The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-09-14
MIR. REARDoN's OPINION.
The Secretary of the Committee Differs
With His Associates.

Editor Item: AS one Of the mi
nority of the central carnival commit
tee, selected by a. mass meeting OF
| four hundred citizens, with instl uc-
tions to report back TO the citizens at
a second mass meeting, desire to set
myself right with the people. and also to
give, as secretary of the carnival COM
mittee, the. exact status of the pro-
gress Of the financial part of the affair,
which SO suddenly terminated on ac-
count of .'lack of enthusiasm, - on
the part of about six or seven busl-
ness men; but which in reality was IN
my opinion an error on the part OF
| minority Of the committee. Not an
individual refused a cash subscrip-'
tion.
Three business firms gave slo0 each,
| $500.
One business firm gave SO.
| One business firm gave $50.
One gave S2o.
and conscientious, really did not have
| time to look after the business Of rais-
ing money. I am quite certain that
the s.. 800 can be raised The minority
Of the committee after coming out of a
place where az firm subscribed 800,
suddenly concluded that there was not
enough enthusiasm among the bust
ness men; but the business firms and
others called on subscribed haud
somely. This minority Of the commit
tee. without consulting the rest Of the
committee, decided, without author
ity, III my opinion, to call off the car
riyaI. This central committee was
TO report to a second mass meeting OF
citizens next Tuesday night. I do net
think the cash subscriptions indicated
lack of enthusiasm, but on the con-
trary I am certain that if canvassing
was con tinued the s.: 800 and more
could be raised. Nearly every grocery
store. dry goods house. and all OF the
other business men, professional men,
and hundreds of citizens at large re-
mained to be called on for subscrlp-
tions. To be candid, while the cen
trail committee did fine work while 1t
lasted, i think some Of them got dis
couraged, and some OF them thought
it would reqniIe too much OF their
time to raise the money. But as the
committee has dissolved itself, the
| carnival is without head. So that
unless tie chairman will call a meet
ing of his committee and see who IS
willing TO go On or appoint come other
mem bers Of the committee, the car
nival will fall right now-but not for
lack of funds, in my opinion. The
committee assessed enough people to
raise almost the amount among the
| business firms, and some professional
| 81,
| the assessments among those called on.
| If any three citizens will continue the
soliciting the amount can be raised,
beyond doubt. | think the mass meet
ing called for next Tuesday night
should be held and a reorganization
effected, unless some OF the present
committee decide to continue the work.
| I do not mean tolquestion the good in
! tentions of those Of the committee who
threw up their hands so quickly, but
| honestly differ with them. | dom
| like to see the carnival knocked IL the
| All but one of the above agreed to
give S25 more, and one $50 more, If
needed.
| The following voluntarily gave
without being visited. the amounts as
set down:
One citizen, S25.
| Two small merchants, gave SO each.
$50.
One physician gave SO.
One industrial enterprise, S25.
One firm called on guaranteed,
| 500 if needed.
> On firm agreed to subscribe. but
was uncertain about $50 or SO.
/ Three firms called on were good Tor
at least $50, but wanted to consult
their partners as to amount.
One firm called on guaranteed $40,
and possibly $50.
Three members OF the committee,
one leading attorney, one business
man and one sale. stable man were good
for, beyond doubt, altogether SO, and
possibly Sl00.
So that out Of twenty citizens called
on or voluntarily subscribing we raised.
or were assured of at least 1850, and
possibly more if needed. Outside OF
the above not hotel, Industrial eu-
| terprise. attorney. physician, clerk,
bookkeeper. boarding houses. lall-
road. mechanic or labcrer was call
ed on by the committee. The minor
ity of the committee were not out can
vassing over one and a bait hodrs.
While several business firms did not
think the carnival week would in
crease their individual trade that
week, still they subscribed-three OF
them 500 each, one S13 aHd one or two
thinking the same gave So each.
While | admit that sonic of the buSl-
ness firms were not as enthusiastic as
they ought to be, on account OF doubt
of Increased trade, still they put down
their subscriptions for more than the
committee assessed them. The commit
tee worked bard for the short time 1T
was out, and met with fine financial
success. but as a matter Of TACT some
of the committee were greatly incoh-
venicnced by being on the finance
committee some did rot attend the
meetings, and, in fact, the personnel
Of the committee, while influential
head because Of mistaken idea. We
have given it cat TO the world that
Sumter is going to have the biggest
f4N festival ever held in the State,