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JURY SAYS BECKER INSTIGATED GRIME MX-POLICE LIEUTENANT AGAIN ADJUDGED RESPONSIBLE FOR GUNMEN'S WORK. MAY DIE IN ELECTRIC CHAIR Prisoner Now Faces Death Unless He is Pardoned, or the Court Interferes. New York.?Twelve men decided lor the second time that Charles Becker was the arch-conspirator Re sponsible for the Rosenthal murder, which nearly two years ago awoke New York to a realization of corrup tion in the police department and opened a new era of police reform. Becker, one a police lieutenant, was found guilty of murder in the first degree. Only a pardon or inter ference again by the Court of Ap peals can save him from following to the eelctric chair the fouT gun men who shot Herbert Rosenthal, the gambler, early on the morning of July 16, 1912. The jury decided that the gunmen were Becker's agents. One ballot decided Becker's fate. It was taken almost immediately af ter the jurors returned from luncheon at an uptown hotel where they went when Supreme Court Justice Samuel Seabury had finished his charge. It was unanimous for conviction. Tears streamed down the foreman's face as he announced the decision and tears c+r\nA in avac nf covorol Vi or OIUVU XJH IU^ tj ug WJL OWT V1U1 VbilUl jurymen. They had agreed that the corroboration which the District At torney failed to present at the first trial to support the stories of Rose, Vallon and Webber, the three accom plices who turned informers, had been furnished by new witnesses at the eecond. Beckers counsel announced that he would appeal and gained a week's stay for the preparation of his future campaign. The defendant was grant id a short meeting with his wife and his brothers and then was taken back to his cell in the Tombs. Becker and his wife were talking shortly before 5 o'clock in a room adjoining the sheriff's office when a court attendant announced that the Jury had reached a verdict. Mrs. Becker was not permitted to accom pany her husband to the court room. Newspaper men, court attendants, counsel for the defense and District Attorney Whitman and his staff were the only other persons allowed admis sion. The defendant's two brothers, Jackson and John Becker, the latter a detective lieutenant, hurried to a side entrance where they stood await ing the verdict. PUSH ANTI-TRUST MEASURE. The Administration's Program is Started on Way in House Now. Washington. ? The administration anti-trust program was definitely start ed on its way to the statute books when the house, with legislative ma chinery working under forced draft, completed consideration of the Coving ton trade commission bill, and laid , b< that measure aside for final passage. ' fc The final vote on the bill will be 4 taken after the house has considered j ti the Clayton anti-trust bill which was si taken up immediately and the admin- ts lstration railroad securities bill. ; b< House leaders count on having all sj three measures out of the way and up to the Senate within three weeks. ti d< Objects to Government Ownership, al Washington. Representative Monta- ol gue of Virginia in a speech on the p: question of classifying corporations H and requiring a uniform system of ac- bi counts, as part of the interstate trade n; commission worH declared that arbi- bi trary requirements of uniform account ing was likely to cause "confusion worst confounded." "I look upon ef forts to project the- power cf this Nation into the individual accounting of corporations in our several states," he said, "as one of the most imperial istic steps that this nation could pos sibly take. You would perilize the bus iness of the nation. You would peril ize the initiative of business." Cost of Living Effects Preachers. Kansas City, Mo.?The effect of the high cost of living on home missions was pointed out in the annual report of the executive committee of home missions, presented to the fourth gen eral assembly of the Southern Pres byterian church here. It was assert ed that where a missionary could live for $800 a yeal^n years ago it now costs him more tmn $1,200. For lack of funds ihe committee has on its hands 250 lionjfeloss churches and at least 275 other places where or- I \ ganizations might be effected. t( Sick Men at Vera Cruz. Washington.?General Funston re ported to the war department that the i ^ sick rate among the soldiers at Vera I Cruz Is 1.49 per cent and among ma- | ^ rines 1.46. There are 41 soldiers in I j( the hospital and 19 in their quarters, j n while among the marines the sick | ^ total 45. The general said that there q was no malaria in the camp. Tho j, war department, upon General Fun- {) Eton's request, is preparing to send to ? Vera Cruz apparatus and chemicals 1 sufficient to render