The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-13
MEETING 4 BIG SUCCESS.
MANY ATTEND CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE. SUPPER WED
NESDAY NIGHT.
snort Talks by Secretary A..v. Smell.
Davis ID. Moisc, w. +. Robertson,
Secretary Rearslon and Geo. w.
Dick--Sshumachcr's Orchestra Rem
ders Delightful Music.

The Chamber Of Commerce get
together" meeting Wednesday nigh
was big success. Many Of those VIII.
were present have pronounced it a.
such. and oil seemed highly pleases
WITH the McKagep chicken stew ant
the talks which were made by those
called upon. There were two hun.
dred and twenty-five present for sup.
per and afterwards. the largest at.
tendance which has ever characterized
one OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
smokers. The fact that tho attend.
ance was so great Is more remark.
able. when II .s considered that there
were two other affairs in the city
which drew away number OF per.
sons. who would otherwise have been
present. There was supper at the
Eagles club and dance was given al
the Eiks club. in progress at the time
the smoker was being held.
Tho enjoyment Of the occasion COM
menced when those present were IN
vited into the Armory Hall where
improvised tables were set for nearly
three hundred persons. McKagen
chicken stew was served out and with
bread and pickles as the proper ec-
csesories afforded entertainment for
the guests for some time. At the
close OF the supper cigars were pass
I'd around and the meeting got down
TO business.
President Davis ID. Noise of the
Chamber Of Commerce noted the
fAct that since the present officers
bad been elected In March. the organ
isation had been busy at work along
various lines and had been doing
something all Of the time. although
there had not been much talk. He
told OF the search for a secretary and
the finding of one right mt home, at
ter the search of from home.
He stated that the organization
was endeavoring to run on a business
basis. II had It's weekly meetings of
the Board Of Directors which the
members Of the association were In.
vited to attend and which he assur-
ed them they would find interesting.
The organization now had In view
number OF enterprises. but he would
not 90 into details. as their. attempts
to bring them to Sumter might not be
successful.
He closed by calling on the busi-
ness men OF the city 10 back the
Chamber Of Commerce with the true
Sumter spirit and a display Of inter-
est In the Retail Merchants Associa-
uen. He then introduced past Sec
retary OF the organization. Mr.. A. v.
Smell. managing Secretary Of the
Charleston organisation took the floor.
Mr.. Smell expressed his pleasure at
being again In Sumter. where he saw
% many familiar faces His talk was
along the line Of cooperation among
tho cities OF tho State for the up
building Of South Carolina and OF the
cities OF the South for the upbuilding
OF the South. After a few scattering
remarss at the beginning Of his talk.
Mr.. Smell started on the subject
which seemed nearest and dearest to
his heart a this time--a subject
which. no said. was of vital interest
to Charleston and to the whole South
and ono which he showed he was en-
gagged In investigating. tho freight
rates TO the South.
A man must love his homo town.
no said. or he was not good citizen,
but at the samo time. while he was
working for home industries. he must
not knock those OF the neighboring
town but he must work to help them
also, He must see the good In his
neighbor. as well as the bad. All were
protaers and responsible for each 9TH
or. He referred the criticisms which
had been made OF Charleston by the
towns OF the up country. saying that
they were unjust. for those who made
the criticisms did not know Charles
ton and the conditions there as they
were. Charleston had bonded itself
80 heavily to build railroad for the
benefit OF tho State. that over since
the war IL had been unable 20 issue
one cent OF bonds and every improve
ment which was made had to be done
with cash money. This was difficult
and slow and therefore the improve
ments had to be made slowly.
He referred to the fact that Char
lesion had not been helped by the
State In the building OF It's docks and
wharves. whereas Florida had spen,