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< ' ' < . : : : ?? M ' " ^ L. M. grists sons, pobwhen. . % ^amiig ^FJeiTsgapei;: (he promotion of (he political, Social, ^grieultural and (Commercial Jnteresia ojf (fy peojjl*. j TER",^f)CopvE*RTIsNc^ANCl establisheiTI855 YORK, S. C., FRIDAY, MAY 23, 1919. NO. 41 PRESIDENT TO CONGRESS j Text of Message Cabled From Paris. MAKES IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS u i Would Repeal War Time Prohibition of Beer and Wine?Calls Especial Attention to the Labor Question?In Favor of Woman Suffrage?Is Ready to Return Railroads and Telegraphs , 4* O-lweia nvtyMArckin f \KJ r livaio vnnvi*iM|ri Washington, May 20.?President Wil- j son's cabled message outlining legislation for the extra session of the congress, was read separately in the senate and house today by clerks and arrangements were made by congressional leaders for immediate consideration of the vast legislative programme with the equal suffrage resolution to come up tomorrow in the house. Major recommendations of fhe president were for early return to private ownership of railroads, telegraphs and ^ telephones, for repeal of war time pro- 1 hibition In'so much as applying to beer and wines, for woman suffrage, retaliatory tariffs, protection of the dyestuffs industry and labor and employ- ' ment measures. The president announced his intention to turn back the railroads at the end of the calendar , year. Republican leaders met the presi- j dent's proposal for early return of pub- ( lie utilities with statements that such ( legislation was already planned. As to the prohibition recommendation both , ^ Republican and Democratic "dry leadera" Joined In vigorous statements dissenting from the president's sugges? tlons, and predicting that no beer and wine repeal would be passed. Opinion in both senate and house as ascertained by leaders was general that the ban on beer and wine would not be lifted. ^ First by Cable. Presentation of the president's message?the flrSt ever transmitted to this country by cable?was the principal ^ business of today's session. Neither the senate nor house were in session much more than an hour, the former adjourned until next Friday and the house until tomorrow. Before the president's message was read the house arranged to take up tomorrow the woipan suffrage resolution. Its adoption before adjournment is planned. Senate leaders have promised prompt action in the upper body, probably early next month. The flood of bills and resolutions opened in the senate today while scores more were thrown into the house hopper, which yesterday receiv ed about l.zuu. me pniivii?u w insures in the senate asked for copies of r the peace treaty, for definition of the a American policy in Russia, adoption of 1 woman suffrage, establishment of a J Federal budget system and repeal of 8 , the luxury taxes and the day light sav- t j. "*ing law. All ere referred tcr commit- J tscB, Bemocrltltrsei?tbfs"hbJe^ting'to J all requests for immediate consideration. 1 Republican plans for many in%resti- * gations were launched in a resolution j of Chairman Green of the house mer- r chant marine committee, proposing J inquiry into operations of the shipping t board and emergency fleet corporation. 1 Representative Welty of Ohio, asked < for an investigation by a nonpartisan * committee of "irregular and unlawful x ^ expenditures." * Work of Organization. Organization of senate and house t * * 3 of Q onm- \ was pusnea iorwaru iuua, u mittee conference of house Republicans, a meeting1 of the Republican steering committee with Speaker Gillette and an initial meeting of the Republican senators' committee onr committees. The Democratic senators' steering committee will meet tomorrow to consider minority changes of the recommendations in the president's message, those for return to private ownership of railroa ls and wires and repeal of war time prohibition against beer and wines drew most comment from - congressional leaders. It was agreed that legislation dealing with public utilities virtually is assured at the present session. Leaders also were interested in the president's statement that if he was familiar with administrative questions effecting telegraph | 1 ovatoms he could "name cXIIU l*CIC|/MV??V the exact date for their return also." In proposing the beer and wine repeal measure, the president said that "demobilization of the military forces has proceeded to such a point that it seems to me entirely safe now to remove the ban upon manufacture and sale of wines and beers." Legislation is necessary to remove the prohibition provisions, the president baid he had been informed, by his legal advisers. Senator Shepard of Texas, Democrat and Representative Randall of California, prohibitionist champions of the time "dry law," and other pro kibition advocates predicted tne re- j peal measure would not be enacted. j Some Republican leaders charged 1 the president with shifting: responsi- J bility to the Republican congress and J said that all he would gain would be ; * criticism of prohibitionists. 1 Republicans of the house ways and ; means committee plan to meet before | the end of the week to consider tar- i iff and other legislation. Representa- J tive Fordney of Michigan, chairman of the committee declined to comment on the president's assertion that a < general revision of the tariff was un'"u... mpmher? nocessar>. wim in^u. ... 0 said that gearings of business men should decide whether there should he tariff revision, while some said a general revision was impossible because of the unsettled condition of world affairs. Text of Message. The president's message in full follows : Gentlemen of the congress: I doep - ?' innhilitv to he Dl'esent at the opening of the extraordinary session ct congress. It still seems to bo my duty to take part in counsels of the i>eace conference and contribute what I can to the solution of the innumerable questions to whose settlement it has had to address itself: For they are questions which affect the peace of the whole world and from ^ them, therefore, the United States can not stand apart. I deemed it my duty to call the congress together at this jirr.e because it was not wise to post pone longer the provisions which myst be made for the support of the government. Many of the appropriations which are absolutely necessary for the maintenance of the government and the fulfillment of its varied obligations for the fiscal year 1919-1920 have not been made; the end of the present fiscal vcar is at hand, and action upon these appropriations can no longer be prudently delayed. It is necessary therefore, that I should immediately call your attention to this critical need. It is hardly necessary for me