Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, February 22, 1918, Image 1
" J
YORKVILLE ENQUIRER.
ISSUED SEKX'WEEELT.
L. m grists 30HS. Publiiheri J ^ jjamilg Jlticspaptr: J'or the promotion of the political, Social, Agricultural and Commercial interests of the people. J t?vLNc*xJ^NC?'
KHTABMMHKU IMI YORK, S. ~c7. Fit I DAY. FEBKUARY~2 ;Q?ia > " O- 1<;
I "OVER T
By ARTHUR <
An American Boy Who
Years Before
i
I'op.iiiiht l!i|7. 1?> Aithm
From Mufti to Khaki.
It was in ini ol'llri- in City.
I was sitting ;it id> <h>k talking l'i
: Ii?-nt<-n.ant ol' tin- .J?is?-v National
' iianl. < >11 tin- \v:ill was a Li? wai
liia|i ?! i <>rati ! with vaiiously i oloii-il
11*?! - flaijs show in:: tip- position of tipopposing
ai hip s on l ho wi-sti-in lioilt
in I'laiii'i In front ui an' on tip- ih-i-k
la> a Vow Vmk papoi with I.ik llaiitiK
tp .Hllitp s:
LUSITANIA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOST!
"'1 i....-u ..... ..inn :.a,| ji (oi l
I fl< W OM|W? ..
ins; ol Min ing |ii< cailiil the ?ir.
Through the i>i? " wiiulows came tinstrains
<>l .1 Iuji<1\-gunly playing in the
stra-al "I Hain't Itaisa- My Itoy ta? Ite
: Solalier."
"Inisitamn SuiiK' Ameiicun Lives
Laist I I > i I it *' Itaisa- My Hoy to
l!? it Sohlia-i." To on these ilhl not
Sla-||| tO lit"'.
Tli> Inutinniit hi mli iirc o|n'ti>i| one
ol iln Iovmi aliaw.is ot his 'I'-sk iiinl
tool, Horn ii mi \iin i k .iii il.-ii: which
In- solemnly iIi;i|miI out IIm* wtir ina|i
on tin w;ill. Tin ii. turning to iii?- with
ii vi tin tare, stinI:
"How nlaoiil it. saiga-ant? You h:ul
lii'lti'i vi t out tin' muster i<?lI ol tinMoiiiitiil
Sioiits. us I think they will
In- llcoah'il III tile course Ol a lew l la VS."
\va liilsleil lllll.selves t||| lit* iii tin
a\a|iing writ ilia out rllielgcllc\ tala-.
gl.itlls 101 tin- men to re|>ort when the
call shoiihl collie tl'olll Washington.
Tha-ll we wi lit home.
I i ros.seil over to New York, ami as
I went ii|i I'll 11 on street to take the
siihway to I hook I y n. tin- lights in the
tall loiilaliiias ol Na-w York sa-a-ma-al to
I... I.oi'intiar larlv-lltaT tll.'lll llsll.'ll, as It
tli<->. loo. t .i I ri-nd "l.usitniiia Sunk!
Ami-iiinil l.lvi s l.ost!" Tilt')' si-i-tni'd
to ? KlowiiiK with ungi-r and righteous
i n< liu lint ion. iind tln-ir rays wiKWtigKvil
i iii' iiii'mmik1'. "Ib-pn>!"
Montiis passi-d. tin- ti-|i'Ki;ini.s lying
hiiiiily, I.lit i-<?vi-ri-?l with ilust. TIkii.
oik iiioiik iitoi1s llllirllillK till- Itl'lltl'llilllt
with n sich oi disgust ri-inovi-i! tintliiK
Iroin tin- win map and ri-turiu-d
to his ili-sk. I itiinii-dinu-ly followi-d
this iii-tion hy throwing tin- toli-grains
into tin wiisti-hiiski-t. Thi-n wi- looki-il
iit i-;n-h othi-r in sili-n<'?-. Mi- was
si|oiruiing in his chair iind I iVIt dopn-ssi-d
iind illli-iisy.
Tin- ti-h-|ihoni- rang si ml I answi-ri-d
it. It Wiis ;i hiiNini-ss c:ill for inc. n-- ,
M | nui-Htinif iiiy sL-ivit-Ks fprun out-oftown
assignment. Ih'slnoss wits not
vi-ry good. so this wns vi-r.v wi-k-otni-.
.\lti-r listening to tin- |>ro|iositlon I
si-i-iiii-tl to In- swayed hy n |n-i-uliiirl>
strotiK fori-i- within mi-, and answered.
"I inn soil) thiit I riinnot accept your
offer. hut I iiin leaving for Knglniul
in-xt wi-i-k," iind hung up tin- ri-i-?-ivi-r.
Tin- lii-iiti-iiiiiit siviiiik nroiiiul in his
chair. mill sliin-il ;it iin- in blank astonislillii-iit.
A sinking si-nsiition vnnilovi-r
in*-, hut I ili-liiintly answi-n-d his
look with. "Will, it's so. I'm going."
Xiul I went.
Tin- trip ai-ross was um-vi-ntfiil. I
landed sii Tilbury. Kn^land. then got
into :i string ol' matchbox cars and
I trot did in London, arriving there
alioiit to |i. in. I took a room in a hotel
near St. I'aiieras station for "live and
six- tire extra." The room was minus
I tie lire, but tile "extra" seellted to
keep me warm. That night there was
a Zeppelin raid, but I didn't see much
d it. because tin- slit in the curtains
was too small and I had no desire to
make it latxcr. Next morning the telephone
l? II rang, and someone asked.
"Are you there?" I was. hardly. Anyway.
I b-allleil that the Zeps had returned
to their fatherland, so I went
out into the street expecting to see
see in s oi awful devastation and a cowering
populace, but everything was
normal. I'eople were calmly proceeding
to their work, t'rousing the
street. I accosted a Hobble with:
"fan you direct me to the place of
damage'"*
lie asked me. "What damage?"