water portable for | the soldiers. i Panama Locks Safe. Washington.?The great steel locks In the Panama are as strong and as s safe as engineering skill can make j, them and there is not the slightest s danger to life and property in their s use notwithstanding the disclosure of 0 attempted fraud in the supply of prop- ^ er metal for their construction. This R statement was made at the Isthmiar v Canai offices when attention was call- t ed to criminal presentments found by c the grand jury in Pittsburg against s five steel makers on a charge of at- f, tempting to furnis Inferior material. [ ROBERT TAFT Robert Taft, elder son of the former resident, Is soon to marry Miss Mar ia Bowers, daughter of the late So ^ i i i I u. icuor ucnorai i_ioyu t?. duhviini 'aft Is a graduate of Yala and the larvard law school and Is a practising ttorney In Cincinnati. IF IT IS NECESSARY UTHORIZES HIS DELEGATES TO SUBMIT RESIGNATION IF FOUND BEST. VHO WILL BE SUCCESSOR? luerta's Move Not Surprise in Wash ington but Causes Speculation as to Who Will Succeed Him. Washington.?General Huerta has uthorized the Mexican mediation del gates to submit his resignation in ase such a course is necessary to a ettlement in peace negotiations. This as stated positively in dispatches om a thoroughly competent diplo tatic source in Mexico City to one of le foreign representatives here and anfirms intimations given by friends L the delegates here. According to this information from [exico City Huerta at first author ed the delegates to discuss only the uestion of the Tampico conflict lcad ig to the American occupation of era Cruz. Later the Mexican dicta >r, it is explained, came to recog ize the necessity of a broader set ement and then convened to the del gates assurances that he was pre ared to step dowp should this course e found necessary by them. The problem causing chief concern > diplomats in Mexico City now is lat of the form of administration to a established during the interim be ire a constitutionally elected presi ent could assume office. No intima ons concerning the name of a poe ble successor to Huerta were con Lined in the dispatch, this subject sing one in which it would be neces iry to consult opinion of constitu onalist and other leaders in Mexico. The information that the Mexican elegafes had been given provision [ authority to submit the resignation C Huerta did not occasion great sur rise here as close friends of the uerta government's commission roadly intimated that definite elimi ation of the dictator probably would b one of the first fruits of the Niag ra Falls conference. Four Starving Sailors Rescued. Boston.?Four survivors of a boat ad of 15 who escaped in the third oat of the freight steamer Colum ian, burned at sea May 3, were pick i up by the United States revenue utter Seneca 40 miles south of Sable (land, according to a dispatch receiv I here from the cutter. The dispatch of Captain Johnston t the Seneca follows: "Ten a. m., 40 miles south Sable >land rescued lifeboat with officer obert Teire, Sailors Kendall, Blang r, Fireman Michael Ludwigsen, sur ivors of 15. Oiler George Hull died ?nth. Peter Triel today. Others be tveen. All died exposure and hun er. Short allowance biscuit and wa er. Eating biscuit crumbs and boot ;ather when rescued. Saw three teamers first two days, none since, [uch rain. Fine today. All under doc >r doing well." Virginia Man Killed. Charlotte.?Dillard Hooker, a young 'hite man, aged 21 years, of Suffolk, 'a., was shot and killed at 5:30 p. m. y H. O. Williams, a farmer of Cbar )tie township, the shooting taking lace at Williams' home. Williams ired five times at Hooker, four of the ve balls taking effect in Hooker's ody. One ball pierced his left lung, ne his right thight, one his left fore rm, one grooved his hight thight. The killing, it is said, was the re ult of a trivial argument in which looker ordered Williams from house. Comment on Marshal's Speech. Washington. ? Vice-Pres'" snt Mar hall's declaration that one of Amer ica's ills "is that thfre Ik too much cif-nce In the so-cjilled educational ystein and too little God Almighty" ccasioned comment in Washington, 'hf statement wjis nnrio at a church atherins here. "There is tills thing rrontc in many of the churches," said he vice president. "that because hurch and st^rn are separate and the tate makes th?