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Jwapis and |actjs. ? Germany's war in Southwest Africa has cost $50,000,000 which has been spent overcoming the resistance of one or two native tribes. The losses in action were heavy. Eighty-six commissioned officers were killed and the non-commissioned officers numbered 229; rank and file, 1,167; total, 1,482. Among the colonial troops sixteen officers and 196 men perished. ? Colonel Goethals. chief engineer) of the Panama canal before the house! committee on interstate and foreign! commerce Wednesday, said that he thought the excavation of the Cule-1 bra cut could be completed in the next four or five years. The work of building the canal, he said, was progressing more satisfactorily than he had ever expected. Colonel Goethals said he had no doubt that the lock system as against the sea level was the best. He said: "We have the best type of canal we can get down there." ? In the course of an interpellation in the German Reichstag in reference to the high rate of discount charged by the Imperial bank. Count Van Kanitze, conservative, suggested that President Roosevelt was responsible for the critical financial conditions existing throughout the entire world and the direct cause thereof according to the speaker was to he found in the president's "threats against the trusts." He said, "America's error has been that she allowed trusts to go so long without Interference." ? In transmitting to the senate last Wednesday, the report of Provisional Governor Magoon on conditions in Cuba, the president said: "I cannot too heartily commend the action of the provisional governor and his civil associates of the army in all Its parts In connection with this Cuban matter. I am glad to be able to say that we can now definitely announce that one year hence or by or before February 1, 1909, we shall have turned over the island to the president and congress to be elected next December by the people of Cuba. Our word to turn over the island to its own people will be scrupulously regarded, and through their own president and congress they wiH administer the government of the island a year hence." ? Washington. January 14: United States District Attorney Sims, who prosecuted the Standard Oil company in the $29,000,000 fine case, has been instructed by Attorney General Bonaparte to enter a motion, within a week, 'to fix the date for trial of the rebate cases against the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroads. The motion will be made before Judge Kennesaw M. Landis, who presmea ai me ?uumatu Oil trial and imposed the record fine. The railroads are Indicted for giving rebates to the Standard Oil company on oil carried from Whiting. Ind. There nre 2.000 counts in the indictment against the Burlington and 1,400 counts in the indictment against the Chicago and Eastern Illinois. Conviction on all these counts would afford Judge Landis opportunity to assess one fine almost as large as that of the Standard and one nearly one-third greater. The two cases present to Judge Landis the possibility of imposing fines aggregating $68,000,000. ? As the result of the peace conference of the five Central American states convened recently at Washington, through the efforts of Secretary Root, eight treaties were made, designed to prevent wars and to provide for a peaceable settlement of all disputes. The most important of these is the formation of an international court for the five republics. One judge is selected from each, but once appointed, the judges are independent. They receive $8,000 a year, and are paid from a common fund provided by all the republics, so that no country can influence a judge by cutting off his salary. This court decides all international questions. The second most important treaty makes Honduras neutral ground. It extends entirely across Central America, and the belligerents on each side can not get together to fight. All disputes likely to occur are provided for in the treaties, which are a guarantee of peace, if any agreements can guarantee peace among them. The countries are wonderfully rich, and with peace there is no reason why they should not make rapid advancement. ? A terrible theatre disaster as the result of which 200 lives were lost, occurred in Boyertown, Pa., last Monday night. What was known as the Roades opera house was crowded with members of St. John's Lutheran Sunday school, who were attending ., honafit that was hpine eiven for their church. During the progress of the show, a gas tank exploded and set the audience into a state of wild excitement. The actors tried to calm the people, but as the result of the tumult some oil lamps were overturned and when they blazed up the panic became complete. Seven hundred people were trying to get of the building all at the same time. They crowded over each other, and crushed one another in the jam. The flames spread rapidly and in a few minutes the whole interior of the building was a seething mass of fire. The tire fighting apparatus was disabled and there was literally nothing that could be done to stay the awful consequences of the demoralization. The tire department of the town responded promptly and help was brought from adjoining towns; but the building was burned and with it not less than 200 people. In many cases whole families were wiped out and in other cases only two or three were left of a family. The *otal number of deaths is believed to have been not less than 200. ? France is threatened with serious trouble on account of Morocco. As newspaper readers generality are aware. Morocco has been under the virtual control of France for a number of years. Control has been exercised principally through the reigning sultan, Abd-el-Aziz. With flattery, presents and promises. Abd-el-Aziz has been distracted almost until he had forgotten his responsibility to his people. The Moors are a wild, tierce race, who are jealous of their liberty and independence. who resent the very presence of foreigners. The happenings of the past few years have not contributed to quiet throughout the country. The people have begun to realize what France and other European powers are up to, and they are not going to stand for it. The recent proclaiming of Mullai Hatld to be sultan is of more significance than appeared in the first reports. The conditions on which he is to be raised to power are important. Among them are the following: That he rejects the Algeciras act, expels the French troops from Morocco, prohibits access to the interior of Europeans, who, with the Jews, it is set forth, should be allowed to occupy quarters in the ports reserved for them; prohibits Moorish sub jects from placing themselves under the protection of foreign consulates, secures Morocco's rights in the frontier question with Algeciras and suppresses taxation. All this means that now since France has placed herself in a position of responsibility for Morocco, she has to stand by the reig >ing sultan, and that will probably necessitate a very serious war. Although a semibarbarous people, the Moors are far more powerful than they are generally supposed to he. and if France undertakes to subjugate the country it will cost her millions of money and hunIdreds of thousands of men. Also, it is quite probable that before the matter has proceeded very far. there may be other complications with