Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PEACE ENVOYS MEET Russian anid Japanese Representa tives C"aSp .ands As Frieinds INTRODUCION BY OUR PRESIDEN1 Ceremony Unique in History Takes Place on the Maylower Off Oyster Bay and the President's Success in Avoiding Questions of Prece dence Makes All Smooth--Japanese Arrived First and Were Presented. Awaiting the Russians in the Cabin -Tiny Kom-ara and Giant Witte Shake Ea:tds When Presented. Oyster Eay. N. Y., Special.-History was marie Saturday in Oyster Bay. Rusians :i Japanese clasped hands and gre. one another with all out 'ward evidence of cordial..y, and for the first :ime since nations began to have re!ations one with onother, an Executive cf a great power receivedthe envoys cf two belligerent countries on a me: n of peace. President RooseveK:r ehalf of the United States and :lher people, extended for mal greeang to the representatives of Russia and Japan. introduced the plenipotentiaries to one another, and entertained them at an elaborate luncheon. at which Russian and Jap anese fraternized with one another as comrades rather than enemies. PRESIDENT'S NOTABLE TOAST. During the luncheon President Roosevelt proposed a notable toast. in which he expressed the earnest hope and prayer, in the interest not only of these two great powers, but of all civ ilized mankind, that a just and last ing peace may speedily be concluded between them." The occasion was impressive. It was attended not by pomp and ceremony, but by a simplic-,y and frankness characteristic of the President and of the people of America. Due henor was paid the distinguish ed guests ct the President and of the country, and they were received with all the dignity to which their exalted rank entitled them. The day was ideal. After the sun - -- burned away the haze of early morning, the weather was glorious. A brisk breeze just tipped the waves of Long Island Sound with silver, temper ing, at the same time, the heat of the sun's rays. .&?IEF ENVOYS SHAKE HANDS.. It was a notable scene as the di minutive Baron Komura shook hands with the giant Witte at the instance of the President of the United States. The greetings of the members c. the two special missions were distinctly formal, but not the slightest sugges tion of emnity was shown on either -side. Neither by word nor oy action did they mndicate, even by direction, anything but the utmost cordiality. Careful to avoid any strain, Presi dent Roosevelt, as soon as possible after the introductions, suggested C ',*t the party proceed to the main salon, -where luncheon was in waiting. The resident himnself les the party, follow ed in order by Mr. Witte. Baron Komu ra, ambassador Rosen and Minister Takahira. Eten the formation of this little procession involved a delicate -diplomatic problem, but it was agreed that the Presicent solved it admirably. FOES LIKE FRIENDS. Although the luncheon was served with the other guests standing, the President escorted the four envoys to chairs in one corner of the saloon, and in half a minute, through tact and del icacy, the whole party was engaged in animated conversation over their dishes. The conversation was general ly in French, as Mr. Witte speaks very little English. Baron Rosen and Baron Komura c-hatted as if they had been life-long friends and Minister Taka hira, at one time particularly commui nicative. entered into tne conversation wath zest and interest. Before the inncheon had proceeded far President Roosevelt rose from his chair, and turning to the assemblage. raised his hand for silence. In an in stanit there was a hush. Bowing to the envoys, President Roosevelt said: EN\'OYS APPROVE TOAST. .. "-Gentlemen: I propose a toast to which there will be no answer and to which I have the honor to ask you to drink in silence, standing. I drink to the welfare and prosperity of the sov ereigns and the people of the two great nations whose representatives -have met one another on this ship. It is my most earnest hope and prayer. -in the interest ot not only these two great powers, but of all civilized man kind, that a just and lasting peace may speeii:y be corecludeci between them." The toast was drun~k, as the Presi dent r-equested, in profound silence: but in the um of co-iversation' which followed little was heard btut enthusi astic comment upon tale character of the Presignt's expression. Mr. Witte and Baron Kom'ura both cordially - thanked him Japane2 F'orces Over 400,000. Lidiapudz. Manchuria. By Cable. -The Japanese have concentrated in Manchuria. in front of the Russian a rmies '430.000 infantry. with 1.600 cannon. This is exclusive of the de tachment of General Hasegawa, -commander of the forces in Korea. and a special detachment, the destina tion of which is not known. The weather is ?00:1 and the roads are drying up Train Kills Thrce. killin ~ree men andC inurn :'(-Tanh er.I'-nk \damis was stuc and SNSIBLE TALKS TO THE FARMERS crjor Heyward, Pres. Z. D. S-ith, Dr. W J. Spillman, Mr. E. J. Wat son and Mr. Hy:att iade Adressas T ''day was asx well a it eid as hasz ahvays beenrenal1 1m Ple of tl.is :mly r ot 111m-v! i'en to attend ing tal thlrn of r ious kind 0s, but the ,re were abo4ut people presenit an d fo r over fu hours thev sat throluglh thie xe cise interested il evel wvord The last speech, that of 31r. E. D. Smtit h. president of 'he South ('ar lina o(ttonl AssociatiOn. mlade a mark ed impression and althoughn tihiet crovd, had been talked at for over two hours when he commenced. vet MI. Smit I held them almtnost entianc'ieed fo'r an 1 houtr and a half, and e've then the were not t ired. There was another s-veh whii made a marked ies-in 'at oft* t Dr. WV. J. Sp1IIimn. arsoas the depar-tlelit of a"ricultare. Dr. Spoilhnlan is a great fried of the soui~ith anld to the south. Hi11s reml.k- were full of heart interest in the velfare of the south and while he i an kes no attemoit at ora'toi'v. yet he has a mes- z sage to brina' and the storly telLs itself f ill such a wav hat it goes dirctly to the thinking apparatus of his audi- j 1or. Smith purgecse was to tell the assembled farmers that they have a moniopoly. that they shoilld control that monopoly by ianaging the mark eting and be free miei. and that by I the inpouring of nore capital to the south through better prices fo; cotton t there should be a more reneral dif fusion of education to make the peo ple stronger and the country better. On the other hand Dr. Spilman. by holding tip the ogre of the boll weevil endeavored to warn the farmers C against giving over their entire farm z to otton alone, for calamity may come. c There were several gxood speeches I made. Governor Heyward :eelled himself in the gracetl' mainnr iII whieh he opene(d tle meetilg' ald Tr. W. A. Clark offered so me vry thoughtful su.tgestions in his address of welcome. Mr. F. H1. Weston. sc' retarv of the South Carolina Cot ton J Association. frave anl interesting diis eussion of the cotion warehouse plan and Mr. E. J. Watson, eomnissO!i'r of arriculture. irngvrationa and (ini ice had an array of statisties which showed the advantages of South Car olina as compared with the rest of the United States. The same money invested in Sonth Carolina that is IC invested in soil elsewlre would pro- e duce results more remunerative. Mr. s Hyatt made a very thoue'htful Speech C in a few words, as others had s;aid about all that he intended to say. As usual, lie told some ance dotes to aid in digesting the solid E facts which had been palssenitedl. c Governor Heyward 1W invitationI called the meeting to order. He ad- I dressed a few words of welcome to y the farmers and others present. He felt very much like General Grant,c w.ho was told by the little boy that lhe a could not go to Richmiond. because Lee t was there: he could not go to Peters- a bnrg because A. P. Hill was there; he could not go to heaven because Jack son was there. There w'as only one other place for Grant to go-t here were no Conf'ederates th.-"e. t The first of the r'egular address's c was made by Col. F'. HI. Weston, see- C retar~v of the South Carolia Cotton 1I Growers' Association. whose subjiect ~ wa'"otton Warehious'es. ' Dr. W. .J. Spilman folowed Mr. Weston. The seret ot' the pmtver of this man over his audience is the fact i that he speaks out from his heart that wich he feels and knows. It is at i: 'alk of ai suiccessfutl spealist to )'(;- I pl IwhomIf he would have tnry ne ways to bi'oaden the sphere and scope L oft their~ wor'k.a Mr. Smitht. wtho wqts then presented byror Heywii lctard, begzan (one o theI nliost remarkable speeches in the hI istr of this mfoveml'ent. although he l showed the ev ~idece or f'atigtue romn I speaking in manyr placees lately. Hie a began by referinng to the fact that al- r tough 'diifersin'eat ion"' is being' p~irethed by the advocates of that creed. vet they do not teli us hOW to r mr'ket~ the str alter~t it is producedE lie referred Dr. Spillman to) the 'mdi tion of atfair's at Chadbourne. N. C., I where the farmers had diversified and ~ had prospered until this year when t they had produced a little too inuch and at the critieal time there was no transportation facilities. Then the farnmers of Chadbourne dtump~ed into the streams nearby thiotusands of' dnol lars worth of strawberries because they could ot get them to~ market. From t his he made the deduction that while it is a good thing to diver'sify vet it is w~ell to res"tr'ict the dhiveri'51i-1 alon to thle mer'e i'aising of enou2il to supplylt the needs otf one's owni fant iix. Put the r'est intto