In surprise. I answered. "Why. the
damage caused by the Zcps."
With a w ink he replied:
"There was no damage: we missed
them again."
M'ter several fruitless imiuiries of
the passerby. I decided to go on my
own in search of ruined buildings and
scenes ot destruction. I boarded a bus
which carried me through Tottenham
fourt road. Recruiting |>osters were
.. .... ...I. ! ?... tliot imnro.UKiI
im- most was a life-size picture of
l.or<l Klli'hcni'r with his finger point
ins: directly at inc. under the caption
01 "Youi Kmc am! fount .y Need You."
\"o inatter which way I turned, the
accusing linger followed me. I was
an American. In mufti, and had a little
\ u? i lean flag In the lapel of my coat.
I had no king, and thy country had
seen III not to need me. hut still that
pointing linger made me feel small and
ill ut case. I got off the bus to try
to dissipate this feeling hy mixing
with ilu throng of the sidewalks.
Presently I came to a recruiting oflice.
Inside, silling at a desk was a
lonely Tommy Atkins. 1 decided to interview
him in regard to joining the
Itritish army. I opened the door. He
looked up and greeted me with "1 s'y.
inyie. want to tyke on?"
I looked at him and answered. "Well.
..i......... i? oil-i-.k.. >i chance
at it."
Without tho aid of an interpreter. I
found out that Tommy wanted to know
it I eared to join tho Itiitish army. Ho
asked me: "Old you over hoar of the
I Joy a I Fusiliers?" Well, in London,
you know. Yanks are supposed to know
everything. so I was not going to appear
ignorant and answered. "Sure."
After listening for one half-hour to
Tommy's tale of their exploits on the
tiring line. I decided to join. Tommytook
me to the recruiting headuuarters.
where I met a typical English captain.
He asked my nationality. 1 immediately
pulled out my American passport
and showed it to him. It was signed
l?y Lansing. After looking at the
passport, he informed me that he was
sorry hut could not enlist me, as it
1 I
HE TOP" :
GUY EMPEY !
3
Got Into the War Two
His Country.
i
Krnpy.
t
i
would !?' ii breach of n?-utralit>. I .
insisted that I was not neutral. he- '
cause t?? me it seemed that a real a
American could not he neutral when
hie things were iti progress. hut the |
captain would not enlist tne. <
With distrust in m> heart I went out
in the street. I had gone ahout a
Mock when a recruiting sergeant who
had followed me out of the office
tapped in?; on the shoulder with his y
swagger stick and said: "S'y. I can
get you in the army. We have a 'let'tenant'
down at th< other office who
an do anything. He has just come t
out of th?-*o. T. idfHwrs' Training
corps) and does not know what Willi.i
lit v is." I decided to tak< a chance,
ami aeeepted his invitation lor an in- ^
lioilm-tion to the lieutenant. I entered
tin- (illirr ami wi-iit up to him. opened
up my pasport and said:
lii-foiv going further I wish to state
that I am an Aincric^n. not too proml
lo tight, and want to join your army."
Il<- looked at no- in a nonchalant
inanm-r, and answered, "That's all
right: we take anything over here."
I looked at him kind ot hard an<l replied.
"So I notice," hut it went over 1
his head.
He got out an enlistment hlank. and
placing his finger on a hlank line said,
"Sign here." '
I answered, "not on your tintype."
"I hog your pardonV"
Then I explained to him that I would
not sign it without tirst reading it. I
read it over and signed for duration of
war. Some of the recruits were lucky.
Tliey signed for seven years only!
Then lie asked me my birthplace. I '
answered. "Ogden. I*tab."
lie said. "Oh. yes, just outside ot
New York?" - S
With a smile, I replied. 'Well, it's tip
the state a little."
f
Then I was taken before the doctor
f
and passed as physically tit. and was
issued a uniform. When I reported w
hack to the lieutenant, he suggested J
that, being an Aineriean, I go on recruiting
service and try to shame some 0
ot the slackers Into joining the army." J1
"All you have to do," he said, "is to
go out on the street, and when you see
a young fellow in mufti who looks
physically lit. just stop him and give
him this kind of a talk: 'Aren't you '
ashamed of yourself, a Hrltlsher. physically
lit, and in mufti when your king e
and country need you? Don't you ?
know that ~your~country Ts at war un3 *'
that the place for every young Hriton
in on the tiring line? Here I ant. an 1
American. in khaki, wno came <
thousand miles to tight lor your king '
and country, and you, as yet, have not ,k
enlisted. Why don't you join? Now '
is the time.'
"This argument ought to get many *
recruits. Kiiipey, so no out and see '
what you ran do."
