  LeNoir  Harrison,  Will  A.  Duncan,  Truman 
J.  Spencer,  Harriet  Caryl  Cox  and  Will  R.  AntisdeL 

The  third  number  of  volume  III  was  the  "Shakespeare  Anniver- 
sary Number,"  April,  1893.  This  is  possibly  the  most  valuable 
of  all  the  issues  of  the  Investigaior.  Mr.  Spencer  is  a  true  Shakes- 
pearean scholar,  and  in  this  issue  gave  his  readers  the  cream  of 
much  study.  Within  its  sixty  pages  are  found  poems  by  Joseph 
Dana  Miller,  John  Kendall,  V.  J.  Butler  and  H.  F.  Donahue. 
Mr.  James  F.  Morton,  Jr.,  contributes  an  able  essay,  entitled 
"A  Forgotten  Tragedy,"  dealing  with  the  i)lay  of  Henry  VI.  In 
answer  to  a'  request  from  Mr.  Spencer,  a  number  of  amateurs 
expressed  their  preferences  as  to  passages  and  plays.  A  unique 
''Love  Letter"  of  two  and  a  half  pages,  every  word  and  letter 
found  in  the  works  of  Shakespeare  is  given  by  Mr,  Spencer.  C. 
W.  Ellsworth  contributes  a  sketch,  ''Dogberry."  Mr.  Spencer 
has  a  page  of  seven  tablets  illlustrating  "Life's  Fitful  Fever," 
Twenty-eight  pages  of  valuable  comment  by  the  editor  completes 
the  issue. 

Four  other  notable  numbers  were  sent  out — the  convention 
issues  of '93  and  '94 ;  twenty-four  page  Christmas,  '93,  issue; 
and  the  splendid  "Farewell  Number." 

The  "Farewell"  Investigator  is  a  fiitting  close  to  the  volume, 
adding  strength,  beauty  and  pathos  to  the  whole.  It  consists  of 
108  pages,  a  handsome  cover,  a  full  page  frontispiece,  beautifully 
tinted  headings  and  initial  letters  and  contributions  from  twenty 
of  the  best  authors  known  in  the  amateur  world.  Some  regard 
it  the  peer  of  the  famous  "Midwinter  Issue,"    and   surelj^   it  is  a 


338 


HISTOBY   OF  THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 


close  rival.     A  certain  feeling  of  sadness  pervades   one's  spirit  in 

reading  the  "Farewell"  Investigator — a  heartfelt  regret  that  ^'a 

necessary  end  will  come." 

Much  of  the  beauty  of  the  entire  volume  is  due  to  the  artistic 

talent  of  Mr.  Lucius  H.  Spencer^  brother  of  the  editor.     He  was 

particularly    graceful  in  his  initial   letters,    headings  and   small 

marginal    pictures.      Their    delicate    coloring    and    suggestive 

designs  speak  a  beautiful  language  of  their  own.    There  can  never 

be  SLich  another  volume  of  tiie  Investigatory  for  the  sympathetic 

hand  of  the  artist  is  stilled  ;  yet 

''To  live  in  hearts  we  leave  behind 
Is  not  to  die." 


CHAPTER  37. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Amateur  Pioneers. — Early  Associations. — Amateur  Fairs. — 
Representation  at  Vienna. — Amateur  Press  Encourage- 
ment Association. — Young  Women's  A,  P.  A. 

AMATEUR  PIONEERS. 

1812 — Thos  G.  Candie  issued  the  Juvenile  FoHfolio  aiid  Lit- 
erary Miscellany,  weekly,  ia  Philadelphia,  commeacing  Oct  17, 
for  five  years.  Name  was  then  changed  to  Parlor  Cowipanion. 
All  trace  lost  after  May,  1816.  Cundie  was  14  years  old  and  an 
invalid. 

1846 — April  4,  Wm.  Henry  Button  began  published  the  Sun 
beam,  in  Boston ;  four  pages,  5x7.      The  paper  continued   until 
April  17,  1852. 

1851 — Two  boys  issued  four  numbers  of  the  Democrat  from 
Skaneaths,  N.  Y. 

1853 — Graveseud  Item  published. 

