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VOLUMES X.XII. LAURENS SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28,1917. LACONIA CASE IS CON STRUED AS OVERT ACT 0 1 Dispatches Confirming the Death of Americans on mer .Which Was Sunk Without Warning Tend to Es lish Case as "Overt Act" in the Opinion of Washington -No, Action Taken. WTashington, Feb. 27.-Official dispatches confirming the death of Americans on the Laconia torpedoed without warning, establish the (-Ise of ain "Overt act'. TJhle sinliig of the Laconia is regarded as another Lusitania case inl principle. The situation is the same as the President left it yesterday, but the sinking of the Laconia is expected to hasten action by colgress. It is indicated the government's fir;t step will be to arm Aterican liiC' e lt alit ilieli. lresident Wilsonl and tlie state departnieit took the position that no further steps sholilI le taken initil congress had al. opport unity to a1t on tle president 's re(iluest. Ii'esidlit Wilson, it is said, is oiposed to calling all extra session oI eon gress unit less it is absolitely lecessariy. Worl has been coiveyel to him that the reptibli ica 11s may filibuister inl anl effort to force an extran sessioll MANY DIED FROM E I1OSLRi. Lond(on, Feb. 27.-Ainnrian Consul Frost at, Queenstown tele graphol tle Amiferieini cihassy tlit . lIary 1". Ioy and (lauhter, Ihliziabeth, Aliericanl passengers aboardl e I aeonia, died of exposure aid were buried at sea. A Centiral news <1ispatch froi Queenstown said eight Anerican nieg firiemien on the Laconia. also died froi exposure. According to Frost tie total iimbiiier landed from the Laconia was 281 out of' 29-1 boa rI. Six Per)sols are in QNeeistown hospiitals but their Condition is not A Queenlstown <lispiltel says the LIaeoinia was torpedoed il coi paratively (almi1 weather. The first torpedo struck the ship near the Stern anl when the vessel was striuck i. second time she listed to star board. The boats got away with diffitulty but there was no panie aiong the piassengers or crew. TWELVE DEAD OR 1MSSING. New York, Feb. 27.-The follow)ung cablegram n'as rceived b 01una1rd linie oflieials from their Liverpool ofliees: '' Regret to adise irs. Iloy and (lauigliter; also C. P. Ivat, of London, dead ald bIn-ied at sea . Dr. Fortunat Zyndel an( Villiim I. Robinson, cabin passengers. iunaceointed for. In the secOlnd cahibin W7illiaIm lEva inissing as are t wo firelmen, three coal trimillers anil(]i i lh i brber fronm crew, naking a totil of twelve, <lead and iissing from ship.'' SURVIVORS' ACCOUNTS. Queenstown, Feb. 27.-A'ter beiing landed Fat her Wareing and R 1. Gibbons deebared the voyage hadl been very lleasant up to the time the subiallrine torpedoed the ship. Sundlay night, they said they were startled by an explosion of the first torf -to which str'uck the ship by stern. The vessel kept steady and tle crew with great disei pline got boats and )roviled passengers with life belts. All hands took to boats, the pisselgers first. Shortly a second torpedo struck the vessel am1 i(shil. She sank in twelve minutes. Of RT IN MARCI* )TeSWAIN MAY JIUN. Court of Gel'ai Sessiojis to Vonven0 rominent Greenville Lawyer Me. Mairchi 12thnt .fOr C'ongress, '1 Court of general sessIin will Greenville, Feb. 2-4.-Congressmnan convene here Monday mocrning, M\archi Sam JT. Nicholls of the Fourth Souih 12th, for tlic spring term. Judge l-aynie Carolina districvt will haye opposli lop F. Rice, or Alken, Is to Ipeside. II. in (lie primary election next year all S. Blackwell, the newly elected solied- the candidacy of J. J. McSwain, n tor, will represent the state here for ''tmmero h l~lbrom-n the first time. Hie will haveo had COn.