Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, November 06, 1914, Image 1
44 _ ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL"^
l. m grist's sons. Pubiiihen. J % 4ami,8 : ^or th< gromotion of political, ?ociat, Hgritullupl and Commercial Jntercsia of <h< ?eopl$. |
ESTABLISHED 1855. "YORKVILLE, 8. O., FRIDAY, NOVEMiBER 6, 1914. NO. 89
THE NERVE Of
%
Even the Bravest
terious Influe
Of all the mysteries of war?and
there are many?none Is more baffling
or more elusive to the student
of fighting human nature than the
way in which blind panic will grip
and temporarily paralyze even the
most seasoned troops.
No fighting man in the world, the
British bluejackets or British Tommy
Atkins not excepted, is immune
from the sudden, subtle attack of
"blue funk."
White. Brown and Black.
However, so far as a comparison
of the fighting qualities of the various
nations is possible?I have never
found any material difference in
^ man's courage be he white, brown or
black, though it assumes different
forms?I should say, without disrespect
to our allies, that the Frenchman
is the most susceptible to panic.
^ The Frenchman's imaginative qualities
make him a bonny and enthusiastic
fighter, but, just because he
has a vivid imagination, is he peculiarly
liable to lose his head?and to
lose it very badly.
I remember being with the French
foreign legion during the Moroccan
war when, late one night, the goums
< (native scouts) came galloping back
to camp with the news that the
Moors were coming on in force.
Panic will seize men in broad daylight,
but certainly there is nothing
more favorable to its development
than the actuality or fear of an attar-k
at the small hours of the morn
ing. The alarm, as it so happened,
was a false one but the mischief was
done. Suddenly, instantaneously,
like the dropping of a great black
pall, fear fell upon us. and these
hard-bitten, reckless "devils" of the
foreign legion broke and scattered.
I dare say to the mind of many a
* reader there will spring up a picture
of a disordered, yelling mob running
this way and that, but the picture,
if conceived, would be false.
If one can lay a finger on any salient
characteristic of panic, it is that
% panic-stricken men do not run. They
walk, or rather stumble, along, heedless
of whither they are going, so
long as it is away from the enemy.
Also, men in the grip of a nameless
fear do not cry out. Their tongues,
like their limbs, are more or less
paralyzed.
^ When I meet a man who tells me
that he has never been afraid under
fire I know him to be a liar. Perhaps,
in one's first engagement, the
novelty and excitement of the occasion
counterbalance fear. But I am
certain that the oftener a man goes
into action the more he is afraid,
and it is morale, discipline, and,
above all, the fear of being exposed
as a coward, that keeps him from
running away.
Another curious characteristic of
panic is the fact that, though the re0
treating men may be fired into, and
harried and hustled, they will not retaliate.
In fact, they seem to wish to
be killed, and during a debacle one
might say that every man hangs out
^ a placard on his back of "Please
shoot me!"
Eighteen miles did the foreign
legion walk and stumble across the I
desert, though no enemy pursued.
Then, as suddenly as it had come,
fear left them, and they pulled up,
ashamed to look at their officers,
ashamed to look at themselves.
What stops a panic? It is hard to
? say. As often as not. it goes as mysteriously,
as inexplicably as it came.
Tt mnv be said, however, that it is
always the officers who save the situation.
beating and taunting the men
into manhood again.
4 During the last Zulu war the late
Lord "Bill" Bresford came upon a
Tommy who had got a bad attack of
funk and was cowering behind a
rock. Beresford looked at him. and
then said: "Your poor dear old
MANUEL OFFERS
| Ex-King Manuel of Portugal, here
zollern princess, has offered to serve
with the alliance between Great Hrit
royalist friends to be loyal to their c
restore him to the throne.
' THE SOLDIER
Subject to Mysnce
of Panic.
mother would be proud if she could
see you, wouldn't she?"
British Soldiers Firm.
With a snarl the man leaped to his
feet, rushed into the thickest of the
fray, and fought like a tiger suffering
from toothache.
Of all the fighting men the British
bluejacket or soldier is the least
liable to panic. Still, even he does
not always escape, although, in an
experience as a war correspondent
which embraces 19 campaigns and
29 pitched battles, I have only once
seen the British Tommy thoroughly
and utterly demoralized.
This was at the battle of Tamai,
when, through a blunder for which
General Sir Gerald Graham, V. C.,
chivalrously assumed a responsibility
that was not his, the leading square
was ambushed.
It was so neatly trapped that, before
anything could be done, there
were 3,000 of the enemy Inside the
square. Then the men began to give.
There was no shouting, no running,
but just a confused, straggling, aimless
walk, or roll, to nowhere in particular.
This lasted for seven or
eight minutes, and then a trifling incident
caused the cord of fear to
snap like a fiddle-string.
A wounded Tommay, down in the
sand, had got hold of a Dervish
around the legs in such a manner
that the latter could not use his
spear. Some of the men, catching
sight of the struggle, called to the
others to turn and watch it. In a
few seconds the square was stationary,
and facing inwards, watching a
(duel.