jealous European powers, especially Germany. <?hr \|orkvillr nquiw. Entered at the Postoftice in Yorkville as Mail Matter of the Second Class. YORKVILLE, S. C.? FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, I90X. If cotton does go to fifteen cents, this will be one time when the benefit of the rise will ro to those who are most justly entitled to it?the producers. There is really something in this holding movement. Is it not a pity that all could not have held? Then everybody would have gotten fifteen cents, and the south would have more (money than it would know what to do with. Thjcrk are those who claim that prohibition will not prohibit; but we are of opinion that the United States congress will only enact into law Senator Tillman's proposition to suspend the operation of the inter-state commerce law in so far as it relates to the drug trade as between prohibition and nonprohibition states, and there will be some cahnging of opinion on this subject. It is rather difficult to explain a condition under which the price of raw cotton goes up while the price of manufactured products is tending steadily downward; but no more difficult perhaps, to explain why raw cotton continued so low in 1897 and 1898, while the price of cotton goods soared steadily upward. No doubt the secret of both conditions is to be found largely in speculation. Thr lien law is very nearly the same as the "grub stake" arrangement practiced among miners of the west. The man with money agrees to "grub stake" the moneyless prospector while the latter goes after gold. If the "grub stakei makes a strike and acts * *?- - Ai T# square, tnev Doin realize a pium. ?i however, the "grub staker" falls, the man who puts up the grub comes out behind. It is a perfectly fair arrangement. The lien law differs from this [somewhat in that the man who puts up [the capital has an opportunity to watch the man who is to do the work. It is impracticable to print all that | is being said about the lien law nowa-days. It is being ably discussed from both sides by some strong writers. The interview with Mr. J. R. Wood published in The Enquirer recently, and the communication from that gentleman in our last issue were very well calculated to make people do some thinking on this subject that they have not done before. The ablest presentation of the other side of the question that we have seen was published in the last issue of the Abbeville Press and Banner, and this presentar tion is reproduced today in order that our readers may have the full benefit of it. For anybody to try to deny that this lien law question is a serious one would be silly. A Dangerous Evil In its presentment this week, the Anderson county grand jury gives utter* 1 ' " * lo <<*111 ance to me ionuwuis, wiugu ? ouu timely even if a little belated, and to the point not only in Anderson, but elsewhere throughout South Carolina: "There has grown up in connection with our criminal courts a practice which, though perhaps permissible in some cases under some circumstances, is now being so much abused as to interfere seriously with the administration of justice, and to call for our strongest condemnation. We refer to the compromising or compounding of criminal prosecutions after they are begun. It seems that almost any offense less than capital can be stopped in this way, and nol prossed or settled as far as the state is concerned upon the payment of costs, provided the prosecution is satisfied. The prosecutor is satisfied by a liberal payment in money and the county gets nothing. In this way the criminal law is made an instrument by which to squeeze from malefactors the utmost possible cent to the enrichment of the prosecutor or informant, the financial detriment of the county and the disrepute of the law and the law courts. We do not deem it advisable to present any names in this connection or any persons with fostering this practice as yet, but we do hold it up to the attention of your honor and ask you and the newspapers to condemn it in proper terms. We call upon the good people of the county also to see to it that none of our court officers are allowed to wink at it or permit it except in very rare cases where the circumstances are unusual." The condition complained of. is as common in York county as it is in Anderson. and we have no doubt that other counties are having their experiences; but the Anderson grand jury has done well to open up the subject. Of course, if the situation com mentis itself to the people who would hold law and order above considerations of individual personal influence, it is all right: but anyhow the thing1 should be considered. There are two suggestions in the utterance of the grand jury above quoted, that do not meet our full approval. One of these is included in the complaint that where the prosecutor gets the money for a settlement the county gets nothing, and the other is the statement that there sire rare cases where compromises are admissible. According to our view, the prosecutor should never be allowed to receive pay for a settlement, and the county should never consider the commercial principle in connection with any kind of a fine. Fines should not be regarded as a source of revenue. It is all right to exact them by way of punishment: but the mercenary end of it should be considered only in so far as it applies to the party being punished. And also we believe it is a vicious and pernicious principle to allow the settlement of any case out of court by the payment of costs or other sums. Where the cir cumstances are of such a nature as to warrant settlement out of court there should be no costs?most certainly no other kind of payment. The evil referred to has become very common In this section, so common In fact that there are individuals who actually boast of their ability to fix things up in almost any ordinary case from petit larceny to murder, and as is quite natural under sucli conditions, the < practice is growing. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? When the spring term of the court < of general sessions for Anderson county convened last Monday, the grand jury presented eight true bills on murder charges. ? Mr. L. A. Emerson, a well known railroad man, for seventeen years connected with the old South Carolina and Georgia Extension, later the Charleston division of the Southern, died at his home in Summerville last Sunday. He was about 63 years of age, and had been in bad health for some time. 1 ? Chester special of January 14, to the News and Courier: Information has ] been received here that H. J. Parish, who came here several months ago as a fruit tree agent, and who while here ' ? '?? o ffiinfl/tnc /?f Mrc \f W fllq H. den. of this place, marrying her, and afterwards going- to Gastonia and pur- 1 chasing a grocery store with a part of the money secured as his bride's dow- ; er, had plighted his troth with two other women before he met Mrs. Gladden, and that both are still living. Parish j disappeared ahout two weeks ago and an investigation was started, in the course of which, it is said, this discov- , cry was made. The Identity of wives Nos. 1 and 2 is not known here, but one is said to live in Alabama and the ] other in Mississippi, and it is understood that efforts will be made to bring the matter into the courts. ; ? The dispensary winding up commission has been having