The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-01
MAKE TEST OF ANTI-PASS LAW Newspaper Men to Fight
 Measure. COMMITTEE IS APPOINTED May Employ Counsel to Contest
 the Enactment. Executive Board of state Pres. Asso- ciatisn Determiues to stand for Right to Dispose of Space
 for Transportation.
 

The Executive Committee of The Ala bama Press Association, which met in Montgomery yesterday raised a sub- committee which it empowered to ems ploy counsel If necessary to contest the so-calied anti-pass act ill the courts. The committee was also directed to fix a date for the annual meeting of the Association in Montgomery, and to make the necessary arrangements for that meeting. It Is probable the meet ing will be held in July.
 At the annual meeting of the Asso- ciation held in Gadsden during last July Montgomery was selected as the meeting place. It Is the custNn with the Association to leave the date of the annual meeting to the Executive Com- mittee.
 About twenty newspapers of the State were attracted to Montgomery by the netting of the Executive Committee, a meeting called to consider what action should be taken by the Association with regard to the new law which prActicai- ly prohibits newspaper from con- tracting to exchange its advertising space for railroad tickets.
 Members of the Executive Commit- tee who attended the meeting which began at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon at the rooms of the Commercial Club were President R. E. L. Mel of The Selma Journal. Secretary Jacob Pepper man of 1he Alabama Odd Fellow, pub lished at Montgomery; Bruce Kennedy of The Montgomery Advertiser, W. D. Sowell of The Brewton Pine Belt News, w. H. H. Judson of The Bessemer Weekly, NJ. w. Camper of The Fler- ence Times, H. M. Wilson of The ope- lika News and w. c. Dinwiddfe of The Baldwin County Times of Bay Minnette. holding the proxy of F. l.. Mckenzie of The Tallassee Weekly.
 Discuss Phases of BiII.
 At the beginning of the meeting, the courtesy of the floor was extended yis- iting members of the Association who participated in the deliberations of the body Among these members were Ma for w. W. Screws of The Montgomery Advertiser, F. J. Holley of The Mobile Item, H. c. Benners of The Greensboro Record, Harry Walker of The Athens Democrat. H. Y. Brooke of The Cren~ shaw County Critic. H. E. Whitaker of The shelby Sentinel, H. s Doster of The Prattville Progress, w. T. Hall of The Dothan Eagle, and J. M. Arms strong of The Scottsboro Citizen,
 The so-called anti-pass will was dis cussed in all it's phases, and the pro- nounced sentiment was that the act was aimed at the life of the Associa- ton.
 
 per of Florence was adopted, MT. Wil- son, of opelika. voting against it.
 s.Resolyed That a suh-commtttee shall he appointed to consist of the Presi- dent, the Secretary, and A. B. Ken nedy, whose duty it shall be to oareruiiy guard the interest of the Association m connection with legislation hostile 10 the interest of the Association; that this committee shall be empowered to employ counsel in it's discretion, and that 1t is hereby directed to at once issue an address to members of the Association declaring the Intention ot this Executive Committee to maintain the integrity of the Association, and pledging this committe to continue to zealously guard the interest of the Ass sociation and to uphold the rights of the newspaper profession in Alabama.
 In voting against this resolution, MT. Wilson stated that he doubted if the Association had the right to employ counsel.
 Committee to Meet Soon.
 MT. Kennedy of Montgomery pre- scented this resolution which was adopt ed unanimously:
 "Resoiyed, That the Executive Com mittee acknowledge the fidelity to the interest of the Press Association shown by President R. E. L. Mel and Secre- tary Jacob Pepperman in taking the in- ttiattVe when leBlSlatlon hOSlaAG to thS Association is pending, and appreciates their efforts to protect the interest of the members of the Association"
 Discussion of the legislative action was informal and took a wide range. l MT. Benners. who Is Renresentattve of Hale County. and MT. Doster. a Sem ator from Autauga County, explained their efforts to defeat the bill. and | some of the members declared the light should be continued until It was de- cided by the higher courts if Legis- latura could interfere with the right of a newspaper to make contracts.
 The subcommittee, to which was re- ferred the matter of contesting the act in the courts. was also authorized 10 arrange for the annual netting of the Association.
 Tt was after 5 o'clock when the meet Yno adfourned. President Mel said the subcommittee would meet in Mont gomery within two weeks; when it wa to look after the case that may be made in the courts