to urge that it may receive your prompt attention. "I shall take the liberty of address ing you on my return on the subjects which have most engrossed our attention and the attention of the world during these last anxious months, since the armistice of last November was signed, the international settlements which must form the subject matter of the present treaties of peace ind of our national action in the immediate future. It would be premature to discuss thetoi or to express a judgment about them before they are arought to their complete formulation t>y the agreements which are now being sought at the table of the confersnce. I shall hope to lay them before you in the!" many aspects so soon as trrangments have been reached. I hesitate to venture any opinion or press any recommendation with regard to domestic legislation while absent from the United States and out >f daily touch with intimate sources af information and counsel. I am conscious that I need, after so long an tbsence from Washington, to seek the idvice of those who have remained in constant contact with domestic probcms and who have known them close it hand from day to day, and I trust ihat it will verv soon be nossible for ne to do so. But there are several luestions pressing: for Consideration :o which I feel that I may, and indeed nust even now direct your attention, f only in general terms. In speaking >f them I shall, I dare say, be doing ittle more than speak your own houghts. I hope I shall speak your >wn judgment also. I Question of Labor. The question which stands at the 'ront of all others in every country imidst the present great awakening is he question of labor, and perhaps I :an speak of it with as great advantige while engrossed in the consideraion of interest which affect all counries alike as I could at home and imidst the interests which naturally nost affect my thought, because they ire the interests of my own people. By the question of labor I do not nean the question of efficient indusrial production, the question of how abor is to be obtained and made effective in the great process of sustainng populations and winning success imidst commercial and industrial rivilries. I mean that much greater and nore 'vital question, how are the men ind women who do the daily labor of he world to obtain progressive im>rovement in the condition of their abor, to be made happier and to be erved better by the communities and he industries which their labor suswtnn anA ntivnni'wi JjftfF nrn ihav tn ? M .itzens and 'human beings? We can not go any further in our >reeent direction. We have already rone too far. We can not live our ight life as a nation or achieve our >roper success as an industrial comnunity if capital and labor are to coninue to be antagonistic instead of beng partners. If they are to continue o distrust one another and contrive low they can get the better of one an>ther; or, what perhaps amounts to he same thing, calculate by what orm and degree of coercion they can nn thh Ano Vin n H imuagc iw vAvvt w vu w?v v?.v vork enough to make enterprise profiable, on the other justice and fair reatment enough to make life tolerate. That bad road has turned out a >lind alley. It is no thoroughfare to eal prosperity. We must And another, leading in another direction and to l very different destination. It must ead, not merely to accommodation, jut also to a genuine co-operation and partnership based upon a real comnunity of interest and participation in :ontrol. There is now, in fact, a real comnunity of interest between capital and abor, but it has never been made evilent in action. It can be made opera,ive and manifest only in a new organzation of industry. The genius of our jusiness men and the sound practical tense of our workers can certainly vork such a partnership out when >nce they realize exactly what it is hat they seek and sincerely adopt a ;ommon purpose with regard to it. Chiefly With the States. Labor legislation lies, of course, ihiefly with the states, but the lew spirit and method of organization tvhich must be effected are not to bo prought about by legislation so much is by the common counsel and vol unary co-operation of capitalist, manager and workman. Legislation can go anlv a very little way in comiimiiumg what shall be done. The organization >f industry is a matter of corporate ind individual initiative and of practical business arrangement. Those who really desire a new relationship between capiti 1 and labor can readily find a way to bring it about; and perhaps Federal legislation can help more than state legislation couldThe object of all reform in this essential matter must be the genuine iemocratization of industry, based upon a full recognition of the right of those who work, in whatever rai?k to participate in some organic way in ev?ry decision which directly affects their welfare or the part they are to play In industry. Some positive legislation Is practicable. The congress has already shown the way to one reform which should be worldwide, by establishing the eight-hour dav as the standard day in every field of labor aver which it can* ever exercise control. r? cnuorVit to And the way to prevent child labor, and will, I hope and believe, presently find it. It has served the whole country by leading the way In developing the means of preserving and safeguarding life and health in dangerous industries. It can now help in the difficult task of giving a new form and spirit to industrial organization by co-ordinating the several agencies of conciliation and adjustment which will be brought into existence by the difficulties and mistaken policies of the present management of industry, and by setting up and developing new Federal agencies of advice and information which may serve as a clearing house for the best experiment and the best thought on this great matter, upon which every thinking man must be aware that the future development of <tonnnri? Afreneies of society uacn.j ? Internationa! counsel and suggestion are presently to be created in connection with the league of nations in this very field; but it is national action and the enlightened policy of individuals, corporations and societies within each nation that must bring about the actual reforms. The members of the committees on labor in the two houses will hardly need suggestions from me as to what tneans they shall seek to make the Federal government the agent of the whole nation, in pointing out and, if need be guiding the process of reorganization and reform. For Returning Soldiers. I am sure that it is not necessary for me to remind you that there is one immediate a.id very practical question of labor that we should meet In the most liberal spirit. We must see to it that