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Scraps and ^acts. ? "The Southern Planters' Commission Company" is the legal name of the cotton pool formed by the executive committee of the Southern Cotton Growers' association. This was agreed upon last Tuesday. The company is to have its headquarters in New Orleans. W. P. Brown is to be president and J. H. Whyte Is to be secretary. The plans of the pool are to be submitted to the executive committee of the Cotton Growers' association for endorsement on next Tuesday. ? While working with the teeth of Civil War Veteran Reese, at Ottawa. Kan., the other day, the dentist found a minie ball, weighing one ounce, embedded In his Jaw bone, says an exchange. At Honey Hill, In 1864, Mr. Reese was struck by a rebel bullet. It fractured his skull and tore out his right eye, The surgeon who attended him thought the bullet had passed out at the eye. Until the dentist rouna 11 Mr. Reese had no suspicion that he still carried the missile about his person. ? The census report of .the cotton ginned to January 16, In 695 counties, shows 9,717,693 bales, counting round bales as half bales, compared with 7,168,383 bales for the same counties last year. The quantity ginned in these counties between December 13 and January 16 Is 494,955 running bales. To December 13, 1904, the remaining number of unreported counties had ginned 2,748,798, counting round bales as half bales. Pour hundred and seventy-seven ginneries refused to report. The quantity previously reported by these has been brought forward In this report, without addition. The total amount brought forward is 134,111 running bales. ? Japanese field surgeons and hospital corps have accomplished an unequal ed triumph in the history of the war according to statistics obtained by the correspondents of the Associated Press from Chief Surgeon General Oku'a army. There have been In the entire army since landing May 6, last year only 40 deaths from disease out of a total of over 24,000, over eighteen thousand recovered on the field, and others were'sent to Japan. Casualties in General Oku's army from May 6th to December 19 were, killed, officers 210, men 4,297. Wounded officers 743, men 20,337. Missing. Officers 4. men 402. Sixteen per cent of the wounded died, nineteen recovered on the field, and the others were sent to Japan. It is believed the per centage of the other Japanese armies is about the same. ?An incident illustrating the present temper of the Russian people is related by an English traveler recently returned to London from St. Petersburg. The incident occurred In a leading theatre of the Russian capital. At a recent performance a grand duke was seated in one of the boxes. At his Ride was a lady friend, who drew the attention of all present by the magnificence of her jewels. Suddenly, during a pause in the piece, a man In the stalls stood up, and pointing to the grand duke in the box, called out: "Arrest the thief who has stolen the money that has been collected for our sick and wounded, and has covered that person with jewels out of the proceeds of his dishonesty." At this, so the eyewitness relates, there was a terrible uproar. The police were called, but could do little to restore order, and the grand duke and his friend had to leave the theatre. ? Judge Miller, of the Mercer county. Pa., bench, having finished twenty years as judge, hankers for political rest, and resents any insinuation thkt he is still in the political game. Recently the Western Press, a local newspaper, printed a long and plainly worded letter, from the Judge, saying in part: "Every now and then some cuss uses your columns to mix me up in politics. The last item was in last week's Press that I was opposing the election of Professor Ghering. I have no more interest in the election or defeat of the professor than I have in the eclipse of the moon. I've had all the politics I want. Once United States District Attorney George Jenks, when asked about moving to Washington. said if given a chance be ween Washington and hell, he'd take hell. And so If I am given a choice between Pennsylvania politics and hell I'll make the same choice Jenks did. Of course, I'd want some reasonable assurance that Td be reprieved at the end of three months." ? The supreme court of the United States has denied the application of August W. Machen. George E. Lorenz, Dlller B. and Samuel A. Groff. for a writ Of certiorari in the case against them charging conspiracy to defraud the government in connection with the postofftce department irregularities. The effect is to uphold the decision of the court of appeals of the District of Columbia, sustaining the verdict of the lower court, which convicted them of conspiracy to defraud the United States government. The particular charge was the sale of letter box fasteners to the government by the GrolTs, through Machen, at the price of (1.25 each, when they were really worth only 75 cents. Lorenz was accused of collecting 40 per cent of the amount paid to the Grbffs for the benefit of himself and Mkchen. Machen, Lorenz and the Groffs were sentenced to two years' imprisonment and to pay a fine of $10,000 each. It is stated there will be no further delay in the execution of the sentence, and all the defendants will be surrendered into the custody of the United States marshal. ? Says a Chicago dispatch of Wednesday: An upheaval in the Illinois legislature, possibly