Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, June 27, 1911, Image 2

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Scraps and ^acts. ? Senator Luke Lea of Tennessee, who last week gave his wife a quart of his own blood by the transfusion process in order to revive her from an extremely dangerous sinking spell, is back at his work in the senate, still looking pale; but otherwise in good spirits. Mrs. Lea, after the transfusion experiment, revived rapidly, and now seems to be growing steadily stronger. It is thought that she will regain her health and strength. ? Washington, June 24: A new record in the foreign commerce of the United States, surpassing that of any year in business history, was made during the eleven months of the fiscal year ending with May. During this period the imports and exports of the United States as compiled by the bureau if statistics and announced to day amounted to $3,312,383,506, which exceeds the record year of 1908 by almost $3,000,000. The balance of trade in favor of American business men from their foreign customers amounts to $501,525,502 for the eleven months. It is doubtful if the balance of trade at the end of the fiscal year will equal that of the previous record made In 1908, which was $661,431,554. The imports for May were $130,824,241 and the exports $153,169,695. The imports for the eleven months were $1,405,429,002 and the exports $1,906,954,504. ? The Canadian reciprocity bill emerged from its first ordeal in the senate last night unscathed. The Root amendment proposing a modification of the wood pulp and print paper section of the agreement was defeated by an overwhelming vote, after several hours of debate. Friends of the amendment were so satisfied of a defeat that a roll call on the vot? was not demanded. This leaves the reciprocity measure open to the general fight that is to follow for amendment of important portions of the Payne tariff law. Senator LaFollette announced in a speech opposing the Root amendment he would give to the senate a chance to pass on general tariff amendments for free paper, free lumber and lumber products and for reductions in many other schedules. Senator Clapp also announced his intention of offering a free pa to tor and other sen J/ci amc liuinv in *? ??., ators gave evidence of their purpose to force from now on consideration of tarlfl revision on the widest plan. ? Washington, June 26: The United States government will issue Its one millionth patent for an Invention on August 1 next, and the honor will go to an inventor designated by President Taft. Commissioner of Patents Edward Bruce Moore has been looking for some time to a celebration of the issuance of a patent numbered one million. It was hoped that this distinguished number should go to some epoch-making invention. Several weeks ago President Taft received a letter from an American inventor saying he had perfected a device which he 1 intended to patent and that he would like to have the honor of receiving number one million. The president asked the commissioner to comply with the request if it was not incompatible with the regulations of the office. The commissioner reported to the president that the device was good and would constitute a valuable addition to the list of American inventions and i that patent number one million would be granted the inventor. The number was placed in reserve and will be officially recorded on the first issue day of August. ? Washington, June 23: Approximately 20,000,000 gallons of liquors annally are shipped by express, principally from mail order houses, direct to consumers in prohibition states. This startling fact, says a Washington dispatch, was developed in an inquiry ? conducted by the interstate commerce commission into proposed changes in excess classifications which resulted in an advance of rates on packages containing liquors. The commission held that the express requirement that liquor containers should be packed in corrugated paper cartoons was reasonable; but that the charge for transportation was based upon arbitrary weights ?18 pounds for a gallon of whisky packed?was unreasonable, and that the discrimination against stone jugs also was unreasonable. Commissioner McChord, who conducted the inquiry and prepared the opinion of the commission, points out that the industry directly concerned is that of the mail order liquor houses. "It was the spread of the prohibition movement," the opinion says, "that gave vitality to this character of traffic in liquor. With state-wide prohibition came the interstate traffic in liquor. The decision of the supreme court that this traffic was interstate and, therefore, superior to interference by the state governments, gave the industry a tremendous impetus, and established the express companies as the carriers of practically the whole of this traffic. Jacksonville, Fla., probably the largest shipping point for liquor in the south, sends out between three and four thousand packages of one or two gallons daily, or a total of about one and onehalf million gallons a year. Chattanooga, Tenn., ships about 786,000 gallons; Richmond, Va., 546,729 gallons; Petersburg 268,128 gallons; Pensacola 267,760; New Orleans 255,856; Augusta 215,150, and Norfork, Cairo, 111., Emporia, Va., Louisville, K>\, Portsmouth, Va.. Roanoke, Va., and Savannah, Ga., ship more than 100,000 gallons each annually. The movement is much ***" " ""''"ft ! > * V*o Q/vntb t V?n r> in r\ t mux cr at ll\C 111 IIIC ouuiu vuau ? ? v?**vi sections of the country, partly because ' the extent of the prohibition territory in that section, partly because of the large quantities of cheap whisky manufactured and shipped there for the consumption of the negro population." The opinion concludes with the statement that although it is not the intention of the commission to dwell on the moral aspect of the question, it is considered that the traffic has an evil effect on, and is one of the important factors in the race problem of the south. ? Washington, June 23: Estimating that one out of five of the 500,000 automobiles in use in the country is employed in inter-state travel, Senator Simmons, of North Carolina, today expressed the opinion in a speech in the senate that a million dollars annually can be raised for the improvement of wagon roads by imposing a license fee of $10 each on such machines. He also prophesied that the improvement of the roads would have the effect of greatly increasing automobile traveling and, therefore, of enhancing the fund. The proposition for an inter-state tax on automobiles is embraced in a bill of which the North Carolina senator is the author, and which proposes the appropriation of $1,000,000 annually for the benefit of the roads on which the rural mails UA AAnt fnr tVio ai c tai i icu. nv. vviuvitu%.u iv? mv equity of the general scheme by the use of the roads by the government and also because of the benefit that would accrue to the farmers of the country. The argument was advanced that the national government was under as great an obligation to aid the farmers as to aid other classes and manufacturers. The western railroads and the rivers and harbors were mentioned as instances of the benefit of government. "We have," the senator said, "the finest railways in the world and the poorest highways. The government has helped to build these roads and develop this splendid system