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?ratp$ and .facts. ? Paris, March 1: Advices received today from General D'Amade. commander of the French forces in Morocco, report another furious fight with the Madakra tribesmen which lasted from 8 o'clock in the morning until nightfall, the French losing eleven men killed and thirty-six wounded. The French expedition had not penetrated far into the country when it was attacked with the greatest fierceness by hordes of tribesmen, both mounted and on foot who kept the French troops at bay throughout the day. At one time the French cavalry was surrounded by the enemy, but the troopers succeeded in cutting their way out by a most brilliant charge. The Madakras eventually showed signs of fatigue and were beaten off. A column of the French troops pushed the advantage and gave vigorous pursuit for a distance of several miles, inflicting severe losses on the enemy. ? Charlotte Observer: A cut of 10 per cent in the wages of almost all employes in this district of the Southern Railway company is announced in the following special from Greenville, S. C., under date of the 27th "The Southern Railway has decided upon a reduction of 10 per cent In Hie salaries of its division .superintendents and their oilice forces. Division Superintendent Fallis, of this city, today received an official notice to this effect, and it did not surprise railway people here. Xot only will the division superintendents, their chief clerks and other subordinates directly under them, feel the cut, but train masters, road supervisors and their clerks will also have their salaries reduced. The chief dispatchers and other employes in the telegraph office will not be affected by the order. The cut in salaries is but another effort on the part of the Southern to keep its expenses below the earnings." Since Charlotte is in this district, the cut has a direct effect on the Charlotte employes of the Southern, those living here and those running out from here. Similar notices have been received by other superintendents. The action is one much to be regretted, as it is not an tnsignincant uinunuuou m the wages of the workers, but so far as known there has been no uisposition on the part of the employes here to resist the cut. ? Tampa Fla., March 1: The entire extreme northeastern section of the city proper was destroyed by lire, which raged uninterruptedly from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. today. The area burned covered 55 acres or eighteen and one-half city blocks and three hundred and eight buildings were destroyed, with a total loss estimated at 1600,000. The burned section included four laige and one smaller cigar factories, numerous restaurants, saloons, boarding houses and over 200 dwellings occupied by cigar makers. The factories burned were. M. Stachelberg & Co., loss $100,000; M. Perez <S Co., loss $50,000; Gonzalez, Fisher & Co., branch of Stachelberg, kss $4 0,000; Fernandez & Bro., $20,000. All factories carried large stocks of tobacco and cigars. The area swept by fire embraced all that portion of the city between 12th and Michigan avenues and Sixteenth and Twentieth streets. It orignated in the boarding house of Antonio Diaz, 17 4 Twelfth avenue, and fanned by a strong wind, spread out fanshaped, defying the efforts of the en tire city fire department which was crippled by very weak water pressure owing to the smallness of the mains in that section. Occupants of over two hundred dwelling houses, thrown into a panic, rushed out attempting to save but little ol' their belongings. One fatality is repotted, a Cuban woman in a delicate condition, who dropped dead front the shock, her body being rescued front the burning house with difficulty. in the big factories it was possible only to save (he most valuable of records, books, etc., and the valuable stocks of leaf tobacco and manufactured cigars, ready for shipment, Were left to the mercy of the flames. Fire Chief Savage was overcome by heat and sntoke early in the fire, but recovered later. Citizens volunteered assistance to the hard working firemen, but the spread of the fiames was so rapid that little effectual work could be done. .Among buildings, other than factories destroyed, were the hotels and cafes of Perez and Castro and Maximo Caras. six saloons, twelve restaurants and ten bearding bouses. The car barus of the Tampa Electric company, containing twenty cars, were endangered, and owing to the destruction of trolley > ? -- . wires cars couui nui ue mutcu. big Seidenberg branch factory of the Havana-American Cigar company was also reached by the flames, but was saved and St. Joseph's Catholic convent and academy barely escaped. The tire finally burned itself out at the extreme northeastern corner of the city. Fully half of the people rendered homeless were out of work, owing to the dull season in the factories, and also practically out of funds and their shelter became an immediate problem. ? Washington. March 1: American railways have made arrangements to comply with the provisions of the "ninehour law." The operation of the law will mean the employment by railroad companies of several thousand additional operators and the closing of a large number of small stations on the 4th of March. The discontinuance of railway service at many points, it is realized, will induce at least temporary inconvenience to the traveling and shipping public, but, in order to reduce operating expenses which now seems nuOMifiiv the oiierutintr officials of the railways believe that this is the only way they possibly can meet the situation with which they are confronted. During the hearing of applications for an extension of the nine hour law by the inter-state commerce commission some astonishing statements were made by the operating officials of important railways. A good many lines, owing to a reduction in their revenues and to their inability to command the cash necessary to meet their pay rolls, have been forced, during the past four months, almost to the point of asking for receivers. In the opinion of railway officials expressed at the hearing under oath and in private con versa Man this condition does not seem to have been due to the enforcement of regulative laws or to the incapacity of railway management. Most of the railroad officials attribute the difficulty to the unfortunate banking situation which developed last September. The railways did not feel the stringency in money until about the 1st of November. In fact, the month of October was one of the best in the history of the business of American railroading. ?