our returning soldiers are as sisted in every practicable way to find the place for which they are fitted in the daily work of the country. This can be done by developing and maintaining upon an adeQuate scale the amirable organization created by the department of labor for placing men seeking work: and it can be done, in at least one very great field, by creating new opportunities for individual enterprise. The secretary of the interior has pointed out the way by which returning soldiers may be helped to find and take up land in the hitherto undeveloped, regions of the country which the federal government already has prepared or can readily prepare for cultivation and also, on many of the cutovcr or neglected area which lie within the limits of the older states, fand I once more take the liberty of recommending' very urgently tnat nis plan shall receive the Immediate and substantial support of the congress. Peculiar and very stimulating conditions await our commerce and industrial enterprise in the immediate future. Usual opportunities will presently present themselves to our markets. and large fields for profitable in vestment will be opened to our free capital. But it is not only of that that I am thinking; it is not chiefiy of. that that I am thinking. Many great industries prostrated by the war wait to be rehabilitated, in many parts of the world where what will be lacking is not brains or willing hands or organizing capacity or experienced skill, but machinery and raw materials and capital. I believe that our business men, our merchants, our manufacturers and our capitalists, will have the vision to see that prosperity in one part of the world ministers to prosperity everywhere; that there is In a very true sense a solidarity of interest throughout the world of enterprise and that our dealings with the countries that have need of our products and our money will teach them to deem us more than ever friends wh<""" necessities we seek in the right J way to serve. New Merchant Ships. Our new merchant ships, which have in some quarters been feared as destructive rivals, may prove helpful rivals, rather, and common servants very much needed and very welcome. Our great shipyards, new and old, will be so opened to the use of the world that they will prove immensely serviceable to every maritime people in restoring, much more rapidly than would otherwise have been possible, the tonnage wantonly destroyed in 1 * t v. ? n mi rrernat thflt ine war. 1 nave umy iu there are many points at which we can facilitate American enterprise in foreign trade by opportune legislation and make it easy for American merchants to go where they will be welcomed as friends rather than as dreaded antagonists. America has a great and honorable service to- perforip in bringing the commercial and industrial undertakings of the world back to their old scope again, and putting a solid structure of credit under them. All our legislation should be friendly to such plans and purposes. And credit and enterprise alike will be quickened by timely and helpful legislation with regard to taxation. I hope that the congress will find it possible to undertake an early reconsideration of federal taxes, in orjler to make our system of taxation nSpre simple and easy of administration and the taxes themselves as little burdensome as they can be made and yet suffice to support the government and meet all its obligations. The figures to which these obligations have arisen are very great indeed, but they are not so great to make it difficult for the nation to meet them, and meet them, perhaps, in a single generation by taxee jghjgh will neither crush nor aiscourage. These are not so great as they seem, not so great as the immense sums we have had to borrow, added to the immense sums we have V10H /> r-niao hv tnvfltion. would seem I to Indicate; for a very iarge proportion of those sums were raised in order that they might be loaned to the governments with which we were associated in the war and those loans will of course, constitute assets, not liabilities, and will not have to be taken care of by our tax payers. Must Watch Tax#ion. The main thing we shall have to care for is that our taxation shall rest as lightly as possible on the production! resources of the country, that its rates shall be stable, and that it shall be constant in its revenue yielding power. We have found the main sources from which it must be drawn. I take it for granted that its mainstays will henceforth be the income tax, the excess profits tax and estate tax. All these can be so adjusted as to yield constant and adequate returns and yet not con; stitute a too grievous burden on the taxpayers. A revision of the income tax has already been provided for b> the act of 1918, but I think you will find that further changes can be made to advantage both in the rates of the tax and in the method of its collection. The excess profits tax need not long be maintained at the rates which were necessary while the enormous expenses of the war had to be borne; but it should be made the basis of a permanent system which will reach undue profits without discouraging the enterprise and activity of our business men. The tax on inheritances ought, no doubt, to be reconsidered in its relation to the fiscal system of the several states, but it certainly ought to remain o normnnpnt tinrt of the fiscal system of tlie Federal government also. -Many of the minor taxes provided for in the revenue legislation of 1917 and 1918, though, no doubt made necessary by the pressing necessities of the time, can hardly find sufficient justification under the easier circumstance of peace ami can happily be got rid of- Among these, I hope you will agree, are the exercises upon various manufacturers and the taxes upon retail sales. They are unequal on different industries and on different individuals. Their collection is difficult and expensive. Those which are levied upon articles sold at retail are largely evaded by the readjustment of retail prices. On the other hand I should assume that it is expedient to maintain a considerable range of indirect taxes and the fact that alcoholic liquors will presently no longer afford a source of revenue by taxation makes it the more necessary that the field " ' ' ?r\??