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1 . . ? " mmmmmrnm ISSUED SEMI-WEEHLY. ... ' L K. ousrs sons Pibiiihen. j ? cjfomilg Jfemspaper: Jfor the promotion ofthe political, f%M,3|ritpltinpl and flUmmeqciat Jnterests of the Jeople. {TERVtw'<^Kcopt.BrivENcii^>'CB' ESTABLISHED 1855. ~ YORKVILLE, 8. O., FRIDAY, JTJLY 7,1905. NO. 54. **** f| THE MI By FREDERICK Author of "The Case (Copyright. lMt, by Fr?< ' CHAPTER XIII. Kennard spoke truly when he said he had "gone stale" with work. But that was only half the story. To be mentally and physically tired with the routine of every-day duties was no new experience. A Sunday out of doors, an evening at the Thespians, or few hours with a book, had heretofore always restored his Interest and activity. But as he Journeyed away from Mamaroneck in the early morning. his sensations were utterly unike the old familiar sense of weariness rom overwork. His whole mental atitude was different, and he knew It Never' before had he felt petulant and Irritated to the Dolnt of disgust with everything and everybody connected with his business. He had responded to the call of duty Instinctively, but the thought uppermost In his mind was not how to straighten out the complication. whatpver It might prove to be. but rather how to sweeo It away and be free again at the earliest possible moment. He was In no mood to untangle snarls: If encountered, they should he cut off at whatever cost and the ends pieced toeether again at some convenient season. An hour of such brooding brought him to the rsllroad terminus, with Its picket-line of frantic cahmen and creamlne newsboys suretng against the Invisible barrier which the majesty of the law maintains, and behind which Forty-second street, merging all that Is hideous In crashes, squeaks. ?nd lanples. raises its maddening roar. Half an hour more of lerk and jounces, elbowlngs and lostllnes. landed him before a large office building through whose doors hurrvine pedestrians continually entered or eppgped. and within which half-a-dozen elevators shot up and down In obedience to the orders of a hoarse-voiced starter. "Factory Inspector?fllfteenth?940? right!" Kennard felt himself herded Into the ceee an the slam of flevlble Iron doors heMnd Mm cut off the last word pnd a 1?rk of the lever whirled him a^vwards. v, Room 940 was labeled DKPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES. Audits. Reports. Surveys. Deputy Factory Inspector. 'Tbe door opened into a species of closet, with a small, brass-grated pigeon-hole in the wall facing the entrance. and each of the Hanking partitions contained a door marked "private." Kennard stooped down and peered through the little window. A seedy clerk droning out tigures sat immediately behind the grating, and another clerk stood beside him checking off the monotonous sing-song. The voice sounded sleepy against the chorus of clicking typewriters behind, but both men appeared mechanically absorbed in their work, for neither of theia looked up as Kennard stared through the narrow aperture. For some moments he waited for a pause, but the monotone continued steadily? "Flfty-six-two-nougbt-four; twentytbree-seven-six-nougbt-one; thirty-one two-seven-nine?" " Will you tell me where I can find Insnactor CamDbeil?" "Seven-forty-one, two-nought?door to the right?sixteen-forty-six?" mumbled the clerk, without looiting up. "I beg pardon?" "Forty-one-six?door to the right? door?d-o-o-r! Don't you understand English? Six-one. thirty-two?" Kennard opened the right-hand door, and found himself in a passageway railed off from a large room tilled with clerks and typewriters. Men were seated at various points, writing or talking with one another. At three or four of the desks the incumbents I sat reading newspapers, their hats on I their heads. Kennard waited for some one to address him. but as nobody appeared to take the slightest notice, be inquired of the nearest reader where he could And Inspector Campbell. "I guess you can see him if you've got eyes," came the response from behind the newspaper, "but if you cun't, he ain't there." Kennard felt a sharp answer rising to his lips, but suppressed it as he replied gravely: "That may be so, but I don't happen to know him when I see him." A grunt was the only comment, but tiie reader shifted his cigar and without taking his eyes off the paper, yelled: "Sam! Hi, there, Sam Campbell! Man here wants you!" A slouchy, shifty, red-haired individual seated at a desk across the room talking with another man, rose at the * * * - -?tl ro V un_ snout ana came 10 iue ran u^ nard was standing. "What do you want?" he demanded in a surly tone. "I'm Mr. John Kennard. I called to see you about some matters in relation to our factory which 1 understand require attention." , The man favored his visitor with an Insolent glance. "You sit down till I get through with my friend and then I'll take up your case." Without another word the official slouched back to his desk. Schooling himself to patience, Kennard sat down on the bench und watched the scene before him. A peculiar collection of workers was assembled in that room. With but few exceptions the men looked unintelligent and unhealthy. Most of the faces were coarse and vulgar, not a few were downright evil. No one seemed to work steadily, the pens of the writers moving stiffly and heavily, as though the Angers manipulating them were unaccustomed to their labors. A steady Bow of conversation and cheap, schoolboy banter passed between the desks. NORITY | TREVOR. HILL and Exceptions," etc. ?ZZ , Urlok A. StokM * Oo.) Through confusion, cat-calls, and laughter the women worked on steadily. their fingers flying fast and