>ne railway official ventured the statement that in the country today there were :t0ti.000 idle freight cars, and one line which he Instanced was declared to be hauling empty cars backward and forward because it had not yard room or sidings to accommodate them. Not a single official of a single railway line who appeared before the commission, [however, expressed tlie belief that the present industrial depression would be lasting. In tlie testimony of nearly every witness before the commission t bet e was a note of confidence because all of them practically believed that tiie stringency in the money market from which the country has suffered Is not due to fundamental causes. They point out that the crops last year were good: that prices were excellent: that industrial enterprises throughout the country were flourishing, it was merely the inability to command ready cash and the hoarding of money by panicstricken individuals which produced so suddenly the remarkable depression from which all have suffered. They practically uniformly express confidence that tlie return of prosperity will be almost as sudden as was the coming of adversity and in their arguments as to the enforcement of the nine-hour law they pointed out to the commission that such a return of prosperity might seriously embarrass them in complying with the law, because it would render it difficult to command the services 01 competent operators in sufficient numbers to meet the needs of prosperous conditions. &hr \|orhvillr (inquirer. Entered at the Postoffice in Yorkville as Mail Matter of the Second Class. YORKVILLE, S. C.j TUESDAY. MARCH 3. 190S. Don't let the politicians "roll" you. Do your own thinking The Enquirer has not yet seen Mr. P.lease's reply to Mr. Parker. And tomorrow the general assembly will begin the work of trying to elect ja United States senator. BfT the fact that the state of South Carolina had no right in the liquor business, is no justification of the grafters who committed so much robbery. 'Financial trouble." said Senator Reed Smoot of Utah, in the senate the other day. "is the result of the breaking down of our credit system. Restore confidence and credit and let the people live within their incomes and a re-action will set in as surely as the sun will rise tomorrow morning." And Mr. Smoot has it down just about right. The man who keeps close to the shore and always lives within his income is the man who weathers every panic. Considering what seems to be the duty of the general assembly under the circumstances to bind its choice of a senator not to stand in the primary, we do not think it can do better than to select Major James L. Coker of Darlington. As has been very clearly pointed out. Major C'oker is not only eminently worthy but eminently fitted, and the selection of such a man would be a splendid object lesson for future aspirants to this high and honorable position. THE Yorkville, S. C., Enquirer makes the observation that "the last killing over in Lancaster suggests the inauguration of the Kentucky feud system down that way?a natural consequence ( where the laws against murder are allowed to become so farcical as they have become in this.state. It is time * I* oaomc tn no that TllP IU inwilli, J.I r*v^iuo IV V..v?v Enquirer is rather late waking up to this fact. We had an idea that the need for some "reform" dated back a few years.?Charlotte Chronicle. i But because we did not commence the reform some time ago. we are sure that our contemporary does not mean to say that we must leave off further efforts. As deplorable as are conditions now. they are nothing to what they will be with a few more years of , drifting in the same direction. Tiik general assembly will convene in adjourned session this evening at 7.4f? o'clock for the purpose of electing a United States senator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Latimer and also an insurance commissioner. As to just how long it will 1 take t<> complete the business cannot safely be predicted. The law requires at least one ballot each day. More than a dozen candidates are formally in the race and there is a probability that there will be still others. It is quite probable that the general assembly may elect one of its own number as it has a perfect right to do, and also there is a possibility of a deadlock. It is not thought that th'e election of insurance commissioner will be a vary difficult or prolonged task, notwithstanding there are a large number of candfdates for the position. The time to be given to politics in South Carolina next summer will cut down the cotton crop of 1908 for the state 25.000. or possibly 50,000 bales, and the production of other crops will be cut down proportionately. Twenty-five thousand bales are worth one and a half million dollars. A campaign conduced under the convention system would probably cost the people in loss of production not more than half a million doHars.?News and Courier. That is no doubt true; but we do not endorse the moral it suggests that we should adopt the convention system because it is cheaper. The Enquirer hates politics. It takes a delight in trying to promote the material and moral welfare of the people; but it does not enjoy the responsibilities of a political campaign, it would be glad if it could feel that those who are active in such matters are moved solely by what they conceive to be the best interest of the public. It would be glad it f*iI ili:ii ,.nlv the best and most disinterested people control polities. I rut for The Knqulrer to say that it feels this way would be to confess a verdant simplicity that would not be very creditable. We are strong: believers in government of the people, by the people, for the people. We do not believe in government of ail the people by a few of the people. That is what the convention system means. We are aware that many people are disposed to shirk their responsibility of citizenship. They do not want to be bothered with , politics, and they refuse to take an interest. As the result government by ' the people is not as satisfactory sometimes as it might be. But nothing is \ so calculated to stimulate good govern- I merit as a long period of bad govern- j merit. People who neglect their duty , as citizens are sooner or later made to < realize their dereliction and to change ' their conduct. The best way to keep ( people in line with their duty is a keep . them face to face with their responsi- 1 bility. ruder the convention system the state* took the dry rut. The gov- , eminent has not been finite so good tin der the primary system perhaps; but it is improving steadily and surely. Let the primary system continue and in the course of a few years more the government will be better than it has ever been. . ? Short Term Senators. It is commonly understood that the man who may he chosen for the short term in the Lnited States senate to fill the vacancy caused hv the death of Senator Latimer must have given his previous pledge not to be a candidate for the long term. Senator Tilman not long ago pointed out that no such pledge should be exacted; that one of the most valuable assets of a senator is experience, and that to throw away a year's experience would be very foolish. That Senator Tilman is right in the assertion that experience is the most valuable asset of a senator there is no uuestion, and neither are we disposed to claim that there is no foolishness in pledging the successful candidate before the general assembly not to be a candidate in the primary. Hut it seems to us that there is jus :" ?o/?r?