/! o p should be careiuuy resiuuicu m that equivalent sources of revenue may be found which it will be legitimate and not burdensome to draw upon. But you have at hand in the treasury department many experts who can advise you upon the matters much better than I can. I can only suggest the lines of a permanent and workable system and the placing of the taxes where they will least hamper the life of the people. No General Revision. There is, fortunately, no occasion for undertaking in the immediate future any general revision of our system of import duties. No serious danger of foreign competition now ' threatens American industries. Our country has emerged from the war less disturbed and less weakened than any of the European countries which are now competitors in manufacture. Their industrial establishments have been subjected to greater strain than ours; their fni^o tn n more serious disorgan ization and this clearly is not the time to seek an organized advantage. The work of mere construction, will, I am afraid tax the capacity and the resources of their people for years to come. So far from their being any danger or need of accentuated foreign competition it is likely that the conditions of the next few years will greatly facilitate the marketing of American manufactures abroad. Least of all should we depart from the policy adopted in the tariff act in 1913, of permitting the free entry into the United States of the raw materials needed to supplement and enrich our own abundant suppliesNevertheless there are parts of our tariff system which need prompt attention. The exercises of the war have made it plain that in some cases too great reliance on foreign supply IS I dangerous and that in determining certain parts of our tariff policy domestic considerations must be borne in mind which are political as well as economic. Among the industries to which special consideration should be given is that of manufacture of dyestuffs and related chemicals. Our complete dependence upon German supplies before the war made the interruption of trade a cause of exceptional economic disturbance. The close relation between the manufacture of dyestuflfs on the one hand, and of explosives and poisonous gases on the other, moreover has given the industry exceptional significance and value. Although the United States will gladly and unhesiItatingly Join in the programme of international disarmament, it will nevertheless be a policy of obvious prudence to make certain of the successful maintenance of many strong and well equipped chemical plants. The German chemical industry, with which we will be brought Into competition, was, and may well be again a thoroughly knit monopoly capable of exercising a competition of a peculiarly insidious and dangerous kind. To Protect Self. The United States should, moreover, have the means of properly protecting itself whenever our trade is discriminated against by foreign nations in order that we may be assured of that equality of treatment which we hope to accord and to promote the world over. Our tariff laws as they now stand provide no weapon of retaliation in case other governments should enact legislation unequal in its bearing on our products as compared with the products of other countries. Though we are as far as possible from desiring to enter upon any course of retaliation, we must frankly face the fact that hostile legislation by other nations is not beyond the range of possibility and that it may have to be met by counter legislation. This subject has fortunately been exhaustively investigated by the United States tariff commission. A recent report of that commission has shown very clearly that we lhck find that we ought to have the instruments necessary for the appearence of equal and equitable treatment. The attention of congress has been called to this matter on past occasions and the past raeas urea wnicn ure nuw muuiuitumu , the tariff commission are substantially the same that have been suggested by previous administrations. I recommend that this phase of the tariff question receive the early attention of the congress. "Will you not permit mo, turning from these matters, to speak once more and very earnestly of the proposed amendment to the constitution which would extend the suffrage to women and which passed the house Df representatives at the last sessron of the congress? It seems to me that every consideration of justice and public advantage calls for the immediate adoption of that amendment and (its submission forthwith to the legislatures of the several states. Throughout all the world this long delayed extension of ttie suffrage is looked for: in the United States, longer, I ibe^ ieve, than anywhere else, the necessity for it and the immense advantage of it to the national life have been urged and debated by women and men who saw the need for it and urged the policy of it when it required steadfast courage to be so much beforehand with the common conviction; and I for one covet for our country the distinction of being among the first to act in a great reform. . The telegraph and telephone lines will of course, be returned to #eir owners as soon as the retransferican be effected without ..admlnistirDNiye confusion. So soon, thai, is, "itstatic change can be made with least possible inconvenience to the public and to the owners The railroads will be handed over to their owners at the end of the calendar year; if I were in immediate contact with the administra.!tive questions which must govern the retransfer of the telegraph and telephone lines I could name the exact date for their return also. Until I am I in direct contact with the practical questions involved I can only suggest that in the case of the telegraph and : telephones, as in the case of the railways, it is very desirable in the public Interest that some legislation should be considered which should tend to make of these indispensable instrumentalities of our modern life a uniform and co-ordinated system which will afford those who use them as complete and certain means of communication with all parts of the country as has so long been afforded by the postal system of the government and at rates as uniform and intelligible. Expert advice is of course available in this very practical matter and the public interest is manifest. Neither the telegraph nor the telephone service 01 the country can be said to be in any sense a national system. There are many confusions and inconsistencies of rates. The scientific means by which communication by such instrumentalities could be rendered more thorough and satisfactory has not been made full use of- An exhaustive study of the whole question of electrieal communication and of means by which the central authority of the nation can be used to unify and improve it, if undertaken, by the appropriate committee.of the congress would certainly result, indirectly even if not directly, in . great public benefit. The demobilization of the military forces of the country has progressed to such a point that it seems to me entirely safe now to remove the ban upon the manufacture and sale of wines and beers, but I am advised that without further legislation I have not the legal authority to remove the present restrictions. I therefore, recommend that the act approved November 21. 