Slowly, pertinaciously, hanging on
like a bulldog, the Tommy?a very
powerful man?dragged the Dervish
down, stretched him across his knee
and broke his back in two.
Cheer after cheer greeted the feat,
and then the late Bennet Burleigh
lifted up a most unmusical voice and
bellowed forth. "Rule. Britannia!"
That did it. Yell after yell of
Homeric laughter burst from the
ranks. Then came silent?a grim,
terrible silence, as the men spat on
their hands and went to the bayonet
killing. Of the 3.000 or more Dervishes
inside the square not one came
out alive; but for about ten minutes
it had been touch-and-go with Tommy
Atkins.
Colored troops, of course, get panic
badly.
At El Teb.
I was in the first battle of El Teb,
when Valentine Baker Pasha's force
of 6,000 Egyptians and some 300
Europeans was cut to pieces. Over
4,500 Egyptians were slain, while I
was one of the six survivors out of
300 Europeans. The informed square
broke at the first Bedouin onslought
and then ensued a horrible panicstricken
procession back to the sea.
The enemy hung on for two or
three miles, cutting, slashing, killing
at will, for, as I have said, characteristically
of panic, the men made no
effort to defend themselves.
In* this armageddon there will be
panics.
i fersonany, i minK me i^uuu ratn
will be the first to "crack" under the
strain. At the same time, no race
has a monopoly of panic, for none escapes
our common heritage of fear,
only some men have the panic sense
more highly developed.
What about the Teuton? The German
soldier may either set an example
of moral stamina, or he may
prove to be overtrained and stale,
and therefore liable to the sudden
onrush of senseless fear.
One thing, however. I can assert
with confidence: If there be a man
on earth who is impervious to panic
?who can avert it, or stay it once It
has developed, then that man is the
British officer, naval or military.
Except in his own petty or nonTO
HELP ENGLAND
Bh i
u M '
v;k%.v :. |
shown with his wife, who is a HohenEngland
in any capacity in accordance
ain and Portugal, and has advised his
ountry. It is said plans are on foot to
commissioned officers, the British officer
is unapproached in the hold he
has over his men. and in the hold he
has over himself.?Philadelphia Public
Ledger.
FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY
Governor Blease Calls for Help for
Starving Belgians.
Editor of The Yorkville Enquirer:
I am in receipt of the following
cable message, which is self-explanatory,
and which you may desire to
publish in your paper, in order that
the people of this state may, if thay so
desire, contribute to the relief of the
cause therein stated:
"London, November 3.
"The Governor of South Carolina, Columbia.
S. C.
Would you be good enough to
interest yourself in the critical situation
which exists amongst the people
of Belgium to the extent either
through official agencies or through
the creation of some committee for
the purpose to collect foodstuffs or
money within your state on behalf of
these people, such foodstuffs to consist
of cereals, bacon or ham. It would
be a matter of great gratification if
the people of your state could furnish
one or more shiploads of foodstuffs to
be known as the South Carolina Ships.
If you could see your way to take in
hand this beniflcent work, we will use
every influence we can bring to bear
to have handed over to you all of the
funds subscribed within your state for
Belgian relief, that they may be translated
entirely in foodstuffs. We can
arrange for the reception of such food
on the Atlantic Seaboard and its
transportation and distribution in Belgium.
Herbert Hoover, Chairman."
I would suggest, if the matter is
taken up in your section of the state,
that suitable parties be designated to
receive subscriptions and forward
them to Chairman Hoover.
Very respectfully,
Cole. Ll Blease.
Governor.
"TOMMY" AS A PRISONER
Good-Natured and Willing to Work,
Berlin Observer Says.
The daily life of the British war
prisoners at work in the concentration
camp at Dobertiz, the large open
drill ground of Prussian troops, 20
miles from Berlin, is described in a
recent issue of the Vossische Zeitung.
"Tommy," according to the German
newspaper, shows no ill-feeling whatever
toward his Prussian guards, and
works well.
"He cultivates the land in the
neighborhood, under Prussian direction.
He repairs the roads, works in
the fields, pulls up weeds in the
stretches laid out as gardens, and
levels the ground where necessary. It
is prisoner's work, but not slave's
work, that he does, and everything is
done quietly and good-naturedly. One
hears no bad or angry words, no summons
to be more diligent, and one notices
no unfriendly glances. Often
enough the German landwehrsmann
superintending the party shows how
things must be done by taking the
tools into his own hands; and Tommy
is quite willing to learn. He even
takes pains with his work. Many of
the men come from the country and
love the soil.
"Each gang is in charge of one of
its own non-commissioned officers, and
is superintended by a man of the
Prussian landwehr. Only the rank
and file work; the non-commissioned
officers, who, according to military
prescriptions, cannot be required to
work, stand about smoking cigarettes.
Communication between the English
and the Germans is carried on by
signs, for not one of the 3.000 Englishmen
at Doberitz either speaks or
understands a word of German.""
The Vossische Zeitung states that
the British prisoners did not get on
well with the French and Russian
prisoners at Doberitz, and that there
was also a distinctly hostile attitude
between the English and Scotch prisoners
on the one hand and the Irish
on the other. The superintendents, it
says, were obliged to separate the men
into regiments so that the Irish might
work alone.
