The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-30

| Hiiis Shiu tittt no Hdu ALREADY tOlu
everybody all that he knew about the
Seaboard and therefore there was
nothing more that he could say on
that very interesting subject He said
that there was one matter that he
would like to call to the attention Of
those present. This was the matter
Of securing Pullman service on A. c..
l.. trains SO and SO between Charles
ton and Greenville.
He said that the first mistake was
made when the Greenvile Board Of
Trade claimed the credit for having
secured this convenience, the second
when the Charleston Chamber Of
Commerce claimed the credit, for in
truth. so far as he knew. the matter
was first taken up by Sumter Chamber
of Commerce and the Pullman SER
! vice has been secured after many
4 efforts on tho part Of a committee ap-
! pointed to obtain this service.
He stated that the promoter Of the
South Carolina Western Railroad.
Mr.. Bonsal. was a close -mouthed man.
but that the road was putting down
heavy rails and that Mr.. Bonsal had
Insisted all the way through on Sc
curing as near an air line as possible
and stated that this was because Of
the through freight which would
run over the road. He (Mr. Man
ning) stated that he could see no
other reason for this than the fact that
the railroad was trying to secure
port for the Seaboard and he believed
that Charleston was the objective
point. II this was true, as he be-
lieved 1t was. 1t opened up vast ave-
nues of trade which would in the
future greatly develop those cities on
the line and especially Charleston. as
1t would prove a gateway for trade
with the Latin-American countries
which would be Of vast Importance
and Of immense value. He thought
the expenditure of the city and coun-
ty to obtain this line from the coal
fields to the coast was the best in
vestment that had ever been made in
sumter. He stated that he was as
sured by Mr. Bonsal that the rail
! road would be in operation TO Sumter
, NY August 1st.
Mr.. Z. l.. Witherspoon made his
message concerning the hotel short
and sweet. He stated that he was as
sured beyond a reasonable doubt that
the people Of Sumter would be given
the chance Of eating their Thanks
giving dinner In the new hotel build
ing. This news was received with a
great show Of enthusiasm. as was the
news given by Mr.. Manning concern
ing the railroad.
The report Of the canvassing COM
mittee. announcing the election as di-
rectors of the Chamber of Commerce,
NJ essrs. s. c. Baker. r. B. Belser, l..
ID. Jennings. G.. A. Lennon, ID. r.
McCallum. Jr., ] w McKeiver, r. l.
Manning. ID. ID. Noise. Neill O'Don-
nell. was made by Mr.. c.. NJ, Hurst In
brief statement.
DIR. Baker Reelected.
Following this report Secretary
Smell made an announcement OF the
| election OF officers for the ensuing
year. He stated that DR.. $. c. Baker
had been reelected president Of the
| organization; II. B. Belser, 1st vice
president; ID. ID. Noise, End vice-pres-
ident; and ID. II. McCallum, Jr.,
! Treasurer. DR.. Baker made a short
inaugural address in which he stated
that the Chamber of Commerce was
| TO be congratulated on having re-
tanned the services of Mr.. A. ".
Smell as secretary.
| DIR. Baker i'm his inaugural address
stated that 1t was with reluctance that
he again took the Management of
Sumter's commercial body as there
was nothing I'm his line of training
which made him peculiarly fitted for
this position. However. he appre-
ciated the honor which had been con-
ferred upon him and thanked the
people for having reelected him. He
would do all in his power to make
the coming year as successful or more
successful, than the one just ended.
Tie was battered at this mark of trust
and while he had i'm the past com
mittcd errors, he would try To learn
- what had been done wrongly to
do well In the future. lie thanked
the members Of the organization for
the support which they had given him