The gold leaf., 1909-07-08
Meeting Of Editors.

table in the History Of the
Organization = Attendance
Was Large and Sessions
Marked by Earnest Work
Editors Were Captivated by
the Charming People of the
Lake City Of the Noun
tains-Guests of the Hote
Gates.
If there has been a more pleasure
BILE or profitable meeting OF the
| North Carolina Press Association
than the one at Hendersonville, this
writer does not recall it. The fact
that we met in Hendersonville ex.
| plains much.
There is no more delightful place
place to visit whethe in an individual
capacity or otherwise. A more hos
pitable and charming people one does
not meet with anywhere than those
| Of the beautiful Lake City" of the
mountains. There are no frills and
| furbelOws about them, but refined
courtesy, cordiality and hospitality
that puts the visitor at ease and
makes him feel at home among
| friends.
The editors and their wives and
daughters were guests at the Hotel
Gates, large, well appointed and ad-
mirablv conducted commercial and
| resort hotel and being housed all
together their stay was made the
| more pleasant. Mr.. A. A. Gates, the
proprietor, is the right man in the
right place and leaves nothing un-
done for the comfort and pleasure OF
his guests. OF fine physique, hand
some and soldierly in bearing, genial,
wholesouled and anticipating every
want he is the ideal host and bon
viviant who makes friends of all
who come under this kindly care.
The hotel lobby, dining room and
ball room were decorated in honor
of the occasion and the string of cleo
trio lights on the street in front
added a festive appearance to the
big building.
The convention was presided over
by Rev. j. O. Atkinson, ID. d., ed
itor of the ElOn Christian Sun, third
vice-president-and he did it so we'll
and gracefully that he was elected
for the ensuing term
President j. A. Thomas, of the
Louisburg Times, was detained on
account Of sickness. He sent his ad-
dress, however, with regrets at his
inability to be with the brethren in
the flesh although he was with them
in spirit feeling very deep interest
in their deliberations. Dr. Atkinson
read the paper, with such good effect,
that we hardly knew which most to
admire, the fine thought, lofty ideals
and elegant diction OF President
ThOmas's excellent message or the
faultless manner in which it was de-
livered to the convention. 1t was one
of the best presidents addresses ever
read before the North Carolina Press
Association.
A telegram was sent to President
Thomas thanking him for his excel
lent address, extending sympathy
for him in his illness, and expressing
the hope that he would soon be re.
stored to perfect health.
| The sessions of the convention were
held in the beautiful new court house.
| Addresses of welcome were made by
Mayor r. H. Station, Col. R. V. Pick
ems and Nj. l.. Shipman, editor of the
Hendersonville Hustler. At the con-
clusion of the speeches of these gen.
| tlemen Col. Pickens made the hit OF
the occasion by presenting to Presi-
dent Atkinson a large brass key,
fused by him as gaveD which he
he said was the key to the town.
1.-The town is yours" he said, con
the authority of the Mayor and by
| offer OF the people, take it and enjoy
yourselves. Do as you please, stay
as long as you wish-the longer the
better we will like it-and come again
whenever you will-in a body, in
pairs, or Individuals
In taking the keyDr. Atkinson rose
and held it up declaring that the edi-
tors had the key to the situation and
they would accept the invitation so
warmly and graciously extended by
the Mayor, the people, the press and
the Oldest and most distinguished
citizen Of the town, speaking for him
self and everybody else in Hender-
sOnville, and the regions round
about, and make the most of it.
And they did
The response to the addresses of
welcome by Archibald johnson was
a gem. He is as good a speaker as he
is an editor-and higher praise could
not be pronounced though columns
should be written.
While there was naturally and nee
essarily, much of shop talk, the pa
pers were in.the main above the av-
erage in merit and public interest.
Some OF them were indeed of a high
order of excellence. and more than
one would have been creditable to
any bright minded young man as
his gradua ting thesis. Take for in-
stance such subjects as The Future
OF North Carolina and the Part to be
Played Therein by the the Press, "by
Archibald Johnson; The Relation of
the Press to the Good Roads Move
ment,> by II. B. Warner; "What the
Country Paper can do to Promote
Rural Development by Clarence H.
IOe;ln the hands OF able and thought
ful men, they were treated in a broad
and comprehensive manner worthy
OF the theme and the essayist. And
the admirable paper of Rev. DR.. j. ..
Atkinson. "Why Every Editor and
Publisher Should Belong to the Press
Association, was full OF fine thought
and contained much besides reasons
why the Association should have a
larger membership. Likewise the
paper of J. j. Farriss on The Editor
II p>~r{1.t ,I