1118, entitled "An act to enable the ???Af o Unro tn earrv out set'ieittl J ui ac,iiv>-?.v during the fiscal year ending June 3i 1919, the purpose of the a?t entitled "An act to provide further for the national security and defense by stimulating agriculture and facilitating the distribution of agricultural products, and for other purposes," be amended or repealed in so far as it applies to wines and beers. I sincerely trust that I shall very soon be at my post in Washington again to report upon the matters which made my presence at the peace table apparently imperative and to put 1 self at the service of the congress i: every matter of administration or counsel that may seem to demand executive action or advice. Woodrow Wilson. May 20, 1919. ?->i>-nii Iiru/C KIOTra Ufc.PJC.rVML. IVLflO KV I ? ? . Items of Interest Gathered From All Sections of the World. Representative Carl C. Van Dyke, of St. Paul, Minn., commander-in-chief of the United States Spanish War Veterans, died in Washington on Tuesday morning. Mr. Van Dyke was a Democrat, and serving his third term in congress. Master Vinson Walsh McLean, 10vear-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Efdw. It. McLean, and known since his birth as 'he "$200,000,000 baby," died in Washington last Sunday evening, as the result of injuries received by being struck by " automobile. f'nnoTnccman \tnr>rr> nf" Pennsvlva nia, has introduced a resolution for the repeal of section. 901 of the Kitchen revenue bill. The section is generally known as the "luxury tax" section. It pertains to the 10 per cent tax on the excess of prices on certain ari.cies, such as carpets, picture frames, ealaes, unbrellas, men's and women's hats, coats and shoes, boys' neckties, kimonos, petticoats and the like. It does not apply to jewelry. YORKVILLE SUBSCRIBES QUOTA. Citi-ens Make Generous Subscription to Salvation Army Fund. 1 At a mass meeting in the courthouse last Monday night, the people of Yorkville over-subscribed by more than $100, the town's apportionment of $500 in the $13,000,000 fund that is being raised throughout America for the Salvation Army in appreciation of the splendid work that organization has been doing for humanity generally, 'and especially for the Allied soldiers during the war. The courthouse was pretty well fllltal with a thoroughly sympathetic audience, which was entertained and instructed by short talks from the following young veterans of the war, recently returned from the front: Sergeant J. O. Moore, Jr., of Hospital No. 34; Private Wallace Marshall and Corporal Callle Plaxco, of the famous 42d or Rainbow Division; Lieutenant Baxter C. Riddle, of the 26th Division and Captain G. C. McCelvey of the 4th Division. J. A. Marion, of the York bar, presided, and after the speaking caHed for subscriptions of $10 and $5, which were forthcoming in a generous stream until they aggregated $560, which sum was added to considerably after ad^ journment. Sergeant J. O. Moore, Jr., told his ' n;dience that the first large sign he saw on the other side was the word ""Welcome," and under that word "Salvation Army." When he got to the building he went in and found about one hundred soldiers standing in line waiting to be served with hot chocolate and dbughnuts. He got in line and awaited his turn. He sat down 1 vfiii his cup of chocolate and bag of doughnuts and at* as a hungry man would. "It is the best organization over there," said Mr. Moore. J. Wallace Marshall told his audi ncc that he had been in the first line 'and had gotten leave to go back of the line to one of the canteens to get something to eat. He went to one canteen 'and was refused food because it was after hours. He went to another and received the same answer. Going to a third, he saw a man handing out flapjacks as fast as he could cook them. Wflicn these gave out, the man was sofry and invited the boys Into the 'kitchen to eat whatever they could find 'to eat. That is the spirit of the Sal vauori aitiiv. Corporal CRllle Plaxco named over , all the stations to which they went, "And," said Mr. Plaxco, "at almost every one of these stations there was a Salvation .Army canteen, willing to do anything within their power to help the boys. You will never regret one cent you give." Mr. Plaxco said that after they got to this side all he heard was the Thirtieth Division and the Hindenburg line. On the street car in Columbia, Mr. Plaxco and several oth'ers were talking of the Rainbow Division and one soldier of the Thirtieth 'said, "Yes, but you didn't break the Uitadenburg line." Tho reply was: "The Hindenburg line ran from Metz to the North sea. And who won the war after all? The 'M. P.'" Lieutenant Daxter C.'Riddle was the next speaker. He compared the attitude of the Ajnerican people toward the Salvation Army before the war with their attitude now. "It is greatly changed,' said Mr. Riddle. "It isn't caste or social position, nor wealth that counts. It is the manhood, and above that, the living soul. You men, remember how when you rere in a hotel lobby, and the tambourine girl came along, you would toss her a dime as if you were giving alms to a oeggar. iou in your numcs "remember, that when you heard tho Salvation Army man ring your door bell, you either turned a deaf ear or met him at the door with a refusal." Mr. Riddle told of two sisters, the 1 Misses Mclntyre of New York state, who kept a Salvation Army canteen in a dug out and wore under shell Are from April, 1918, until the armistice was signed in November. They received the Croix de guerre after they came back to the stales. "They gave us pen, ink, paper and doughnuts," said Mr. Riddle, "but above all they had a smile for everyone. If you have two dollars in your pocket," concluded Mr. Riddle, "give one to the Salvation Army." Captain G. C. McCelvey was the last 1 l*" V* o nana nf hia spvajter <1HU lie oaiu mat uvuv w?. .uv audience had ever been real hungry, lie told of the wonderful cookies and doughnuts served by tho Salvation Army. "York has always gone over 'the top," said Mr. McCelvey, "and I know she will go over now." Before adjournment Chairman Marion announced that there would be a canvass of the town for the benefit of people who were not present and who may desire to subscribe. BELLINGER TELLS STORY Detailed Description of Flight From St. Johns to Azores. The crow of the NC-1 was picked up by the steamer Ionia Saturday afternoon after they had been tossed about in the water for five hours in their damaged plane and carried to Horta in the Azores. All the members were fatigued and suffering from sea sickness when picked up. The plane is almost a