their Instruments clicking In husy chorus. With the exception of these the room had an insufferable atmosphere of idle irresponsibility. "Hi there, you!" The cry was only one of many flying about the room. "Say, you feller on the bench. Are you asleep? Don't you hear Inspector Campbell calling you?" Kennard looked up and met the eyes of the newspaper reader glaring at him. "No, I didn't hear him," he answered. "Am I to ?0 through this gate?" "Damned If I care! You can Jump it if you want to." was ihe response, which was greeted with a salvo of guffaws from the neighboring desks. Kennard opened the snail gate and passed to where Campber sat. a bunch of papers in his bands and a pen in his mouth. The inspector motioned with a jerk of his thumb to the seat at his side, and Kennard accepted the Invitation. For a few momenta neither man spoke, and the official fumbled among his papers. At last be looked up. "Well, what do you want of me?" he asked. ' "Not much," Kennard answered. "I stopped to inquire what the trouble was." "The inspector smiled slyly. "I guess you know." "I do not." "Aw, come off, Kennard. How long have you been at this game?" "What game?" "Employing minors against the law." "I didn't know I did po." "Well, you know It now. then. Philip Grout, aged ten, and Terrance Hume, aged nine, kinder sneaked in on you unbeknownst, I supoose?" "Oh, those two? I never knew their ages, or, if I did, I had forgotten. There was sickness in their families, and I permitted them to do some work to help out, without asking their birthdays; they are only temporarily employed and can stop at any time. That's all there Is to that." "Don't you believe it?it ain't. If vou think you can employ minors when it's convenient and discharge 'em when you re caugtu, you iuatve a mg ujio(alntH ? - f Kennard's face flushed with anger, but he gazed contemptuously at the speaker and answered quietly: "I am well aware of the law, inspector. and have no intention to evade It. If the boys are under age, I assume all responsibility and they will be laid off at once." "Don't fret yourself. I laid 'em off all right." "You?" "Yes, me. See here, Kennard. don't put on any frills with me. You'll find It won't pay." "Have you any further complaints?" "Yes, I have; but if you don't change your tune, I'll guess I'll send in my report as it is. I don't have to give you no notice." Kennard glanced at the surly, cunning face of the man, and suppressed an inclination to defy him. He had power to cause infinite trouble and loss, and up to a certain point it was better to humor him. "If you had not been appointed so recently, Mr. Campbell," he began, "you would know I have no desire to evade the law or insult officials. I always managed to get along pleasantly with Inspector Pollard." "Yea, I bet you did. But he ain't inspector any more now, and I am." "I see. And you find matters want changing at the factory. Let me hear what they are." The man fussed over his papers for a few minutes, and spoke into them rather than at Kennard as he answered: "I don't want nothin' except what's right. But I won't take any dude-talk neither. Pollard's gone, so don't you quote Pollard at me. I'm the man now. Understand?" Kennard nodded as his questioner glanced up. "Well, I Inspected your joint last week. You didn't know it? That's the way I do my work. Old man Pollard used to blow a horn and ring a bell for a week ahead so's you could get read~ for him, 1 s'pose. I don't, and I seen things that's got to be changed quick." Kennard gazed steadily at the official, and as he listened his face became perfectly calm and a cold gray light appeared in his eyes. "Such as?" Thp miPKtinn wn? interesting and en couraging. "Well." Campbell thumbed his papers, and at legnth drew out a memorandum. "first place, there's shop 8. That's got no sanitary arrangements and they'll have to be put in at once." "Yes?" The note of interrogation in the answer was so slight, it passed unnoticed. "And quick, too." "Anything else?" "Yes. lots. You'll put guards about machines Nos 10 and 14, have another fire-escape run up on the boiler building, and quit employin' minors. That'll do for now." "And I am to commence with the sanitary arrangements for shop No. 8?" "Yes; but?well, I don't care if you'd rather do the other things first. Maybe I'll give an extension on that.""Don't you think it might be omitted altogether, inspector?" The man gazed at Kennard between half-closed eyes for a moment. "I guess you know how to do business. Kennard." he insinuated. "I think I do." rejoined Kennard Oris' ly. in a new tone of voice, "and I ihink I've learned all 1 need to know this morning." He rose as he spoke. "Shop No 8 happens to be the workmen's lunch-room, Mr. Campbell, and not one of the factory buildings. Ma chines Nos. 10 and 14 are models? dummies. Your other observations also seem to show baste. However, you are the best judge of that, but I think vou might as well file your report without further consultation with me. Good-day, sir." Outside the sunlight was glorious, the air clear and bracing. Kennard took a deep breath of it, but the atmosphere of room 940 still clung to him as be traveled toward the factory?clung to and enveloped him, so that everything seemed to loom through its murky haze. The taint of a political system was in his nostrils?that peculiar taint which disgusts the palate of the sensitive and makes the mouths of the gross water with delight?the pungent taint which lures the eagles of ambition and the doves of civic virtue no less than all the carrion-feeding flocks which circle in its breath?the taint that deadens honor before destroying it, that poisons high purpose