The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, February 25, 1920, Image 1
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Abbeville Press and Banner
Established 1844. $2.00 the Year. Tri-Weekly. Abbeville, S. C., Wednesday, February 25, 1920, Single Copies, Five Cents. 76th Year.
ERZBERGER FORCED
. nUT OF CABINET
.. i
"Decides" to Resign When Startling
? . v ? - isl.1 '
Revelations are maae in m? uwi
Suit Against Helfferich?Came
As Climax to Busy Day?Sensational
Testimong Given
Berlin, Feb. 24.?Mathias Erz- ,
berger, minister of finance, voluntarily
resigned from the cabinet to- ,
day.
Erzberger's. resignation came as a
climax to a day of sensational testi- ,
mony in his libel suit against Dr. .
Karl Helfferich, former minister ot
> the treasury.
The nature of this testimony, it I.
. was considered, left Erzberger no
other choice than to relinquish his ,
* portfolio.
According to the testimony of
State's Attorney Messerschimdt,
which was criven with the utmost re
serve and caution, Erzberger hadj
smuggled large amounts of his pr>
vate funds to Switzerland. Previously
testimony adduced from Dr.
Helfferich involved Erzberger in
numerous questionable transactions
in connection with the issuance of
import and export premits and other'
wise misuse of his official position
r ? \
i, and infuence in the furtherance of
ventures in which Erzberger was alleged
to be interested.
The official statement announcing
I Erzberger's retirement from the cab|
inet bases his action on his desire to
f ' save an investigation concerning his
income tax. The resignation was xen-j
| dered to President Ebert, who order- j
| ed an investigation of the income taxi,
incident conducted with all possible
p* speed. |,
. : . i,
"WET" BILt WINS
IN JERSEY FIGHT
Trenton, N. J., Feb. 24.?Amid
scenes of tumult and cries for recog-'
nition by members on the floor after
v two hours' debate, the New Jersey
?>v . 11
House Assembly late this afternoon ,
passed a compromise "wet" bill, fix-'
ing 3 1-2 pei? cent, alcohol by volume,
which is declared to be slightly
stronger than the 2.75 beer of war-'
1 V 'L J 11 1 1
zime proniDiuon aays, as uie
' limit for beverages in New Jersey.The
bill was agreed to by wet Demo-;
, crats and wet Republicans and hadj
the sanction of Governor Edwards.;
It was presented to the House in the |
form of a committee substitute for'
the Barrett 4 per cent bill, which was :
the Democratic measure, and it was
t passed by a vote of 37 to 21. i
?5 *
/ HOME FOR GAME WARDEN. 1
L i
Messrs. E. C. Horton and J. D. Kerr ,
newspaper and furniture men, who i
sometime ago went into the rabbit
farming business, are spreading out. ]
I Lqpking to the time when the busi- ,
ness would be flush and they would
need a man at headquarters to look
after the marketing of their products
they have bought from Mrs. James
F. Bradley the house and lot on
Wardlaw Street now occupied by her j
: as a residence. This they announce ,
is to be the official residence of the :
I Chief Game Warden of the rabbit
[ farm, the official titl? of which or- ,
-j ganization was given ^ in a previous j
issue./
The price paid for the residence
was $7,000. The sale was made by ]
the old reliable, Col. Bob Link, who
knows real estate when he sees it, as j
1-11 i.1 1 ? _ C J I
wen its me moaus operanai 01 turn- *
ing a trade.
With the Sick.
Mr. Link Evans, who has been sick
for several' days with the flu has
developed double pneumonia and is '
seriously ill. His friends hope he will *
? soon take a turn for the better. J
1
Mr. Haskell Sick. ]
Mr. L. C. Haskell has been quite ]
k sick at his home on Greenville street
since Saturday. He- is improving and j
will soon be ready to be drafted for
the balance of the setback suppers. |1
*
ESCH-CUMMINS RAILROA&
BILL ADOPTED BY HOUSE;
VOTE STANDS 249 TO 150
Washington, Feb. 21.?The compromise
Esch-Cummins railroad bill
tvas approved late today by the House
svhich adopted the conference report
after four hours of debate.