- schools tlie church eels itself absolved from any duty n tlxe education of youth." MELLEN SUGGESTS FEDERAL CONTROL FORMER RAILROAD PRESIDENT SAYS GOVERNMENT REGULA TION IS SOLUTION. "MONOPOLY MUST COME" "For Economy and Efficiency There Should be One," Says Mellen to Councilor Folk. Washington?An absolute monopoly of transportation under government regulations and control, was suggest ed by Charles S. Mellen, former presi dent of the New Haven Railroad, to 1 the Interstate Commerce Commission, as a solution of the American rail road problem. "To get efficiency and economy," Mr. Mellen said, "there must be a monopoly and this monop oly is certain to be the United States Government." A moment later Mr. Mellen remark ed "every time a railroad official comes to Washington he has to take off his hat to some government of- : ficial." Mr. Mellen appeared to have recov ered entirely from his fatigue when he appeared before the commission to resume his testimony. He respond- ( ed to questions fired at him by Chief uounsei josepn jpoik prompuy, never hesitating a second for a word. He told at length the story of his steam ship transactions with Charles W. Morse. Concerning these Mr. Mellen explained he felt it desirable to confer with Colonel Roosevelt, then Presi dent of the United States. He told the President he had received an offer of $20,000,000 from Morse for the New Haven steamship holdings and felt in clined to accept it, because, thus the New Haven would be able to turn the property irto cash. Mr. Roosevelt, he said, apparently was nnvinnn that Mnrsft should be checked in his ambition to acquire a monopoly of steamship lines and urged Mr. Mellen not to sell. Mr. Mellen said at that time he was apprehensive of the enactment of a law by Congress to prevent railroads from owning or controlling water 1 lines, but he was assured by Mr. Roosevelt, that so long as the law re- 1 mained as it then was, the New Haven need have no fear about its water line holdings. < As to the acquisition of New Eng land trolley lines, Mr. Mellen said he : proceeded on the theory that trans portation might better be handled on , electric lines than on steam roads. He had been convinced that the diver sion of much of the traffic of steam roads to electric lines would be more , economical, rates lower, and service generally more satisfactory to the . REBELS STILL ADVANCING. t Having Occupied Tepic, They Now Move on Guadalajara. On board U. S. S. California, Mazat lan, Mexico.?(Via Wireless to San Diego, Ca.?An army of 5,000 Consti tutionalists having accupied Tepic with a loss of 400 killed and an un known number of casulties among the Federals has begun its advance on Guadalajara. In advance of the mov ing troops, a flying squadron of cav alry is working destruction to the Huertoa lines of communication, its main object being the crippling of the railroad from Manzanillo to Guadala jara. The capture of Tepic was accom plished after a bloody struggle. Al though the losses of the Federals are uncertain it is known 200 were taken prisoners. Mazatlan Is in a state of panic. The rebels are closing in the the terror of their approach is augmented by the presence in the ranks of 700 Indians in war paint, whose excesses in the event of the city's fall it is feared the leaders will be unable to curb. More dismal to the contemplation of the average citizen is the prospect ; of the sacking of the city by the Fed- , erals' when they are farced to retreat, as seems inevitable. It is the general belief that they will not give up Mazatian to General Obregon without first wrecking the. city. Mediation Outlook Bright. Niagara Falls, Ont.?Before attempt ing in any way to deal with the Con stitutionalists forces in Mexico, the three South American mediators let it be known that they are content to pro ceed to a bi-partite agreement be tween the United States and the Huerta Government. The mediators have not regarded the absence of del egates representing General Carranza as a serious detriment to their efforts to settle questions which led to the landing of American forces at Vera Cruz. Use Confiscated Cotton. Juarzez, Mexico.?The cotton con fiscated by the Constitutionalists after 1 the battle of Torreon will be manu factured into cotton cloth in the Mexi I can mills and disposed of instead of i ! >iain?T cnlrl in tliP rau? stjlfp. 5f flip I I ?"? ? ? ?' -I plans of the rebels are brought to ] completion. The Spanish refugees : from whom the cotton was confiscated have procured an injunction from the i United States Courts preventing the : shipment of the cotton throuph the United States. An effort to arrange a compromise failed. House of Commons Disorderly. London.?The sitting of the House of Commons was suspended in con- I | sequence of the persistent disorder- ! i liness of the opposition members who I thus succeeded in forcing an. adjourn- ' | ment, the motion for which had just I i been defeated to 176. The scene . in the House followed a series of bit- i ; ter speeches by Andrew IlonaT Law 1 and other Unionists in which they de nounced Premier Asouith for