a breezy time . during the past few days and sensations are still piling up. The excitement started Wednesday on the reading of a letter from Mr. W. D. Roy, a represen tative of a large liquor concern, who had been endeavoring to organize a pool for the collection of claims from the . winding up commission for a percentage. The letter of Roy came back to the commission from one of the liquor houses to which it was sent. Roy was put on oath before the commission and was requested to give the names of the men to whom he referred as being in- ' terested in the scheme with him. He i mentioned the National Loan and Exchange bank, Messrs. August Kohn, T. B. Stackhouse and J. L. Mimnaugh. P. 1 H. Nelson was attorney. Mr. Kohn < made a statement to the effect that he < knew nothing about such a pool. He had given Roy certain information and had advised him to put his business in ' the hands of W. D. Melton; but he had < never dreamed of using improper in- , fluences with the commission. Statements from E. W. Robertson, president, and G. M. Berry, cashier of the Nation- ' al Loan and Exchange bank were to the effect that Roy had used the name of the bank in the letters that he had sent out to liquor houses without authority. A letter was read from Roy acknowledging the fact. As the upshot of the day's developments it appeared that Roy alone was responsible for the whole matter. He seems to have conceived the idea that if he could make an arrangement with the various concerns whereby he could collect their claims for six per cent, he would have a nice thing of it. His plan seems to have worked nicely until it developed that the commission would pay no claims until it had seen the books of the claimants and then several of the claimants began to kick out of the traces and investigate Roy. Yesterday it was made apparent that the claiming whisky houses are divided into three warring camps. One of them is headed by T. M. Mordecai of Charleston. as attorney; another by W. D. Roy of Kentucky, represented by Mr. Nelson; another by Mr. Geo. B. Lester, attorney of New York and Baltimore. Mr. Lester represents claims of about $400,000 and they are correct according to the audit company; but when the commission refused yesterday to consider the claims unless the claimants would show their books, Mr. Lester took a train for Asheville, N. C., to see Judge Pritchard. Later on M. A. Goodman, the representative of Ullman & Co., of Cincinnati, from whom the dispensary has purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of liquor, was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the state and was required j to give bond in the sum of $25,000. He , ~ hofnvo the pnmmissinn for the DUT pose of collecting a $40,000 claim. His 1 arrest seemed to be a complete surprise I to him. Mr. Goodman denied the exist- ( ence of certain documents which were afterward produced with a letter which 1 he at first testified he had no recol- ' lection of but which he admitted was j genuine, addressed to Mr. B. Ehrlich. 1 This letter was written in the summer rf 1904. It directed Mr. Erhlich to see ' Major John Black and have him see to j having certain purchases about to be , made at the August meeting of the board of directors held up until he (Good- ' man) could close a contract with Ull- 1 man & Co., and told the writer to have , Maj. Black, who was not theu a member of the board of directors, to see Di- 1 rector L. W. Boykin, and discuss with ' him the advisability of letting Director i John Bell Towill into the scheme. The ( letter referred to a commission, but Mr. Goodman denied that it was intended to pay Mr. Boykin or Mr. Towill j any commissions. The letter was sus- ( ceptible of either construction. Other testimony showed that the August purchases were postponed. Director Hub 1 Evans entering his protest on the min- \ ute books. Heavy purchases were made , at two subsequent meetings of the board. Evans again protesting. At 1 these meetings large awards were made 1 t?? the Ullman concern. Warrants have j been issued for three ex-dispensary directors and it is understood that other warrants and requisitions are to be is- ' sued within the next few days. j TILLMAN TALKS PROHIBITION. < Recommends Dispensary System For 1 Washington. In a 60 minute speech here tonight } before an audience of about 1,500 people, which had gathered to hear him speak on prohibition in the Dis- i trict of Columbia, says a Washington , special of Tuesday to the News and Courier, Senator Tillman strongly ad- ' vocated the abolishment of the 700 or 1 more saloons now licensed here and | the substitution of a dispensary system similar to that in operation in many of the counties in South Carolina at this time. 1 A large part of Senator Tillman's ] speech was taken up in reviewing the situation in South Carolina from ' 1893, the time when the state dispen- ' sary law went into effect, until last i year when by legislative enactment it , went out of existence. He said that at the election held at the beginning of his second term as I governor of South Carolina 35,000 ] people voted for prohibition, 25,000 for no prohibition and that at least 25,000 or 30,000 did not vote on the ' question at all. and that as he did not 1 consider thai a fair show of strength , on the question he had the legislature pass the dispensary law. This ' law he upheld in nil of its details un- i til just before it was abolished, when ] the people sent" living ana uisnoneoi representatives to the legislature and the administration of the dispensary's affairs became full of dishonesty and mismanagement. In forcing the legislature to give him a dispensary law Senator Tillman said that although 35.000 people had voted for prohibition, he doubted their loyalty to him and their real determination to uphold him as governor in enforcing prohibition. Senator Tillman paid his respects to the newspapers of the state, the druggists, some of the preachers and to those who had opposed the establishment of the dispensary, and who fought for its death, in characteristic language. He told the people who attended the meeting what the present law is doing to curtail drinking in South Carolina, and said that if they could not get actual prohibition they might t adopt the dispensary plan, having been convinced after sixteen or more , years of actual observation that It x was the best and most practicable so- * lution of the liquor problem. LOCAL AFFAIRS. NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Victor Oil Co., Cleveland, 0.?Want salesmen to represent them in York and adjacent counties. J. Q. Wray?Offers broken lots at broken prices as an aftermath of stocktaking. Thos. H. Hardin, Lowryville?Offers his professional services as a land surveyor to York county people. Carroll Furniture Co.?Want you to see their big showing of rugs and art squares. Ft. M. Bratton and Williamson Bros.? Will not operate their ginneries until Friday, March 6, after this date. Carrol Bros.?Tell of the features of a cultivator that they want parties Interested to see. First National Bank?Advises you to let your money work for you?4 per cent paid on savings accounts. D. E. Boney, Treasurer?Publishes report of condition of the Farmers' Mutual Life Insurance Co. Thomson Co.?Again remind Its customers of its sensational cut price sale, now in progress. Strauss-Smith Co.?Calls