lie then nave ino a small rosette of '
red, white and blue rihhon, Witli three '
little streamers hanging down. This '
was the recruit inn insignia and was 2
to he worn on the left side of the cap. '
Armed with a swagger stick and my '
patriotic rosette. I went out into Tot- 1
tenliam Court road in quest of cannon 1
fodder. *
Two or three poorly dressed civil- '
ians passed me. and although they ap- '
pea red physically tit. I saiil to myself. r
"They don't want to join the army: '
perhaps they have someone dependent '
on them for supiiort." so I did not ae- 1
cost them.'. "
Coming down the street I saw- a ;
young dandy, top hat and all. with a '
fashionably dressed, girl walking he- '
side him. I muttered, "You are my 1
meat." and when lie came alu-east of '
me I stepped directly in his tuith and '
stopped him with my swagger stick. '
saying: '
"You would look tine in khaki: why '
not change that top hat for a steel '
helmet? Aren't you ashamed of your- '
self, a husky young chap like you in I
mufti when men are needed in the x
trenches? Here I am. an American, '
came four thousand miles from Og- '
. I i'luh. lust outside of New York, '
to tight for your kins and country. v
l?on't be a slacker, buck up an?l set
into uniform: come over to the re
cruiting office and I'll have you en- J
listed." 1
He yawned and answered, "I don't c
care if you cattte forty thousand miles ^
no one asked you to." and he walk- '
ed on. The girl pave me a sneering 1
look: I was speechless. s
I recruited for three weeks and '
nearly pot one recruit. *
This perhaps was not the greatest 1
stunt in the world, hut it pot hack at '
the officer who had told me. "Yes. we 1
take anything over here." 1 had been c
spending a good lot of my recruiting '
time in the saloon bar of the Wheat *
Sheaf pub (there was a very attractive
blonde barmaid, who helped kill '
time 1 was not as serious in those '
days as I was a little later when I '
reached the front)?well, it was the 1
sixth day and my recruiting reports ^
was blank. I was petting low in the '
pocket?barmaids haven't much use
for anyone who cannot buy drinks?
so I looked around for recruiting J
material. You know a man on re'"*
*? "Knh" or shil
CrUIUnK st-nivr ..
ling for every recruit he entices into
joining the army, the recruit Is supposed
to get this, but he would not
be a recruit if he were wise to this
fact, would he?
Pown at the end of the bar was a
young fellow in mufti who was very
patriotic?he had about four "Old
Six" ales aboard. He asked me if he
could join, showed me his left hand,
two Angers were missing, but I said
that did not matter as "we take anything
over here." The left ham! is
the rifle hand as the piece is carried
at the slope on the left shoulder.
Nearly everything in England is "by
the left," even general traffic keeps
to the port side.
I took the applicant over to head- '
quarters, where he was hurriedly examined.
Recruiting surgeons were
busy in those days and did not have f
nuch time for thornunh physical evuninations.
My recruit was passed as
"lit" by the doctor and turned ..ver
10 a corporal to make note of his "j
icars. I was mystified. Suddenly the
orporal hurst out with. "Blinie me.
Wo of his tinners are none." Turn inn
o me he said. "You certainly have ?
.our nerve with you. not 'aJf you
iin't. to bring this beggar in."
The doctor came over and explod- '
d. ' What do ,m?u mean hy I rinninu
in a man in ttiis condition?"
lxiokinn out of tl e rornef of my
ye I noticed that the olticer who had
ecruited me had joined the nrou|>.
ind I could not help answering.
Well, sir. I was told that you took
mything over here."
I think they culled it "Yan'<ce imitidence."
anyhow it ended my reruitinn
(To He Continued.t .
. I
RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT 1
>
Afhat John L. McLaurin Hat Accom- '
plished in Constructive Legis ation. 1
Alitor Yorkvillc Kniuirer.
When John L- Milgiurin entered c
he state senate in ItMJ -he came with
i definite |?iir|K?se to inaugurate a
lew programme of industrial proiress
hy using the sovereignty of the
tale to stabilize the market 'olue of
he south's many crops.
The programme was:
1st. Warehousing and financing
otton.
"ltd. hired sales of eotton from the
run-houses to the mills.
.'Ird. State grading.
4th. Stale insuranee.
r.th. A Farmers Hank to handle the
cceiptx.
These ideas at llrst found little
avur in an ultra conservative South
'arolina senate, hut linally under the
tersuasive power and fire of nnlhuiasni
of the author, and under the
tress of t> cents eotton eaused hy the
var in Kurope the "Warehouse Hill"
vas enacted into law at the extra
ession of I I'M.
The law conferred hut limited
tower ami provided a meagei approiriation.
Mclsiurin was chosen coinnissioncr
and given his "hnhy" to
to manhood. The home was unheltered,
the "wolves" numerous, .
lerce ami hungry, hut he loved this |
offspring" of his miml and fought
or it with a valor that has cuntnanded
the admiration of every .
;enerotis spirit whieh has not heett
iliseiired l/> political:) partisan zeal. |
le got farmers to Iniild warehouses J
in their farms, he reduced insurance
m rural warehouses from .'IJ to l.5.s;
le secured an abundance of money
o finance cotton at > per cent at a
ime when none was available even
t s per cent, he enlisted the syni- ^
lathy and co-operation of Mr. W.
'. (5. Harding, chairman of the Fed- .
ral Ueserve Hoard in Washington
ltd he and 1 had developed a plan
rrtft-fS'7'i.wfr 'rtarTr- ~
ng to establish a bank to serve as
listributiong agent for the money ^
ivailable to tinance cotton so that the
'arniers could get it at -t per cent in>tead
of > per <-ent as provided b> *
xisting distributing agencies. The
hought bad taken root ami was
Crowing. The government in Washngton
was sounding a harmonious '
tote. The state warehouse olliee and
I... .-it, ,?.*w ..til,... uaii.iii.til III tint*. ^
nony ami everything seemed fair ami
romising to set 111> in South Carolina
i light to guide southern agriculture
nit of the gloom of its years of de ression.
Then came the May eonrent
ion of 1H1G which violated the
ules of the party end broke the law
if the state in dcn> ing the wareiouse
commissioner the right to a
lace in the state campaign. which
'iKItt had been demanded b> a resoution
introduced by Mr. K. \\\ Dttldis.
resident ?if the State Partners I'nioti
it a meeting of the state warehouse
ispocintioii. ami unanimously adopted,
is expressing the universal desire to
lave the author of the law explain
o the people its honoiicient purpose
ind enlist their co-operation to like
ml that it might become all tiiat
ts friends hoped for. Mcl^iurin felt
hat he lost the slip port of the adMinistration
then in olllce and in my
pinion made the mistake of carryng
the light into the campaign for
he election of the faction which supMirted
our resolution. It is my conriction
that our programme is lugger
hail either faction and if carried be'ore
the people by its author would
nake all which they stand for look |
win 11 indeed. I
Additional evidence of the fact that
Vtcljiiii-in's though lias taken root
mil is growing; may he found in the
ecent passage by almost unanimous
onsent of my bill to insure state
varehouse cotton l?y the state. This
aw not only settles the uuestion of
nsurance for cotton, not only builds
t wall between the cotton "baby" and
lie "wolves" but it sets up a light to
:uide the thoughts of statemen to the
iltimate solution of all insurance
roblems and to lift the weight whieh
messes so heavily upon the comnier ial
life of our people. Men are
(linking everywhere on this and it is
veil worth >our attention.