his re- | ' : fusal to fu-nnaint the House of Com- j | mons with the terms of liis amending: |' 1 bill to the Irish home rule bill. J i Mrs. Thlstlewalte Is the bride of th? secretary to Vlce-Preeident MarshaJi. COLORADO REM FOR THE FUTURE STATE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZE ISSUANCE OF BONDS FOR EX PENSE OF MILITIA. TO END THE STRIKE TROUBLE Difficulties Will Be Taken Care of in the Future Without the Necessity of Federal Aid. Denver, Col.?Despite ttie fact that President Wilson asked for action the Colorad > Legislature was on the point of adjourning. Governor Ammons in a message to the President said that as soon as bonds, opposed by the Assembly, could be authorized the Legislature would adjourn. President Wilson warned Governor Ammons that the state of Colorado must be prepared to maintain peace tn the coal miners strike districts without Federal aid. The President said Federal troops would remain In Che troubled district "only until the state of Colorado has time and op portunity to resume complete sover eignty and control." "I cannot conceive that that statg is willing to fc igo her sovereignty or to throw hi .self entirely on the Government of the United States," said President Wilson. In response Governor Ammons tel egraphed the President that an extra session of the Legislature, just ad journed, had provided a $1,000,000 bond issue to cover past and future expenses of the state militia. The Governor expressed confidence that as soon as these funds are available the state will be abl? to control the situation. "The Colorado mine districts have been under virtual martial law for months. Previous to the arrival of Federal troops three weeks ago the miners were guarded by the state militia. After the militia and strik ers participated in a battle at Ludlow on April 20 when 21 were killed and after other serious conflicts the militia was replaced . by Federal troops. Of the $1,000,000 provided by the bond issue referred to by Governor Ammons, $591,000 has been spent in past expenses of the militia. I MEXICAN GUNBOAT SUNK. Admiral Mayo Reported Vessel Went to Bottom of Panuco River. Washington.?Admiral Mayo report ed that the Mexican Federal gunbot Vera Cruz previously reported .to have been abandoned, was sunk in the Panuco River at Tamos. Admiral Craddock commander of the British naval forces at Tampico, call ed upon General Gonzales command er of the Constitutionalist troops. Admiral Mayo said he had arranged to call but with the understanding that the visit would be informal. The American admiral added that business of the port of Tampico is being resumed slowly. Two oil ships cleared. No banks are open and money is extremely scarce. Rear Admiral Badger reported from Vera Cruz that the cruiser Chester liad sailed for Puerto Mexico to join the three other American war vessels there. . "There Ain't No Such Animal." ill me mieieai ui a let! nxiu gii/w ing class, vital to the humor of the community, newspapers must stoj talking about a "fool-proof biplane.' 'There ain't no such animal," and fools who are not reckless will gtiL kee their feet on the ground.- V 1 I.V Reserve Bank Representatives Meet. Washington. ? Representatives of the five member banks in each of the 12 Federal reserve bank districts met in their respective reserve' cities to prepare certificates of organization of. the reserve banks. Certificates of or-1 ionization were to be forwarded j promptly to Washington. They will j be handled by the Reserve Bank Or- j p-nnW.ntinn nendine the I announcement of the Federal Reserve Board. It may be 10 days or two weeks before the President names the Reserve Board. Goethals Given More Authority. Washington.?Widest authority Jn the punishment of offenses against the law in the Canal Zone has been con ferred upon Colonel Goethals by Pres ident Wilson. In an executive order I the Governor of the Panama Canal | Zone is empowered to grant pardons j and reprieves for offenses against the ! law* and regulations and to commute i sentences and roinit fines. He also | ciiay establish a parolo system and I prescribe regulations for the employ-; .lent of the prisoners in the penal in- : stitution in the Zone. | PART OF FLEET MAY BE BROUGHT BACK BRYAN CONFERS WITH DIPLO MATS OVER TAMPICO OIL CONDITIONS. NO NEWS OF THE CONSUL Fate of Consul Silliman at Satillo Remains Unknown?No Reply Regarding Parks. Washington.?The general slacken ing of tension in the Mexican situa U.J i- nf lion resulted ui tuts uuusiucianuu ai the Navy Department of plans to withdraw a part of the fleet on the east coast of Mexico. Acting Secre tary Roosevelt said he hoped within a week to have four battleships, five destroyers and a tender on the way