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Abbeville Press and Banner Established 1844 $1.50 the Year ' ABBEVILLE, S. C., Wednesday, March 7,1917 Single Copies, Five Gents 76th Year ,| - PUN!! SPECIAL SESSION SOON - > President Informs Country He May Be Without Power to Arm Mery - - chant Ship*. X f ' Washington, March 4.?President Wilson tonight informed the country in a statement that he may be without power to arm merchant ships and take other steps to meet the German submarine menace, in the absence of authority from Congress. - An extra session of Congress, the ' i President says, may be required to clothe him with authority, but it is v useless to call one whole the Senate works under the present rules, which permit a small minority to keep an overwhelming majority from acting. The President proposes, therefore that the special session of the Senate which he has called to meet tomorrow. revise the rules "o supply the means of action nad save the country from disaster." "A little group of wilful men," says the President in his statement, "representing no opinion but thenown, have rendered the great government of the United States helpless and contemptible." President's Statement. The President's statement in full follows: "The termination of the last session of the Sixty-fourth Congress by constitutional limitation discloses a situation unparalleled in the history - of any, modern government. In the immediate presence of a crisis fraught with more subtle and farreaching possibilities of national danger than any other the government has known within the whole history of its international relations, the Congress has been unable' to act either to safeguard the country or to cindicate the elementary rights of its citizens. More than live hundred and thirty-one members of the two housese were ready and anxious to act; the House of Representjatives had acted, by an overwhelming majority; but the Senate was unable to act because a little group of eleven Senators had determined that it should not / "The Senate has no rules by > which debate can be limited or brought to an end, no rules by which dilatory tactics of any kind can be prevented. A single member can Sjtand in the way of action if he have but the physical endurance. The result in this case is a complete paralysis alike of the legislative and executive branches of the government. y 1 g9 - - _ * ? uhimi otsnou* i rouDie. "This inability of the Senate to act has rendered some of the most necessary legislation of the session impossible, at a time when the need for it was most pressing and most evident. The bill which would have permitted such combinations of capital and of organization in the export and import trade of the country as the circumstances of international competition have made imperative?a bill which the business judgment of the whole country approved and demanded?has failed. The opposition of one or two Senators has made it impossible to increase the membership of the Interstate Coipmerce Commission or to give it the altered organization nec? essary for its efficiency. The con' servation bill, which should have released for immediate use the mineral resources which are still locked up in the public lands, now that their release is more imperatively necessary than ever, and the bill which would have made the unused i water power of the country immediately available for industry, have both failed, though they have been under consideration throughout the sessions of two Congresses and have been twice passed by the House of Representatives. t Appropriation* Needed. "The appropriations for the army have failed, along with the appropriations for the civil establishment of the government, the appropriations for the Military Academy at West Point, and the general deficiency bill. It has proved impossible to extend the powers of the Shipping Board to meet the special needs of (Continueud on Page 4.) wilson begins i second i ' Note of Patriotic Ferror Predominated Through Proceedings of Day. Washington, March 5.?President Wilson and Vice-President Marshall were inaugurated for their second term today with a great patriotic demonstration of Americanism. The solemn dignity of the ceremonies of inaugurating the vice-president in the senate chamber and the simple bat impressive ceremony in the open air on the plaza before the capitol when the president delivered his inaugural address, were accentuated by the note of patriotic fervor which