of long distance transportation. Why should it not build the equally important system of short distance transportation?the country highways over which the products of the farm must be hauled before they reach these national highways?" Mr. Simmons said that of the 2,150,000 miles of dirt road the country was using 1,000,00ft in carrying the mails, and contended that it was under obligation to the farmers to aid in making them. The saving made by a general improvement of the highways was placed at $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. He estimated that the proper im provement of the wagon roads would i save the farmers $300,000,000 to $400,- { 000,000 in the cost of transporting their crops. Concluding, Mr. Simmons said: "Shall the government, ' having so auspiciously started upon { the work of reclaiming the great and . honorable calling of agriculture from the drudgery to which conditions had ' condemned it, now halt and hesitate i to do the one thing needful to restore , it to its rightful position of primacy among the great industries of the na- ' tion? I hope not, I think not, and I I had almost said 1 knew it was not." | $hr \lorhvillr (Snquirrr. Entered at the Postofflee In Yorkville as Mall Matter of the Second Class. YORKVILLE. S. C.j TUESDAY, JUNE 27,1911. Unless the Biease-Felder controversy can he settled in a judicial way, we do not see where anything is to be gained by further consideration of it. Strict adherence to the spirit and letter of the law, is the only rule that is worth following; but few there be in public life who seek to realize the fact. But why were these charges against Felder not made five or six years ago, along about the time the charges against Governor Blease first began to gain publicity? Poor old South Carolina! We fear that she is drifting In ways that are not satisfactory to anybody. A large per cent of the votes being cast nowa-days, are being cast merely by way of protest. But then if Felder should be arrested and indicted, the attorney general, if he sees proper can nol pros the case. The variety of moves that may be maae in inis strange game ui puntics seems to be without limit. We are prepared to believe that the farmers who are opposed to the reciprocity treaty are principally Wall street farmers whose crops consist in lumber and paper trust shares. The farmers who raise field crops do not fear Canadian competition. If the Yorkville Enquirer doesn't hush its talking about the heat in Charleston, we hope it will get blistered.?News and Courier. If you don't quit trying to make it appear that Charleston temperature is so delightful, you will certainly run upon a temperature that you will not feel inclined to brag about. South Carolina politics is not going to become what it ought to be until one side or the other begins to show signs of consistent adherence to broad and generous lines. So long as the chief Incentive of politics in this state continues to be individual or factional dominance, people need to look for no change from what they are getting. The Gaffney Ledger remarked the other day that the editor of The Enquirer knows nothing about "draw." The Spartanburg Herald took the statement to mean that the editor of The Enquirer had been cleaned out on the New York trip and asked who loaned him the money to get back home on. Now comes the Charlotte Observer with the assertion that the editors of the Ledger and Enquirer had fallen out over the question as to who had had the last deal, and there it goes. Wonder if the malicious meanness of the Herald and Observer have been accentuated by their inability to go on that trip. Counsel for Chas. W. Morse, the New York financier, who is serving a fifteen year sentence in the Federal prison in Atlanta, have commenced a new move to secure his release on a technicality. The principal ground upon which the effort is based is that there is no provision in law for other than hard labor prisoners in Atlanta, and that Morse was not sentenced to hard labor. The attorneys also hold that the sentence was made cumulative by the lumping of several different counts for the same offense and this is unlawful. The government attorneys do not think that Morse has much chance to secure his release on the grounds that have been taken. The nresident is minted as havini? .... , - 1 ? ? i stated to several senators that he will j veto the Canadian reciprocity bill if any tariff legislation is tacked on to it, and that he will veto any tariff bill that congress may attempt to pass at this session. In reply, Champ Clark announces that he is satisfied that the country desires revision of the tariff downward; that the Democratic party believes the best way to revise is by taking up the schedules separately, and that if separate tariff legislation cannot be gotten through at this session, an omnibus bill will be put up to the president at the next session and there will be a confident appeal to the country on the issue. The current issue of Newspaperdom contains a photograph of the South Carolina editorial party that visited the factory of the Mergenthaler Linotype company in Brooklyn on the afternoon of June 9. The party was photographed on the steps of the mammoth building just before the tour of inspection was commenced. As has already been j stated, the Mergenthaler company gave f the party a most enjoyable automobile i tour through the greater portion of t New York and a large section of t Brooklyn. Before starting each lady a had been presented with a bououet of i roses, and at the factory each editor s was presented with a solid gold scarf i pin in the form of a miniature linot\ pe matrix. \ i Sometimes it seems that if the peo- i pie of this commonwealth had to look f only to those who are placed in posi- 1 tions of honor, trust and executive res- t ponsibility, for security to life and a property, and to guarantee the opera- t tion of constitutional assurances as to a the right of the pursuit of happiness, a these privileges would he based upon 1 but a flimsy foundation. But to the t thouchtful and observant, it is obvious i that above the generally accredited i civil power, there is another power \ far greater, more constant and stable, | That power if we be permitted to attempt to define it, is the genius of < right and justice, which finds lodgment 1 in the hearts of such a large percentage of a noble citizenship that acknowledges either secretly or openly that after all the really governing laws ire not so much the statutes of men as the statutes that were handed down from Sinai and explained In the Sermon on the Mount. In other words, ivhile In many cases men hold themthat after all, the really governing laws there are evidences innumerable that the divine laws rise superior not only to the laws of men, but to the men themselves. South Carolina Politics. Aside from the squabble between the Blease and anti-Blease factions, South Carolina lacks a great deal of being in a healthy condition politically, and it is going to take a lot of hard work and patient self-denial on the part of the more intelligent, patriotic and lofty minded citizens of the state to establish a condition that will compel permanent respect. That there are certain material differences between the Blease and antiBlease factions for Instance, is apparant to all intelligent lookers on: but that these differences extend to