The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-02-13
THE PRESS ASSOCIATION.
The ANNUAL FROLlC ENDED.
Material Matters Considered-The Libel
Law Looked After, officers Elected,
Reports Received-No Excur-
sion-Alamo City Next.


order this morning, MIR, Sterett, for the
committee on libel, submitted the fol-
lowing report:
WHEREAS, 1t is maintained that I'M
der the law in suits for libel, both of a
civil and criminal nature, against nows
papers and newspaper proprietors, that
SUITS may be maintained in any
county in this state, in who
the same may be published or circula
ted, and that each paper so issued OF
circulated constitute q separate cause OF
acuon or oifense in suits for al eyed
nbelous matter so published or circula-
ted; and
WHEREAS, it is also maintained that
in suits for libel newspapers and news
paper proprietors cannot introduce evil
dence to justify or show tho truth o"
tne matter or matters alleged so to be
libeous; and
WHEREAS, Said construction. If So
maintained and held by tho courts Of
the country, Is not calculated to benefit
honestly injured persons, but is calcu-
lated to provoke litigation and foster
wicked, malicious, unjust and burden
some suits against newspapers and
newspaper prOpretoTs, therefore, be il
Resolved, That a committee of three
be appointed to bring the matter to the
attention OF the legislature of the state
OF Texas and that the nineteenth
legislature of Texas be requested
to pass law to contain the following
provision, to wit;
To It in suits for libel against news
papers aud newspaper proprietors, that
said suits shall be broughtin the county
of the issue or OF the principal
Office, or of the residence of
the proprietor thereof, and rot else
where, and that each issue of said
newspaper shall constitute but one Of
tense, and that in said suits the news
paper or the proprietor who shall
he defendant in any suit 80
brought shall have the right to Justify
or otter evidence TO prove the truth OF
the matter so published and SO alleged
to be hbelous, and that said com
mlttee take such advice as IL
may deem necessary to accomplish and
prepare bill to cover the purposes ard
objects Of the preamble ana resolutions
a. herein contained, and that said CONF
mitlee report 10 the next
session Of this association
how. they shall have performed
! tha duties rs 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, Sterett and Yaudell,
were continued to present the resolu.
ton to the legislature.
a humber OF other reports were sub
mittod and acted upon.
! a resolution presented by l., d, Lii
| lard, asking the legislature TO pass no
| law looking to the licensing of gaiub-
ling houses, but on the contrary, TO pas.
a law making gambling a felony, was
| adopted unanimously and with ap-
plauso.
Several new members were elected.
Col. Elliott read telegram from t.,
| 4. Burke, director general of the
| Worlds exposition. inviting the con-
vention to visit New Orleans.
The thanks OF the association were
rendered Col. Elliott and Mai. Burke for
the interest they have manifested in the
trip to Now Orleans,
The secretary made his annual report
| showing an active membership OF ~
and balance of $iS IN the treasury.
At the afternoon session Treasurer
Lillard reported no cash turned over
10 him by the former treasurer, and
that none had been received by him
during his administration.
The place Of holding the next annual
meeting was the next BUSINESS In order.
San Antonio and Galveston were the
only cities in nomination.
After tho nominating speeches a bal
lot WAS had, reSulting in a vote of ~ Tor
Galveston and 40 Tor San Antonio. The
selection of San Antonio was made
unanimous.
A letter was read from Mr.. Cooper, of
tho Missouri Press association, nj New
Orleans, relative to the organization OF
the National Press Association of
America, and asking that delegates be
sent to New Orleans for that purpOsC
during the Worlds fair.
| The chairman appointed a committee
Of ten to represent and act Tor tho Texas
Press association at the meeting ut New
Orleans.
The election of officers was then or.
dered.
MIR. Rankin, of Brennan, nominated
Prof. 4. j. Girardeau, of tho Houston
Journal.
Mr. Sterett, of Dallas, nominated j.
IL, Davis, of Mount Vernon.
] Messrs, Bridges, ut the l.uling Signal,
and Clarke, OF the Brazos Pilot, Were
strong advocates for Prof. Girardeau.
Messis. Hamilton, OF the Tyler DEM
ocrat; Furgorson, of the San Antonio
Times; sterett, OF the Dallas Times, and
a Norton Of the Dallas lutellgauCer,
were supporters Of Judge Davis.
The ballot stood-Girardeau, Il; Da-
Wis, Is.
Judge Dayis very gracefully moved
to mako the election OF Prof. Girdrdelu
unanimous.
Judge Davis was, by reclamation
elected first vice president.
II. V. Hamilton, of the Tyler Demo
crat and Reporter, was elected second
Vice-presideut.
William Ferguson, of the San Antonio
Times, third vico-president.
Secretary q. II. Gilbert was nomi-
mated for reelection, and Col j, Il. Elli-
Oft nominated Mr.. H.. j. Hammer, OF the
Law Review, of Galveston, Tor Sec
rotary.
Mr. Pilgrlm,o the Gonzales Enquirer,
WAS nominated, but withdrew.
The ballot stood; Hammer, 81; Gill
bert, 80; Pilgrim, ~
Mr.. Hammer Withdrew aud Mr.. Gil
borPs reelection was made by acolama-
ton.
The question of the New Orleans ex-
eursion was discussed aud It was de-
cided that while the excursion would
have TO be abandoned, about twenty.
five members would accompany Col.
Elliott 10 New Orleans on his return to-
morrow,
President Hall delivered his valedic-
tory and was rendered thanks for his
services ~ president.
The committee appointed for the pur-
pose recommended l.. l.. Foster, OF the
Groesbeeok New Era, as the orator for
the next meeting; also that Judge A. B.
Norton, OF the Dallas 1ntelligencUr, be
continued as essayist, aud Miss May
GuillOt as poetess,
After the passing of several other
esolutious Of thanks for courtosies, the
convention adjourned TO meet NJ San
Antonio on day to be hereafter fixed
by tho executive committee.
Letter from New Mexico.
GEoRo2TowN, n. NJ, Feb. 9.-lCorre.
spondence, Georgetown, New Mexico,
u mining camp,is situated in tho boauti.