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$he ? atMlc grnqnim. -*CSpHL flp^J fliBsPKk T . YORKVILLE, S. C.: WEDNESDAY; OCTOBER 31, 1.VJ4. ? Irby is not willing to trust Reformers with tickets for both sides of the constitutional convention question. Are the Reformers willing to trust Irby and his sympathizers with power to make any kind of constitution they may see fit? ? There are numerous cases ou record where men have given up their lives for their country; but we know of no instance where an individual has willingly surrendered his right to vote at the bidding of a scheming politician. In South Carolina liberty has been held to be dearer than life. ? The only way for the white people to govern this State without the intervention of the Negro, is by means of white men's pri. maries. The constitution of the Democratic party now provides for the primaries, and there is reason to believe that the whites of the State will again come to the conclusion that it is best to settle their differences among themselves. Don't let us augment the existing confusion by calling a constitutional convention. ? When the present constitution was up for ratification or rejection by the people, the Radicals, who were then in power, fur, nished tickets for both sides of the question. They left it to the people to vote as they saw fit. Irby, however, has less confidence in the people. He knows that unless a large number of Reformers vote against the call for a constitutional convention, it is bound to carry ; and by refusing to provide them with tickets, he sought to prevent them from voting. ? The recent assassination of Treasurer Copes, of Orangeburg, has drawn special at' tention to the danger incurred by county treasurers in traveling from place to place through the country in collecting taxes, and the probability is that the law that requires this will either be repealed or so ameuded as to provide that treasurers will only have to go to points that can be reached by railroad. The treasurers should certainly be relieved of the terrible danger to which they are now exposed. ? It is a generally accepted fact that many of the advocates of the proposed new constitution desire to incorporate authority for the perpetuation of the dispensary law. The Enquirer is only able to endorse the dispensary on the ground that it is an improvement on the saloon system, and offers encouragement to the hope that it will finalIv make possible the abolition of the legal liquor traffic. We cannot reconcile ourselves, however, to the idea of incorporating the dispensary in the fundamental law of the land. If we give the liquor traffic such a hold as this, we can never again hope to escape from its control. ? Last week The Enquirer showed conclusively the danger of an educational qualification for voting. The Negro race would still have the balance of power, and would be in a much better condition to make use of it. We are satisfied that the point we have raised will strike home, if it had not already been thought of by the advocates of the proposed constitutional convention, and if the convention is ever held, the idea may have sufficient weight to change its purpose. The only recourse then will be to a property qualification. Where the limit will be fixed we have no idea; but suppose it should be $1,000 or even $500? Perhaps you could; but how many good white men would be disqualified ? ? "I have no right to expend the money of the party for printing tickets other than with the names of its candidates and 'Constitutional Convention?Yes.' Irby's Letter to Chairman Seignious. And when did you find that out? It has been proven that you ordered tickets for both sides, and withdrew the "No" tickets after they were printed. Are you going to pay for these suppressed "No" tickets with tho party money, or are you going to foot the bill yourself? You will pay for them with party money, of course; and since you will do this why not send them out? You are afraid to allow a man to vote on the question of his own disfranchisement, aren't you? ?Some up-conntry papers, most notably The Piedmont Headlight and Yorkvillk Enquirer, are opposed to the calling of a constitutional convention, because, it is alleged, there is a large percentage of their white people who cannot toll the difference between b and bull's foot, and who may be disfranchised by the adoption of an educational qualification. This section of the State is terrorized by no such apprehensions.? Barnwell People. We haven't got a great many illiterate white men in this county, possibly not so many as there are in Barnwell ; but there are some. A terrible war broke out in this country some 34 years ago. Nearly all the able bodied men and boys, including the 3chool teachers and many of their pupils, went to the front, and, for a time?about four years?most of the schools were closed. When this war was over a great many of these boys found themselves confronted with such a struggle for bread for widowed mothers and orphaned brothers and sisters, that they had no time in which to go to college or even to learn to read. As the result, they have grown up somewhat illiterate. Nevertheless, most of thein are as good citizens as are any to be found in Barnwell county, and on this ground alone, deserve a continuance of their right of suffrage. But when we consider why they are unable to read, we would not be willing to deprive one of them of his right to vote, even if the action should disfranchise the whole Negro race. IRBY ADMITS IT. Pressed to the wall, J. L. M. Irby has made a confession of his attempt to defraud a large number of Democrats out of their votes against the calling of a constitutional convention. On finding that he had received no "No" tickets, James M. Scignious, Democratic chairman of Charleston county, wrote to Mr. Irby for an explanation. Mr. Irby replied as follows : Columbia, S. Octobers, IfflM. Honorable James M. Seignious, Chairman County Democratic Executive Committee, Charleston, S. ('. Dkar Sir?Replying to your letter of the ?2nd inst., in reference to the fact that you have no tickets printed "Constitutional Convention, No," I beg to say that Mr. Calvo, who has charge of printing the tickets for the Democratic party of this State, acted under my orders, and I alone am responsible for the absence ol tickets against a constitutional convention. The State convention of the Democratic party unanimously adopted a platform urging the Democrats of the State to vote for the calling of a constitutional convention, and thereby committed the party to it. I, its the chairman of the executive committee of the party, am only carrying out the will of that convention by providing for its success in the coming general election. I have no right to expend the money ot the party for printing tickets other than with the names of its candidates and with "< "onstitutional Convention, Yes." This constitutional convention is being opposed by Republicans and Independents, enemies of the Democratic organisation, led by three prominent daily papers?The News and Courier, The State and Cirecnville News?who I i have abundant facilities for preparing and fur-! | nishing tickets. Our tickets were sent out several days ago and j 110 effort at concealment has been made of our J 1 position in this matter. Abundant time has been given these dailies to print their own tickets. Very respectfully your obedient servant, J. L. M. Irby. State Chairman. * The above letter is certainly characteristic , j of J. L. M. Irby. His duplicity, cheek and ' 'gall stick out in every line of it. Though there is no dounl that he realizes the unfair-; ness of his action, he wants-to make believe : that he has the full approval of his conscience, j At the same time he tries to work up his old game of factional prejudice with the cry of ! snakes?Antis, Independents, Republicans. A few weeks ago. Mr. I). H. Tompkins, secretary of the State Democratic Executive committee, stated in an interview with a reporter of the Columbia Register, that the j committee had ordered the printing of an equal number of tickets for and against the constitutional convention. The statement was made and accepted in good faith. It was in line with precedent, followed alike by all parties that have gone before, and indicated a policy that is manifested just and fair. During the past week, since the exposure of Irby's failure to send "No" tickets to York, it has developed that the statement of Mr. Tompkins was true. Information from Sumter and Georgetown is to the effect that "No" tickets were received by the chairmun of both these counties ; but that afterwards, Irby instructed that these "No" tickets be withheld from distribution. This fact, aud fact it is, shows that Irby at first sent out tickets as it was his duty to do; but afterwards realizing that a large number of Reformers?possibly enough to change the issue?were opposed to the convention, sought to save his pet scheme by denying his own people the right to vote. , The demagogic reference to the "three prominent dailies, Independents and Republicans" won't go. At least we do not think so. In York county there are hundreds of good men, 10 times