and befogs the brain till in a wondrous mirage wrong seems right, though a whole world shake its head. If his day had begun with more 11stiessness than he had ever known before, it was to finish with a burst of resistless energy. Discourag:ng reports met him at the station without dis Vl? A n^Unn Wol^Atl/n LUI UIU5 Uiixi. rx oci iv/uo 1/1 vunuvnu had occurred Id the machinery? It must be repaired. Proper facilities were lacking? They must be created. A coal-barge bad broken from Its moorings and drifted ashore? It must be warped off and secured again. With no sign of hurry but with indomitable purpose be stood over gangs of men and directed their labors, deaf to objections, insistent, persistent, the embodiment of activity and personal effort. Now he was in the shops disposing the means at hand for the need3 of the moment, inventing resources and devising expedients. Now he was on the docks superintending, encouraging, heedless of difficulties except when surmounting them. There was life and vigor in his every order, irresistible impulse in his every action, and his power of personal examination at last carried the day. From the superintendent to the office boy, the little army of John Kennard's Sons responded with enthusiasm, and the buildings fairly hummed with restless energy. Obstructions melted away, tangles unravelled, breaks pieced together. the impossible became practical, and the wheels were once more turning. Every man in the place felt the touch of a strong, guiding hand, relied on it, and. from very confidence, accomplished what was aimed at "The boss Is in fine form," was the only comment In the workshops, but the phrase had an unconscious ring of pride in the man who did things and knew what he did them for. John Kennard was in good form. Never had he been more sure of himself. The consciousness of his power was strong within bim, as it must be in every commanding force, and when he dropped his pen at the sound of the evening whistle there was no trace of ihe flabby, fretful man who had left Mamaroneck that morning. The tinkling of his bell roused him "Good-by." McMannls hung up the receiver on the hook, paid a double charge without protest, and hastened toward the office of the Milling Companies. His present business with Mr. Harlan could not well be conducted by telephone. The vice president of the Milling Companies was a somewhat inaccessible person, and the stranger within his gates seldom got any further. McMannis found his progress obstructed by brass railings, office boys, ante-rooms, private secretaries and every other protection that hedges the New York financier. By the time he had run the gauntlet of the sentries, written out his name and business on a printed form, cooled his heels in three waiting-rooms, and been crossexamined by the head office boy, a confidential clerk, and Mr. Harlan's Intendent answered the summons, "Ben Homans has thrown up his Job. Promote Doreon to t\is place and take on this man to fill up." He tore a leaf from his note-book as he spoke, and handed the superintendent the name of Miss Harlan's protege. CHAPTER XIV. A cardboard clock with movable bands nailed to the door of room f Indicated to all comers that Mr. Petei McMannis would return to No. 21% Water street at a certain hour. The truth of this legend was, however, always open to doubt, what with mischievous boys who turned the hande every time they passed the door, and the Irregularity of the tenant for whom It vouched. But when by any chance It happened to testify truly, McMannle could, by turning the key In the door utterly discredit It: and this he almost invariably did. Its functions were therefore largely ornamental, although the penciled insults scribbled acrotf its patient face?of which "you lie" was the mildest?might be said to rot It of even that virtue. The delegate-at-large had not forgotten his maiden efTort with John Kennard's . Sons. He had promised himself the firm should receive close ? * ? K?A1/A attention, ana Mcmannis ue?cr uiunn | a promise made to himself. One of his earliest activities had therefore been in the factory on the Hudson, where he discovered a wide flbld, but one of little promise. The union labor was practically unorganized, and although many of the workers were union men, many were not Indeed there was a regrettable apathy among the members about seeking recruits for their ranks, and a general disinterestedness in the cause. To remedy this was McMannls' object, and although he found several personalities which promised well for future leadership. most of the material was poor, and such response as he did receive was unenthusia8tic. There was nothing in the factory itself upon which he could at present build. The wages were union scale or better; the management was strict, but the work steady, and if the profits were large the employes seemed to think they received a fair share. Had it not been that every man in the union was grist to his mill, the new delegate would have postponed payment of his personal grudge, and turned his attention to more impressionable materia). There was no mail awaiting Mr. McMannls' arrival at his office, but he had brought his newspaper, and sitting down at the small desk, he spread it out and began reading it leisurely. Under the beading. "Incorporations at Albany Yesterday," he noted a list of names in fine print. He started to read them and suddenly stopped with an exclamation of surprise. "The Confederated Machine companies; authorized capital $20,000,000." Machine companies? That was In Kennard's line. What did it mean? "Was John Kennard actdally planning to sell out? What if a combination was forming? Something was afoot, and