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* * y v: ''' ' * ' , ' i .... . ? i , .fj ' / ' / \ Abbeville Press and Banner Established 1844. $2.00 the Year. Tri-Weekly. Abbeville, S. C., Wednesday, February 25, 1920, Single Copies, Five Cents. 76th Year. ERZBERGER FORCED . nUT OF CABINET .. i "Decides" to Resign When Startling ? . v ? - isl.1 ' Revelations are maae in m? uwi Suit Against Helfferich?Came As Climax to Busy Day?Sensational Testimong Given Berlin, Feb. 24.?Mathias Erz- , berger, minister of finance, voluntarily resigned from the cabinet to- , day. Erzberger's. resignation came as a climax to a day of sensational testi- , mony in his libel suit against Dr. . Karl Helfferich, former minister ot > the treasury. The nature of this testimony, it I. . was considered, left Erzberger no other choice than to relinquish his , * portfolio. According to the testimony of State's Attorney Messerschimdt, which was criven with the utmost re serve and caution, Erzberger hadj smuggled large amounts of his pr> vate funds to Switzerland. Previously testimony adduced from Dr. Helfferich involved Erzberger in numerous questionable transactions in connection with the issuance of import and export premits and other' wise misuse of his official position r ? \ i, and infuence in the furtherance of ventures in which Erzberger was alleged to be interested. The official statement announcing I Erzberger's retirement from the cab| inet bases his action on his desire to f ' save an investigation concerning his income tax. The resignation was xen-j | dered to President Ebert, who order- j | ed an investigation of the income taxi, incident conducted with all possible p* speed. |, . : . i, "WET" BILt WINS IN JERSEY FIGHT Trenton, N. J., Feb. 24.?Amid scenes of tumult and cries for recog-' nition by members on the floor after v two hours' debate, the New Jersey ?>v . 11 House Assembly late this afternoon , passed a compromise "wet" bill, fix-' ing 3 1-2 pei? cent, alcohol by volume, which is declared to be slightly stronger than the 2.75 beer of war-' 1 V 'L J 11 1 1 zime proniDiuon aays, as uie ' limit for beverages in New Jersey.The bill was agreed to by wet Demo-; , crats and wet Republicans and hadj the sanction of Governor Edwards.; It was presented to the House in the | form of a committee substitute for' the Barrett 4 per cent bill, which was : the Democratic measure, and it was t passed by a vote of 37 to 21. i ?5 * / HOME FOR GAME WARDEN. 1 L i Messrs. E. C. Horton and J. D. Kerr , newspaper and furniture men, who i sometime ago went into the rabbit farming business, are spreading out. ] I Lqpking to the time when the busi- , ness would be flush and they would need a man at headquarters to look after the marketing of their products they have bought from Mrs. James F. Bradley the house and lot on Wardlaw Street now occupied by her j : as a residence. This they announce , is to be the official residence of the : I Chief Game Warden of the rabbit [ farm, the official titl? of which or- , -j ganization was given ^ in a previous j issue./ The price paid for the residence was $7,000. The sale was made by ] the old reliable, Col. Bob Link, who knows real estate when he sees it, as j 1-11 i.1 1 ? _ C J I wen its me moaus operanai 01 turn- * ing a trade. With the Sick. Mr. Link Evans, who has been sick for several' days with the flu has developed double pneumonia and is ' seriously ill. His friends hope he will * ? soon take a turn for the better. J 1 Mr. Haskell Sick. ] Mr. L. C. Haskell has been quite ] k sick at his home on Greenville street since Saturday. He- is improving and j will soon be ready to be drafted for the balance of the setback suppers. |1 * ESCH-CUMMINS RAILROA& BILL ADOPTED BY HOUSE; VOTE STANDS 249 TO 150 Washington, Feb. 21.?The compromise Esch-Cummins railroad bill tvas approved late today by the House svhich adopted the conference report after four hours of debate. The House adopted the conference report by a vote of 249 to 150, a clean margin of 99 votes. Adoption of the conference report came after the House had defeated by a vote of 228 to 171 a motion to recommit, Chairman Esch, of the in terstate commerce committee jii charge of the fight on the floor then called for the previous question and there was a buzz in the chamber as the voting began. There never was any doubt as to the outcome, leaders said, although the effect of pressure from labor haders against adoption of bill was variously interpreted. Representative Kitchin, Democrat of Nortli Carolina, in the closing argument against the bill, declared that labor leaders had caused at least a dozen members who were opposed to it to rally to its support. Handed Back March First During the debate in which more than a score of Representatives took part, Chairman Esch declared that the railroads would be handed back to their owners on March 1, regardless whether Congress enacted legislation meanwhile, but he warned the House that defeat of the bill at this stage would put half the railroads of the country in the hands of receivers in three months. > i Representative Pou, Democrat of