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VOLUME XXXIII. LAURENS, SOUTH G<OLINA, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, 1917. NUMBER 21 WAR AGAINST A BEEN FOR President Wilson S I g n Resointion. ONLY ONE VOTE AGAINST ACTION Only Representative London Cast Ballot in Negative. Adoption Fol lows Brief Deiscussion with Practi cally All Agreed as to Course. De unent is Brief hut to the Point. Washington, Dec. 7.-War betwee the. United States and Austro-H lungar; was formally declared today. Con gre0s, with one dissenting vote it the-house, adopted and President Wil son approved a resolution declarini existence of a state of war betweei the "imperial and royal Austro-Iun garian government and the govern ment and people of the United States, authorizing the president to employ the nation's armed forces and pledg ing its resources to victory. The resolution, the response of con gross to the president's request in hi: address Tuesday is similar to tha passed April 6, declaring war witl Geriuany, it becomes effective at 5:0 p. in. today, when it was signed b3 the executive without formality. AT executive proclamation will follow shortly. After only: one hour's deliberatior the resolution was unanimously adopt. (A by the senate with an af'irmativ vote of 74. It was approved by th house 363 to one, Representative Len don, the iNew York Socialist, casting the. only dissenting vote. A few min utos later, Vice President larshall and Speaker Clark had signed th< document and sent it to the Whit( House where the president attache his signature with Secretary Tumults and Assistant Secretary Forester at the only witnesses. The resolution follows: "Joint resolution: "Declaring that a state of war ex ists between the imperial and royal Austro-Hungarian government and th( government and people of the United States, and making provision to rprose cute the same. '!Whereas the imperial and royal Austro4lungarian government hat committed repeated acts of war against the government and the peo pie of the United States of America; therefore, be it "Resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the United State of America in congress assembled That a state of war is hereby declared to exist between the United Stater of America and the imperial and royal Austro-Hungarian government; and that the- president be, and he is here. by,. authorized 'and directed to employ the entire naval and military forcer of the United States and the resources of the government to carry on wai against the imperial and royal Aurs tro-Huriggrian government; and tc bring the conflict to a successful ter mination all the resources of the coun try are hereby pledged iby the con gress of the United States. "Signatures: "Champ Clark, "Rpeaker of the House of Reopresenta tive. "Thomas -11. Miarshl, "Vice President of the United Stater and President of the Senate. "Approved 7 December, 1917. "Woodrow Wilson." In accord with President .Wilson'u suggestion action in respect to Tur key and Bulgaria, Germany's other al lies, was left to the future. Wide spreadl demand in congress for thout inclusion in the declaration was.. in dicated in both sonate and house de hate, but wvhen the roil calls camt the president's advice wvas followed ir a demonstration of American unity ani harmony. Representative London, whlu cast the one negative vote, explaines his opposition by stating that lie wat pledged to that course by the Social 1st party. Debate in both houses was runox pectedily brief, lasting only an houi in the senraie and only twvo hours ani 40 ml'utes in the house. Also, ir sharp contrast to the discussion whici preeed~ the war dleclaration against Germany last April, it was almost de. Void of spectacular features. The senate acted first on the res olutiott presented by Chairmlati Bton USTRIA HAS NALLY DECLARED the foreign commission. After brief (Iresses by Senators Stone, Lodge, Hiitchcock, Owen and Vardaman the roll call followed. When the docu ment was transmitted to the house foreign relations committee after con ferences with state department oin. cials. Senator Stone, who had charge of the resolution; (ronna, Norris and Vardaman who voted against the Ger man declaration ,today joined, the mat jority. A fifth, Former