essential principles is more or less doubtful. When it is said, for instance, that the most important difference between the two factions hinges around the question of the extent to which ane or the other will pursue the same ereneral inclination, the ground is pretty well covered. In making this general classification, we would not be understood as apportioning all the citizenship of the 3t#te to one side or the other. To all Intents and purposes, to be sure, all the citizenship of the state is so apportioned in the final contests at the ballot boxes: but that does not mean that the vast majority of voters is in real sympathy with the ambitions or purposes of either side. It means rath?r that in accordance with existing political conditions, there is little ;iiuiue iui me iasi uiajuiuj iu v/v press itself except by way of protest ind because there are things on both ddes that are equally objectionable, ^ach individual protest is about as ipt to go to one side as to the other. One great trouble with South CaroIna during a great many years past? In fact ever since the days of Wade Hampton, and the first two or three idmlnistratlons following, the government has been run by rings and cliques, nstead of by principles, and the main incentive to political activity has been jersonal interest and ambition, instead )f patriotic concern in the highest ind best welfare of the people of the itate. We believe that this fact has )een generally recognized all over South Carolina during all this time ind it is generally recognized all over he state at the present time; but real lealthy and much desired reform has >een postponed for the simple reason hat no leader of ability and capacity las ever attempted a determined effort o bring it about The overthrow of the old regime by rillman in 1890 was a good thing; but he good lay principally in the demonitration to the people of their ability o bring about a changed order of hings. The regime that followed the egime overthrown was in no sense an improvement thereon. On the contrary. it became more objectionable, be ause it showed no pause in adopting ind more openly practicing all of the most glaring faults that had been charged against its predecessor. The eaders of the successful movement at mce went to work in establishing hemselves in all the assumed prerogitives that they had charged against hose who had been overthrown, and he resulting ring was not slow in becoming more bold, powerful and rapacious than the one that had been torn iown. We have no defense to offer of the present incumbent of the executive >fflce. He stands for all the things just >utlined, even to a more marked decree than has been manifested by any >ther incumbent of the office since the var. He said as much in his inaugural iddress, and he has been carrying out he politics announced in that address >ver since. But after all the main difference has been that he has been nore open in what he does than most >f his predecessors have been. For nstance, others have "stood by their "riends," and protected interests and junished their enemies, and have done hese things under the cloak of pubic duty, while the present incumbent las been using the power of his office is he chose and without much explalation other than that he makes it a ule to stand by his friends. In looking back over the political listory of South Carolina during the jast generation, we can see very little hat affords ground for a great deal of >ride, except during the three admlnstrations first referred to, and there is is little ground for pride now as there las been in all the time referred to. IV e do not believe the people of South Carolina are at all pleased with the tresent situation. They are certainly 10 more pleased with the present sitlation than they were with the similar lituation existing for some time precious; but so far as we are able to liscern there are in the signs of the imes no indications of an immediate hange. What South Carolina wants, in our ijjjiiiuii, is iiitr trsiauiisiiiiiciii ui tx &u\irnment of principles rather than of nen, cliques and factions. There is a videspread desire for complete suiremacy of the law, of justice and 'ight. There is a desire for the elevaion of the judicial system to the point vhere no man can prevail in injustice >r crime, because of his personal or jolitical influence, or because of the lower of political connections. There s a desire for a governor who would lot exercise the pardoning power in lehalf of his own son, unless it were ihown that that son had been wrongully or improperly convicted. There s a desire for public officials who afer they are sworn into office become he public servants of all the people ilong the line of their official duties nstead of the mere pals and acceslories of the wirepullers to whom they nay uwc ineir vivcuuii. In what we are saying, we do not vant to he understood as speaking any nore explicitly of the present adminstration than of administrations that iave gone before, because we are not. A'e are merely trying to picture acual conditions as they have been and is they are now, and to show that alhongh theoretically the whole people ire responsible for these conditions, as i matter of fact this responsibility is mt so personal as it might seem for he reason that tinder conditions as hey exist the people are so largely Manipulated by self-seeking politicians vho are generally too shrewd for the ieople as a whole. We believe that it is in the power >f the people of South Carolina to iring about a more satisfactory and representative method of selecting their governor and other public officials, but we do not see how the change is to be made, until these people begin to give the subject a great deal more attention than they have been giving ?until they learn to consider the whole subject as of vastly more importance than they have been considering It. THE LORIMER INVESTIGATION, Editor Kohlsaat Undergoes Searching Examination. Many figures of national prominence were brought into the Lorimer investigation last Saturday for the first time, when Herman H. Kohlsaat, editor and publisher of the Chicago Record-Herald, testified before the senate committee Investigating the election of Senator Lorimer. Former President Roosevelt's name was linked with the investigation when Mr. Kohlsaat testified that last August he told Col. Roosevelt the entire story of the alleged attempt of Edward Hlnes to collect $10,000 from Clarence S. Funk, general manager of the International Harvester company, to reimburse those who had contributed $100,000 "to put Lorimer across" at Springfield. The ban of secrecy was placed on the former president, but Mr. Kohlsaat testified Col. Roosevelt wrote him that he declined, because of Kohlsaat's Information, to attend the Hamilton club dinner in Chicago later in August, 1910, if Lorimer was to be there. The Roosevelt letter will be placed in the record of the hearing. The names of Senators Root, LaFoilette and Cullom were mentioned in a new light. Mr. Kohlsaat testified that he had informed these senators before the senate passed on the Lorimer case of the conversation in which Funk had told him of Hines' alleged attempt to collect money. To these men, Mr. Kohlsaat did not mention names because he considered himself under a pledge of secrecy to Mr. funk not to do so. Mr. Kohlsaat mentioned Senator Cullom's name only at