predominated through all the proceedings of the day. First democratic president to succeed himself since Jackson and tenth to be re-elected, President Wilson entered his second term of office with a new consecration to the service of his country. Itwas the president's wish that his inauguration should be a simple one and all . through the fixed program which covered more than five hours, while there was the pomp, ceremony and spectacular display which inevitably attaches to the inauguration of a president, the studied effort was to keep the ceremonies in accord . with the best traditions of America ?ceremonies which in the main were planned by George Washington more than a century ago. Event Simplified. The event was simnlified because there was no dual ceremony to attend the departure of an outgoing president and further simplified because it did not fall in with the rush and confusion of the dying hours of congress. : The ceremony began* w^th the president's departure from the White House for the capitol. That was fixed by program for 11 6'clock. Just before that time the escorts for the party began assembling, a squadron of the Second United States cavalry 1 for the president and the black horse troop of Culver Military academy for the vice president. Just before the hour of .'departure the. congressional committee in charge of the inauguration arrangements arrived. President Wilson, accompanied by Mrs. Wilson and two members of the congressional inaugural committee, i rode in a conveyance surrounded by troops of the escort. In the second ( conveyance came the vice president ana mrs. jaarsnan surrounaea oytne Culver troops. The third conveyance brought Robert N. Harper, chairman of the local arpngements committee and the remaining membersj of the congressional committee. Steel cables strung along the line of march held a multitude from crowding into the avenue. Reviewing stands were well filled for the wait of some two hours before the presidential party would return at the head of the inaugural procession. DEMAND FOR FORD CARS CONTINUES TO INCREASE The L. W. White company, sole agents in Abbeville for the Ford Motor company, has received a special notice from the factory to the effect that after a certain date in the near future they will not be allowed to carry cars in stock. They must have bona fide orders for every car shipped them. The circular points out that this action is made necessary by the constantly increasing demand for Ford cars all over the country, and in spite of the j enormous increase in production of tms wen Known car, tne lactones are barely able to meet the demand and therefore have no cars for dealers to store away for future sale. So far as the L. W. White com- ( pany is concerned the new order will' have very little effect as only once or twice since it assumed the Ford agency nearly a year ago has it had cars on hand that were unsold. However, those who plan to ride in a Ford this summer, will do , mighty well to talk this matter over i with the 'Abbeville Ford agents right ! away. Otherwise they may be dis- ; appointed. 1 BRITISH IN FRANCE GAIN MORE GROUND The Germans Over * Front of Two Miles Fall Back 1,200 YardsFrench Line Penetrated. > ?i- a1? n_:u.L I ? j Again uiu onusa uave ?u*auwu their front on the right and left wings on the Somme and Aher^/regions of France. On the left flank, east of Gommecourt, the Germans gave ap ground over a front of two miles to an average depth of 1,200 yards, while on the right flank, east of Bouchavesness an attack gave the British terrain on a front of 1,200 yards and 173 prisoners, according to the London war office. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Germans in several counter-attacks. The recent ceding of ground by the Germans in the Ancre and Somme regions evidently was not carried out for strategic reasons, but* of necessity, according to staff correspondent of the Associated Press. A visit to various points of the line showed that the guns of the British had torn up trenches and communication trenches and searched out thoroughly the ground on a wide area behind the German line, where many hundreds of dead were later found. In the Meuse district the Germans north of Eix, in an attack preceded by a heavy bombardment, succeeded in entering French trenches, bu? were driven out in a counter-attack. Reciprocal bombardments, especially severe east of the Meuse in the Bois Caurieres sector, have taken place. * On Eastern