- cieintmbe of th Genlbar aony siderabe experience befor'e the Lau ahemeatn of ~mt comeniee C-t rens session, however, as howvill serve eora~toe n':rutie. lomee, ye in Abbeviloe, Greenwood and1( Newber- jtrding tpoi gnormlatoerited yes--~ 13'Couiiieii lefie hesesionhOC. r.I Me~waln preferred not. to makihe l'he jury oemmnissioners met Friday positive announcement at this stage of morninag antld drew thle new gv ra nd jut- the gamine, lie Intlimated strongly 1 ua ors and the petit Juror-s. Th'le hold- he Is inteorested in the conlgressional overP gra'ndi jnrors are WV. 1. Giriffin, raco. ('uilbertson, 1N. I". F'incher amid A. I. eiMoe i r hee N abors. The new grandl jurors are~'i'Lnrn5 Mti '1-()i tw tnp; 1 I.. Woodrooff, Suile-s h ad Onl exlhibition for several days townrs i; Jno W . T oodli-, Cro. H ll- ono of thei new', model I aynes Tlwelve J.v O. lton . andW . u iiii Sim p on , W at1er o mofIbI les. The car Is equil iped withi lo; (). ~tit. aydbison, il nT WJ. r *,. ire wheels and all the latzst im li o n,. t Jakis; S.i R. NI ln ,~; .1 . sul i rovem entIs and~ is one of I le pre' it est ~lrnjisn, JcksH. I. Nlso~, arll e (ver seeni in Laurens. Mr Me The petit jiurors were drawni as fol. K liresident of the local comp lany, lows.states that this 1,3 the first car of this Laues: TonhpU .Jns .model brought to the south. S. Dlovd, WV. II, (oenell, C. M. Dur-- ~~-- =:= goss, J. 0. Wvham, J1. 11. Tiumbin, WV. Waftcrloo---W. WV. Culbertson, .io. IT. Coleman, A P Templeton Ii. Durton, 0. WV. Moore, .Jacks--Jno W. Riser, Suillivan--W. F". Bolt, WV. WV. Aber Youngs-J. 0. Garrett, S. C. Hrown- Cromnbie, Jr., Ernest. E. Simnlioni, J1. C. lee, J1. RI. Franks, A W. Rhodos, J1. Den Deeks. Ilunter. tutrh.A orU .ClC DtIls--J. D. Woods, W. C. Gray,C.ln,.XV iyo o.P.Bw, XV. horhombe, . P.~uiry, . L. C. C. BaIley, J1. D. Dlolandh, F. C. Smith. Thnnett.Cross JIIII-R. C. Smith, J. (I. ~uffotown--, WV. Little, bon ONlY THl'lEE STATES IN SOUT UNTOUtlED Florida, Louisiana and Texas Only Ones Which Are Not Made llone Dry by Federal legulation. Atlanta, Feb. 21.-Into only three States In the South-'Florida, Louist ana, and Texas-may liquor in any quantity be imported legally for per sonal use after June :0 next. They alone have retained local option. Congress by its action in adopting the Iteed amendmont makes absolute the Statewide prohibition legislation of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and .\lis sissippl. Thus they join the "bone dry" slates-Arkansas and Tennes see--which already had enacted statutes forbidding the import ation of liqoir. The Florida legislatuire at. its blen nial session In April Is expected to adopt a resollition providing for a referendlim 1 onl State wide prollibition, allhologh there are only live oit. of -2 countlies in the state where liquor (aI hw sold legally. Ilry forces in l'ouisiana are preparing to ilght for a Statewide bill at the Iext session of lgeislature in 191S. About half of the Louilsia na parishes are dry inder the local option law. Virginia became dry only on No vembei' I, last, as the pliople had d elared for prollibitioni by 30,001) ma jority on a referendu il III Sete)(millber, 1911. North 'Carolina became a prohibi tion State on .lanary 1, 1909, afte r the people had ratified a Statewide bIll by a majority of I1,000 at a ref crendilli election in May, 1908. South Carolina adopted prohibition by a referenu(lm vote in September, 1915, after having had a dispensary system since 1891. The law permit ted each person to receive a gallon of whiskey, beer or wine a month. Georgia has bcon classed as a dry State since January 1, 1908, but tho prohibition Iaw was not strietly en forced in some of .he cities until May 1, last when a drastic law abolishing locker clubs beenmr. effeetive. tnder this law eaclh person3 was limliited to a monthly shipment of Iwo quiarts of wi skey or one gallon of wine or P% pints of beer. Alabama eilisted under the prohibi tioni banneri in) 191:1 after several in effectial efforts to make the State dry under Ihe administration of (;ov. Comer from 1907-11. The prohibition law imrllittd41 a citizen to receive a shipmloent of two qua1rts of whiskey, two gallons of wine o3 fouir dozen3 bo'ttles of beer every two weeks. Mississippi has prohibited the man iifacturc and sale of liquor within its border since 1908 bull. no limit was set on im portat ions until 191-t, when a law was passed restricting each in dividual to a shipment of a gallon at a time. In 1916 a more drastile