The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-29

IUdt Luey iCpoilSo a. '''| CIV ~
session. The election of officers
took place after the adoption Of the
constitution, when Messrs. Dawson
and Hoyt were put in nomination for
president, and both Of them prompi-
y declined. The members did net
seem disposed to name another, and
the ballot resulted in The choice OF
the following officers
President, James A iIoyt.
First vice president, F W Dawson.
Second vice president, T Stobo
Farrow
Third vice president, W Mau-
rice.
Fourth vice president, R r Hemp
hill.
Fifth vice president, E A Brunson.
Recording secretary, A A Gilbert.
Corresponding secretary, Z B Muir
ray
Treasurer, T F Greneker.
Of the nine composing the list Of
officers only three are living. and one
of them is no longer affiliated with
the Association These officers with
very little change served four years,
and during this period the Associa.
tion grew and fourished. 1t will! be
observed that there was no chaplain
elected, which was owing to the fact
that none OF the religious editors had
Joined US, but when the Rev. Sidi H.
Browne, of the Christian Neighbor,
honored us with an afi!iation he was
at once chosen for that position,
which he has held ever since, and
will enjoy its honors and perform its
duties until the Master calls him to a
higher service 1t ought to be said,
however, that one preacher aided in
the organization, which was Dr. VIM.
H. Whitsitt. of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. He was in
attendance upon the Southern Baptist
Convention, which held it's meet
ing in Charleston that year, and he
was requested by the editor, N" A.
NJ Speights, to represent the reen-
vile Daily News in the organization,
and to which newspaper he was
contributor in those days. Col B.
H Wilson, of the Georgetown Times.
was among the oldest of the charter
members, and very close to him in
age wss the venerable R H. Stokes,
late of the Union Times, who is now
living in Charlotte, n. G,
The year 1875, was an eventful
one for South Carolina 1t was the
formative period for the great politi-
cal revolution which followed in 1876.
there were conflicting ideas as to the
best policy for the white people, who
were under the heel of the negro and
carpet bag regime The gathering
Of the editors and the delightful
hospitality of Charleston lasted for
several days, and during this time
there was abundant opportunity tor
conference and exchange of views,
but there was also favorable season
for tine editors to reach All under
standing with each other that their
differences should be composed in the
end for the betterment of South Caro-
lima. The second meeting of the
Association was held at Spartanburg
in the month of May, 1876, and for
nearly a week the members took
counsel with each other as they
mingled together. including joyous
trip in carriages to Tryon Mountain
They still differed as to policy, but
the decision a few months later to
make srtaightout fight for the re-
demption of the State was followed by
a compact and united effort on the
part of the newspapers to make the
movement success. The formation
of the State Press Association had
far moro to do with the unity and con-
cord among the newspapers than the
casual observer might be willing to
acknowledge, and it was this bond Of
fraternity which contributed so large
ly to the victory than ensued in
November.
President Aull does we'll to invite
a reunion of the charter members,
and to recall the fact that the Assccia-
ton was formed at such an important
era in the history OF South Carolina.
Sumter has thrown wide open its
doors, and this ought to induce atten-
dance not only Of the survivors, but
also bring together the younger men
nnnn whom now rests the heat and