FOR CONTROL OF THE COAST
Terrible Bloodshed Along Shores of
British Channel.
An eye-witness account from the
battle front in France and Belgium
written, as previously stated, by Col.
E. D. Swinton of the intelligence department
of the British general staff,
was given out Wednesday by the official
press bureau, says a London dispatch.
It bears the date of October 26,
and reads in part as follows:
"After the fall of Antwerp and the
relief of the besieging troops there
was a gradual increase in the strength
of the opposition met by us. The resistance
of the detachments, which
beyond the right extreme of the German
fortified position near Bethune
a fortnight ago consisted almost entirely
of cavalry, grew more and more
determined as more infantry and
guns came up into the front line until
Tuesday, October 20, when the arrival
opposite us of a large portion of
new formations and a considerable
number of heavy guns enabled the
enemy to assume the offensive practically
against the whole of our line,
at the same time that they attacked
the Belgians between us and the
coast.
"The operations then really assumed
a fresh complexion. On Wednesday,
October 21, the new German formations
again pressed forward in
force vigorously all along our line.
On our right, south of the Lys. an attack
on our lines was repulsed with
loss to the assailants. On the other
hand we were driven from some
ground close by to the north, but regained
it by a counter attack.
"Still further to the north the Germans
regained and retained some
points. Their casualties to the southeast
of Armentieres were estimated at
over 6,000.
"On the north of the Lys, in our
center, a fiercely contested action
took place near La Gheir, which village
was captured in the morning by
the enemy and then retaken by us.
In this direction the German casualties
were extremely heavy.
"On our left our troops advanced
against the German 26th reserve
corps near Paaschendaele and were
met by a determined counter offensive,
which was driven back with local
losses."
? Lee Hamilton and A. \1. Chapman
of Saluda county, have just received
notice informing them that they have
been awarded hero medals and $1 000
each by the Carnegie commission, for
heroism displayed in saving the lives
of several persons who were about to
drown in the Saluda river, at Chappels,
several years ago.
X'.:' The Philippino government recently
granted its first concession to
foreign capital, an English company
getting a twenty-year right to develop
hardwood forests.
FOOTSTEPSOFTHE FATHERS
As Traced In Early Files of The
Yorkville Enquirer
NEWS AND VIEWS OF YESTERDAY
Bringing Up Records of the Past and
Giving the Younger Readers of Today
a Pretty Comprehensive Knowledge
of the Things that Most Concerned
Generations that Have Gone
Before.
The first Installment of the notes
appearing under this heading was
published In our Issue of November 14.
1913. The notes are being prepared
by the editor as time and opportunity
permit. Their purpose is to orms
into review the events of the past for
the pleasure and satisfaction of the
older people and for the entertainment
I and Instruction of the present generation.
NINETIETH INSTALLMENT
Virginia Correspondence.
Camp near Germantown, Army of the
Potomac, August 20th, 1861.
Dear Enquirer:?To any one who
has the temerity to make the experiment,
an attempt at a correspondence,
whilst confined within the noisy precincts
of a soldier's camp, with a box,
or a barrel for a writing desk, a corroded
piece of iron for a pen, and with
not a moment of quietness for thought,
will prove a task difficult to be performed
satisfactorily, yet, I have determined
to make the effort?however
rash?believing that a short communi"attnn
fnnohiner affairs in this section
of the world, would not be uninteresting
to your readers; particularly as so
many of the gallant sons of York are
encamped here in obedience to their
country's call.
Our regiment, that is the 6th commanded
by Col. Winder, Colonel Jenkins,
Colonel Sloan and Col. Blanding,
constitute the brigade under
Gen. D. R. Jones, now tented within a
mile and a half of Fairfax court house.
Our men have suffered, and are suffer
ing severely, from a disease which
seems even to pursue a camp with its
distressing ravages, though no deaths
have occurred as yet from this cause,
the unfriendly climate by which we are
surrounded, together with the lingering
effects of the measles by which our
army has been sorely scourged, appears
to have rendered its form more
aggravated than it might under other
circumstances have been. Fortunately,
however, it seems to have abated somewhat
in the last three or four days.
Many of the soldiers, no doubt, have
grievously felt the want of properly
prepared provisions, as few of them
had acquired any knowledge of the
culinary art before they were called to
nn nnmnlflint hnWPVPT hO.S
been alleged against the commissary
department for the provision supplies
have been of good material and very
abundant. I have understood that
General Beauregard has ordered government
bakeries to be established
about Fairfax, in order to supply the
army with wholesome bread. This
would be decidedly a wise measure.
