a. j.'s

In Chicago last week the National Amateur Press Association held its annual convention. At the same time in San Francisco the United Amateur Press Association held its convention. The two have nothing in common except birthplace rivalry and a few joint members. Both are organizations of youngsters and oldsters who have fun printing small periodicals on their own presses. They call themselves "a. j.'s" (amateur journalists). The N. A. P. A. was formed in Philadelphia in 1876. Nineteen years later, also in Philadelphia, the upstart Amateur Press Association of America was founded. Later that organization prefixed "United" to its name, much to the disgust of the highly professional United Press.

Of N. A, P. A's 300 members, 35 turned up at Chicago's Palmer House last week. The oldest member was not there. Charles William Smith. 83, stayed in Haverhill, Mass, where he still publishes his Tryout, a pretentious 24-pager. Few years ago the Association bought him a $25 font of new type because his own supply, reputedly 100 years old, was so illegible that, what with Mr. Smith's proneness to typographical errors, the members could hardly decipher his writings. The youngest member was not there. Felix Moitoret, 11, stayed in Oakland. Calif, where he publishes The High Filth Herald. He was represented by Father Anthony J. ("Tony") Moitoret, crack political writer for the Oakland Tribune.

Not much business is ever transacted at N. A. P. A. meetings. There would have been discussion of the deficit, but the treasurer forgot to send in a report. A local bishop made a speech on the Philosophy of Amateur Journalism. Most time was spent frolicking at the Fair, hobnobbing among a. j.'s who know each other only by exchange of papers during the year. The 300 members publish about 150 journals, each of which is sent to every other member through a central mailing bureau. A member's packet of journals would include such items as The Pippin, The Odd One, The Penpoint, The Empire, The Sea Gull, Leisure Hours, Boys' Chum, Badger Scratches, The Bob White, Tiny Tim, The New Times ("TNT'), The Giddy Gazette. Publisher of The Red Rooster is Ralph W. Babcock Jr. of Great Neck, L. I., elected president of N. A. P. A. last week. Although most of the papers are printed, a few are mimeographed. One such is the Daltonian, of Dalton, Pa. whose Editor Thomas A. Curtis sandwiches philippics against the capitalist system between advertisements for Chevrolets, insurance, typewriters. Sample Daltonian obituary: ''Mrs. Kellog spent her life in the strictly conservative activities of a typical village matron. She was probably as happy as the average person can hope to be under our antiquated system."

The U. A. P. A. functions like the N. A. P. A. Last week 50 members at the San Francisco convention elected Willard Northrop, New York contractor and scoutmaster, next year's president.

Printing. Nearly all a. j.'s use hand presses, most of them coming from the famed 62-year-old Kelsey Press Co. of Meriden, Conn. Some use small outfits printing 3 in. by 5 in. pages, costing about $15 with type font. Most popular size, at $30. prints a 5 by 8. Type costs 50-c- per Ib.; about 20 Ib. is required to set up two pages of 5 by 8. Depression has boomed the a. j. printing press business, presumably because of increased leisure time.

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