Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Dirlctory and HistorySpringfield, spoke on "The Editorial Page." Discussion on these subjects was led byJ. E. McClure, Carlinville Democrat.The business session was adjourned at four o'clock for a tour through the Universityshops, laboratories, museums, and libraries. A barbecue supper was served at thestock pavilion.At eight o'clock that evening the members assembled in Morrow Hall and werewelcomed by David Kinley, President of the University. Professor N. A. Crawfordof the Kansas State Agricultural College spoke on "The Country Newspaper, Ministerof Democracy," and Henry R. Rathbone, Congressman at Large, spoke on "The Influenceof the Press on the Government." Mr. Rathbone told the editors that "the press is theleader of America and America is the leader of the world." He said in part:"The power of the forum has passed to the press. The Great War wasa struggle of systems of propaganda, a fight with the great weapon of publicity.In this time it is necessary for the success of popular rule that public opinionbe intelligently guided, that the press of the country stand shoulder to shoulderwith the statesmen."At the third session Professor Frederic A. Russell of the department of BusinessOrganization and Operation of the University presided. Herman Roe, President of theMinnesota Select List of Country Newspapers, spoke on "Competition or Co-operation,"and Paul Stephens, editor of American Farming, on "Making the Most of Rural News."Irl H. Marshall of Chicago, publisher of a chain of newspapers, in speaking of"Country Newspaper Building," divided the subject into three distinct parts:"First," he said, "come the news and features; second comes circulationand third, advertising. In order to secure advertising, we must have circulationand in order to have circulation we must have news and features."To build and maintain a successful newspaper the same care is requiredas to develop and maintain a healthy body. A newspaper is just as susceptibleto illness or depletion from neglect as the human body, and it is just as susceptibleto recuperation or improvement from proper care and attention."Local editorials were stressed by Mr. Marshall as more important than the publisherrealized.H. U. Bailey, Bureau County Republican, Princeton, spoke on "Building Circulationon a Quality Product." The Bureau County Republican was at the time thelargest country weekly in the world, usually containing 24 pages and being entirelya home product.Elmo Scott Watson, Instructor in Journalism at the University, gave a report ona survey of country weeklies. More than 700 questionnaires had been sent to publishersin the state before the meeting of the association and Mr. Watson explained that thecountry newspaper that emphasized the news element was the paper that was prospering."These questionnaires show that 78 percent of publishers of country newspapershave gained in circulation during the past year," he said. "The majorityof them have attributed this growth to the fact that they have covered theirlocal news field more completely. The average number of subscribers as shownby the report is about 200."Mr. Watson went into detail about a composite Illinois country weekly in whichhe explained that it had a circulation of 1,400, five employees two of whom comprisedthe news staff. He stated further that the paper would carry an average of 10 ruraldistrict correspondents. The value of this newspaper was $8,500.Charles Sughroe, cartoonist with the Western Newspaper Union, opened the Fridayafternoon session with a talk on "Mickie, the Printer's Devil," famous comic strip in