The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, August 28, 1919, Image 1
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fOLUlIB XIX
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CLINTON, S. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 28tb, 1919
If You Don't Read
The Clinton Chronicle
You Don't Get The
NEWS
NUIMRI5
j
II. 3. fOOO ADM.
SmS REMEDIES
Favors Provisions Contain
ed in Kenyon Bill.
TAX COMMISSION
SAVES THOUSANDS
Herbert C. Hoover, in a letter
* -
dated September 11, 1918, and ad
dressed to the President of the
New AeeesHBent Figures ' on Her*
chant*s Stocks Scat to County An-
(Liters.
Columbia, Aug. 25.—The South Caro
lina tax commlsBlon has recently sent
to various counties of the State state
ments of the new assessments on the
stocks of mercantile esabllshments,
ascertained from the recent stock
statements from the merchants or
furnished by them when subpoenaed
to appear before the tax commission.
{Jnited States, made the following . . .. * ,
r ’ , ... The figures show that the tax commls-
statements about the big meat hllg mR _ v thnil .
t
.1*
packers. Mr. Hoover’s letter has
a direct bearing upon the high
cost of living and the Kenyon Bill
-n^w-befone Coagrasa. No one .has
fef ' w
Mi
wholesale intermediaries, and with
large banking alliances, this group
have foiiifd fn-Twrrltitm
not only to dominate the distribu
tion of interstate animal products,
but to successfully invade many
other lines of food and other com
modity preparation and Jistribu-
tion . . They now vend scores
of different articles, and this con
stantly increasing list now ap
proaches a dominating proportion
of the inter-State business in sev
eral different food lines . . . .
“These businesses have been
economically efficient ip. their
period of eompetJitave upgrowth,
but, as time goes oh, this efficiency
canrtot fail to diminish and, liko
all monopolies, begin to defend it
self by repression rather than by
efficiency. _The worst social result
of this whole growth in domination
of trades is the undermining of the
initiative and the equal opportuni
ty of our people and the tyranny
which necessarily follows in the
commercial world ....
“As to car service, I am in full
agreement (withi the Federal
Trade Commission), and miay re
call to you that soon after its in-,
stallation we recommended that the
railway administration should take
over and operate all private car-
lipes in food products ....
“As to the stock yards, I am in
agreement that they should be en
tirely dissociated from the. control
of the packers ....
“As these few firms are the final
jesfervoir for all classes of animals,
when the few yards where they buy
become erratically oversupplied
with more animals than their ab
solute requirements, it remains in
their hands to fluctuate prices by
mere refusal to buy . . . . which
ts to discourage production . .
“It appears to me at least worth
;ht as to whether these aggre-
ions should not he confined to
narrow and limited activities,
those involved in the slaughter
animals, the preparation aqd
eting of the products there-
elone. Such la course might
the branch house problem,
it is not an ufiknown legisla-
control, as witness that
accused Mr. Hoover of being hostile
to big business, or partisan.
“Dear Mr. President-:
“In response to your request, I
bog to set out. my observations on
the recommendations of the Fed
eral Trade Commission, with re
gard to the five large packing
firms. - j .
“I scarcely need to repeat the
views that I expressed to you near
ly a year ago, that there is here a
growing and dangerous domination
of the handling of the Nation’s
foodstuffs .... The provision of
a larger part of the stockyards,
and ear services, has naturally fall
en^ in considerable degree to the
larger and more wealthy packers
who have used their advantages,
as in effect a special and largely
exclusive rilway privilege with
which to build up their own busi
ness.
“Through this practical railway
privilege, the numerous branch es-
tabiishnwnt*. tie elimination—of | ta th>t m ° ot «»■»«
sion has saved the State man}' thous
ands of dollars, and as a result of the
work of the commission already this
year the tax levy has been reduced.
As an illustration of the amount of
money ’saved'Td “the "Slate and coun7
ties from the equalized assessments,
the assessments on property of mer
chants in Greenville County alone are
greater by a half million dollars than
they were before the tax commission
began its 'recent equalization -work
with the merchants. This means a
saving of $4,500 in taxes in Greenville
county, and when 4he figures are to
talled for all the counties and Includ
ing the mercantile stocks and also au
tomobiles, on which the tax commis
sion has been at work lately, the sav
ing to the State will run far Into the
thousands. All of the statements have
npt been sent to the county auditors
yet apd the tax commission has as yet
no way of knowing to what the total
increase of assessments amounts,
though the tabulation for Greenville,
made by Auditor Gullick of that coun-
♦y, gives an Indication of the results
of the commission’s efforts.
