The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-07-05
THE LOUISIANA PRESS CON-

VIC. Annis of the Baton Rouge Ga
zette- Comet for the holding Of a con-
vention of Louisiana editors and pub
fishers, the representatives Of seven
teen newspapers assembled at the
Harvey House in Baton Rouge yes
terday and organized themselves into
such convention. Though the atten-
dance was much smaller than had
been anticipated, probably owing to
the peculiar time selected for the as
semblage, yet the business for which
the convention had been called was
transacted with as much promptitude
and interest as if a hundred members
were present.
The session was continued until to-
day, when the labors of the conven-
ton were completed, and a permanent
organization formed under the title of
the Press Association of Louisiana,
which adjourned to meet in the city
of Baton Rouge on the s:23rd day Of
October next. The officers of this
association are: president, Harry
Hyams of the West Baton Rouge
Sugar Planter; first vice president,
j. Henri Burch Of the Baton Rouge
Grand Era; second vice president,
S. Lambert Of the Clinton Patriot
Democrat; corresponding secretary,
w. c. Annis of the Baton Rouge Ga
@ette- Comet; recording secretary E. L.
Weber of the St. Francisville Dunn
Leader; treasurer, j. W. jackson Of
the Opelousas Journal.
In next issue we shall publish q
complete synopsis Of the proceedings
of both the Press Convention and the
Press Association.
After the adjournment Of the Asso-
ton, the members attended a grand
banquet in the dining hall of the Har-
ney House, which was prepared in
their honor by the municipal authori-
ties and citizens of Baton Rouge. Mr..
Harry Hyams, the jolly editor of the
| West Baton Rouge Sugar Planter,
presided at the head of the table and
did the honors of the occasion in a
most creditable and satisfactory man
ner. The affair was both pleasant and
brilliant, and all who participated en-
Ijoyed themselves to the utmost. The
new doctrine of unification was practi-
cally recognized and carried into
effect, for side by side with the
wealthiest and most respected white
citizens of the city sat, ate, drank and
talked q number of colored men,
prominent among them Hon. j. Henri
Burch, editor of the Grand Era, and
Hon. Augustus Williams, business
manager Of the same journal. The
tables groaned with their load of
good things, while champagne corks
popped at frequent intervals and the
sparkling wine was drank in response
to numerous toasts upon a great
variety of subjects. Nearly every
guest was called upon for a speech or
a toast, and the responses were fell
citous in all instances. The subject
of the restoration of the State capital
to Baton Rouge was discussed, and an
apparently unanimous expression of
opinion in favor of the project was
elected. All references to the matter
were received with warm applause
from the citizens Of Baton Rouge pre-
sent. The festivities came to close
about midnight, and the greatest har-
lnony Of sentiment and good feeling
prevailed among the participants to
the last. Much satisfaction was ex-
pressed that the time of distinctions
on account of race or color was pass
ing away, and the principle of uni
versal equality before the law obtain
ing unanimous support from the
people of this country.
During their sojourn in Baton
Rouge, the newspaper men, by special
invitation, visited the firemen's
tournament in progress at that time,
and derived much amusement and
pleasure from a contemplation Of the
sports and games usual at such en-
| tertainment.
All the editors and publishers who
attended the convention will join us
in testifying that their stay in the
n r