more honest and sincere than Irby, who have been Reformers since the origin of the faction, and who are opposed tooth and toe nail to the dangerous scheme of calling a constitutional convention. Irby would not dare question the motives of any of them to their foces, and neither would he dare suggest to them that they should go against their firm conviction simply because The State, News and Courier and Greenville News happens to think the same way. Sn far ns we are aware, there is no organ ized opposition to the proposed constitutional convention; but, at the same time, there will be plenty of tickets and they will not be furnished by prominent dailies, either. Money has been, and is being, contributed by Democrats?Reformers and Conservatives alike?who are not only opposed to this iuiquitious proposition ; but who are willing to go down in their pockets to protect their inherent rights to vote as they please. It is true that The News and Courier, The State and the Greenville News are opposed to the calling of a constitutional convention ; but that is no reason why they should gratuitously print and distribute any tickets. The Columbia Register is in favor of the convention, but we have not heard of its doing any gratuitous printing. It has been paid with the people's money for every dollars worth of tickets it has printed. RECONCILE THIS. During the course of Governor Tillman's speech in Yorkville two years ago, according to the report made in The Enquirer at the time, the following colloquy took place : Governor Tillman?I am not afraid of a constitutional convention, and if any of you arc afraid to vote for me on that platform, why don't you do it. Voice?I don't want any man who is in favor of an educational or property qualification. uovernor unman?)teu uun t xiic i..? ...... (then; but how are you going to keep the Negroes from ruling us? Isn't it better to disfranchise a few white voters than to allow the Negroes to get control of the government again ? Voice?We have kept the Negroes from getting control ever since 187G, and I don't see how they are going to get control now. In his speech at liidgeway, last Saturday, Governor Tillman said : "I'll swear to God that we are not going to disfranchise the poorwhites, and, therefore, no Negro need be alarmed. They have been trying to overthrow the registration law ; but if it ever comes to the scratch, we can control more Negro votes than they can, for wo deal with them in the Held, and they only see them when they want to take a lien. It will be noted that two years ago Governor Tillman admitted that it would be necessary to disfranchise a few white "men. Now he claims that he does not even intend to disfranchise any Negroes; but agrees with the York "Voice" that we can continue to manage the Negro vote as we have done since 187G. Irby, however, claims that without disfranchising a single white man, wc ! cau, like Mississippi, disfranchise 100,000 Negroes ; and all together it looks as if the qualification question has nothing to do with the proposed call for a constitutional convention. Behind it all, there is evidently some i dark scheme with which the leaders are afraid to trust the people. WEAK AS WATER. "I am afraid the registration law will be declared unconstitutional, and if so we are liable to be overrun by the negro vote." This is the last ditch of those who are in favor oM the constitutional convention, and the argument is as weak as water. That the registration law is liable to be declared unconstitutulional in some of its features, is a fact. The provisions which prohibit the subsequent registration of individuals who, being elligible, failed to register when the law was lirst passed, and aiso promuii the subsequent registration of individuals who fail to register for the lirst election after they become 21 years of age, are both evidently unconstitutional, and we have reason to believe that they will be so declared ; ^ but what if they are? The purpose of and the efficiency of the law will in nowise be ; impaired; nor will the bars to the polls he thrown down. It is not the registration law which keeps 1 back such a large number of Negro voters, i It is the eight box law that does the work. I Nobody has ever attacked the eonstitutionj aiity of the eight box law, and nobody is likely to. Kven if they should, it would j I avail nothing, for its constitutionality is established beyond question. So let them | I knock out the unconstitutional provision ol the registration law if they will, the eight I box law will be here still, and will continue j to do as effective business in the future as it j | has in the past. Those who are afraid of the effect ! of the registration law being declared unconstitutional may as well put their fears in their pockets. The unconstitutional pro- j ! visions can easily be remedied by statute, and j I nothing that the supreme court can say is ; likely to in anywise impair the effectiveness I ! of the law. j ? In an interview given to the daily papers j j last Monday, Governor Tillman admitted j : that the success of the proposed call lor 211 constitutional convention is doubtful. The; . only reason lie gave for desiring to call the convention was to eliminate the Negro vote, j Tim Knquiuku has already shown that an educaiional qualification will make the Xe! gro vote more dangerous than at present to both factions. It will he rememered that \V. j N. Klder said at Tirzah, last summer, that 'the charges of corruption brought against j J those in office in 1890 was mainly for the j 1 purpose of agitation. Thorough ventillation I of the constitutional convention quest on seems to develop the fact that this dema nd ! was made for no higher purpose, and he only reason for wanting to carry it through now, is the fact that it was a demand. I'nder the circumstances, it is time to cull a halt CONSTITITIOXAI, CONVENTION YES. (IK NO? \V. II. Kdwurds Takes Issue wilh The 10n<|iiirer. Yorkvii.i.k K.xqi'tui-:it: I desire ltrielly and courteously, to oiler some thoughts in criticism of your editorials in the last issue of Tin: K.vqriuKit in regard to the proposed constitutional convention. In the first place, I want to say that it is quite easy to call Mr. Irli.v a shallow pate; much easier than to meet and defend the arguments in favor of the necessity of a new constitution. It is a strange, and to many thinking men of today, a puerile argument, that we should not liavean educational qualification to vote incorporated in our constitution, because it would disfranchise a goodly number of whites as well as blacks. Ever since our eight box system went into operation, South Carolina has had the most stringent and the most effective educational qualification for voting of any State in the I'nion. I'lider this law, no white man, let him be ever so ignorant, but could go to the polls and cast his ballot. Mississippi made an educational qualification in her constitution, and she is having now no trouble with her enormous Negro majority ; and all white Democrats in that State are satisfied, and none are debarred from voting. It seems remarkably strange that all at once the charge is being made that Tillman and Irby has some ulterior design in trying to have this convention called. There seems to be a disposition manifested hv the ornaments of the measure to fool ami befog the minds of the people, and get them to believe that there is great danger to their libirtcs in the action of this convention, should it be called. There was a convention of men met in the city of Charleston on January tlie 14th, lsus, and remained in session until some time in March of the same year, and made our present constitution. Who were these men and who elected them ? Kxeept a few scallawags, the native born white men of South Carolina had 110 voice in the matter. Who ratified this constitution after it was made? Every intelligent man who is acquainted with the history of the transaction, knows it was ratified by the free negroes of the State. I will venture the assertion that not a hundred white Democrats in the State voted for it. And why? Because it contained provisions that would force upon the white people of the State social equaliiy with the Negroes. Cnder this constitution it was not long until the doors of our State institutions of learning were thrown open to all persons without distinction as to#racc, color or previous condition of servitude. Now, you say there is 1.52,000 Negro votes in South Carolina, and that there is 110 danger from these because they arc ignorant and unwieldy ; but if 100,(XX) of these were disfranchised, then the remaining ."50,0(X> would become very dangerous ; because they would hold the balance of power. Now, Mr. Editor, I feel sure you made this argument without giving the question careful consideration. Why not make the admission and own up the corn that the Negro vote is not giving 11s any trouble simply because they arc practically disfranchised under the eight box system? An honest confession is good for the soul; so own up and admit that you are oil'on that argument. You arc the first man that I have ever known to make an argument that 50,(XX) voters are more dangerous