Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-03-05


reader of a Southern paper is much inter
Iested, as it is the purpose of the Associa
ton to improve the standard of Southern
newspapers, and especially in regard tt
the present Geographic news service, ano
We believe that important steps were taker
in this matter, which will remedy many o.
the evils complained of by readers, ano
which publishers have labored in vain tc
rectify.
But little business was transacted except
in regard to this very important matter,
for, until the Southern Press Association
has real existence and manages and con
trolls its own Geographic news service, il
can do nothing towards inaugurating and
completing other necessary reforms, which
will become important subjects for the con.
sideration of future conventions.
The whole question of Geographic news
service was referred to committee com
posed as follows James Gardner, OF the
Augusta (Ga.) C0nstitmiona1ist j. A.
Engelhard, Wilmington IN. g. Journal ;
F. ". Dawson, Charleston Is. CO. Ne~s
W. W. Screws, Montgomery (Ala.) Adre'-
tiser;, Joseph Clisby, Macon (Ga.) Iele-
graph. Col. A. r. Lamar, Of the Colum-
bus (Ga.) Sun, President of the Conven-
ton, was added to the committee. The
following report was made upon the SUBJ
ject:
The Committee to whom was referred the con-
sideration of the whole subject of telegraphic
a chief b.
5ctions to the system now in force:
1. The territory represented in this Convention
Jays about $50, 900 annually to the New York AS
ISOLATED Press for telegrsphic news, which $780,
400 is not in any way controlled by the Southern
Press Association, but is collected and RENTED
~ the local agents Of the New York Associated
Press.
2. The New York Associated Press claim the
right to admit and has admitted, papers to the
benefit of the Southern news system without the
consent of the Southern Press.
8. This Association has control Whatever
over the appointment OF local agents.
4. The press dispatches of members OF this
Association may be cut off at any time at the
arbitrary will of the New York Associated Press.
5. The assessments and tolls may be, and have
oeen increased t will by the New York Associa-
ed Press, so that the Southern Press have been
uncertain as to what would be the cost OF their
d spatches, and have been subjected to unusual
and uni ust exactiOns.
Your Committee therefore respectfully recon-
mend:
l. That this Association contract as body for
obtaining the Geographic news which its mem
bers require. and pay for the same through its
financial agent or treasurer.
2. That the Executive Committee assess the
amount to be paid weekly for telegraphlc news by
each member of this Association.
That this Convention protest against the ex-
ercise by the New York Associated Press OF the
assumed right to admit new papers to Il priVi-
ege Of receiving its Southern telegraphic news,
and claim that the right belongs exclusively to the
southern Press Association.
That the Southern Press AssOcipiiOn claim
the right of nominating the local telegraphlc news
agents within it's territory, and that the power OF
appointing them be vested in the Executive Com
mittee.
5. That the Executive Committee be author
lied and instructed to negotiate with the New
York Associated Press, or the Western Union Tel
egraph Company, with other Companies, and
to contract for the supplying of telegraphic news
to this Association upon such terms and IN such
a manner as will prevent the continuance OF the
glaring evils OF which complaint is made.
The Executive Committee will therefore
proceed at once to enter into negotiations
to contract for satisfactory telegraphic
news service, and whether it be renewed
with the New York Associated Press. or
entered into with any other News Associa-
ton, or with the Western Union Telegraph
Company direct, we are satisfied that it
will result in good to the Southern papers,
and will prove acceptable to Southern
readers.
This Executive Committee consists of
the President, Col. A. r. Lamar, re-elec-
ted, and three members to be selected by
him from the following Board of Direc-
tors: T. W. Dawson, South Carolina !;
James Gardner, Georgia ; W. W. Screws,
Alabama ". J. Ramage, Tennessee John
Armstrong, Mississippi and J. A. Engel-
hard, North Carolina. In addition to
these officers, Col nj. J. Williams, of the
Selma (Ala.) Times. was elected Vice-Presi-
dent, and Mr.. A. w. Reese, of the Macon
(Ga.) Messenger, Secretary and Treasurer.
This important movement has in it no
political significance, every Southern paper
being alike interested. With the excep-
ton of the Virginia and New Orleans
journals, it has the active support of nearly
every Southern daily paper, and we hope
it will not be long before these papers will
take position where we believe their SYM
pathies already lead them.