1858 — C.  H.  Kent  (14  years  old)  published  the  Coos  Herald 
at  Lancaster,  N.  H. 

1860— Robert  H.  Canfield  and  Robert  Lee  issued  the  Bath 
Union  at  Bath,  Me. 

I860 — Miss  Nellie  Williams  published  the  PenfieU  Extra  at 
Peufield,  N.  Y.,  weekly,  from  an  office  owned  by  her  brother 
who  had  entered  the  army. 

I860 — C.  H,  Lane  issued  the  ifowi^or  from  Exeter,  N.  H. 

1866 — Harry  E.  Wheeler  published  the  Weekly  Star  at  Evans- 
ville,  Ind.     Same  editor  in  1867  published  the  Welcome  Visitor. 

EARLY  ASSOCIATIONS. 

N.  A.  P.  A.— 1869-1873. 

1869 — Amateur  Printer's  Association  organized  at  residence  of 
Charles  Scribner,  New  York,  Sept.  18,  J.  B.  Scribner,  chairman ; 
W.  L.  Terhune,  secretary. 

March  2,  1870,  second  convention,  Newark,  N.  J.  Name 
changed  to  Amateur  Press  Association.  W.  L,  Terhune,  presi- 
dent ;  Geo.  W,  Hills,  secretary. 


340  HrSTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL    AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

July  7,  1870,  third  conveution,  Boston,  W.  L.  TerhunCy 
president;  Edwin  A.  Farwell,  vice-president;  Geo.  W.  Hills, 
secretary ;  C.  H.  Fowle,  treasurer. 

Jan.  18,  1871,  fourth  convention,  Buffalo.    E.  H.  Hutchinson, 
president;     Chas.     McColm,    first   vice-president;    Wra.    Howe 
Downes,  second  vice-president ;   J.F.Osgood,   secretary;    Geo, 
B.  Smith,  treasurer. 

July  12,  1871,  fifth  convention,  Pittsburgh. 

1872,    sixth    convention,     Philadelphia,     Wm.     Howe 

Downes,  president ;  John  A.  Fox,  vice-president ;    John  Harper, 
secretary ;  W.  F.  Miller,  treasurer. 

July  9,  1873,  seventh  conveution,  Chicago.  Chas.  S.  Diehl, 
president;  E.  A.  Henderson,  first  vice-president ;  Geo.  W.  Harn^ 
second  vice-president. 

OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS. 

1872— Eastern,  Western,  Baltimore,  Bay  State,  California, 
Granite  State,  Jersey  Blue,  Kentucky,  New  York,  Pittsburgh, 
Southern  Associations  organized. 

1873 — Louisville,  Philadelphia  Branch  of  Eastern,  Empire 
State,  New  Orleans  and  U .  S.  Reform  Associations  organized. 

1875 — Feb.  2,  American  Amateur  Editors'  Association  organ- 
ized at  Walcott,  N.  Y.  Avvarded  a  prize  to  the  Boys^  Herald  as 
the  best  amateur  paper  then  published." 

AMATEUR  FAIRS. 

The  first  annual  fair  of  the  United  States  Amateur  Exhibition 
was  held  at  Bath,  N.  Y.,  May  1,  1S74,  and  premiums  to  the 
amount  of  $10  were  awarded.  Now  aud  Then,  of  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  was  awarded  the  prize  for  being  the  best  amateur  paper 
represented ;  "Salt  Point"  for  the  best  puzzle  department  and 
"Kork"  for  the  best  batch  of  puzzles. — Harrison's  Career. 

An  Amateur  Exposition  was  held  at  Leroy,  N.  Y.,  Oct  15, 
1874,  at  which  the  Idler  received  a  prize  as  being  the  best  printed 
and  the  Boys^  Herald  a  prize  as  the  best  edited  amateur  paper. 
— Harrison's  Career. 

