The Jackson Standard, Jackson, Ohio, 14 May 1868-Random Thoughts No. 20 By the Editor – I went to Ironton, Ohio last week to attend the editorial convention. There are a hundred things I would like to relate, suggested by what I saw during the trip, but the crowded state of my columns admonishes me that I must be brief.
I left Jackson, Ohio on Tuesday afternoon and reached the Taylor House in Portsmouth, Ohio in due time. Mr. Taylor Is now keeping one of the best hotels in Southern Ohio, and I was pleased to find that he was well patronized. Several citizens of Jackson were stopping there, during the editorial convention. On Wednesday morning I saw Gen. Powell at the Taylor House and had a pleasant conversation with him.
At 2 1/2 o’clock P. M., in company with Mr. Drake of the Portsmouth Republican, Eylar of tho West Union Defender, and Gliddon of the Ripley Bee, I took passage on the Victor No. 3 for Ironton, Ohio. The river was high, muddy, swift, and to some extent covered with driftwood. The boat was rather a hard one, being a little dirty stern wheel packet, and we did not reach ‘ Ironton until ten at night.
Stopping at the Sheridan House, we were called upon by Mr. Wilson of the Ironton Register and Mr. Combs of the Ironton Journal. Mr. St. Clair, the proprietor of the Sheridan House, advertises that no spirituous liquors are kept on the premises, and I was pleased to find that he is successful in keeping a temperance house. His house was crowded, and it was with difficulty that he could procure us a room, But he succeeded, and the editorial convention had excellent entertainment.
The editorial convention met at the Court House at 2 o’clock, and fifteen editors were present. At four we went to visit the Belfont Ironworks, and found it the best furnace I ever saw. The machinery is ponderous and powerful and works perfectly. The blast is tremendous, and after being heated in the latest improved hot blast, is poured into the great furnace through nine tuyeres.
At two o’clock we started upon an excursion on the Iron Railroad, on a special train. The locomotive and car were the “cutest” little things I ever saw, and ran like fury. It took 55 minutes to run to the end of the road, and 50 minutes to return. The Lawrence county, Ohio hills were beautiful. The leaves on the little trees were the size of squirrels’ ears, and the dogwood bushes opened their big white eyes in millions of blossoms. The large lumber had all been cut off.
All the editors except Capt. Finch of Chillicothe smoked, I took a seat by arrangement, at one of the front windows, where I could get fresh air. The other thirteen must have had a fine atmosphere, as they must have burned several feet of cigars, all the stink of which was confined in that little car. We stopped at the great coal banks, and at the end of the tunnel, and looked around for a few minutes.
Getting back at seven, we were set down at the very door of the Sheridan House, as the trains run apparently all around the city, the fine-toned bells on the locomotive being heard all about you.
Supper over, we all met in a large room near the Sheridan House, and after finishing up the business of the convention, were invited to the table, where we partook of refreshments, and then remained until three o’clock, talking, making short speeches, proposing toasts, and singing songs.
Strange as it might seem, all were not drunk when the feast was over. If I thought that I would be believed, I would say that none of us was drunk. But although I did not taste the wine, my head was dizzy with the fumes of tobacco smoke that filled the great hall in which we were sitting.
Now I will give you my private opinion of the editors of Southern Ohio, Northeastern Kentucky, and West Virginia. They are a much better class of men than I had supposed them to be. Their very worst traits are shown in their papers.
I have been in several ministerial associations, and have met lawyers frequently, and I found these editors better educated, more ready, and at home in the debate than the ministers, better informed than that number of lawyers, and vastly superior in morals. I did not hear an oath during the evening, and but little that was objectionable. Such men have vast influence, and they will control public opinion. May we all control it alright?
D. M., Editorial Convention
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