total wreck. Lieutenant Commander P. N. L. Bel"no-nr nt fheraw. S. C.. the comman der of the XC-1 g~ve out the following statement today: "The NC-1 was the last plane to take the air at Trepassey, doing so at 10:10 p. m., Friday (Greenwich time.) We proceeded on. the course, being guided by the smoke and searchlights from the destroyers and the star shells they sent up. After passing most of the station ships we did not meet with any trouble until we got into fog at 11.10 a. m., Saturday, when we were a a? a ftKoinor in the near station jo. vv...? ... fog for some time we alighted on the water at 1.10 p. m? Saturday. "We kept to our course until we struck the fog, when we lost our bearings. We deemed it advisable to head into the wind toward land to get our bearings before proceeding. - We were then flying about 3,000 feet up. We dropped to fifty feet in order to sight water and found that the wind was in a different direction on the surface of the water than it was above, and also that the fog was more dense at the lower altitude. "We made a good landing on the sea which was rough and choppy with I heavy swells- The strong wind continued until we were picked up. "At 6 p. m. (Greenwich time) we sighted the masts of the Ionia on its way to Fayal and Gibraltar, abovo the horizon. We were unable to see the hull of the Ionia and as she did not have wireless we were unable to communicate with her. We therefore started taxiing toward her. About this time the Ionia sighted us and lowered a boat which picked us up at 6.20 p. m. Our position when we were picked up was latitude 59 degrees 58 minutes north; longitude 30 degrees, 15 minutes west. We tried to salvage the plane, but the tow lines of the Ionia broke and we were forced to give up the attempt "We were rescued with difficulty because the small boat of the Ionia was tossed about like a cork. All of us were seasick, otherwise we did not suf rer. "We sent out S. O. S. calls after landing, but the radio sending radius was only fifty miles on the surface of the water. While awaiting rescue we intercepted messages between destroyers. We last heard the radio of the NC-3 at 9.15 o'clock Saturday morning. "If the fog had not been so thick we could have continued to Ponta Delgada. Our engines worked splendidly throughout The average altitude of the flight was 500 to 3,500 feet." Commander Bellinger and the others of his crew, who are on board the Columbia, were much refreshed next day after their rescue, and. showed little effects of their harrowing experience. NEW CONGRES^ AT WORK Law-Makers Confronted With Unprecedented Task. The 66th, or "reconstruction" congress, called into extraordinary session by President Wilson from Paris, convened at noon last Monday and re- ( publican majorities in senate and house organized both bodies. Representative Gillett, of Massachusetts, was elected speaker of the house over Representative Champ Clark, of \f I ~< /lAmn/.fnHn / ..n/IMoto an/1 Jll.^OUUl If UCIMWiaviV/ V.OJUUUUVV iw.u former speaker, by a vote of 227 to 172. Senator Cummins of Iowa, the republican candidate, ?ds chosen presl- j dent pro tempore of the senate over Senator ^ittman, of Nevada, democrat, . 47 to 42. Several democrats were absent but all republicans were In their ( seats, two withholding their votes. , The republicans of both bodies also , elected full slates of other officers and , thus, for the first time since 1911, re- ] turned to control of the American na- ] tlonal legislature. I Routine affairs of organization com- | prised the opening day's proceedings, ( both bodies adjourning until noon j Tuesday to hear the reading *of the ] president's message. The senate con- j eluded its session in 50 minutes and ( the house Jn two hours and 20 min- i utes. 1 Although keenly realized by all j members there was no outward evi- i dence in the initial proceedings of tli? ; enormous amount of work ahead. The i peace treaty with Germany, including s the league of nations covenant, the i Australian treaty, and the proposed 1 convention for protection of France, I are not expected before next month. All hold promise of dramatic debate, i Appropriation bills which failed in 1 the filibuster iast March will be rush- I n/iiataiv in th? house. Chair- ' CU IIIIIIIVUIMWIJI mmm man Good, of the house appropria- i tions committee Monday called a < meeting for tomorrow to begin work ! on the general deficiency measure. Legislation dealing with railroads, ' telegraph and telephones, woman ! suffrage, prohibition, repeal of the ' luxury taxes and other pressing sub- ' jects are proposed in the van of im- * portant economic and reconstruction 1 questions. The legislation is expected 1 by leaders to hold congress in session ' almost continuously until the presi- 1 dential conventions of 1920. Investi- 1 gations planned by the republicans of 1 numerous administration acts also are expected to begin in the near future with Inauguration probable in the 1 house in connection with appropriation bills. The flood cif bills which is expected 1 to make the new congress momentous began in the house Monday and the senate's initial measures began coming in Tuesday. House resolution nxmhor nnp has the woman suffrage constitutional amendment measure, introduced by former Republican Leader Mann, of Illinois. Despite the formality of Monday's proceedings and the absence of the president?the first time congress has opened with a president on foreign soil?overflow crowds in both senate and house galleries witnessed the birth of the new congress- Many cabinet officers and other high officials were spectators in the house, where cheering and speech making lent an informal tone of popular interest. When house members were sworn in, Representative Victor Berger, of , Wisconsin, the lone socialist member who was convicted of violating the espionage law, was prevented from ( taking the oath, upon objection of Representative Dallinger, of Massa- , chusetts, chairman of the elections j committee. He was ordered by Speak- * er Gillett to stand aside and was not ( allowed to address the house, which , adopted unanimously a resolution au- . thorizing a committee to investigate ( his right to membership. No objection was raised from the senate floor to the seating of Senator . Truman H. Newberry, of Michigan, Republican, whose election is being , contested by Henry Ford, democrat. ( Formal notice of renewal of the Ford , contest, with a request for a commit- , tee investigation, was filed. In addition to electing officers, the senate adopted the usual resolutions ( to procedure with a departure in that , for notifying the president, because of his absence in Paris, of the con- , vening. The senate committee of nntiflMtinn Ronnhliean Leader Lodge i and Democratic Leader Martin met with the house committee, Republi- ( ^an Leader Mondell, Representative Mann and former Speaker Clark, and decided upon different courses. The senate leaders sent a cable merely advising the president of the senate's formal action today, while the house committee sent a letter of notification to the White House. vr "Ignorance of the law excuses no one"?except the Judge. / GOVERNMENT CROP REPORTS Worth the While of People Who Will Study. FIELD AGENT OFFERS SUGGESTIONS Common Idea That Information it of . Most Value to the Speculator Refuted?Mr. Hare Makes It Clear That the Benefit Goes to Those Who Will Utilize the Same. B.