Senator Lane of Oregon, has since died. Senator La Fiollctte, who also op )1osed war with Germany, was (abseii when the. roll call was taken and (1hi not vote. Necessity for cooperative military action of the allies was the principaI reason advnced in debate for immedi ate passage of the Austrian resolution. Senator Stone said American troops might soon face Austrian forces through extension of the Western front to Italy by the interallied war council. Urging unanimous indorsement of the resolution and deploring any ac tion which might embarrass the pres ident or any effort to amend the res olution to include Turkey and Bul garia, Senator Lodge, senior Republi can member of the foreign relations committee, gave reasons why, he said, a majority of the senate favored formal declarations against Ger many's other two allies. He indicated the Turkish government as a "curse" to modern civilization and expressed hope for its extinction. House debate was led by Chairman Flood of the foreign affairs commit tee and Acting Republican Leader Gil lotte, both of whom recited Austria's aggressions against this government and'its citizens. Mr. Gillette also de tailed views held by those .who also favor war with Turkey and Bulgaria. Scant interest was manifested by members in the house discussion. Explaining her vote for the resolu tion, Representative Rankin of Mon tana, who shed tears when voting against the German declaration, said she still believed war "stupid and futile" and would be avoided when the -ople, incliding women, instead of the special privileged interests con trolled the world. She declared she supported this resolution because it was merely a technicality in prosecut ing war already declared. The house debate was enlivened by an attack on Representative London 'when he anonunced ho 'would n*at vote for the resolution. The members set up a cheer when Representative Lonroot attacked Lon don's announement. "It is strange, indeed," said Lenroot, "that the only vote against this reso lution to come from this house will come from a 2ocialist. If Russia had not been placed in its present position by the Socialists this war would 'be nearing lit close it not already ended." "I've more respect for and confidence in any man in the German, Austrian, Turkish or -Bulgarian army than in a man who seeks the protection of the American flag and then declines to up hold its rights," declared Representa tive Meeker of Missouri. ISenator la Follette explained that his absence at the voting was duo to the fact that he expected the debate to continue until late in the day and that he had gone to his offee to per fect an amendment when the resolu tion was passed, ie denied that ho had any intention of absenting himself to escape voting. I'residlent's Daughter in Spartanmburg. Miss Mlargaret Woodrow (Wilson, (daughter' of the president, is to give a concert at Converse College audi torium, Spartanburg, Mfonday evening, Diecemiber 17th. It Is understood that after all expenses have boen met, in cludling the foe for' Miss Wilson, the balance will lbe devoted to WVar (lHelief. * * . . * . 13 Ne:groes E'xcnted. * * Trhirteen negroes, members of * * the 2 ith U. S. infantry, implicat- * * ed in the 1Houston riots some time * *ago wvhen a number' of peopleC wero * * killed, were summarily executed * *iunder' military law at Fort Sam * * ilouston, Texas, yesterday.* * *-e '4 4 . 4 * * e 4 * * 4 * A SHAtt W[ H[tP GIV[ SOLDI[RS Greenville Starts Out to R Sevier Christmas Hap Greenville t A big sum is wanted and big contribu tions will be welcome, though those who wish to have a part in the giving may be assured that the smallest amount will be received and publicly acknowledged. A definite plat, of act in has not beeni (leci(ed t t ll. It appear's that a colnuliliev of ladies coiilil handle the funds after they are raised to better advaninge than anybody else. ''he Ad vertiser Ilterefore suggests that a few ladies who will volunteer to act as a committee meet in tie rooms of the Chainher of "omm terce Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock to devise methods of proceedure. A representative of The Advertiser will be present to give par ticulars as to the amount subscribed up to that time. The rooms will be found on the second floor of the Lau rens National Bank building. Is Laurens, as a city and county, LOCAL BOARD WILL 1 3,050 @1J[8 Local Exemption Board WI Saturday and Similiar Following Days. N Deferred Cla 'Promptly at one minute past 12 o'clock on December 15, the local ex emption board will mail its first batch of questionaires to registrants in Lau rens County. 