A statement from the auditor of
Greenville county shows many in
stances of figures returned by mer
chants being doubled, tripled and in
a few cases, raised to ten and twenty
times as much. Some merchants and
business firms who made no returns
SCHOOL STARTS AGAIN.
School days at Thornwell are al
most here again. Oil next Monday
morning the 300 boys and girls of
the institution will gather np their
school books and enter upon anoth
er year’s work. The past school
year was a most successful* one and
the outlook points to (a still better
one the coining year. The various
school buildings have been ptit in
excellent condition- and everything
is now r in readiness for-the opening
on next Monday morning.
S
“The Natural Law”* was given
first rank among shows seen in
Wellsburg in recent years. A ca
pacity house greeted the players.
The piece throughout was full of
thrills wnd climaxes that made a
lasting impression upon the audi
ence.—Wellsburg (W. % Va.), Her
ald.
banks, railways and insurance com
panies ....
“Iti summation, I believe that
the ultimate solution of this prob
lem is to be obtained by assuring
equal opportunity in transporta
tion, eqtial opportunity.!*- the loca
tion of manufacturing sites and of
l*s
LEYER FOOD ACT
TO INCLUDE CLOTHING
Amendment of Food Control BUI
Adopted by House Without Mueh
. Opposition. $5,000 Fine or Two Yenrs
for Profiteering.
Washington, Aug. 23.—Without
amendment and with practically no
opposition, the House late today
voted to amend the Lever Food Con
trol Act to extend its provisions to* in
clude clothing, containers of food, feed
or fertilizers, fuel oil and Implements
used in production of necessities, and
to pengjize profiteers by a $5,00(K fine
or two years’ imprisonment
Proposals to make the act apply to
profiteering in house and room rents,
adopted by the House in committee
the final vote.
Efforts were made by both Repub
licans and Democrats to have the
amendment’s provisions cover necessi
ties other than those included in the
amendment as reported by the agri
culture committee. Inclusive of ker
osene and gasoline was proposed by
Representative Strong, Republican,
Kansas, who said the price of these
products had increased 300 <per cent
in the last two years, but his amend
ment was rejected by a close vote
while that of Representative Newton,
Repbulican, Minnesota, to include
raw cotton was v elimlnated on a point
of order by Representative Blantop,
Democrat, Texas.
Attempts to bring farmers and
farm organizations within the juris
diction of the amendment also were
blocked.
Recommendations of Attorney Gen
eral Palmer to inclue retailers doing
a business of less than $100,000 under
the profiteering section so that the
department of justice might "go after
the little ones” were included in the
message as passed.
Five hours of general debate pre
ceded passage of the measure the
first legislative step in carrying out
LOYETT DISCUSSES
RAILROAD PROBLEM
under the law have figures amount- "the recommendations of—President
ing to several thousands of dollars
against their names.
Ofie* itferclia&t' returned his busi
ness at $500, and this figure has been
raised to $12,000. Another returned
his at $1,000 and will find that he
must pay taxes on $10,000. A third
gave the figures $8,000 which the tax
commission has raised to $68,000.
Smaller increases than these are very
numerous among the list of Green
ville merchnats.
The tax commission fixed property
valuation on a basis of 42 per cent
of the total value returned in the in
ventories which the merchants were
required to fill out 1 ,
Wilson in his recent address to con
gress on the high cost of living. The
Hutchinson cold storage WH, modMed
on the New Jersey act recommended
to congress by the President as worthy
of patterning after, will t>e reported
to the House next week.
Debate today consisted largely in
attacks and defense of the adminis
tration, Republicans asserting that
the Democrats “with masterly inactiv
ity” had avoided any discussion |or
remedies for he high cost of living
and Democratic members charging
that Republicans had been busy
playing politics and were not unmind
ful of coming elections.”