money might be made by working it properly. If be could get on the track of the facta, the opportunity of a lifetime lay before him. How could h? learn what was eolng on? He must not guess, he must not propnesy prematurely or raise any false alarms. He must know what he was talking about when the time came to talk, and until then, what not to speak of. There was nothing more to be learned from the newspaper. He knew the paragraph by heart. If Kennasd was about to sell out, who would be in the secret? His confidential clerks, of course. Not very promising allies for an outsider in a place like Kennard's Sons. If consolidation was the purpose of this incorporation, who would know of it? Josh Harlan, of course. Mr. McMannis closed and locked his door, turned the clock-face to the oak, and hurrying to the nearest telephone pay-station, called up the office of the Milling Companies, where Mr. Harlan reigned as vice president. Central was somewhat tardy in making the necessary connection, and McMannis grew impatient as he sat sweating in the stuffy little cabinet. Two or three times he put the receiver to his ear, and hearing nothing but the faint humming of the wires, swore into the tube for the benefit of the operator. Eliciting no reply, he rang the bell long and angrily, until at last he was rewarded by hearing Mr. Harlan's voice. As he had merely called up the Milling Companies and had not yet asked specifically for any one, McMannis was somewhat surprised to find his friend and patron already at the 'phone. "Hello?" sang Mr. Harlan's voice, inquiringly. McMannis opened his mouth to answer, but it remained open in astonishment as another voice answered? "Is that you, Harlan? This is Trundell." "Yes?" "What's doing in Confederated Machine?" "Nothing much. We're marking time." "Um!" There was a iong pause, and McMannis strained his ears, fearing he had been cut off, but at last the strange voice continued: "1 see you're incorporated." "Yes." "That's all you want to say?" "Yes. Report progress to inquirers." "Um. I don't see it." "What?" "The progress." "Well, you will. Just remember this still-hunt was your idea." "Yes, but this is a little too still. Hope you'll have something to tell me soon." "Hope so. too. Good-by." from the reverie Into which he ha< fallen at the close of his hard day': work, and as he answered It a man entered the room and walked to the desk. He was a tall, well-built, intelm i A ij 'i "I'M THE MAN. NOW. UNDERSTAND?" llgent-looklng fellow, wearing a black cutaway coat and blue overalls, and carrying a stiff derby hat in his hand. "Good-evening, Bea. Want to speak to me?" "Yes, Mr. Kennard. I'd like to have a few words." The man gazed at the floor, and then let his eyes wander about the room without meeting his employer's glance of Inquiry. "Go ahead." "I'm foreman of the outside department now, and?" "I know." "What I want to say is. I'd like to have the teams shod hereafter at Cutler's." "Why? Doesn't Bennett do good work?" "Pretty good." "Then why change?" * "Well, you see he's not?" J The speaker hesitated. * f "He's not what?" * * j "Not union." "What of it? I don't care." "No. Mr. Kennard, but the men do." "What men?" "The hands?all of 'em." "Nonsense, Ben. You've worked here long enough to know that Bennett was in these shops for ten years before I set him up in business tnr hlmcolf He'e vniir npt^hhor and - " I a good worker. I see no reason for changing." i "Then I'd like to leave." I Kennard stared at the speaker in astonishment. "What! you want to throw up your job simply because you can't have your Dwn way? That's foolish. Go horaei and think it over, Ben." "I don't want to think it over, Mr.; Kennard. I want to go now. Can I have my money to-night?" The man's manner was unmistak-. able, and his employer simply nodded, i "Yes," he answered coldly, "but re-! member this, Homans, I won't takei you back." "That's all right. I can get another1 job. I guess." "Perhaps. But after some years In this place, Ben?and you know whether it's a good place or not?that's scarce-' ly the way to speak to me. You owe It to yourself, if you don't owe it to me, to?" "I guess I don't owe you anything. I've earned all I got. ain't I? Kennard pushed his bell. "Mr. Barton," he said, as the super- , private secretary, he was in no very affable mood, and the atmosphere of the sanctum sanctorum Itself, when he did reach it, was not calculated to restore his geniality. Mr. Harlan's reception of his visitor was frigidly polite, but entirely free from cordiality. Neither was his fund of information excessive. Had ho heard any talk of a combination involving John Kennard's Sons? Mr. Harlan wondered if his visitor had, and answered evasively. Why did McMannis ask? Because he was interested in protecting the workmen there. Mr. Harlan smiled the quiet, irritating smile of which he was master, and gave other evidences of being frankly amused. It was easy to see Peter was new at his business, he observed, since he proposed wasting bis time in trying M t n tirWnm tv wuir ngaiuai juuu ivcuuuu, TTLiuui everybody knew gave his workmen all they wished and would give any agitator more than he wanted. It was somewhat comic, Mr. Harlan commented, to think of Peter McMannis posing as a champion of downtrodden labor, and bis selection of Kennard's men as his wards completed the comedy. The expression on McMannis' face, as his patron joked and ridiculed him, was sinister in the extreme. Almost any other man would have taken warning at once, but Joshua Harlan gave no heed until the delegate-at-large snapped out that it was evident somebody had his own reasons for wanting Kennard left alone To his utter surprise