166 questionaires will be mailed on the day that Marshal Pro vost Crowder has designated as the date on which the first questions to determine the regivtrant' draft status should be sent out, and approx inately the same number will be mail ed on each of the suceeding nineteen days, omitting Sunday and holidays. This means that approximately 3050 questionaires will be mailed in this county. All persons who regis tered under the Selective Draft Act on June 5 and who have not been ac cepted for the draft service 'will re ceive a questionalre. The new ex emption regulations have annulled all exemption that have been granted reg istrants, and the exemption board will reconsider their cases and, except in cases of total -disability, no permanent exemption will be granted. The se lectment will be placed in one of five classes to be determined by their vo cation, claims for dependency, and physical qualifications as set out by their answers to the searching in qu ires of the questionaires. The registrants will have seven days in which to mail the question aires back to the exemption board The failure of the registrant to re ceive the questionaires will not be considered an excuse for his failure Power-House Motor Hors de Combat. The motor which runs the big pump at the power-house "blow out" several days ago and city official have been put to a severe test keepinig the stand pipe full. The steam pump has been put into commission, but the lack of coal has made it a diflicult matter to keel) it running. Trho motor has beeni sent to Atlanta for repairs anid may be back soon, howv soon nobody knows. So, if the water failla to respondo to the touch of the fingers on tho spigot at any time during the next fewv days, the cause may he duo to frozen pipes or enmpty pip~es, whiehever an exaimina tion may dIsclose. At a meeting of Illsing Sun Chapter, No. 6, Ri. A. M., held last Friday night, the following olicers were elected for til~c ensuing year: *M. 12. Smith, II. 1'.; .1. N. Rliebardson, K.; Jas. '11. Sullivan, S.: J1. F. Tolbert, Treas.; II. Terry, Ree.; Prooks Swy gert, Chaplain ; 'L. C. Iliarksdel. C* . IT.; F0. 0. Anderson P. 5.; J. S. Mc~ravy, Ti. A. C.; T,. (. Unir, 3'rd V.:;~ iHoyd1 $oxton. 2nr1 V.; T. D. lawnnyo 1 : L4UR[NS A K[RRY M1R8II8S aise a Large Sum .o Make p), But Will We Allow o Do It All? going to help make her sons in the camps happy Christmas day? That question ,was asked yesterday by one of the business men of the city, who was ready to give an aili rmative an swer and back it up with mioiey Greenville city has started out to mak< a great Christtms day of it for the soldiers, hut 1(Greniile will Ib. taxe( to provide the cheer for a population of soldiers etLal to her own. Will batreis, who has sohier's in the samltt camp1I, help ler? She hasn't askel help, butt Laurens can give it if she will and -she will. Fifteen dollars has al ready been subscribed by three persons and more Is wanted. The Ad i vertiser will receive subscriptions by mall or in person for the rest of this week and a part of next week, that Laurens soldiers may not be forgot ten on that. day. The first three stib scriptions were for five dollars each UL FIRST Of [IONAIR[S ON D[C. 15 11 Mail Initial Batch of 166 Numbers on Nineteen o Exemptions, Only ssifications. to return the questionaire properly filled out before the expiration of th< stipulated seven (lays. The list 01 men to whom the questlonaires are mailed will be posted in the postofilcl each (lay, and that, within itself, will be considered sufficient notice to the registrant that the questionaire has been mailed to him, and that, in the event of his failure to receive same, it is his duty to call at the oflice of the exemption board and secure his quest ionaire. The questionaire contains a long list of questions relative to the reg istrant's occupation, physical qualifi cations ,and claims for dependency. If