REPRESENTATION  AT  VIENNA. 
In. the  spriUj^  of  this  year  [1873],  the  New  York  Amateur 
Press  Association  resolved  to  have  Amateur  Journalism  repre- 
sented at  Vienna,  Austria,  at  the  world's  exhibition,  and  made 
preparatiors  for  sending  four  amateurs  there  for  the  purpose  of 
issuing  a  small  journal  as    an  exponent    of  American    Amateur 


HISTORY  OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION 

Journalism.  A  printing  press,  type,  etc,  were  procured,  and 
W.  N.  Stewart,  VVm.  Howe  Downes,  Wm.  Furber  Miller  and 
I.  JaroslawskI  undertook  the  trip/  The  boys  were  received  with 
:a  sort  of  suspicion  by  the  authorities,  and  each  number  of  their 
little  paper,  the  American  Youth,  was  very  closely  inspected 
before  they  were  allowed  to  be  distributed.  But  when,  regardless 
•of  all  obstacles,  the  Youths  in  eight  page,  sixteen  column  form, 
made  its  appearance  regularly  every  Saturday,  until  the  close  of 
the  exhibition,  it  attracted  the  attention  of  Americans,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  royalty  and  nobility  of  the  old  world,  and  this 
exemplification  of  American  progress  was  praised  by  journalists 
from  San  Francisco  to  Athens,  who  were  lavish  in  their  ecomiums 
upon  the  pluck  of  the  American  boys,  who  were  certainly  deserv- 
ing of  all  the  praise  they  received. — Harrison's  Career. 

AMATEUR  PKESS  ENCOURAGEMENT  ASS'N. 
The  Amateur  Press  Encouragement  Association  was  organized 
in  1885,  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Ed.  P.  Cook.  Its  object 
was  to  gather  current  amateur  papers  and  send  them  out  in  bun- 
dles to  recruits,  who  were  not  apt  get  current  papers  in  other 
ways.  Ed.  P.  Cook  was  president  of  the  Association;  H.  Free- 
man, Jr.,  first  vice-president ;  E.  D.  Shaw,  second  vice  president. 
Fen  and  Press  was  used  as  an  official  organ  in  which  reports  were 
made  of  work  accomplished.  The  organization  lived  about  a 
year. 

YOUNG  WOMEN'S  A.  F.  A. 

A  Young  Women's  A.  P.  A.  was  organized  about  June,  1885. 
It  was  oflScered  as  follows:  President,  Zelda  Arlington;  vice- 
president,  Helen  G.  Phillips ;  secretary,  Dora  E.  Sheldon ; 
treasurer,  Bertha  Y.  Grant ;  official  editor,  Edith  M.  Dowe.  The 
Yiolet  was  the  official  organ.  No  conventions  were  held  and  the 
Association  lived  only  about  a  year. 


Cable  of  Contents. 


Chapter  1— OrigiD  of  the  N.  A,  P,  A 1 

Many  Claimants  for  the  Honor  of  Planning  a  National 
Association— C.  E.  Williams  Named  by  James  Austin 
Fynes— James  M.  Beck  Says  Philadelphia  Amateurs 
were  Responsible  for  the  Plan— Suggestion  of  E.  R. 
Rialein  September,  1875— The  Philadelphia  Association 
—Accumulating  a  Convention  Fund — Division  of  the 
Philadelphia  Amateurs— Beck's  Plan— Approval  from 
Boston— uoalition  of  Two  Societies  attempted,  without 
Success— Two  Conventions  Called— The  Meeting  at 
City  Institute  Hall,  July  4— "Winslow"  Credits  the 
Plan  to  the  Portland  Gazette— UonoT  to  Beck  and  Other 
Philadelphians. 

Chapter  2 — The  First  Convention ^ 

A  Few  Introductory  Remarks— Philadelphia,  July  4.  1876 
— '-Winslow's''  Account— Invitations  from  Philadelphia 
—Arrival  at  the  Mecca— A  First  View— A  Representa- 
tive Gathering— Call  to  Order— (jrerner's  Address  of 
Welcome— Suggestions  of  the  Political  Battle— Perma- 
nent Officers  Elected— The  National  Amateur  Press  As- 
sociation Organized— Official  Board  Completed— Other 
Business— Literary  Exercises— A  Telegraphic  Report- 
Prominent  Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  3 — The  Long  Branch  Convention  .  . 12 

