The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-09

y"
The regular monthly meeting of the
Chamber of Commerce held yesterday
morning at 1870 o'clock was attended
by a large number of the members and
the session proved most interesting as
a lengthy argument was INDUCED in
in regard to Governor Aycock's attitude
in the state encampment matter.
The following members of the Cham
Der were present:
Messrs. j. A. Taylor, NJ. s. Willard,
L. b. Rogers, s. F. Craig, G. J.. Boney,
R. III. Pickett, Eugene Forshee, Walker
Taylor, ]. VanB. Nets. Alex. Adrian,
y. Il. Leftwitch, J. S. Hooper G. c.
Covington, w. e. Perdew. William
Calder. Roger Moore. Edward Nets,
w. Il. Robertson, H. K. Nash, NJ. J.
Corbett, w. H. Brown, Charles Nc
Nair. Joseph H. Waters. B. f. Keith,
William E Worth, A. B. Shedding. ].
H. Brown, Colonel William l.. deRosset,
B. Solomon, E. B. Williamson, O.. H.
Wright, John S. McEachern, J. A.
Springer, Ike Bear. S. 7. Ashe, DR.. c..
P. Bolles. Sam Bear Charles Mitchell,
j. 7. Rankin and u. NJ. Robinson.
The meeting was called to order by
the president, MI. j. Allen Taylor,
who stated that it was the regular
monthly meeting Of the chamber but
the most important matter to come
before the body for consideration was
the reply of Governor Aycock to the
resolutions recently adopted by the
chamber relative to the Governors ac-
ton in not furnishing the chamber
with a cop Of the report of the special
committee appointed to inspect the
proposed e~ncampment sites. He stated
that at a meeting of the executive
committee of the chamber held several
days ago he was requested to prepare
an answer to the Governors reply anC
every member of the committee was
given the same privilege, the answer
or answers to be submitted to the
chamber at the regular monthly meet.
ing.
AFTER making the above statement
Mr.. Taylor asked Mr.. William Calder
to read the various reports in regard
to the mater beginning with the report
Of the special committee appointed BY
h chamber to urge the holding of the
e~ncampment at 'Wrightsville and end,
~ i III dhS"cI - De SuOIillllcC
to the chamber The first of the re.
ports have been published.
Governor Aycock's Reply.
Governor Aycock's reply to the cham.
Der was as follows:
The Wilmington Chamber of Com
merce. No. IA Princess street. Viii
mington. N. c.
Gentlemen
L acknowledge receipt OF the resolu
tions adopted by your chamber on Jul.
Goth, with reference to the selection O
h site for the encampment for tn,
National Guard of North Carolina.
The tone of the resolutions is sucl
that / was tempted at first merely t
acknowledge their receipt withou
further reply, but I I'M mindful OF tn,
truth Of the old saying that VIVA
what 1 myself say and do, matter
much to me-" 4 can. therefore. Will
calmness pass by the suggestion in you
preamble that I have been unmindfu
Of the best interests of the Stat
Guard and deny without heat that
am seeking to conserve the interes
OF Morehead City at the cost of tn,
military service of the state" and tina
/ shave done Wrightsville a grave an
deliberate injustice"
These are serious charges to b
brought against the Governor of tn
State by the Chamber of Commerc
of the leading city in the state.
Your propinquity to Wrightsville un
doubtedly entities o to a lively in
terest in the growth. development an,
prosperity of that delightful summe
resort, but the constitution of thi
state and the avs expressly COME
upon the Governor the duties and re
sponsibilities attached 20 the position
of commander-in-chief Of the militar.
forces Of the state.
i am not conscious OF having faile
in this duty at any time since I hav
been Governor.
e note that your resolutions declar
that THE power to select the sites re
sides absolutely with the Governor,
but that when he appoints a commit
tee to look into the relative merits O
the claimants the Governor valves hi
arbitrary right of selection and was /
good faith bound to either accept tn
Recommendation Of the committee c
give satisfactory reasons for not doin
So"
This statement o. yours approacne
correctness, b misses it by one wore
1.-The Governor was bound to accer
the report OF the committee or I
have, not give satisfactory reason
for not doing So"
I am aware of no provision in til
constitution or laws OF this state II
quiring the Governor to give reason
satisfactory or otherwise, for his a,
ton, save in one instance and that
when he pardons or commutes the pun
ishment of a prisoner, and these re;
sons when given are to be comTnun
Gated to the Legislature n not to pr
yate individuals, owever honorab
and high their position in life may be
i note further in your resolution
that 1.-THE report is not the private pro-