your attention to discounts offered in Its January clearance sale. Loan and Savings Bank?Says that a good bank account Is exceedingly comforting. It wants your deposits. W. M. Cauble?Offers a Victor talking machine with sixty-eight records, for sale. W. L. Williams?Wants a renter for a three-horse farm near Yorkville. M. W. White?Insists that real estate affords the safest investment. Four room cottage for sale. Sam M. Grist?Directs attention to some of the good features of Mutual Benefit insurance policies. I. W. Dobson?Makes suggestions for your daily meals that may be helpful at any time. Hank of Clover?Remarks that during the recent flurrv Its chief concern was the welfare of fts?deposltors. Miss Rosa J. Lindsay?Invites the public to see a fine protograph exhibit on and after February 1st W: J. and C. S. Moorhend?Gives notice that the firm of Moorhead Bros., at Hickory Grove, has been dissolved. J. L. Williams & Co.?Have picked up a bargain lot of handkerchiefs and offer them to their customers at a low price. Royal Baking Powder Co.?Reminds you of the absolute purity of Royal baking powder. See fourth page. Since the rush at the last of Decemner, tax collections have been slow rather than otherwise. If the county campaign should take place at this time of the year, the road question would fare rather more extensively than It does. There is still a good deal of "dog tall" cotton to be picked; but the owners of it do not seem to care much whether they pick It or not. It is rumored in New York that Sully is behind the market again. It Is pretty well understood down south that the Farmers' Union has been behind It all the while. There is still some cotton coming In; jut there Is no rush about It. Some of the farmers say that most of the cotton ias already gone out of their respective neighborhoods. Suppose somebody should succeed in arresting a gang of suspected safecrackers as was done over In Lancaster the other day. We are of Opinion that jnless an armed guard were kept over them, they would leave whenever they rot ready. The York county jail cannot be relied upon to hold prisoners of U! 1-1 3 .Ills K1I1U. Because of the steadily advancing price of wood pulp, the publishers of The Enquirer have deemed it a wise business move to lay in a stock of paper sufficient for a year's supply and lave accordingly made a contract for in entire carload to be delivered as 'oon as it can be brought from the mills. This paper is to be of the same ilgh-grade we are now using, the best that is being used by any southern newspaper, and there is to be enough if it to print 264,000 copies of The Enluirer. Referring to this merger litigation now in progress between the state of South Carolina and the Southern railroad, suppose the state wins, how are the people to be benefited? Of course, the property involved is to be operated by one or the other of the big systems. That it should be operated as independent lines Is out of the question. But where would it be better for the Seaboard to have it rather than the Southern, or the Atlantic Coast Line rather than the Seaboard. As we see It. that is about all there is to the matter, and we do not understand where the people most interested, those who support the property, are coming in for my better than they are getting, no matter which of the big systems should carry off the bone. The members of the South Carolina general assembly and probably the governor ami the other state officers are to be at Rock Hill tomorrow. The genera! assembly is to come on the invitation of President Johnson of Winthrop, ivho has chartered a special train for the occasion. Lee's birthday, a legal holiday in this state, occurs on Sundey, mil the general assembly decided to observe Saturday instead. Dr. J. H. Saye introduced a resolution providing for the acceptance of President Johnson's invitation, and it was adopted unanimously. The object of extending the invitation and the object of its acceptance is that the members of the general assembly might see for themselves the situation at Winthrop and the needs of that splendid institution. r<? harbor fears that Winthrop is not ' - ??~ -.2 j ? d tifatilrl Ka f a to he propeny proviueu i??i iu tssume that the members of the gen?ral assembly have a very poor idea of what would best promote the welfare of the state. The entire first edition of the "All Through the Year Cook Book," published by the ladies of the First Presoyterian church of Yorkville has been exhausted, and the demand continues <trong. There were seven hundred sopies of the edition, and the books were sold at 60 cents each. There was some advertising also, not scattered through the volume, but in the back and that brought some income. Altogether the ladies made a profit if something like $300 on the venture; but that has not been the all Important consideration. The book has prov*d to be a compilation of real value, and <luring the past year or more, it has been selling strictly on its merits, without advertising, canvassing or >ther effort on the part of the ladies who had the matter in hand. Most people who now have copies are ho dng them at a much higher valuation than the original purchase price, and the ladies have given 'more or less consideration to the Idea of putting out a new and revised edition. As to whether they will do so. cannot it this time be definitely stated; but whether they do or not. people who tiave copies of the original edition will do well to hold on to them. Their ,-alue can never be any less than it is now; but the time will come when it will be held in as high esteem as a souvenir as for its practical value. ABOUT PEOPLE. Mrs. John O. Barnwell Is visiting relitlves and friends at Boykin. Miss Artie Barber of Hendersonville, *s. C., is visiting the family of Mr. A. !Y?dy. Mrs. J. Y. Miller and son, of Gasto I nia, N. C., are visiting the family of Mr. W. W. Jenkins. Mr. John M. Rawlinson is over from Charlotte, N. C., on a visit to the family of W. W. Lewis, Esq. Miss Kate Cody, who has been spending the holidays at home, returned to Gastonia on Tuesday. Mr. Edgar Matthews, formerly of Old Point, but for several years past has been traveling in Pennslyvania and other northern states, is visiting relatives ami friends in York county. WITHIN THE TOWN. ? Cotton went over 12 cents yesterday. ? A survey of the streets of Yorkvllle is being made for the purpose of getting accurate data on which to base estimates of the cost of the proposed sewerage system. ? The Winnie Davis Chapter U. D. C., highly prizes a unique gavel made from hickory twigs cut from the battlefield of Seven Pines and presented to the chapter by Capt. John D. McCon nell. ? The Winnie Davis Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy has prepared an elaborate programme for the observance of Dee's birthday. The exercises are to be held In the graded school auditorium, commencing tonight and concluding next Monday night. The programme for both occasions will be found In another column. ? Mr. W. E. Faulconer and family have moved from the W. B. Moore residence on King's Mountain street Into their own residence on East Liberty street, and Mr. J. F. McEIwee and family \vt:o have been making their home with the family of pr. J. B. Allison have moved into the W. B. Moore residence. Mr. T. D. Turner has moved into the residence recently purchased