How governmeni can be used to
onscrve the resource of a people has
>ver been the task of the statesman.
V statesman has been found in South
"arollnn. Will south Carolinians
ivail themselves ol his genius or will
hey wait until another is born?
J. A. Banks.
Senator from Calhoun County.
*t. Matthews. S. c.. Feb. 20. isi<.
The meningitis situation in South
'arolina does not show any improvenent,
according to figures given out
>y Secretary Haynes, of the state
ioard of health. Twenty-nine cases
vere reported by Dr. Haynes to the
turgeon general of the Frilled States
mbllc health service for the week
>nding February !" The total nuni er
of cases in the state at lurge. outii<le
of military camps, since the in eptio
nof the epidemic. is approxinately
100. Nineteen of these cases
lave been in Columbia. A case from
Pickens county and one from Anderson
county were reported to the state
ioard Monday. Three row cases
vere reported from Camp Jackson,
luring the past two days, but no
leaths were reported from the camp.
s
? Columbia Is waging a vigorous ampalgn
against vagrancy. Loafers
tencrully are being prosecuted. a
WORLD NEEDS COTTON '
. I
The World Is Exceedingly Short on
Cotton
iOST OF PBODUCTION INCREASING
Srave Crisis in Cotton Production Indicated?Average
Crop of Last Two
Years 2,900.000 Short?World Almost
Bare of Cotton?Cotton Farmers
Should also Raise Food Crop.
The aceruge cotton crop of the live
ears from 1911 to 1915, as reportm1
by the L'nited States department
>f agriculture was 14,175,972 bales,
is compared with 11.449,930 bales
n 19 IS and 10.949.000 bales in
: 1#IT. The average crop of the last
wo years is, therefore, 2.9f>u.
tales short of the average for the
> receding five years. Last year's
ield was 2,200,000 bales sltort of i
he average for the five years from i
all to 1910.
These figures indicate an acute
riais in cotton production. Notwithstanding
the war, the consumption
?f cotton must go on at an accolerat- 1
ng rate. To some extent it is temtomrily
halted in some countries.
?ut those countries are draining to
he last ounee their supply of cotton
;oods. In this country and in tJreat
tritain and Kranee and Italy, while
lie consumption of cot'ton may be
let-reused for domestic purposes, an
normous amount of cotton is being
ised for explosives. The world is, j
horefore, iiecoming as bare of col- i
on and cotton goods as it is of i
oodstuft's. The production of the
list two years has been short of the lorld's
needs, and whenever peace
nines tho demand for cotton goods
o till up the existing stocks of the
"" I'l .-iiul to re.clot he the licol'le
i hose .supply is now exhausted will j
I lake a demand for cotton as plielomennlly
great as will he the de- i
itand for foodstuffs. i
In producing cotton, looking toraid
the ^future after the end of the |
rar, the shuth would, therefore, he
lot only helping itself, hut helping i
lie worhl situation. In the mean- i
ime, however, it seems to be almost j
rnpussible for the south under ex- i
sting conditions to produce enough <
otton to meet the actual needs of i
he hour. Increasing cost of raisng
cotton by reason of a higher (
irice for fertilizer, higher cost of i
nbor, higher cost of agricultural |
inplemcnts and of everything which <
liters into cotton production has i
ompletely changed all basis of cal- I
illation as to tho cost of grbwing i
otton. I'nlike wheat, which is bar- 1
listed by machinery, cotton tmistji
i(- harvested by hand labor, and the it
ost of cotton production therefore | <
ncroases more rapidly than the co.-t 1
f wheat production. VfL
*"?? am ac <ap||
o increase food production must 1>#'
lone, we should not lose sight of
he fact that cotton is essential to
-ivilization. It is absolutely necesary
for clothing, for tenting and a
housand and one things for which
here is no substitute available. Anither
small iVop would be a disaster,
mil yet it will be very ditllcult for
he south to plant, cultivate and
ick a larger crop than the average
>f the last two years. It Is possible
hat it can be done, but it will
it ret eh the resources of labor to
iccomplish it. It is almost as vital
o the winning of the war that the
:overnment should co-operate for a
arger cotton crop as it is to co-opirate
for increased wheat producion.
Some of the suggestions put out
>y New York speculators and cot011
buyers to the effect that a low
naximum price should be put on
otton would, if put into effect, be a
lational disaster. The south could
itand such, a situation much better
han the rest of the country, for the
iouth can thrive on the production
>f other crops, while the rest of the
ountry can not exist except in ter ilie
suffering without an adequate
otton crop. The figures which
lave been named by some of the
Cow York so-called experts as a maxmum
price for cotton are absolute- ,
y absurd. They might have been
ustilled as a maximum price on eoton
before the war, for cotton never
las sold at anything like its intriniic
value, nor have cotton growers
mil cotton laborers ever secured, "t
east in the last 30 or 40 years, onelalf
as much for cotton as a better
'conomic system for this section
vould have amply justified and denanded.