Representative Rodenburg, Repub
lican, said that “the President’s mind
for the last nine months has been com
pletely absorbed by the idea of the
league of nations. If there was a
famine in China, a flood in the Mis
sissippi valley, an earthquake in Porto
Rico, & volcanic eruption in 'Central
America, of 'an epidemic of spinal
minigitis in New*York city, the Presi
dent by a process of reasoning that
satisfies himself at least, has con
vinced himself that the sole contribut
ing cause was the failure of the league
of nations.”
Representative Heflin, Democrat,
Alabama, charged that Republican op
position -to the league of nations had
become so pronounced that the chap
lain ^of the House “wafe not permitted
to„pray for acceptance of the league
of nations.” He said the chaplain had
offered such a prayer one morning
and since then his lips have .been
sealed by a high member of the Re
publican party.”
Indication of the close interest with
which President Wilson is following
every move in the fight on high
prices was given today in a lengthy
conference which he held with Attor
ney General Palmer and Director
General Hines. The conference was
arranged by Mr. Palmer, who declined
to discuss what had been under con
sideration.
Mr. Palmer also was in conference
today with the senate agriculture sub
committee considering amendments
tq^ihe febd control act. The commit-
ee wanted to have the amendments
define “reasonable prices and Just
terminal sites, and the limitation profits,” quWo agreement was reach-
of the activities of those business-»>■“ <>>ls
phase of the congressional share in
curbing prpfiteers was put before
President Wilson by the attorney .gen
eral.
Mr. Palmer today telegraphed
Governor Smith, of New York, > that
Special Assistant United States Dis
trict Attorney Henry A. Guilar would
be assigned to Investigate the New
York milk situation. . .
Washington, Aug. 22.—Private op
eration'of railroads cannot be restored
at existing rates, Robert S. Lovett,
president of the Union Pacific Rail
road today told the House Interstate
Commerce Committee during a dis
cussion, in which he contended the
railroad problem “is solely a question
of railroad credit’'
Howard jESUiott, president of the
Northern Pacific, another -witness,
urged early adoption of a national
transportation policy e declaring de
lay only tended to make “all classes
uncertain and unsettled.” In adopt
ion of the transportation policy he
thought congress should observe four
principles, as follows:
to encourage the present transporta
tion system so that rdtes will pay all
costs, including new capital needed
for expansion of facilities; abandon
ment of credit methods of adjusting
wages and working disputes, with
substitution of “d sane method of de
ciding these questions,” including
abolishment of strikes, modification
of the Sherman law to 'permit con
solidation and making of federal au
thority supreme in regulating rates,
securities and accounts. Railroads
should have the right to initiate rates.
Mr. Elliott argued, adding that the
interstate commerce commission
should have the right of suspension
and review.
Both Judge Lovett and Mr. Elliott
urged the adoptin of the reorganiza-
tiod*plan of the Association of Rail
way lExecutives, including prbvlsion
for a Federal Transportation Board,
representing the public, to aid-the in
terstate commerce commission. Re
ferring to the Plumb or organized
labor plan for tri-partite control of
the railroad?, Judge Lovett said:
“It is rather a bold move of the
American Bolshevists to take first for
Russianization the one industry that
affects all the people.”
“Yours faithfully,
“Herbert Hoover.”
Obviously, Mr. Hoover would
favor the Kenyon Bill, as his rec
ommendations are contained
of j that bill.
in
Railroad employes, he added, do
not understand the Plumb proposal
hul whan they flo “they jvill .repudiate
and refuse to support it.”
“If the railroads were turned back
to their owners today under existing
conditions!.” (declared Judge (Lovett,
“it is not too much to say that half
of the roads would go into bankruptcy
and the dividend paying roads would
have to reduce their dividend pay
ments.”
Wage increases without proportion
ate increase of rates would be disas
trous, Judge Lovett asserted, adding:
“It is utterly impossible to consider
the private owners taking over the
railroads and operating them at the
present rates.” He offered two solu
tions: One to raise the rates; the
other, pay the loss from the federal
treasury
Under private operation, Judge
Lovett said in reply to Representa
tive Rayburn, Democrat, Texas, • the
railroads could not be operated "any
more economically than the govern
ment has.”.
In arguing that credit’was the sole
question involved in the railroad
problem, Judge Lovett said the gov
ernment did rot propose to guaran
tee interest on dividends, but that it
was the duty of congress to make
rail investment so attractive as to
induce private investments that .will
secure the necessary development
needed by the ^public.