North Carolina painted a more gloomy picture by declaring that the country would see the greatest financial disaster in years if it gave up the roads without enactment of laws which would give them the right to earn a fair return. Representatnve Kitchin said his opposition was not "in compliance toj the demands of Mr. Gompers." He I attacked the "insidious propaganda" which he said railway interests v.ad conducted and declared the question of government ownership was not involved. "Whether this report is adopted or rejected," he said, "we have it from Mr. Esch that the roads will go back to their owners on March 1." PROF. A. R. BANKS DEAD A telegram was received Wednesday morning by J. Allen Long, an louncing the death of Mrs. Long's father, Prof. A. R. Banks, in Ridgeway Tuesday night after a brief illness of influenza. Mi^. Long was with her father at the time of his death. Mr. Long and his sons, J. Allen Long, Jr., and Billy left Wednesday for Ridgeway. The funeral will probably be held in Fort Mill; Thursday. He is survived by two sons, William Banks, of the Columbia State,! and John M. Banks, of the Columbia! i Record1; one daughter, Mrs. J. Allen! Long, Abbeville. Prof. Banks was a distinguished educator, and has prepared thousands ;>? boys for college and life. He was known all over the state and South and has hundreds of friends who will mourn his passing. He was well known in Abbeville, where he frequently visited Mrs. Long. Prof. Banks was the son of the Rev. William Banks, D. D., an emi-j [lent Presbyterian minister. He, him-j self, was an elder in the Presbyter- j ian Church and took an active interest in church affairs. POLITICS BLOOMING. It was stated on the streets of AbDeville yesterday that Major R. B. Cheatham is an announced candidate For Clerk of Court and that he will nake the race against Capt. J. L. Perrin, the incumbent, in the ap- ' broaching primaries. R. R. Moseley, Laurens, is a v^si- ' tor in Abbeville. I' URGES DRIVE ON TAX DODGERS TO SAVE A BILLION ? Washington, Feb. 23.?An appropriation to finance a $1,000,000,000 drive on tax dodgers has been asked of congress by Internal Revenue Commissioner Roper, it was learned today. This amount, Roper informed the house appropriations committee, can be brouerht into the treasury if con gress will allow sufficient funds for a thorough audit of all tax returns. Audits of the 1916 and part of the 1917 returns have netted $200,000,000, but the internal revenue bureau is so far behind on its work that a lar?e adidtional force of auditors is needed to bring more money due the government into the treasury at this time, Mr. Roper said. For this purpose he asked for an appropriation of $3,000 to employ 750 auditors and 600 auxiliary clerks to go over faulty returns. A preliminary investigation also has shown that the government has been paid money on'income and other taxes to which it is not entitled, and it is estimated that the refunds during this year will total $12,000,000. . As to the taxes which the government hopes to recover, Mr. Roper said: We find upon examination that two-thirds of these asessed taxes lie in a group of about 15,000 returns. These are the so-called consolidated returns?that is returns of corporations of all kinds which have many subsidiary companies probably run ning from five to twenty subsidiary companies per return. These 15,000 consolidated returns probably represent 100,000 individual company returns. An audit of 302,938 cases has netter the government $125,705, 422. POLK'S NAME HOLDS LEAD Washingtijn, Feb. 24.?President Wilson is expected to announce tomorrow his selection of a successor to Robert Lansing as Secretary of State. White House officials, in saying tonight that announcement of the appointment might be expected within the next twenty-four hours, refused to discuss the question of whom the President had agreed upon. The name of Frank L. Polk, secretary ad interim since the resignation of Mr. Lansing ten days ago after a disagreement with the President over the calling of cabinet meetings and previously under-Secretary of State, continues to be mentioned most prominently for the portfolio. Little surprise, in fact,, would be evidenced in unofficial circles if Mr. Polk were selected. Secretary of War Baker's name has also been mentioned as a possible appointee. ! TRUE BILLS PRESENTED. The February term of Court of General Sessions met and adjourned Monday, Judge T. S. Sease calling a special term to convene Monday, March 29. Judge Sease will also preside at the term of civil court to convene, Monday, March 22. The grand jury made its presentments Monday, no matters of unusual interest being touched upon. The following true bills were found and reported to court: Glenn Craft, J. C. Taylor, Jim Thornton, Lindsey Bryant, Sam Callahan, W. T. Thrasher, Dave Scott and Daniel Howard, all for Ul rtlof inn r\f f Vin r*rrvViIKif inn lour TX7ill Robinson, alias Jim Robinson, alias Fish Robinson, Murder; Will Kay, Louisa Watts, Willie Johnson, David Barksdale, murder; John Gibert, Sam Houston, assault and battery; Sam Miller, housebreaking and larceny. Out For