Mr. Harlan admitted It. accompaying the admission with a sneer which was at once a threat and a challenge. His change of manner was as complete as it was sudden. From amused contempt it passed to cool, commanding scorn, and from familiar jesting his tone turned to a domineering insistence. If the former had irritated McMannis, the latter roused every slumbering devil within him. until he fairly rocked with anger. It almost seemed as though Mr. Harlan wba bent on enraging bis visitor to the last possible degree. Yes. he was interested in the Confederated Machine company, Mr. Harlan repeated, and It was just as well McMannis knew It Why? So as not to run counter to his patron's plans. Suppose he didn't approve thoee plans. He must approve them. Must he? Certainly. How could he do otherwise, what would he dare do? The visitor, bursting with anger, mentally put a price on each sneer and Insinuating Inflection, and responded With a question asked with half-closed eyelids and an attitude, part crouch, part cringe. What was there in It for him? The answer was a laugh, a low mocking laugh mingled with a note of astonishment and wrath. I There was another question to be ankori nnrt the ljthnr asrttatnr shot an ugly glance at bla companion aa he put It Was Mr. Harlan looking for I trouble? What did the walking delef 3*1* mean-? The queatlon waa repeati ed. Did Mr. Harlan want trouble? If not, he'd better talk plain and quick to the speaker. Mr. Harlan would talk both plainly and quickly. The man wasn't born who could blackmail him. and the last man in the world who'd better attempt it was the rum-soaked Individual who was polluting his office for the last time. It waa well Peter McMannis should understand with whom he was dealing. Did he think to frighten or dictate to a man of Mr. Harlan's caliber? Cowards frightened nobody, and it required men of ability to dictate. Let him keep the company of those with whom bullying was efi fective and blackmail was easy. It was a waste of words to talk about gratitude or obligation. Those expressions were meant for the ears of gentlemen. He would talk a language which curs could understand, and this was the word that the honorable walking delegate had better carry away with him. The slightest interference with John Kennard's workmen or anything else which Interested Mr. Harlan, would bring Mister Peter McMannis up with a round turn. Let him mark that well. Mr. Harlan did not propose to speak twice. The office door was open now. McMannIs would do well to go before Mr. Harlan touched his bell. Alone once more In his room, the vice president of the Milling Companies settled his cravat and gazed with unruffled satisfaction In the glass. "Gad, if there Isn't a storm up at Kennard's to-night, I don't know my roan," he murmured to himself, as he smilingly pressed a pearl pin into place. At the same moment in the outside office Peter McMannis was Rtudying a bankers' and brokers' directory opened at the letter T. The name Trnndell was in heavy type, and he quickly made a note of the address. TO BE CONTINUED. What Luther Burbank Has Done. ?In the Country Calendar for July. W. S. Harwood gives the following summary of the work of the marvellous Callfornlan plant breeder: "For thirty-five years. Mr. Burbank has been at work creating new forms of plant life and improving old ones. In that time he has created, by breeding and selection, more than two thousand five hundred distinct species of plants." "Some of his 'creations' are: "The primus berry, a fruit unknown before, made by the union of a blackberry and a raspberry, which union scientific men said was Impossible:; "The white blackberry, very beautiful, with a delicate flavor; "The 'phenomenal berry,' a similar creation, a cross between a raspberry and a California dewberry, having the color of a raspberry and the shape of a blackberry, but larger than either, far more productive, and with a flavor snrnassinsr both: "The plumcot (result of the union of the apricot and the plum.) of rare flavor and richness, again disproving the dictum of the scientists; "A plum with no pit and one with the flavor of the Bartlett pear; "A walnut first so thin of shell that the birds could peck through It, afterward bred backward along the path It had come until a shell of the required thickness was secured; "He has produced a new thornless cactus, a combination of many other varieties, which bears a fruit, too, for man and beast, and which will redeem the desert places of the earth; he has done all these, and many other marvellous things which may not be mentioned here for lack of space." tillman on tub mmmi Senior Senator Writes a Compromise Letter. HOST BR RAISKD ABUVK SUSPICION. Parent 3eem> to Think Hia Child Must Be Suffering From Corruption, and Says That Unless the Corruption Can Be Wiped Out, the Innocent Child, Now Overgrown, Should Be Slain. Senator Tillman has given out a letter In which he fully expresses his views as to the dispensary situation. The letter was addressed to Mr. Francis W. Hlgglnson of Newberry, under date of July 1, and Is as follows: Dear Sir: I have your letter of June 27. propounding certain inquiries in regard to the antl-dlspensary movement In Newberry and to the dispensary and liquor questions In general, and to nr.y own attitude towards It. The questions you ask relate to the misinterpreted subject now agitating the minds of the people of the state, and In order to cover the ground at all satisfactorily It will require me to answer at some length and to discuss the subject in Its various phases, and this becomes the more necessary as you notify me In advance that you desire my answer for publication. Certain