Cotton growers and cot011
laborers, having a monopoly of
he most important single crop ir.
he world, have been held down to a
?are existence, often selling their
otton at less than the actual cost
>f production even counting, as the
unall farmers and tenants have had
o do, the labor of their wives and
hildren as nothing on the balance
iheet.
The whole policy of the cotton
uyliig interests of the world has
?een to crush out the prosperity of
he cotton grower, perchance not inentionally,
but actually so by reaon
of the conditions which prevail d
after the war and which estabislied
precedents in the trade that
he poverty of the cotton-growing
nt crests.
While western ' farmers have
rrown rich on grain production,
iouthcrn farmers, whose staple
rop is just as important to the
vorld as grain, have, by reason of
he economic conditions over which
hey have no control, been kept to a
arge extent in poverty. The high st
prices of the last two years have
>een bringing a few rays of sunlight
nto the homes of cotton growers and
fven of cotton farm laborers, but
nuch yet remains to be done before
here can be the same general prosK-rtty
among the cotton growers of
he south as exists among the grain
rrowers of Kansas and N'ebraska and
>ther western states.
The fault has been with the s>'Hem
rather than with the growers or
vith the soil of the south.
It should be the aim of all business
nterests in the south to encbumge
otton growers to raise abundant
oodstuffs. Xever again should this
ectlon have to depend upon the treat
or corn and meat. Indeed, it .looks
is though all of the increased corn
production of the t'nited Spites must
come from the south, since the west
has apparently, for the time being at
leaat. very nearly reached its limit
in <??rn production.
Hut while increasing to the utmost
extent the production of foodstuffs in
the south for the needs of this section
and for shipment elsewhere, there
must he adequate produetion of cot
ton. t'otton is not only essential for
its limit and fur use in the manufacture
of explosives, hut is essential for
the enormous food value in cottonseed
oil and the feed value in cottonseed
cake and hulls. In raising cotton
the south is thus directly raising at
invaluable foodstuff and feedstuff.
The motives of any man who seeks
to decry the cotton-growing interests
or to put on cotton a maximum price
which would not yield a large proft
to the grower?not simply a fair profit?.mo
v ho (lOfiAttolv Atioctinnrw! ft?r
evidently he is seeking the advantage
of other interests rather than the
advantage of the cotton grower, who
must have primary consideration.
Moreover, the cost of cotton growing
has so greatly increased that even
the suggestion which has been made
of 1X cents a pound as a maximum
pi ice is absurd to any intelligent man.
LAST GREAT BATTLE
Common Impression that it May Occur
at Any Time.
The great German offensive on the
western front may be expected to begin
at any moment now and as fains
the British front is concerned the
main attack will he made on the sector
between -Arras and St. Quentin.
writes an Associated Press correspondent
with tile British army in
Prance.
Tanks and a "new mysterious gas"
will lie employed l?y the enemy in the
attempt to break through the allied
line. Other attacks will be delivered
further south. These facts have become
known through captured >
man prisoners and from information
Bleaned in other ways.
The plans of the German higher
rommnnd are complete and after
many weeks of intensive training of
assaulting troops they are ready to
.....I It.... I ?/..?
IIIIIIM.' nil* aui'iciuc aim niuu tnvu
which has tieen advertised so widely
n the past weeks.
Field Marshall von H indonburg and
Hen. von l.udenorlT appear Jo have
realized that the old methods of attack
in which a long bombardment is
employed are too well known to produce
the results desired. Accordingly
the Herman troops are being told
that surprise attacks, such as were
ised in Oalucia last summer, at Itiga
iml again oil the Ismizo. are to be
Iried against the allies on the western
front.
New Gat and Tanks.
^ Much stress has been laid on the
WTftZt tanks and new gas are*~to"
be used, leaving the infantry little to
do but to walk through the gaps and
consolidate the positions captured,
(ierman troops have been trained to
make long approach marches and
then to storm enemy positions after
a short gas shell bom hard men t. Those
obstacles which the tlerman artillery
has not obliterated will he rushed by
the troops or ignored. The (Ierman
infantry will rely on weight of numbers,
masses of machine guns and
begun by the tanks and gaS.
Word has been passed out by the
Herman, high command that few of
the allied troops will survive the effects
of the tanks, the gas and the
bombardment and that fresh Herman
infantry wilK overcome speedily any
resistance offered in captured positions.
Despite these assurances and the
intensive training to which they have
been put, the Herman troops are
frankly skeptical and are undertaking
their task with no enthusiasm, ac.
rording to prisoners. They feel they
are going to be thrown into buttle to
be used as cannon fodder and do not
relish the prospect.
It is said Hen. von Ludenorff recently
addressed a body of infantry
at Loan and asked how may men
were willing to tight to a linish. only
live non-conunissioned officers and
privates stepped forward. The others
declared their desire for an early
peace by "arrangement."
Herman officers, on the other hnnd,
appear to have the conviction they
will be able to break through by
means of their secret attacks.
Hen. von Hutler, who is reputed to
have laid the plans for the capture of
Riga, has come to the western front
to assist in the preparation. The
lessons of the capture of Riga have
been preached religiously to the Herman
troops. It has boon pointed out
that there is a preliminary bombardment
of four or five hours to cut
the enemy wire and demolish defenses
was sufficient to give the Hermans a
firm footing in the Russian i>ositions.
The enemy troops have not been told,
however, thattthe morale of the Russians
at ltlga was very low and that
the Herman attack was a complete
surprise.
Thp (Jf.rmnns will find the Allied
morale at the highest pitch on the
western front and their attack will be
far from the surprise desired. The
Allies are ready for a big blow and
await with assurance the next move
of the German high command.
The German attack cannot be delayed
much longer. All Information
points to the fact that both German
civilians and soldiers are keyed up
to such a pitch of nervous expectancy
that the strain cannot endure
for long. They are waiting for the
attack with feverish hope that the
high command can this time make
good its promise. The German troops
are expected to tight well.
