The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-16
ENDORSES CHAMBER OF COM.
MERGE.
Mr.. Sam e. Miller Makes Cash DO.
nation OF Organization and Praises
its Work.

Rex and Lyric Theatres, one of the
most enthusiastic and active MEM
bers of the Sumter Chamber of Com
merce has decided to show his faith
in the commercial organization by his
actions. He has approached the
Chamber of Commerce with the fol-
lowing very kind words, and better
still with very substantial cash do
nation to show he means business.
Mr.. Miller writes this letter to the
Sumter Daily Item:
| Il am donating right now the sum
OF $500 as a special contribution to
the Sumter. Chamber of Commerce.
because I consider this organization
the most important enterprise in this
city or county. I make this contri-
button in hope that there will be
others to follow and do the same
thing. am practically a stranger in
Sumter, but I know that the success
OF my business depends upon the
prosperity of the people of the agri-
cultural districts just as all other bus
mess establishments in Sumter get
their support from the farmer.
I have travelled around this world
great deal, and I have never vet
seen a progressive city or town, that
Is, one with any degree of, permanent
prosperity, that was not backed up by
q prosperous. intelligent. and physi-
cally strong agricultural back ground,
and an active Chamber Of Commerce.
| The Sumter Chamber of Com.
merce, has. in my opinion accom-
plished more, for this city and its
people and for Sumter county than
any other factor Of commercial or So
cial endeavor.
feel delicacy, as newcomer to
Sumter. in taking the lead to give this
commercial organization a special
boost, but as the booster organization
of; the county, I feel that some busi-
ness man in Sumter should have SUI
ficient interest and local pride in his
city and its commercial organization
to come to the front to keep it from
decaying for want Of financial support
and cooperation.
| "The business men of Sumter should
get together and do something right
away to finance this valuable and
important organization.
| II have noticed since I have been
in Sumter, that every public move
ment Of commercial. agricultural,
Eeducational, nature such as the or.
Eanization Of enterprises, agricultural
associations, diversification Of crops,
encouraging the grain and livestock
Industries, the girls canning and the
boys corn, and the womens domestic
science clubs, establishment OF the to-
bacco growing and tobacco marketing,
and the running Of trade drawing
buy at home, and other trade getting
excursions, and in fact so far as can
remember, every movement. even in
some instances the movements for re-
ligious and moral uplift, civic and
sanitary improvements, ETC., have
either originated in, or have had the
Chamber Of Commerce as the central
advertising and get together bureau
of activity behind them.
| Even the people of the rural dis
tricts have looked to the Chamber of
Commerce as their leader in many
movements.
II am now hunting for the very
best picture that money can secure to
be featured in my theatre as a special
benefit to the Chamber Of Commerce
at an early date.
Il take the liberty of saying that
believe every organization in Sumter
|county, and even Sumter's churches
and Y. M. c. A. should band them
selves together with every business
and professional man and woman
and every wage Garner to help swell
the receipts from this benefit. Per.
sonally will ask only the actual ex.
penses of the production. The Cham.
Der OF Commerce has been used by
every organization in Sumter city and
county. even religious organizations
the officers and the office equipment
and publicity department of the
commercial organization have beer
placed at the disposal of every or.
ganization and utilized in most in.
} stances by them.
consider the Chamber of Com.
merce Of this city the central organ.
ization Of the entire county of Sumter
In which we can all meet on common