north. Another important development of the day was a conference called by Secretary Bryan with British Ambas sador Spring-Rice and Minister Van Raphard of The Netherlands to con sider conditions in the Tampico oil fields. Protests, it was reported, had been received from oil operators that Federal officials had negotiated trans fers of the American leases to British and Dutch oil men. Some protests that British and Dutch holders might suffer since the Constitutionalists as- | sumed control followed. An under standing was reached that transfers made during the ;Siege of Tampico WUUiU I1UL UC IC^UgilliiCU. Secretary Brayn said the state de partment had no advices of any ef fort to collect contributions from for eigners in Tampico. No official information was forth coming in the case of Private Samuel ' Parks. The state department is still I without reply to the note in which Jt j demanded information about Parks j and characterized his reported exe- i cution as "a hostile and uhfriendly act." The war department, however, re ceived a copy of an affidavit made by A. W. Bland, in which he repeated a story told him by an alleged eye witness of Parks' death. The affidavit set3 forth that Parks was shot to death by firing spad on order of a ' Mexican commander. Bland Said the name of the eye-witness must not be revealed because he would be killed if it were known he' had given the information. BECKER WILL NOT TESTIFY. "Dago Frank" Confession Not Admit ted as Evidence. New York.?Charles Becker will not ; be benflted by the confession alleged to have been made by "Dago Frank" Ciroflcl shortly before the gunman was executed at Sing Sing prison for his part in carrying out the plot to murder Herman Rosenthal. "Dago Frank" in the so-called confession, was quoted as saying he never had heard the name of Becker mentioned in connection "with the conspiracy that resulted in the killing of the gambler. Justice Seabury refused to admit testimony concerning the alleg ed confession into the record at Beck er's trail. . j Martin M. Manton, chief counsel for Becker, announced positively that Becker would not take the stand in his own behalf. Great Tunnel Complete. Spartanburg, S. C.?Sandy Ridge Mountain, near Dante, Va., the last great barrier in the construction of the Elkhorn extension of the Caro- j lina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railway, was j pierced, according to a message re-! ceived from there. In the bowels of the arth, 1,500 feet below the surface, the two ends of the tunnel, which had been started simultaneously from both sides of the mountain, were join ed. So accurate were the engineers' calculations that it was' necessary to deviate scarcely a hairsbreadth from the course surveyed to form the junc tion. The tunnel, more than 8,000 feet long, has been bored through solid rock. Work has been under way day , and night almost constantly since June 1, 1912. At times the progress has been slow, but when the greatest expedition has been made about 125 cars of rock have been removed daily. Assembly in Session. Wagoner, Okla.?The Rev. F. A. Brown of Marlow, Okla, was elected moderator and the 84th general as sembly of the Cumberland Presby terian church formally organized here. Addresses welcoming the delegates to "Wagoner were delivered. Mr. Brown succeeded the Rev. J. H. Milholland of Charleston, 111., as mod erator. The woman's board of, foreign missions convened with 150 delegates representing 13 states in attendance. Has Not Offered to Resign. Mexico City.?Provisional President Huerta, in the course of an interview, said: "The Mexican peace delegates have no instructions to offer my re signation at the conference at Niagara Falls." The president spoke with energy, standing erect and emphasiz ed his words with a characteristic gesture. Prior to this the actiong minister of foreign affairs Esteva Ruiz, had declared that the Mexican representatives had been given "ample powers" by the government. Suffragettes Start Fire. Aldershot, England.?A great brush Are, declared by the authorities to have been the work of militant suffra gettes, encircled the royal pavilion in Lon Valley where King George and Queen Mary are in residence in the center of a great army of Hritish troops. Several battalions of infantry and regiments of cavalry subdued the flames. As their majesties left the royal pavilion two women dashed in front of their carriage waving a ban ner with the words "voltes for women." EVANS IS CHAIRMAN sVILIE JONES ELECTED TREAS URER AND CHRISTIE BENET IS SECRETARY. PLANS FOR THE CAMPAIGN State and Senatorial Parties Begin Their Tours June 17th at Sumter and Saint Matthews. Columbia.?Immediately after the convention adjourned, the state Dem ocratic