Politics  to  the  Fore— Candidates  Plentiful— Gerner's-'Con- 
gress  Scheme"— Sectionalism  Appears  -Ohio  Amateurs 
Pass  Resolutions— "Winslow"  Replies,  Suggesting  that 
Meetings  Alternate  East  an  I  West— President's  Proc- 
lamation—Clossey's  Convention  Account— "Winslow" 
Defines  an  Amateur— '-CongrebS  Scheme"  Tabled— An- 
other Constitution  Committee  Appointed — Dingwall 
Elected  President— Sensational  Literature  Denounced— 
Prominent  Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  4 — The  Chicago  Convention  of  1878 27 

The  Second  Generation  Comes  On-  The  Postal  Troubles 
— The  Campaign— Convention  in  Chicago— New  Con- 
stitution Adopted— Struggle  for  the  Presidency— The 
Banquet  at  the  Palmer  House  -Editors'  Lyceum  and 
Critics'  League  -The  Charges  of  Fraud— Prominent 
Papers  of  the  Year— The  First  National  Amateur— The 
Constitution. 

Chapter  5— The  Washington  Convention  of  1879 37 

The  Year  1870— Extracts  from  President's  Messages- 
Waller  as  a  Historian  — Washington'sManyCouventions 
—The  Briggs  Campaign— Mistakes  of  Briggs  and  Gee— 


344  HISTORY   OF  THE  NATIONAL   AMA.TEUR   PRESS    ASSOCIATION. 

Fynes'  Hopeless  Candidacy— Lukewarm  Briggs  Men 
Desert  for  the  Enemy— The  Convention  Assembled— 
Credentials  Committee  and  Its  Work— Tlie  Skirmish  Be- 
fore the  Battle— Proxy  Committee  and  Its  Remarkable 
Keport— Proxies  Thrown  Ont— Briggs  Elected  on  First 
Ballot— Irregularities  Charged— Briggs  Caucus  Makes  a 
Full  Ticket— Fynes'  Followers  Plan  for  a  Second  Ballot 
—Charges  and  Counter  Charges— Personnel  of  the 
Gathering— Some  Figures— Mount  Vernon  Excursion— 
Fynes  Men  Disgusted— Laureate  Awards— King  Kushing 
Again  Reigns— Hotel  Proprietor  to  the  Rescue— Esti- 
mates of  the  Proxy  Vote  — Southerners  Withdraw  Be- 
cause of  Clarke's  Election  to  Office— Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  6 — Tlie  A.  A.  A.  Assc^ciaiion 58 

The  Negro  as  an  Amateur — Oldham's  Stand — Clarke  De- 
feats Carr— Action  in  North  Carolina— Universal  En- 
dorsement in  the  South — Organization  of  the  A.  A.  A, 
A.— Its  Officers— How  It  T^'orked— It  May  be  Still  Alive. 

Chapter  7 — The  Meelinj/  in  Cincinnati 63 

Conditions   Improving— Campaigns    and   Campaigning— 
The  Convention    and    Attendants— Officers  Elected  and 
Constitution  Amended— "Old    Sledge's"    Account— The 
Constitution  in  Full,    as  Amended— New    Members  Ad-    • 
mitted— Interest  Waning — Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  8 — Beginning  Over,  at  Buffalo 78 

The  Year  Opens  Quietly— Sanderson's  Convention  Report 
—Small  Attendance— The  Transom  Trick— Election  of 
Officers— Kempner's  Account— Organization  of  the  I.  A. 
A.  L. — Official  Minutes— Laureateships— Reeve's  Ad- 
ministration— Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  9 — A  Continuance  of  Prosperity 88 

Campaigns  Opened  in  January— The  Miller  Boom— The 
Scotield  Caucus— Work  of  the  Convention— Members 
Pj-Psent— Election  of  Officers— Resolutions  on  Flashy 
Literature— The  Banquet— The  St,  Nicholas  Article.— Fi- 
nances of  the  N.  A,  P.  A. —  rhe  National  Amateur — Papers 
of  the  Tear. 