/?oW{nn fliof AnnrtlflQtpc lift* III lllr |UV}/uoui</ll urni before the general assembly should be required to remain out of the primary notwithstanding that such requirement may not l?e to the best interest of the service. The selection of United States senators by the people has become the established practice In this state, and for the general assembly to make a selection without requiring the pledge referred to would be to forestall the choice of the people to the prejudice of other candidates who had already arranged to submit their claims In the tegulnrly prescribed manner. That the state will be the lo?er by this arrangement, especially from the standpoint of service, is quite probable; but the state can afford the loss of service better than it can afford to he unjust to any of its would-be servants. Pritchard's Jurisdiction. Although The Enquirer very much regrets that the dispensary winding-up commission is not to be permitted to carry out the programme it has been pursuing with such satisfaction all along, it is inclined to think that Judge Pritchard's action in assuming the junf tho TTnttea States will be found to have the full warrant of law. It will be remembered that many of the ablest lawyers of South Carolina contended the constitutionality of the dispensary law on various grounds, and the ruling of Judge Pritchard to the effect that a state cannot be upheld in an effort to conduct a business monopoly in an arbitrary way without let or hindrance seems to be sound. We believe there Is plenty of constitutional authority for the ruling and if there was none, it is very evident that there should be. The theory that the state can do no wrong llnds little place in any system of popular government, much less a government like ours. That the winding-up commission is right in the course it has been pursuing, we feel very well satisfied. There Is no reasonable doubt of the fact that most of the liquor concerns have combined with the state's officials in the robbery of the state. We can see it in no other way than that the practice of overcharging the state and dividing the overcharge with the state's agents was criminal. And if there was any injustice in the policy of the commission in making the liquor concerns that have claims show their books and give test! mony, wo are unable to see where that injustice comes in. The justice of such a proceeding: is a little poetie in that it is somewhat out of the line of the commonly followed practice: but its efficacy has already had an abundance of practical demonstration. As to what will happen now, we cannot predict with any degree of certainty. We believe that if the commission persists in its appeal. Judge Pritchard will be sustained and then the case will come back to where it is now. If the United States court will make a really honest effort to probe the dispensary rottenness to the bottom, we believe it can accomplish that end much more effectively than it could have ever been accomplished by the winding-up commission. The winding-up commission had but little power in compelling the attendance of witnesses. The power of the United States court is without limit. And after all, the principal thing is to get at the bottom of the whole rotten business and punish the grafters. CEREAL GROWING CONTESTS. Commissioner of Agriculture Watson Serves Notice on Farmers. The legislature having made provision for prizes for the farmers of the state in cereal growing contests to be held again this year Commissioner Watson, who was chairman of the hoard conducting the state contest in collection with the national contest in 1!*06. and who is occupying the same relation in regard to the contest this year, stated today that though no meeting of the hoard had yet been held to arrange for the 11*09 contests, he wished to give timely notice to the farmers of the state that there would he a corn growing contest this year, and possibly one also for the growing of oats. He said that he wished this notice to he promulgated promptly in order that the farmers might make their preparations for entering in time. He said further that he hoped there would be a larger number of entries than ever this year, and that arrangements would probably he made for an exhibit of the products of all the contestants at the next state fair. Commissioner Watson said that though he has not yet been informed as to whether there will be a national contest or not this year, the state appropriation is not conditioned upon the holding of such a contest. If there is a national contest, however, those who compete in the state contest will have all the privileges of the national Tli?> sin-cinl hoard in oliariro i?f the contest. .Mr. Watson said, will doubtless meet at t'lemson in the next fortnight to prepare and issue all the rules and regulations governing the contests. While last year was an excellent one for the growing of corn in the effect of the general application of the Williamson corn method and tinwinning of the national corn contest prize by Mr. Tindal has been most strikingly reflected in the results obtained with the 1907 corn crop. With practically no increase of acreage, the average yield of corn in the state per acre has been increased from right to fifteen bushels, and the production l?v fi.195,767 bushels, while the value of the crop has been increased over the proceeding year by $6,102.soo. Such a practical demonstration of the results of intelligent oultivalinn has been of incalculable value to the agricultural interests of the state, and will doubtless lead to a large number of entries in the 190s contests, ft will bo recalled also that South Carolina in the world's contest for growing oats in 1906 won the second prize. Commissioner Watson stateel yesterday that the state department of igrlculturc was having printed a large number of pamphlets giving the Williamson method in detail and that these would be furnished to anyone ipon application to the department.? Stows ami Courier. LOCAL AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. S. F. Black. Yorkvill? No. 1?Has 50,000 first-class pine and poplar shingles for sale at bargain prices. TO. R. Shannon. Yorkville No. 4?Can furnish a few settings of Rhode Island red eggs at $1 per setting of 13. S. B. Thompson?Requests subscribers to The Enquirer on his club to please settle with him or at the office. M. W. White?Says he is busy, but wants to buy a residence lot. a farm or town lot for investment and to serve your interests. Loan and Savings Bank?Tells you not to put off opening a bank account with it. It wants to add your name to its customers' list. J. W. Dobson?Has big stock of tobacco and offers a special price on "red coon" and "ripe peach" brands in ten pounds lots. First National Bank?Pays 4 per cent eomnounded four times a vear on money deposited In Its savings department. It helps to make your account grow. O. H. O'Leary?Wants you to see the new smooth cast Iron King cook stoves, the rotary shuttle Standard sewing machine and his very complete line of furniture at right prices. Glenn & Allison?Are daily expecting a carload of Cole's cotton, corn and fertilizer planters, shipped Feb. 28th. National Union Hank, Rock Hill? t Makes a proposition to loan you money to enable you to go on a cash basis this year. It loans money at 6 per cent. Yorkville Hardware