The coming battles will perhaps
be the most sanguinary of the war
and they will be the most intense yet
seen. But they will mark the begin
ning 01 me enu iur > m*- u.
not break clear through the Allied
line?and they cannot?they virtually
will be finished. The emperor i? putting:
every ounce of strength into this
great gamble and if It fails in the
early stages it means the end of
Prussian militarism.
The Allied forces have a superiority
in numbers, tx>th in men and guns
and no doubt is felt on this front as
to the itatcome.
I
TOLD er LOCAL EXCHANGE
News Happenings In Neighbor!!
Communities.
CONDENSED FOB QUICK BEADIN
Dealing Mainly With Local Affairs <
Cherokee, Cleveland, Gastofl an
Chester Counties.
Gastonia Gazette. February 18: Ft
the second time within a week dent
has entered the home of Mr. It. I
Turner at drover. on Sunday. tr
10th. Mr. Turner himself died froi
pneumonia. At an early hour yestei
day morning iiis wife, mother of M
Marvin A. Turner, suceumhed to th
same disease after an illness of aboi
ten days. Mrs. Turner was about 5
years of age. I'ntil she became i
with pneumonia she was in the enjoy
merit of good health. Mrs. Turner wa
a woman of the highest type of Chris
tian character and her passing wi
leave a vacancy in the home and i
the community which cannot be fillet
funeral services were held at drove
at 11 o'clock this morning and the bod
was laid to rest beside the new-mad
grave of her husliaud in the drove
cemetery. Surviving are the followin
children: Marvin A. Turner of das
tonia, Mrs. \V. S. Martin of Kichhuri
S. t\, Mrs. W. V. Toms of dreer. S. C
Mrs. Charles Washburn of Shelby, noi
ill in a Charlotte hospital; ilrs. Fran
dates of Itutherfordton, and Misse
Itessie. Vera, Kllis, Catherine an
Lucy Marion Turner of drover
Klsewhere in this issue will be foun
a card from Ksipiire I. Frank Mabr
of MeAdcnville. announcing that h
has reluctantly decided for person:
reasons to withdraw from the race fo
the Democratic nomination for sherii
of (iaston county. This announccmcii
will doulitless Ik- unite a surprise t
'Squire Mala y's many friends through
out the county, who were giving hit
their active support in the race
Frank Harris took a shot with his re
vnlvor at Will Hrown yesterday morn
ing at I'nion Square, in the negro see
tion of the town. He missed his mar
lait the liullet went through a dou
and struck another negro named Hick
man, who was innocent of any eonnec
Hon with the Harris-Hrown difficult:
Hrown was nearby, standing in a
entrance to another store room, arm
ed with a shotgun, but did not get
chance to take a shot at his would-li
slayer for the very good reason tha
Harris, after tiring one shot, dodge
around a corner and took to the ta
timbers. It is understood that doincst
ie troubles of long standing caused th
difficulty. Harris has not yet bee
apprehended but the police departmcn
believes that he will soon la- in th
tolls.
*
Chester Reporter^February 18: Co
L. T. Nichols has been conflnr
to his home for several days with a
attack of grip Friends of Col. ,
H. Marion are urging him to make ti
race for the state senate next suttune
ami we earnestly trust that Colom
Marion Will consent. As we have fri
qucntly stated there is no man in ti
state who is Col. Marion's superk
when it comes to ability, and ti
earnestness and interest with which li
always undertakes a task, no inatt<
whether it be great or small, woul
assure the county of a representatix
in the upper branch of the general as
sembly who would make his present
felt. We trust that all elements wl
rally to Col. Marion and that he wi
la- elected to the senate without oppc
sition The "Chestonian," an a|
pel la Hon that will appeal to the publi
on account of its local significance,
the name selected for Mr. F. M. Abeel
photo-plav theatre by Mr. J. 1- Sin:
mons and Mesdames Sam W. Klutt
and I- T. Nichols, the coinmitU
chosen by Mr. Abeel. who met th
morning and after carefully going ov?
the large list of suggestions that wet
submitted decided u|>ou the prett
name. "Chestonian." Mr. Abeel an
the committee are of the opinion thj
many of the suggestions were inoi
excellent, ijnd desire to thank ti
ladies who submitted suggestions f(
their interest in the matter. >lr
Kli/abeth Khrlieh. who submitted ti
name that was accepted, will receive
Hv?-rinihir irold niece or a six month
pass to the theatre Fire at ahoi
11 o'clock Saturday evening complet<
ly destroyed the store building net
the Eureka mill occupied by Mrs. I. 1
Hardin and the residence of Mrs. Eth
Huteheson adjoining. Both building
were the property of 41 r. it. T. Clou<
who carried insurance, but not a sul
tlcicnt amount to cover his loss. Mr
Hardin's stock of goods and tixtur<
inventoried between $2,200 and $2.r
recently, and we understand she cai
ried insurance amounting to about $1
700. A third building, which is ah
the property of Mr. Cloud, caught fir
hut was extinguished The follow
ing twelve young white men will r<
|K?rt to the local hoard this afternoc
for instructions, and will leave toinoi
row morning over the Southern rai
way to Camp Jackson: Marshall <
Bou 1 ware, James E. Bighatn, Weslt
White, Clarence A. McElduff. Kobe
K. Young. Judson B. Campbell, Jami
B. Henson, Willie N. Boss. Jesi
Starnes, Uobert D. Wages, Robert
Varnadore, Manley E. Meador. T1
following registrants will report t<
morrow to the medical advisory boat
at Greenville: By order of local boat
?Bnlton Hewett. Robert C. McLurkl
Jerry DeGrafenreld, Abell Thoraa
Elton E. Pittman. On appeal of regii
trant?Matoon Attles, William D.Roc
man. Toy Roof. One hundred regh
| trants will undergo a physical exam
nation at the courthouse this weektlfty
tomorrow and a similar numb<
Wednesday. Their names were pul
lished in the Reporter last week. Fr
day morning at 10 o'clock seventy co
ored registrants will report to the lc
cal board at the courthouse, and tt
following morning at 8.22 o'clock wi
leave for Camp Jackson. The nam*
of these registrants were published i
the Reporter last week. *With tl
sending of-*2 men?12 white and "
colored?Chester county's quota und?
the first draft will be complete.