as a balance of power than 150,(XX) would be under the same conditions. What do we see today ? Dr. Pope hobnobbing with the Republicans in order to get the Negro vote to elect him governor of South Carolina; W. R. Davie, <4. W. Chalk and others running for congress and bidding for the Negro and Independent vote. Any man who can read the signs tiio linifiu ,.!in troublous times ahead of us, unless we can eliminate, in some way, this dangerous element from politics. Since 187(1 the people have been demanding a new constitution. South Carolina was known in Radical days as the "Prostrate State," and we remained pros trate under the rule of the Negro and the alien longer than any State in the South. And to our everlasting shame be it said, that we are the only State today in the South that is living under a constitution made by Radical aliens and Negroes. Why should we fear for a convention of South Carolinians to meet and alter our constitution to suit the necessities of the times in which we live? And why charge Irby of being a shallow pate, and try to make the impression that lie alone is responsible for the project of calling a constitutional convention? Xhe platform of the March Convention of 1890 made this demand one of its main planks. That convention was composed of :120 representative South Carolinians. This plank of the platform met the unanimous approval of the convention. Cpon that platform the governor and all the State oflN cers have been elected both in 1890 and 18!(2. Now what do we see? We see a certain faction of our white people uniting with the free Negroes of South Carolina to defeat the very measure this same faction has been calling for from '70 to '90. And why are they so opposed to it now? They say our white people arc too much divided. Why that is the strongest argument that could possibly be made in its favor. As long as we could remain solidly united, our eight box system answers every purpose so far as the Negro vote is concerned. Rut as division has come into our ranks, every thoughtful man sees the danger to whito supremacy from this ignorant irresponsible vote. (>urconstitution needs many changes?far too many to render it practicable to make them by amendments. It is the opposition and hatred to Tillman and the present administration that has begotten all this opposition to calling this convention. The Negro vote is being groomed by hungry politicians for 18!M>, to be used to redeem the State from the awful curse of Tillnianism. This is the quiver from which the arrow iseoming. I think you use the expression, "Irby and his gang" unadvisedly. The Reform faction (if we can afford to call it a faction) of the Democratic party, pledged itself to the calling of a constitutional convention in 1890. And why? Rccausc : ilA*??>iw1n/1 l*v tlw? 1 Innminvif s: of t ho State since 1S7??. Then why can you consistently say it is a project of "Irby and his gang?" Your editorials are evidently intended to make votes against the calling of the convention, without any particular reference to the merits of the question. If the true Democrats of York county and the State allow themselves to he fooled and turned aside from carrying out and standing squarely on the platform they adopted in IStK), then they may expect to turn over tne State government in 181W to |the control of the Independents and the free Negroes. This may seem to he a rash statement; but any man who has brains enough in his head to read thesigns of the times, can see that this statement, though unwelcome, is still a stubborn fact, that like Ranquo's ghost will not down. Go to Fairfield county, and what do vou see today? You will see an lndependent ticket in the Held for every ollice in the county, and Major T. W. Woodward, who used to be a standing candidate for congress in the Fifth district, working with might and main for the success of the Inilependents. What you see in Fairfield county today, you will see in every county in the State in 18!H>. The war is 011 and the only chance to throttle this Independent movement is to call this constitutional convention and eliminate this ignorant, dangerous, irresponsible element from the body politic. I am now, as I have ever been, ready to speak my sentiments and convictions 011 this and every other public question. Our political leaders 111 York county are now as silent as a mouse 011 this question. They are like the man that the bull butted oil' the bridge. They have nothing to say. They voted for calling the convention, because it was a demand 1 the Reform platform; but they express 110 opinion one way or the other as to the wisdom of the matter. I will say, in conclusion, that if the true Democrats of the State allow this measure to be defeated, they will prove themselves untrue to the pledges and the platform we adopted in IMtO, and will find themselves playing into the hands of the Independents and Republicans of the State. The fertile mind of anyone opposed to this measure, may conjure and surmise many things that this convention can and may do; but that does not prove that it would do any such things. Forewarned is forearmed, and I want to say to our people?Democrats of all factions?beware how you vote with Independents, Radicals, and free Negroes. Re true to your principles and political convictions. Call the convention and elect good level headed men, without regard to what.political faction they belong to, so they are good Democrats and true South Carolinians, and let us make a constitution worthy of the glory and honor of the old Palmetto State. If I live until the election, there will be one vote polled for calling this convention. I would vote this way if it was tin- only vote cast in the county in favor of the measure. W. II. Ki>wahi?s. We confess surprise. It has been our belief that almost evetv thoughtful and patriotic citizen of York county, was convinced, not only of the danger, but of the Heedlessness of this proposi1 1 1 I loll. I >111 llCUOlll, illTC COIIlCS IMC 1V.III1CU .11111 able head of our publicschonl system and tolls us that everything, even olliecs?fat juicy olliecs? depend upon the holding of a eonsiitnlional eonvention. Captain, we have sifted your eoininunieatiou in seareh of an argument. It may he there; hut, if so, we are too dull to see it. We are ahlo to discover only the battered pulp of Irby's recent arrogant demand that the people shall vote as they are ordered, and ask no questions. We note your pretext, Captain, and your appeals to prejudice; hut what we want on a groat question like this, is reason?argument?something to give those of us who may he groping in darkness, more light. That is a splendid defense you make of the eight box system, Captain. Wo admit that we could not have done; better; and we agree with you in full, but we go no further. Von have shown that the eight box law answers its purpose to perfection, and there can't be any improvement. This being the ease, we are unwilling to tamper with untried experiments in the hope of getting something better. Convinced that we have the very best there is, we are unwilling to to throw down the bars on pretext of searching for improvements. We are afraid that after it is too late, we may stumble against those "ulterior designs'' to which you have referred with such delicious innocence. It is very easy to say, Captain, that the present constitution was framed and ratified by scalawags, aliens, liadicals and free Negroes; but that is not argument, and does not all'eet its merits a particle. This paper is generally conceded to be aide, patriotic and just, and with a II'W C.M'l'JIIIim.'tUIMiKt-llM-l ill ? iw m,- ?iuuv people of tin* State. Are y<?u not mistaken when you say our people have been demanding a change ever since 1S7U? Think over the matter again. I f we are not mistaken, an occasional politician has raised his voice in favor of a new constitution; but it was not our people, < 'aptain. From ISTii to IS!hi, they were united, ami had they wanted a new constitution they would have gotten it. l?ut they did not think it necessary. They have all the while been of opinion that amendments are wiser, safer and more economical, and they are right about that, Captain. We are always open to conviction, ('aptain. 11 you will show us any serious defects in the j present constitution, we will vote with you to I change them; but we do not believe you arc I ~ I going to show us those defects. We have it I straight, thai when you commenced to write; j the communication above, you borrowed a copy ' j of that old "Xogro-Kadical-alion-seallawag" : ( constitution from a lawyer in Yorkville, and did j not return it lbr two days. Now in that time I we would have expected you to have torn it all I to pieces; but you returned it in good condition, j ' i and the only objection that you lind is that "the I doois of all our State institutions of learning are V open to all persons without distinction as to race, ' | color, or previous condition of servitude." ('omc' | now ; how many Negroes are at the Citadel, at i I Clemson, or the South Carolina college? llowjn i many mixed schools under your jurisdiction in I .J this county? I>id you ever hear of a Negro demanding admission to a white school in this State? Don't you know it to be a fact that the j only public institution in which whites and ! blacks associate on terms of equality, is t lie -A i State penitentiary? No; Captain, "be honest and acknowledge the ; jj corn." Don't try to "befog" the voters. Itisi the province of the school commissioner ofj York county to enlighten rather than confuse. We will admit that the present constitution provides for the the co-education of the races ; but we are not at all alarmed. The people have I rati lied every aincnunieni mm mu iipniimiru | has submitted to them since 1870, and they p] [ would have changed this had it been worth . while. Hut they haven't considered it wortly it while. The idea of a Negro ever demandingv admission to a white school in this State is so S preposterous as to he absolutely ridiculous. 