We are beginning to look with no
little apprehension to the coming winter;
already have we had an earnest
of what we may reasonably expect
when the cold season sets in regularly;
for the last week the weather has
been exceedingly rough and uncomfortable,
cold winds and continual
rains have visited us with unmitigated
roughness. After the lightest fall of
rain, the earth here becomes a "slip
and slosh," and appears to exude to
the surface double of the quantity of
water that had fallen from the heav
ens?it is infinitely worse than the
South Carolina "blackjacks," the soldiers
consequently sustain great inconvenience
and frequently contract
disease from having their feet continually
damp. My own have not been
dry in four days. Most of our men are
totally unprepared for the severity of
a northern winter, and they are necessarily
dependent upon friends at home
for supplies of suitable winter clothing
which is impossible to procure
here. Surely the patriotic people of
York need only to be informed of this
fact to make the requisite outfit for
her soldiers, forthcoming immediately.
Woolen clothing is needed?not money.
In behalf of the York Guards, I take
tV?n Hharfv r\f rpminfUn? thp pitizPTlS flf
Fort Mills, Rock Hill and Blairsville
that they have brothers and sons now
defending the homes which they enjoy
in peace and quiet, and that it would
be criminal in the last degree on their
part to permit a single man of this
gallant corps to suffer for a moment or
"perchance to die" from the want of
comfortable apparel.
I had my strength and patience
slightly tested on the day we marched
from Camp Pettus?where we were
last stationed, to this place, a distance
of six or seven miles. The rain poured
in torrents upon us, almost without
intermission, during the whole march,
the mud was frequently six inches
deep, and everything in fact seemed to
me to have conspired to render the
journey difficult and disagreeable. The
Brigade, however, with the soldierly
bearing and fortitude accomplished it
without appearing to be jaded even?
resting only ten minutes on the way.
With a stern determination to play
the soldier, I slung my knapsack,
buckled on my military accoutrements
shouldered my gun?a very good rifled
musket taken from the Yankees on
the memorable 21st and took my position
in the line of march; it proved almost
to great a feat for my strength,
however, and with great reluctance I
had to "own up" and saddle my servant
with my fighting implements, after
which I ran the bop trot with the
swiftest. The lot of the common soldier
is hard and to see the willingness
and cheerfulness, with which gentlemen
heretofore accustomed to ease
and luxury even, discharge the arduous
duties and endure the severe privations
common to the common soldier,
alone can convey the adequate
conception of the appreciation by
southerners of that peerless boon for
which they are gallantly struggling?
the liberty and independence of the
south. I have been in an attitude to
see, to feel and to experience in some
sort, and I shall ever remember with
unmixed gratitude the man who has
shouldered his gun and gone forth to
battle in this sacred cause.
It is truly gratifying to witness the
confidence evinced by the soldiers generally
in their company and regimen
tal officers. This is peculiarly the case
with the 5th Regiment. Col. Jenkins,
by his assiduous and kindly attention
to the wants of his men, has elicited
their universal esteem and warm devotion.
In reference to the 6th, to
which I am attached I cannot speak
with the same degree of certainty, as I
have but a slight acquaintance as yet
with a great part of the regiment. Of
the York Guards commanded by Captain
John M. White I can do so ex cathedra
of course, this unaffected sterling
and game officer, diligently aided
by his energetic and gentlemanly
lieutenants? Messrs. Crosby, Moore
nnrt T/iuo never ceases in his watch
ful vigilance after the welfare of his
men. The 6th Regiment considers itself
under peculiar obligation to President
Davis for their efficient colonel.
This gentleman, though a few weeks
ago an entire stranger to almost every
man of the regiment, has already won
the unbounded confidence of his entire
command. I became acquainted with
him the day after my arrival at Camp
Pettus, and found him to be an unassuming,
urbane and rather accomplished
gentleman. He is quite an adept in
military matters, being an officer of
the regular army of the Confederate
states, and having been heretofore
connected with the regular army of the
defunct United States. He is almost
too much of a "rule and live" man
from education to please every volunteer
who has not yet become properly
bridle-wised in war. I speak thus
particularly of the confidence and regard
entertained by the men for their
leaders, because, from my limited experience
and observation, I am persuaded
the paramount importance 01
such a relation between the officers
and soldiers, not only on account of
its direct bearing upon the cause of J
our oeiovea country, out ueuuuse ??.
contributes materially to the contentment
and satisfaction of the soldier
and lightens the pressure of the hardships
and trials to which he is subjected
in a campaign.
The army is a place to learn something
of the human character, every
variety of the genus homo is presented
to the view on a single stage from
the far seeing general who is capable
of wielding thousands in a belligerent
operation with the same skill and cool
calculation that Morphy disposes of
his pieces upon a chess board, down to
the swarm of diminutives who are
proud to revel in the destruction of
being a voluntary attache of some colonel.
There is in the region of the
army a pestiferous multitude of the
latter ever seeking some appointment
or name of an office with which to justify
or rather authorize a few strips of
brass upon their shoulders and stripes
on their limbs, no matter who pays the
cvnonimc that thpv m?v annear to '
hold the position of common saints. It
is very questionable if their services
will ever compensate for their outlay.
The privates?the bone and sinew of
the army, when contrasted with the
woarars of spangled apparel, cannot
attract any special notice of course.