- R. Hare, South Carolina field agent of the Bureau of Crop Estimates, United States department of agriculture, has the following to say in refer mico In Imrvirtnnrp nf o-nvemment crop report*: __ "The one great industry of South Carolina Is agriculture, its annual output being larger than that of all other industries combined. Much has been accomplished during the last decade in diversification, Increased production and farm organization. In fact, the industry is being organized as never before and is passing to what may be termed a business basis, as distinguished from the traditional, routine, hit or miss method of the past. In the transition its problems must be solved in the main in exactly the same way as are the problems of other industries by the study of records of past performances in connection with present ita-oepects and future possibilities. Yet it is singular how little the great majority of us know of the agricultural resources of the state from a business or economic standpoint. It is surprising to learn how little we know about the production, or supply and demand of any particular crop. The object, therefore, of this article is to call attention to the importance and economic value of reliable agricultural statistics and possibly stimulate an inquiring interest in government crop reports. It might be stated at the outset that no large industry, business or enterprise can be long and successfully * ^ i ?jaw a. -?l. .4 La ? conaucieu wimuui reuurua ui jku>i performances and a knowledge of existing conditions upon which to base present activities for future development. For example, no man with experience and /"business ability would engage in any business enterprise requiring all of his capital without first studying the past records of the industry and acquainting himself of its relation to other industries and the demand of the public generally. So the great industry of agriculture can not be properly and successfuly conducted is such without records showing this information. Statistics of acreage and production in past years, of existing acreage ^nd condition, of growing crops, of supplies and prevailing prices of such crops, past and present are fundamentally essential for intelligent and successful handling of th9 business end of pur agricultural problem. As matter of fact agricultural statistics*, consisting of data pertaining to acreage, condition, prospective yields and total producton at stated internals, are of vital importance not only to the farmer as a class, but men in ither lines of business, as manufacturers, dealers, jobbers, bankers and investors, having a present or prospective interest in a county or state, must, for the proper conduct of their buslriaca have knnirl?Hce nf thp that iflfcct the prosperity of the section or jections in which they are interested. It is a deplorable fact that some farTiers object to government reports, jaying that if the reports were not issued speculators and business men of financial centers would not know of tho supply of any crop and a high price to the producer could always be maintained. This is only one of his business delusions, born largely of ignorance and indifference to business methods, for he should know that the speculator, manufacturer or business ;ian is following a particular line of business and it is a rare thing to find bim deceived at any time as to the actual or prospective supply of any crop. The only other man who objects to government reports is the interested oulator, who opposes them because ho believes that the crop reports are made entirely for the benefit of the farmer and he realizes that they contain the most reliable information as to "condition and production of the speculative crops and that the light or truth in regard to same prevents him from spreading false reports in order to bull or bear the market and thereby make his profits from the unsuspecting and ignorant. It may be true that the speculator does take advantage of the crop report at times in his buying or selling of futures, but if he is enabled thereby to buy or sell at a profit it is an advantage gained by his wiser use of these statistics and not an advantage inherent in the crop report itself. A knowledge of agricultural statistics or familiarity with government crop reports on the part ol' the public prevents interested speculators from magnifying or minimizing the actual or prospective supply of any crop and the relation thereof to a known demand whereby they are able to successfully raise or lower prices for their own benent witn a resuuing iohs 10 the producer and consuming public. This is usually done by Issuing inaccurate, misleading or unreliable reports as to supply, condition or prospective yield of some particular crop. The farmer, of course, is the greater sufferer, for the reason that he is not so well organized as men in other lines of business and can not, therefore, take advantage of sudden fluctuations in market prices. On the other hand, the farmer may be materially benefitted by having dependable and reliable data pertaining to crop conditions and crop yields made public, such as are furnished by the United States government. He is benefitted directly by being kept informed as to the acreage, condition and prospective yields as well as prices of various crops outside of his immediate locality, enabling him to know when to buy or sell to the best advantage. He is indirectly benefitted because the disinterested reports of the government prevent the circulation of false and misleading reports by speculators who are only interested in manipulating prices to their advantage alone. Government crop reports are a further advantage to farmers in that a knowledge of crop prospects enables i large manufacturing firms and agricultural implement dealers to distribute their wares more economically, sending a larger quantity of articles to sections where crops are good and the demand large and a lesser quantity where crops are poor and the demand KmUArl D?ll-?? * - uiuraii luuuuAu uuiuptLines are enabled to