Private Hayne Feld, stationed {
Camp Wadaworth, was shot and aer
ously wounded Sunday night by Jc
Taylor,, civilian. Taylor when arrest
ed ..denied having taken any part 1
Sthe shooting. Keld is now in a hospital
in a serious condition, being
shot through the abdomen. A Colt's
automatic was used. No cause and
no eye-witness to the affair. Taylor
was lodged in the county jail and
when carried before the soldier was
poatlvely identified as the man who
'O did the shooting. Taylor admitted
having had trouble with Feld. Fol^
lowing identification Taylor was taken
d to jail ami held without bond. It is
said that trouble started when the
soldier made some remark about a
}[ young lady.
h _
GOOD BYE. BUZZARD
ie
n Old Spreader of Disease No Longer
Under Protection of Law.
r- The anti-buzzard law enacted by
v the general assembly at its recent
" session was introduced purely at the
? > request or me law ana legislation
" committee of the chamber of coni*
merce. says The Charleston Post.
8 The committee intestigatod the sub
ject very thoroughly, obtained expert
II opinions, decided that the buzzard
n was decidedly a menace to successful
I- stock raising in South Carolina, and
r asked the Charleston delegation to iny
troduce a measure which would ex0
enipt the buzzard from the law inakr
ing it a criminal offense to kill.
R wound, or capture any wild bird other
' than a game bird. The chamber of
! commerce is glad that the measure
was passed and feels that it has been
,v instrumental in removing one of the
k chief nuisances to successful hog
8 raising.
'I Needless to say, before taking any
delinite steps, the chambers's com '
in it tee got opinions from leading auV
thorities on the subject, including the
e bureau of animal industry of the
' I'tiited Stat?-s department of agricullure
at Washington and the state
ft veterinarian of South Carolina at
d Clemson colege. Dr. W. A. llarnette.
? asistant stute veterinarian, wrote
* the following letter to the acting secn
retary of the committee:
"1 have your letter of the first (i?c
tober), tusking for a statement from
- an animal disease carrier, especially
- hog cholera. This office has always
k regarded the buzzard tis a menace to
the livestock industry, especially cat
tie and hogs. It is an easy matter
- for the buzzard to carry the germs of
Symptomatic Anthrax, Hemorrhagic
n ii.?aiaani? ;>mi him cholera on its
body and feet, each of these disease*
:I being ? detriment to the livestock In*'
dustry. While this is not a list of all
t the diseases which the buzzard might
'I carry from one , farm to another, it
" only suggests some of the more im
portant diseases which each voar
e prove a great loss to the livestock in11
dustry of this state. The veterinary
11 division will heartily endorse any
e movement which can be taken toward
exterminating the buzzard "
It is within the personal knowl'
edge of the writer that the veterin d
ary division of Clemron college Hits
n for several years sought to exterJ
minute the buzzard from South t'aro10
lina and hns made at least one atr
tempt to have the legislature enact
Just such a measure as it has now
' enacted. The writer remembers hearie
ing L)r. M. ltay Powers, former state
?' veterinarian say repeatedly that the
buzzard caused a large proportion of
't' the hig cholera in South t'arolina. and
'r that the disease could hardly be
d fought with complete success so long
'e as farmers were prohibited by law
from killing buzzards. It is certain
"e that Dr. H. O. Keele.v, the present
11 state veterinarian, holds similar
II views. What is more, it is within the
?- personal knowledge of the writer that
>- many farmers who know- the danger
lc of buzzards have slaughtered them at
Is every opportunity, regardless of the
'? law. In addition to spreading disease,
i- buzzards are known to prey upon
I* newly farrowed pigs and the writer
;c has frequently seen a man stationed
is in a Held with a gun to pick off huzzards
and protect some new pigs
-e which were there. The buzzard not
t>" only carries hog cholera, but Is a carid
rier of the deadly anthrax, one of the
it most dreaded and dreadful of dis*t
eases. The view of the chamber of
te commerce is that farmers should be
if apprised of the charge in the law and
s. should be encouraged to kill off the
ie buzzards as rapidly as |>ossible. Espea
cially at the present time does it
s' seem to be ii patriotic duty to take
it every step which will facilitate the
f- greater production of livestock.
I'. NEW SYSTEM OF VOTING
p|
rs Hereafter Ballot* Must be Deposited in
(1. Secret.
'* Following is the text of the new
s- law aa to voting in primary elections.
*8 as passed at the recent session of the
general assembly. It is not applicaable
r* to the rural districts; but only to the
* voting precincts In Incorporated towns.
10 The Election Law.
Section 1. That in every primary
election of this state there shall be
provided at each polling precinct one
'n booth for each 100 enrolled voters or
r" majority fraction thereof. The booths
shall be made of wood, sheet metal,
* or any other suitable substance, shall
not be less than 32 inches wide and 32
rt Inches deep, and six feet six inches
?H high, shall be provided with a curtain
,e hanging from the top in front to with^
in three feet of the floor, and shall
,c have a suitable shelf on which the
voter can prepare his ticket: Prod
vlded, That the provisions of this act
d shall not apply to rural voting pre"
cincts outside of incorporated towns
8- and cities.