the close of the day's session. bormer Speaker Cannon and Former Representative Tawney of Minnesota figured in the day's testimony. Judge Hancy, counsel for Senator Lorimer, asked the witness if Senator Lorimer in 1903 had not dropped a libel suit against Mr. Kohlsaat because Cannon and Tawney told him it was feared if such were not dropped, the Chicago Record-Herald would not support Roosevelt for president in 1904. "That is so ridiculous that no answer is needed to it," declared Mr. Kohlsaat. tie aiso uemeu mai me suu was dropped because it was made a condition of Gov. Deneen's doing a favor for a young man in tVouble who was Lorimer's friend. The witness underwent a long cross-examination by counsel for Senator Lorimer. He was asked If he did not tell the Funk story to every newspaper in Chicago. The witness said he could not remember if he had, although he had spoken of It without mentioning names to several persons. He was asked if he had not given it o every magazine that was friendly to him. Mr. Kohlsaat denied that he had done so. "Did not you give it to one of the editors of The Outlook?" Inquired Judge Hancy. "No, sir." "Didn't you give It to Theodore Roosevelt?" "Oh, yes." He was asked if he had not told a Chicago detective who came to his office to see if he had any work that the newspapers of the country had organized to fight Lorimer. "Perfectly absurd," declared the witness. He was asked if he did not refuse to give the name of his informant (Funk) when first called before the first investigating committee at Springfield, because he wanted to appear as a sort of martyr. The witness straightened up, looked at Judge Hancy and said: "If there were not ladles present?" Then as he sank back into his chair he added, "I would quote one of Eugene Field's poems to you." "Suppose you answer the question first," suggested Judge Hancy. "No, sir, I was not playing to the galleries." Judge Hancy asked the witness if he did not think it was an unjustifiable thing to take Information secretly to senators who were to judge Lorimer, without giving the state of Illinois, Lorimer or his family a chance to defend themselves against serious charges. He said he did not distinguish senators from members of courts in relation to giving them information. Several times during his examination Mr. Kohlsaat declared he absolutely believed what Mr. Funk told him. Another striking feature of his testimony was his repeated statements that he found much to admire in Senator Lorimer's private life. He referred to the senator's life as ideal. "What I have been fighting for twenty years is Lorimerism," he declared. THE FELDER REQUISITION. What an Atlanta Paper Thinks of the Proceedings Before Gov. Brown. Gov. Brown of Georgia has abruptly rung down the curtain on that interstate farce?the Felder requisition?staged by Gov. Blease of South Carolina. The people of Georgia, and undoubtedly a large number of the best people of South Carolina, commend Gov. Brown for his prompt squelching of Gov. Blease's attempted use of his office and the processes of his state 11 > iriLiro o nrli'Q f o onnmif f nr Vtla o of can be interpreted in no other way. Thomas B. Felder, one of the ablest and most highly esteemed members of the Atlanta bar, was employed by the state of South Carolina to wind up the affairs of the old dispensary commission of that state. He and his firm of lawyers were instrumental in saving the state half a million dollars from the graft-soaked wreck. Gov. Blease, then a state senator, according to the allegations of Mr. Felder, represented the opposition and was implicated in the graft. And now, six years after the offense is alleged to have been committed, and when Mr. Blease has come to occupy the governor's chair of South Carolina, to the disgust of the best element of that state and the amazement of other states that South Carolina would countenance such a man, he sends over a vague, misty and mysterious affidavit charging Mr. Felder with attempting to bribe a member of the board of control, of the dispensary commission, and on that showing demands of Gov. Brown that he send Mr. Felder back to South Carolina under arrest. Mr. Folder's answer to the charge was an indignant denial and a counter charge that Gov. Blease was acting through personal malice to hide his own wrong-doings. Mr. Felder was supported by the Atlanta Bar association and distinguished lawyers from Knoxville, Tenn., and from Macon, Columbus, Savannah, Augusta, Forsythe and by ex-Congressman George Johnstone of Newberry, S. C., Gov. Blease's home town. Mr. Johnstone delivered an earnest speech in Mr. Felder's defense and in testimony of his high character and to the services rendered by him in the dispensary case. It was also shown that the grand jury of the county in which the offense was alleged to have been committed never in all the six years received any information of it from Gov. Blease or any one else, had never taken any action on it, and, in fact, had met and adjourned since the requisition was sworn out and found no indictment. Mr. Felder's vindication was full and complete, and South Carolina's frenzied governor received a sharp and deserved rebuke.?Atlanta Georgian. ? Mrs. Hennie Knight, wife of A. W. Knight, editor of the Bamberg Herald, died last Friday afternoon, after a long period of bad health, aged 38 years. Mrs. Knight was an honor graduate of Winthrop college and a woman of rare culture and refinement, popular in social and literary circles. Besides her husband, she is survived by three children. LOCAL AFFAIRS, NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. "S," R. F. D. 4. Charleston?Wants permanent position as stenographer. Martin Ia Smith, Yorkvllle No. 1?Has Berkshire pigs for sale at $3.50 each. Enquirer Office?Will pay reward for return of lady's brooch, lost Sunday afternoon. Baseball?On the Graded School grounds July 4th. Two games, Fort Mill vs. Yorkvllle. W. O. Johnson, Manager?Gives information about the piedmont Springs hotel, which is now open for the summer. Write him at King's Creek for information. J. L. Williams & Co.?Have added a big line of ladies' skirts and offers them at low prices. The lot includes the newest styles. York Supply Co.?Can furnish you with all kinds of building materials. Mason's fruit jars. J. H. Wilkes" feeds for horses, cows and poultry'. * TX 7 TAknaAn Tntrlf An n Hnnt Inn A o 1. ?? , JiMlllOUII 1IIVUCO auruiuMi IU a few specials, including lard, bacon, hams, breakfaststrip, snowdrift, syrups, coffees, teas, etc. Loan & Savings Bank?Emphasizes the fact that it is never too late to start a hank account. It enables you to borrow when you need it. Kirkpatrick-Belk Co.?In order to avoid carrying over any millinery goods, quotes very low prices on hats, ribbons, flowers, etc. Southeastern Life Insurance Co.?Tells you what It is doing In the insurance field. See C. W. Wallace, district agent, for information, rates, etc. Thomson Co.?Offers men's and boy's summer underwear at 20 per cent reduction this week. All trimmed hats at one price, $1.98. National Union Bank, Rock Hill? Publishes the report of the American Audit company on the National Union bank and the First Trust and Savings bank, of Rock Hill. J. W. Penper and Son, Philadelphia ?On nage four have something to say about bands and band Instruments. Write for catalogues. Although not so bad as football, per