law was passed making it, unlawful for any person to receive mare thant a half gallon of vinuous liquor or three gal lonq; of nmaltlcd or fermnenited lIquors or' onO quart of .spii'tuous1 liquor with in 153 days. Arkansas v'oted for Ptatewvide pro hlibition by 50,1000 mlalority last fail an be1 icamie t he Ilrst "bonle dry"' state In the South. Tenudste adoiited !rohiibit ion in 1908 but1 thle Iawi was not enforced in the larger' cities until 1915 when the legisl atuire enaeted( nilisance and (311 ter' laws aimed at city oileials ivho failed to enforce the prohiibition laws. At a recent session the legislaitnN Pa sscd a~ libone (1ry" bill pr'ohi biting 'thle shItIpm 'lt of 1liqu(or In to thle state after M\arrh 1, next Nairrow leeng for' N cttro (ildl TMli 144me4 at 1'ai .1'a rker, a cal I nid 33an1 ilin (on the Place ofi Aii by lightninltg (tne day list week 13m1 achild in 11t'heiuse (eCape(d death by pan almosiat iraculous marigin. Thii :1 ightIninug struck thle r'ablle end (of t h -- house and entIeed t he room ini whicl lie clihild was sleeing oil a he(d. Th'l (end of 0thIle house was ailmiost totail lies troyedl, as wns thle lied thle (chi1 Swansi seepintg On but3 the chil d escape hi without a scratch. ".. "heo Chinstlan"', the~ fourth of til big seiles of attranctions being sho0 18 lat the Idle Ilour Theatre and whli e- was scheduled to) be shiownf tomlorr'o a- andl~ Frtidaiy wiill not be showni utn is Mar'ch 15th aid 10th, accor'ding to announeent.li made by Air. Porr'y. J. J. PLUSS DIED YES'TERDAY AFTER A SIORT ILLNESS Had Been in Declining Health for Sev. eral Years. Native of Switzerland. Mr. J. J. Pluss, president of the Pal metto Bank and a long time resident of Laurens, died yesterday afternoon of pneumonia after an illness of sev eral days. Mr. Pluss had been in de clining health for several years and his weakening constitution was un ablo to stand the attack of this recent malady. The fiuneral services will be held this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock, the interment to take place in the Laui rens cemetery. .lohn Jean Pluss was born in Swit zerland in 18-14 and camte to this coun try In early life. lIe stayed a short while in Newberry and then removed to Laurens, where he has since made his home. As a young man be engageid iII tle Ilumn ber business. In 19;S'5 he and the late Dr. I, M. Caine founded the Bank of Laurens. lie served that institution as cash ier tintil elected to the presidency of the newly forie(; Palimetto Bank In which posit ion he remained until hiIs death. Ia 187.1 he was Imtarried to Miss Susie Hyrd Davis, daughter of the late Captain .ames Davis of this county, and she survives him. No clildren were born of the union. The deceased was a man of wide ymilmthies and initegrity of purpose. He was partleuilarly linterested iII the young and took a great deal of inter est in public education. lie was ae tive in the Inauguration of the first graded school liere and was for iany years, in til lils resignation, a inein her of the board of trustees. He was a liberal giv'er to many good causes and aldedi many struggling young peo pl iI their efforts to succeed in life. In his business affairs lie was known as a man of the highest honor and in tegrity and always held the respect of his associates. Ite was a steward in the Methodist church and dlisplayed niieli interest in cliurh life. In his passing the city loses one of its best tmen. TIE EST 31ALE, Q 'A It'l"l-. Coburns 3instrels to f'onme With an Unusually Finle Show. Joe Coburns Ihg ilinstrels al ways brings a cracker jack attraelion with oldtime features and,up to the ninute clean enjoyable novelties delightfully intermingled in a real Iministrel Imle lange which never disaoinitns their patrons. One feature that never grows old is the male quartette when its a good one. The Ragapation .iinstrel Four this year Is the best tiey have ever carried. Lester Lucas the well known Basso, Clyde E. Clif'ord who possesses a iagnifleent robust barri tone with dramatic ability to display it, Perce Dilcher robust leel tenor and Earl H'owland first or top'tenor com prise a real quartette that is one of tho really enjoyable niimbers of the show. Don't miss them SaturdaY night at the Opera Illuse. Each are soloists and appear singly in the Americn Hunt Clhub in Imlia first part. Mr'. Lucas as tb ihjah r'enders twvo neCw miemtbei-s "Th'e Port of MlIss laDSi wnQ~u Dieep in a Suibmariine'' a nly Luna can sing. Clifford's "WIll-O-The W\isp" aind encore, are sp)lendid numnber's, wvhile IDilchier and 11owlands sentiinentalI selectionus are beautifulliy r'ender'ed. Paissedt Thruio ugh hIIock~ade '/oie. Newv York, Feb. 2.;.