The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-03

What Was Done at the Citizens Meeting
Las: Night to Organize . Fair AssOcta'
tion-A COMMITTEES Appointed to Solicit
Stock and Report at q Meeting to BE
Held September Goth.
In Of the call for a meeting
of citizens for the purpose of organ
citizens assembled at the city court
| room at the city hall last night at $3.50
o'clock.
On motion of Mr.. NJ. w. jacob, Mr..
w. Z. Springer was called to the chair,
and the representatives Of h press
were requested to act as secretaries.
Chairman Springer stated the object
Of the meeting and suggested that an
adjournment he taken till some other
time, so a larger attendance could be
secured, as many citizens were still alb
sent at the beach or other resorts. He
called for remarks as to h matter.
Mr.. NJ. w. jacob spoke in favor of
a fair and it's advantages to u city.
He said the movement for a fair last
year resulted in a subscription Of $1,000,
but the project fell through because
Of a lack Of a union of interest on the
part of our people. He said we had
many attractions here, and great re-
sources that we could develop, and that
if by a fair we could only induce ten
settlers to come here, it would amply
repay us. He hoped all selfish inter-
ests would be laid aside and pleaded for
union in the organization of a fair as
ISOLATION. He said if we will all put our
shoulders to the wheel we could have
a fair, horse races, bicycle races, base
ball and other attraction, and he hop
ed the citizens would not lose this op-
portunity to organize and have a fair.
The chairman called on MI. s. W.
Sanders and he said he favored a fair,
but this meeting vas 40 indication that
our citizens wanted one.
Mr.. B. F. Keith was called Upon and
he ais spoke in favor Of a fair.
Mr.. George G. Lewis advocated a
fair and said he had met Governor
Russell on the train yesterday and he
said he hoped a fair association would
be organized, and that he Governor
RusselD would subscribe $50 toward it.
[Applause.]
MI. j. B. Mercer said he favored a
fair, and SO did Mr.. H.. VonKampen.
Mr.. Martin O'Brien was called upon
and he urged the advantages of a fair
and hoped Wilmington would decide
to have one. He suggested the appoint
ment of a committee to solicit subscrip-
tons to a fair association.
Mr.. S. w. Sanders said it would be a
good idea to see how many subscrip-
tons could be secured in this meeting
towards a fair. He said he had sub
scribed $50, but would increase it to
500. [Applause.]
Mr.. Joe. King, Jr., stated that Mr..
]. A. Arringdale authorized him to say
he would take 500 worth Of stock, and
that Mr.. George Mcpherson told him
he would subscribe $50. [Applause.]
Rev. w. B. oliver said he favored a
fair and he hoped the Wilmington peo-
pie would come together and organize
an association. He said the city had
covered itself with glory in taking care
of the Southern Baptist Convention
and they would have a fair if they de-
termined upon it. [Applause.]
MI. M. w. jacob moved to adjourn
till September Goth. There was no Sec
ond.
Mr.. Geo.. G. Lewis moved that a COM
mittee be appointed to solicit sub
scriptions and report back to a meet
ing to be held September Goth.
Mr.. S. w. Sanders seconded Mr..
Lewis motion.
Captain w. P. Oldham spoke in ap-
prevail of Mr.. Lewis motion and it was
adopted.
Editor A. L. Manly, of the Daily Rec
ord, said as one Of the publishers of
the only negro daily paper in the
United States, he wanted to say that
the colored people would cooperate in
a fair and that his paper would do all
it could towards aiding the enterprise.
The chairman asked how the solicit
ing committee should be appointed.
Mr.. Lewis moved that the chair ap-
point the committee and that Captain
w. p. Oldham be made chairman.
There was no second.
Mr.. Sanders suggested the appoint
ment of a committee of two from each
ward.
Captain Oldham suggested that a
committee be appointed and allowed to
select it's own chairman.
Mr.. VonKampen moved that Messrs.
w. E. Springer, Captain w. P. Old
ham and Mr.. NJ. w. jacob be elected
a committee to select the soliciting
committee. The motion was seconded,
but Mr.. Springer declined to serve. Or
motion the chairman was authorized to