c'ott(on ,judic'i I regt~ard to tile tardiness xith 1 weena'z this movement has beenl coming'. on., te said that right after the war thr'e was no money' in the south. Thec northern banker loaned to the south ercn banker. the southern banl:er to the mrerchant, the merchant to the landlord and the landlor~d to the ten ants. That was the chain which pull ed the cotton out or the fturows ad put it in the wtarehiotu's of the bank-~ eri of te 110 i'n1 I. Wa rehouses tor tin purp'~ose of' aiding' the farmers in h'old ug their cotton wo,"uld then I: ave bee of no use for' the colton al'cady oe on'ged t t lie tnrt hera haiaker w lo Whe h~~le took tup this liight with the .14.000.000 hale c'rop) anti with a sur- 1 pu of 03,000.000' bales, it (lid look lk a4 fool's rrand Mcin w'alked around with' " supereilious air and said hec was~" too visi.nary'\. They dealt in fu tres expre'ting the price to go do4 an -.t~ukGo.' si h. 1hr wee nog fr~es o tndlaa and fithfl to ake hat i out a hejnghUtedeilan N1. WITTE OPTIMISTIC WiSSian [nvoy M2Aes Light of dle Recent Jzp:e VicYiries ELATED ARRIVAL N NEW YORK tussia's Chief Plenipotentiary De clares That the Japanese Would Have to Advance Four Tirues as Much as They Ihave Done in Order to Reach Russia Proper, and That the Country's Powcr of Resistance Remains Great. New York. Special.-The Kaiser ilhelm der Grosse, with Mr. Sergius Vitte, the senior Russian peace en -oy, arrived in quarantine Wednesday fternoon. Mr. Witte was in good iealth. The ship had a good passage. he sea being smooth, except on Sat rday and Abnday, when it was a lit le rough. On shipboard. Mr. Witte was gen 'rally reticent when The subject of his aission was mentioned1. However, to correspondent who accompanied him rom Cherbourg. Mr. Witte said: "Almost everywhere in Europe, as vell as in America, not only Russia, er forces, her resources and her ower of resister,ce, are not known, ut the people are even mistaken bout the true results of the war. The tussians have had reverses, but this toes not signify that they have lost he power which was known to the uscovite empire before the war; it toes not mean that Russia has become , negligable quantity nor that the apanese have acquired by the result f the recent victories such a suprem .cy as to make the Russian empire onsider them a truly redoubtable ene Mr. Witte recognizes the good qual ties of the Japanese military, naval nd administrative organizations and ots not believe any other European Lation would have been able to resist apan as Russia has done. All the foreign officers of the Euro ean armies, he said, who followed he war, were unanimous in affirming at the Russian troops, both soldiers .nd officers, fought with truly admir ble bravery, but they had to with raw on account of a combir.ation of ircumstances with which their per onal valor could not contend. On the ea the Russians found themselves onstantly in inferior conditions. The quadron of Rojestvensky was sent gainst Japan, not because the Rus ians had much confidence in. its suc ess, but because they could not re ounce from a military and moral oint of view any chance, no matter ow uncertain, of obtaining even a artial victory. The Japanese. he de lared, had not made such progress s was generally believed; in fact, ey would have to advance four times s much as they have done in the last ear and a half to reach Russia prop r, In which case alone they might onsider themselves in a position to (pose the conditions o:. peace. Ac ording to the Russian plenipotentiary. ose who do not know Russia well ppose to the reasons the spectre f the internal conditions of the em ire, imagining all kinds of cataclysms, ut even about this, he said, they rere mistaken. 3,r. Witte did not wish > discuss at this time the events in ussia, affirming, however, that they ave not the character nor the gray :v attributed to them. Mr. Witte indicated, notwithstaud ig these views that he does aot iean to say that he will not maxte very possible effort towards the con lusion of peace, adding that he is fa orable to peace as a Russian. and s a man, having always worked to revent war and understanding that t rresent nearly the entire world de ires the end of the conflict. He re eated that he wfll honestly do all that is conscience may suggest to bring bout, if possible, an agreement which lay be equally satisfactory to the in rests of Russia and Japan. After aving done this, no matter what the esults may be, Mr. Witte feels that he rill have accomplished his duty. He mphaticaily denied having said that apan's peace terms were intolerable. le also denied positively that he had redicted that the conference would reak up in a week.I Another Ovation For Taft. Nagasaki. By Cable.