rivaling the recent boodling exposures in the legislature of Missouri, may be the outcome of an address made by Representative Frank D. Comerford of Chicago to the students of the Illinois College of Law a few day8 ago. The general assembly today appointed a committee of seven to investigate Mr. Comerford's charges, which are reported as specifically alleging "that the Illinois legislature is a great public auction, where special privileges are sold to the highest corporation bidders, and that, without respect to party affiliations, the 'grafters' seem to be in the majority." For the first time in many years members of the general assembly are walking about armed. Threats have been made against Representative Comerford, who acknowledges that he has a revolver in his pocket to defend himself in an emergency. The Investigating committee met and adjourned until Monday to allow Comerford to prepare evidence. One assault has already been recorded as a consequence of the Comorfnrrt r>hnr<r?s .Tamp* Rurdette. a re porter for a Chicago paper, was knocked down Just outside the entrance to the Leland hotel by alleged friends of one of the accused members of the legislature and was roughly handled. Members of the legislature rescued Burdette. but the assailants escaped arrest. ? Says a dispatch of February 1 from the Russian headquarters on Huan mountain, near Mukden: The five days' combat, which will go down in history as the battle of Hun river, was fought out on a seemingly unending plain, which is broken only by southern Amethyst mountain around Yental. the solitary eminence of which is the Liao Yang tower of bloody memory. The bright glare of the sun, reflected from a dazzling expanse of snow, was painful to the eyes and it was with difficulty that one could follow here and there black streaks marking the Russian columns or wavering skirmish lines dashing against what resembled dull gray rocks, but which in reality were the villages of Lidiatoun and Tanlepu and the extensive hamlet of Sandepas, bastioned by Chinese defenses and converted by the Japanese into veritable fortresses, surrounded with wire entanglements and earthwork. Ex posed to the intense cold of a Manchurian winter the mounds of earth had become like granite and as impenetrable as the steel sides of a modern battleship. For five days Russian soldiers hurled themselves against the defenses and field artillery pounded them until the frosty air reverbrated with the thunder of cannon, the din of bursting shells and the rattle of musketry, but neither steel-point shell nor nickel bullet availed against the frozen earthworks. The gunners actually wept with despair at the impotence of the attack. Mortar batteries came up at a gallop in the hope of demolishing the fortifications. Night and day the stream of shells was poured against the earthworks, but it had very little effect. The men seemed indifferent to hunger or cold, which latter was of Arctic intensity. Their fingers, hands and feet were benumbed, while stinging snow and dust blinded them. The slightest wound caused excruciating pain. Warm blood no sooner exuded from lacerated flesh then it began to freeze. The wounded could not be, left exposed, and if they I did not receive attention witnm an hour they died. Man was powerless in the face of nature, which heaped tortures upon the troops and defeated | the well thought-out plan of the commander. <Thr \lorkvillr <?nquirrr. YORKVILLE, S. C.t FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3,1905. A, Thf people of South Carolina still lack nine votes of having control of [ the state senate. It will have to be admitted that Mr. W. P. Brown of New Orleans, knows someth'iig about handling cotton. While we are somewhat doubtful about the advisability of compulsory education, we are sure, that we would prefer it to the compulsory sale of liquor. To that extent we are at complete disagreement with the South Carolina senate, which favors the latter and opposes the former. Contemplation of the power of the cotton growers of the south, could they be weld.id together into one solid organization. controlled by the single purpose of securing to the producers of the staple all that the world could be made to pay, Is sufficient to stagger the mort fertile imagination. The house committee on Interstate and foreign commerce has authorized a favorable report on a bill providing that the Panama canal zone shall be I under the direct control of the preslI r\n*-x t 17/v will have nf thp f?nn structlon of the canal and will govern the people living In the canal rone aa he sees proper. The canal commission created In what is known as the Mann bill will be abolished. Srnayor Williams of Williamsburg, on yesterday Introduced a bill Intended to prohibit the sale of coca cola In South Carolina on the ground that the stuff h harmful to the human system. It is thought that the bill will pass. We be; leave to amend, however, by provldl tg that coca cola may be sold only through the dispensaries. State monopoly of the sale will go a long way tOM-ard removing the objection of harmfulness. Anfirew Carnegie has declined to assist In the erection of a great hotel In Pittsburg on the ground that the hotel would have to be Interested In the aaIaavi kualnaoa n n /I Kn la lin tlfl llinff oailA/11 UUOJilton, ^UllU lie id uiiniiM<?o to make any Investment that looks to the sale of liquor for any part of its profits. There are