General Principles. I shall premise what I write by laying down certain general principles which will be disputed only by those who are fanatical and unwilling to consider any subject from any other standpoint than that of bigotry and prejudice. Most men will agree to the following: 1. All men love stimulants and are usually slaves to some kind, as witness the strong appetite which prevails for coffee, tea, tobacco, beer, wine, brandy, whisky, morphine, quinine, cocaine, etc. With the exception of some of the drugs mentioned there are no Injurious effects Immediately perceptible and none of them Intoxicate except 'hose containing alcohol. Alcoholic beverages In moderation are not more harmful than tea or coffee, probably less so. 2. The abuse of liquor by men drinking to excess has caused as much or more crime and misery than any other thing.' 3. The proper policing and control of the liquor traffic so as to minimize Its abuses Is one of the most perplexing and troublesome questions with which any government has to deal. Men nave never agreeu a? iu u-uj uik method being best and never will, and there Is a constant agitation of the subject of reform going on all the while In almost every state In the union. 4. Experience shows that some men will have liquor as a beverage and that no law has ever yet been devised which will prevent them obtaining It. Wise men are, therefore, content to reduce the evils of liquor selling and liquor drinking to the minimum, and the question at Issue In South Carolina now. as It has been these 15 or 20 years, is as to how to do this. No Need for Passion. There Is no need for any heat or passion in discussing the subject, and we should divest ourselves of all prejudices In Its consideration. Three policies have at one time or another been adopted In dealing with the question. License, high or low. prohibition and the dispensary system. Since 1893 fie last named has been the method followed In this state, but all along there have been staunch advocates of the other two systems, embracing within their ranks many of the most Intelligent and best people ? 1? ? * ? i" thorafnrfl pmlnentlv tt'e liutr. 11 la, iu?.v...?, , proper that we recognize these earnest, honest advocates as having Just what we claim for ourselves, no other purpost* than that of the public welfare. And those of us who have been the supporters of the dispensary system must meet them In argument, and show from the experience in which the people of the state have passed, as well as with force and logic, that the advocates of both prohibition and high license are In error. You ask, have you lost faith in the dlspersar.v system, and do you consider It so Inherently defective that It cannot be purged of corruption and made to serve its original purpose? Believes in State Control. I answer most emphatically no, I believe the principle of state control and the sale of liquor through bonded officers to be the best that was ever devised, that it comes nearer the ideal idea of teaching men to use liquor instead of abusing it. and throwing around It safeguards which will be best for the cause of temperance. There Is no inherent defect in the scheme, and If there be corruption and mlsadmlnlstratlon In the enforcing of the dispensary law it is directly traceable to the legislature, and to these who have been placed in charge of Its execution. In the absence of any positive proof of corruption we must wait with deep Interest the investigation which is now under way and urge those In charge of that important work to earnest, thorough and speedy aotlon. The people believe there Is corruption and a great deal of it. Very many things go to show that this belief has good foundation in fact. We ought to know as soon as possible just what and how far men have been guilty of unlawful behavior. The suspicion which now hangs over the dispensary like a pall will cause many to hastily vote for its destruction who are still, or have been, strong believers in the dispensary system as a means of controlling the sale of whisky. So I would say to the gentlemen who are In charge of the Investigation that they can do the people of the state a great service by letting In the light and probing to the bottom. We want to know what Is wron?r. and we can then determine how to provide punishment for the wrongdoers. The dispensary law has been under fire In the courts and on the hustings ever since the system was inaugurated. There has been only one general election in the state, the last, In which it was not an Issue. It won victory after victory, for it was the main issue * quiremenis uuu u^?. .. ? not have It drunk on the premises. If the dispensary Is abolished I will stump the state for prohibition rather than see high license. I have said this, and It Is the reason, probably, that the story is going the rounds about my stumping for prohibition, but before we have prohibition or high license either, I expect, If my health continues good, to give a very earnest discussion to the subject of how to reform the dispensary Instead of destroying It, and to showing the true Inwardness of the present movement. Let us suppose that the present campaign against the dispensary by county elections shall progress victoriously, as It has thus far, and that the majority of the counties in the state vote It out. Will the question be settled? By no means. The alliance of prohibitionists, high license people and blind tigers, which is now waging successful war, will have to continue the war between themselves after the In the election of "'94," In the election for the confltltution&I convention In '"95," and In the state election of '"96," '"98," and 1900 