The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-20

The Chamber Of Commerce rally in
the Academy OF Music Thursday
night was attended by fairly repre-
senta i've audience of Sumter busi-
ness men and ladies' There were
numerous talks on various phases Of
the Chamber Of Commerce work and
the necessity Of raising the SIS, 900 to
carry on the work which had COM
menced so auspiciously and which was
now going on. Considerable interest
was shown by business men present
although none Of those present seem
ed very enthusiastic.
The feature of the meeting came at
the last, when Congressman A. T..
Lever of the Seventh Congressional
district at the request Of Dr. S. c. Ba-
ker made short talk to those who
were sill present at this time. Mr..
Lever in his remarks pointed out the
value of the South and the State talk
ing advantage of it's opportunities
and turning the tide of immigration
southwark.
The meeting opened when the sum
ter band, with it's twenty Instruments
struck up on the street in front of the
building and played couple of Sc
lections' before going into the build
ing. Afterwards during the evening
the band played selections between
the speeches, the music being very
enjoyable and literally applauded.
The meeting was called to order by
DR.. :. G.. Baker, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, who made
short talk telling Of the work which
the Chamber of Commerce had done
In the past year and half and what
enterprises it had brought to Sumter
and therefore how much better off the
city was now with these new indus
tries He spoke of the resignation of
Mr.. Smell and the part he had taken
in getting the new Industries. stating
that now this meeting was called in
order to raise funds that the work
might go on.
Mr.. Smell was the next speaker. He
told of the very valuable advertising
which sumter had secured from the
Sumter Plan" of city government.
The Chamber of Commerce. he said.
took up and carried on the work
which, without a head was nobodys
work, it brought all OF the business
houses of the city and departments of
the city in closer touch with each 9th
er and in this way provided for more
effective work for the advancement
of the city. He stated that the big men
were not doing their duty The big
men should give toward the support
of the Chamber according to their
means in comparison with what the
smaller salaried men were giving.
Sumter should raise the money and
should advertise its advantages
throughout the whole country. He
wanted to see the canvass for $4,000
carried through successfully in one
day.
Mr.. McKeand, Secretary of the Char
lesion Chamber Of Commerce, opened
his remarks by saying that Sumter re-
minded him more of the West than
any other city in the south or east he
had struck, because its people always
pulled together. He told of the or
ganization of the state Chamber of
Commerce and how Mr.. Weir had been
decided upon rs the man to come to
this state To raise the funds for the To-
cal commercial organizations and the
state Chamber. He told of Mr.. Weirs
work along this line He was sure
that the money could be raised.
MIR. Harold II. Weir Of San Fran
cisco, Cal, was next introduced. He
told OF his work N other states in
raising funds, showing how much was
done by the towns by their advance
meat, whore large sums was raised
and their subsequent growth and pros
pcrity. He made a hit at the un-
kcmpt, unpainted fences in this city.
saying that paint was cheaper here
than in some other places and
that more of it ought to bc used. The
reputation Of this city, he stated was
envied by other cities in the state.
where he was told that he would have
NO difficulty in raising the amount in
sumter.
He told Of his successful canvassos
In o'h'r cities in the state and thought
that ho should bc successful here, as
The raising of the amount here i'm one