| Show UTAH ASSOCIATION PRESS can deal with them -providing you re square with them of course The controversy actually began in Logan on January 23 1911 during the annual convention It came attime when USPAranks had grown to an all-time high As the agenda turned to the election of officers the associationstructure became an issue An element of publishers from outlying communities headed by Heber Hicks of the Provo Post threateneddivision of USPA unless country papers were given larger representation by the creation of districts Hicks the Salt Lake Tribune reported accused Salt Lake of grabbing everything He went on to threaten division of the association unless the county districts obtained larger representation Reaction of other newsmen was mixed Hicks was taken to task for his speech the Tribunereport continued and past president Felt somewhat jokingly suggested Hicks be muzzled The verbal battle waxed warmly before James Kirkham of Lehi was named president thwarting the bid for reelection by Arnold Schulthess of Salt Lake CityBeobachter Also elected were Blood Logan Republican first vice president Capwell Tremont Tremonton Times second vice president Boyden Mt Pleasant Pyramid third vice president Diehl Mammoth Record secretary and Dresser Millard County Chronicle treasurer Kirkhamelection cooled the controversy only temporari ly When the association convened at the Commercial Club in Salt Lake City on January 23 1912 the dispute was still festering Out-state newsmen perceived the situation they commented later as well-engineered political plot by owners and members of syndicate newspapers to gain control The syndicated papers as defined by publishers from rural Utah were printed in Salt Lake City with mastheads for various outlying towns and shipped to them for distribution as home publications Country editors asserted the syndicate owners were not representative of the association and werenthe proper persons to direct its affairs 290 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