-The steamer anchurig, having on board Secreta y of War Taft and his party. includ ng Miss Alice Roosevelt, arrived here n route to Manila and the distinguish d guests received another ovation mny lacking in importance to the one t Tokio by the absence of the mem )ers of the imperial family. They were e, however, by the American consul Lnd local Japanese officials. whilo :rowds assembled at the wharf yell d "Benz;ai, benzai." The streets in he vicinity of the dock were jammed Lnd all the city was bright with decor itions, conspicuous an-.ong which were he flags of Japan and the United States. Japanese Make No Comment. New York, Special-At the headquar ers of the Japanese peace commissio:. io comment was made upon the inter riew with Mr. Witte. Aimer Sato, who las met all interviewer~s since the Japa iese delegation arrived in New York. aid that Earon Komura would make 1 statement at this :ime, and from a >rsonal standpoiut he (Sato) thouight .hat to make any statement or comn nent at all would be entering the con :roversy premature:ly. Kills His Cousin. London, Ky., Special.-News reached 1re by telephone that Nick Garrison, wealthy and well-known lumber deal ar, shot and killed his cousin, Felix E-Ioskin. near Spring Creek. in Leslie :ounty. H-oskins was also) a large lumn per merchant and prec~irent. The quar rel arose bcause Moskins had sued arrison for an alle.;cd dent. Garrison ed tim mmonini and tmtale his es DISCUSSES D5PE'NSARY AT LE... is Tillman Made No Dirzct Charg:3 Against the Administration t P t the Responsibility n Investi gatngC Committee. ge1al. Special.-Senator To'ilm rpol:e here Saturday to a large Lr . discussing the question of dispen.ry cr .?rchiibitiona fcr nr.-e than t hours. The length of the speech pre hides our giving it in full, but the lea(ing points are covered in the ful lo-. :in report: TILLMAN'S SPEECH. r. Chairman. Ladies and Fello Citins: It is six -Years since I he.ve had the pleasure of addressing a p-b lic meeting in tiis my ome count'. On that occasion the issue was the same one whieh we have today. The people have passed on this ques tion five or six times and settle. it by overwhelming majorities. That year the aggregate vote for the two candi dates who were running as dispensary car-didates was 2S.000 more than the .?)rohiition candidate got, but there are some people in South Carolina who r have never been willing to submit to c the rule of the majority. They think t thur know more, that they are better a than the masses of the people. that t they have the right to dictate to them t what they shall do. So here we have a again this same old bone of contention s brought forward for politicians to gnaw on. "THE PRICE OF SILENCE." r I am here today to discuss this ques- t tion. Some have said it was improper s C aid out of place for a United States a a senator to meddle with local affairs. ij These men have felt aggrieved because I will not consent to shut my mouth anid close my eyes to the condition in which I am as much interested as you c are, and they have demanded of me p the price of silence. I ain't built that way. Thank God I ain't built taat way. (Laughter and applause.) When I get to cowardly to stand up in your midst or anywhere else and speak the truth I as I see it and understand it then I will have become too cowardly and worthless to represent you any where. I know I shall make enemies. I know many of my best friends are to day lined up in antagonism to the liquor system which I devised. Be cause they have changed am I to sur- 1 render my conviction? I again say I ain't built that way. The office of Uni ted States senator is a high and noble one. but the office is not worth the price which some men demand of me. Therefore I am here in asnwer to your invitation to tell you what I t think, not to dictate- I know you are not built that way, you do your own thinking, and not as I say. What is :he issue? How shall we sell liquor r whether we shall sell it at all? That s the whole proposition stated in a brief sentence. There are three systems that have btained in the State, not in the State s a whole, but in parts of the State:1 one is the license system, the old bar room system, the second is the dis pensary system under which we are now working, and the third is prohi- I bition. The ingenuity of man never I evised any more than those three ' systems for the liquor control. Which ne of those is the best? You havei heard eloquent and strong 'arguments. I facts and figures as they were pre sentel in :Tavor of prohibition. I confess to you as between prohi-t bition and the barrooms. saloons orI :fonists: But will -prohibition prohibit? I ionists. But will prohibition prohiht? I say no. These other genetlemen. say yes. Let's give the facts. H-ere Senator Tillman gave statis tis from Maine and Kansas to