the registrant is in doubt as to the meaning of any of the questions ask ^d on the government blanks, lie will be expected to seek the aid of some -ittorney or official in his district in ,learing up the matter and filling out the blank correctly. The Provost Marshall General has called upon all members of the legal profession throughout the United States to as sist in the work of getting the 9,000, 000 questionaires that will be malted out this month, properly filled out, and any member of the bar- will be glad to assist in this patriotic work. The local board is busy pireparing the questionaires to be mailed out on the 15th and three following 'weeks, and the mailing wvill begin promptly on that date and continue according to schedule. Lleut. Smith Promoted. The WVar D~epartment recently an nfounced the promotionl of se cond Lieut. Joe F. Bmith, of Co. D), to the r-ank of .First Lieuteonant, to remain with his samte company. About th( same time announcement was made of the transfer' of First Lieutentant Dixon RI. Simpson to the Fott Mill company of the same regimentt. It is uinderstood that blent. Simpsont hal added responsibilities in hits nowv comi mtand. Seconid leuteniant 11. A. Snulli van, recently promIoted front First Sergeant, has been at tached to Co. 1) All of these are Tautrens boys, whtost (coiintied aulidvancement is a sou roe 01 pridei to1li thr friends at home. Sohldier Itiandt ('ondng Itack. return of thle 7.4th Newv Yor'k ban11( which made such a flinejmtipressioni in der' diflicul t ci rcumtsl tnes here a fewt wveeks ago. UTe band wvill conme tiael4 unidler the aullee4 (if the (Christhm Endeavorers anid will give a conceri in thle (oturt hiouse t omorrow evenein i. at 7:30 o'coi(kh. AdniIssiotn prices oi 25 and 3 entn will be chnar1d THOUSANDS PERIS FAX HOLO( REVERSED CASES TO CAMP. Local Exemption Board has Sent Oute Notices to Men Whose Cases were eItoversed by District Board. Below is a list of those exempted by the local exemption -board whose cas es were reversed by the district board at Crenwood and who have been or dered to appear in Laurens Friday to entrain for ('amp .a'ckson, Columbia. 'T'hese men, it is understood, have yet :tnother chance to file additional (laimts for exemptitol (n1 grounds of (1'ep(endece or occupation, 1Informna ion on Which is (containe.d in the fol lowing statement from the oli( of the local board: When the district board reverses the findings of the local board and so notilles that board, it then becomes the duty of the local board to list Ihese reversed cases back to the dis trict. board. 'The findings of the dis trict board are treated as though they were the action of the local board. When such cases are then listed to the district board the individual whose case has been reversed then has the right to file an appeal on grounds of dependence, or a claiin on occupation al grounds, either or both of which shall be substantiated by additional atllidavits. The case then remains un closed or unsettled until the district. board lists the individual to the local board and to the adjutant general on Form 161. In other words the men are not available for use by the local board until certified to said local board on Form 164. The men ordered to report here Fri (lay are as follows: Jess Tellington (col) John T. Adair Walter Leo Garner Mc. Arnold Harris Willie MeDowell (col) Lewis G. Bagwell Evans W. Madden l enry V. Harland Jim Russell (col) Thomas P. Duncan .Jess Lawson Kelley Luther Ephely James F. O'Dell George Powers (col) John M. Teague Luther James Brock Lewis M. Kennedy .John Priestly (col) Samuel Abercrombie (col) F. H. Boozer James C. Cannon Patterson Russel Carl F. Proffitt .Lewis Bailey (Guy It. Shockley .John W. Malpass Clarence Owings Chaney John 0. lellams George R. Holland Warren Stevens (col) Laurens 0. Gwinn Jhm 11111 (col) John Leake (col) Charles Ri. Patterson Luther E. Blal Carl C. SmIth Tom Cooper WillIam Campbell (col) Williamn 'H-. A. 'Baldwin IrvIn 0. H1il1 Homer 0. Hil Fred A. Fuller Luther RU. W. Brown WIlliam E. Adair. 