Fronts. Along the Russian front and in Rumania .no, fighting of moment is taking place. In the A astro-Italian theatre an Austrian attempt to storm Italian positions east of Gorizia was frustrated, according to Rome. Minor infantry operations and artillery duels continue on the other sectors of the front. With the important town of Hamadan already in their possession the Russians. are keeping up their offensive against the Turks in Persia. Eighty miles northwest of Hamadan they have captured the villages of Bijar and Khanikali. The loss of a British torpedo boat destroyer with all hands is reported by the British admiralty. The vessel went down .in the North sea and is believed to have struck a mine. Berlin in a statement regarding vessels sunk by submarines, mentions the sending to the bottom in the Mediterranean of an armed transport steamer of 84,494 tons. It is added that some of the troops on board were lost. The largest vessel previously sunk was the steamer Lusitania, of 30,896 tons. A Cabinet crisis has arisen in China owing to the President having refused to approve the decision of the Cabinet that Cina should follow the United States and sever relations with Germany. DEATH OF D. BOYCE ELLIS. David Boyce Ellis died at his home near Due West on February 27th, after a lingering illness. He was about 44 years of age. Mr. Ellis was a son of Magistrate A. R. Ellis, and a member of . the Ellis family of this county. Some years ago he was happily married to Miss Elizabeth Armstrong, a daughter of Capt R. H. Armstrong. She survives nim as do several children of the union. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian church. He was buried there on Thursday in the presence of a large number of relatives and friends. > NF.WS FROM FRANCIS I.INK Mr. Robert S. Link had a telegram from Congressman Aiken on Thursday conveying the intelligence from the War Department that Francis L. Link, who has been expected home for sometime on a visit underwent an operation for appendicitis in Manila on February fifth, and that he would leave the hospital on March fifth. This probably means that Mr. Link will not be able to visit his home neoDle at this time < as he had planned. * BACK AT WORK. The many friends and pleased customers of Mrs. George Penney and Mrs. Courtney Wilson are glad ] that they are back at their work with ( Philson and Henry for the Spring season. It is a pleasure to have them in the store. \ TROY SUFFERS BY WIND STORM i :?: " No Litm Lost But Damage to Prooertr Follow* Blow in Green. wood County. Greenwood, March 4.?Troy, 18 miles southwest of Greenwood on the Charleston and Western Carolina railroad, was visited by a severe wind storm today at 1 o'clock in which a number of residences were considerably damaged but no lives lost and no serious injury resulted, according to reports received here. The home of the B|ev. R. F. Bradley was badly damaged and the furniture in the house badly broken up. The homes of Mrs. W. L. Burnside, W. W. Wardlaw, and James Davis were also damaged more or less. The storm seems to have confined itself to the west side of the ? ? - 1 - rauroaa, no damage being reported from the other side. CONFER* ON SfTE ^ FOR NITRATE PLANT Colombia, March 5.?Edmund A. Felder, chairman of the committee appointed by the Colombia Chamber of Commerce to urge Columbia's advantages as a site for one of the nitrate fixation plants to be established by the federal government, aqd T. C. Williams, a member <of the committee, returned from Charleston, where they conferred with Major G. A. Youngberg, United States district engineer in regard to the program to be arranged for the approaching visit of the interrepartznental board to this city, for the purpose of hearing a presentation o&-Colombia's claims. The conference with Major Yoongberg, it was stated today, was entirely satisfactory, and tentative plants havp been agreed opon. ELEVEN DROWNED ATTEMPTING TO HELP STRANDED TANKER Philadelphia, March 5.?Maryland coast guard stations reported 11 drowned , in an attempt to assist the American tanker Louisiana, which is ashore off Ocean City, Md. At nine victims were irom the coast guard cutter Yamaci&w ' Th*> condition of the Louisiana, whose engii/e room is flooded, is unchanged. DR. NEIL PRESSLY RETURNS FROM MEXICO York, March 4.?The Rev. B. G. Pressly, of Hickory Grove, received information Wednesday that his father, Rev. Neil E. Pressly, arrived in Jacksonville, Fla., on Tuesday from