5 Our people will, no doubt, change this provision (i at once, if you think it desirable; but since that is the only objection you can find that appeals V ! either to reason or prejudice, we may as well keep it where it is as a relic, along with the old y unrepealed statute that requires people to carry ^ their guns to church on Sunday to keep oil' the \ Indians with. H Hut when you say our constitution needs "too many changes to render it practicable to make them by amendment," you make us feel serious. Why did you not point them out? That t< is the kind of information the people want. C( They need more light, so they can vote more ,, intelligently. Do you want to abolish the homestead law and the two mill school tax? d I)o you want an educational qualification so \ some of the men who served with you in the war can't vote? Or do you want a property ? qunification so you can't vote yourself? Do you want a $.'? poll tax ? Do you want to reduce the required area of counties so as to incur the ex- J pense of a new adjustment ? What on earth do b you want, anyway? Have you any other reason p for a change except that such is the order from ^ headquarters? We did not say that ".'10,000 voters are more M dangerous as a balance of power than l.'lO.OOO b would bo under the same circumstances." Don't ]< misrepresent us, Captain. That is not fair. The j 132,000 Negroes in the State are now practically disqualified by the eight box law. You have already admitted that. The Negroes have the ^ votes; but the conditions are such that it is im- k possible to use them. Even in case they should a lie appealed to by the whites, it is impossible for them to make use of their full strength. There n is so much ignorance, suspicion and cupidity among them, that they would lie bound to divide and thus offset their power. Hut eliminate the ignorance and leave only the intelligence j among them! You have a body of .'10,000 or 40,000 shrewd, calculating politicians, who would speedily realize that in union there is strength. a Then, with the whites divided, these Negroes f would throw their weight to whichever side that ] offered the most in the way of ollices and concessions. Captain, you know this is true. If you don't believe it, just try your educational n qualification racket and paste this is your hat. 1 In less than four yea in from now, you will find ti that this warning will read like a prophecy (j fulfilled. Let us not follow blindly after Mississippi until we see the result of her experiment. The white men of Mississippi are united now; but ii wait until there comes a division as there is in w this State. It will surely come. The Republicans were in power in this State from 18iK to ISTii. Then there was a revolution, and the Democrats* ^ got control. The National Democrats are now fi in power for the first time in .10 years. Politics j, is a scries of revolutions. First in one side is ^ on top and then the other. Some day there will boa revolution in Mississippi, and then what? s' Well, we are glad that we do not live in that 1 State. The party that is in, now uses the consti- n lution to disqualify the party that is out; and when the party that is out gets in, it will be ^ found that of a surety the two edged sword cuts both ways. The Democratic party in this State is divided right now, and you may rest assured that the injustice and perjury which prevails in Mississippi will not work here. If a Negro is .j entitled to vote, the party with which lie alligns himself will see to it that his ballot is cast and P counted ; and if an ignorant white man is dis- I' franchised under the constitution, either by an n educational or property qualification, the opposing side will see to it that he does not vote. Now about Mr. Irby and his shallow pate. " We have no apologies to make, < 'aptain. I f M r. Irby had come out like a man and told us dis- o tinctly what he wanted a constitutional conven- c tion for, we would respect his sincerity to say the least of it. And if he could give us assurance a of our right to vote on the ratification of his e' proposed new constitution, we might be willing (1 to vote for his call. Hut when he tells us that t. his only object in calling a constitutional conven- , tion is to get rid of the dangerous Negro vote, . and it is so clear that his proposed remedy will " only aggravate rather than ameliorate the threat-; a encd calamity, he loses our confidence and j a arouses oursuspicion of an "ulterior" design. It J ^ is clear that he either takes the people for shallow j pates, or he is a shallow pate himself. As to laying the whole blame on Irby, he is I li our authority. Read, in his letter in another j column, how he says "I alone am responsible Lj for the no convention tickets." In effect he says I that you and other Democrats arc without sense | c' enough to vote intelligently on this question, | sl and you must vote as he wants you to or not vote j a at all. And "Irby and hisgang." Well, maybe j (j we made a mistake there. It seems to be most- j ly Irby without the gang. Hut everybody who) is not blind, knows that during the past summer, j Irby and a few ringsters carried things just to suit themselves. You were one of those men ei in this county who opposed Irby's little He- S| form primary at which he secured the noininu- ^ tion of John (Jury Evans and carried tilings his own way generally. Surely, you ought to know " what is meant by "Irby and his gang." The ti phrase comes nearer to expressing our idea of; c, the situation than anything else we can think of. 1 Your reference to Hope, Davie and C'lialk is j buncombe, and you know it. They are all good ' s I citizens of South Carolina and have a right to | tl run for office if they see fit ; but not one of them ; | hits a shadow of it chance of being elected. ' j( j Their candidacies all go to make up a big farce; | and why? The Negroes are not registered in I *} ] the first place; and in the second place, they K j would not vote for them if they were. Hoth Mr. j j Chalk and Colonel Davie are as good citizens Cl and as able statesmen as Dr. strait; ntti you j would lie willing to but two to one that Dr. I Strait will get as many votes as both of thein; j s' and why? Dr. Strait has the endorsement of j I the regular Demoeratie party, and the white 11> men of the district will see to it that he is elected. 1 ;l Now, Captain, although you know that thecari- j didaey of these Independents has nothing what- j ever to do with the merits of the constitutional j ft convention question, you have sought to fix on j a all who are opposed to the convention, the stigma j of consorting with Independents, Radicals and I tree Negroes. You are very ungenerous, Captain. !11 Clsewhcrc in this issue you will note that Messrs. j Kin ley, Wylie, Crawford, Waters, McCorkle, j Ncclyand Hriee are all opposed to the convention, j j] All of these men have the full endorsement of the people of York county, and however much anybody may disagree with them in polities, it is not j especially safe to question the sincerity of their j n motives. They have the absolute eon lidenee ofa ' c large majority of the white voters of York conn- j ty, and they are entitled to be considered Demo- j I erats, and we will give you our word for it that 0 I in the general election next Tuesday, each one C' Iof them will support the regular Democratic ti ticket. j ti And so you are at all times ready to speak your j sentiments and convictions on all public (pies-1 1 j tions. That is a commendable virtue ; but does: D [your memory serve you correctly, Captain? jb During the recent campaign you stumped the a county for the Democratic nomination for the j olliee of school commissioner. Did you express [' your convictions on any stump? If so, we did I c I not hear of it. Is it not a matter of fact that i previous to the last few weeks you were several S( I times heard to say that you were doubtful as to 1 ! whether or not thiseonventiou should be called ? . j Some people might be so malicious as to say that you kept so mum during the campaign for u fear of giving oll'ense and losing votes. How* M] ever this may be. Captain, why the change?! j What has given such backbone to your eon vie- | | tionsall of a sudden ? It is understood that you w | are a candidate for the position of clerk of the V j board