Co.?Is closing out its iino of disc harrows at bargain prices and wants you to see it about a harrow. Cleveland Dunlnp, Yorkville No. 3?Offers a 40-h. p boiler, 30-h. p engine and saw cheap. Terms to suit buyer. \V. K. Ferguson?Will have shipment of cabbage plants Thursday. His Kar)y Rose and Bliss seed potatoes > and garden seeds are the best. It is reported that the Hon. H. H. Evans of Newberry, has accepted an invitation to speak at Tirzah in May. Some of the political ground hogs have begun to stick their noses out of their holes and the presumption is that they have not seen their shadows. That means that they are out for the campaign. The late Mr. John B. Whltesides went to the war as a member of company B. Twelfth regiment. Instead of as a member of company A as stated. Mr. R. W. Whitesides has kindly called out attention to the error. "I get the Columbia State, the News and Courier, the Atlanta Constitution, and several farm papers." said a leading citizen of western York yesterdav; but when The Yorkville Enquirer comes into our house, all other papers are laid aside for it. I do not see how I could possibly got along without The I Enquirer." Of course, no wen regulated family wants to get along without the county paper; but still there is in the foregoing statement that which is especially pleasing to the publishers of The Enquirer. AUCTION SALES. There were only two auction sales of land yesterday and both were by the clerk. The result was as follows: Under foreclosure in the case of \V. H. Meacham vs. T. B. Belk and otherR. a lot of land in the town of Fort Mill. Bought by W. B. Meachat.. for $100. For partition, in the case of A. H. 1 Jackson, individually and as administrator against R. C. Jackson and others, a tract of 122 and 2-10 acres at Tirzah. Bought by Ellas Ramsey at $10 an acre. This last mentioned tract was first sold on salesday in November $21.7.r> an acre; but the purchaser failed to comply, and hence the re-sale. LOOK YOUR LABEL. The label on each paper shows the date to which the subscription price is paid. If a label reads: Hon.M.F.Ansel lJan09 , it means that the governor is square with our books; but if it reads: HonMFAnsel IJand" or Hon.M.F.Ansel lJanOO it means that the subscription price has not yet been paid, and if it is not paid pretty soon the paper will be discontinued. This mark appearing on a label means that the subscription price has not been paid. WITHIN THE TOWN. ? At the recent session of the general assembly the Yorkvllle graded school district act was amended so as to change the time for the annual meeting of the patrons and the special tax election to April. Under the law as it stood, the annual tax election had to be held between June 1 and July 20. There are some very good reasons, perhaps, for changing the date of the annual election, and except for one thing there can be no reasonable objection to the change. Under a strict con struction of the law, only citizens who hold municipal registration certificates are allawed to vote on the special tax election. There are a large number of citizens otherwise qualified to vote, who do not hold municipal registration certificates. The town registration books are now open but a certificate issued now cannot be used until the next general election three months from now. The special tax election will, therefore have to be decided entirely by voters who were registered two years ago. FARMERS' UNION. The regular monthly meeting of the York County Farmers' Union was held In the Woodmen's hall, Yorkville, yesterday, and there was as usual a full attendance, nearly all of the local Unions being represented by regularly accredited delegates. Mr. J. F. Ashe, the president, was in the chair, and Mr. A. L. Black, the secretary, kept the records. The meeting was in session several hours, ami a number of important items of business were attended to, some of public interest, and some of concern only to the Union. Acting upon the recommendation of the committee that had charge of the matter, the Union confirmed the choice of Mr. 11. T. Williams of Yorkville as business agent, anil agreed to pay him a regular salary of fifty dollars a month, the same to be raised by a small pro-rata assessment of the mem ners. .Mr. II. X. I'lsixco delivered quite si forceful speech urging the farmers who sire sit all ahle to stand steady sind firm in their determination to hold their cotton for the minimum price fixed by the Union last summer?15 cents. He believes that the lifteen cents will come, notwithstanding the many discouragements tlisit have bobbed up one way and another, and feels quite sure thsit the farmers will not get that fifteen cents unless they continue faith- , ful. Air. J. K. Lowry, who had been dele- i gated to extend an invitation to Aliss i Alary T. Nance to address the Union i on the subject of school improvement, < reported that he had conferred with ] Aliss Nance, and she had advised him that she would be delighted to accept the invitation. A resolution was adopted providing for the holding of a special meeting in the court house on the first Monday in May for the purpose of hearing an address from Miss Nance. The next regular meeting of the T'nr.on is to lie held in the court house at Yorkville on the lirst Monday in April. WITH THE FARMERS. Note has several times been made of the fact that the farmers generally are badly behind with their work, but it takes the farmer himself to realize and appreciate the exact situation. "I haven't been able to do anything much since last fall," said Mr. J. W. Jackson of Bethel, yesterday, except feed the stock. I have been short on help: but even if I had help, it would have been out of the question to do any outdoor work." Mr. W. H. Beard of No. 2 Yorkville, remarked: "Well, you won't see much more of us fellows in town for some time to come. We are badly behind, the worst you ever saw. I did not get my wheat and oats sowed last fall, and lots of other farmers are in the same -1'4 ' - ? * 1 f ? /% ? tli/vn rrV\ t t'niiumuii. s\ mi 11 )uu natc uivuguv of It before I will tell you that corn Is going- to be corn this fall. With no wheat or oats of any consequence, if we should happen to miss a corn crop, we are going to be in trouble. Every farmer in the country will <lo well to think of that now, and govern himself accordingly." "I have not plowed a furrow since I laid by my crop," said Mr. A. P. Hope of Tirzah. yesterday; but I am going to get at it tomorrow if I can." The reporter .talked to a few farmers who have been' able to get a little outside work done; but there were only a few in this class. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mrs. J. Ho|Ivor Scott of the Delphos neighborhood, visited friends in Bethel last week. Mrs. J. W. Wideman of Due West, is a guest of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. F. Thomson. Miss Frances Wideman of Linwood college, spent Saturday and Sunday in Yorkville. Mr. Robert Moore of Charlotte, spent Sunday in Yorkville, the guest of his mother, Mrs. S. R. Moore. Mr. J. M. Sherrer of Oaffney, spent from Saturday to Monday with relatives in Bullock's Creek township. Mr. R. Edward McFarland is attending the Federal circuit court at Florence this week as a grand ;uror. Mr. E. M. Plaxico of Rock Hill has been visiting his grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Plaxico near Hoodtown. Miss Bertha Jackson of Bethel, has been visiting Mrs. J. H. Jackson of Clover, and Miss Eunice Thomas of Clover No. 1. Mrs. Barbara Smyth of Gastonla, and Miss May Sm.vthe of Fort Mill, are guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Burge on Yorkville No. Mr. Paul Neely Moore of Rock Hill, spent Sunday with friends in Yorkville. Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Witherspoon of Cross Hill. Laurens county, are the guests of Dr. and Mrs. J. H. "VVltherspoon. Mrs. J. R. Kll'.ian of Yorkville, was called to Shelby last week on account of the critical Illness of her mother, Mrs. J. B. Rhyne. Mrs. Rhyne, who was Miss Maggie E. Fewell, was born in Rock Hill; but was a resident of Yorkville for a number of years and was married here. # SCHOOL PRIZES OFFERED. The South Carolina School Improvement association offers thirty-five prizes to the schools of the state for the most decided material improvement made during a given length of time. Five of the prizes are to be $100 each and thirty are to be $50 each. Regula- I tions concerning the thirty-five prizes that are to be awarded by this association are as follows: 1. Improvements must be made between January 1 and December 10, 1908. 2. Prizes will be awarded to schools where the most decided material improvements have been made during the time mentioned. 3. Under material improvements are included local taxation, consolidation, new buildings, repairing and painting old ones, libraries, reading rooms or tables, interior decorations, beautifying yards and better general equipment. 4. No school can compete for any of these prizes unless it is a rural school. No town with more than 500 population shall be eligible to the contest. T>. All who wish to enter this contest must send names and descriptions of schools, before Improvements are made, to the president prior to Oct. 1. 6. All descriptions, photographs and other evidences showing improvements must be sent to the president before December 15. The chairman of the board of trustees of any school that Is competing for a prize must approve all 1 , ? .? .1 ~ finii Imnrnt'O description* ueiure <11111 mn-i i?i|?u>vments are made. 7. Prizes will be nwarded in checks at the annual meeting of the South Carolina School Improvement association. December 31, 190S. The prizes are to be used for further improvements in the schools receiving them. THE SPECULATIVE MARKET. An Associated Press dispatch of last night from New York reviews the developments of yesterday in the speculative market as follows: The feature of today's cotton market was the strength of May contracts which increased their premium over July from 15 to 26 points. The close was firm on May and steady on other positions at a net advance of 11 to 24 points. Sales were estimated at 200,oon bales. The market opened steady at an advance of 5 to 12 points and before the advance was checked sold 12 to 16 points net higher on old crop months as a result of covering and local bull support, which was encouraged by firmer cables, larger English spot sales, and the bullish construction placed on Saturday's visible supply statement. At the advance, offerings increased and prices eased off 5 or 6 points from the top under realizing and selling by local bears. There was a continued good demand, however, and after some little ii-i'ecriilni'itv the market firmed up again on rumors concerning the Intentions of the new bull with reference to March and May contracts, and the extent of the short interest in those deliveries. The close was within a point or two of the top. Southern spot markets were generally unchanged. Exports exceeded port receipts by a considerable margin and the interior movement continued light. Some New England advices reported a better demand for goods and claimed that spinners were better buyeis of spot cotton. Tomorrow will be a holiday in the New Orleans market. Receipts at the ports today 17,738 bales against 14.190 last week and 27.0lf? last year. For the week 120.000 bales against 121.06"? last week and rr. Inst vear. Today's receipts at New Orleans :t.(?7t! against 8.7f>4 last year, and at Houston 2.100 agaifist #5.111 la?t year. FIRE AT BOWLING GREEN. What was at one time known as the Hill house, a historical landmark of Howling Green, was destroyed by fire last Sunday afternoon at about 1 o'clock and for a time it looked as if the entire village was in more or less lander of being wiped up. The house was owned by Kssex Lawrence. colored, and occupied by the family of Aaron Caldwell, also colored. Caldwell and his wife were off at church, leaving the house in care of a little negro girl. The fire was first discovered by i Messrs. R. S. McCully and Grier Less- t lie, their attention having been at- * tracted by the cries of the little negro. ? They hurried to the rescue, and al- e though the flames had already made s considerable progress, at great risk to * themselves they did what they could to save the contents of the building, con- ii tinning their efforts until the roof I began to fall in. ^ The wind was blowing pretty strong c and when the roof fell in sparks and ii chunks were blown about promiscuous- v ly. threatening widespread damage. (] Tiie building was worth about $200 p and there was no insurance. The burn- t ed contents included some furniture _ and other personal property of more or p less value to the oceunants. 11 The burned building was a two story a log structure, weatherboarded on the J" outside. It was erected about seventy- v five years ago and for many years was d looked upon as one of the best houses 8 in the entire neighborhood. It was occupied by different people at different times; but became most notorious probably during the time It was the headquarters of Costner's liquor business. Costner sold liquor up and down the railroad and to whoever came to buy. He kept the business up until the people of the village decided to stand c it no longer, and went to him in a body t with a notice to the effect that unless j he should cease operations at once, they j would exhaust all the power of the law j against him. He had become about ' the wealthiest man in the community ? as the result of this objectionable busl- f ness and was rather huffy to the com- s mlttee at first: but next day sent word that he had decided to quit. The in- * formation Is that he lived up to his r agreement and pretty soon after got 1 out of the community. From that day, j some twenty years ago. to this, the peo- g of Bowling Green have had but little s trouble on account of the Illegal liquor r traffic in their immediate vicinity. c LOCAL LACONICS. 