The House adopted the conference
report by a vote of 249 to 150, a
clean margin of 99 votes.
Adoption of the conference report
came after the House had defeated
by a vote of 228 to 171 a motion to
recommit, Chairman Esch, of the in
terstate commerce committee jii
charge of the fight on the floor then
called for the previous question and
there was a buzz in the chamber as
the voting began.
There never was any doubt as to
the outcome, leaders said, although
the effect of pressure from labor
haders against adoption of bill was
variously interpreted. Representative
Kitchin, Democrat of Nortli Carolina,
in the closing argument against the
bill, declared that labor leaders had
caused at least a dozen members who
were opposed to it to rally to its support.
Handed Back March First
During the debate in which more
than a score of Representatives took
part, Chairman Esch declared that
the railroads would be handed back
to their owners on March 1, regardless
whether Congress enacted legislation
meanwhile, but he warned the
House that defeat of the bill at this
stage would put half the railroads of
the country in the hands of receivers
in three months. >
i
Representative Pou, Democrat of
North Carolina painted a more
gloomy picture by declaring that the
country would see the greatest financial
disaster in years if it gave up
the roads without enactment of laws
which would give them the right to
earn a fair return.
Representatnve Kitchin said his
opposition was not "in compliance toj
the demands of Mr. Gompers." He I
attacked the "insidious propaganda"
which he said railway interests v.ad
conducted and declared the question
of government ownership was not involved.
"Whether this report is adopted or
rejected," he said, "we have it from
Mr. Esch that the roads will go back
to their owners on March 1."
PROF. A. R. BANKS DEAD
A telegram was received Wednesday
morning by J. Allen Long, an
louncing the death of Mrs. Long's
father, Prof. A. R. Banks, in Ridgeway
Tuesday night after a brief illness
of influenza. Mi^. Long was
with her father at the time of his
death. Mr. Long and his sons, J.
Allen Long, Jr., and Billy left Wednesday
for Ridgeway. The funeral
will probably be held in Fort Mill;
Thursday.
He is survived by two sons, William
Banks, of the Columbia State,!
and John M. Banks, of the Columbia!
i
Record1; one daughter, Mrs. J. Allen!
Long, Abbeville.
Prof. Banks was a distinguished
educator, and has prepared thousands
;>? boys for college and life. He was
known all over the state and South
and has hundreds of friends who will
mourn his passing.
He was well known in Abbeville,
where he frequently visited Mrs.
Long.
Prof. Banks was the son of the
Rev. William Banks, D. D., an emi-j
[lent Presbyterian minister. He, him-j
self, was an elder in the Presbyter- j
ian Church and took an active interest
in church affairs.
POLITICS BLOOMING.
It was stated on the streets of AbDeville
yesterday that Major R. B.
Cheatham is an announced candidate
For Clerk of Court and that he will
nake the race against Capt. J. L.
Perrin, the incumbent, in the ap- '
broaching primaries.
R. R. Moseley, Laurens, is a v^si- '
tor in Abbeville. I'
URGES DRIVE ON
TAX DODGERS TO
SAVE A BILLION
?
Washington, Feb. 23.?An appropriation
to finance a $1,000,000,000
drive on tax dodgers has been
asked of congress by Internal Revenue
Commissioner Roper, it was
learned today.
This amount, Roper informed the
house appropriations committee, can
be brouerht into the treasury if con
gress will allow sufficient funds for
a thorough audit of all tax returns.
Audits of the 1916 and part of the
1917 returns have netted $200,000,000,
but the internal revenue bureau
is so far behind on its work that a
lar?e adidtional force of auditors
is needed to bring more money due
the government into the treasury at
this time, Mr. Roper said. For this
purpose he asked for an appropriation
of $3,000 to employ 750 auditors
and 600 auxiliary clerks to go
over faulty returns.
A preliminary investigation also
has shown that the government has
been paid money on'income and other
taxes to which it is not entitled,
and it is estimated that the refunds
during this year will total $12,000,000.
.