Congrses. it was also stated that w. w. Bradley, at present an assistant bank examiner "of state banks, would shortly announce his candidacy for congress in the Third District. He' vvill oppose Congressman Dominick '.vho, it is understood, will seek reflection. PRESIDENT WILL NOT | ACT ON RAILROAD BILL FOR PRESENTJ .Washington, Feb. 24.?President Wilson was asked today by George P. I Hampton, managing director of thej Farmers National Council, on behalf of farm organizations affiliated-with the council, to veto the railroad bill on the "grounds of public policy." Mr. Hampton's request was by etter. He asked that the President personally or through Secretary Tumulty receive a delegation next Thursday and that he defer action on the bill until the farmer's representatives have a chance to express more fully their reasons for opposing it. Washington, Feb. 24.?President Wilson will not act immediately on the compromise railroad bill passed yesterday by the Senate. It was an-j nounced at the White House today that the President had directed that the measure be referred to the Department of Justice just as soon as it reached the White House from congress. The executive has ten * days in i which to pass upon the act before it can become a law without his signature. It is generally expected that he will be urged by representatives of the railroad brotherhoods and organized labor generally to veto the i_rn i -t j _i.i | Dm oecause 01 its lacor ana tne otner provisions. w v The railroad men oppose ttys section because it provides for tri-partite labor boards, whereas they desire to return to the old method of I negotiations and decision by representatives of the workers and the railroads. SENATE PASSES RAILROAD BILL Washington, Feb. 23.?The conference report on the railroad bill, embodying legislation for reorganization of railroads of the country with the end of federal control, was adopted late today by the senate. It passed the house Saturday and now goes to tne president. The vote on adoption of the report, taken after several hours of debate, was 47 to 17. Those voting for the conference report were: Republicans*?Ball, Brandegree, Calder, Capper, Colt, Cummins, Curtis, Elkins, Fernald, Frelinghysen, Hale, Jones of Washington, Kellogg, Kenyon, Keyes, Lenroot, Lodge, McLean, McNary, Nelson, New, Page,j Phipps, Poindexter, Smoot, Spencer, I Sterling, Sutherland, Townsend, j jWadsworth, Warren and Watson. Total Republicans for, 32. Democrats? Beckham, Fletcher, Gay, Glass, Myers, 'Phelan, Pomerene, Ransdell, Robinson, Shields, i Smith of Maryland, Underwood, | Walsh of Montana, and Williams. I Total Democrats for 15. Those voting against the report: Republicans?Borah, France and jGronna. Total Republicans against |3. Democrats?Ashurst, Dial, Gore, Harris, Harrison, Johnson of South Dakota, Jones of New-Mexico, King' McKellar, Nugent, Overman, Pittman, Sheppard and Trammell. Total Democrats against, 14. Total against adoption 17. Those paired follow: Bankhead for with Culberson against; McCormick for with Henderson agajnst; Dillingham for with Swanson against; Fallj for with Kendrick against; Simmons| for with Kirby against; McCumber| for with-La Follette against; Harding ;fbr with Walsh of Massachusetts, j against; Edge for with Owen against, j "" I !laurens man dies nio wwurtua i j Laurens, Feb. 24.?Julius Sitl greaves, cashier of the Lucas Bank at Watts Mill, died at his home here this morning at 2 o'clock from a selfinflicted wound, according to a statement made by the young man after jhe was found prostrate in the road! nfear the city Sunday night. There! [were indications that he would re-j cover yesterday, bue he grew gi^ad-; ually worse in the afternoon and sue-!1 cumbed during the nibht. He was 27 years of age. \ FOREIGN EXCHANGE PROFITEERING HURTS FARM PRODUCTS Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 24.?A quick depression in agricultural prices as the result of 'profiteering" in foreign exchange was predicted by Dr. Tait Butler president of the Association of Agricultural workers in his anual address to the opening of the twenty-first convention of this organization here today. Dr. Butler, who is editor of the Progressive Farmer, of Memphis, Tenn., characterized profiteering in foreign exchange as "the most damnable form of profiteering indulged in since the war." "Indications at this time," said Dr. Butler, '"foreshadow more definitely than ever before i.i the history of the country, a quick depression in the prices of farm products. The present profiteering in foreign exchange is doing more to disrupt the normal progress of agriculture in this country than anything else at this time. Cotton is not moving because of the low foreign exchange, and it is the same with other products. Europe will not pay the price with th^ present depreciated currency. President Butler's address followed short speeches of welcome by Peter V. Rice, assistant state commissioner of agriculture, and Mayor James L. Key, of Atlanta, who offered the hospitality of the state and city to the agricultural worker?. The convention will b.e in session through Thursday. NEWS