of railroad commissioners. The mem- b bers of this board are known to "hobnob" i ? pretty closely with Ross Irbv and to be in favor j. of this great measure. Captain, is it possible i that your motive in thus hastening to put your- j c j self on record at the last moment is in order that j V ; when you come to ask for the coveted secretary- I l) ! * ' i in 1,1,1,1 j j Mll|> villi villi Minn mrii i>>u I.., ...... ...... : ^ \ according to orders. ? I Captain, we hope that your motive is higher |n : than this; hut tin; circumstances seem to lie I j against you. However, such is polities; anil j j whether the game works or not, you still have Q our (food will. We only hope that on account of your little ruse, not a single York county voter will lie iuilueeil to east his siiHYugc in lavor t of this unwise and peculiarly dangerous incus- 0 lire. Think over tfic matter attain, Captain. | With you we are going to vote the straight Hem- v ncratic ticket from top to bottom ; and good ; 1 judgment and patriotism reipiire that yon vote with ns "('onstitntional Convention, Xo." e LOCAL, AFFAIRS. IM>i;X TO MOW AI > V K RT IS KM KXTS. list Cousins?Talk about ran nod goods, genuinesardines,canned lnackerol,pickles, tea, Magnolia hams and strips, green and parched coffee, tlour, tobacco, etc. lowry <V Starr?Offer spectacles and eyeglasses, chill cure for .V) cents, rye, wheat and oats for seed, and 100 plugs of tobacco for ? ">. ,'liisonant A Castles, Hickory (trove?Tell of dry goods, ready made clothing, groceries, hardware, Sewing machines, etc, and remind you that notes and accounts they hold are past due. [. C. Strauss?(jives his prices again, ohn .1. Hunter?Talks about Strouse A Brothers clothing, dry goods, shoes, etc. . 11. Beard, Gaston ia, N. ('.?Wants you to write to him for prices if you require anything in the way of monuments and tombstones. M. Grist?Can furnish you with a heating oil stove. For small rooms it is the most economical mode of heating them. '. A. Abernathy?Is prepared to furnish you with a "Good Times" cooking stove and to attend to guttering, rooting and all kinds of repair work. He may he found near the ('. A* L. railroad depot. HONOR ROLL FOR OCTOBER. Following is the honor roll of the Hanks [ill school for the month of October: Highly Distinguished. Above 07.?II. M. anks, H. It. Parish, M. K. (lanlner, F. Mallard. Distinguished. Between 0f>-07.?J. M. Mewain, A. K. Kennedy, J. L. Gardner, R. A. hcrfesce, W. L. Barron, R. L. Parish, S. A. unlnp, J. K.Owens, B. M. Dobson, F. o. Hart, . F. Williams. Proficient?James Clark, O. Davidson, J. H. fitlierspoon, V. Rainey, Howard Caldwell, R. . Carroll, F. G. Dobson, C. C. Young, M. J. fitlierspoon, II. C. Smith, William Robinson, f. M. Gregg, L. Parish, R. B. Morrison, J. S. Miliums, Quinn Wallace, J. A. Jenkins, L. IcClain, Robert Garner, John Townscnd, R. funter, J. Lorick. DESTROYED BY HAIL. A destructive hail storm visited Bethesda Bvnship last Friday night and laid waste a ansiderahlc portion of the territory between luthriesville. and Rock Hill. Corn was amaged to some extent; but cotton suffered vorse. Among those in the track of the storm 'ere Messrs. R. A. Erwin, J. Jj. Moore, C. T. Smith, Roland Steele, Godfrey, and . H. Hughey. TJie storm was accompanied y a great deal of rain. In some places the ail was several inches deep, and it is reported iiat many of the fields arc literally carpeted ith cotton that has been beaten out of the oils and packed into the ground. The total )ss will probably foot up several thousand ollars. We are told that the children of Mr. J. L. Ioore gathered up 54 dead birds, of different inds, about his premises after the storm, ---i *? - OAnn o nil iur. iv. i'iiwm h-jjui is iia>in^ ov^>? ?% umber of dead rabbits, killed by the bail. YORK RAITIST ASSOCIATION. The regular annual meeting of the York laptist association was held at Union hurch last week, commencing on Thursday nd continuing through Sunday. Itev. A. ). Booth was elected moderator, and Felix T. Dover was elected clerk. The reports in the various interests were ead and discussed with much enthusiasm, 'he association pinned its faith to the Bapst High school at Yorkville by heartily enorsing the course pursued by the board of rusteesand the plans adopted by them. Kev. K. J. Forrester was present rcpresentlg the Connie Maxwell orphanage at Greenrood, and gave the body an account of the workings of this institution. The reports om the churches, both as to spiritual and nancial development, were very encouraglg. The ministers present who took part 1 the discussions were lie vs. W.J.Langton, J. H. Caudle, A. E. Booth, 1). W. 'homasson and F. C. Ilickson. The next looting is to be held with Buffulo church, nd the opening sermon will be preached by lev. A. E. Booth. CANDIDATE CHALK. Mr. G. W. Chalk, who was mentioned in tie last issue of Tim Enquirer as an Indcendent candidate for congress from the 'iftli district,"came to Yorkville last Friday, nd making this place his headquarters, left y way of the southbound Narrow Gauge eight train on Monday afternoon. Mr. Chalk is a citizen of Itavenna, in one f the Fifth district townships of Spartanburg ounty. He is a native of Chester county, nd as suggested last week, was formerly ditor and proprietor of the Gastonia, X. C., lazette. He is a man of some means, good haracter, and good education. He thinks he as sufTicient ability to represent the people l congress, and promises that if he does not ccomplish more good than Dr. Strait has ceomplished, he will donate his first year's ilary to charitable purposes. -?r- ^1. .11. l?,| onQ.iL- i? V?i-i-v!11o IHI'. V. IIUIN Illll'IIUUU III III <u>n,...v ist Friday ; but owing to his failure to get proper announcement of the fact, did not o so. Ity his announcement in another olutnn, it will be seen that be intends to peak in the courthouse tomorrow immeditely after the court takes a recess for inner. WHAT THKY THINK OF IT. Believing that the views of the various otinty olliccrs on the question of a new contitution will he of interest to our people at Ins time, a representative of The Enquirer as asked each of them the following queson : "Are you in favor or opposed to the tilling of a constitutional convention, and by?" In each case the question was anivered with strait forward frankness, and ic views expessod are as follows: W. B. Wylie, clerk of the court: I think . is a very inopportune time for such an exeriincnt and shall vote "Constitutional onvention ?No." W. J. Waters, auditor : I am opposed to the ailing of a constitutional convention at this inc. I don't think the people are in proper liape for it either politically or financially, believe that one of the first steps which will e taken, will he to reduce the constitutional rea of counties, and this, to say the least of ,, will entail considerable expense and collision. So long as necessary changes can he ccomplished by inexpensive amendments, I liink the overhauling of the whole fundalental law would he rather too costly a ixury to he paid for with five cents cotton. K. A. Crawford, sheriff: Right now I iiink it a rather dangerous undertaking: nd unless I get more light on the subject ctween now and the election, I shall vote gai list it. I don't see why any desirable liangcs cannot he made by amendment. W. N. Mcl'orkle, probate judge: lam pposed to the calling of a constitutional onvention. I don't think that the condion of the country is propitious at this iiiwt I :un r?f i)u> oninion that we can lore economically make the present eonstiition conform to any desired requirement y amendment. I am also of opinion that ny new constitution that might he framed, liould be submitted to the people for ratiliation or rejection. H. A. I). Xecly, county treasurer : As I 20 it now, I am opposed to it. I don't like iie idea of holding a constitutional convenon without knowing what it is going to do, nlcss its work is afterward submitted to lie approval of the people. J). K. Kin ley, State senator: I have always been in favor of a constitutional conention and would like to see one now if I elieved its labors would reflect a proper exrcssion of the will of the people of South 'arolina : but I am convinced that on acount of the existing division among the flute people, to frame an organic law free rotn partisanship, would be impossible at his time. A constitutional convention just ow would lie a dangerous experiment and shall vote "No." J. S. llrice, chairman of the Democratic rganizatiou in York county : A eonstituionul convention should be composed of pariots ; but in the present divided condition f our people, it is possible that the delegates, rhether elected as Tillmanites or Conservaives, would be strongly partisan. Such a onvention would be dangerous. I am in favor of the county lines remaining as they are now located, and as I have good reasons to believe that one of the pet schemes of the i 1 advocates of (he proposed convention is to reduce the constitutional area required for counties, I am not willing to run the risk. : For these and other reasons, too numerous to mention, I shall vote "Constitutional 1 Convention, No." \V. II. Kdwards, school commissioner: ; The views