Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Directory and Historynews, a few local stories, conventional columns of editorials, a large amount ofmiscellany rather difficult to classify as news, and some well-framed advertisements.Daily journalism outside of Chicago was more of a wish than a reality.There were about 200 papers in the state."' Of this number 26 were small dailiesand 135 were weeklies. The total was about 70 less than that at the start of the CivilWar. Patent insides or ready prints were just coming into general use and were asubject of discussion wherever editors got together. The Publishers' Auxiliary, houseorgan of what is now the Western Newspaper Union, was established in this year.Illinois, generally speaking, was buried in the mud and had little in the way of transportationfacilities except the railroads and rivers. Perhaps one of the best things doneby the Illinois Press Association during the early years was to bring the editors outof the mud for annual meetings and excursions, broadening their outlook and addingto their qualifications a perspective and experience with which to judge problems ofcommunity and general interest.First Year:Preparing the WayA preliminary membership of about fifty editors was enlisted during the year 1865.The group included: John W. Bailey, Princeton; Enoch Emery, Peoria; Oliver White,Toulon; George P. Smith, Jacksonville; James Shoaff, Decatur; W. R. Steele, Wilmington;John W. Merritt, Springfield; A. N. Ford, Lacon; Louis V. Taft, Salem; WilliamRounseville, Peoria; C. R. Fisk, El Paso; J. H. Burnham, Bloomington; J. W. Bush,Pittsfield; J. R. Flynn, Centralia; D. S. Crandall, Champaign; and others.In a letter written on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the AssociationJohn W. Bailey named Oliver White as his principal associate in the formativeperiod. He wrote (November 6, 1890):* a-* Oliver White, of the then Stark County News (Toulon), and myselfwere the prime movers in the organization, or rather action to that end, butneither of us ever coveted a chromo for the efforts put forth in that direction.My notion was organized effort on the part of the editors of the State for selfprotectionin matters pertaining to libel suits; protection for the people againstsecret confiscation of their property under the forms of law, and incidentallythe better protection of the exchequers of the much-abused and poorly-paid editors.It was my pleasure to be a member of the first committee to arrange a just scaleof rates for advertising and job work, more particularly advertising, and I knowof many editors whose profits were largely increased thereby. I didn't want totalk about these things in a general address and that was one of my reasons fordeclining to deliver the annual address, but there were others, such for instanceas a possible trip to Washington and New York, which stood in the way and mayeven prevent me from attending the session at Peoria. Yet bear in mind you willhave my good wishes in any event, and my services for work if needed.February 6, 1890. J. W. Bailey."As has been noted the chief business of the first year was preparing the wayfor the all-state convention. That this work was successful is attested by the fact thatbetween fifty and one hundred editors attended the Peoria meeting in February 1866.The estimate on attendance is that of men who were there, some of whom placed thenumber near fifty and some of whom placed it near one hundred. It is probable thatthe presence of guests and representatives of commercial houses occasioned the difference