As to the taxes which the government
hopes to recover, Mr. Roper
said:
We find upon examination that
two-thirds of these asessed taxes lie
in a group of about 15,000 returns.
These are the so-called consolidated
returns?that is returns of corporations
of all kinds which have many
subsidiary companies probably run
ning from five to twenty subsidiary
companies per return. These 15,000
consolidated returns probably represent
100,000 individual company returns.
An audit of 302,938 cases has
netter the government $125,705, 422.
POLK'S NAME HOLDS LEAD
Washingtijn, Feb. 24.?President
Wilson is expected to announce tomorrow
his selection of a successor
to Robert Lansing as Secretary of
State.
White House officials, in saying tonight
that announcement of the appointment
might be expected within
the next twenty-four hours, refused
to discuss the question of whom the
President had agreed upon.
The name of Frank L. Polk, secretary
ad interim since the resignation
of Mr. Lansing ten days ago after a
disagreement with the President over
the calling of cabinet meetings and
previously under-Secretary of State,
continues to be mentioned most
prominently for the portfolio. Little
surprise, in fact,, would be evidenced
in unofficial circles if Mr. Polk were
selected. Secretary of War Baker's
name has also been mentioned as a
possible appointee. !
TRUE BILLS PRESENTED.
The February term of Court of
General Sessions met and adjourned
Monday, Judge T. S. Sease calling a
special term to convene Monday,
March 29. Judge Sease will also preside
at the term of civil court to convene,
Monday, March 22.
The grand jury made its presentments
Monday, no matters of unusual
interest being touched upon.
The following true bills were found
and reported to court:
Glenn Craft, J. C. Taylor, Jim
Thornton, Lindsey Bryant, Sam
Callahan, W. T. Thrasher, Dave
Scott and Daniel Howard, all for
Ul rtlof inn r\f f Vin r*rrvViIKif inn lour TX7ill
Robinson, alias Jim Robinson, alias
Fish Robinson, Murder; Will Kay,
Louisa Watts, Willie Johnson, David
Barksdale, murder; John Gibert, Sam
Houston, assault and battery; Sam
Miller, housebreaking and larceny.
Out For Congrses.
it was also stated that w. w.
Bradley, at present an assistant bank
examiner "of state banks, would
shortly announce his candidacy for
congress in the Third District. He'
vvill oppose Congressman Dominick
'.vho, it is understood, will seek reflection.
PRESIDENT WILL NOT |
ACT ON RAILROAD
BILL FOR PRESENTJ
.Washington, Feb. 24.?President
Wilson was asked today by George P. I
Hampton, managing director of thej
Farmers National Council, on behalf
of farm organizations affiliated-with
the council, to veto the railroad bill
on the "grounds of public policy."
Mr. Hampton's request was by
etter. He asked that the President
personally or through Secretary
Tumulty receive a delegation next
Thursday and that he defer action on
the bill until the farmer's representatives
have a chance to express more
fully their reasons for opposing it.
Washington, Feb. 24.?President
Wilson will not act immediately on
the compromise railroad bill passed
yesterday by the Senate. It was an-j
nounced at the White House today
that the President had directed that
the measure be referred to the Department
of Justice just as soon as
it reached the White House from
congress.
The executive has ten * days in i
which to pass upon the act before it
can become a law without his signature.
It is generally expected that
he will be urged by representatives
of the railroad brotherhoods and
organized labor generally to veto the
i_rn i -t j _i.i
| Dm oecause 01 its lacor ana tne otner
provisions. w v The
railroad men oppose ttys section
because it provides for tri-partite
labor boards, whereas they desire
to return to the old method of I
negotiations and decision by representatives
of the workers and the
railroads.
SENATE PASSES
RAILROAD BILL
Washington, Feb. 23.?The conference
report on the railroad bill, embodying
legislation for reorganization
of railroads of the country with
the end of federal control, was adopted
late today by the senate. It passed
the house Saturday and now goes to
tne president.
The vote on adoption of the report,
taken after several hours of debate,
was 47 to 17.