people who think It surprising that a man of Mr. Carnegie's breadth should have such "narrow" views on a question like this; but Mr. Carnegie has long since given ample proof of his deep love of humanity, and that he should decline to take part In the debauchery of his fellowmen is In full keeping with the remarkable character he has established. A torrbspondent quotes Senator Cole ^ Blease as saying, "It Is true that in some respects the dispensary is not run as It ought to be; but to put the system Into the hands of its enemies through elections means its death." If the senator is correctly quoted it strikes us that his admission Is most remarkable. It is commonly understood that in this state no votes are counted except those of duly qualified white men, and these white men have long been taught that they had a right to do as they pleased. There is a widespread belief that the principal J function of the general assembly is to give the people what they want rather than to stand in their way. Although there is no doubt of the fact that President Roosevelt has his heart oet on tariff revision and equitable adjustment of railroad rates, it Is pretty evident that he will be able to accomplish nothing in either direction at thin session. The Republican majority is opposed to going into these matters at any time, and it is impossible to force action. There is still talk of an extra session of congress; but unless there is a change in the temper of the Republican majority it is difficult to see how anything can be accomplished even by means of this expedient. The disposition of the Democratic minority is to side with the president as against the Republicans who are putting obstacles in his way. The Blease dispensary investigation bill .s taken as a joke by most people in South Carolina. The legislature would save money by adopting a resolution declaring the great moral institution to be without fault or blemish and that a coat of whitewash is not needed at this time.?Sumter Item. No. contemporary, the resolution is not altogether a Joke. As to whether anything will be developed, will depend entirely upon the kind of men who may be placed on the committee. There are men and men. There are| * honest well-meaning men who are not bright enough to detect wrong doing even when they see It under their noses and there are "shrewd unscrupulous men who are able to see such things and keep their mouths shut. There are able patriotic men whb could not be persuaded to overlook any wrong doing, and there are other men equally able, but less honorable; who would get personal benefit out of such crookedness as they might discover. The result of the Investigation - will hinge more than anything else on the personnel of the committee. The 8outh's Cotton Crop. On another page we reproduce from the Youth's Companion an Interesting and comprehensive article by Mr. R. H. Edmonds of the Manufacturer's r>n Ola Crpflt MonPV Crop," and commend the same to the thoughtful consideration of our readers. It Is an unfortunate fact that while for a hundred years or more the south's cotton crop has received a large share of the best attention of the most able commercial minds of the world at large, the great economic problems connected with the crop have found but little place in the consideration of the people most vitally Interested. Recognizing long ago that the cotton producers of the south had It in their power to levy perpetual tribute on the entire world outside, long headed and far-seeing business men of Great Britain. Germany, France and other foreign countries have continually devoted their efforts to the reduction of this tribute to the greatest extent possible -and with the assistance of men of the same class in New England and Wall street, they have for long periods, been successful in levying tribute Instead of having to pay it. The south has never failed to produce practically all the cotton thai was needed for the world's consumption; but It is an Indisputable fact that Instead of securing for that cotton the fair price to which she is entitled, she has often sold her crop at less than it cost her to produce it. There are those who have told us and who still insist on telling us that this condition has been the natural result of the ordinary laws of supply and demand, and while this claim has long seemed plausible enough on Its face, conditions of the past few years and of the present time, have made it clear to all people of reasonable intelligence that such is not the case. The speculators of Great Britain, France, Germany and New England have shown conclusively that regardless of the laws of supply and demand they have been able to make the price of cotton as low as they desired, and last year speculators of New Orleans were able to show us that in the same way they were able to put the price al'most as high as they would. These demonstrations of themselves have been sufficient to show beyond doubt how little the rights of the actual producers of this great commodity figure in the fixing of the compensation they receive for their Industry. In view of the absolute necessity of this commodity to all humanity, the question of Its production and distribution may well command the best thought of the leading minds of the world, and since the United States has a practical monopoly of cotton production, it would be eminently proper for this government to enact such legislation