show 3 that more spirits are sold and drunk s nd more arrests are made for drunk- e nness in prohibition territory than 1 in South Carolina, in proportion to prohibition.. t My objection to prohibition is. we 2 are rnot yet angeis. more the pity: It o not see any wings sprouting on any- a body's shoulders: we are sinful ou- t man beings. made by God Almighty in Hi wisdom with shortcomings and - the weakness of man; we have our appetites, and it is in the natureof the beast to gratify that appetite for stimulants, and if he cannot get it lawfully he is going to. get it some hr way. There has always been and aways will be a demand for liquor as a Deverage, simply because man likes the taste and its effect, not be as a beverage, simply be cause man like the taste and. its effect, not because he1 needs it as a medicine, but simply for his stomach's sake as Paul said to Timothy, and somebody will always be ready to supply it for the money. That being the case, I have tried to deal with this question as a true man and from a common-sense standpoint, to treat men as I find them and not as I would have them to be. but to try ai teach them to minimize and re duce the evil of whiskey drinking. I have not indulged in liquor myself. but I have seen it, some of my family have suffered from a, I have seen its misery. the misery it causes; I have seen too much not to know that if we could destroy the formula of alcohol either from fermentation or anything else it would injure the medical pro fessioni in their business, deprive men of the.r valuable stimulants in certain disases. but the sum of human misery wecd be reduced. But the best thing .n my judgment as a practical man is to treat mn as they are and try to teach them to restrain their appetites as far as practical and inimnize the evil of liquor drinking. You have heard a good deal about blood money. Sometimes I ge. awfully sick in the Senate when I hear a fellow get up and traeddle about what he knows nthing of; when I hear preacher.; talking about the drinking of w~hiske'. -being blood monfey. I look bakto the history of -:he wvoria,. I find that no man, no prea(-her, priest or states man ever dreamed of attempting to prohibit the use of liquor until about 75 or 100 years ago. have not under took until the last 80 years to sayj that man should not drink or that it was a sin. I dio not nesit ate to say I cn find in the Bi1le a dozen or two loen texzts recogniing the use of !rior to whereC you can find onewih disour~gs t or denounces it. Wh'ee ge s~ doc not rt upon Ihe Bihle aur 'criry, it i-es Sup~on the preachlerS s authority an I objet to any preach ne 'i' i, t' S'rinture to suit his~ anairm and to make me swalow r~gjon. (Laughter and cheerz.) ou catnnot lshow in the S:-riptures -:(ep: in o~ne or- vo isolated cascs he of wie is denlounedC a ir. an:r: I can show you a dozen it. is spoken of other is'- 'h:i a man talks to me about IIIol mo -V I put hini down as an rm. able ass. I do not intend any C ing personal. I cannot see any os-n ible excuse for any one to make such harge. Some say you are going to vote the! hominable dispensary out and sub titute blessed prohibition. I don are if you do, and sometimes I rather ' ish yoi would so you can get a dse a if the physic for twelve months. Now, we come to high license: thisl ombirntion which we are facing to ay. the high license people. the prc ibition people and the blind tgers, c bie same we have been fighting since 893. These people who are advocai ng high license. The State, of Coluin ia. the News and Courier and some C ther papers. and some of our fellow a itizens. they are not 1n favor of pro ibition: they tell you so: they say. at's kill the dispensary. then you will t ave prohibition. and then what-high cense. The preachers are going one e )ad, the prohibitionists are going an- i ther road and the lind tigers are I r -aveling a third road: they are all lert to kill the dispensary, and when ey kill it and it is gone, poor thing: en what? There will be a fight mong the people to say whether it all be high license or prohibition,. nd what will the dispensaryites do len? If we are so far and few be -een that there will be no hope of I storing the dispensary. I am going > line up with my friend Talbert and :t out for prohibition. I will never nsent by my vote and influence to id in the re-establishment of saloons i any county in South Carolina. f Here followed a little spat between [r. Talbert and the Senator, which owever, was soon quieted, and Till ian continued. The substance of his t losing remarks was for a thorough a rging of the dispensary system and a yr giving it another fair trial. t Another Ovation For Taft. Nagasaki, By Cable.