Pointing out the need of addition
al railroad facilities, the Union Pa
cific resident said:
“If the government itself is not go
ing to furnish the money then we must
look to private individuals for it; dnd
not only regard for their constitution
al rights, but good policy and common 1
hpnestay demand that they should be
encouraged anl protected, intsead of
made the victims of every half baked
theory that unlh|nkabll» and unmoral
ignorance can suggest” v
Government ownership was opposed
by Mr. Elliott, but Judge Lovett as
sumed that "(be committee would not
consider the solution of the rail prob
lem. *
SHIPPED ARMS IN
TRUNKS TO MEXICO
Tea Trunks Containing Ammunition
Shipped from New York, Detectives
Find.
New York, Aug. 25.—Ten trunks
containing arms and ammunition were
shipped from this city to Mexico on
the steamship Morro Castle, which
sailed^ last Friday for Havana, Pro
greso and Vera Cruz, according to in
formation obtained today by detec
tives attached to the bomb squad.
The trunks were shipped from a
Broadway hoteL Th«r department of
Justice and navy department have
been notified and it is expected gun
boats will be sought to search the
steamer.
The bomb squad detecljyes, w
have been investigating reports of
secret ammtmition stores here, first
learned of the shipihent through dis
covery of a bill of sale showing 17,-
000 rounds of ammunition and 350
pounds of “talcum” powder had been
purchased on August 16 from a large
sporting goods house in this city and
consigned to an address which the
detectives found to be fictitious.
They discovered today that the ex
plosives had actually found their way
to a Broadway hotel, where two men,
believed to have been agents of the
Mexican government, were registered
until Friday.
The detectives believe they took
'Passage on the Morro Castle with the
ten trunks of ammunition..
After the hotel bad been searched
for additional stores of explosives, the
detectives raided an up-town res
taurant, where they found several
more trunks, believed to contain am
munition. A package labeled “tal
cum powder” and several rifles also
were seized at the restaurant.
fleers say they believe the ammunition
Was ip tended to be smuggled into
Mexico via Cuba and that the negroes
confessed that a strange Spaniard had
employed them to do the buying. The
men held are William and Leonard
Kemp, brothers.
READY FOR Bl'KINESS.
The Adair-MurMillan Clothing
Company have opened their doors
and are now ready for business.
While their stock i^ not complete
flt'the present, they hope to have
everything in shape by ‘September
10th. This eoneem is occupying
the store room formerly occupied
by Miss Lease next door to Seaifc’s
Book Store, and will carry a com
plete” line of gent’s furnishings.
• \
Reunion of Veterans.
For about 20 years the survivors of
Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, S.
C. Volunteers, have been gathering an
nually on the 19th of August, in a re
union of the remnant of a splendid
company of a nofed fighting brigade—
McGowans; and too, they were a part
of Jackson’s famous “foot cavalry”.
Mr. Jim Dillard used to take a leading
'part in planning and working for the
annual meeting. He is gone. There
are not many left, some say 16 of the
old company are alive; part of these
are living in distant homes. Some_are
feeble In body only. Four of Co. F
were present-and about eleven »from
other commands of the Confederate
fttates army. Will F. Wright has been
the secretary for several years. His
father fought with Co. F. Rev. C. D.
Boyd preached a sermon then; then
dinner was served and it was a boun
tiful one. The meeting was called to
order and roll called. Those present
were: Geo. M. Hanna, J. Wilson Blake
ly, John M. Hopkins and H. P. Blake
ly. Other old soldiers present, were:
M. M. Cunningham. R. P. Adair, J. D.
Mock, T^ F. Milam, Isaac W. Adair, W.
D. Bpyd, M. M. Fleming, W. J. Don-
nan. G. F. Waldrop, J. W. I^anford,
Nesbitt Brown. The death of John B.
Smith was noted. He died within the
past year in Oklahoma. Remarks
were offered by Geo. M. Hanna. Mr.
Hanna made an interesting talk giv
ing his experiences both in camp and
in battle. He gave dates and told
where many were killed or were
wounded. His voice and manner
showed emotion as he progressed in
the recital.