and 1902, Those candidates for public office who carried Its banners were always victorious. What then has caused the present upheaval? Why are petitions circulated in a dozen or more counties asking for an election to vote It out under the Brice law, and that, too, In counties In which In the past Its known advocates have always had large majorities? Have the people any greater faith In prohibition than they have had all these past years? I do not think so. High License Advocates. Are the advocates of high license any stronger than they have been? I do not think so. I am bound to believe that the existing dissatisfaction and desire to destroy the dispensary comes from the well-nigh universal belief of the people that there Is corruption In Its administration and because the last legislature failed to take any action other than to appoint a committee to Investigate. There were charges, with how much truth they were made I do not know, that the I- it. I^?|A +11*. A dispensary innuence m ui<7 icgioiaiu>? was paramount. Anyhow the friends of the dispensary and its enemies Joined force at the last session to prevent any action, and nothing was done, and unless public opinion shall drive the legislature at Its next session to some reform action, which will purify the atmosphere, there Is no possible doubt that all elements of opposition to the dispensary, aided by many of its old friends, will combine In the next election and kill the system. I do not hesitate to ^ell you frankly that If it has become, and Is to remain, a corrupt political machine as charged. I cannot defend It and will not do so, but will join the ranks of those who seek to kill It I believe it can be reorganized and purged of corruption with safeguards thrown around It to prevent the recurrence of the present unfortunate and disgraceful condition of affairs. I cannot now go at length into the details and give reasons, but I will state briefly the causes, as I see them, which have produoed the present situation. The purchase of liquor by any board ex-offlcio or otherwise should be stopped. The original scheme, which was hastily gotten up, made the governor, attorney general and the comptroller general ex-offlcio, the state board of control. This was changed very soon after I left the governor's office, and the legislature assumed control by the election of the board, and In no instance since has my advice and opinion had any weight in shaping Its mansigement, though I have tried to prevent some things which were being done and have urged others without success. It stands to reason that men *-ho have to depend upon the suffrage of the whole people to get high office are, or ought to be, of a higher type, with better characters, in every way better fitted for responsible positions Involving the handling of public money, than those who, with petty salaries, I are eieciea oy me icgiaiaiuiv. Politics In Legislstivs Elections. Politics always enters In a leglslaI tive election. People who vote for a governor vote for him because of other qualifications than that he would I make a good dispensary director, aid for this very reason the governor is the best possible man to place in such I a responsible position. But the law Is fatally defective in I regard to the purchase of whisky in not specifically defining In the most minute and binding manner Just what kinds of liquor shall be bought and I how it shall be bought, without leuvI ing it to the discretion of any board. I Every detail should be worked out, land then the law would execute Itself as far as that feature is concerned. IT he board would then need only to supervise the conduct of state snd I county dispensers, the same as The asylum and penitentiary are run. But as regards the proposed election to vote out the dispensary. If I the dispensary is to be voted out it I should, and must, be voted out of the I state, not by individual counties. Of I course, I recognize the deep-seated I love of the people for local self-government, and I would not compel any I county to retain the dispensary or have one established therein if a majority of their citizens want prohibition, with Its acknowledged failure to prohibit. But, judging simply by the I facts in the numerous elections :hat I have been held on the subject, I believe that a large majority of the people of the state are as strong believers I In the dispensary system as I am, and I that they are only casting about now I for a method of relieving themselves of the corrupt machine, which is said I to be In charge in Columbia. Many states in the Union have had corruption In their state governments and I their state treasurers have defaulted, I have sometimes stolen hundreds of I thousands of dollars, but no man has I ever thought of abolishing the machinI ery of taxation because of this. V e have got to deal with liquor in seme I form and provide for its legitimate Isale, or we know it will find ille^itaI mate. Against High License. I Shall we have high license? I say I no. That gives the monopoly to the I wealthy man as against the poor I man, and we know from experience of I bar rooms that it will be impossible I to give any man the right fill his store I with liquor to sell, and then have him I comply with the constitutional re *? ? ' ooii H at nleht and dispensary is defunt. SenstDie men will not lend their aid to any crusade which only gives us "confusion worse confounded" and produces a chaotic condition with no compensation. Ths Jug County Traffic. Under the decision of the United States supreme court prohibition and no other state regulation can prevent liquor being shipped In by express for personal use of Individuals and the jug