furnish and distribute cars In a way to meet the -demands for transportation of crops when a delay or congestion in transportation facilities would mean a severe loss to the producer. It is difficult to estimate Just how much is saved by an even distribution of manufactured articles according to crop prospects, for if manufacturers can avoid heavy losses from Improper distribution they can afford to sell on better terms with a resulting benefit to the farmer. I-arge corporations, firms and speculators procure information as to crop prospects through their business associates and private crop reporting agencies, many of which are maintained at heavy expense. Of course, they study and rely to a large extent upon government report's, but are not absolutely depend t upon them. On the other hand, the farmer has never been sufficiently well organized to collect such information and without the government reports would know little or nothing of the actual or probable supply of any crop and could, therefore, have no idea as to the prices that would prevail as determined by the iu.v? ui euppiy ana aemand and would bo absolutely at the mercy of Interest* ed speculators who could bear or bull the market to suit themselves. It would appear, therefore, to be to the best interest of the fanner, as well as other classes of business men, to carefully study government crop reports and assist whenever an opportunity affords in making them as accurate and dependable as possible. SHARON SHAVINQ8. ?? Correspondence of The Yorkrille Enquirer. Sharon, May 16.?The 1918-19 session of the Sharon school came to an end last night with an audience of p&trcns and friends that filled the auditorium to capacity. The commencement exercises began Thursday night, with the exercises of the primary and intermediate departments, and these exercises brought out a full house of the Sharon people Interested In the school, and that Includes every- ? body. The exercises of last night were for the graduating class, Including the following: James Peninger, Lee PLaxico, Melton Plaxlco, Fulton Hortou, Save Whitesidee, Jessie Lee Whiteside?, Willie McKnlght The address to the graduating class was delivered by Dr. J. S. Moffatt, president of Ersklne college. Rev. E. B. Hunter presented the diplomas, and Rev. B. O. Preealy of Hickory Grove, presented several medals. The Sharon school during the last session has been in charge of the following teachers: Miss Myrtle Henry, principal; Miss Margaret Saye, Josephine Thornton, and Margaret Boyd. The work of the session has been quite satisfactory and the patrons are quite well satisfied with the progress of the children g9nerally. 'i, The music class of Mrs. George . Plejflco gave a recital In the schooT^ auditorium Wednesday evening, that - ,'<H was very much enjoyed by all present. Farm work is almost at a standstill ^hereabouts, on account of the rains, but it is only for a day or so longer, as the farmers are anxious to got down to it In dead earnest, and Sbme of them have even been doing some work when the lands were really too wet Labor is very scarce and almost unobtainable. Hoe hands are being offered from $1 to $1.60 a day wKh dinner, but they are not plentiful at that price. One conclusion that many farmers have come to is that the shortage of labor will certainly reduce the cotton acreage, as they are going to have to confine their efforts very largely to acreage that they can work with their own forcea Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Pratt wore visitors in Charlotte yesterday. 'Mrs. R. B. Whitesides, of Blacksburg, camo down for the school closing exercises, and also a visit to her father, Mr. R. M. Sherer. into, rvuuvipu oinuui auu Hun, nrLLXJSter Johnnie, of New Britain, Conn., are here on a visit to her parents, Mr, and Mrs. J. L. Rainey, and other relatives and friends. ? After making her way from Rockaway Beach to St. Johns, New Foundland in twenty-five and a half hoars and without mishap, the navy's big dirigible gas bag designated as C-5, and known as a "blimp," got away from its crew and became a derelict. Shortly after the descent of the C-6 at St Johns last Thursday, there came up a stiff gale which created an awkward situation. Lieutenant Little, her commander, considered whether it would " be best to go up above the gale and probably be carried far out of his course, or attempt to hold the blimp down. He decided upon the latter course. More than a hundred sailors were called out to hold the gas bag: down by means of suspended ropes; but after several hours of this kind of work, Lieutenant Little, who was In the car with two assistants, decided It x. j would be best to open the gas valves and bring the gas bag down. He pulled upon the valve rope for that purpose after the big bag had been partlj deflated he told the sailors to let go. This ship began rising. The lieutenant pulled harder on the rope until he broke it Then as the ship was going up he and his two assistants jumped out a distance of about twenty-five feet. The blimp flew away, dragging its anchors. The alarm waa sent out by wireless and naval vessels were instructed to bring the bag down . with their anti-aircraft guns, if they could. Some hours later & British merchant vessel reported seeing the blimp among Icebergs, but later reported it was probably mistaken. Among the opinions expressed by naval officials is one to' the eifect that the blimp has probably not been seen by anybody and another to the eifect that the big gas bag would either fell into the sea for want of sufficient gas to keep it afloat, or rise into the rarer atmosphere until it would be burstedr by the warmth of the sun. ? Secretary Baker is expected soon to make a public announcement of a definite stand in favor of universal educational-military training, with a statement of his reasons. It is assumed here that President Wilson has approved his plans. The plan understood to be favored by Secretary Bak er contemplates the use of the military establishment as a medium for training the youths of the nation; first along academic and vocational lines and, as an entirely separate and subordinate feature, in rudimentary military science. The secretary's sug- .4 gested program is said to be based initially on the benefits which will accrue to the country from the higher average of intelligence and the imnroved standard of physical well-be ing of the young men who would be taken annually Into the training machine. Prizes totaling $132,000 will be awarded to the pilot of the first British-made airplane that makes a successful flight across the Atlantic. The Red Cross will make a nationwide drive next November for funds with which to carry on lis postwar relief work in Europe. i