At one of these reunions a few
years ago it was agreed to designate
the oldest son of a deceasd soldiers as
an honorary member. Four or five of
the last named were present. I "have
heard different members of the com
pany express the wish that their
descendants keep the reunion up even
after they, the actors m the awful con
flict, shall have passed away. Since
the first reunion was held some 18
years ago, I can recall the deaths of
these: Warren Blakely, B1U‘ Machray,
Jas. P. Dillard. Ren Anderson, “Hug”
Anderson, John Clark, Dr. W. A.
Shands, Bill McKelvey, Capt. J. P.
Sloan. Oliver Templeton, John Gore.
Bill Copeland, Bluford Henry, Joe
Todd. It is the hope of the writer that
MK NEW MOVE
in um CASE
Solicitor to Ask Court For
Ro-Sentonco.
Key west, Fla., Aug. 25.'—Two local
negroes were taken into custody here
today for investigation of their alleged
attempts to buy 4,000 rounds of &va-
munltlon from Keywoat dealers. Of" MdCullough, Martin -and Blythe and
Gre«nville ( Aug. 23.—Solicitor J.
Robert Martin today served notice of
a motion for a court order for the pur
pose of resentencing Thurston Y.
Vaughan, former Superintendent of
the South Carolina Odd Fellows’ Or
phanage, near Greenville, who con
fessed to having wronged several
young girls, inmates of the institu
tion, and who was sentenced to death
mr A cfiSTge or statutory rapeTETI&12:
The solicitor at general sessions court
here next Wednesday, or as soon
thereafter as counsel for the defend
ant can be heard, will move for an or
der remanding Vaughan from the State
Hospital for Insane, at Columbia, to
the Greenville county Jail, where^an-
other examination of his mental con
dition can be held, and if he is found
sane the court will be asked to impose
the death penalty in compliance with
the judgment of'the court heretofore
rendered. The order of several years
ago committing Vaughan to the asy
lum provided that should he regain his
normal mental condition he would ’.>e
subject to resentence.
Another chapter Will be written in
the famous Vaughan case of many
sensational developments, when the
defendant will be required to show
cause why he should not be rensen-
tenced to die for the crimes which he
confessed to have committed while
superintendent of the Odd Fellows Or
phanage near this city. Vaughan’s
arrest, his escape from jail and his
subsequent arrest in Baltimore and his
trial and dramatic confession were
features which held state-wide inter
est in the early stages of the case.
He was represented at the trial by
Proctor A. Bonham, then solicitor, was
assisted by J. J. McSwain, represent
ing the orphanage?"of which he was a
director, in prosecution. After the
first day of the trial, at which time
several young girls testified as to
Vaughan’s conduct, the defendant
withdrew his plea of “not guilty” and
entered a plea of “guilty” and laid
himself l to the mercy of the court. His
‘— 0
confession and appeal for mercy was
one of the most dramatic utterances
ever heard in the court house.
The court sentenced Vaughan to be
hanged, and in the meantime the form
of death punishment in this state was
changed to an electrocution. The case
was appealed to the state supreme
court and subsequently to the United
States supreme court and the judg
ment of the circuit court was sus
tained. —
In the months that foil awed Vaughan
is alleged to have lost his mind and
presented the appearance of a physi
cal and mental wreck when brought
back to Greenville to resentence.
Upon the examination into Vaughan's
mental condition by experts and their
support that he was insane, Stolicitor
BonhairrTfinsented to an order,of the'
court staying the death sentence, and
Vaughan was committed to the asylum.
PUBLIC AUCTION SALE.
The l). L. Boozer property is to
he sold at public auction on next
Monday, September 1st. This land,
which is to be sub-divided, is situat
ed on. the proposed Piedmont High
way between Greenville and Co
lumbia. and is considered an ideal
piece of property. The land has
just recently been purchased by
A. J. Bethea, of Columbia. The
sale is to be conducted by the At
lantic Coast Realty Co., of Peters-
0 -
burg, *Va., and Greenville, N. C.,
a well known and well established
company. Free lunch and a brass
band will be had for those attend
ing the sale. Your attention is di-
rtt-ted to their advertisement on
page eight.
Mrs. J. W\ Lyake on Tuesday af-
temorfn entertained in honor of
Miss Jlartha Belle Harris. After
playing several games of spirited
rook, a delicious ice course was
served.
he can meet all the survivors of the
company, as well as their friends on
the 19th of next August.
“C.”