of Captain Kdwards are expressed i in full in another column. ABOUT PEOPLE. Rev. and Mrs. J. Meek White, of Russell* | ville, Ark., are visiting relatives and friends I near Sharon. i Mr. Will Hanks, of Davidson college, X. ('. j was called home last Friday on account of the illness of his brothei. Miss Pinkey Carroll, of Hlairsville, and j Miss Fernie Carroll, of Bullock's Creek, are j visiting Mrs. S. A. Carroll's family. Rev. and Mrs. R. I*. Franks passed up the C. L. road on yesterday morning on route for Morganton. X.C., where they were going to visit relatives. Mr. Franks was pastor of the Methodist church at this place in 1882. He is now located at Lowndesville, in Abbeville county. church notices. Episcopal?Rev. Robert A. Lee, minister. Services on Sunday morning next at 11 o'clock and in the evening at 7. Sundayschool in the afternoon at 3.2"> o'clock. Baptist?Rev. \V. J. Langston, pastor. Yonkvii.i.k?Sunday-school at 9..10 o'clock a. m. Prayer-meeting tomorrow evening at , 7 o'clock. Services on Sunday morning at j 11 o'clock. Presbyterian?Rev. W. G. Neville, pastor. Sunday-school at 3 o'clock p. tn. Prayermeeting tomorrow evening at 4.30 o'clock. Services next Sunday morning at 11 and evening at 7 o'clock." Trinity Methodist Episcopal?Rev. S. A. | Weber, pastor. Prayer-meeting this evening at 7 o'clock. Services next Sunday morning at 11 o'clock, and evening at 7 o'clock. Sunday-school at 3 p. m. Services Friday evening at 7 o'clock. Associate Reformed Presbyterian?Rev. Boyec II. Drier, pastor. Youkvii.i.f.?Sunday-school at 4 o'clock p. m. Prayer-meeting tomorrow evening at 7 o'clock. Services ..,n,.,.inir .it 11 nVlrw>k llllll nvcii Ull omnia v iiiwi iuhq tu w ing at 7. COURT OF GKNKRAIj SESSIONS. The court of general sessions for York county, convened in Yorkville last Monday, his Honor Judge James Aldrich presiding, Solicitor Hough representing the State, and Stenographer H. I. McCaw taking the testimony. Petit jurors answered to their names as follows: Ik X. Craig, T. A. Campbell, J. A. Parish, J. A. Westbrook, J. J. Jones, A. C. L. Robinson, \V. W. Jenkins, W. J. Davis, D. M. Hagins, John R. Martin, L. H. Cobb, J. S. Ilartncss, W. A. Bolin, J. R. Gettys, J. P. Epps, It. It. Plaxico, R. L. Wilkerson, It. B. Massey, W. T. Sturgis, John E. Plexico, J. A. Shillinglaw, J. 31. Caldwell, II. S. Love, J. J. Whisonant, (J. II. O'Leary, J. S. (i 1 asscock, W. S. Barnwell, W. P. Locke, O. W. Hartness, J. P. Billuo, S. J. Kimbrell, S. 31. Edwards, W. L. Gilmore, XV. 31. Kennedy, Two of the venire?R. 31. Erwiu and Wm. Corder?failed to answer to their names. The grand jurors were all present at the opening of court except 3Iessrs. J. It. Lindsay and John Gelzer In consideration ol the fact that the grand jury had been charged at two previous terms of the court, his honor offered no further instruction as to its generul duties. The first case taken up was that of the State against Wm. Leaks, colored, charged with housebreaking and larceny. The prosecutor was 31r. S. C. Faris, of Fort 3Iill township, who alleged that the prisoner had broken into and stolen cotton of the value of $10 from his gin house in July last. Leak had no counsel, and conducted his case himself. The only testimony against him was that of Jim Parks, colored, an accomplice, who turned State's evidence. His honor charged that it was bad policy to convict a man on such testimony, unsupported, and the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Wash Beard, alias George Washington, colored, was tried on the charge of attempting to commit a criminal assault and was found "not guilty." Bounce C'hisholm, colored, was acquitted of the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. Andrew Bobbins plead guilty of larceny of livestock, and was sentenced to 14 months at hard labor in the penitentiary. John Sandiler, colored, was convicted ol J housebreaking and larceny. Sandiler is : from Rock Hill, is about 10 years of age, ! and has quite a reputation as a chicken thief, j After a few inquiries as to his general cliarI acter, his honor sentenced him to go to the penitentiary for the term of 10 months and i in nav a line of one dollar. - - i / -- Malt Byors, colored, was convicted o( housebreaking and larceny and sentenced to the penitentiary at hard labor for the term of seven months. i Amy, Polly and Toad Buchanan, all colored, were tried on the charge of riot and i assault and battery of a high and aggrava; ted nature. When Thk Enqi ikeu went to j press no verdict had been rendered. The cases against Edward A. Smith, I charged with assault and battery with inI tent to kill; and Charley Davis, colored, | charged with highway robbery, were nol j prossed by the solicitor. I In the cases against Samuel Bailes, charged with resisting an officer; Major Kimi hrcll, charged with assault and battery : and June Massey, charged with murder, the I grand jury returned "no bills." The grand I jury will probably finish its work today. Albert us Meeks plead guilty to housebreaking and larceny and was sentenced to eight months in the penitentiary. Richard i Witherspoon plead guilty to the same crime and was sentenced to 11 months. The last case taken up before Thk EnI QtJiUKK went to press was that of the State I against Richard Blair, charged with inaliI cious mischief. i , LOCAL LACONICS. To he Hold lit Itook Hilt. ? The Presbyterian Synod of South Carolina, which was in session at Greenville : last week, adjourned last Friday night. The | next session of the synod will be held in : Rock Hill, beginning on Wednesday before 'the fourth Sunday in October, 1S!>">. I ItiithciTord llotol Horned. : ?Colonel W. If. McCorklo, who is just from Shelby, informs us that the hotel at i Ruthcrfoidtou was destroyed by fire last ! Friday night. The lire is supposed to have originated from the explosion of a lamp, i There was no insurance. | Succeeding Splendidly. ? The enrollment at the Baptist High I school now numbers more than ~>0 pupils. The more our people see of the methods ol President Ilooth and his co-workers, the more they are delighted. All are agreed I that the Haptist High school is a splendid ' institution ; and that is now (irmly established on a solid foundation there seems no j longer any room for doubt. Wi' Can't <!et the Information. ? Thk Mnqciuku has more than once been requested to publish the names ot ; teachers who have been successful in passing the regular semi-annual examinations ; but | we find it impracticable to comply with the 'request, for the reason that we are unable ; to get the necessary information. The school commissioner refuses to give it out. i He says that the publication of the namcsof I the successful applicants will be a source ot ! mortification to those who are unsuccessful, j and fortius reason objects to the publication. : We are unable to see the matter in this j light. We have no desire to publish the j names of the teachers who fail to pass the examinations; but consider that the publication of the names of those who are successful a matter of legitimate news, of value to the teachers themselves, ami of interest to the public generally. Hi- I'ulil His I.il-i-nsi-. ? W. H. Powell, a Charlotte man, came to Yorkville last week, and on Friday morning Hooded the town with circulars asking the people to call on him at the hotel where he would sell them goods over so cheap. A ! number of people called and were offered | ''bargains." The attention of Trial Justice i Carroll was called to the circumstance, and < lie waited upon Mr. Powell for a license. J Mr. Powell protested that he had not soldi anything, and said he intended leaving town at once. He had no money, he claimed, and gave Mr. Carroll an order on his ; house in Charlotte. Liter, several individ' i j uals asserted that while Mr. Powell may not have "sold" anything ; he had "ollered ' to sell" iu violation of the. law, and insisted , that Mr. Carroll collect the license. A war-' j rant was issued and served on Mr. Powell just as he was about to leave for lilackshurg. He put up ?1<) cash and went his way. lie ii,li-w it li'iotl riirlit to trade with those in I [ the counlry who may be so foolish as lo believe that he ean oiler them belter bargains I than regularly established local dealers. A FT Kit COLONEL DA VIE. | A Fori Mill l-'itrmer Pours Hot Shot into Ills 1 I'iniinchil Views. ' I Kititorof The Yorkvillc Enquirer. "Colonel W. It. Davie spoke in Chester last W'ednes- j day night to tin audience of nhotit 100 people. He ex-1 pressed himselfasotiposcd tothefree coinage of silver,! saying ttint it would henelit nolxMly hut the Western miner." The above ixclipped from last week's Exqi'ili-1 Kit. Now it does seem to this old fawner, that if 1 Colonel Davie has sense enough to go to congress, I lie ought to have sense enough to know that the j free coinage of silver would henelit the people I just as it always did, and just as the coinage of I gold does, by putting money in circulation. The free coinage of gold does not benefit the ! people individually or directly, for very few of them own gold mines any more than silver I mines; but who will say that it benefits nobody ; but the Western gold miner? And