-The steamer t fanchuria, having on board Secre.ta- C y of War Taft and his party. includ- C ng Miss Alice Roosevelt, arrived here d n route to Manila and the distinguish- S d guests received another ovation c inly lacking in importance to the one ( t Tokio by the absence of the mem- I ers of the imperial famiiy. They were N et, however, by the American consul nd local Japanese officials. while I rowds assembled at the wharf ye!! d "Benzai, benzai." The streets in he vicinity of the dock were jammed tnd all the city was bright with decor- I tions. conspicuous among which were he flags of Japan and the Uni:od tates. t Japanese Make No Comment. e New York, Special-At the headquar- a t rs of the Japanese peace commission a o comment was made upon the inter- I iew with Mr. Witte. Aimer Sato, who t as met all interviewers since the Japa ese delegation arrived in New York. aid that Baron Komura would make t statement at this time, and from a ' ersonal standpoint he (Sato) thought hat to make any statement or comi nent at all would be entering the con roversy prematurely. Rapidly Enforced. Norfolk, Va., Special.--The quare; e against all vessels from Southern E orts is being rigidly enforced by the' 'ederal and State authorities at the t irginia Capes and in Hampton Roads. very vessel entering the capes is held or a thorough examination by the I nited States Marine Hospital authori- c les. The British steamship Othello. rom Mobile. to Bordeaux and Havre. nd the French steamer Longway, from e >ort Tampa, were held up. but later c assed and came in for bunker coal. Poisoned Herself and Son. Baltimore, Special.-Mrs. Annie t Vhiteford is dead and her 5-year-old c on Is in a hospital suffering from the i ifects of cyanide of potassum, taken s y the mother with suicidal intent nd by her giving to the child with It he expectation of ending his life also. 1 sister of the suicide was attracted by i he screaming of the suffering infant t d found himi writhing in agony across I he body of his mother. who lived S ny a short time after being found. 1:-s. Whitefordl. who lhas been separa' a from her husbandi for sever-al years. msa sufferer from melancn.otla. Russia to Issue- New Loan. I st. Petersburg, By Cable.-The goy trnment has decided upon the issuance t if another internal loan to the amount a if $100,000,000, of which. howeve!. e >nly $75,000,000 may be issued at irs~t. The loan will be practically of c he same nature an~d under the same 3 onditions as that of March last, and ill probably be issued in about a ortnight. The issue price of -the Rus ian international loan of $100,000,000 oated last March was 9G. The bonds f that loan bear inter-est at the i-ate f 5 per cent per annum andl are re leamable in 50 years. BAL2 HEADS ARE IMMUNE. Con~supion and Smooth Craniun.s i incompatible, Says Physician- t There are advantages accruing eve' Crom bald heads. It is pointed out by writer in a medical journal that bald Laded men never suffer from con umption, and that a tendency to bald ness is an assurance that the dreaded scourge will pass over him whose thatch grmws thin. At first glance it would seem ab- i surd to argue that a man's hair is indicative of his immunity from dsease, but the writer who advances this novel thecry declares that in the five years during which he seriously added a record of his patients' hair or ack of it his case cards have failed to show a single instance of "bald" being entered upon the card of a consumptive. Ie had urnder treatment more than 700 case-s, and he makes the further statement that in a census of more than 5,000 tuberculosis eases he failed to discover a single suffcrer who was le makes no e~fort to explain hIs theory upon medical grounds, but sim 1:y offers the results ci his observ' ion for the benefit of the profession. and has invied his brother phy-sicians to write him of any case of a bald headed Ccnsulmti ve comingi under their obrervation.--New York Herald. Eeven of the greatest mocuntafins have .ever belimbed.,~ 0111 CAROLINA CROP BULLETIN eather Conditions Given Out by the Department Observer. The South Carolina section of the De artment of Agriculture issues the fol :wing official bulletin of weather and rop conditions for the past week: The mean tempcrature for the week nding July 31st, was slightly below .ormal, although the departures aver ged only about one degree per day. 'he extremes were a maximum of 96* t Yemassee on the 25th and a mini ium of 61* at- Greenville on the 26th. 