Whether an immediate demonstration
against Washington or any other
Federal stronghold is contemplated by
the authorities that be or not, can only
be a matter of conjecture. One in a
camp is entirely precluded from learning
anything transpiring without; certain
it is, however, that a forward
movement of troops Is now steadily
progressing towards the Potomac. It
has been rumored that the Lincolnites
are preparing to advance upon us
again, if so, Fairfax or perhaps Manassas
again, will witness a scene of
blood and carnage compared with
which the battle of the 21st of July
will shrink into insignificance! For we
may well expect that they will make a
desperate effort to retrieve their lost
cnaracter ror courage ana prowess <
upon the battlefield. Whether the Yan- !
kees move or not, I have very little <
doubt but that a fight Is not far ahead <
of us. I believe that the Potomac op- '
poses at present the only impediment '
to the prompt movement of the Con- i
federate forces. Maryland is to be lib- i
erated and the enemies' relish for the i
delicacies of war is to be gratified by i
its free indulgence on his own soil.
One month more will not elapse before
the programme here indicated will be '
a fact.
I would like to give a short descrip- .
tion of the sights yet visible on the
battlefield of Manassas Plains, and say
something of the hills and ravines,
where the 5th maneuvred and particularly
of that perpendicular precipice
over or down which they charged or
rather "slid" in their rush towards the
Yankees; but it must be reserved for
another occasion if that occasion shall
be permitted to arise by the fortunes
of war. Moore.
(To Be Continuec).
Risk in Motoring.
Actuaries of accident insurance companies
find that the man who drives a
racing automobile in speedway contests
runs 3,000 times the normal risk of
death or injury. He must be charged
$350 for a $10,000 policy covering a period
in which he is engaged not more
than 24 hours in practice speeding or
ifctual racing, says the Louisville-Courier-Journal.
The figures are suggestive to sane
end law-abiding automobilists who
are subjected to risk of life and limb
because of the efforts of a few speed
maniacs to emulate upon the public
roads the feats of the drivers of racing
cars upon courses especially adapted to
fast driving.
The normal risk in motoring?that is
to say, the risk encountered where the .
traffic conditions are normal?is less
than the risk involved in farm labor,
where farm animals and tools and machinery
are handled.
The accident underwriters, we believe,
rate automobile owners according ,
to their vocation. A business or professional
man who would get the low
est premium rate ir he did not drive an
automobile pets that rate regardless of
his ownership of an automob''^ That
is a right rating, because others than
automobilists are run down and maimed
or killed by the speedsters. But
there is a considerable loss to accident
insurance companies that is due di- ,
reetly to violations of reasonable speed
regulations.
,
Investigations by the geological i
survey of the erosion of numerous <
drainage basins of the United States 1
show that the surface of the country is 1
being worn away at a rate of about an i
inch in 760 years. i
illiocfllanroiis ilradmtv
GOVERNOR ON THE BOND BILL
Explains in Message Why Measure
Was Not Signed.
Governor Blease on Monday night,
sent the following message to the
general assembly on the subject of the
bond bill:
"On account of the extraordinary
occasion which had occurred in our
state, I felt it Incumbent upon me,
for the welfare of the planting interests
In South Carolina and all
classes of our citizenship, to convene
the general assembly in extra session
to pass such laws as in your good
judgment would be necessary and
proper for the relief of the citizens of
our state. When your body met, in
accordance with my proclamation, I
had the honor to communicate to you
suggestions with regard to certain
measures which it seemed to me
would, to a great extent, relieve our
people from the distressing condition
into which they hade fallen on account
of the fall in the markets of
their staple product and their inability
to find the necessary funds wherewith
to meet the demands that were
made upon them, as well as the consequences
which would befall our
people for some time and until the
foreign markets could again be open 1
to them and the readjustment or arfairs
made which had been produced
by the fearful and deplorable war
then and now raging in Europe, and 1
upon the seas. You have now been in
session for near four weeks. To a
great extent the measures that I recommended
have not met with your
approbation and it is now too late for
them to receive adequate consideration
or to pass in any substantial
form to our statute books as laws of
the state.
"I am now. however, in receipt
from your body, and which you have
ratified, an act entitled 'An act to
authorize the issuing of J35,000,000
In 5 per cent coupon bonds of the
state, to be known as South Carolina
lotton bonds, and to submit the question
of the issuing of the same to the
lectors at the next general election,
and to provide for the payment of in:erest
and their retirement, and to
prescribe the terms and manner of
issuing and delivery of the same.' I
im bound to officially accredit the
members of your body with having
passed this act in the best of good
faith and patriotism and that you (
have brought to its discussion and its
consideration the very best thought (
and the most earnest desire to give
relief from the distressing conditions ,
ivhich surround our people. The act |
s now before me for executive action (
ind I have endeavored to give to it ,
ill the consideration of which I am (
capable in this time of dire necessity
to our people. It has brought to me ,
jreat embarrassment and hours of (
most harassing anxiety in endeavoring
to reach a conclusion as to what
is my duty and what is good for my (
people and state. (
"With regard to the act, I have ]
Urave and serious doubts as to (
ivhether it meets with the require- <
ments of our constitution. Upon this ,
point, however, I feel compelled to ]
forbear placing my opinion as to such (
juestlon, which certainly presents |
fAQOAnoKlu H miht hofnrn thp py- ]
press wish of the representatives of ]
the people in such a state of affairs
is has arisen. The courts constituted
for the purpose of deciding these
luestlons must decide this question,
if I were absolutely satisfied that the
constitution, which in my oath of office
I obligated myself to support and
respect, forbids it, I would, under the
solemnity of such oath, unhesitatingly
disapprove of this act. I am impressed
with the conviction that it is not
fair to our citizens that they should
be called upon to vote upon such a
measure as this upon such inadequate
notice?in fact, without discussion
among them generally or knowledge
of its main features.