by him from Mr. ,W. E. Ferguson and the Messrs. Barron have moved into the residence recently purchased from Mr. J. W. Dobson. THE SPECULATIVE MARKET. An Associated Press dispatch of last night gave the developments in tne speculative market yesterday as follows: The cotton market was still more active and excited with prices reaching new high records for the movement and closing very steady at a net advance of 24 to 38 points. Sales estimate at 650,000 against 400,000 bales the previous day and 225,000 bales on Tuesday. The market opened firm at an advance of 11 to 22 points on a rush of overnight buying orders and covering. This was better than due on the cables, although Liverpool a little more than responded to yesterday's local gains, and during the early session pricea reacted 6 to 7 points under heavy realizing, part of which was credited to the bull leader. But offerings were not aggressive and the market soon firmed up again on general buying, a renewal of bull support and demand from spot houses. After selling up to 11.47 for March and 11.53 for May there was a second reaction of 7 to 8 points, followed quickly by another bulge carrying prices to the highest point of the day with March touching 11.63 and May 11.67 or 39 to 40 points net higher and 71 and 72 points above the low level of yesterday. The close was a little off from the best under realizing. Advices from the south were generally bullish as to spot conditions and the advance here during the late session was encouraged by sales for export and consumption from the local stock, officially reported to amount to 5,000 bales. Liverpool cables reported a more encouraging outlook as to Lancashire trade conditions and the bull movement in the local market seemed to be attracting a substantial [outside following. Receipts at the ports today 54,742, against 51,050 last week and 52,662 last vear. For the week 280,000 against 293,081 last week and 24.8,781 last year. Today's receipts at New Orleans 20,674 against 14,312 last year and at Houston 4.890 against 21,401 last year. LOCAL LACONICS. Death of Mr. T. D. Belk. Mr. T. D. Belk died at his home in Fort Mill last Wednesday afternoon of heart failure. He was 41 years of age, and was the leading merchant of Fort Mill. Railway Postal Clerk to Blame. There were no Enquirers delivered at Filbert or on Filbert route No. 1, last Wednesday. The big bundle of papers that goes to supply this territory was delivered at the postofllce at Yorkville as usual on Tuesday afternoon: - n?iu^?4 T* (hut they were not put on at r uucn. u s presumed that the postal clerk Is to I blame. I Lives at Home. Mr. T. N. Alexander of the Point section. slaughtered a hog the other day that weighed 575 pounds, "Mr. Alexander believes in making a living at home," says one of his neighbors, "for in addition to making his own meat, he makes an abundance of corn, raises his own stock and holds his cotton until he gets ready to sell it. He has not yet sold a bale of last year's crop." Election In Fort Mill. Fort Mill special of January 14, to the News and Courier: The first election. held today, under the new city charter, resulted as follows. Mayor, L. A. Harris; aldermen. 1st ward. B. C. Ferguson. 2nd ward. C. H. Bronson; 3d ward, A. R. McElhaney; 4th ward, W. McCulp; at large, W. B. Ardrey and Dr. J. L. Spratt. This election, as usual, was hotly contested and the successful Mcket was elected by a small majority. The new mayor is a progressive young merchant, a man who has made a success of his own business, and he will, no doubt, give the city a business-like administration. The aldermen elected also are principally young business men. Examination of Teachers. The special examination of candidates for teachers' certificates recently ordered by the state superintendent is in progress in tlie court nouse una morning, in charge of Superintendent McMackin and Mr. E. P. Castles, of the county board of education.. Tlie attendance is quite small. Following are the white applicants: Miss Kate O'Farrell, Yorkville; Miss Nellie Moore, Yorkvllle; Miss May Lee Riddle, Bowling Green; Miss Annie Jackson, Yorkville; Miss Idelle E. Duncan. Rock Hill No. 5. The colored candidates are Mary Jane Leech, Annie L. Hope, Hettie Mobley, Malinda Cathcart, Thomas Ferguson, J. J. Byers, Annie C. Simpson. Minnie Neely. W. S. Crosby, H. H. Smith, Mary Hunt Wilson, Sylvira Wheeler, Lillian V. Murray, Elizabeth McClellan, Daisy Knox, Jetta Crosby, Jessie Oriffln. Rosa Roach, Inez Withers. No Discontinuance Contemplated. The information contained in the paragraph reproduced in the last issue of The Enquirer from the Rock Hill Record with reference to the discontinuance of trains Nos. 35 and 36 between Rock Hill and Marlon was incorrect. An official of the Southern railway in a position to know about schedules writes The Enquirer that the discontinuance of these trains has not been contemplated and he is at a loss to know where such information could have come from. There will, probably, be a slight change of schedlue on the | 19th, rendered necessary because of the recent changes of schedule on the main lines; but the Information Is that this change will not Inconvenience any point In this Immediate section. The Enquirer has not seen the figures. The statement that trains Nos. 35 and 36 8tl q|| were to be discontinued has caused a 11 hp considerable amount of apprehension on the part of those who realize the cu full significance of such a development, r" and we are quite confident that this yo correction will be received with pretty an general satisfaction. s'? i in After Mr. Hafner. pe Rock Hill Record: An informal meet- th Ing of a number of prominent members of the Fort Mill Presbyterian church re was held a day or two ago, at which pr the matter of calling a pastor to sue- Pi ceed the lamented Dr. J. H. Thornwell us was considered. To this end a com- m, mittee from the local church will at so once confer with a similar committee pe from Ebenezer church, the two fa churches being under the same pastor- er ate. It is understood that the name of re the Rev. W. A. Hafner was proposed and considered very favorably at the lt, informal meeting and it is not unlikely iq that a call will be extended Mr. Haf- ca ner after congregational meetings of the two churches have been held. Mr. 0j| Hafner has been the pastor of Bowling Green church, this county, for about ten years and is very favorably known vj in this section, both as a minister and church worker. In connection with a* oil the affairs of the Presbyterian church, ? there has also been a proposition made f0 to sell the manse, which is somewhat so remote from the church, and erect a Wl new home for pastor on a vacant lot eg which is owned by the congregation th near the church. th Arrested on Suspicion. bl Two white men who have given their names as George Green and Cha9. Eu- n at ten were arrested by Magistrate Smith ar at Hickory Grove yesterday and were ali committed to Jail last night as suspl- ra clous characters and vagrants. One of J1? the men Is about 5 feet 6 Inches high. weighs about 160 pounds, has dark m complexion and full black beard. The other Is of about the same weight, but ^ Is not quite so tall. He is also of a a" lighter complexion and smooth shaved, cu except for a stubby mustache of light color. Both seem to be between 35 und cJ, 40 years