-.--Twvo freightl steamushtils, thle Fal kl1antd, Not'w~egian fr'om .\i 'lies Ier, and . the Mlanx man flitish, fronm Gea arivedl here to day, after' lissage thtrough te Glerniar sutbminile zone. Thei ('Iel giani st eami shIp Escaiit sailb I fo ati "nunme iport in l1:1eirole. Muiig-air iDest royed by3 ire. Nowv Yorki, F~eb. 211..-Suer al n't a $100,000 Vii w h.de royedi by tire eari; todaiy on bioard thto ii.tlsh encinsIt Dlay Sura, whieh wuas -C'ii oeg wIth cargo for the all1 it riiool hyn Ipier. I~e~Iui liiA Potplonedl. On aec, mit of th bad weather' ii niusie recital a- c 3S~'StPit ~ Frwayob Mgh, an at Gray Court-Owinl Fridy nih', Feb. 23, has beeni li0 Ponled unjti' i Thursday night Alai'ch b Ae. e~M v. A. Clarke Iil. htomr , W. A. Clarke is very ill at t , 4o'tu East Mlain street. On a ,* a of his advanced age and1 the x ,Ab -of htis illness mutch uneasiness Afit ovo3 -his condition, AUTHORITY kMERICAN LIVES ;sed by Grave Occasion. Na :)rs Request is Made Not For an Lives and Commerce. Re-. equest. 110rrow by the senlate foreign 1elation co mlillittee. The presidetl's long exieCted ac lion, while received lit the maint w[ith expectations, of supoot, threatens to force an extra session if congress. Repitb!lans, d isi nclin tied to gr an t him0 blanket au 11toit0 while! ('ongless is inl Iecess. give cvdence of opposing the logislation the presidenit nesks, Not. forl Ohwurus of withhlolding" it, hut 14o force co'reeo in pia! ses :donl to) take a hand inl the wnxt -sfveld which they feel will lead lo ar The reimlic~anls a1re reCeivinle- pas.. sive suiport frni iihe dotinocialte ele otnt (lissed asw, a~ifit. The presid .' I's vd. ).er IS dl:ore tik sitiation) for its effect ill G rmany, wheieO they ale collvilccd it wilt feed the official imression t hat ennl1ress will nlot suplport the 11residenlt "If hto filds it lccessry11* I') go to wa. and that he i.- no :peakin t hve ion: 1men, of a united ountr1y. DOUTV COMM.IISSIO.NER DE iP, J. T. 1,4141, of Ci ont ijo , Diell 31411111y A .1r Long' liss. A. osoph T. Todd, a iemiber' of th board of contiiy colissioner died at. his home in Clinton .\Monday after an ililness of several montIs. .Mir. Todd was stricken with paralysis sev er3al moln ths ago and never fully rtecov erled his lealth. ife was buited ntear his11 old ho3e t hile Long Branch sec tion yesterday, his finlerial being largely atteilded froii alt the sit' 0111ding tei't'tory. M1r. Todd was .ust Iltoring his see-. Ond terml as countly comi ss-;ionler, at teady bi)ltlg at an advanced age. Il had lived in thIe Lonlg l rallth Section uint'ig ilost of his lif 111) until sev ral years ao whe114 hE' ove; to C(lintin. 1M, was 0 vtoeran of thIt(% Civil War, haviin fougillt thioug11hout that great 'oiflict as a memberliict' of Co. F. I i 8. '. I nfatry. lie was wouind. cd anI aplt11ed dlring the hatt ls o1 The Wild'.1sa tml nld paro!vd after a. long imlpr-isolmnent. Aftr-r hli,, p-1rol0 10 ntered the rans 1 again anld f(Iought 11nt!il 1t11 w.v was endled. Ili, was a *! lv:sit, 3pl: tt citi;:e , a mIaember of the A. it. 1'. chrich and a(irI ted for his holesty aiI upr ightn1ess of pur I IoseC. l1e is survived by his wife and sir chihldien, as follows: Alessrs Samuel .J., .1. Heid and Clyde Todd, all of Clin ton: Alis. (1. W. Cunningham and Mir;. Wess ionnan, of tills county, and Mir:S. Bob Dolnnan, of Greenville. ('hitnhtler (' ('om lIerce to Meet. IThe fir1st. rogulJar meet01ing of tho lhambher of C'ommlerce is to be held liext Tuesday eve'ning at eight o'clock ha I he ('3our10t i~ hous3Th metin en15cn-. nilt he held in the' i nwl y ae'j uiredl (Iuart ers bedause the furnbure03 han not ye0t ai':ed. As this5 Is thle litrst is to be atte'nded to, a fultlit m iine it 1(e' '.01. halve a further roelr lo mako1( and1( the dlitOetors wilt announcefli tht (harm n the di, ret.p wns ShoIh lit me 11' t iite' h ir s fi lh o n e Va 3 ( 'II l <' It.