why should j , this "special privilege" be accorded the gold ; | miner, and denied to tin-Silver miner ? And ean ; j any sane man believe that had the same pro-I I script ion and discrimination been waged against | gold as has been against silver, that the price of j gold bullion would not have fallen as low in pro- j portion as silver has? And can he believe that if this discrimrnatiou was removed, and ! I placed on equality with gold at the mints and I in its debt paying power, (as the Democratic ' platform demands) that the price of silver bulI lion would not instantly go up to its coinage value? Would silver miners, or holders of, I silver bullion, he foolish enough to sell it for HO j or 70, when they could take it to the mints and have it coined into silver dollars worth 81.IS) an ounce? This whole light against silver is instigated by English and other bondholders to enhance the value of their bonds, and is against every interest of the American people, as we have ample and bitter demonstration, and why any man, i who has the welfare of the people and the pros, perity of the country at heart, should be duped into favoring their scheme, is simply amazing. Such men, like the Tories of the Revolution, want England to dictate and control the policy of this country. Just what the Tories wanted. The crime of demonetizing silver, or d stroyj ing the debt paying power of half of the money 1 of the country, was, as Mr. Carlisle said, when in , the senate, it was discovered that John Sherman had clandestinely done this, "the greatest crime of this or any other age, and would result in more injury to the people than war or pestilence." What truthful and prophetic words! And do the people of this district want to send a ' man to congress who aids and aoois mis crime: Never! It is to he hoped that Colonel Davie's audience at Chester is typical of the number of votes ho will get in this election. If thiscountry, with her millions of cotton, wheat, petroleum, etc., to sell, that will comniand the gold in the i markets of the world, cannot coin all the silver her mines will produce, and get gold enough to maintain the equilibrium of her currency, she ought to shut up shop, make -in assignment to England, and go into the hands of a receiver. A Fort Mii.i. Farmkr. PLAN TO PROTECT THE PRICE. Organize a Private Siih-Treaxiiry Scheme on a Large Scale. Mr. John T. Roddey, formerly of Rock Hill, but now of SO Broadway, New York, is seeking to stir tip the fanners of the South 1 to organized effort looking to the protection p of the price of cotton. His plan is outlined in the following communication sent to the Columbia State and published in all the leading papers of the South last Thursday : To the Thinking Farmers of the South: For the past two years I have made "cotton !. commissions" my business, and daily have I witnessed the downward tendency of your product. If you will think for a moment, you will realize the fact that though you are the producers of this country and should bo the most independent, yet you are the most dependent , people of America. Why? Because there are combinations on nearly every article you use. The manufacturers ot the North combino on ( everything and say what it shall bring, while you sell your products for whatever they are willing to"pay you. Why cannot you protect your cotton in the same way ? 1 I should like, if it meets your approval, to organize a trust company called the Southern Farmers' Trust company, for the purpose of protecting your products from the depressing influences of speculators, spinners and capitalists, and provide a means by which you can name the price for your products, instead of having the , price dictated to you, as is now the case. I feel satisfied this can be done by forming a trust which would be able to handle most of the cotton you grow. Let the capital stock lie ?50,000,000 to ?100,000,000, subscribed entirely by the farmers of the South and divided into as many shares as may be necessary, and small enough for every planter , to subscribe. Let.'each farmer take stock to his utmost capacity and support the trust in every . possible way. In case you receive 10 cents for your cotton, i instead of f> cents which you are now receiving, you save on a crop of JS,000.0<X) bales about ?200,000,000, at least twice as much as the capital stock of the trust company. In case speculators j should become frightened even at the mention of the trust and advance the price of cotton, so much the better for you, but very likely they would attempt at tirst to lilutl'you. I think it is now time to act. What benefits the farmer or laborer unquestionably benefits . all classes. If such a plan should meet your api t i.i ..." .1 |.,,i ? 1 pi'OVill, 1 WOlllll Uf mure LII.Iii gl'?n < " mun .. j representative cotton grower from each State or I Alliance, either in New York or in some Southern city, to see if something cannot he done to bring about some benefit to the South. Somc| thing must he done or your lands will not be | worth cultivating. LETTER FROM LOWRYSVILLE. I As Viewed from the Top of the Church Tower? ' Heavy Cotton Picking?Candidate Chalk. | Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. LowHYsvit.t.K, October 2!).?On a recent oeI easion I climbed the church tower here and took a view of things and places around. Bullock's | creek appeared to be but a short distance away, j while the mountains in this State and North . Carolina presented a grand view in the backI ground. Another familiar place could be plain| ly seen. This is the grove around the residence of Captain .1. t'. Farnir, in Union county. The j towns and villages in plain view were, Chester, ! Hodman and hdgmoor, on the G. C. and N. railroad. Lewis's Smith's, and Hock Hill, on i the (\, C. and A. railroad, and the Presbyterian 11 High school could be plainly seen. To the I west of Hock Hill, can be seen several villages I which I supposed to be along the Three C's j railroad. I looked for Yorkville, and at last i plainly saw the standpipe; but could not see j any buildings. Last week was very favorable for cotton pickj ing, and in this section the bulk of the work was completed. W. (). Guy had live thousand i pounds picked on Wednesday, and over six I thousand on Thursday. Others had good pick,! ing done also. The price paid was thirty cents | per hundred pounds. ' | Master Walter Lowry was very severely cut i j with a barbed wire last Saturday. When he J came in contact with the wire he was chasing a chicken. His upper lip was entirely open be,! sides other injuries about the face. Dr. Anderson rendered the necessary surgical aid and he is now getting along very well. Mr. G. W. Chalk made a speech here last | Saturday night week. If he was a candidate for congress, he did not let his audience know , | it. Indeed they (lid not discover what he was j driving at at all. Our citizens are quiet; but they have on their ! "working clothes," and will bury all Independi cuts in political graves on November l>. w. O. (I. ROCK HILL HAPPENINGS. Marriages ami Itlliiil Tigers?Captured the lturglar? Corn Shucking?Other Notes. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Hock Hii.r,, October 2h.?On last Saturday night a week ago, the otlieo of Trial Justice J. J. ! Waters was the scene of some very interesting events. It seems that two gallants from Gaston county, N. ('.?brothers?had comedown on the t 1 h-'IO train, bringing with them two young ladies? sisters?whom they wished to take home , as their brides respectively. These lost very little time in making inquiries, and soon had our obliging judge in his ollice ready to perforin the ceremony. About this time, however, a .J diversion was created by the entrance of Stato. ! Constable Milling with two parties from whom j ' i.~ i....i i..uf oi-n.i ui.vnral niiurts of whisky, I which one of tiio two hail brought down from ! , Charlotte, tjuito a nunibcr of interested look! ers-on were added to the crowd in the teniple of justice by this time, and while Judge Waters, ! with counnendable gallantry, was discharging i first the duty to which all the romance of his | nature was urging him, one of the persons arrested as a blind tiger man, quietly slipped away j ' and has since been heard of in Atlanta. The! . other party was released on his own reeogni; stance. If brought to trial at all, it is probable that nothing can be done with them, as the satchel containing the liquor had just been i handed to him when the vigilant constable ; "nabbed" him. The two newly-wedded couples | i left for home on the it o'clock train next: ' morning. | Some good detective work on the part of Hock ' j Hill's policeman, resulted in the capture of a, ' well known colored thief of this community? j I .John Sand iter? last Wednesday night. Warn; ing had been received during the day by A. K. | | Smith A* Co., that their store would be raided; j that night; so everything was in readiness to j I give the burglar, or burglars, a fitting reception, i Messrs. Frel Mobley, T. V. MeFadden, and C. I | .1. I'ride,'dr., concealed themselves in the store, ! and shortly after midnight, Sandifer entered the | store through the side door, the bolt of which had been left so as to admit of rather an easy entrance. After he had groped his way to the front and was proceeding to help himself from a showcase, the light of a dark lantern Hashed upon his astonished gaze ami revealed the three gentlemen above iisiiiiimI near by. When eomiiiandeil to In?li 1 up his hands, he obeyed in short order; and, on being searched, was found to have pocketed three watches, valued at Whatever accomplices he may have had outside lid not remain to see Ids exit, on confessing Ids guilt and waiving a preliminary hearing, he was sent to jail to await trial. The poles for the telephone system, mention of which was made recently in this correspondence, have arrived, and arrangements will be made for theii erection. About '!" subscribers are already secured, and many others will undoubtedly subscribe. The central otliee is to be in one of the back rooms over the Savings bank. "Corn shucking" seems to be quite fashionable in these parts just now. We have heard of three last week. One at Mr. Sain Fcwell's ; another at Mr. Win. Miller's; and a third at Mr. V. it. McFadden's. A number of the citizens of our town attended the last mentioned, and they renort having had a line time and a big supper. 