Chapter  10— The  CJatUerirg  iii  Gotham 100 

Opening  of  a  Prosperous  Year— The  Campaign  Preceding 
the  Convention— Steele's  Meteoric  Candidacy— Wy lie 
Brought  to  the  Fore— Legler  Nominated— Fischer's 
Plans  Crushed— Watkyns  as  a  Campaign  Manager— The 
Proxies  to  be  Counted-  Caucus  Nominations — The  Con- 
vention and  Officers  Elected— The  Banquet— Amend- 
menis  to  the  Constitution — Brewster's  Affidavit — Harri- 
son's National  Amateur — E^apers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  1 1 — The  Milwaukee  Meeting 112 

An  Unauspicious  Opening— President  Wy  lie's  Resigna- 
tion. Brought  About  by  the  Fischer  Fraud— The  Conven- 
tion Called  by  Mercur— Truman  Spencer's  Accounts-- 
Wylie  Unseated  and   Legler  Declared  the   President— 


HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.      345 

Election  of  Officers--Expulsion  of  Fischer,  Kussell  and 
Martin- -Laureate  Entries  of  the  Year--Kempner's  Fi- 
nancial Report--Heath  Promoted  to  the  Presidency-- 
Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  12— The  "Halcyon  Days''  Returned 140 

Heath  Assumes  the  Presidency — Historian  Laureate  Re- 
corder's Report — ''Mugwump's"  Convention  Account — 
Election  of  Sullivan— Grant- York  Wedding- -The  Ban- 
quet--Papers  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  13—"  'Frisco  in  '86"   150 

Political  Phases--The  San  Francisco  Convent'on--Munro 
Elected    President- -Judiciary     Committee's    Report — 
JPapers,  Authors  and  Books  of  the  Year. 

Chapter  14 — The  Literary  Lyceum  of  America 170 

Mr.  Emery's  Reasoning— Whoelsecoulditbe  to  Lorenzo- 
Announcement  and  Constitution  of  the  Lyceum— The 
Executive  Board's  Manifesto- -Spencer's  Open  Letter  to 
Emery — Action  of  Judiciary  Committee— The  Refor- 
mation Over. 

Chapter  15 — Philadelphia's  Second  Convention 186 

Campaigns  Open  the  Year--The  Philadelphia  Meeting-- 
Proxies  Thrown  Out--Reports  of  Officers--Moore's  Re- 
view of  the  Year— The  National  Amateur. 

Chapter  16— A  Year  of  Good  Work 193 

Laureate  Recorder  Barker's  Report™ Review  of  the  Year's 
Work— The  Chicago  Convention — Barker  Elected  Over 
Woollen- -Moore's  Name  Put  on  the  Presidential  Ros- 
ter--The  National  Amateur. 

Chapter  17 — Buffalo's  Second  Convention 203 

The  Conservative  Party  Organized— The  Buffalo  Conven- 
tion— Election  of  Officers — The  New  Constitution  — 
Alumni  Organizations. 

Chapter  18— The  Boston  Conference  of  1890 220 

Amateurs  in  Attendance — Subjects  Discussed — The  Ban- 
quet and  Toast  Responses. 

Chapter  19 — Amateurs  Gather  at  Indianapolis 222 

President  Kempner's  Official  Appointments — Meeting 
Changed  from  Cleveland — The  Grant  and  Dunlop  Cam- 
paigns— Swift  as  Convention  Chronicler--The  Member- 
ship Revised — Constitution  Amended. 

Chapter  20 — The  Second  Boston  Conference 229 

Amateurs  in  Attendance- -Papers  Read  and  Thoroughly 
Discussed. 

Chapter  21— Red-Letter  Days 230 

A  Triangular  Presidential  Concest — The  Fine  Array  of 
Papers  in  1891- -Spencer's  Magnificent   Volume-~Mor- 


346     HISTORY   OF   THE   NATIONAL   AMATEUR   PRESS   ASSOCIATION. 

ton's  Account  of  the  Philadelphia   Meeting— The  Offi- 
cial Minutes. 

Chapter  22— The  Schermerhoru  Bolt. 239 

The  Minutes  on  Which  They  Based  the  Legality  of  Their 
Actions— Full  Eeport  of  the  Proxy  Committee— How 
Officers  Were  Elected— Resolutions  Adopted— Peculiar- 
ities of  the  Case. 