of age. One of the men had m a crutch and was soliciting alms on m the ground of being a cripple. The two men would get together at Intervals, m and this aroused suspicion. There be was a third man who Is believed to have been with these two; but he got away. The men were brought to York- th ville by Constable R. L. Scogglns. cu They talked but little. One claimed to . m be from Georgia. The other said he jn was from the north; that he had been w! a sailor and had traveled all over the or world. People in the Hickory Grove section think the men may be safe- ac crackers. b> In MERE-MENTION. wl dc The Maryland legislature has elected ^ Senator White to fill out the unexpired pe term of Senator Gorman Mr. D. ca A. Thompklns of Charlotte, N. C., slip- at ped on some ice the other day and Wi hrr?ifo hia lee- Sixteen vounar Deo- be pie out of a party of thirty, who were la skating on a pond In Paris the other th day were drowned by the breaking of ga the ice President Finley of the cr Southern railway has announced a re- ga duction in the salary of the general of- to fleers of the road, amounting to 10 per th cent. The company is considering retrenchment all along the line The at Russian douma has been asked to ap- va propriate two billion dollars for the th purpose of creating Ave fighting naval ye squadrons... .Atlanta, Ga., police court de fines have decreased more than half si< since the sway of prohibition began in th that city Lawson Emerson, former re clerk of the supreme court of Ohio, and ol] former State Senator Tustin have been m sentenced to ten days' imprisonment 'a and a fine of $100 for falsifying the er court records Congressman Sab- S< bath of Illinois, has introduced a bill in s0 congress to tax the dowries that go M with American wives to titled foreign- kr ers 25 per cent....O. L. Burton, a for- su mer employe of the Southern Express M company in Atlanta, Ga., pleaded gull- Pc ty to a misdemeanor on Tuesday and 'sl was sentenced to twelve months on the ar ch'aingang. Burton was originally " charged with embezzling $4,000 Mrs. Grover Cleveland has been ap pointed manager of the State Village I for epileptics at Skillman, N. Y Chas. K. Wolf, known throughout the C"J country as Wm. J. Bryan's double, died at his home in Dallas, Tex., Sunday The Pennsylvania state dairy and food commissioner is making a or tight against certain cereal foods, al- ca leging that the box labels misrepresent the facts as to their food qualities "( General Stephen D. Lee, commander-in- m chief of the- United Confederate veter- u* ans is opposed to the proposed reunion of the "blues" and "grays" at Washington in 1909 Maclay & Co., New m. York stock brokers, suspended Monday with liabilities of SI,500,000 ?h Wm. Mitchell, Dr. Chas. H. Harle and M1 Leslie E. Hurlburt, three Americans, ne have been sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment in the fortress of San j Juan de Uloa, Vera Cruz, Mexico, for J;'1 the murder of two other Americans. * During ihe first six years of imprisonment they will not be allowed to speak 11 to anyone Sir Thomas Lipton has llr announced that he will issue another challenge for the America's cup in Sep- c" tember of this year The Georgia railroad commission has accepted the ?e Southern railway's proposal of a two- ra and-a-half cent passenger rate in that state The New York postofflce Is- n' sued $526,304,437 worth of money orders s* last year. The postoffice's earnings from domestic and international money "e orders was $3,522,978 Adolph S. ' Ochs, president.of the New York Times Publishing company, is suing Hearst's I * North American for $100,000 damages . for libel Governor Guild, (Rep.), of Massachusetts, delivered an address '. before the National' Association of Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, in New a m 3 I ..V. t In tifKOstVi ho Aa. Ca ] UI K, i ueauit; 1115111, 111 muv? v.^ manded a revision of the tariff , The miners who have been entombed in . the Alpha mine at Ely, Nev., for the past six weeks, will be released in about ten days Ex-Governor Beckham, Democratic nominee for United States senator, lacks four votes to insure his election by the Kentucky legislature; but it looks like a deadlock Two hundred men went on a strike in Chi- ? cago on Tuesday, because non-union J made pipe was being placed to pipe union made beer in a brewery Congressman Moore of Philadelphia, will ' introduced a bill in congress providing ' for the restoration of the motto, "In . God We Trust," to United States coins. . W. F. Bayard, a prominent mem- ' ber of the New York Stock Exchange, .. since 1861, has been suspended for six months for violation of the exchange rules Chief Engineer Goethals of J, the Panama canal commission, esti- . mates that the total cost of the big , ditch will be $300,000,000 James Ryder Randall, author of "Maryland, My Maryland," died in Augusta, Ga., jL Tuesday afternoon. He was born in ? Baltimore in 1843 The Spanish . government on Tuesday finally paid the , United States a claim which has been p. standing since 1834. growing out of the spoliation of American merchantmen by . , Spanish pirateers. The original claim was $f>70,000. The whole amount of interest paid was $2,160,000. un no ? By the constitution the members of pel the general assembly can receive pay be. for only forty flays each session, and Ye this law practically results in limiting he tlie session to forty days, since the ta> members hardly ever conceive it to be be; their duty to stay longer without com- hoi pensation. This year the fortieth day bo< falls on Saturday, the 22d of February, his which, being the birthday of George ha: Washington, is a legal holiday, and it the is likely that the session will end on the cai 21st. est LIEN LAW CONTROVERSY. )b?ville Man Present* Other Side of the Question. The following from the Abbeville ess and Banner is probably the rongest presentation of the opposition ie of the lien law question that has en published during the present dlsssion: lltor of the Press and Banner: Your editorial on "The Lien Law" in >ur issue of the 11th instant, invites i answer, because "there are two les to every question." We are all clined to individual belief and many rsons accept as verities, whatever ey "see in the papers." I am hope1 that your views on the lien law will >t be accepted by the majority of your aders and, through your courtesy, I opose to argue the question as it apies to the iniquities of the lien law, I view them. Doubtless at the time of the enactent of this law, conditions warranted me legislation *to meet the exigencies the times and the poverty of our ople. The lien law must have been vorably considered by our law maks and by our merchants as a good medy for existing evils, at the time its enactment; and, it is a very sime process to criticise the wisdom of i framers, at this date, with In Inuity of its results evident to every reful observer. I charge the following lamentable ndltions to the lien law 01 soum carina. 1st. It has impoverished the poor id enriched the rich, through the usu3us rates permissible under its prosions. 