haps there occurs in baseball sometimes, incidents that seem calculated to give outsiders the impression that the frame has its rough features. The June number of the Christian Messenger goes into the mails today, it having been delayed somewhat by the illness of Rev. E. E. Gillespie, the editor, and members of his family. During all the years that Piedmont Mineral Springs has been known, no one has ever denied the virtue of the famous White Diamond Llthia water found there. And the management of the Piedmont hotel now is better than It has ever been. There have been no mosquitoes of any consequence about Yorkvllle this year, but whether It Is more due to the dry weather or the thorough cleaning up brought about by the board of health some weeks ago, has not been demonstrated. Flies are plentiful. i hrouohout the western part of King's Mountain township, especially to the south of the King's Mountain road, crops of all kinds are reported to be very good. Fort Mill township is also reported to be in very satisfactory shape, comparatively speaking. Many of the traveling men have gone In off the road on account of the discouraging effects of the drought. Because of the drought people are not Inclined to buy so liberally as otherwise, and many of the traveling salesmen find themselves unable to make enough to pay expenses. If the Neil cotton nicker should nrove successful, It will have as much effect on cotton production as did the Invention of the cotton gin. And people who have examined into the Idea say there Is as much show for it as there is for any of the more elaborate and expensive cotton pickers that have already been put on the market. It has not boon so many years back since, in this section, a million dollars was regarded as a sum so stupendous as to be beyond the present and future dreams of any up-state financial Institution. In those days 750,000 was an exceptionally laree capital and $100,000 was high water mark for deposits. But the old idea of things obtains no longer as is evidenced by the remarkable statement of the National Union Bank and the First Trust and Savings Bank of Rock Hill, published in another column and showing combined resources, aggregating $1,805,391.40, or about one-fourth the total assessed valuation of all the taxable property in York county. Of course a million dollars is still a stupendous sum, and the figures quoted not only go to Illustrate the fine progress made by these splendid financial Institutions, but also help to emphasize the wonderful growth that has heen made and is being made by York county as a whole. COMMUTATION ROAD TAX. Up to last Friday only 4 75 commutation road tax receipts had been issued in the county. Since then 522 more receipts have been issued, making a total of 997 in all. The number of receipts now accredited to the different townships in the office of Treasurer Neil is as follows: Bethel 113 Bethesda 81 Broad River 92 Bullock's Creek 188 Catawba 33 Ebenezer 25 Fort Mill 87 King's Mountain 213 York 165 All persons liable to road duty who fail to pay their commutation tax on or before July 1. will have to put In time on the roads. SOME LONG DROUGHTS. There is a lo{ of talk about the drouerht these days, because In many localities are not included any <>f the favored snots, it is the most prominent subject of dally concern, and Just simply won't be ignored. There are people who claim that it is the worst droueht that has ever been experienced, but this will hardly hold, because there are farmers in every locality who have seen more distressing conditions, and generally they can easily match the present situation without havina to go back to the notable drought of 1881. Mr. Brooks Inman of Yorkville has made an interesting contribution to drought literature from an old scrap hook formerly kept by his father-inlaw, the late A. W. Ingold. In that scrap hook is a list of droughts occurring in this country between the years 1621 and 1876 as follows: In 1621, 24 days. In 1741, 72 days. In 1630. 41 days. In 1749, 108 days. In 1657, 75 days. In 1755, 42 days. In 1662, 80 days. In 1762, 123 days. In 1674, 45 days. In 1763, 80 days. In 1688, 81 days. In 1791, 82 days. In 1694, 62 davs. In 1812, 28 days. In 1705, 40 days. In 1845, 110 days. Tn 1715, 46 days. In 1871, 43 days. In 1728, 61 days. In 1875, 26 days. In 1730, 92 days. In 1876, 26 days. The record drought of this section most talked of by the middle-aged and old men of today is that of 1881. The last general rain was on April 27, and the next was on August 18. There were some local showers in between; but they did not amount to a great deal. Good stands of cotton were general before the drought set in and about half a crop of cotton was made that year. A few farmers made very good crops of corn, but generally the corn crop was a complete failure. Some people that year gathered in cotton stalks before frost and used them for roughness with which to feed cattle. All kinds of vegetation was brought into use for the same purpose without much choice, and straw that year, commanded the prices of Timothy hay in other years. nmiin minu int lhun. Inquiry of various parts of the county this morning over the telephone as to the weather conditions and the crops brought out the following: Tirzah: There was a heavy rain about a mile north of here last night; but there has not been a good rain at this place in three weeks and crops are poor. Clover: There was a tine rain here last night lasting three-quarters of an hour, the first since April 15. The fanners generally have grown very much discouraged and some of them have been plowing up cotton. Bowling Green: There was a light sprinkle here last night, enough to run off the roofs of the houses; but not enough to count for a great deal in reviving the crops. The rain of last night, however, was the best we have had since April 15. There are very good stands of cotton on sandy land; but on red land there is practically nothing. Wright's Ferry: There were verv good showers last night and last Friday; but there has not been a heavy rain over this locality since May. Some of the farmers have good stands and others have none at all. Hickory Grove: It will be three weeks tomorrow since there has been any rain in or near this place. East View: There was a nice rain over this locality about the middle of April, hut since then it has been distressingly dry. There was a fairly good shower on June 7; but not enough for red land. Crops are very poor, the poorest for years, and unless the seasons are exceptionally fine from now on there is no promise of more than half a crop. Bethel, Ford, Barnett & Co.'s Store: There was a good rain here last night, the first for ten weeks, since April 18. Crops are in a sorry condition. Bethany: This locality has been having good rains. Fine rains yesterday afternoon, all the way up to King's Mountain. Crops are looking fine. Sharon: No rain worth considering about here for three weeks: but a very good rain in the Bullock's Creek country last Sunday a week ago. Crops are suffering. WITHIN THE TOWN. ? Mr. C. J. Youngblood has commenced the erection of a handsome cottage on King's Mountain street. Work is being pushed right along and the cottage will he ready for occupation within a few weeks. ? There was only a small crowd out to witness a game of baseball between Yorkvllle and Hickory Grove on the graded school