'here were several days with. high inds in the northwestern and south entral counties which were damag ag to certain crops, particularly cot on. Hail fell in a number of localities n the 2Sth but it did no material dam ge. The precipitation was excessive lo ally in the central and eastern por icns, and was fairly copious over the astern half of the State, but with nu 1erous localities that had little or no ain; the southwestern counties had ery little rain and in places the soil exceedingly dry to the injury of all egetation; as a rule the moisture con itions were generally favorable. There 3 an unusual diversity, however, in the mount of precipitation for different calities, which in turn has caused a orresponding diversity in the condi ion of all crops, ranging from very ood to very poor. Over the greater portion of the State, arm work made favorable progress nd nearly all crops have been laid by, Ithough late corn and cotton continue ) receive cultivation. Caterpillars have ppeared in some of the coast counties, i nd a red spinder infests cotton in pla- I es while rice on cotton have not en ely disappeared. There are more numerous reports, han heretofore of serious shedding of Atton squares, young bolls, and leave s, used by both excessive rahis and rought, and in places by lice. Rust eems to be spreading and in the north t entral counties it affects whole fields. 'otton is deterioraing most on sandy mnds, and is doing well on clay lands, here it has a large weed, but in places not well fruited. A few localities re ort a marked impi rement in cotton. Early corn is nearly ripe, and is not ffected by the prevailing, weather, hile young corn made a marked im rovement in all sections and has be ome promising. Tobacco curing is well. .nder way, with the early crop poor, rhle late tobacco is much better. Rice 3 doing wel!. Sugar cane, sweet pota Des and gardens are doing well gen rally. Weather unfavorable for haying I nd fodder pulling in the coast coun ies, and considerable hay was dam ged after cutting, by the heavy rains. eas f-r forage are doing well. Some urnips have been sown.-J. W. Bauer, ection Director. Discussed Dispensary. Parksville, Special.-Hon. W. Jasper 'albert and Former Solicitor J. W. 'hurmond locked horns in a dispensary 1 iscussion Sunday. A union meeting. was in progress at 1 he historical Red Hill Baptist church, even mniles east of here. Col. Talbert .nd Dr. D. A. J. Bell were on the pro :rammc to speak upon the subject: Is it an opportune time for the Chris ans of South Carolina to make a de ided stand against strong drink as a everage?" Both gentlemen were un ompromising in coLrdanning the dis ensary. The assembly was large and the peakers stood in the pulpit. At the lose of Dr. Bell's address, Mr. Thur- I ond advanced and delivered a very I arnest speech, advocating the dispen ary. He declared that if it was right y conducted it is the best solution of he liquor evil and that there would be pen barrooms in South Carolina with a two years if the prohibitionistsC hould win their fight. ,t The whole situation was unique in< be discussions held in religious asseni-t lies. A number of prominent people ere present and the interest grew in nse. Yet there was no breach of re gious decorum.-V. M. L, in Columbis ,tate. Auto and Trolley Crasht. Camden, Special.-An automobile, a which John R. Valentine. a well nown society man of Philadelphia, .is wife and two friends, were riding, ras struck by a trolley car here early onday morning. Mrs. Valentine sus ained a fracture of the collar-bone, nd Mr. Valentine was cut and bruis d about the head and face. Mr. Val ntine is a noted whip and is master f the Radnor Hunt Club, of Bryn Iawr, near here. South Carolina items. President Harvie Jordan, of the uthern Cotton Association, has asked lovernor Heyward to appoint 100 dele ates from this State to the annual eeting of the Farmers' National Con Tess, to be held in Richmond, Septem er 12th to 22nd. The delegation will e appointed after consultation with e South Carolina division of the asso istio. The Election in Anderson. Anderson, (Special.)-Little interest s being taken in the race for the Leg slature to fill the vacancy caused by he resignation of Judge Geo. E ?rince. The election has been ordered or the 22nd of August. Messrs. E. J. ay and H. M. Prince have announic d themselves as candidates. It is prob ble that others will enter the contest v'ithin the next week. No campaign ieetings were arranged by the exec itive committee, and unless something s injezted into the race to enliven it a very light vote will be polled. As a result of a conferenlce with Gor arnor Heyward a delegation, consiting f Assistant Attorney General Town ;end, Attorney W. Boyd Evans and longressman -Lever, will go to Washi rngton Thursday for the purpose of la Lg the matter of South Carolina Spa is-American war clain-s for pay of sol icrs before the War Departme~nt. The amonut involved is $30.000,. am~ for th sevie of Souith Caroidar' soldie .s fronm the tim'e they arti ved in \VaK ington after the war util thie time tGU were mustered out. IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Decurrences of Interest in Various Parts of the State. General Cotton Market. jalveston quiet..........