"At this late day, it seems to me l
impossible for them to give the due <
consideration and free consent which i
the constitution intended if not enjoined.
Here again the representatives
of the people, howe.er, have
seen fit in the exercise of their legistive
wisdom and in accordance with
their duty as they consider it, passed
and ratified this act. which they, by
such action, are convinced is for the
good of the people, and asked that
it be submitted to them. That the
? > ?o trl
aci nas ueen parseu su iia.niij no vo
time, and that such inadequate, if not 1
actual, lack of notice has occurred, ;
may and should be a good reason why
the voter should not give it his assent,
but I cannot stand between the
people and the legislature and prevent
the expression of their will upon this
subject.
"If I felt that my action would be
final it may be that, holding the convictions
I have, that this is the most
dangerous act of legislation that has 1
ever been presented to the people of
South Carolina, I would unhesitatingly
give my executive disapproval of
the act. But the people, whose wishes
I have always sought to obey and
whose welfare I have always endeav- '
ored to care for and promote, have
the decision with them as to whether
it should become a law. I am so apprehensive
of the dire disaster which
may come to the credit of the state by
incurring such a fearful amount of indebtedness
for such a small state as
South Carolina, and which perhaps '
and in all probability, in my view of
it, will not give any relief to the poor
farmers of our state nor sufficiently
orotect the large planting interests of ,
many of our citizens, and so fearful of j
such woeful consequences as may arise
to our people at large, that I hesitate
to assume any responsibility for the j
measure. But I become hesitant and
doubtful before the situation which
my disapproval of this act may pro- (
duce, and which so many of our representatives
and our farmers think ,
would meet the emergency which
they now face, and that it is for their
benefit and welfare. I
"The constitution provides that 'if
x bill or joint resolution shall not be ,
returned by the governor within three |
days after it shall have been present?d
to him, Sundays excepted, it shall ]
have the same force and effect as If (
he had signed it. unless the general
assembly, by adjournment, prevent its <
return, in which case it shall have "
such force and effect unless returned
within two days after the next meeting.'
In all probability one of the
reasons of this constitutional provision
is to meet Just such a situation as now
presents Itself.
Cannot Approve Act.
"I cannot, entertaining the views
that I do with regard to this act, approve
it. I cannot feel that I am
dealing with my people fairly in the
sense of not giving them an opportunity
to pass upon this question them
selves. I cannot place my executive
disapproval upon this measure. The
responsibility, therefore, of Its becoming
a law must rest with the general
assembly which was convened in
extra session to pass such laws as in
their good judgment may be necessary
and proper for the relief of the citizens
of our state. It Is for the people
to speak at the ballot box with regard
to whether this tremendous debt shall
be placed upon the property of the
state for the long period for which
these bonds run, bearing such a high
rate of interest for state bonds. I
therefore, leave the responsibility and
burden of this question upon the general
assembly and the people, should
they by the necessary vote, authorize
the same. At last it will be for them
to say whether or not they have given
due consideration and free consent to
the Issue of these bonds and the consequences
which may result from the
carrying out of the terms and provisions
of this as now framed.
"Gentlemen, I shall withhold executive
action upon this act and shall
not return it to the house in which
It originated within three days from
the time it was presented to me if
the general assembly shall not have
adjourned before then.
"I trust that each and every one of
our citizens who votes at the next
general election upon this matter shall
give the utmost consideration and the
most careful thought before they shall
cast their vote for this act for the contracting
of this great debt, which will
not only burden some of the present
generation, but probably generations
to come. But after such due consideration
and free consent is given, I
truly hope that the consequences will
be not such as I apprehend, but that
it will meet the just expectations of
those who are responsible for it."
McLAURIN GETS BUSY
Warehouse Commissioner Seeks to
Put System in Operation at Once.
Hon. John L. McLaurin, recently
state warehouse commissioner,
Is not losing any time in his efforts to
do the best he can with the new law.
He qualified and gave bond immediately
after his election and on Tuesday
began to see what he could do about securing
the use of buildings on the
state fair grounds. To that end he addressed
letters to Hon. J. W. Kirven,
president of the state fair association,
and to Hon. Richard I. Manning, governor-elect:
To Mr. Kirven:
"The general assembly has devolved
the duty upon me of putting into operation
a warehouse system giving the
people the benefit of storing cotton at
cost. The amount provided is only
515,000, which of course is barely sufficient
for the purpose of organization,
in this financial emergency, cheap
storage is a paramount necessity. The
rates in many standard warehouses
have already advanced to 30 cents a
bale, which with high interest rates,
makes it difficult to carry the surplus
cotton over into 1916:
"Some weeks ago ex-Mayor Gibbes,
in an interview in the state, called attention
to this situation and said: 'For
the storage of cotton at this time the
galvanized iron and steel frame buildt
wnnlH nf
ing on me staie mu giwuuuo ?
ford exceptional facilities.' Mr. Gibbes
further expressed the opinion that you
would welcome the opportunity to
prove the value of the society to the
farmers in time of emergency.'