OF DR. SWOPE. Dr/Geo. W. Swope, former pastor of the First Baptist Church, in Abbeville, has arrived in Philadelphia and taken up the work thgvi as pastor of Fifth Baptist Church in that place. We have received a folder carrying the announcements for the services held Sunday, February 15th. The first page of the folder contains a cut of the handsome church of which the doctor is the pastor. It is located at the coriler of Eighteenth and Spring Garden Streets. On this page too you will find the subjects of the message delivered by the pastor on that day, as follows: Morning: The Divine Enslavement; Evening: The Second Line of the World's Only Hope. v The other pages of the folder conain announcements of the many wnflrincy AropQwiTofiAnp .. V4gMlUAUblVilO VI L/11C tUUi^U) with the names of the officers of the church, members of the choir, the programs for the morning and evenng services, and other information. It is evident that the church is'as the Doctor says it is "a great church." The friends of the Doctor and of his family in Abbeville will be glad that they have found a home in a place so agreeable and that the work there appeals to the eminent divine. Among other things which Dr. Swope expects to do while in Philadelphia, when he has time, is to improve his handwriting so that it will not be necessary to get Brother Stark to translate all his letters to friends here. We all wish him success in all his endeavors, including handwriting improvement. A Welcome Visitor. Mrs. Wallace Thompkins is here from Edgefield and is visiting at the home of Mrs. W. S. Cothran. As Miss Cleora BrYinson. she made her home in Abbeville some years ago and endeared herself to a wide circle of friends who are glad to see her again and to know that her lines in life lave fallen in pleasant places. Off to Chester. Miss Mary Shelly, who is making her home in Abbeville with Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Hipp, is a victim of a firsfj class case of mumps, the first to( appear in Abbeville. The family of Mrs. John Harris, ivho have all been sick with the flu .re on the road to good health and i tope soon to be out again. UNIONS WILL ASK WILSON TO VETO j Labor Claims that Provisions are Unfair. Palmer To Pass on BillPresident Plans to Have Attorney General Look into v Organization Washington , Feb. 24.?Railroad labor decided tonight to ask President Wilson to veto the railroad reorganization bill. In a memorial to be submitted probably late tomorrow, the representatives of the 2,000,000 union * workers will request the President to withhold his signature from the 4 i measure until they carv present a brief of their reasons why it should /. \ not have executive approval. Announcement of the union's decision was made by B. M. Jewell, acting president of the Railway Employees Department, American Federation of Labor. Knowledge of the President's indention to have Attorney General Palmer pass on the validity of the reorganization measure did not deter the union leaders from their determined course of action. Their claims against the legislation were explained^ lto be aside from any question of the jvalidity of the bill and , they, therejfore, purpose^ to carry the opposition through to the finish. Awaits President's Action. The next step in the union program which will not ]be developed [definitely unless the bill is approved, lis to test the constitutionality of the !law. Various methods of bringing 'this about were suggested, but all 11 1/L |tti*a uc aciu xii auc^aiac ucuuillg LUC President's action. Labor provisions of the bill admittedly will be the most bitterly assailed by the unions but the plan also contemplates attack on the financial sections which labor holds to be '"'unfair to the taxpayers and a burden on the government." The dividend provision of the law also will come in for condemnation, it was indicated. . Mrs. James B. Latimer Dead. j Mrs. Lola Todd Latimer died in | Charleston last week and the burial I was held in Laurens on the 23rd. Mrs. j Latimer was a daughter of W. P. I Todd of Laurens, formerly of Abbeville county. She is survived by her husband and a week old infant. Mr. M. W. Smith Die*. M. W. Smith, 55 years old, died at lis home fi,ear town Monday afternoon. Funeral services were held at Sharon Tuesday afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Harris officiating. Mr. Smith was well known throughout the couny. He was unmarried. j ( Supervisor's Report. County Supervisor W. A. Stevenson made his annual report to Court Monday. The report showed that Supervisor Stevenson had carried on !his work in the county within the |funds available. His expenditures lamounted to $54,249.00 and his income amounted to $54,378.00, leaving a balance of $129.00 on hand. Services at Upper Long Cane. There will be preaching at Upper ..ong Cane church next Sunday at 11:30 a. m. The Rev. J. A. Clotfelter, f Lowndesville will preach. Sunday School at 10:30. A full attendance is equested. V' COTTON MAK\tl. V V V , February 25. V Spot Cotton 40.00 V V V V March 37.60 V V May 34.96 V V July 32.63 S> V October 30.50 V V December 29.95 V V