Those voting for the conference report
were:
Republicans*?Ball, Brandegree,
Calder, Capper, Colt, Cummins, Curtis,
Elkins, Fernald, Frelinghysen,
Hale, Jones of Washington, Kellogg,
Kenyon, Keyes, Lenroot, Lodge, McLean,
McNary, Nelson, New, Page,j
Phipps, Poindexter, Smoot, Spencer, I
Sterling, Sutherland, Townsend, j
jWadsworth, Warren and Watson. Total
Republicans for, 32.
Democrats? Beckham, Fletcher,
Gay, Glass, Myers, 'Phelan, Pomerene,
Ransdell, Robinson, Shields,
i Smith of Maryland, Underwood,
| Walsh of Montana, and Williams.
I Total Democrats for 15.
Those voting against the report:
Republicans?Borah, France and
jGronna. Total Republicans against
|3.
Democrats?Ashurst, Dial, Gore,
Harris, Harrison, Johnson of South
Dakota, Jones of New-Mexico, King'
McKellar, Nugent, Overman, Pittman,
Sheppard and Trammell. Total
Democrats against, 14.
Total against adoption 17.
Those paired follow: Bankhead for
with Culberson against; McCormick
for with Henderson agajnst; Dillingham
for with Swanson against; Fallj
for with Kendrick against; Simmons|
for with Kirby against; McCumber|
for with-La Follette against; Harding
;fbr with Walsh of Massachusetts,
j against; Edge for with Owen against, j
"" I
!laurens man dies
nio wwurtua i
j Laurens, Feb. 24.?Julius Sitl
greaves, cashier of the Lucas Bank at
Watts Mill, died at his home here
this morning at 2 o'clock from a selfinflicted
wound, according to a statement
made by the young man after
jhe was found prostrate in the road!
nfear the city Sunday night. There!
[were indications that he would re-j
cover yesterday, bue he grew gi^ad-;
ually worse in the afternoon and sue-!1
cumbed during the nibht.
He was 27 years of age.
\
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
PROFITEERING HURTS
FARM PRODUCTS
Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 24.?A quick
depression in agricultural prices as
the result of 'profiteering" in foreign
exchange was predicted by Dr.
Tait Butler president of the Association
of Agricultural workers in his
anual address to the opening of the
twenty-first convention of this
organization here today.
Dr. Butler, who is editor of the
Progressive Farmer, of Memphis,
Tenn., characterized profiteering in
foreign exchange as "the most damnable
form of profiteering indulged in
since the war."
"Indications at this time," said Dr.
Butler, '"foreshadow more definitely
than ever before i.i the history of the
country, a quick depression in the
prices of farm products. The present
profiteering in foreign exchange is
doing more to disrupt the normal
progress of agriculture in this country
than anything else at this time.
Cotton is not moving because of the
low foreign exchange, and it is the
same with other products. Europe
will not pay the price with th^ present
depreciated currency.
President Butler's address followed
short speeches of welcome by
Peter V. Rice, assistant state commissioner
of agriculture, and Mayor
James L. Key, of Atlanta, who offered
the hospitality of the state and
city to the agricultural worker?. The
convention will b.e in session through
Thursday.
NEWS OF DR. SWOPE.
Dr/Geo. W. Swope, former pastor
of the First Baptist Church, in Abbeville,
has arrived in Philadelphia
and taken up the work thgvi as pastor
of Fifth Baptist Church in that
place. We have received a folder
carrying the announcements for the
services held Sunday, February 15th.
The first page of the folder contains
a cut of the handsome church of
which the doctor is the pastor. It is
located at the coriler of Eighteenth
and Spring Garden Streets. On this
page too you will find the subjects
of the message delivered by the
pastor on that day, as follows:
Morning: The Divine Enslavement;
Evening: The Second Line of the
World's Only Hope. v
The other pages of the folder conain
announcements of the many
wnflrincy AropQwiTofiAnp
.. V4gMlUAUblVilO VI L/11C tUUi^U)
with the names of the officers of the
church, members of the choir, the
programs for the morning and evenng
services, and other information.
It is evident that the church is'as the
Doctor says it is "a great church."