1 A White Partridge. J Mr. John J. Wallace of Yorkville, in- s ^o'iM/,/1 elir* thot lilu UGn \f 1* _T S. Wallace killed a white partridge ? while hunting near Yorkville recently, i The white partridge was observed in a 1 covey, and was finallv bagged after a ? r long and tedious chase. a Verdict For $1,500. a M. R Jennings. Esq., went to Winns- * boro last week to represent a plaintiff f in a suit against the Western Union t Telegraph company, and won a verdict 3 for $1,500. J. E. McDonald, Esq. was a associated with him. It was a mental c. anguish case of a distressing nature, and the plaintiff was able to prove ^ gross negligence. jCalled to Winnsboro. v Rock Hill Record: At a meeting of ^ the congregation of the A. R. P. church v at Winnsboro yesterday, the Rev. Oliver Johnson of Lesslie was called to e e the pastorate. It is not known whether a or not Mr. Johnson will accept the call, e The congregation is very anxious for t him to accept, as it has been without a r pastor since last August. c Coin and Letter Holder. ^ Mr. W. A. Earls of Yorkville No. 1, J has invented quite an ingenius device ii to hold letters and coins in rural mail 0 boxes. The device Is so arranged that s when the rider picks it up, he has the t letters and coins right to hand, without II the necessity for fumbling delay. Mr. Paris has been advised to send the de- ^ vice to Washington to see if it cannot u be patented. 1 Death of Mr$. Minnie C. Lynn. r Rock Hill Record: Mrs. Minnie C. b Lynn, wife of Mr. R. E. Lynn, a C. & j; N.-W. engineer, died at her home on ' East Hinton street in Chester Friday 1] evening, after an illness of several H months, lung trouble being the cause of J1 death. The funeral services were held e at the residence by Rev. D. M. Mc- t Leod and the remains were laid to rest in Evergreen cemetery. Mrs. Lynn was 28 years of age. She was born and reared in the neighborhood of Blythewood. She leaves four children, in addition to her husband, to mourn the loss of her. PRITCHARD TAKES JURISDICTION. South Carolina Dispensary Business Goes Into United States Court. In the United States circuit court at Asheville, N. C., last Saturday morning Judge Pritchard announced his decision in the case of the Fleischmann company against the dispensary commission of South Carolina, a case argued several weeks ago on the question of jurisdiction in which Judge Pritchard reserved his decision. He announced Saturday that he would take jurisdiction. The court did not, however, remder a formal opinion, q saying that the opinion would come later. p In his remarks Judge Pritchard tl said that had there been a doubt tl about the matter he would have giv- |, en the defendants the benefit of this doubt and ruled in favor of the state. He said that there was no doubt and b that he would assume jurisdiction $ and that shortly he would appoint u two special masters. The court held that the dispensary commissioners f) 4. ^4Xi U ~ Kiif rxi H_ n arc IIUL uuiueia ui mc niaic, uuc vm- / cers appointed to perform a specific c duty, and that the suit is not a suit w against the state of South Carolina, e Attorney General Lyon, referred to o the determination of the state or the a commission to appeal and suggested 0 to the court in effect that In order to o avoid any unseemly clash between the s< state and federal authorities that ci "your honor refrain from ordering b any specific acts to be done until the it question of jurisdiction is settled." o Judge Prltchard to this suggestion la made reply that this court is not go- o: ing to do anything to provoke a con- b flict, but at the same time the court hi is going ahead and do its duty. Judge 1c Prltchard said there was no necessity tl or reason for a recurrence of the un- in fortunate incident which occurred in v< North Carolina last year. He said Ir that this court is as much a South ir Carolina court as any court, and in- a; cidentally that it is presided over by y< fi southern man. tl The hearing in the case of the Wil- ti son Distilling comrany against the F dispensary commission on application bi for the appointment of a receiver for m the *300.000 dispensary fund was con- tl tinued until next Saturday, when the pi receivership matter will bo argued at ai length. v< The opinion of Judge Pritchard ap- tr pears to decide that when a state en- m gages in the whisky business or other ol business not necessary u> preserve us * autonomy or sovereignty, it waives its ai rights under the eleventh amendment tl to the constitution of the United ta States not to he sued without its con- pi sent, and he further decides that it b( would he unjust to permit the state tli under any circumstances to avoid the to payments of debts contracted for 11 goods on which it has made a profit, er A decision so broad in enunciation ai of principles seemed hardly to have m been expected by counsel in the case, m and it will carry to the supreme court 21 an issue which may serve to decide ar once for all the rights of the states hi under the amendment. 4-1 Judge Pritchard in rendering hi* tu decision said: a "While the state of South Carolina ex has seen fit to engage in the purchase 79 aiul sale of spirituous liquors, it can- th not be reasonably contended that in ex doing so it is performing the function ru usually exercised by a state necessary pi to preserve its autonomy and main- th tain its sovereignty. The supreme Ci court of the state has decided that sti the act authorizing the establishment el of a dispensary was constitutional, al lowever, it can hardly be assumed hat it was contemplated at the time f the adoption of the eleventh amendnent that n sovereign state would ever ngage In the purchase and sale of pirltuous liquors for profit. The tate, having seen fit to engage in this uslness and at the same time to derive citizens of tlie right to engage n such business in competition with he state, thereby placed itself in a msition where it could not, with conistency, avail itself of the immunity onferred by the eleventh amendment 11 a suit like the one at the bar, in I'htch it is sought to collect a debt ontracted by the individuals placed it control of such business with imilied, if not direct, authority to conract such debts. *' 'Having deprived citizens of the ight to engage in this particular Ine of business, reserving the right to aonopolize the business through its gents appointed for that purpose, it . ould be manifestly unjust to permit he state, under any circumstances whatsoever, to avoid the payment of lebts contracted by the purchase of :oods from the sale of which it has lerived enormous profits." IN BEHALF OF MAJOR COKER. itrong Presentation of Claims of Grand Old Man of Darlington. *' U..nni-ohlo tht> Clonprill AsSelll- I bly of South Carolina: Just prior to the outbreak of the ivil war a young man of trained inellect and high ideals, educated at he Citadel and Harvard college, setled on a farm in Darlington county, ntending to make agriculture his rofesslon. He soon became a factor n the agricultural, industrial and durational development of his conny, and made the name of J. L. Coker amiliar in the business affairs of hi? tate. Rumors of war caused him to orranize and drill a military company, ind at the outbreuk of hostilities he iffered his services to his state. Durng the terriile struggle that ensued, 10 and his splendid company were in he thick of the Virginia and Tennesee campaigns, and earned their full hare of the glory of the gallant Sixth egiment under the