The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-11-27

An Editorial account IN the Charlotte -
6 Observer.

Tho Charlotte Observer Of the 2lst gives
the following editorial account Of the
meeting Of the Southern Associated Press.
i'm this city. ON the 18th instant:
AS the dispatches have announced tho
annual meeting OF the Southern AssOcilt-
cd Press was held i'm Richmond Wcdncs-
day. Daily newspaper men were in dt-
tendance from Virginia. North and south
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
The business OF the occasion was dis
patched promptly and time was found
Tor nearing speeches and having pleas
ure. Mr. Edward Atkinson. OF Boston
tie distinguished statistician. was i'm
Richmond by chance and addressed the
editors by invitation. He made "a very
good argument-though others have made
bCtter-lor the gold standard. and squiut-
ed ~ tho necessity for revision OF the
banking laws. In an interview in The
Times that morning he had declared
for the repeal = the tax on the notes
of The ,5 5'9i ro 5a ,he1o Amo@s other thirss
Of $iJ0wOOv I'm the savings and other
banks of Massachusetts. In the usual
top-loitical New England style Mr.. At
ana for 10 got at the conclusion of his
speech, from Colonel j. IA. Esull. of tho
savannah News, slap which brought
him nap standing Being told plainly
that his reference 20 The hackwardncss
of the South was not agreeable. Mr.
Atkinson was brought TO declare that
the history of the world showed no pa
railel for the progress made hy these
States since the war. and that hc had
said $50 repeatedly. Ina bis speech he ad-
mittcd that money is too hard 10 get ina
tho South. ana that something ought 90
Dee done 10 relieve the situation. but he
did not develop any Of hts ideas as 20
what legislation should follow thc recent
verdict OF the voters. Among other tentd-
tive propositions which he Suggt was
one FOR thc adoption OF the Scotch sNs-
O. ID FT I.
banks in On" centres of population with
branches everywhere. running down 10
communiuc, OF 1000 Inhabitants. bat ne
tid not elaborate nor insist upon TO-. Mr..
Atkinson is. hA common consent "a very
able man. That o. why his address ON
this occasion was a disappointment.
In the afternoon tho editors were taken
for ride over the lines Of the Richmond
Electric street railway and OF the Rich
mOuu Traction Company FIhcy went
lu special cars. and the ride was quite
OF the tonftdcracE now the home OF an
invaluable collection of Confederate relies.
gathered Boy devoted women. Colonel JOHN
b. cary had appeared before the news
paper men during their business session
and solicited this visit. which was paid
Iladly. n was revelation. The ladies
OF Richmond and of tLe South have here
memorials of the ConfedeIacy which
money could never buy. and the cquiva-
lent Of which no amount of money could
replace The investment thus FAR. in
the building. in nrc-prooniug Same. etc.
Is $4,000 The North Carolina room is a
credit The people of the South ought 10
know. and will Know moro about this
museum. and their pride should Doe siimu-
lated. touching II. so that they VIII make
10 II contributions OF such relics as they
have, which will Increase IFS completeness
and value
From the museum the party steered
for the Westmoreland Club. whore II
was given "a beautiful dinner which eX-
tended over four hours. The spirit OF
good fellowship was dominant. There
was any amount of experimenting and
.Ooi-naturcd rulerv There were good
speeches. too. and some very. very bright
ones. IN EraNer mood. toward the end
the financial situation was brought uD
and discussed. and the suggestive incl
dent of the occasion was "a vigorous arsu-
mcnt Of Mr.. Joseph Bryan. of The Rich
mOnd Times. in favor OF liberalizlng the
banking system. IL derived its signin-
canoe from the fact that Mr. Bryan Is
one Of the most extreme OF gold-bugs
and that as 10 the main pont-the propO-
sifiOn that something needs 10 lie done
his speech ran on parallel lines with
that Of Mr.. Atkinson. Of The Inorni1g
The value OF all this lies in TINS. that
there Is hope cf someti ing being done
when we can get concurrence OF opinion
that something needs TO he done.
Wednesday the newspaper folks went
down TO Newport News and had pleas
ant day.
Messrs. Cowardin. OF the Dispatth;