~ b . 1 i as Gr- a n ttood 51'i01i l ti.-' ((th ' at n laon ': !:3-in. he ths (h::', b11n. '11in Oft '((lnegin iln it h1( i' x od-0( ln tu t sch itol'inth ier pao hr t) fhy Acounteo. ube fyas PRESIDENT ASKS TO PROTECT i Congress Listens, Deeply Impre tion's LChief Tells Legislat, War, But to Protect Americ publicans May Refuse His F Washington, Feb. 2.-President Wilson today took the inevitable step I and asked congress for authority to use thle forces of the United States to vi'oteet. American ships and lives di iinost the German subtimarine menace -to pmt the nation in a state of armed neutrality. The immediate response was the in tui4luetioni in the house of a hill all proved inl adva ne by thle president, empowering him to furnih guns and pilitiners to American imelchanitmen; to emplov sil other ilnstritmentali 2 ies and m inhods as may beclome nive esary, and providiln;: for a $ (10,000, 000 honld issuew In be used at his dis-_ crelion for %war hisurance to e ncolIr Se A tmerican commerce to vt the sitmrinile ptril. The hill m iay hw brouight up in1 the house (itmorrow with speciail rlles for Its in netliate considera ti on. A similar hi ll b If fe considered to R.OAND l BO N 'l .i (ACT :(*'NED-:lY THE (U0V-:THNOl fElectionl to be 11461 31ar1chl 27th. 01th er L-eilti live 1nt ters. Acordin g Ito rpeorts fiom0 Colmin - hia Uov. .lanning has placed his sig tnature to file L.au rens ('County good roads bii passed at (lie recent ses sioi of the legislature. This meaiis that on .larch 27th lIe Ieolple of this coltity will vote on the Iuestion of ra ising $200.000 by an issiu of honds for the purpose of making perniient improveien t s on fie important roads of tle conlity. The eletionu will he condliucted under' tle laws govern ling general elections exeopt that it will be uinder thfie supervision of tile board of (ountit1y 111 coiiissioners. , 11 ks not knlown yetI whether ()r not 111e gtvellor has signed tle other im polritailt h)ils passed in the interest of 1hIs county. As already published the dltetgation Irovided for a new jail to (twf Rot exceeding $:5,000. The jail is to be erected ider the direction of a commnlissloni composed of the super visor and fottir lell appointed by the gOVernior on i the recoimenidat ion ef fthe delegation. The bill providing for a teacIher tratiiing school building In this city, to be pald for jointly by the couity and (1ty of Tairens passed both iouse.i and awaIts the sig nature Of the gov ernor. Tl hill calls for an exeIidi 11uie of $36,n0 . Of' this $1-7.100 is to be paid by the counIy and $1.7101 I b the cIty. The County appropriation for ti1s purpos e Is conditional on the city's raIsing its shiari, wi ih wIll' have to lie done1 1y hiond Issue. An~i electionl (n this (lueStil will be or dlred at an early date. TIhe present logslak ure r'e paaci lieh 'tt liassed several Years ago idinei~i for tihe e lion oif stiiool trustee (Cby t he voters in t' res!ective d is trile. li Ireafter (the trutstees wvill be appoint (ci according (o thle geneicral lawis oif lie state, by thie (ounlty b'oardl of eii dOat*0n, except In there istrialIs hav ns special c hartlers, !aw by~ i exem~tinog Laurensfl counity Ihis and1 il'ioS.Cumsi failed to get numbii1 Ct ih r local bills t hit wtre I - ipropr i tn hil(l w itch ie l m ake~iid aout 'arlotlina rand otherci prvohtibit ion stat'v \'hIoever shall oideri, purechas 'e, 0 pierIcled in inst at Ic (01iomer, CxcepI fatr s(cintifle', saciamentaul, med(iin e iandc miichianiIinI ttpurposes, into1 an n~ state or tiirtory (the law oIf whi hi stateI prohibtit the manufneactnr~e or s wV t herini Clf Iitoxienting liquors f I1 bievterago purp'losesi shall be pnish .by a tine not to exceed $1,000 or e mont hi in jail oir hoth."