as would promise not only to encourage cotton production; but to see that the producers, particularly, and the country generally got the fullest benefit of the monopoly. As a matter of fact the policy of this government has always been one of enmity rather than of friendship to the cotton producer. There has been absolutely no consideration of him and but little consideration of his commodity, except to make the latter bear an unfair share of the burdens of the government. Instead of trying to protect and encourage the cotton producer, the national government has really done what It could to help foreigners rob him of the fruits of his labors and grind him into the earth. As to what will be the outcome of the movement recently organized to change all this, It remains for the future to develop; but there Is no question of the fact that the cotton growers have at last hit upon the right means to secure what is properly theirs. The world Is bound to have their cotton, because there Is nothing on earth to take Its place. If they can once put themselves in a position to absolutely control consumption and sale, they can make prices what they will and consumers will have no other alternative than to pay. WITH THE LAWMAKER8. Matters of More Striking Interest In House and 8enate. The house Is willing that Wlnthrop college shall have a part of the prlv liege lax lunu wniun nuw kwb iu Clemson. The matter was debated at length last Tuesday, the occasion of the debate being Mr. Pollock's bill providing that Clemson should have sixty per cent of the fertilizer tax and Winthrop forty per cent. The debate occasioned considerable feeling, and a compromise was Anally reached by providing that Winthrop should have the balance of the tax after Clemson had received $75,000. Last year Clemson received $118,000 from the privilege tax and $35,000 from government funds. Because of the purpose, of the farmers, however, to materially reduce the use of fertilizers this year, It Is not probable that the privilege tax receipts will be anything like what they have been, and as to whether Winthrop will get anything this year is doubtful. After quite a spirited debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, the senate on Wednesday killed the compulsory education bill by a vote of twenty to fifteen. For a time it looked as If the bill would become a law; but its opponents persisted in their efforts until they carried their point. Among the amendments proposed was one prescribing that children who were compelled to go to school regardless of whether they were able to do so or not, should be paid for their attendance. T.noaii AFFAIRS. NEW AOVEflTISEMENTS. G. M. Carroll?Requests all parties on his subscription list to The Enquirer to make an early settlement for the paper either to him or at The Enquirer office. D. E. Boney, Agent?Has moved his office to the Old Jail building, opposite the court house. Yorkvllle Opera House?Reminds you that Weary Willie Walker?the funny tramp?will be the attraction at the opera house Monday night. Jas. M. Starr?Says he sells the best grades of fertilizers and Invites the farmers to see him next Monday? salesday. J. Edgar Poag, Rock Hill?Tells you that the most ' successful traders buy when prices are low. He offers some York county property for sale. J. Q. Wray, The Leader?Has a large quantity of new spring goods that have Just arrived and makes an introductory special sale for three days and offers low prices. Sam M. Grist, 8peclal Agent?Publishes a testimonial from Mr. R. N. relative to the Mutual Bene fit Life Insurance Co. of Newark. Foushee Cash Store?Has a big sale of umbrellas and parasols on for next Monday, beginning at 9 a. m. J. R. Connolly?Will either buy, sell or trade milch cows. Strauss-Smith Co.?Announces a ten days' sale of winter goods. Including suits, pants, overcoats, ladles' skirts, capes, etc., etc. York Furniture Co.?Has a large line of Buck's ranges, and says It will interest you with prices. Star Drug Store?Calls the attention of horses, cows and poultry to the benefits to be had by using Fleck's condition powders. First National Bank?Invites all farmers who want to place their farming on a cash basts to call and talk the matter over with It. ABOUT PEOPLE.Rev. Dr. J. H. Thornwell of Fort Mill, has been critically 111 for several days past. Col. R. E.s Allison of Lancaster, i spent two days this week In Yorkvllle, having come over on Tuesday to attend the funeral of his brother-in-law, Mr. John L. Davles. Mr. Charles B. Smith of Yorkvllle, celebrated Ms 74th birthday last Wednesday and there was a family reunion at the home of Mr. J. M. Ferguson, his son-in-law, in honor of the occasion. The gathering Included Mr. and Mrs. William Smith and children, Mr. L. L. Smith and Mrs. R. O. Atkinson and family of Armenia, Chester county, and Mn C. H. Smith ~and family of this county. Despite his 74 years Mr. C. H. Smith continues to enjoy fairly good health. THE GOLD WATCH C0NTE8T. Since the last announcement, 540 votes have been cast In the gold watch contest, which now stands as follows: Isabel Arrowood 17 Bessie Adams 4 Sudie Allison ....: 7 Benj. Black .. 102 Margaret Blaine .. * E. P. Castles 178 Emma Creasman 64 Florence Cody 81 Ella Carroll 712 Bessie Farls 8 Mattle Ford 124 Clara Fleming 246 Nettle Green 280 Nannie Grist ISO J. Hamilton 22 Posy C. Hardin 15 "F. M. Howell . 4 Mrs. J. T. Jones ..... 