The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-05-12
IS. C. DEVELOP
MENT BOARD
Important Conference Held In
Columbia to Organize
State

Columbia to Organize
State
Columbia, May S-Important, action
was taken Monday at conference in.
this city toward immediate action on
the plans Of the South Carolina Dew
eiopment Board for State wide cam
palgn for memberships and resources.
The meeting, which was held in the
new headquarters of the organization,
was attended by Governor Robert A.
Cooper, Clement S. Ucker, of Balti-
more, executive vice president of the.
Southern Settlement and Development
organization; Jesse NJ. Jones, of Nor
folk, development agent of the Sea-
board Airline Railway; G. A. Card,
well. Of Wilmington, N. c., industrial
agent of the Atlantic Coast Line rail-
road; j. c. Williams, of Washington,
manager Of the development of the
Southern Railway and V. L. Collier,
of Augusta, Ca, agricultural agent of
the Charleston & Western Carolina
railroad.
For the purposes of the campaign it
was decided to create 10 temporary
district headquarters. These will be
located at Greenville, Spartanburg,
Greenwood, Columbia, Orangeburg,
Charleston, Florence, Darlington,
Sumter and Rock HILL At each of
these cities vii be located a. represep-
tative of the development board. who
will set up local campaign organiza-
within his territory.
The campaign proper will open on
Monday, May "a, and continue to Sat
urday, June 5. Between these dates
every eligible person in the State will
be given opportunity to become
member Of the development board. It
is believed the result will be not less
closes.
George<R. Wheeler, manager of the
board. made a report at the meeting
Monday on the progress already, made
in the campaign plans, saying that
there was: every indication Of success.
Emphasis was placed on the care with
which the organization is being dew.
eloped and. the. fact that scores of the
States leading citizens are joining in;
the movement because they see in it
so. much of promise for the immediate
future.
Mr. ECKER said he had just come:
from meetings in Georgia and Florida.
where plans are under way for State
detelopment along lines similar to
those adopted in South Carolina, and
he told of like movements in several
other States. He congratulated South
Carolina on being the pioneer in this
sort OF agricultural, commercial, in
dustrial and civic coordination. He
predicted that the movement would
be given such an impetus in South
Carolina as to spread it all over the
South and so add greatly to the fame
Of the Palmetto State for progressive
action.
. Governor Cooper expressed deep in
terest in the plans Of the develop
ment board, as result of careful
inquiry into its program and organlza-
ton. The Governor has written the
following letter to, President Neils
Christensen:
'.The South Carolina Development
Board has tremendous field; in fact,
an almost linitless one for service. By
gathering information and dissemin-
ating It: by acting as clearing house
for the exchange Of ideas and expert
ences; and in other ways the develop
ment board can give great impetus
to-. the Development. of actual and po-
rtentials industries.
.The time is at hand when South
Carolina must diversity agricultural
activities. and must make use Of the
varied natural resources. Our eco
nomic life has been somewhat hap
hazard. a continuance OF this policy
will surely bring grief to the State.
s.I welcome the development board
as an agency for the happiness Of
South Carolina. and as one equipped
to stimulate various lines of endeavor
which, once under way, will result in
a larger number Of home owners. a
fairer distribution of, wealth, and, in
general, more smiling State
Several committees were authoriz-
ed to proceed at once with various
portions of the campaign plan. The
details of these viii! be worked out
rapidly. The meeting also adopted
plans for Statewide method of CIV
ing the pepole authentic knowledge OF
what the South Carolina Development
Board is and what its aims and pur-
poses are.
TIME LIMIT
EnD TTIPKEV