The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-07-19
The Press Association.

The Press Association.
White Stone Springs, 5. -. culy
1.-THE sessions held here last
week of the South Carolina Press
Association were most interesting
and helpful to the members who
attended, and this, the thirty-arst
gathering Of the newspaper workers
of the State, is said to be the best and
most enjoyable and creditable in tn.
history of the association. And yet
after rejecting on the fact that in the
course of every seven days at least,
the editors and other makers of the
weekly. serni-weekly, tri-weekly and
daily newspapers have communicated
on some one or more subjects touch
ing the heart interest with practically
every man, woman and child in the
state-after rejecting, with realiza-
ton Of the wonderful potency Of
suggestion on the average mind, on
the great possibilities Of such agency
in the spiritual development of the
people of the state and the material
development Of the states great un-
developed resources-one is pro-
foundly impressed with the idea that
the South Carolina Press Association
fails to a. sad degree to grasp and
creditably discharge it's tremendous
responsibility. 1t is lacking in the vi
rility that is necessary to enable it 70
discharge it's grea, function Of unity
ing and solidifying and Strengthening
and broadening and extending and
protecting and advancing the news
paper interests Of the state; the func-
ton it should exercise with resistless
energy and courage Of assisting all
the newspapers Of the state to get on
sound 6naciaa basis by the adoption
of approved business methods, by
combining firmly on some agreement
that can be maintained with regard to
advertising rates and subscription
lists; the duty it should perform ii.i
taking steps to secure to newspaper
owners a just libel law that snail.
properly restrain them, but at tue
same time protect them fron>
unscrupulous persons; the duty it
owes its members and through them
The vast interests they are struggling
to advance, of assisting by comb:na-
ton of effort to handle the evs.: per
picking labor problem which is daily
becoming more serious and complex
with changed conditions and the in
PRODUCTION Of high-priced machinery
in the smaller Offices. The assoc:a-
ton lacks organization and it should
have more money and more members;
it fails to put into operation its grave
purposes and important powers; it is
weak But the fault does not lie
near so much with those who attend
the meetings, in fact, it hardly lies
with them at all. Those who are
to have their newspapers represented
at the meetings are letting their op-
por,unity pass to assist the others in
putting on a thoroughly business anl
powerful basis an organization that is
now little more than social so far as
the effectiveness of its work is con-
cerned. The association is working
entirely On the surface.
A strong committee, consisting of
E. H. Aull, NJ. B. McSweeney, John
NJ. Knight, W. E. Gonzales, August
Kohn and T. r. Waring, was appoint
ed to enquire into the law of libel and
make recommendation to tlls next
legislature; committee consisting Of
Il. L. Freeman, J. NJ. Knight and r.
Lewis Berry was put in charge OF
Mr.. Freeman's suggestion Of the f"r-
nation Of an employing primers As
sociation, and on some other in;po1.
ant subjects good advice was given.
but beyond this there was no effort
to take hold in any effective and bus
| r.
lens confronting the South Carolip:.
publisher and newspaper producer.
In justice it should be said that
there We're among those present many
capable of handling and willing to
handle such problems, but they