1 19 " Wilmoth Jackson 230 L. W. Jerikins 12 W. A. Kennedy 14 Blanche Love 220 Pearle Langford 42 Clara Mitchell 67 Lillian Mtlholen 2 Ella Neely 18 Ida Ormand 6 Minnie Palmer 689 J. K. Roach | Fannye Smarr 483 Lida Smith 376 Hollo Smith 286 W. H. Stephenson 358 J. G. Shannon ....<.* 7 Bessie Shurley 2 Susie White 4 J. H. Wltherspoon IS J. F. Gorrell 65 WITHIN THE TOWN. ? The Weary Willie Walker company, which plays at the opera house next Monday night, promises to rank among the best entertainments that have been seen In Yorkvllle for quite a while. ? Next Monday is salesday for February and the prospect for a large crowd is good. There are to be no auction sales next Monday; but there Is a lot of other business to bring the farmers to town. :?The King's Mountain chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met In regular monthly session with Mrs. D. E. Finley yesterday morning. The subject of the programme selected for the occasion was "Washington as a Private Citizen." . Selections on the "HomeHfe of Washington" were read by Misses Margaret Gist, Bessie Barron and Annie Wallace, and a humorous selection on the "Cherry Tree" was read by Mrs. C. G. Parish. Two new members, Mrs. W. F. Marshall and Miss Annis O'Leary, were admitted to the chapter. At the conclusion of the regular meeting, a light luncheon was served. The members present were: Mrs. G. H. O'Leary, Mrs. R. M. Bratton, Mrs. S. M. McNeel, Mrs. C. G. Parish, Mrs. D. E. Finley, Misses Margaret Gist, Pearl Wallace, Annie Wallace, Daisy Gist, Ella Love and Bessie Barron. The guests present were Mrs. Treadwell of New York, Miss Elizabeth Trott of Niagara Falls, N. Y., and Miss Jennie Llnd Moffatt. ATTACKED BY HOUSE CAT. Mr. J. W. P. Hope and Miss Lucy Smarr, of Yorkvllle, were painfully Injured last Tuesday morning as the result of an unexplainable, but exceedingly vicious attack by a house cat. Mr. and Mrs. Hope and Miss Smarr were sitting In the dining room of Mr. Hope's residence, each occupied in various ways, and all unsuspicious of present or impending trouble. Mr. Hope allowed his arm to drop down to the side of his chair, and the next instant his hand was seized in the teeth of the house cat, which was sitting underneath. Instinctively he withdrew his arm with considerable force, 1 and holding its vicious hold with the tenacity of its kind, the cat was drawn , from under the chair, between the ? rounds, and would not let go until with j his free hand Mr. Hope finally succeeded in choking it loose. Immediate- 1 ly on striking the floor the now completely frenzied animal made a wild spring and landed on the arm of Miss Smarr who was standing five or six | feet away. Miss Smarr fought the cat off and ran from the room with her i arm bleeding freely from several deep scratches. ' A negro servant was attracted to the room by the commotion and undertook to drive the cat out. The animal continued to fight viciously, however, and held Its ground until forced bodily through the door. It was afterward killed. Mr. Hope's wound was quite painful during Tuesday and Wednesday, but the swelling Is now almost gone and he Is more comfortable. Miss Smarr has not suffered a great deal of pain, except for a few hours, immediately after her unpleasant experience. NOTE AND COMMENT. The house has killed Mr. Ardrey's marriage bill by a vote of 64 to 40. A li IJ ....... I. n. nnginsr buih wi?? id aiimiib an |n;i the announcement of the weather bureau. It is to bs noted as a matter of course that Judge Hudson voted for the Brlce local self-government law. Ths exercises of the Wllkerson school, near Hickory Grove, Miss Clara Fleming teacher, have been seriously Interfered with lately by the prevalence of measles. The reporter has talked to quite a number of farmers from different parts of the county with a view to ascertaining their temper on the subject of reducing the cotton acreage this year. The result has been uniform. Every farmer talked to, says that his neighbors say they are going to reduce the acreage and furthermore that they are going to curtail the use of commercial fertilisers. It is to be gathered from these Inquiries also - that the farmers mean exactly what they say. Many of them who still have practically their entire crops and who owe no money, talk as if they are not particular whether they put In any cotton at all this spring. An old. tradition, so old in fact that the memory of man runneth not back to the contrary, has it that on yesterday each year, the second of February, the little groundhog comes out of its winter quarters to examine the weather, and incidentally the little animal furnishes material for the weather prognosticators, who are ever on the alert for signs and strange things upon which to base their predictions. It Is said, and many trust in the saying with an abiding faith, worthy of better things, that if the groundhog shall see his shadow? that Is If the sun is shining when he appears?the winter season will continue forty days, but if clouds have cast a shadow and left none for the little hog, he will stay out of his hole, for the prophets say there will be no more winter. DEATH OF THE BRICE BILL. Senator Brlce's local option bill, providing that Incorporated towns shall have the right to remove dispensaries from jihelr limits whenever a majority of the qualified voters so desire, came up for consideration on Wednesday, and occupied the attention of the senate for several