HISTORY OF OREGON NEWSPAPERS
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successive elections); Elbert Bede, Sentinel, Cottage Grove (two successive elections); Hal E. Hoss, Enterprise, Oregon City (two successive elections); A. L. Mallery, Tribune, Oakland (two successive elections); R. W. Sawyer, Bulletin, Bend (two successive elections); George K. Aiken, Argus, Ontario; Ralph R. Cronise, Democrat-Herald, Albany.
Albert Tozier, of Pythias, Portland, was elected secretary 15 successive times, from 1892 to 1906 inclusive.
A local organization, the Willamette Valley Editorial Association, organized in 1916 with Will Hornibrook of the Albany Democrat president, was transformed, in 1919 to the Oregon Newspaper Conference, to meet annually at the University of Oregon School of Journalism. The last two years of the Willamette Valley Association C. E. Ingalls was president; and the presidents of the Conference, name of which was changed in 1928 to the Oregon Press Conference, follow, in order: S. C. Morton, Mist, St. Helens; Carle Abrams, Statesman, Salem; Robert W. Sawyer, Bulletin, Bend; L. D. Drake, Budget, Astoria; George P. Cheney, Record Chieftain, Enterprise; Edgar McDaniel, Harbor, North Bend; George K. Aiken, Argus, Ontario; J. D. Thomison, Glacier, Hood River; Ralph R. Cronise, Democrat-Herald, Albany; Frank B. Appleby, Observer, La Grande; Earle Richardson, Itemizer-Observer, Dallas; Louis D. Felsheim, Western World, Bandon; Ben R. Litfin, Chronicle, The Dalles; Thomas Nelson, Times, Junction City; Merle R. Chessman, Astorian-Budget, Astoria; Frank J. Wheeler, Eagle, Milton; Robert W. Ruhl, Mail Tribune, Medford; Lars E. Bladine, Telephone Register, McMinnville.
Elbert Bede, Sentinel, Cottage Grove, was the first secretary of the conference. The next year and in successive years since, George Turnbull, School of Journalism, has been elected secretary.
Programs of both association and conference, which works in close cooperation with the association, have been recognized as contributing materially to the recognized high standards of the newspapers of Oregon.
The efficiency of the association in promoting the best interests of the membership has been multiplied, in the opinion of the membership, by the work of the field secretaries. Harris Ellsworth, now editor of the Roseburg News-Review, was chosen the first field manager in 1927, succeeded by Arne Rae, editor of the Tillamook Herald, in 1929. In 1939. Mr. Rae, who had moved up to be executive secretary of the National Editorial Association, was succeeded by Harry S. Schenk, who had been advertising manager of the McMinnville Telephone Register.