peerless Jenkins md Bratton. Almost mortally wounded at Looknit Mountain, this brave young officer Inge red long at death's door and merged front a Federal prison lamed or life and a shadow of his former elf. With broken health and wreckid fortune he returned to his farm, ind in spite of his desperate and still >ainful wound, assisted with his hoe n cultivating his crops while his hired lands plowed his one milk cow ind a mule which Sherman's raiders lad left to die. Such perseverance ind pluck had its necessary reward, ind he has year by year forged upvard, blessing his country with his visdom. his enterprise and his openlanded generosity, until he stands oday, despite his retiring disposition, i conspicous figure in our state. Others have developed waste places ind built villages: others have sue cssfully managed large enterprises; itbers have patronized and given to he cause of education; others have ought bravely for their country, and lave been maimed in its service; but there will you lind a man who has lone all of these and more, save the listinguished South Carolinian that re have nanmd ? Major Coker is a man of the highst business qualifications, the soundst and ripest judgment of men and iffairs, has given large sums of mony and much of his valuable time and hought to the causes of education, , eligion and charity. The national legislature is now onfronted with problems that vitally ffect the financial and industrial deelopment of the country. At this rave juncture in our national affairs t behooves South Carolina to send me of her ablest and most patriotic ons to the United States senate. In addition to broad scholarly atainments. Major Coker has given ifelong study to the science of governnent, which preeminently fits him to llscharge the duties of that high of- < ice. His life has been effectively and inselfishly spent in the moral and Inancial upbuilding of his country, rhich. together with his spotless caeer, marks him as the Carolinian , test fitted to aid in the restoration of he business confidence lately so sore- i y shaken. i Major Coker has nevrr sought po- j Itical preferment, nor do?s he seek t now; but his friends. In the interest , f South Carolina, ask it for him, in he full confidence that, if he be electd. his official career will add lustre 1 o the name of the state. 1 G. B. Moore, Columbia. ( T. K. Elliott, Winnsboro. i R. G. Rhett, Charleston. ( J. W. Norwood, Greenville. i W. J. Roddy. Rock Hill. Chas. A. Smith, Tlmmonsville. , C. K. Henderson, Aiken. I R. N. Pratt, Columbia.. J. P. McNeill, Florence. I W. C. Lindsay, Columbia. ( H. T. Cook. Greenville. T. E. Moore, Spartanburg. j Henry Mulllns, Marlon. < W. C. Cleveland, Greenville. i Robert Lide, Orangeburg'. R. B. Watson, Ridge Spring. D. S. Matheson, Cheraw. Knox Livingston, Bennettsvllle. Lewis W. Parker, Greenville. Bright Williamson, Darlington. E. Molver Williamson, Darlington. Jas. R. Coggshell. Darlington. Robt. McFarlan, Darlington. C. C. Twitty, Hartsvllle. ? Columbia special of March 1, to tharlotte Observer: It now seems ractically certain that as a result of tie legislature's heavy appropriations tie state will reach high-water mark i the borrowing line. At the time le appropriation bill, which with other ills carrying appropriations totals 1.600,000. was passed, there was on and, after paying the notes of last ill and summer amounting to $350,00, $272,000, with $369,242 more to ome on the levy of last year. This rith what will come in during Xovmher and December on the new levy f five mills will bring the total avail- t ble for the year up to less than $850,- 1 00, including an estimated " income I f $200,000 from indirect and other t lurces. In other words, to meet the I urrent expenses of the year it will r e necessary to borrow over half a z lillion, possibly as much as $700,000 c r $800,000. The debate in both legis- r itive halls during the last few days t f the session showed that the mem- C ers. sought to cure the evil of the t eavy appropriations by raising the t ivy half a mill. The very simple fact I tat no part of the taxes under the I ew levy would be available till No- t ember appears to have been entirely i >st sight of. Taxes are due beginning I i October, but the penalties do not r pply till the spring of the following g ?ar. with the result that a large por- v on of the taxes never reach the state t easurer's office till January and a ebruary, the penalty in these months v sing only one per cent for each g lonth. Executions do not issue till e ?e middle of March. Hefore the ap- f ropiiation bill came from the ways t id means committee, the following i ?ty plain statement from the coinp- <i oiler general was on the desk of y embers: The estimated expenses a ' f Wn-k eioiu rrm'Avn ni ^?n t fnr 1 90S nrp y 1,422.232.30. It appears that if the t ppropriations do not exceed the es- i mated expenses it will require of the c ixes of 1908 $681,846. and as no C irt of these taxes will be available 'i ?fore November 1st. it is apparent e lat the state must borrow $375,000 e i pay expenses before the taxes of h >08 are available. The state's rev- s lue for 1908 from taxes estimated .\ id based upon the present assess- a ent of $267,438,030 at a rate of 42 it ills on the dollar, would realize $1,- a "0,330. To this add from Indirect i< id other sources $173,700 and we v ive a total estimated revenue of $1,- fi 14,030. If the estimated expendi- h ires, $1,422,232. are not exceeded, v state levy of 4 2 mills will pay all L ;penses and leave a surplus of $21,- ti 8." The comptroller general's es- o mate for the new year included such p ;tra appropriations as $.70,000 for h iral high schools, $7,500 due on the fi trchase of the police barracks for s e Citadel, $25,000 for increase In 3 mfederate pensions, $15,000 for c! ate house grounds, $25,000 for r ection expenses and other addition- b items amounting to $30,000. c SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Due West, March 25: Mrs. Nannie McMonis drier, widow of the late Dr. William Clrier of Due West, died at llio home of her daughter, Mrs. J. S. Moffalt at Due West at 8 o'clock tonight. She is survived by seven children, as follows: Rev. R. L. drier, Ureelcyvllle; Mrs. R. R. Moffatt, Chesler: William drier. Spartanburg; Mrs. J. II. Linton. Washington, D. C.: R. R. filler. Wlllingt<m; Miss Agnes drier and Mrs. J. S. Moflfatt, wife of the president ??f the college. Mrs. drier had been ill with pneumonia for about ten clays. She was 65 years old. ? Lancaster special of Monday to the Charlotte Observer: Saturday night the passenger train on the Lancaster and Chester railway, which Is due at Lancaster at 8.35 p. ni., was fired upon twice with a shotgun. The train had just passed Grace station and was about five miles from I^ancaster. One r>f Hip shots hit the first-class oassen ser coach just below a window, at which a lady was Kitting-, with no damage except to the coach. The second shot struck the second-class car In a sidewise or glancing direction, most of the load going above the window. Fred Latham a colored porter on the train, g who was sitting by an open window, * with one hand lying on the window