county traffic with Wilmington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah will be Immense under prohibition, and the money which now goes Into the dispensary for the use of the towns and counties of the state and the school fund will be sent out of the state to enrich the dealers and distillers of other states. Stills will be run in every swamp and wagons win peddle liquor all over the country. The only fight worth enlisting in South Carolina is between prohibition as rigidly enforced as it can be and the dispensary, as honestly enforced as it ought to be. High license Is not to be thought of for a moment. Tet the prohibitionists say they prefer the dispensary to license and the license people say they prefer prohibition to the dispensary, while the blind tigers want prohibition because they know it means free liquor. Unlike Regular Primaries. The elections now being held in the counties to vote the dispensary out are very different from the Democrat tic primary election which will settle the*question Anally. In the first place, the vote in those counties where elections have been held against the dispensary has been very small as compared with the regular election. It requires a certificate of registration to vote at such an election, while in the primary the club rolls of the Democratic clubs govern. Then men are indifferent, as they were in the prohibition election in 1892, when only 60,000 out of 92,000 voters voted in that box. There are probably 80,000 or more good Democrats in the state, who, from one cause or another, are not liable to vote in the elections held under the Brlce act The law was shrewdly drawn and for the express purpose of killing the dispensary, I have been told. These 80,000 will determine the question in the future as they have In the past, because they will elect the legislature and the state officers in the state Democratic primary in spite of any combination, which is now giving us prohibition by a negative process, voting out the dispensary, not because the people want prohibition, but giving ? us prohibition because some people want free liquor, some people prefer to buy illicit liquor, some people want, high license and a return to the old barroom system, wnue nmnjr invyn will do anything to kill the dispensary with the hope of profiting by ita destruction. I would advise every advocate of the dispensary system who Is in doubt, to vote against putting the dispensary out of his county, until we ... . see what the report of the Investigating committee is, and then whether or not the legislature, at Its next session, will purge the corruption out of the dispensary system, and pet safeguards around it for the future. I say unhesitatingly it can be successfully conducted. The dispensary system has shown its strength In past elections because people thought It was honestly administered. All that Is necessary Is to have them understand as they will understand by 1906, that they must kill the law in order to get rid of the corruption, and they will make short work of it. It must be made clear or it must go. At present the campaign to vote it out, county by county, only brings about confusion, encourages blind tigers and causes the counties and state to lose money and settles nothing, and it is impossible to settle the question in this way. I repeat it can only be settled at the general Democratic primary when all the people have heard all sides and have made up their minds Intelligently. I desire to add in conclusion that practically I am a prohibitionist because I very rarely drink any liquor of any kind. If I believed that prohibition could be enforced, understanding as I do most thoroughly the great evil attending the abuse of liquor, I would be a prohibitionist, but knowing from the most searching investigation and from the official record of the United States government that In Maine and Kansas, where prohibition prevails, there has been a most dismal failure to enforce the law, I prefer the dispensary as the lesser evil, and as I have often said In the past, I believe that state control comes nearer to the Ideal management of this troublesome question than any other. I have no personal Interest In view and am only actuated by a sense of public duty in taking the position I have occupied In the past and which I shall continue to occupy. I have always believed in the rule of the majority. But I want It to be the majority of the Democrats in the state (Signed.) B. R. Tillman. Finding Days of the Week. The prematurely aged young man whose duty It is to get up the Record's "Answers to Correspondents" column rtys that queries of the same nature qIttqvo nnm.e in hunches. They seem to be epidemic. Just at present a great many people seem eager to know what day of the week they were born on, and It keeps him busy figuring the dates out. He has a system which he uses, and for the benefit of others who may be In search of like Information It Is herewith given: For instance, take Jan. IS, 1868. A man born on that date writes to know what day of the week It fell on. In order to ascertain this divide the figures representing the year by 4 rejecting the remainder. If any. To this dividend and quotient add the number of days in the year to the given date, Inclusive, always reckoning 28 days In February. Divide the sum by 7, and the remainder will be the number of the day of the week 0 signifying Saturday. Here Is the illustration, taking Jan. 15, 1868: 4)1868 467 Number of days to Jan 15.... 15 7)2360 335?6 Thus, by this calculation, which is infallible, it will bt seen that Jan. 15. 1868, fell on the fifth day of the week, which Is Thursday.?Philadelphia Record. V . /'