Illinois newspaper directory. History of the Illinois press association

Illinois Newspaper Directory and History"There is another thing that we want to make clear to you gentlemen today andthat is our attitude toward the advertising of patent medicines. We hold no br ief forany patent medicine on the market; we, as editors, have no use for the so-called 'cureall.'We know and you know that medical science has never discovered any preparationthat will cure everything. We are opposed to that line of medicine. But, gentlemen,upon investigation we believe that we are safe in the statement that behind every bottleof patent medicine that is sold stands the name of some doctor who is practicing medicineor was practicing medicine up to the time of his death under a license granted himby the medical examining board of some state. Can you then lay the blame for thesemedicines on the shoulders of the editors of the country. We think not. Now, if youare in earnest in wanting to rid the country of quacks and imposters, if you want thepeople to know that they are being gulled, come out from under the mask of your ethicsthat conceals the real man, come out in the broad open light of dav—see that the licens»sto practice issued to these quacks are revoked and tell the people where they can find thedoctor or specialist that can do them good, and the newspaper men of the country willmeet you with open arms and the things that vou complain of will be a thing of th~past and honesty will be the watch-word of the medical profession of this counfy."Mr. Preston closed with this plea for better understanding:"If each of us could clearly see,And with an inner sight divine.The meaning of your heart and mine,I think that we would differ lessAnd clasp our hands in friendliness.Our thoughts would pleasantly agreeIf I knew you, and you knew me."The death of two past presidents of the Illinois Press Association was announced inthe United States Publisher of March, 1930.The first was that of John H. Harrison, editor and publisher of the DinvilleCorrmercial-News, prominent in state republican politics for many years, who diedMuch 2 in Miami Beach, Florida. Mr. Harrison was later elected to the Editors' Hillof Fame.He began his career as office boy in his father's newspaper office. When he wasgraduated from DePauw university he went to work for the old Indianapolis Sentineland later worked on various Chicago papers. Then he served as press agent for circuses,racing associations and theater companies and finally bought the old Evening Commercialin Danville. This paper later absorbed the Morning News and in 1927 the MorningPress. He raised the circulation of the Commercial-News from 900 to more than25,000.In later years Mr. Harrison expanded his interests to include coal mining, theaters,and a hotel in Danville and many philanthropies. He also became a political power ineastern Illinois and held several offices.More than 2,000 persons including men from all parts of the state of Illinoisgathered in Danville, Thursday, March 6, for the funeral.The second death was that of Harry E. Bell, editor of the White Hall Register-Republican who died on Monday, March 10. Mr. Bell was widely known as a publicspirited citizen and was prominent among the newspaper men of the state. He wasowner of the White Hall Register for twenty-eight years. In 1927 he bought the WhiteHall Republican and consolidated the two papers under the name of the Register-Republican.301