"It gives me pleasure to offer you
now this opportunity to give the farmers
a chance to store their cotton at
cost. The state has appropriated funds
for the fair association ever since its
organization, and this is a splendid
chance to use these quasi public buildings
to serve a substantial public use
instead of their lying idle for a year.
"I will have my headquarters temporarily
at the Jefferson hotel, and if
this suggestion appeals to your judgment
I shall be glad to confer with
you. With the railroad tracks convenient
and with the city water, I believe
that I can offer the public cotton
storage cheaper than any warehouse in
the state, where rent must be paid or
dividends be earned upon the capital
stock. If your society will permit me,
under proper safeguards, to use the
buildings until you need them next fall
the farmers in this state will appreciate
vnur notion and. in my judgment
you will be more than rewarded in the
liberal support of your association in
the future."
To Gov.-elect Manning:
"1 am enclosing you a copy of an
open letter to the president of the state
Agricultural and Mechanical society,
which I hope meets your approval. If
consistent with your views, I respectfully
request your assistance in securing
this property. You have been a
consistent supporter of the state warehouse
system from the beginning, and
I feel assured that I can count upon
your co-operation, as governor of
South Carolina, in making it a success.
"Congratulating you upon your election
and wishing you a peaceful, happy
and prosperous administration of public
affairs during your term of office."
Great Battles.
Here are some figures showing the
number of combatants that took part
In some of the most important, epochmaking
fights of the past:
?>l UhUfll, ill tilt; Auaau-uapaiicoc *?***,
heads the list with a total of more than
700,000 men in battle array.
Leipsie ("The Battle of the Nations.")
October 16 to 19, 1813?French,
160,000; Austrians, Russians and Prussians,
240,000. Total 400,000.
Waterloo, June 18, 1815.?French,
71,947; British and Allies, 67,661. Total,
139,608.
Gettysberg, July 1 to 3, 1863?Fed?rals,
80,000; Confederates 80,000. Total,
160,000.
Sedan, August 29 to September 1,
1870?French, 150,000; Germans, 250,- (
)00. Total. 400,000.
Mukden, March 1 to 10, 1905?Rus- 1
dons, 400.000; Japanese, 301,000. Total,
1*01,000.?Milwaukee Journal.
TOLD BY LOCAL EXCHANGES
News Happenings In Neighboring
Communities.
CONDENSED FOR QUICK READING
Dealing Mainly With Local Affairs ot
Cherokee, Cleveland, Gaston, Lancaster
and Chester.
Gaffney Ledger, Nov. 3: Mrs. E. S.
McKown returned Saturday, from Columbia,
where she attended the state
fair. Mrs. McKeown is the agent in
charge of girls' tomato club work in
Cherokee county. The exhibit of the
Cherokee girls received first mention
for best fruit at the fair. All of the
and at a meeting held last week It was
decided to organize three cooking
clubs in each county. Mrs. McKeown
will take steps to organize the Cherokee
county clubs next week Van
Tate, a young negro man, was arrested
yesterday morning about 3 o'clock
by Sheriff W. W. Thomas on a charge
of having murdered Herman Millsbury,
another negro, at Cowpens about
11 o'clock Sunday night. The arrest
was made at the home of the accused
man's father, Wadas Tate, a short distance
south of the city. Messrs. Geo.
Goforth and Grover Henry, two Spartanburg
deputies, came to the city yesterday
morning in an automobile and
carried Tate to Spartanburg, where he
will be held for trial A glance at
the county treasurer's tax books shows
that there are not nearly so many receipts
being Issued this year as at the
same time last, although there are
more than ordinarily would be expected
considering the financial conditions
Continuing the war being
waged against local blind tigers the
police authorities of the city seized
and confiscated 24 pints of corn whisky
from a negro named Mose' Mc
oua w, rnuay nigni. in ponce COUTl
Saturday the negro said that he was
carrying the package for Munroe
Durham, but that he was ignorant of
its contents. The package was addressed
to Thomas Hester. Mose was
fined $5 for transporting and was
warned not to violate the law again.
The police now have in the city lockup
a total of 137 pints of corn and
rye whisky and about four dozen bottles
of beer that have recently been
confiscated.... Messrs. Dobson & Vassy
and Butler & Hall, attorneys for
the defendants in the case of Sarratt,
Green et al., representing the people
of the West End section of the city,
versus the board of trustees of school
district number 10, received notice
Saturday of an appeal, filed by the
attorneys of the plaintiffs, from the
decision of the board of referees recently
rendered in favor of the trustees.