hours. Senator Brice spoke in favor of the bill as did also Senator Mauldin of Greenville, and Senator Cole L. Blease of Newberry led the opposition, delivering a lengthy speech against the proposition. The bill was killed by a vote of 18 to 11. The News and Courier of yesterday gives the following summary of Senator Brlce's speech on the subject: Senator Brice said he had'Introduced the bill, frankly and honestly, for the purpose of giving the people of South Carolina a chance to vote out the dispensary, root and branch. He Is everlastingly and eternally opposed to it in all of its features. If the naked Devil would come to the earth to enact a liquor law the dispensary law would be the sort of law he would make. This law was adopted as an experiment and was enacted at a time when a political faction would do anything that was told'them. It was enacted to deceive the people. Actually the papers compliment the managers on making a splendid financial showing. The object Is to Increase the sale rather than restrict the sale of liquor. Towns were given a part of the profits in order to debauch them and make them favor the system. His bill, he said, is strictly In the line of local self government. He said he did not favor the Mauldin bill, which would abolish the dispensary and might cause the state to lose money, but his bill will give the people the opportunity to say whether they want dispensaries or not. In speaking of the effects of the dispensary he said negroes hung around them Saturday night like carrion crows around a carcass. The only objection against his bill is that It will kill the dlspensarv. Well, It's going to be killed. Seventy-five thousand voters of the state today are opposed to the oc^ -? 14 ?111 qflamnl lupus, una 11 will UC 1UU1C iw avwwiilK* i to refuse them what they want. It Is useless for men to wash their hands like Pontius Pilate, to rid themselves of responsibility. The people of the state are convinced that the system cannot be Improved. You cannot make a clean thing out of this vile dispensary law. Referring to Cherokee, he said they had voted out the dispensary in spite of the tax. Some men claim that thby do not worship the dispensary but their genuflections before the- South Carolina Bacchus would satisfy the most ardent advocate of the system. The tax is undemocratic and that feature of the law prejudges counties. It is a tax on morality. The law is considered so sacred that It must be enforced, even when other crimes are not especially run down. If it is a state matter why is it not a national matter? This dispensary is trying to ram something down the throats of the people which they don't want, and If that is not the government running the people, rather than the contrary, then he didn't know what it was. We had local option in South Carolina prior to the dispensary law. Local self government is the cardinal principle of Democracy. Speaking further, he said South Carolina gave little children books In one hand, telling them of the evils of alcohol, yet In the other hand they are given a dispensary bottle. The people of South Carolina will repudiate the dispensary whenever they are given the opportunity. Some counties may remain In the dark for a while. As a representative he felt* It a duty not to encourage citizens to drink and debauch themselves. They will drink enough anyway. They ought to be discouraged. In those counties where prohibition prevails the sale of liquor Is under the ban and its drinking becomes more or less a matter of odium on the one indulging. It is said thit dispensaries ought to be establisned because people will drink anyhow. Well, if that Is so, you might as well license murderers, because murders will be committed. LOCAL LACONICS. Death of W. H. Taylor. Mr. William H. Taylor died at his , lome near Newport last Monday after S a long period of bad health, aged about t 55 years. His death waa due to a * hardening of the Rplnal cord. Mr. , Taylor leaves a widow, who was Ml as ( Eugenia, daughter of the late Joseph > Miller, and three children as follows: J Mr. Joseph Taylor of Newport, Dr. J. i N. Taylor of Bynum, N. C., and Mrs. < S. D. Barron of the Indian Hook neigh- 1 borhood. The funeral took place at j Ebenezer on Tuesday. I Btoeksds Distillery Destroyed. I Assisted by Constables Drake, Jen- j kins and Foy, Constable Rose of York- | vllle. on Wednesday destroyed a block- 1 ade "steamer," about a mile from ' Bethany church. The steamer consisted of a wooden box with a copper ] bottom. The "worm" waa made of i Iron pipe. The outfit had been In op- 1 eratlon but a short time. It Is alleged to have been the property of Ed Falls, i colored. The understanding is that j there is quite a quantity of blockade liquor making In the Bethany neighborhood; but the blockaders under to nit tholr hn>ln?M Wf?ll enOUffh tO keep clear of the constables and revenue officers. In Behalf of Progress. Mr. J. Edgar Poag. the enterprising real estate man la trying to induce the people of Rock Hill to make such subscriptions as will be necessary to change the motive power of the street car line In that city from straw burners to electricity. Mr. Poag sees handsome returns as the result of such an enterprise and he Is no doubt correct; but as to whether he will be able to raise sufficient capital that Is willing to wait an indefinite period before there can be a reasonable hope of direct returns remains to-be seen. That