executive committee met, with John Gary Evans of Spartanburg, re elected chairman, presiding. Alan Johnstone, of Newberry, was nomina ted for vice chairman, but declined. W. F. Stevenson, of Chesterfield, was then elected vice chairman. Wille Jones of Columbia was elected treas urer. Christie Benet, of Columbia, was unanimously elected secretary. A committee was appointed to take up the matter of campaign itineraries and assessments. C. M. Eflrd of Lex ington, T. F. Watkins of Anderson, Thos. G. McLeod and S. H. McGhee were appointed members of this com mittee. A committee was appointed to pro vide the form of the new club rolls. N. Christensen, Wilie Jones and Christie Benet were appointed on this commit tee. It was provided that a majority of the state executive committee should constitute a quorum. The campaign for state officers will begin at Sumter, June 17. The senatorial campaign will begin at St. Matthews June 17. Following assessments for candi dates were fixed by the committee: United States senate, $300; national h<5use of representatives, $250; gov ernor, 5100; railroad commissioner, $75; all other state offices, including solicitors, $50. The assessments must be paid to Wilie Jones, treasurer, by noon of June 16. The time for filing pledges with the state chairman will close June 16 at noon. FOR RESERVE BANK. Columbia Representative Joins In Or ganization at Richmond. Richmond, Va.?Representatives of the Merchants-Mechanics' National Bank of Baltimore, Md.; Murchison National Bank of Wilmington, N. C., Palmetto National Bank of Columbia, claimed vicitims, and there are at Va., and the Citizens' National Ban^c of Charleston, W. Va., met here and began the organization of the federal ,reserve bank of Richmond for the ...... ! rnui uisinuL in me new currency sys tem. Melton C. Elliott, secretary of the federal organization committee, made an address. Two hundred and fifty delegates from member banks were present and in the evening there was a banquet at which Congressman Carter Glass, Governor Henry C. Stuart and others spoke. Waccamaw River Dredged. Washington?Representative Hangs dale was notified that the war depart ment had accepted the bid of tye Hillsboro Dredging company of Tain pa, Fla., for dredging the Waccamaw river, which will hereafter allow 12 feet of water in this river for naviga tion instead of six feet. Mr. Ragsdale is well pleased that the bid has been accepted for a chan nel 12 feet deep instead of one of six feet. It means much to the people who use the Waccamaw for navigation purposes, he says, and will undoubt edly do much toward stimulating commerce in that section of the state. The river and harbor bill will take caTe of the ihatter hereafter, Mr. Ragsdale also said, and the fact that a bid has been already accepted puts the matter in good shape. Insurance Men Adjourn. sumter.?urowaing iwo aays' worn .into one the convention of the South Carolina I'nderwriters' Association adjourned a few minutes after mid night. Not as uiany delegates at tended as had been looked for, but between 60 and 70 were present Commends Choice of Coker. Columbia.?"South Carolina is to be congratulated on the selection of David R. Coker of Hartsville as a Class B director of the district reserve bank," said J. Pope Mattfiews of Columbia. "The state will be ably represented on the board of directors by Mr. Coker l and received all that it could expect by geeting a Class B director." Mr. Matthews, representing the Palmetto National bank of Columbia, was one of the five bankers who met in Rich mond to execute organization certt ficates. Group t banKers meet. Newberry. ? The convention of Croup 2 of the South Carolina Bank ers' association was held in the audi torium of the high school building. There were 42 delegates present. The welcome address was made by Mayor Z. F. Wright an dthe response by Dr. George Y. Hunter, president of the Bank of Prosperity. Set addresses were made by John W. Simpson of Spartanburg and C. H. Yates of Cam den, and after these there were short talks and discussions by members of the group. Sandy Ridge Tunnel Complete. Spartanburg.?Word has been re ceived in SpaTtanburg that the last obstruction in the Sandy Ridge tunnel, connecting the east with the Elkhorn extension of the Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio railway, was removed when he ridge of rock midway in the tun nel was blown away. The work on excavating the 8,000 foot tunnel was started about two years ago, and it lad to be bored through almost solid rock. The Sandy Ridge tunnel is S, 000 feet long and i? 1,500 feet under the mountain. JOHN GARY EVANS WILIE JONES ELECTED TREAS URER AND CHRISTIE BENET IS SECRETARY. I ? ^ Dl IUC CAD TUC