Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1909-07-01
STATE PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Annual Convention Held at Hender-
sonville.-Rev. J.. O. Atkinson
Elected President and J. B. Sher-
rill, Secretary Treasurer.
, Hendersonville, Special.-The edi-
tors Of North Carolina were literally
presented with the key to the city
Wednesday morning Of last week,
when,. at their opening session held
in the court house, Col. S. V. Pickens
gave them an ancient, rusty, two
foot-long Jail key, recently uncovered
here by workmen in excavating for
a new building.
At $50 the convention was called
to order by DIR. j. O. Atkinson, third
vice president, who invoked a divine
blessing upon the town Of 'Hender-
sonville and the members Of the as
sociation. Mayor Station then pre-
sented Col, S. v. Pickens, who cor
daily WELCOMED the editors to town.
M. L. Shipman, on behalf Of the local
press, spoke few words of apprecla-
tion and Archibald johnson, editor
Of Charity and Children, responded
gracefully on behalf Of the associa-
tion. DR.. Atkinson then read tue
annual address of the president, who,
on account Of sickness, was unable to
be present In person. It took to task
the criticisms some politicians and
others make of the press and closed
with proposing 9 Optimism and Good
Cheer, as the note the press should
sound. The association voted
to wire President Thomas its
appreciatioa and its regrets that he
was unable to be with them. The big
audience in the court house listened
to short talks on timely topics by j.
w. Atkins, J. ]. Farriss, FL. B. Var
ner and Archibald johnson. At 2:39
p. m., J. F. Hurley read the histor-
ian's paper. Full Of interest and lis
tened to attentively was Thad r
Manning's talk on the subscription
price Of the weekly newspaper. This
was followed by the transaction OF
| miscellaneous business. At night
before. an audience which completely
filed the big court room, Mr.. John NJ
Julian, Of The Salisbury Post, deliv.
cred the annual oration. He com.
manded the closest attention Of his
audience to the end Of his address
/ Thursday morning was pleasantly
spent in drive to Lake Osceola an6
to Mount Hebron, the pleasure 81
which was not marred by slight
shower, which, Mr.. j. P. Caldwell re
marked, was but pleasant diversion
The editors and their families wen
in a body and the string of carriage
was a long one.
The ball at the Gates at night wa
largely attended and thoroughly en-
joyed by both visitors and home peo
pie and was distinctly a success.
At the afternoon session the fol
lowing officers were elected: Presi
dent, Rev. J. @. Atkinson; first vic
president, M. L. Shipman; secon'
vice president. J. R. Swami; thir'
vice president, w. K. jacobson; sec
retary and treasurer, ]. B. Sheriff.
historian, Archibald Johnson; ora
tors, w. C. Hammer and Josephu
Daniels; poet, D. F. st. Clair; execu
tive committee, II. A. London, w. {
Dowd, Fl. B. Warner, Josephus Dan
iels, D. T. Edwards.
A resolution was adopted condemn
ing the United States government 70
maintaining a job printing office t
compete with the country's job print
ers, and copy Of the resolution wa
ordered sent to- every Representativ
and Senator of North Carolina.
Interesting articles were read b
Rev. J. O. Atkinson, Clarence II. Pc
and R. R. Clark.
The important address of the da
was that Of NJ. V. Richards, land an
industrial agent of the Souther
Railway.