sill, was hit on the hand by one of the shots. There Is no clue as to the guilty party or any reason known for the committing of such an offense. ? Ned and Brack Tolund, negro brothers - aged 17 and 19, were the murderers of Mrs. Paul W. Ellisor in Lexington county, just across the river from Columbia last week. The negroes were arrested next day after the discovery of the murder and they have confessed. Brack told about the murder first. He said that they learned that there was nobody home but the old lady and she appeared quite suspicious of them. He caught her while his brother knocked her on the head with an axe. They put her body in the clothes basket and searched the house for what they could steal. They carried off a gun and several other articles; but found no money. The two negroes would have been lynched; but they were gotten Into the penitentiary for safe keeping. A special term of the Lexington court is to be called to try the two negroes as soon as possible. ? Chester special to Charlotte Observer: County politics is beginning to warm up. The candidates have not yet reached the announcing stage, but a number is being spoken of in connec- i tion with one office and another, and it is probable that there will be no end of starters when the race proper begins. Most interest centres around the office of clerk of court. For this office the avowed candidates are as follows: Mr. J. B. Westbrook, the encumbent, who is filling opt the unexpired term of Mr. J. C. McFadden. who resigned several months ago to recuperate his health: Mr. J. E. Cora well, ex-sheriff, and a very strong man politically, and Mr. S. B. Latham who has never held public office, but Is known all over the county as a capable and well informed man. There may be others in the race, and probably will be, as the office of clerk of court is decidedly the best in the county. ? Columbia. March The supreme court today on petition of Attorney General Lyon issued an order against the dispensary winding-up commission requiring it to show cause in the supreme court room Wednesday why it should not be mandamused to pay over to the state treasurer $ 15,000 from the $800,000 funds which Judge Pritchard held up by injunction last week in order to carry out the terms of the act approved February 24th appropriating $15,000 out of this fund for the use of the attorney general in continuing .the prosecutions against alleged dispensary grafters. Thus it is sought to secure an order from the supreme court requiring the commls- sion to do what Judge Pritchard said in his order last week should not be done, thereby clearly defining the clash between the Federal and state courts. The South Carolina supreme court will not be regularly in session until next muntn. but an extra term , opening Wednesday was called by Chief Justice Pope last week. The order calling the special term doe* not say anything about any specific business to be attended to. Some Greenville attorneys Interested in a certain bond case affecting the city of Greenville were notified of the extra meeting, leading to the conclusion that the extra term was called primarily to hear that case. It is known, however, that a few days prior to the ' order of Judge Pritchard, Attorney W. F. Stevenson, representing the winding up commission, took a trip up the country to confer with members of the supreme court with a view of instituting such proceedings. The ^ dispensary winding-up commission 1 announced decrees in a number of cases at a meeting held this afternoon. The trial of the case of Fleischmann & Co., who pushed the commission Into Federal court proceedings at A.sheville, has not yet been finally determined, but overcharges have been established sufficient to about entirely wipe out their claim of $66,000 j crn Inof tho ctnfp Tha t 3 4 r? 1 a I m liUb VltV 0VM\V? A t(V 3f McSmyrl, the Camden distiller, was reduced by >8,000. The claim of ? Sarrett & Co., formerly of North Car- X slina, who Instituted the first injunc- ^ tion case against the commission in which they succeeded in having >7,100 set aside for their claim, was wip?d out by overcharges the commission claims to have established. In the _ b'leischmann case evidence was ud- 1 iuced to show overcharges at the rate IS a case in great quantities. The ividence went to show that the overcharges were used to bribe dispensary ?fRcials. ? Spartanburg, March 2: Bishop William Wallace Duncan, of the Methadist Episcopal Church, South, for lalf a century a leader in the church )f his choice and for twenty-two years jishop, died at his borne on North Church street in this city this momng at 9.55 o'clock. Death came quietly ind peacefully after long illness. In he death of Bishop Duncan one of he most prominent figures has been emoved from the religious life of the south. He had been indentified with he Methodist church for more than lalf a century and for more than a ^ icore of years he had been bishop in he church, having been elected in L886. His popularity was not only ocal and state wide, but extended hroughout the entire south and west, de was a man of scholarly attainnents, a deep thinker and a forceful ind eloquent speaker and a magnifi:ent presiding officer. He was a great nan and his power lay not only in >eing bishop, but because of his high jnrisuan cnaracter, ms numoieness ana he zeal and energy with which he lawed for the cause of the church. ^ Bishop Duncan was born at Randolph- * dacon, Va., December 30th, 1839, being he third son of Prof. David Duncan, le received his early education at landolph-Macon, which was competed a Wofford college, where he graduated in 1853. After being con- j erted he studied for the minisry and upon bejng admitted was ppointed to Elizabeth City, N. C., vhich at that time belonged to the Vlrrinia conference. During the Confedrate war he was chaplain In the Conederate army. From the time he enered the ministry he proved a hard nd zealous worker and tilled a number if important charges. For a number of ears he occupied the chair of mental nd moral philosophy at Wofford and ras also financial agent of that insti- . ' ution. The degree of doctor of divinty was conferred upon him by Central ollege. Missouri, and Emory college, Jeorgia. In the years 1878-82 and of <6 he was a member of General confernoe and In 1.881 he represented his hurch at the Ecumenical conference q lekl in Ix>ndon, England. The funeral ervices will be conducted in Centra! lethodist church Wednesday afternoon t 3 o'clock by Rev. Dr. J. C. Kilgo, pres- ^ lent of Trinity college, Durham, N. C., f ssisted by well-known Methodist minders. Dr. Kilgo is in New York but .ill reach Spartanburg in time. The uneral will be one of the largest ever em in me cuy, as many ministers irom arious places will be present. Bishop >uncan was chairman of the board of j rustees of Wofford college and the allege In respect to his memory susended exercises until Thursday mornig. All the students will attend the uneral in a body. Bishop Duncan is urvived by his wife (who was Miss ledora Rice), one brother and three _ hildren. His children are Thomas C. uncan of Union; Mrs. A. G. Remert and Mrs. Warren Dupre of this ity.