-. New Orleans. quiet.......... Alobile, firm .. .. .. .. .... .... 10 Savannah. lirm.. .. .......10! Sorfolk. quiet............--. Baltimore. noumiuni.. .. ......10S Kew York. quiet.. ........ ..11 Philadelphia. steady ........11.25 Houston. steadv.. .. .. .......10.9-16 :ku.usta. stead'y.. ........10.11.16 kfemphis, quiet.. .. ... .... l0% )t. Louis, quiet.. .. .. .. ......101/2 Louisville. firm.. ... ......10/S Charlotte Cotton Market. These figures represent prices paid .0 wagous: )trict good-middling...... ....10f xood middling............103/3 VIiddling.. ... ......10% Cinges.... ............S to 9? 3tains .. .... ... ..... ..7 to S 32 .ITT=NS HOLD MASS MEETING. few Cotton Mill Proposition Discuss ed-Electric Power May Be Secured -To Advertise the City. Greenwood. Special.-An enthusias ie mass meeting of the citizens of freenwood was held here last week o consider a plan to secure new en erprises for the city. The gathering ras a most representative one, and t was held in the parlors of the rreenwood club. The matters dis ussed were more particularly in re. ard to negotiatinns with a prominent eal estate firm of Philadelphia, wY vrote the chamber of commeree in egard to the establishing of a new otton mill in. this city. The parties nquiring want to know what induce ents Greenwood offers for such en erprises, and the people of the city vith their usual energy are taking ae ive steps towards securing it if it is o be gotten. The city offers many advantages or such enterprises, and it is not tnlikely that if a new mill is placed nywhere in this section it will be at lreenwood. THE NEAL SHOALS LINE loles Are Now Up Por Several Miles and Wires Will Soon be Strang... Union, Special -In, but a short vhile the electric line eonneeting Un on with Neals Shoals. will be com deted. The poles are already up for everal miles this side of Neal's ;hoals, and the holes have been dug s far as the Union cotten miHs, and he force of workmen will rush the ther poles up in short order, then he stringing of the heavy wire will egin. The power house at Neal's hoals is being gotten in- shapd, and y the time that everything is eorn leted about the dain, it should be eady to begin operations, then the ower that will operate the mills here, eside which, it is hoped, will furnish urrent for other enterprises,. will be n TAX SAID' TO BE TOO HIGE. ;harleston Oyster Canming Comnpany May Suspend Business. Columbia, Special. - Accord ng to a complaint received by At orney General Gunter from the harleston Canning company the Ii ense or tax placed upon oysters is oo high and the company is. practical y forced. out of business. The law 'equires a tax of three cents a bushel f oysters and an annual tax of $40% n the factory in addition to the arge license. As a bushel of oysters nly produce about two quarts of oys ers shelled, it can be seen that much f the profit is taken a-way.. The mat er, however, will have to be settled y the county board of commission rs of Charleston,. as it is not one or the attorney generaL Success After Many Raids.. Greenville,. SpeciaX-Chief Consta >le Hall. with four men, discovered .moonshine distillery in a cave on ~he Reedy river four miles from Ireenville. The stBil had been in op ~ration for years and was owned by t man named McCarter. McCarter ilso owned a grist mill nearby. The Iue which carried the smoke was run mnder-ground to. his dwelling and then ip the chimney,. thus making it al nost impossible of detection. The lace had often been raided but noth .n was ever found. The officers re 3eived a straight tip and MeCarter isappeared. ,, Aaron Willams Free. Camden, Special.-Aaron Williams, rho was last year convieted of rape nd sentenced to dcath has been ae guitted at the new trial granted him. The State witnesses refused to tes tify at the second trial. It was be lieved from the outset that Williams was innoeent of the charge. Only Two Acquitted.9 Lanrens, Special.-The summer term of the court of general sessions was adjourned last Wednesday. An unusually heavy docket was disposed of and it is a fact of much comnienti that out of the 18 or 20 cases tried only two got off with an acquittal. Ten negroes were tried on the charge ofmurder. Two of these were con vietedl of murder with a mercy ree ommendation while the rest were gir en verdiets of manslaughter. Sold 750 Bales. Piekens, Special.-TheC largest tot of cotton ever sold by a planter in Pickens county was sold a few days ago by 3Mr. .J. Samauel Wilson to Hecath-Brrce-Morrow comp)any of Piekeus. MIr. Wilson sold 750 bales, a port ion o f t wo erops. The lot brouint 10 1-2 eents rournd, aggregat in uc-rv $4E.000.