American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-03-28
PROCEEDINGS OF The CALLED MEETING
Of TIE MISSISSIPPI PRESS
ASSOCIATION.
JACKSON, MISS, March II, 1877.

company NO L, unlS morning. nero
were preseut-Brandon Republican.
A. J. Frantz; KosciuskO Central
Star, r. Walpole; Clarion, E.
Bark sdale and j. L. Power; Cam
ton Citizen, w. g. Capers; Far
mers' Vindicator, E. G. Wall Ben
ton Comfy Argus, 81. s FalcOner
and Kinloch Falconer; Holly
Springs South, Kinloch Falconer;
Holly Springs Reporter, Kinloch
Faiconer; Vicksburg Herald, o. V.
Shearer, Jr.; Kinds County Gazette,
Geo. w. Harper.
Col A. j. Frantz, President of the
Association, stated the object of the
meeting in the following address:
Brethren of the Mississippi Press
Association
AS President of your Association,
and having at heart the welfare and
prosperity of the press generally, L
have deemed it my duty to call this
extra meeting at this particular
time, that we may take counsel to-
gether, and prevent, if possible, the
commission of outrages upon our
lCooOu W oO-
lieve, will be attempted in our Leg
islature, urged on by the ReDubli-
can editors who signed the call for
a meeting in this city on yesterday,
and for whose benefit legislation is
invoked. A bill has already been
introduced, and these Republican
editors advocate it's adoption, Civ
ing the Governor, or a partizan
Judge, the right to designate a
paper in each Judicial District. in
which all legal advertisements shall
be published, thus compelling the
private citizen. in many instances.
to support and build up men and
papers that they regard as destruc-
tive of the best interests of the
State.-This would not only be un-
just and oppressive to the citizen,
but it would fOrcibly take from
many of us the main support Of our
papers.
1t is true that the call of the Re-
publican editors for a meeting states
that it is intended to organize a
Union News Association, irrespec-
tive Of party predictions" but l
believe that was intended as blind
to entrap such editors as had never
attended a meeting of our AssOcia-
ton, and to give an excuse for few
gentlemen to go over to them, who
have been promised share of the
spOils for doing SO. Those who
signed the call knew that ours is
not a political association. They
knew that no newspaper man was
excluded from it on account of his
political opinions. They knew that
even the discussion of political sub
jects were not permitted in our meet
ings. They knew that we had in-
vited them to meet with us and
participate in our deliberations.
They knew that leading Republican
editors had met with us, and they
also knew these Republican editors
afterwards withdrew and organized
a Republican Press Association,
from which all Democratic, COnser
vative and neutral editors were ex-
Guided.
That Association was organized
about the time that similar bill to
the one now before the Legislature
was under discussion. By their
com bined influence they secured the
passage Of that infamous bill, and
Radical papers we're projected in
every part of the State, but the
Governor had the manliness and in
dependence 10 veto the bill, and
that veto killed the Republican As
sociation, as we'll as the numerous
papers started by members Of the
Legislature for the purpose of rob-
bing the people. They are playing
the same desperate game now, but
call it "Union News Association"
instead of a "Republican Press As
sociatiOn," thinking thereby to in
duce few Conservatives to join
them, and thus make their move
ments appear more respectable.
They knew that the members Of our
Association could not and would not
leave it to join theirs, and we were
only invited to make a show of lib
erality on their part. They neither
expected nor wanted us too meet
with them. Had they wished to
join a non political Press AssOcia-
ton, they could have joined ours,
as our doors have been open ever
since July 9th, 1866.
1 sincerely hope the new ASsocia-
ton has not captured or crippled
any of our little army of patriots,
except such as have struggled off
in search of spOiIs, and that this
meeting may be instrumental in
preventing the accomplishment Of
their Objeet-the passage of the un-
just, tyrannical and odIOus district
printing bill, now before the Legis
lature.
We ask for no legislation to de-
prive Republican publishers of any
patronage the people wish to be-
stow npOn them, and we should not
tamely submit to any law depriving
us of such patronage as our friends
may wish to bestOw upOn us. All
We ask is for open and manly COM
petiOn-that every man, without
regard to race, color or political
affiliations, shall have the right to
patronize the paper of his choice.
In conclusion, brethren, suggest
the appointment of a committee of
five to draw up protest against
the passage of the printing bill to
be submitted to the meeting for
adoption, and then to have it print