' Sec. 2. The poling places shall be
provided with a table for the rnana -
gers. The poll shall be provided with
a guard rail, so that no one except as
? hereinafter provided shall approach
?r nearer than five feet to the booths in
> which the voters are preparing their
ballots.
1 - * - -w-ll
' sec. 3. ine UCKeuj snail irc iinuicu
>- on clear white paper in the usual
manner, but shall have a coupon at
" the top provided with a table for
-'? the managers. On the coupon shall
in be printed "Official Ballot." "Club
e . Ward . No. ." The numbers
shall run seriatim for each club.
f There shall be 60 per cent more ballots
than there are voters enrolled at
each polling place,
it sec. 4. The managers shall be reI
sponsible for all ballots furnished.
* When a voter presents himself he
I- shall be given a ballot The manan
ger In charge of the poll list shall
enter the number of rta ballot next
name of the voter. The voter shall
rothwith retire alone to one of the
liooths. and without undue delay prepare
Ilia ballot by scratching out the
names of the candidates for whom he
does not care to vote. No voter shall
remain in the booth Ioniser than live
minutes After preparing his ballot
the voter shall present himself to
the manager. His ballot must be
folded in such a way that the nuiulter
can be seen and the cou|k>ii can be
readily detached by the managcr
without in any vvav revealing the
printed portion of the ballot. If the
voter is not challenged, ami takes the
prescribed oath, the manager shall
tear off the coupon, put it on tile,
stamp the ballot, and the voter shall
deposit his ticket in the box. and
shall immediately leave the polling
place, ir a voter snail mar or ucface
his ballot, he may obtuin one
additional ballot upon returning to
the manager in charge of the hallot.H
the ballot so marred or defaced, with
the coupon attached. The manager
in charge of the poll list shall change
the number of the ballot on his |k>II
list, and place the defaced hutlot on
a tile. No voter shall be given a second
ballot until he has returned the
lirst one with coupon attached.
Sec. *>. No person shall be allowed
within the guard rail except as hereinafter
provided. If a voter can not
read or write, or is physically disabled.
and by reason thereof did not
sign tile enrollment book, he ma> appeal
to the managers for assistance,
and the chairman of the managers
may appoint two of the watchers representing
different factions to asstsi
him in preparing the ballot. I'rovtded.
After tin- voters' vallot has been
prepared, the watchers so appointed
shall immediately go behind the guard
rail Provided further. That if
there he such watchers available, the
chairman may appoint two bystanders
who are iiualiiled electors to assist
Hie voter in the preparation oi
his ballot. "
Sec. 6. From the time of the opening
of the pol 1 until the announcement
of the result and the signing of
the official returns, no person shall
l>e admitted to the polling place except
the managers, duly authorized
watchers and challengers, the chulrman
of the executive committee or
members of the executive committee
appointed In his stead to supervise
tills polling place, persons duly admitted
lor the purpose of voting,
police otlicers admitted by the munuiters
to preserve order or enforce the ,
law: 1'rivlded, however. That candidates
for public otliee voted for at
such polling place may be present at
ilia canvass of the votes: Provided,
<'amass vf the voles shall be open
to the pubi'c.
Sec. 7. II the watchers or officers
of the law who are admitted to the
polling place by the managers shall
interfere W|[ll thf BlMI.lt4e.ce ^
struct the voting, it shall he the duty
of the munagers to suspend the election
until order Is restored, or us may
be provided by the rules of the party.
So person shall be allowed to approach
polling places within 125 feet
while polls are open other than the
persons herein provided for.
Sec. s. I,'pon the close of (he election
managers shall account to the
executive committee for till ballots delivered
to them, and make the following
returns; (ul The number of
olliciul ballots furnished to each poll
rial ballots spoiled an<l returned h>
voters: (? ) the number of official
ballots returned to the executive committee:
<d) the number of official
ballots actually Voted.
Sec. 9. That all arts and parts of
acts in conflict with the provisions of
this act arc hereby repealed except
an act to rcaulatc the holdings of all
primary elections and the organization
of clubs In cities contalninK 4<i.000
inhabitants or more, approved
16th day of February, 191f?, which
said act, shall remain in full force and
effect.
Sec. 10. The stale executive committee'
provided for under the laws
regulating primary elections in this
state be and they are hereby authorized
and empowered to make such
regulations as may be necessary to
provide for the enrollment and voting
of citizens of this state, holding
positions under the government of
the t'nited States, or any branch thereof,
and residing temporarily out of
the state, but within the I'nlted
States.
Sec. 11. That this act shall go into
effect upon its approval by the governor.
IF THE GERMANS WIN
Rudyard Kipling, Think* that Civilization
Will Poriah.
Rudyard Kipling, speaking at a war
meeting at Folkestone, Kngland said:
"What is the personal aspect of the
war for you and me? We are fighting
. for our lives and the lives of every
man, woman and child here and everywhere
else.
"We arc fighting tliat we may not
l?c harried into actual slavery hucIi
as the Germans have established byforce
of arms in large parts of Europe.
We are fighting against eighteen
hours a day forced labor under the
lash und at the point of the bayonet,
with a dog's death and a dog's burial
at the end" of it.
"We are fighting that men, women
and children may not be tortured and
burned and mutilated in the public
streets, as has happened In this town
and hundreds of others.
'We will go on fighting until thin
race which has done these things is
not in condition to continue or repeat
the offenses.
"If, for no reason whatever, we fall
short of victory, and there is no halfway
house between, victory and defeat,
what happens to us is that every
relation, every understanding, every
decency upon which civilization has
been built will go. will be washed out,
because U will be proved unable to endure.
The whole of democracy, which
at bottom Is what the Huns are fighting
against, will be dismissed from
men's minds because it will have been
shown incapable of maintaining itself
against the Germans."
O. C. Canon, an automobile thief,
haa been sentenced to five years by
an Atlanta. Ga., judge.