1'he workers shucked a pile of about son bushels of corn by midnight. Very disastrous accounts of the damage done by the hail storm last Friday night were brought into the city next morning. Your correspondent saw a cotton stalk that was pulled from a licit!said to have been on the edge of the storm area. Nothing was left on it but the bark, and that was about half gone. Whatever open cotton or green bolls had been on the stalks must have been a total loss. Mr. Hon Moore, Mrs. Adams, ami Mr. 1). Black, are among those reported as having sutiered the heaviest losses. CLAY HILL CLATTER. High Water Again?Numerous Corn Shucking* ? Communion Services at Allison Creek. Correspondence of the Yorkville Kni|iiirer. Clay Him,, October211.?'We have had another heavy rain and high water; but as the corn has all been gathered, there was no damage to it in this neighborhood. Cotton, however, has been blown out badly and the loss is quite heavy. There have been more eornshuekings in this neighborhood this season than for years. They remind us of the good old times that used to be, except from the absence of the old negro corn songs, which seem to have become entirely obsolete. Politics is all the go now. Everybody is discussing the constitutional convention, and so far as I can learn, the majority in this section is strongly opposed to it. The mills on Allison crock were blocked by high water on Saturday, which is generally a pretty busy day. As the result, the millers are very much behind with their work. Communion service will be held at Allison Creek church on the third Sabbath in next month. Services will begin on Wednesday night previous. The pastor will bo assisted by Kev. W. t?. White,of Hock Hill. Mr. Charlie Hope, of Catawba county, X. ('., who has been visiting friends at this place, left for Texas on Saturday last. Miss Clara Smith, our popular and accomplished organist, is to be married on the l-'tth day of November to Mr. John Craig. Mr. John K. llogue has bought the Howry Smith place, near Valdora, and will remove with his family to it verv soon. Chills and fever have subsided and the health of thisneighborhood is good again. MERE MENTION. The Japanese are unwilling to agree to terms of peace with China. They want to fight it out and settle the matter for all lime to come. The whole line of the Kansas Valley railroad is literally terrorized by highwaymen. While an Illinois excursion train was passing a cattle chute one day last week, the hrakeman called out "danger." A dozen men stuck their heads out of the window. One man had his arm broken, another his skull crushed, and several others were more or less seriously injured. Vice President Stevenson has endorsed (he candidacy of Hill in New York ; but President Cleveland still refuses to have anything to say. The lirm of Stern & Co., dealers in wholesale furnishing goods, New York, was closed by the sheriff* last Monday and S. S. Stern, senior member of the lirm, committed suicide by jumping into a reservoir in Central Park. The city of Philadelphia has just unveiled an equestrian statute of the late General (Jeorge B. McClellan. Some stamps offered for sale in Wilmington, N. C., last week, were identified as those recently stolen from Beunetsviilc, and warrants were issued lor the thieves. The general assembly of Georgia convened in Atlanta last Wednesday. The house is composed of 131 Democrats and 44 Populists, and the senate is composed of 7 Populists, 1 Republican and 37 Democrats. Party caucus becomes necessary for the first time in 20 years. Governor Northen has invited the governors of the various States to attend the International exposition to be held in Atlanta from September 18 to December 31, 1895. Captain Robert B. Pegram, formerly of the United States and Confederate navies, died at Norfolk, Va., last Wednesday, aged 83 years. A new whisky trust was incorporaed last week under the laws of New Jersey with a paid rp capital of $5,000,000. ? On the filli of November, congressional elections will be held in all the States, and State elections will be held in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, -I-: Afiucniifi Mmilnnn iUinil^illi) 1*11 u liroui a, luirrvua i? Nebraska, Nevada. New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, Washington and Wyoming. Full State tickets will be voted for, except in Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington. In New York a governor and lieutenant governor and judges will be voted for, and in the others minor officers and judges will be elected. The Populists have full Stale tickets in every State except in Nebraska and South Carolina. In the former there has been a Democratic-Populist fusion, and in South Carolina there is no Populist ticket. In North Carolina and North Dakota, the Republicans and Populists have fused. In Nevada the silver men have a ticket, and the Prohibitionists have tickets in every State with the exception of Nevada, Tennessee and South Carolina. Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Oregon and Vermont have already held their State elections. Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia will not hold State elections this fall. ^ ? ? Several days ago Warden Jenkins, of the Mississippi penitentiary, offered a premium of $2.50 for the largest number of pounds of cotton picked in a week by convicts on Marcella plantation, where the State is cropping on shares. Following is the score of the first and second class, (the pickers all being white,) which, taking iuto consideration the dry weather and the lightness of the cotton, is regarded as remarkable good picking. Whit Putman picked in five and a half days 2,290 pounds. Sebe Russell picked in five and a half days 2,070 pounds. Dan Hughes picked in five and a half days 2,000 pounds, John Prewett picked in five and a half days 1,005 pounds. John Baxter picked in five and a half days 1,870 pounds : total 10,195 pounds. John Hair picked in five and a half days 1,740 pounds. T. S. Skien picked in five and a half days 1,705 pounds. Stanley Hale picked in five and a half days 1,015 pounds. W. T. Hollowed picked in live and a half days 1,580 pounds. George Bcasly picked in four and a half days (sick one day) 1,505 pounds; total 8,145 pounds. ? The Aquia Creek train robbers have been captured. It develops that the job was accomplished by only two men. One of them is named Charles J. Searcy, and the other is Charles A. Morganlicld. They were run down and captured hv Pinkerton detectives. Searcy made a full confession. He said that he and Morganlicld had been discussing the matter of robbing a train for sometime; hut not until the day of the robbery had they decided what train to tackle. They both boarded the tender of the train, and when they got a safe distance between stations, they el imbed on the engine and overpowering the engineer and fireman, made them stoj) at a convenient place. The robbery was accomplished with but little difficulty. Searcy took tbc ollicers to a place in the woods where he and his pal had secreted a large sum in bonds and other papers. The papers were recovered along with a considerable portion oft be stolen money. ? At the annual meeting of tbe Southern Railway company, held in Richmond, Ya., last week, the following directors were chosen : A. L. Roulware, of Richmond ; C. II. Coster, Harris C. Fahnestock, Thomas F. Ryan, Samuel Spencer, J. Hood Wright, of New York, and Skipwith Wilmer, of Baltimore. The hoard elected the following ollicers: Samuel Spencer, president ; A. B. Andrews, second vice president: W. II. Baldwin, Jr., third vice president : Frances Lynde Stetson, general counsel; W. A. C. Ewen, secretary : A. C. Ousley, treasurer; (J. S. Ilobbs, auditor. ltoiiKht Iiv F. II. Ilarbcr. ? The property and effects of the Fishing Creek cotton factory, were sold at public outcry in Chester on Monday of last week. Mr. F. II. Barber, president of the company, was the purchaser, and the price bid was $27,000.