Tampico, Mexico. Dr. Pressly has been in Mexico as a missionary of Christ, under the direction of the Associate Reformed Church , since 1Q7Q Ttnmni* mnof nf fhat VlP has lived at Tampico, holding to his post and helping the natives as well as Americans all through the fearful civil and political disturbances that have been taking place, more especially during the past five or six years. He has done fine work in helping to spread Christianity among the Mexicans and the regard in which he is held by them was well attested in the fact of his being able to remain at Tampico and hold his influence at a time when most other Americans had fled from the city. Dr. Pressly resigned his post last fall on account of failing health, and at the last meeting of synod, held in Yorkville Associated Reformed Church, the Rev. J. G. Dale was elected as his successor. Tfrnm .Tor>Var?nvillo Inst. Tnesdav. Dr. Pressly went to the home of his brother, W. B. Pressly, at Seffner, Fla., to remain there until warm weather. Mrs. Pressly and daughter are still in Tampico, Mexico, where they will remain long enough to settle business affairs. The Rev. B. G. Pressly, of Hickory Grove, will go down to Seffner, Fla., to be with his father perhaps a month. OFF TO COLUMBIA. Mr. E. M. Anderson left Monday night for Columbia, where he goes on business connected with the af* ? * rw%- ?i I TTT _ A J tairs 01 tne in-state water ana Light convention. WILSON'S HANDS TIED BY CONGRESS * To Fix Responsibility for Defea of PrMiditnt'i Purnoia 76 Sana tors Sign Manifesto. Washington, March 4.?Twelv Senators, led by Senator Lia Pollett and encouraged by Senator Stone Democratic chairman of the foreigi relations committee, in a filibuster denounced by President Wilson' spokesman as the most reprehensi ble in the history of any civilize nation, defied the will of an ovex whelming majority in Congress u; to the last minute today and deniq to the President a law authorixin him to arm American ships to me? the German submarine menace. Unyielding throughout twentynii: hours of continuous session to ap peals that their defiance of the Prei ident would be humiliating to th Country; uncompromising in a crisi described to them as the most seri ous to the nation since the civil wai La Follette and his small- group o supporters refused a majority o their colleagues an opportunity t vote on the armed neutrality b? and it died with the Sixty-fourt Congress. f To fix responsibility before th country, seventy-six Senators, thirt Republicans and forty-six. Demc crats, signed a manifesto; proclaim mg to the world that they lavore passage of the measure. CALL MEETING OF THE MINISTER'S ASSOCIATIpl 1 The Minister's. Association of-At beville, will hold a call meeting,- a the home .of Rev.. Geo. W.i Swop Friday of this week at 4 P. M. 1 is desired that a fall attendance b present. ? * MRS. CASON IMPROVING. Mrs. Lizzie Cason is at her hom on Magazine street, gradually ' in proving from the severe accident i the school-room three weeks age causing a broken limb. Dr. J. Low ry Presaly of Due West, has ha charge of the case and it will be o interest to her friends throughou the county to know she is improv ing. . ' LEWIS OWEN AT THE HOSPITA1 Mr. and Mrs, W. E. Owen fount it necessary to take Lewis, who ha been so sick for several weeks, t the Chester hospital,; Wednesday He was operated on Thursda; morning ana the little fellow is do irig very nicely, but it will be a least three weeks before he can re turn home. The little son > of Mi and Mrs. W< E. Lesley is ove there also for the same operation and is also improving. COL. R. W. SMITH. Col. R. W. Smith, of Warren tor was in the city during the session of the court, serving his country a a grand juror. The colonel has no yet fully digested the recent enact ments on the subject of stroni drink, and he does not know jus what effect these laws will have 01 bitters. There are some change in the school laws which he wouli like to see adopted also. ENTERTAINING THEIR FRIEND! On last Friday evening John Lo max and Raymond Stilwell delight ed their friends with a dinner party A tempting turkey dinner was serv ed soon after the guests ' arrived Dancing to the strains of the victro la until a late hour helped to mak< this occasion one of tne. most en joyable of the season. THE ROBINS. The town has been full of robin! on their way north, for the pasi week. They made a merry chatte: in the trees in our yard and we hat a busy time keeping the boys