The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-02-19
texas PRESS.
Interestln. Proceedings Of the AS
SOcIatiOH.

Special telegram TO The Statesman.
GALVESTON, February 12.-After
President Hall had called the Press
association to order this morning, Mr..
Sterrett, for the committee on libel,
submitted the following report:
Whereas, It IS maintained that un
der the law in suits for libel, both OF a
civil and criminal nature, against
| newspapers and newspaper proprie-
tors, that suits may be be MAIN
tanned in any county in this
state in which the same
may be published or circulated, and
that each paper so issued or circulated
constitutes Il separate cause Of action
or offense il suits for al
legged libelous matter so published or
'oi'culated andz
whereas, It is also maintained that
in suits for libel newspaper and news
per proprietors cannot introduce eYi-
denCe to justify or show the truth of
matter, or matters alleged so to be
! lIbelOuS.
Whereas said construction, if so
maintained and held by the courts OK
the country, is not calculated to bene-
lit honestly injured persons, butts cal
culated to provoke litigation and fos-
ter wicked, malicious, unjust and
burdensome suits against newspapers
and newspaper proprietors. There
fore, be it
Resolved, That q. committee of
! three be appointed to bring the mat
ter to the attention of the legislature
of the state of Texas, and the nine
teenth legislature Of Texas berequested
to pass a law, to contain the follow
ing provision, to-wiC: That In suits
for libel against newspapers aud
newspaper proprietOrs that said suits
shall be brougntiin county of the issue
| or OF the principal cliice, or of the
residence Of the proprietor thereof,
and not elsewhere, ana that each issue
OF said newspaper shall constitute but
one offense; and that in said suits the
newspaper, or the proprietor who
shall be defendant in any
suit SO brought, shall have the right
toJustify, or offer evidence 10 prove
the truth of the matter so PIT blisned
and so alleged to be ibelous, and
that said committee take such
advice as they may deem
necessary 10 accomplish and prepare
bill to cover the purpose and objects
Of the preamble and resolutions as
herein contained; and that said COM
mittee report to the next session of
this association how they performed
the duties as herein specified and such
other matters in relation thereto as
by them shall be deemed pertinent
and OF interest to this association.
After discussion the resolution was
adopted and the same committee
Messrs. Cooper, Sterrett and
Yandell-Were continued to present
the resolution to the legislature.
4 number of other reports were
submitted and acted upon.
A resolution presented by Mr.. L. D.
Lillard, asking the legislature
to pass no law law locking to the Ii
censing of gambling houses, but Cd
the contrary TO pass a law making
gambling a felony. was adopted unan-
imousiy, and with applause. Seveaai
new members were elected.
Col. Elliott read the telegram from
E. 4. Burke, director-general Of the
Worlds exposition, inviting !the con-
vehtion to visit New Orleans. The
thanks of the association were ten
dared 70 Col. Elliott and Maj. Burke
for the interest they manifested in the
trip TO New Orleans.
The secretary made his annual re
port, showing an active membership
of 172 and q balance Of foTty-eight
dollars in the treasury.
AT the afternoon session Treasurer
Lillard reported no cash turned
over to him by the for
mer treasurer, and ione had been
received by him during his admins
tration.
The place of holding the next an
nual meeting was the next business
in order. San Antonio and Calves
ton were the only cities in
nomination. After nominating
speeches ballot was had
resulting in vote of 20 for
Galveston, ane 46 for San Antonio.
The selection of San Antonio was
made unanimous.
a letter was read from Mr. Copper
Of the Missouri press association,
at New Orleans, relative to
organization OF the national press
association of America, and asking
that delegates be sent to New Or
leans for that purpose during the
worlds fair. The chairman appoint
ed committee OF ten to
represent and act for he
Texas press association at the meet
lug S-J -NCh Ol1NCh4AEs
The election OF officers was then Or
dered,
Mr. Rankin, of Brennan, nominated
Prof. T. J. Girardeau,of the Houston
Journal.
Mr.. Sterrett of Dallas ominated j..
H. DAVIS of Mount Vernon.
Messrs. Bris gs of the Luling Signal,
and Clarke OF the Brazos Pilot, were
- ar,1o
Mr.. Hamilton of the Tyler Democrat,
Sterrett, of the Dallas Times, and
a. B. Norton, of the Dallas Intelli-
gencer, were supporters Of Judge
Davis.
The ballot stood Girardeau, 42
Davis, %.
Judge Davis very gracefully moved
Prof. i1irardeau unanimous. Judge
Davis was by acclamatioa elected
vice-president; II. V. Hamilton, OF the
Tyler Democrat and Reporter, was
elected second Vice-president, and
| VIM. Ferguson, of the San Antonio
| Times, third president.
| Secretary 9. E. Gilbert was nOml-
mated for reelection and Col. J. F.
Elliott nominated E. j. Hammer, of
the Law Review, Galveston, for sec
retary.
Mr.. Pilgrim, of the Gonzales Inqui-
rer was nominated but withdrew.
The ballot stood: Hammer, 2l;
! Gilbert, so; Pilgrim, II.
Mr.. Hammer Withdrew and Gill
bert's reelection was made by accla-
nation.
The question of the. New Orleans
excursion was discussed and it was
decided that while the excursion
would have to be abandoned, about
twenty five memberswould accompany
Col. Elliott to New Orleans on his re-
turn tomorrow.
President Hall delivered his E.
dictory, and was rendered thanks.
SHERMAN.