The friends of the Doctor and of
his family in Abbeville will be glad
that they have found a home in a
place so agreeable and that the
work there appeals to the eminent
divine.
Among other things which Dr.
Swope expects to do while in Philadelphia,
when he has time, is to improve
his handwriting so that it will
not be necessary to get Brother
Stark to translate all his letters to
friends here.
We all wish him success in all his
endeavors, including handwriting
improvement.
A Welcome Visitor.
Mrs. Wallace Thompkins is here
from Edgefield and is visiting at the
home of Mrs. W. S. Cothran. As Miss
Cleora BrYinson. she made her home
in Abbeville some years ago and endeared
herself to a wide circle of
friends who are glad to see her again
and to know that her lines in life
lave fallen in pleasant places.
Off to Chester.
Miss Mary Shelly, who is making
her home in Abbeville with Mr. and
Mrs. C. B. Hipp, is a victim of a firsfj
class case of mumps, the first to(
appear in Abbeville.
The family of Mrs. John Harris,
ivho have all been sick with the flu
.re on the road to good health and i
tope soon to be out again.
UNIONS WILL ASK
WILSON TO VETO j
Labor Claims that Provisions are
Unfair. Palmer To Pass on BillPresident
Plans to Have Attorney
General Look into
v Organization
Washington , Feb. 24.?Railroad
labor decided tonight to ask President
Wilson to veto the railroad reorganization
bill.
In a memorial to be submitted
probably late tomorrow, the representatives
of the 2,000,000 union
*
workers will request the President to
withhold his signature from the 4
i measure until they carv present a
brief of their reasons why it should /. \
not have executive approval. Announcement
of the union's decision
was made by B. M. Jewell, acting
president of the Railway Employees
Department, American Federation of
Labor.
Knowledge of the President's indention
to have Attorney General
Palmer pass on the validity of the reorganization
measure did not deter
the union leaders from their determined
course of action. Their claims
against the legislation were explained^
lto be aside from any question of the
jvalidity of the bill and , they, therejfore,
purpose^ to carry the opposition
through to the finish.
Awaits President's Action.
The next step in the union program
which will not ]be developed
[definitely unless the bill is approved,
lis to test the constitutionality of the
!law. Various methods of bringing
'this about were suggested, but all
11 1/L
|tti*a uc aciu xii auc^aiac ucuuillg LUC
President's action.
Labor provisions of the bill admittedly
will be the most bitterly assailed
by the unions but the plan also
contemplates attack on the financial
sections which labor holds to be '"'unfair
to the taxpayers and a burden
on the government." The dividend
provision of the law also will come in
for condemnation, it was indicated. .
Mrs. James B. Latimer Dead.
j Mrs. Lola Todd Latimer died in
| Charleston last week and the burial
I was held in Laurens on the 23rd. Mrs.
j Latimer was a daughter of W. P.
I Todd of Laurens, formerly of Abbeville
county. She is survived by her
husband and a week old infant.
Mr. M. W. Smith Die*.
M. W. Smith, 55 years old, died at
lis home fi,ear town Monday afternoon.
Funeral services were held at
Sharon Tuesday afternoon, the Rev.
Mr. Harris officiating. Mr. Smith
was well known throughout the couny.
He was unmarried.
j ( Supervisor's Report.
County Supervisor W. A. Stevenson
made his annual report to Court
Monday. The report showed that
Supervisor Stevenson had carried on
!his work in the county within the
|funds available. His expenditures
lamounted to $54,249.00 and his income
amounted to $54,378.00,
leaving a balance of $129.00 on hand.
Services at Upper Long Cane.
There will be preaching at Upper
..ong Cane church next Sunday at
11:30 a. m. The Rev. J. A. Clotfelter,
f Lowndesville will preach. Sunday
School at 10:30. A full attendance is
equested.
V' COTTON MAK\tl.
V V
V , February 25. V
Spot Cotton 40.00 V
V V
V March 37.60 V
V May 34.96 V
V July 32.63 S>
V October 30.50 V
V December 29.95 V
V