Chapter  23 — Swift's  Administration — Boston  Convention  .      246 

Dr.  fSwift's  Personal  Work— Trouble  With  Officers — 
Spencer  a  Candidate  for  President — The  Boston  Con- 
vention and  Its  Business. 

Chapter  24 — The  Schermerhorn  Faction  at  Buffalo 251 

Amateurs  in  Attendance— Amalgamation  With  the  Mu- 
tual Benefit  Association— Election  of  Officers  and  Ban- 
quet. 

Chapter  25 — Mutual  Benefit  Amateur  Press  Association.  .  .      254 

Where  the  Association  was  Planned— -Dunlop's  Election 
Made  It  Certain--Call  for  Organization— Success  In- 
stantaneous-'The  Mutual  Conference— Absorption  by 
the  National. 

Chapter  26 — The  National  Amateur  Protective  Association     259 

Sketch  of  the  Association— How  It  Was  Organized-— Of- 
ficers and  Work  Accomplished. 

Chapter  27— The  World's  Fnir  M^  et .  .  .• 2G1 

The  Year   Reviewed- -Mrs.    Leola   Nixon   as   Convention 
Ghronicler— Amateurs  in  Attend-ance--The  Amalgama- 
tion Report- -A  New  Ex-President   and  the   Discussion 
Provoked--Banquet  at  the  Leland. 
Chapter  28 — A  Yenr  of  Many  Changes 268 

The  Breach  Heale  1--Financial  Influences  on  Amateur 
Jonrnalism--The  Bofctou  Convention  E'ects  Burger 
President--Reception  and  Banquet--New  Constitution 
Adopted. 

Chapter  29— Wiien  the  Press  Clubs  Flourished. 278 

Conterences  at  Boston  and  San  Francisco- -President 
Burger's  Work  as  an  Organizer- -Death  of  Franklin  C. 
Johnson--The  Chicago  Convention-  Blackballing  of 
Candidates  for  Membership- -Compromise  Measures— 
The  Resul  t. 

Chapter  30— Back  at  the  Nation's  Capital 285 

Changes  in  Official  Board- -President  Hancock's  Views 
and  His  Work- -New  Members- -The  Washington  Con- 
vention, as  Seen  by  Linden  Dey--The  New  Constitution. 
Chapter  31— Back  to  the  Golden  Gate 294 

The  Storm  Following  the  Washington  Convention- -In- 
active Officials-The  San  Francisco  Gathering--Another 
''New"  Constitution— An  Interesting  Election— The 
Business  Transacted. 


IIISTOKY  OF  THE  NATIONAL  AMATEL'li  PRESS  ASSOCIATION.        ^47 

Chapter  32^Gatbeni]g  in  Gotham  Again 300 

Necessary  Changes  in  Official  Board— Chicago  Amateur 
Press  Club's  Handsome  Act— Steinberg's  Account  of 
the  New  York  Convention. 

Chapter  33 — Chicago's  Filth  Convention 306 

Mr.  Thiele's  Objections— The  Historian's  Eeport,  Con- 
densed— The  Chicago  Convention,  as  Seen  b}'  Francis 
P.  Goss— The  National  Amateur  Clearing  House— List  ot 
Members. 

Chapter  34 — Literature  of  Amateur  Journalism 319 

Groping  for  the  Light  in  Early  Days--Amateurdom's 
Great  Serial  Stories— The  New  Era  of  1882— The  Ee- 
action  and  Its  Eesults. 

Chapter  35 — In  Memory  of  Those  Gone  Before' 325 

Tributes  to  Ex-Presidents  Wright,  Parsons,  Eeeve,  Grant, 
Stowell  and  Moore— Others  Who  Have  Passed  Away. 

Chapter  36 — The  Investigator 336 

Eeview  of  a  Volume  of  the  Finest  Amateur  Magazine 
Ever  Published. 

Chapter  37 — Miscellaneous 339 

Amateur  Pioneers— Early  Associations-— Amateur  Fairs— 
Eepresentation  at  Vienna— Amateur  Press  Encourage- 
ment Association — Young  Women's  A.  P.  A. 


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