the Immediate enhancement of real estate values would be more than sufficient to warrant the outlay there Is little reason to doubt. Yield Cut Thrss-Fourths. Just about one-fourth of a crop Is the product of one of Mr. 8. J. Clinton's hall stricken cotton patches, and reference Is had to the patch from which Mr. Clinton had reason to expect the best results. Of course, everybody remembers the hail storm that cut such a wide swath of destruction through Bethel township last summer. The cotton was broken down and stripped of every vestige of green, until the fields were as bare as a desert. Mr. Clinton had large fields of fine cotton In the path of the storm. It w?a too late to reDlant and he let them alone. The etrlpped stalks budded out again In a beautiful manner and for a time It looked a* If the crop promised more than before the storm. The only drawback was the lateness of the season; but In spite of this there was reason to expect a pretty good yield provided frost did not come too early. This contingency developed. Frost came when the cotton was literally laden with fruit, and stopped further development Mr, Clinton gathered two bales of cotton where he had expected eight, and although there is still some cotton to be picked it is of very little value. 80UTH CAROLINA NEW8. ? The Greenville News says that preparations are being made for the holding of the largest cotton conven tlon on record in Greenville on next Monday, salesday for February. Court is in session in Greenville; but Judge Gary has promised to adjourn court in order that the farmers might have the court room for the purpose of the convention. ? Lancaster special of January 31, to the News and Courier: W. J. Cunningham received a telegram this afternoon from Fort Bayard, New Mexico, announcing the death there of his son, Edward, who left here a few weeks ago in search of health, having contracted consumption while serving as a soldier in the Philippines. He was about 23 years old. The body will be brought here for burial. ? Burglars broke into the store of Miller Bros., at Stone station on the Glenn Springs railroad last night, and after blowing open the safe with dynamite, they rifled its contents, securing 338 in ifloney belonging to the Messrs. Stone, and about 318 belonging to the postofflce, which is located in the store. Along with the money 200 two-cent stamps and 400 one-cent pieces were taken. A batch of notes and mortgages, taken from the safe, were found in a woodland about > i a mile from the store next morning. ? The following letter relative to the question of granting of teachers' certificates to college graduates is being sent to the county superintendents of education by the state superintendent of education; Gentlemen?Allow me to call your attention to some recent acts of the state board of education. The list of colleges whose diplomas exempt graduates from teachers' examinations, upon report of the committee was revised so that it reads: South Carolina college, Wofford college, Furman university, South Carolina Military academy, Ersklne college, Newberry college, Chlcora college, Limestone Female college, Converse college, Columbia Female college, Presbyterian College for Women, Winthrop college, Lander Female college, Presbyterian College of South Carolina, : Due West Female college, Charleston j College, Memminger Normal college , Clafiin University, Colored; State Col* ered college, Avery Normal institute, Allen university, Benedict institute. : ? Says a Charleston special of February 1: Three fires again today, and i two of them in hay and grain lofts, , have increased the feeling of annoy- , ance that has been growing in Charleston for a week past. Since : last Friday there have been eight | fires in hay and grain storage places, , and the police are busy looking for \ a "firebug," who seems to have acquired "hayfever." The fires of yesterday aggregated $}0,000. but In ] those of today the hay and gTain , warehouse of C. D. Gartleman & Co. on King street, next to the police station and Arnold's stables, 34 Chapel street, will not foot up more than $3,000 damages. Their character and occurrence during the middle ' of- the day. Just as the others have * done, is something more than a coin- ' cidence. Only the excellent work of the fire department has prevented great ] loss, and the men and horses are weary with such continuous service. J The first fire of the morning was in 1 the reading room of the Commercial " club, but was extinguished before serious damage was done. MERE-MENTION. C Judge James M. Hobson, father of c Captain Richmond P. Hobson, died at ? his home in Greensboro, Ala., Tuesday d of pneumonia, aged 68 years. He was n probate Judge of Hale county, Ala., for * eighteen years The plant of the j Victor Talking Machine company at ( Camden, N. J., was damaged to the extent of $60,000 by fire, Tuesday. Many q girl employes had a narrow escape from the flames Thirty-six Port Arthur refuges lost their lives off the Mlato islands, Saturday, the Junk c on which they were making their way to Chefoo, striking a rock Oswald Offenbach, the Prussian portrait painter,. died in Dusseldorf, Prussia, Wed tesday, of pneumonia The engineer and fireman of a freight train ^ vere killed in a head-on collision beween two freight trains on the Southern railroad at McDonough, Ga., Wedlesday $200,000 worth of property in the business portion of Schelectady, N. Y? was