r.AMPAIfiM r LASltJ I Vll i lib wn State and Senatorial Parties Begin Theirv Tours June 17th at Sumter and Saint Matthews. Columbia?Immediately after the convention adjourned, the state Dem ocratic executive committee met, with John Gary Evans of Spartanburg,, re elected chairman, presiding. Alaa Johnstone, of Newberry, was nomina ted for vice chairman, but declined. W. F. Stevenson, of Chesterfield, was hen elected vice chairman. Wilie Jones of Columbia was elected treas urer. Christie Benet, of Columbia, was unanimously elected secretary. A committee was appointed td take up the matter of campaign itineraries and assessments. C. M. Efird of Lex ington, T. F. Watkins of Anderson, Thos. G-. McLeod and S. H. McGhee v were appointed members of this com mittee. x A committee was appointed to pro- : vide the* form of the new club rolls. N. Christensen, WiHe Jones and Christie Benet 'were appointed on this commit tee. \ * It was provided that a majority of ; the state executive committee should constitute a quorum. The campaign for state officers will begin at Sumter, June 17. The senatorial campaign will begin at St. Matthews June 17. Following assessments for candi- . dates were fixed by the comttittee: ?t ? United 'states senate, $300; national . house of representatives, $250; gov ernor, $100; railroad commissioner, $75: all other state offices, including solicitors, $50. The assessments must be paid tq Wilie Jones, treasurer, by noon of , June 16. The time for filing pledges _ tr't1! t^e state chairman will close June 16 at noon. COLUMBIA SUBURB FIRE SWEPT* Numerous Wooden Buildings Are Burned in Brookland. Columbia.?Fire which" is thought to have orginated in the rear of a one story frame house occupied by Mrs. Sallie Garrett about 11:30 o'clock' irt the morning destroyed 15 or 16 other wooden houses and stores and dam- r aged two or three others on the north ana bouiq biucb ul vrervaio outxi, > ' Brookland, about two blocks west of > the Gervais street bridge. The loss. will reach between $15,000 and $20,- : 000, it is thought, partly covered by ' insurance. . , ;-'H With a stiff wind blowing the flr? spread rapidly, jumping from the north to the south side of the street. The flames were soon beyond the con trol of the Columbia mills volunteer fire department, under J. B. M!mer chief. A call for help was sent to the Columbia Are department and sev eral companies went across the river. The situation was an alarming one. The water main which runs across the bed of the river to Brookland burst and all pressure was cut off. The big Robinson motor engine and a steamer from the Columbia department pump- ' ed water from the swimmine doo! in the grove on the south side of Gervais street The best part of the water In this pool was pumped out in checking g the flames and if the water had given . out the entire town of Brookiand might have been destroyed. As it > was, the loss would have been much greater if the wind had been blowing west instead of southeast. Insurance Men Adjourn. Sumter.?Crowding two days' work into one the convention of the South Carolina Underwriters' Association 1 adjourned a few minutes after mid- ;V night. Not as many delegates at tended' as had been looked for, but between 60 and 70 were present. "Captain Billy" Smith Dead. Anderson.?William Gaston Smith, veteran railway conductor of 54 years of continuous service with the South ern railway, known affectionately a& "Capt. Billy" Smith by thousands of persons all over the country, died at his home in this city at the age of 75 years. Capt. Billy Smith had been con nnea to his bed for four months; no organic trouble, but just gradually wearing away. Late the day before he suffered a sudden collapse and be came unconscious. He recovered con sciousness the moment before he died. New'Train Put On. Florence.?Officials of Carolina. At lantic & Western announce that they will give a booster train to George town over the new road on Tuesday, June 2. Indications are that a big crowd will meet the booster train at all stations and the Georgetown cham ber of commerce will entertain the party in the seaside city. The road will be opened after that date, Flor ence to be put on for regular double daily service. Jumps From Buggy to Death. Aiken?Jumping from a buggy when, the horse her husband was driving be came frightened and ran away, Mrs. Lonnie Redd, who lives near Aiken, was instantly killed. Her head struck the ground and her neck was broken. Mrs. Redd had been to Aiken with her husband and when their shopping was done they started to return home. Just below the city they passed a friend in another buggy and playfully Mr. Redd struck at. him with the bugsy whip frightening his horse which ran away.