The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-03
VISITORS WELCOME
Mayor and Citizens MAXI
Statement
IN REPLY TO DR.. HALE
City Stands Ready to Entertain
All Delegates

| Mayor Springer Issues Statement TO
| the Press OF North Carolina-Sharp
statement From, Representative Ctr
Zens-CUnventiOn Committee ShOui~
ders Blame and Wires Again to State
Papers That Entertainment Cannot
be Secured.
The telegram sent out by DR.. F. d
! Hale, pastor of the First Baptis.
church Friday to the different state
! papers, stating that only delegates
could be entertained at the state con-
vention in Wilmington next week, on
accout of unforeseen conditions and
asking that the Baptists reduce their
representation, created a great stir in
the city yesterday and 1t was the prin-
cipal topic of conversation during the
day, being generally considered as a
direct slur on the hospitality OF the
citizens of Wilmington.
During the morning Mayor Springer
believing that the city had been
placed in an improper light sent the
| following telegram to the afternoon
papers in different towns and the state
ment will also appear in ali the morn
| ing papers today:
Mayors Office,
City of Wilmington, n. c.
November 80, 1907.
/ 'rTo the Baptists of North Carolina'
MY attention has just been called
-l,o
the press, by Rev. Fred D. Hale, pas
tor of the First Baptist church of this
city, stating that on account Of what
he terms unforeseen conditions the
people of this city are reluctant or un-
willing to open their homes to visitors
who wish to attend the Baptist con-
vention which meets here next week.
| know of no conditions that have
arisen or could arise to cause such d
| situation. | am informed that there
have been no proper efforts made to
secure homes, the first intimation that
we have had that the delegates and
visitors were not properly provided
for being contained in the telegram
referred to.
This is an uRwarranted and unjust
attack On the hospitality of our cit
| liens, whose homes have been and
are now open to receive and entertain
visitors.
| II am requested to say that our peo-
pic will cheerfully provide entertain
ment to all who desire to attend the
BAPTIST convention next week., and |
for any delegates, visitors. and ladies,
who will wire or write me.
| ''W. E.SPRINGER, Mayor"
| Later, in discussing the matter more
at length with a Messenger reporter
the mayor said:
my attention having been called
tu the text of a telegram sent out
from here to the leading daily papers
OF the state on yesterday by the Rev
F. d. Hale, requesting the Baptist
brethren of the state to reduce their
representation at the state convention
here next week, in the course Of which
lit is stated among other things thai
because OF unforeseen conditions onl!
delegates will be entertained and Nc
ladies, | take this occasion TO say tha
/ am assuder by the chamber CT com
Inrerce and many leading citizens OF til:
city that upon this occasion, as in th'
past, Wilmington will throw wide opei
her doors to the Baptists OF Nortl
Carolina male and female. pledging II
l9dvance a hearty welcome and comfort
able homes for all who come into ou
mids- On this occasion. From all
, can gather bur few if any of our peopl
| outside the membership of the Baptis
= church here have been asked to en
( tcrtain delegates or visitors TO the cor
: venticn and all with whom ] hav
= spoken On he subject have uniforml
|. expressed a perfect willingness an
K pleasure to entertain one, two or thre
( OF the delegates at their homes or Il
J. hotels and boarding houses.
Proud of the open-handed no
pitality for which Wilmington nr
o her good people have been famor
?, for more than one hundred years. q
) citizenship of the community regret
ceedingly DR.. Hale'5 language and
situations as reflection upon a d
. tinguishing Characteristic of our ps