witl air guns and parlor rifles from do< ing damage. A boy under twelve years of agt with a parlor rifle is a sure sign oi ? -- J--1 4. i. ;n r an over muuigeiJi/ pax cult aiiu 10 ? dangerous thing in a community. THE MILLINERS ARE HERE. < Mrs. Mary H. Chase of Kennedy, N. C., came last Thursday and will be the milliner for the Spring season for Haddon-Wilson Co. Mrs, Chase comes highly recommended, and is experienced and capable along the millinery line. Miss Antoinette Baughm of Baltimore, is also here and has taken charge of the millinery department in Pnilson & Henry's and will be assisted by Miss Nannie Seal and Mrs. Courtney Wilson. t While Looking for Advice on Legality of Arming Ship*, He Will Do J What u Possible to Meet Criib e Washington, March 5.?Further .J e action by President Wilson in ), German situation waa postponed b day pending a decision by his legal advisers whether he hi?. power to s arm American merchantmen in spite - of the failure of congressto pass a1. Cxi d resolution conferring such authority. The question was referred to p torney General Gregory and Secred tary Lansing and probably will be i decided in time for consideration at it tomorrow's cabinet meeting?the ; 'M first to be " held in the new adminis- 3 x tration. The inauguration ceremonr k ies occupied most of their tim:t%^|a h day lritt members of the cabinet and ';^^ffl a other officials found opportunity a discuss the subject A determina- ^ I- tion to arm the merchantmen if a '\M r, legal way to do so can be found, was -tig f generally apparent i The president has placed squarely o before the senite the responsibility (1 for changing its iules during the ape- ; h cial session begun today so that bustering by a small group of 'sena?i|||H e tors can not prevent action by coo? y gress. In the .meantime he is pre- "?i i. paring to take such steps as he can . to meet the crisis and defend Ameri- ? d can rights. > | In his inaugural address today he f declared "we stand firm in armed neutrality," and added: "We mayi-mSm \f even be drawn on by r.nqt$y our own purpose or desire,to' ''-fM |j a more active ^ assertion of our mhtg^aB I as we see them and a more immedi- - M a ate association with the great stnite/ffiaHM J gle its^'? ' . 1 e While the arming of merchantmen ?| is the step most considered, it is . ;|'l pointed out that the president has y'J the right to convoy American ves- ' H sels. This course has been opposed I e by the,navy department, however, !" principally for strategic reasons. -' M J Another step suggested is that the 'M - shipping board take over American ;:v d merchantmen, arm them as naval ' auxiliaries and. send them abroad. | The president has been inclined to 1 belieye that certain old statutes still 7,: j in force might prevent him from L furnishing guns to merchantmen but ^M some of his advisers hold that a ; g broader and truer interpretation of i|i o these laws will sh4w that they have i; r. no application to the present situ*7 tjon. t IN THE MAYOR'S. r The old deteck has been getting ' in some more of his dangerous work. around Abbeville. As a result of it lyS Charles Jones, colored^ was before the Mayor Monday morning charged i, with selling liquor. He was ad- M 8 judged guilty and assessed one hun* dred dollars or' thirty days. He . i. took the days. ? In the afternoon T. M. Alexander' t and Wade Alexander, white, father and son, were before the Mayor for j the same offense. They demanded jury trials. The father was convicted ' M by a jury with W. A. Calvert as : v?Jj 5 foreman, and the son by another ' ^ jury with W. T. Cason as foreman. ^ Each was sentenced to thirty days r ria on the chain gang, or pay a fine of ;.-2 one hundred dollars. The fine has | not yet been paid. They were represented at the trials by. their atI torney J. Howard Moore. " "h DONALDS METHODIST S. S. CONVENTION .. , > *|$g I Donalds Methodist church, 10 A. r M., Sunday, March 11, 1917. All I Sunday schools in upper part of Ab- r, 1 beville county asked to send delegates. If you are not appointed," 5 come ana get your parr. expert f Sunday school leaders from Spar1 tanburg, will be there. Good program by our best people. Dinner at church. "Come and let us reason to, gether." - -4 AT THE INAUGURATION. : ' Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Horton have . been in Washington the past few t days attending the Inauguration and : enjoying the pleasures and sights of I that city. They will return home tomorrow.