2nd. It has driven our young men id many old men from the country to ties and factories, because farming as not profitable, the prices charged r supplies furnished on a lien, abrbing the balance after the rents ere paid. 3rd. It has impoverished the "hont" poor, by forcing them to make up, rough the exorbitant prices charged, e losses incurred by the improvident groes and dishonest whites and acks. 4th. It has done more to elevate the igro and depress the white of modere means, than any other known cause, id is the main factor producing the arming Illiteracy prevalent in our ruI districts, amongst the whites, beuse of its poverty producing provisns. 5th. It has been and is still, the ightlest influence in inspiring and sterlng hopes of "social quality" nongst our negroes because, through i provisions, having obtained a "lien," negro "lienor" becomes a desirable istomer and is shown much attention, irdering at times, on obsequiousness, r those with whom he trades, espeally if he has paid up and has some oney to his credit in the hands of the erchant. 6th. I charge laftly, that our lands ive become (and are yet becoming ore so) worn out and unprofitable, cau'se under the Hen law no lienor will lprove lands which he may cultivate r the year only, seeing that most of em are negroes and frequently change elr homes after only one year's ocipancy. To substantiate the charges I have ade In the order they are recorded, 1 vlte replies from merchants who do hat Is known as a "lien trade," as to e difference between "cash" prices id "time" prices, the latter applying their "Hen trade." The difference, tcording to Information volunteered ' sundry parties during my residence this place, will average 60 per cent; id as the liens are many of them paid Ithln six months after the goods are dlvered, the average profit above the e cash price will be approximately 75 r cent. No business or occupation n stand such a drain; and there Is undent evidence of the ruin thus rought by the lien law, in the numir of white citizens who, starting with nded estates, have been despoiled of em under the foreclosure of mortiges, incurred to satisfy rapacious editors, whose claims have been leilized, under the vicious provisions r usury, tolerated and endured under e Hen law. Young men who have lived on farms id assisted their parents in the cultlition of the old homestead, have seen elr parents growing poorer, year by ar, until the inevitable mortgage has spoiled them of their dearest posseson; and have gone to cities to seek eir fortunes and to assist the old pants in their struggles for existence. In ir own county poor house, I have seen en who once lived on their own rms, ending their days in abject povty and supported by public charity. >me of, If not all such cases, find the le cause to have been the Hen law. any older citizens, to my personal lowledge, have left agricultural purilts and have gone to cotton factories i a dernier resort, to keep out of the' tor house and seek a precarious extence, by consigning their minor chilen to a servitude, involving loss of lalth and deprivation of even the eleents of rudimentary education. The orter hours gradually being enforced ' law, will, eventually, relieve this sgrace, while the age limit at which illdren can be employed in factories, Ill permit ana stimulate eaucation 01 e children of this class. The exorbitant prices charged "Hens'* for their goods, are excused be,use of the "risk" In carrying such acunts. Because of this "risk," extor>n is practiced. The honest poor ust pay the debts of the dishonest and ifortunate. An able-bodied negro, Ith a yearling steer and a plow, obins a "lien" on the same terms as the ost honest "poor white man," and by? Because the poor white man is arged enough to offset the deficit in e collection of the negro's account, if i "jumps his lien" or, through lazlss, fails to make sufficient to satisfy e "lien." It is no "Jumping at a conLision" to charge this as a regular rick of the trade." Thus, the honest, .rd working, saving but poor white ienor," is taxed yearly, to the extreme nit of endurance, and, frequently beind that limit,-to make up the defl?ncy incurred by crediting some trntrohAnrl nocrrn whfi ftkln.d arly from one merchant to another, iling to receive credit for more than ie year from any one of them, until s reputation becomes so savory, he ips to some other locality, to deceive hers in like manner. All credit busiss must be done with an allowance r "bad debts." In the lien business, ch allowance is far in excess of the jitimate necessity of the trade; and rite the difference in the rates charged r "cash" transactions and "time" les. If even 50 per cent is charged, at makes an allowance of nearly the me per cent for "bad debts" as the sh price is supposed to cover legitime profit on such goods. The acme of the negro aspiration is, be like the whites. Freedom, to them, jans more than emancipation from rvitude?constant labor under the eye the task master. It seems, to him, e liberty to work when he wishes, d not at all, if he is thus minded, lat was the way his former master ted and that is just what he is striv? for, now that he is free. Few of em appreciate any obligation to prole for more than daily or hourly mts. With large families dependent them, should one of them want a lty dollar, he will not hesitate to vio;e commands and secure his perempry discharge from a permanent and munerative job, utterly careless about e future, as it applies to him individlly or his dependent family. This Irit prompts them to secure a "lien." 1th supplies assured while the crop is ing planted and growing, there is a Irit of independence engendered, ork if he so desires, rest when he gets ou ana reaciy, quu aosoiuieiy u so dined and his "lady" wishes to go to iceting" or he wants to "go to town." the season advances, plums, bers, melons and fruits come in season, shlng "is good" and picnics are "gae." Has work any attraction for T), while "sturgeon are running and llberries are ripe?" I tell you, no! ie consequence follows: Short crop, der little or no cultivation. Lien is t paid and merchant may be comlled to gather what little there may Does the merchant lose anything? s, as to that individual "lienor!" but has provided for that contingency by cing some poor old honest white man, pond his natural ability: but, being nest, he has deprived the wife of his *om of many needed articles of dress; i children along the same line and s kept them from school to cultivate ; ; crop and also to harvest it, so he i i maintain his reputation for hon- i y, and at what sacrifices? By his ; action he has continued in the class best described thus: "An honest man Is the noblest work of God." He has slaved personally and has enslaved his f wife and children, to pay what the lazy negro has failed to pay, while he has posed as one who "don't have to work," has not worked and will not work, as long as he can "run a lien" and be "like a white man." While the poor, honest white man has. kept his children from school to maintain his honesty by j working and gathering the crop, the worthless negro "lienor" has been sending his children to schools, supported largely by taxes paid by whites and In part by the very individual, who has kept his children at home, because of his poverty and honesty. ; '* The inevitable consequence of the flf system of cultivating lands under the lien law, is constant deterioration, through unwise or scanty cultivation; inariemmev nf fertilizers and therefore yearly decrease In productiveness, washing away of the soil and resultant gullies, evident over the entire