The plaintiffs in the action are
represented by Messrs. Sanders & DePass
of Spartanburg and Mr. G. W.
Speer of this city. The notice of appeal,
which is addressed to the Hon.
George W. Nicholls, W. W. Lewis and
R. K. Carson, as the board of referees,
and to Butler & Hall and Dobson
& Vassy, as attorneys for the defendants,
cites ten exceptions to the findings
of the referees Reports that
Will Hughes, the life-term convict on
the Spartanburg county chaingang,
who on October 26th killed Robert
Stevens a guard, by striking him In
the head with a pick, was lurking in
the vicinity of this city, caused mild
excitement among the citizens Friday
morning. The report was made to the
authorities by Sam Alexander, a negro
living on route four. A search made
by the officers for the fugitive was
fruitless. Alexander works for the
Gaffney Furniture company. Upon
arriving at the store Friday morning
he reported to Mr. A. B. Holtzclaw
that as he was coming to town shortly
after seven o'clock he passed a white
man sitting down in a railroad cut
about a mile from the city; this man.
according to Alexander, was cleaning
two large pistols at the time he saw
him. The negro said the man ordered
him to give him a dime, and he told
him that he had no money. The man
then asked several questions concerning
freight trains, at what time they
passed, how fast they ran. etc., and
after remarking that he certainly was
going to get something to eat before
the day was over, ordered the negro
to move on. Upon hearing this story,
Mr. Holtzclaw, who knows Hughes
personally, concluded that the man
described by Alexander was the escaped
convict, and so notified Sheriff
W. W. Thomas that a suspicious character
had heen seen in the neighborhood.
The sheriff gathered the entire
police force of the city and went to
the designated place where a thorough,
but fruitless search was made.
Chester Reporter, Nov. 2: Rev. D.
G. Phillips, D. D., and Mr. A. G. Brlce
expect to leave tomorrow for Little
Rock. Ark., to attend the meeting of
the A. R. P. Synod Mrs. T.hoda
Estes Darby died at her home at the
Eureka Mill, Thursday evening, and
was buried the following day at New
Hope church after funeral services by
Rev. T. H. Roach. Mrs. Darby was a
daughter of the late John Estes and
was a native of the western part of
the county. She is survived by the
following children: James Darby, of
Greenville; and Mrs. John Varnadore,
Misses Lula and Jessie Darby, and
Messrs. Walker and Ross Darby, of
the Eureka Mill Mrs. Charlotte
Weir and Mr. A. A. Crosby, two of the
Halsellville community's old and well
known residents, died Saturday, and
both were laid to rest yesterday in
Cool Pranch graveyard after funeral
services by Rev. E. D. Wells Mr.
S. E. Colvin, who sent nine of his S. C.
Rhode Island Reds to the Piedmont
Fair at Grenwood. last week, won the
following premiums: 1st pen. 1st and
2nd cockerel, 1st hen, and 1st pullet.
Miss Jo Yarborough's Canning
club exhibit at the state fair last week
cnntiiped soennd nrize. flftv dollars.
which means that Chester county
made a splendid showing, as the past
year is the first for the Canning club
work in this county At the regular
monthly meeting of the county
commissioners this morning at the
office of County Supervisor T. J. Cunningham.
Mr. S. E. Wylie. county
treasurer, was authorized to borrow
$3,500 to meet the county's current
expenses, if so much be necessary.
The other businesses considered at the
morning sesion was mostly of routine
character The annual banquet of
the Brotherhood of Purity Presbyterian
church was held in the Eberhardt
building Friday evening, and was a
most delightful affair. The supper was
prepared and served by the ladles of
the church and included all of the
delicacies of the season. Hon. A. L.
Gaston acted as toastmaster. and at
the conclusion of the banquet presented
Dr. W. S. Currell, president of the
University of South Carolina, as the
speaker of the evening. This was Dr.
Currell's first address in Chester, and
he charmed his hearers with his ripe
scholarship, clearness and eloquence
of expression, and his rich humor.
Rev. A. D. P. Gilmour, D. D.. pastor
r\f Pnrltv nhnrch Qnnlrp hripflv ftn the
objects and accomplishments of the
Protherhood, and short talks in similar
vein were made by Messrs. W. J.
Simpson. R. B. Caldwell. B. M. Spratt,
and others. The election of officers
for the ensuing year resulted as follows:
B. M. Spratt. president: S. M.
Jones, vice president: H. H. Withers,
secretary: and J. K. Johnston, treasurer.
The chairmen of the various
committees for the next twelve month
are as follows: Bible Study?M. S.
Lewis: Prayer?William McKinnell:
Christian Culture?R. B. Caldwell:
Missions?J. A. Hafner; Stewardship?
R. M. Strange; Extension?E. P. Calhoun:
Social Work?P. M. Paden;
Personal Work?C. C. McAliley: Work
for Poys?A. L. Oaston: Associated
Charities?R. R. Haffner: Church and
Church Property?O. R. Dawson:
Church Attendance and Courtesy?J.
I. Hardin: Music?Z. V. Davidson:
(Continued on Page Four.)