The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-14

CDzHa1CANc Al OuE ultimate success Iu<
worfu Is watching to see OF a govern
ment by the people can withstand the
OF greed and selfshness. In
such an hour, my brethr en-. n Is our
mission TO stand with the people. to
warn G against impending dangers.
and TO see that no foe. in whatever
1 guise, e~ncroaches upon their liberties.
A fearless, free and patriotic press will
guarantee the fidelity OF his republic.
and mere on American soil, the lane OF
the tree and n home Of the brave.
the flag We love viii fiutter in the
breezes, the emblem Of the greatest
government b world has ever nova
a government OF the people, by the
people and for the people. This. breth-
rem or the North Carolina Press Asso-
citation, Is my conception Of the iofti-
ness or mission May the All Wise
Ruler or the universe give US courage
and wisdom 10 fulfill this mission"
THAT LIBEL BILL.
The question Of newspaper libel re-
ceived extensive discussion, as II was
recognized, a. It has been for a long
time. that newspapers in North Caro-
lima nave no protection whatever
against alleged libel suits of the most
trivial nature.
At the last convention Of the associ-
alton a committees was appointed to
draft a libel bin, for the just protec-
ton or the press, and present it for en-
actment to the general assembly.
For This committee Hon. II. A London
reported, and his report showed that
the committee had performed its duty
faithfully and well, but hat the legis-
1ature a been found wanting" He
stated that the committee had careful
ly prepared the libel bill and personally
carried 1t to Raleigh and presented 1t
to a committee appointed by the gen.
eral assembly to consider it The COM
mittee readily, to all outward appear
ances, acknowledged the wisdom and
Justice of such a bin, and took il prom
Using to present it to the law makers
The committee left Raleigh content
with the thought that the bill would
duly come before the legislature, but
their contentment was short lived, as
time rolled by and the bill was not
presented. Back to Raleigh went a
member OF the committee CHon. on
dom n inquired why the bill had not
been presented to the legislature. He
was confronted with the startling :nfor-
nation that the committee had lost the
bill. Another bill was given the COM
mittee, and it was understood that his
one would certainly reach its deStina-
ton. but the committee again lost the
bill and only succeeded in finding it
when the legislature was on the v of
adjournment, too late to consider any
bill.
AAcA' oAAA oASo okLkNo Aat NAA1 oHAl
as drafted was strictly a just one, fair
to public and editor alike, and Lax been
endorsed by the newspaper fraternity.
He urged upon the convention o to
let the libel bill question slumber or
sleep, but to keep it fully aroused; to
appoint at the next convention a COM
mittee to again present the bill at the
next legislature and if it is lost to
know the reason why, as the last 1egis-
lature had treated the association un-
fairly and with discourtesy. In sup
port of a libel law Hon. London cited
the suits against The Durham Sun and
TheThe Morning Star, of this city, char
acterizing the suits as unjust, as the
papers had simply made no error in a
name and had fastened to atone.
The speakers remarks were thor
oughly endorsed, as was attested by
hearty applause, and upon motion of
Mr.. Thad. r. Manning, of The Hender-
son Gold Leaf, the report was unani-
mously accepted.
Mr.. R.. A. Deal, of The WilkeSbOro
Chronicle, moved that a committee of
three be appointed to investigate the
manner in which the committee had
been treated and to draft resolutions
relative thereto . This motion prevailed
and the president appointed Mr.. Deal,
Mr.. e. G. Hackney, Of The Durham
Record, and Mr.. J. j. Farriss, of The
High Point Enterprise, to constitute
such a committee.
On motion of Mr.. W. F. Marshall, OF
The Gastonia Gazette, a committee OF
three was appointed to deliberate over
the presidents report, and pick our
suitable subjects for the convention to
discuss. The committee, composed OF
Mr.. Marshall, Mr.. J. A. Thomas, of The
Louisburg Times, and Mr.. D. ]
Whichard, Of The Greenville Reflector
upon being appointed at once retired
!, to work
During their retirement the president
: appointed Mr.. J. J. Stone, of The
Greensboro Volunteer Firemen; Mt
: Archibald Johnson, of Thomasvillt
| Charity and Children, and Mr.. J.. x
Roeuch, Of The Salisbury Sun, a com
mittee to examine the ~treasurer's re.
port.
s The secretary took occasion to intro.
= duce to the convention Mr.. P. Helms.
berger, secretary of the Merchants AS.
l sociation, who he complimented high
4 ly for the many cOurtesieS shown BY
5 him to the members. De also stated
that the Merchants Association extend.
t ed to the association the use Of then
) rooms in Wilmington, and then rea6
an invitation from Hanover SeaSidt
Club, extending the privilege of theil
building.
The committe on the presidents re,
3 port returned about this time an(
2 recommended a discussion Of the fol
!, lowing subjects, and the gentlemen as
: signed to lead in the discussions wer'
requested to be ready by the next day!
r session. viz:
First-"Advisability of Party Press
Hon. H. A London, Of The Pittsbor'
r Record; Mr.. ]. B. Whitaker, OF Tn,
9 Winston Sentinel, and Mr.. Hartwell S
o Blair, OF The Lenoir Topic.
8 Second-"How Ny Loca Can be Bes
8 Developed in Points of Interest, Varie
ty and COMPREHENSIVE. r. NJ. Phil
lips, of The Greensboro Telegram; MI
j. ]. Thomas, of The High Point En-
terprise, and Mr.. ]. A.. Robinson, o
The Durham Sun.
: Third-"The Editorial Page, Wha
and How Much Should Go in it"-Ml
r. A. Deal, of The Wilkesboro Chron
;. icle; Mr.. Thad. r. Manning, of tn
Henderson Gold Leaf, and Mr.. J. r
!, Rodwell, of the Warrenton Record.
. Fourth-"What Shall Be Don Wit
the Foreign Advertisements in tn
Ready Prints"-Hon. H. A. London, O
= The Pittsboro Record; Mr.. D. j. Which
IL ord of The CroonvilIo PaHacrnr an