destroyed by fire Wednesday Lazard Brothers, bankers of New York, shipp<Ml $2,368,000 in fold bars and coin to Paris Thursday. Princess Victoria of Wales. King Edward's eldest daughter, is seriously ill with appendicitis at Buckingham [talace The National Wholesale ^ 3racers' association Is in session in New York city, with representatives from fifteen states present The business section of Springfield, Tenn., was damaged to the extent of $76,000 u.. r n Onto %i?aw \jy nrc ncuucDua^. ,n. onaoiw/, aged 102 years, dipd at his home In Dun woody, Ga., WednesdayDr. Abner R. Welbom, formerly surgeon of the Georgia State Confederate veter- % ana, died at his home In Columbus, Ga., Wednesday, aged 84 years....One person was killed and five Injured. Including one woman, h) a fracas near Rhine. Ga., Wednesday, resulting from the feud between the Bumharn and Bryant families in Dooly county, Ga..... Richard Croker, former ly .leader of the Tammany faction In New York city, arrived in New York from London Wednesday, to attend the funeral of his son who was kilted at Ormond, PI a., last week Near Arkport, N. \ Y.. Wednesday night, a sleigh containing thirteen women and a driver was struck by a passenger train on the Pittsburg, Shawmut and Northern railroad. Seven women were killed -Hitright, three died soon after and the remaining three and the driver were seriously Injured....... An unknown philanthropist has donated $1,100,000 'o the Union Theological seminary of New York. j AT THE CHtHCUBI. CHURCH OF TIE GOOD SHEPHERD. Sunday 8 er vices.?Sunday tchool Ofl at 3.30 p. m. No other servicea ^ FIRST PRESBYTERIAN. sfnday 8 krvigbs.?-Sunday School at 3.30 o'clock. No other services, ASSOCIATE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN. RSV. w. c. RWA11T, PASTOR. Sunday SmivicRa?Sabbath school it 10 a. m. Morning service at 11 o'clock. Evening service at 7 o'clock. : 5. TR1NITY METHOD1OT EPISCOPAL. RXV. J. L. 8TOKRS, 0. D., PASTOR. Sundat Srrvicks?Services Sunday morning at 11 o'clock. Sunday school it S.30 p. m. Evening services at 7 o'clock. BAPTIFIT. REV. W. C. HURT, PASTOR. Sunday Sbrviccs?Bunday sc'ioolln the morning at 10 o'clock. Sorvloes ^ each first and third Sunday at 11 o'clock In the morning and at 7.00 In he evening. Instead of the socpudatod 'ourth Sundays as heretofore. Sptrial$$0#*. Dr. 4. j. Haglnei Will be in Sharon, Wednesday, Feb. 8. Yorkville. Thursday, Feb. 9, end In . Clover, Friday, Feb. 1). ^ Lecture Postponed. Owing to the prevalence of measles In the Hopewell neighborhood, the lectiiM that Pav W Vf. Whit* WMM to have delivered tomorrow night baa ^ been Indefinitely postponed. It To Washington and Rsturi. Account Presidential Inauguration Ceremonies. Washington, D. C, March 4 th, 1905, Southern Railway announces 2 the very low rate of One Fare (plus 25 cents) for the round Trip. Still lower rates for Military Companies and Brass Bands in uniform, twenty Or more on one peirty ticket Tickets will be sold on March 2nd and 3rd. final limit of March 9th, 1905. However, an extension of fund limit to leave Washington not later than midnight of March 18th, 190l>, may be had by depositing ticket with Spe- ?. cial Agent at Washington, D. C.. on or before March 2th, 1905, and payment of fee of fl at time of deposit For further infoitnation as to rates, schedules, sleeping car reservations, etc., apply to any tgent of the Southern Railway or addrcsa, Brooks Morgan, A. G. P. A., Southern Railway, Atlanta, Ga. Low Rates via Southern Railway. The Southern Rahlway- gives below a few special low excursion rates to the following points: To New Orleans, La.; Mobile, Ala., and Pensacola, Fla. One first-class fare plus 25 cents for the round trip from all coupon stations. Tickets sn sale March 1-9, limited March 11th, 1905?may be extended to return March 25th, 1905, account Mardi Gras. Very low rates to other points now In effect The Southern Railway is the best "oute to the abovip points?operating through Pullman and Dining cars on all through trains.' For full information apply to any " Agent Southern Railway, or R. W. Hunt, D. P. A., Charleston, S. C. Latter to J M Heath A Co, > YorkvlIIe S C, ; ' Jt ? Dear Sirs: Shuff. rt Hardware Co, Hickory, N C, bought a car-load of paint; after selling it a few months, iound-out It measured seven pints a 'gallon." Returned It to the maker and credited customers with what they had lost from short measure. What do you think of a short-measure paint? Don't you think it half whitewash? Half the paints are part _ white-wash. ^ Go by the name: Devoe lead-aiidslnc. No whiting or clay in that; fullmeasure besides. A gallon Devoe is worth two of white- ash paint Yours :ruly F W Devob & Co P. S.?J. J. Keller & Co.. sell our mint. 14 ! HYMENEAL. | M1BRIBT1?At rvmiwrd N. O.. Jan. "\i| 18, by Rev. J. W. Simpson. Mr. E. B. 1ARNES of Yorkvllle, and Mrs. C. P. 3ENNIGAN of Concord, N. C. At the Bullock's Creek Manse, Feb. ist, at 3.30 p. m., by Rev. J. B. Swann, dr. NEWTON TUCKER of Columbia, ind Mrs. ELVINA LEAK of Eullock's "reek. OBITUARY. Diki>?At her home at Hickory Jrove, on January 211. Miss LOIS, eldwt daughter of the liate T. H. Lesslie. She was about 16 years of age. Her leath was caused by typhoid pneur.onla fthf gorhuille (Qotton $larfeft. ^ iorrected Semi-Weekly by Messrs. Latta Bros. Yorkvllle, Feb. 3, 12 m.?The loal market stands as follows: Middling: 6| Strict Middling: 1 Strict Good Middling 7| Latta Bros. 4