grounds last Friday afternoon. Early In the game the score was 2 to 0 against Yorkvllle and the outlook was quite blue: but later the Yorkvllle boys pulled themselves together and the game went along quite evenly until the seventh inning when Plexlco, of Yorkvllle brought in three men from the bases and went to third himself. At the wind up the score stood 10 to 8 In favor of Yorkvllle. Yorkvllle having still another round at the bat to Its credit. ? Quite a serious accident as the result of which young Guy Justus of Hickory Grove had a close call for his life, occurred during the game of baseball between Hickory Grove and Yorkvllle on the Yorkvllle grounds last Friday afternoon. Justus was at the bat and Dale was pitching. Dale hy the way is a good pitcher, with lots of steam and a good deal of knowledge of the science of the game. He threw one that looked as If It was going to be a "ball" and as Justus ' tooned toward the base to let It go by, it struck him a glancing blQw on the back of the head. The young man sank down without a sound, and although cold water was poured on him as soon as possible, it was several , minutes before there were any satisfactory signs of returning consciousness. The young man slowly came to, however, and the game was continued with a substitute. It was more than half an hour before young Justus was sufficiently recovered to admit of his being removed from the grounds. Mrs. R. B. Lowry and other ladies insisted on taking care of the young man un II next day or until he should be sufficiently recovered to enable him to get home comfortably; but he and his brother nreferred to make the journey to Hickory Grove that night and were taken home in an automobile. Young Justus had a rough time of it during Friday night and a part of Saturday: but information yesterday was to the effect that he was getting along nicely and would pull through the rather rough experience without serious consequences. THE DEATH ROLL. Mr. H. Clarence Glenn, who had been ill since February with Bright's disease, died at his home on North Congress street, Yorkville, last Friday night, and was buried in Rose Hill cemetery on Saturday. Mr. Glenn was a son of the late Capt. R. H. Glenn, for many years sheriff of York cwunty, and who died on June 16, 1 893. The deceased had a wide acquaintance among the people of York county and was highly esteemed wherever he was known. He Is survived by a widow, who was Miss Marie Carroll, and two brothers and three sisters as follows: Mr. W. D. Glenn, Yorkville; Mr. James F. Glenn, Sumter; Mrs. N. G. Allison, Yorkville; Mrs. M. R. Williford, Sumter; Miss Margaret Glenn, Yorkville. Mrs. Annie S. Plaxico, wife of Mr. Joseph M. Plaxico, a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Sharon, died last Thursday of pneumonia, after an illness of only a few days. The deceased was a daughter of the late Wm. J. Stephenson, for many years a valued citizen of York county, and was a lady of most estimable characr>n/l .1 Inn/vnl ! ^* 1.. ici uiiu nwcct uispunuiuu, gi traily urloved by a large circle of friends. She Is survived by her husband and several children, the eldest 10 years and the youngest an infant of two weeks. Miss Rossie Ferguson died last Wednesday and her brother, J. Sutton Ferguson died on Saturday. They were the son and daughter of Mr. Wm. Ferguson, who lives on the Sharon road about 4j miles southwest of Yorkville. Miss Ferguson had been ill for quite a long time and death came as a relief to much suffering. Mr. Sutton Ferguson was found dead in his bed. He had been a sufferer from heart disease for many months, but the full gravity of the case was not appreciated until his lifeless body was discovered in his bed. He was aged 35 years. Both funerals were at Sharon and were largely attended by friends and relatives of the deceased and of the highly esteemed family. itoek Hill, June 23: Mrs. Susan Atkinson Steele, widow of the late Capt. John O. Steele of this city, died here Wednesday night at 10 o'clock, at the advanced age of 70 years, after having heen in bad health for some time past, her death occurring just six hours after that of her son, John A. Steele, which occurred at four o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Mrs. Steele was born and reared in Chester county. She was married to Capt. J. G. Steele in January. 1866, from which union there were five children: John A., whose death occurred Wednesday afternoon: Woods M.. of this city, Gilliam Steele of Charleston and Misses Mamie and Orrie Steele of this city. A double funeral over the remains of mother and son was held at the First Presbyterian church here yesterday evening at 6 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Alex. Martin, the pastor. of which church Mrs. Steele was a consistent member. j Mrs. Ella Parrott, wife of Mr. An- i drew J. Parrott, died at her home near 1 Filbert last Sunday night, after an < illness of several weeks. The de- < ceased was a daughter of the late J. Ed Jefferys of Yorkville, i and was in the 45th year of her age. I She is survived by her husband and ( seven children as follows: Claude. ] Clem, Bessie. Jack, Guy, Minnie and 1 an infant. The interment took place at ! King's Mountain Chapel yesterday af- I ternoon, after services held at the i home. ' ABOUT PEOPLE. Miss Julia Smith of Yorkville. is ' visiting relatives in Atlanta, Ga. , Mrs. B. O. Jennings and little daugh- ] ter May, of Yorkville. are visiting in ; Greenville. J Or J. T. Thomas has been spending l some time at Sharon with his brother, Dr. C. L. Thomas. Misses Nancy Witherspoon and Elizabeth Finley of Yorkville, are visiting ! friends in Aiken. Mrs. C. F. Williams and children, ? and Mrs. I?u Wilson of Columbia, ar- j rived in Yorkville this morning to visit ' relatives. ( Mrs. S. C. Ashe and daughter. Miss i Mabel, of Yorkville, left Saturday to f spend some time in New -York and t Canada. < Mrs. W. S. Neil and children, who * IlUVe DetMl SpfllUIIIg suilir imir Qi nuftv mont, X. C., have" returned to their J home in Yorkville. Mr. H. X. Pharr and Master Neil Yates of Charlotte, N. C.. have been visiting at the home of Rev. and Mrs. j \V. H. Arrowood, at Sharon. t Mrs. J. C. Wilborn and daughter, ? Miss Elizabeth, have returned to their i home In Yorkvllle, after spending sometime with relatives in Chester. Mrs. Paul Gordon and children, and Miss Mary Baker Gordon of Eagle Lake, Texas, are visiting the family of Mrs. Margaret Johnson In Yorkvllle. Dr. John. R. Ashe, who has been spending several weeks at his home In Yorkvllle, left Saturday to take up his work at St. Luke's hospital. New York. Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Valley and children, who have been spending some time with Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Byers of Sharon, left this morning for North Carolina to spend some time. Dr. C. F. Williams of Columbia, came up to Yorkvllle this morning to spend several days at his home, before sailing for Europe, where he will go for a course of special study. Mr. W. P. Boyd of the "Point" sent word to the Enquirer last week that his neighborhood had not been one of (he favored "spots," on which rain had bec.i falling. There had been no rain in the "Point" since April. Mr. W. W. Cartwright of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. G. O. Doggett of Charlotte, N. C., and Misses Faynetta Munro of Kansas City, and Lea Breeding, Glasgow, Ky., are the guests of the family of Dr. A. Y. Cartwright in Yorkvllle. LOCAL LACONIC8. Marriage License Law. The South Carlina marriage license law goes Into effect next Saturday. After that, n visit to the office of the probate judge must precede a visit to the minister or magistrate. TvDhoid Anti-Toxin. Dr. Miles Walker, surgeon of the First regiment has vaccinated the Yorkvflle and Fort Mill companies with tvnhoid anti-toxin and proposes soon also to vaccinate the Cornwell comnanv. This anti-toxin has now been in use in the regular army for several vears. every new recruit being vaccinated as soon as possible after enlistment. and as the result tynhold fever has been almost eliminated from the army. Creamery For Rock Hill. Rock Hill Record: Mr. Bun Brydges, ine manner ??i wie iuritviii?- v>irainery plant, was In this city Friday and appeared at a meeting of the executive committee of the Chamber of Commerce, presenting a plan for establishment and operating: a creamery in Rock Hill. He wants a certain amount of stock subscribed by our people, he to put the balance and manage the plant. Mr. Brydges set forth the advantages of having such a concern here. The matter will he fully considered by the committee. Drowned Near Blackeburg. Rlacksburg. June 26: Odice Moore, ticket agent for the Southern railway here, and a prominent young man, was drowned yesterday afternoon in Buffalo creek, a short distance from the town limit. He had gone out with R. S. Cooksey, local railroad agent for the Southern to go bathing in Buffalo creek. He was considered a good swimmer and had been in the water for some time before he went down. He was at some distance from his companion, when the latter discovered that something was wrong and made an attempt to reach him, but too late. It Is supposed he took cramp. The young man was 22 years of age and was one of the most popular young men in the city, where he had been In the employ of the Southern for some time. Attention to Fruit Growing. Of late years there has been very little attention to fruit growing in York county. Up to twenty or thlrtv years back fine fruit, especially peaches, of the old fashioned sort were quite common: hut since then fruit raising has been a very precarious business. Just why fruit was more successful under former conditions, if such was really the case, would be for the experts to say. There are many more or less plausible theories that could be advanced. But, however, this may be. It Is certain that modern nursery fruit has not been giving very satisfactory results. The trees have yielded very good crops for a while, but the trees have been short-lived. However, there has been a revival of Interest within the past year. Prof. L. A. Niven of Winthrop has thrown out a number of practical suggestions that have received more or less attention, and in a conversation with Mr. B. M. Faris of Gold Hill not long ago, the reporter learned from that gentleman that the farmers of his neighborhood had an expert orchardlst from Clemson to snend some davs with them last spring. The expert did a good deal of demonstration work and astonished the fruit tree owners by trimming the trees until it looked as If they would be ruined. But according to Mr. Farls, good reaiilta nrp nlrendv nntlceahle and the probability is that from now on Oold Hill farmers will give more attention to fruit raising than ever before. MERE-MENTION. A. L. Safford was arrested in Atlanta. Ga., Friday, charged with robbing a number of banks of that city by means of fraudulent checks. He has been working his game for several months Fourteen persons have been Indicted by the United States court at Chicago on charges of "unreasonable restraint of trade." The Indicted men are all former secretaries of lumber companies which were consolidated into the alleged lumber trust In a decision handed down In the Federal circuit court at St. Paul, Minn., Saturday, the court held that the gigantic merger of the Union and Southern Pacific railroads by E. H. Harriman In 1901, was not a combination In restraint of trade General Coslo, minister of war under the Diaz regime, Is charged with grafting about $10,000,000 from the government In the matter of buying arms and ammunition for the army. The grafting operations are alleged to covw a period of at least thirty years. Edward Valentine Lee, formerly paymaster's clerk on the battleship Georgia, was arrested In Buffalo, N. Y., Wednesday, charged with embezzlement. Lee Is the fellow, who under the name of Carmlchael, spent money so lavishly In Atlanta, Ga.. a few months ago. He admits his Identity and his guilt Five persons were seriously Injured in a trolley car wreck at Kokomo, Ind., Friday night. Wadsworth S. Willla, an employee of the San Francisco mint, was burled beneath $9,000,000 In gold Saturday. when the sacks containing the money toppled over on him....Capt. E. H. Jarvls. vice president of the Northern Fisheries Company, committed suicide at Seattle, Wash., Friday night. He left a note which merely said: "Tired and worn out." A Boston dispatch says that many or the New England cotton mills will shut lown during the first week of July, because of the unsatisfactory condition if the market... .Twenty-seven acres pf cow and hog pens in the Fort Worth, Texas, stockyards, were destroyed by fire last Sunday. The loss is considerably over (100,000 Seventeen negroes were killed near Memphis last Saturday, as the result of a boiler explosion on the river steamer St. Joseph The war that Albania is waging against Turkey for indenendence is proving very bloody. The Turks have 50,000 troops in the field ind the Albanians are being murdered in large numbers The coast of ?hlle was devastated by a cyclone last Saturday and it is estimated that as nany as 200 people were killed rhe electric power plant at Spencer Mountain, near Gastonia, N. C., was ?truck by lightning last Saturday and jesiroyt*U. i UC iuaa woa t Juac Bit uir leighborhood of $20,000. ? It was announced on Saturday hat it was the intention of Governor 31ea.se to appoint W. Boyd Evans, rohn Willis and Charles Narey, as itatehouse commissioners. The three ormer members of the board, B. F. raylor, A. E. Gonzales and W. A. Courtney, resigned before the goverlor's inauguration, W. A. Courtney jiving up the place before his death, ' .vhich occurred during the first term 1 if Governor Ansel. Because of the jovernor's veto of the bill making an ' impropriation for the use of the state- j louse and grounds, the commission ' las no money to spend. ? i ? The ten-year-old-son of Dr. and < drs. James Ware of Greenville coun- i y, was drowned in Faris' mill pond, < teveii miles from Greenville last Sat- < lrday. SCHOOL BOOK CHANGE8. Unnecessary and Undesirable Says Superintendent Swearingen. Mr. John E. Swearingen, state superintendent of education, says the Columbia Record, on yesterday made the following statement of his position in respect to the adoption last week of text books for the public schools of the state during the next five years: "To protect the interests of the people and to keep the record- ^ straight, I protested against the recent text book adoptions made by the state board of education. Though my protests were disregarded and my wishes ignored, I desire to make a brief statement of my position. "Eighty per cent of the books now in use have been