'Now (Chilef at Woodruff. W. T. Tumblin, who has been a member of the poli1ce force of Ilaurens for several years, left last week for Woodruff where he had been elected chief of 1police succeedIng Chief John Kellelt, resigned, Mir. Kellett has not been in good health rotr some tIme. Mr. Tmblinu w'ill ino doutt. make a good ollcer foir thIt Woodruff folks. * *0 a - * * * e *0*O. e .. ~ JElI'SALE:M IN 1IANI)S OF I Loud on. D~ee, It.--Anditrew tontar* l.a w, (chanciiellOr ofi thle ex('henquer1, * an uured1(''4 it thle liinse of ('om1- *: * menlis foday t hat Jerusalem, af- * Str beimsr su rroundled on a'ri sides *~ by BtrItisht t roops, had surrenider. F rench andu Mohtammiiedanu repre. *i sentatlves. wtere ont the way to* * Jeruisalemiu to safegiiard1 the holy * * places. *..* *e e** ** H IN HALL OUST THURSDAY Disaster Follows Explosion of Munitions. SUCCOR HINDERED BY FIERCE GALE Wlien Munitions Ship (:ollided with Passenger Vessel in Jlalifnx Hiar hor, Great, Explosion FoJllowed 11hieh Illitd i ousands and11 ('aused .1lillions of Dollars IDnmiage. Amhelicrsi. N. S.. I~cc. l. nt estimate: et I-*iii"" l'rsons dieaul iii the 10alifax .;;e ter i. contain e e in at pri'ate t l" n' (Trdi trits 11he1 stricken city rla.V by ;t a n undertaking; firm~ here,( lIii- li' . Lne iks that 1,00)0 colsliii hE .s l i IIaIifax aI onOce. Providens.i 't N. ec .,\; :.pecial I rain bearing 37 piysiciaiis and ". ) nuirses arai at carload of siurgical sup; 1iies, left here this morning for hlal lax. 'Th ulit was mado up entirt' f Voluinteers and Was sent by Provi.. liiec chapiter of t he Aie(rican Rled Cross. tIoru Delays 1I4'lIef Trains. ''riro, N. S., i 'ru. 8.--Additional out ide relief Ior the suffering thousands ii I lalifax was dependent today upon lie weather.. The great snowstorm lominated] the situation. Almost every hour ln-ought word of Srelief train stalled by the huge Irifts piled up by tile gale all along lie railroad lines between .\loncton. \'. B., and I alifax. One train, with toelors and nurses from the United States oil board was; caught at Men 'amcook Junction :it) miles from the 'ova Scotia border. Ilalifax. l)ec. ;.-Between 800 and 1,000 persons WereC killed, according to careful estimates tonight, when the French munition ship Mont 'Blanc blew up in Halifax harbor, after a collision with the Belgian relief steam ship Ioma at 9 o'clock this morning. I'housands Were injuired and It is said many of thet will die. Virtually all of the north end of the ity was laid waste, and the property lanage will- run far into the millions, p part of the town -of Dartfouth, ieross the harbor from Halifax, also was wrecked. Nearly all the buildings n the clock yard there are in ruins. The zone of destruction in Halifax itself extends from the North street raillway station as far north as Afrie ille, to Bedford Basin, and covers an trea of about two s(liare miles in the section known as illichiond. The nuildings which were not demolished y the force of the terrific explosion were destroyed by the fire which fol owed. Scores of persons were injured by thie collapise of' the railway station. Arenarink, military gymnasium, sugar reflnery and elevator. All business .as been suspended. Armed guards of soldlers and sailors are patrolling the 'ity. Not a street car Is moving and ,rt or Halifax is In darkness tonight. All hospitals and many pirivate hOuses ire filted wvith injured. Temorary -iospitals and morgues have been op mned in school houses. The (damage along the waterfront ~annot yet he estmated. AMany of the non compjosing the crewvs of the shIps n the harbor were killed or injured. 2)n one steamner, the 'Pictou, it is re )orted t hat. thirty-three of the cr'ew of orty-two were killed. Bodies oif many eamien have been pieked up in the 'iarbor. 'TihecollIision whiich resutted In pirob ibly thle worst. disaster In the hilstory if thle Dominion, occurred near i IWhlt, In the narrlows leading fromi IClhe i harboi to ltedIford' 1U[sin.Th munin ( shlip was bon'iid from New' 'Yorki fori liedford I asini, when ther inlo0 her. 'Tle Aulont Blane - 't irce on tie port sthle almo(st Ico lI:'.' room Theu ot her ipij, whli th -, . I light ly I i dammed., bacii 'd away n ill tamuui wva ' ab'andiioned by Iho r v. Thii (ii IaWn of the Niuiit lilac - 10 or-' derl his even~ to th ho ~ :s hei re-aI I' i ana explosion wa li a ibe 'T'he men( reachued short' h -o: e ihi later whlich' blow their ship to puieces (Continued on Pag1e Ea[~'t