country. The fact of not owning the land, is sufficient to warrant tenants from making them more productive, as each one desires to reap for himself the full benefit of his labor and not add to the prosperity of the next tenant by leav- |l ~ Ing the land in better condition than when under his care. The actuating principle of the average lienor is. to get what benefit is possible from his cultivation, so as to "pay up" the lien and, if possible, leave a g little margin for establishing a credit * for next year. All idea of improvement to the land Is .foreign to his thought or intention. Therefore, the use of fertilizers is limited to the smallest quantity demanded by the merchant with whom he is trading. Merchants usually demand that^ some fertilizers shall be used, to insure, as far as possible, the payment of the account. The iniquities of the lien law, have, to some extent. In recent years, been * overruled by providence, so that, our honest white yeomanry, are becoming more independent. The higher price of cotton during past few years, has resulted in the ability of many lienors to ^ay out and save something besides. ? Seme parties who "quit farming and V went to our cotton mills" have returned to their farms. During thii period of prosperity the "brother in black" has shared to a larger extent, because his condition and environment have made him able to do with less than our poor white friends. The evil of this conditio of affairs is manifest in a labor system, inefficient and absolutely unre'table. Our great natural advantage if being: the cotton raising section of the world, has been surrendered, to an alarming extent to the negroes. I verily believe that, 75 per cent of the cotton raised In this state Is controlled by negroes. We.,see them accumulating * property and buying lands which have '-een the property of whites, driven therefrom through the rigors of this Hen law which you advocate with such luency and flippancy. The heritage of the founders of this country, is passing Into the hands of aliens. " The liberty which our forefathers fought for is being stripped from us and is gradually enfolding our former slaves, whose one Treat wish is, to see the "bottom rail on top." Should cotton even decline to the j ooint where it is unprofitable to raise r It, (as was the case some years ago) the entire crop will be under the control of the negfo while our white population will seek cities and towns to work In mills and factories. I appeal to the farmers of this county and state to say whether labor under contract is not more reliable than la- * bor which works under the pernicious 'iberty of the "lien law." If our credit cannot be maintained except with col'ateral security, let our land owners give the security, cultivate the lands and do so under a system of labor, bound by contract, which will enable the land owner to enforce the performance of a day's work for a day's pay. . 'nstead of so many idle negroes being seen on the street, drlvlhg top buggies ^ and flaunting their finery and furbelows in the face of our wives and daughters, supported by the men who "run a lien," we will have a supply of labor which must work to live and which can be controlled, because under ^ contract. J. M. Hawrden. Guthriesville, S. C., Jan. 1J, 'OS. Mr. J. M. Harden," * '<";U Abbeville, S. C. Dear Sir:?I agree with you on the 'fen law. It should be repealed. I have seen the evil results of it. As a merchant I quit it twenty years ago. Youra truly, N. B. Bratton. ^ THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. House and Senate Getting Ready For Business. There was no business of a legislative character on Tuesday, the day of the convening of the general assembly, because of the reading of the govefn- . or's message. After the two houses had heard the reading of that document, they adjourned. Wednesday was devoted prinolp&Uy to the work of getting business in shape for a start and to the introduction of new bills of which there were a number. It was agreed to observe Lee's birthday on Saturday and to accept the invitation to go to Rock Hill, and in order to get rid oi' the dlstrac- % tions usually connected with such matters as soon as possible, 11 was decided to hold pending elections as soon aa possible. These elections lnolude an associate justice, a circuit judge, and two directors of the penitentiary. g The first bill sent to the speakers' T desk was that of Representative John G. Richards for the repeal of the lien law. There j. j -mite a number of bills Intended lo pa.rth .-) the labor contract law. -some of u.cse seek to make the jumpii g of a labor contract prima faola evidence of fraud and provide criminal prosecution on that basis. Others seek to make it a misdemeanor to employ a 'aborer under contract with some one else. ? Representative E. Marion Ruoker In troduced a bill requiring all secret societies to secure licenses from olerk* of the court and making attendance en unlicensed societies a misdemeanor. Senator Grayden of Abbeville introduced a bill to make it unallowable for a defendant to plead self-defense to a 0 murder charge in a case where he has x concealed pistol except the killing take place on his own premises. Representative Dickson of Fairfield, wants to restrict the power of judges <n setting aside verdicts in criminal cases. Mr. John G. Richards introduced a bill to appropriate 948,000 for the erection of a new dormitory for Winthrop allege. Senator Appelt wants to Impose a license tax on all liquor drummers soliciting orders in this state. ' . W To Extend Mail, Delivery.?A bill was introduced by Senator Latimer last Wednesday which, if passed, will mean much to many towns in South Carolina having a population of from six thousand to seven thousand inhabitant*. * The bill changes the present law with ^ respect to the inauguration of free city mall delivery- At present no city doing an annual business of less than $10,000 can receive the benefits of free delivery, but if the bill which has just been introduced passes it will only be necessary for a business of $5,000 to be done each year to permit of free delivery being established. In South Carolina the following are some of the towns that would probably be affected: Abbeville, Greenwood, Newberry, Aiken, Barnwell, Beaufort, urangeburg, Georgetown, Darlington, Bennettsville, Cheraw, Rock Hill, Sumter, Bishopvllle, Marlon, Chester, Gaffney, Union and Laurens. In some of these free delivery has been authorised. A but this list shows principally the W places that would feel the benefit of the change. Another part of the same bill makes provision for towns doing less than a $5,000 business each year to receive the benefits of rural free delivery. It Is provided that persons who might wish their mail delivered could p^ace mall boxes along the street or' road, where the rural carriers go and mail-would be left In them. At present patrons of offices in small towns are forced to go or jl send to the different offices, while those living several miles in the country have their mail delivered to them. It Is estimated that the benefit tp Souh Carolina from a financial standpoint alone by the passage of this bill would be not less than $35,000 a year,.... as It would probably be necessary to" appoint fifty additional letter carriers, and they would receive about $700 per year each.?News and Courier.