The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-11-17

have pleasure. If Sumter does not
provide pleasure for the many thou
sands, white and colored, who come
here to trade, why these thousands
will go to Florence, Orangeburg. Co.
lumbia, Camden, Charleston and other
cities and towns which provide public
festivities. And the thousands from
the Pee Dee who go to other cities
for relaxation, and fun, spend many
thousands Of dollars that would be
spent in Sumter If we had an annual
festival of some kind. President Taft
is desirous of seeing as much of the
Southern people as he possibly can.
He wants, I am reliably informed,
to visit South Carolina again. IT will
help Mr.. Taft, and will help Sumter,
and South Carolina, to have him
come to Sumter. His presence will
bring many thousand people here. If
we get busy now, and decide to have
the president, the spring festival, and
trades exposition, and merchants day
in connection with the firemen's
tournament and military day, and
will request Congressman Lever, and
Senators Tillman and Smith, right
now to invite the president to come
here next May he will come beyond
doubt.
Sumter's merchants and other bus
mess men are wide awake A re-
cent somewhat incomplete canvas
among the business men in August
proved that they were ready for a
Sumter "blow out" of some kind.
Ninety-eight per cent. of Sumter
merchants and manufacturers believe
In wholesome fun once or twice a
year. And they are willing to put up
their share Of the money in conjunc-
ton with the lawyers, doctors, bank
ers, mechanics, laborers, clerks, book
keepers, manufacturers, cotton buy
ers, meat dealers, contractors, city
and county officials, and others, be-
cause I will say for the information
of all, that the merchants do not fur
nish all of the money for fun, char
ity or advertising Sumter, not so as
that you would notice it, but Sumter
has about as liberal a lot of mer-
chants, who treat their employees as
we'll as any business men in the
world.
But our professional men, manu-
facturers, clerks, railroad men, and
others, including the Sumter ladies.
are live wires also when it comes to
coming down" with the coin of the
REIN to help Sumter entertaisr or al =:
vertise You will find doubtless. sew
eral business men at the Chamber of
commerce smoker who will oppose a
spring or fall festival, circus, or La
Dor day celebration. But they don't
have to come i'm Not so. however.
with the ninety-e eight per cent afore-
said of merchants. 1t should be borne
IN mind that those who wish to con-
tribute their hard earned money. or
inherited money either, for that mat
ter, towards holding a festival. at
tending a circus in Sumter, or worse
still going off to some other town TO
have fun which is not provided i'm
sumter, have right to do so. and
Will do so regardless of what ANYBODY
else thinks.
AS an advertisement, a trade draw
er, and a new customer feature. If
seems to me that the programme
above mentioned would pay the mer-
chants, and every other business man
In Sumter and also provide instruc-
tive and wholesome amusement for
thousands. The ladies of the Civic
League, Daughters of the American
Revolution, United Daughters of the
Confederacy, and the numerous So
cieties of the different churches in
Sumter could funish thousands of vic
itors with meals, and make a great
deal of money for charitable, church
and civic improvement purposes. as
was done in Florence.
1 trust that the Chamber of Conn
merce will take this matter I'D. and
that the editor of The Daily Item.
VINO is a veteran in festival work and
a good editor and hustler when his
spirit moves him, will endorse edi-
torially what has been written here
In by,
Yours truly,
"Old Fireman and Soldier" who
mas "smelt'' smoke, but never
"smelt" powder, except on the 4th of
July!