The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-05-29
State Press Association.
Story of its Organization
Twenty Years Ago.

The State Press Association is to
hold it's twentieth anniversary this
wear at Sumter, and it goes without
saying that the hospitality which the
Association has received during these
twenty years agone will in no wise
be diminished on account Of the place
OF meeting. Far famed are the cltl
zens of Sumter for their generosity
and kindness to the stranger within
the gates, and they will welcome as
brethren the men who are welding
the pen and pencil in this day and
generation.
Mr.. E. H. Aull, the president of
the Association, has introduced a
new feature in the coming meeting,
and indeed one that was hardly ap-
propriate hitherto In addition to
the regular members and all others
engaged in newspaper work he has
extended an invitation to the surviv-
ing members of the original organi'
cation whether or not they are now
connected with the fraternity. The
rule adopted at the outset was that
membership in the Association terml'
mates when the member retires from
the business, so that no one takes
part in the proceedings unless he is
directly interested as editor, publish
er or proprietor of a newspaper or
magazine This is the basis on
which the organization was made
twenty years ago in the City OF
Charleston
The meeting for the purpose OF
forming an Association was projected
originally by Mr. j. c. Hemphill, OF
The News and Courier, who was at
that time co-editor with his brother
of the Abbeville Medium Various
efforts had been made to form SINH
Lar organization, and during the
twenty years previous there bad been
at least two associations, but both OF
them were short-lived They under
took to regulate the management OF
newspapers, and fix the rates of ad-
vertising and subscription. or other
wise interfere with the freedom OF
the individual to conduct business In
his own way. The promoters of this
organization wisely decided to steer
clear of the rocks upon which the
others were wrecked, and it was ex-
pressly agreed that the Association
should never enter into any combl-
nation as to business methods nor
seek to control the action of It's
members in any way relating to his
private conce,,s, nor NEEDLE with
his political or seligious views Be
yond question ,,is feature had con-
siderable inAue;ce in attracting mem.
bers during the earlier years OF the
organization and its preservation is
largely due 10 this foundation prln-
ciple.
Twenty-six newspapers and period
icals were represented at the first
meeting, which was held in the old
Hibernlan Hall. in Meeting Street.
large enough to hold thousand or
more, even if they were editors.
The following is list OF publications
represented and the original men,
bers enrolled that day:
Abbeyille Medium-R r Hemphill,
J c Hemphill
Aiken Courier-J Journal-John q
McRae, dead.
Anderson Conservator-E B Muir
ray, dead.
Anderson Intelligencer-Jas \
Hoyt.
Barnwell Sentinel-E \ Brunson,
dead.
Beaufort Tribune-Thomas G
White
Charleston Rural Carolinian-Ros-
we'll 7 Logan
Charleston News and Courier-F
w Dawson, dead, B R Rlordan, } A
Moroso
Charleston Zeitung-F Melchers.
Greenville Daily News-W IL
Whitstt.
Georgetown Times-B il Wilson,
dead.
Kershaw Gazette-F P Beard.
Camden .Journal-W D Trantham.
Lancaster Ledger-D J Carter,
dead.
Lexington Dispatch-W D Har-
man
Laurensville Herald Tbos B
Crews.
Marion Star-W j Mckerrall,
dead
Marion Merchant and Farmer
D McLucas.
Newberrv Herald-T F Greneker,