thrown out of the schools. Not one word of explanation, reason, or excuse for this revolutionary action has been offered to the public. Such sweeping changes are without precedent In the text book history of this state or of any other state. "The books sold in South Carolina during the last five years cost more than $500,000. These books have been in the main displaced, and now have only an exchange value of 50 per cent of their original cost. The new books adopted are higher priced and every time a pupil or patron Is required to exchange an old book there must be a cash payment In addition. "This cash payment will be a tax on every citizen of the state. It may be small in the case of any one book, but will amount to thousands of dollars In the aggregate. "If Wlnthrop college should be burned to the ground there would be a universal lament from the mountains to the sea. The state board of education with an absolute disregard of the property rights of the people has destroyed values and imposed taxes representing an investment equal In value to the cost of the magnificent college at Rock Hill. Every exchange of books also imposes iabor and inconvenience in addition to expense. Any man In charge of a text book depository knows what this inconvenience means. A number of the depositories are conducted by county superintendents of education, and these officers will feel the strain before the exchange period has passed. "I do not believe that changes should be made unless the books in use have proved inferior or unsatisfactory. The state board of education declined to Indicate in writing the unsatisfactory books on the present list. The adoption of 1906 was little short of a crime If inferior books were imposed upon the children of the state. Three members of the present board took part in that adoption and must have voted for the books then selected. The change of nean mai nas taicen place in ttiese gentlemen Is not questioned by me, but It would be better understood if It were fully explained. If any city superintendent In a special district exercising the right of Independent text book adoption should enter upon his work by changing 80 per cent of the books in the hands of the pupils, I do not believe his action would go unchallenged. How much more, then, should explanation be offered when the changes affect the whole state rather than a small municipality! "I had prepared for the use of the board a ballot showing the name of each member voting and the title of each book voted for. This ballot the board declined to use, because the members did not wish to offend the sensibilities of the various book agents with whom they had established and wished to maintain pleasant relations. This Is a laudable sentiment, but It leaves out of the reckoning the senslbilitles of the people. It is a well established principle of representative government that the record of a public servant belongs to his constituents. As state superintendent of edu cation, l was anxious for every citizen to know my position In regard to every book that was retained as well as to every book that was changed. I see no reason why the otheg members of the board should be un< willing to leave a similar record, ere if though unsuccessful bidders might be disappointed In the adoption. "The work of the board has been finished, but the tax on the people will not be felt till later. I have pointed out what I consider the unjustifiable disregard of property rights. I also maintain that the wholesale changes ordered by the board were neither necessary nor altogether desirable. I asked for a full record of the proceedings by which this result was brought about and my request was denied. "I trust that these facts have been made so plain that the man who runs may read and understand." SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS. ? Governor Blease is quoted as expressing a purpose to use his influence with the commission in charge of the state house and grounds to permit the use of the grounds as a play place for small children; but does not mean by this that the larger boys will be allowed to play baseball there. ? Miss Myra Humphries, the eighteen-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Humphries, was drowned In Broad River near Dravo dam, in Cherokee county, last Saturday while bathing. She and her little sister went into a deep hole that had been washed out near the river, and she got beyond her depth. Her agoniz sd father saw her drown without being able to help her. ? Governor Blease has offered a reward of $200 for the arrest of Mr. T. B. Felder of Atlanta and his delivery to the sheriff of Newberry county at any point within the state of South Carolina. The charge on which Mr. Felder is wanted is conspiracy to cheat and defraud the state of South Carolina. In the proclamation it is stated that Mr. Felder has been indicted on the offense named; but as a matter of fact this is not correct No true bill has been returned by the Newberry grand Jury on the subject. ? Columbia. June 26: Because conditions here are probably typical of those prevailing all over the state, a large report made by experts from Federal bureau of standards, following a secret investigation here in April, has statewide interest, as showing how general weights and measures in use are short and how effectually, if innocently, consumers are defrauded. One butter print out of 41 tested was found within 3 per cent of being full weight. Conditions generally are condemned as "very bad." Only half of the forty scales tested were correct within 3 per cent. Ten per cent of all the scales tested were short weighting of consumers by more than 12 per cent. Spring dial scales were especially off. Scale weights ran 87 per cent correct within three per cent. Beans, peas and such commodities were srenerallv sold bv liauid measure. the consumer thus being defrauded at the start to the extent of 14 per cent. Butter prints averaged about one ounce In the pound short. Out of twentynine packages of rice and sugar, sixty-nine per cent of them were short weight. ? Columbia Record: Governor Blease Monday, in accordance with letters received from sheriffs and supervisors, removed twelve dispensary' constables in eleven dry counties. The following are the counties in which the constabulary have been dismissed by the governor's letters mailed out Monday afternoon: Dorchester, Lee, Sumter, Orangeburg, Fairfield, Darlington, Abbeville, Berkeley, Saluda, (two constables), Barnwell, Calhoun. In each county, save Saluda, there was one dispensary constable. Governor Blease Monday explained his position in the constabulary matter as follows: 'T am trying to give the people of the state an economic administration, and am oaying more attention" to this feature than to any other one thing. Where the local officers have given me the assurance that they will be able to pnforee the laws, I do not wish to give the taxpayers any extra expense by the appointment or the retaining of constables. If, however, the local officers do not enforce the laws, constables will be appointed wherever requested." The removal of the several constables given about goes Into effect an July 1. In Saluda it was pointed out that the enforcement of the law against the illicit sale of liquor being carried on by white people was not carried out as It should be. Two constables had been employed in that