Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1917-07-04
PRESS MEETING.
Forty-Third Annual Session of
The State Press Associa-
ton Held at Beau
fort Last Week.

Press Association which has been
held in long while was held in the
historic and beautiful little city of
Beaufort last week. For numerous
reasons this water bound city is an
ideal place for holding such gath
ering. As most of the newspaper
folk who attended were from the
red hills of the Piedmont or the
table lands of the Pee Dee. gather
ing in this typical low.country
town afforded an altogether new
and very pleasing environment, en-
abling the scribes and scribblers to
completely relax, as well as regale
themselves upon the ever changing
panorama which greeted the eye IN
the bewildering maze of entertain
ment which proved to be a success
sion of climaxes. The progressive
Beaufort folk are accustomed to
doing big things and especially are
they versed in the art of entertain
ment. We had heard of their
hospitality, bat the half had not
been told. No, not the tenth part.
The Press party were not allowed
to approach within fifty miles of
the city limits without being given
foretaste of Beaufort's thoughtful-
ness and kindly hospitality. Soon
after our special coaches left Allen
dale, 55 miles upstate from Beau
fort, committee of ladies and
gentlemen deluged us with cold
drinks and bombarded us with sand
wiches, block ice cream and cake.
And it is needless to add that after
an all-dsy journey, especially a June
day, these creature comforts filled
long felt want" Not only were
these refreshments the best that any
market could afford, but they were
served so bountifully, so beautifully,
.sograciouslyserved. Washingtonlrv-
ing said somewhere that There is an
emauation from the heart in genuine
hospitality which cannot he descrlb-
ed but is Immediately felt, and puts
stranger at once at his ease" So
it is with the Beaufort brand of
hospitality. Upon reaching our
destination enough automobiles to
transport a regiment were waiting
at the station and we were whisked
away to the homes that stood with
open doors to receive US.
The first business session of the
newspaper men was held in the
court house Thursday morning.
The address of welcome was deliver
ed by Mayor Charles A. Danner
aud the response was made by MIR.
Harry L. Watson of the Greenwood
Index. After reports of committees
were heard and routine business
disposed of Mrs. Annie /. Rembert,
the field agent Of the State Board
of Health, gave very interesting
report of what has been accomplish
ed in stamping out tuberculosis.
Thursday evening another ses-
sion was held at which Mr.. d. r.
Coker was to have been the prin-
cipal speaker but he was prevented
from attending by the extreme ILL
ness of his father, Mr.. J. L. Coker.
Mr.. w. w. Smoak, editor of the
Walterboro Press and Standard and
president of the Southern Carolina
association, in very effective ad-
dress told of what this one-year old
organization has accomplished for
the four counties, Hampton, Collie
ton Jasper, and Beaufort, that COM
pose the association. There were
several interesting but informal
talks by members of the Press asso-
citation. The climax in the form of
entertainment For the evening was
the rendition of the Negro Ser
mon" by Mr.. Fred II. Christensen.
The final business session was
held Friday morning when matters
of Importance, such as the handling
of foreign advertising and the news
print paper situation, were discuss
ed. Mrs. Walter E. Duncan of
Aiken, chairman of the educational
com mittee of the Women's Fedora
tion of Clubs, addressed the associa-
tion, her theme being "Illiteracy
in South Carolina" Mrs. Duncan
is very brilliant woman and her
address was very effective. The
session closed with the election of
the following officers for the ensu-
ing year:
J. L. Minis, president; A. B.
Jordan of Dillon, first vice-presi-
dent: Hubert Osteen of Sumter,
second vice-president; Joe Sparks