Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

w ^ ^ ' ~ i VOLl ?E LIU, NOIBEJi I. ' KEWBERRY, S. Cm FRIDAY, JAMARY 2, 1914. TWICE A >"EEK, tlM A IKAk \ ? \ ELEVEN ^SOWERS ARE ^jjgREE BV GOVERNOR &ji BE CLEMENCY 0> LAST day of ye ail Kior Blease Closes tlie Year 1H13 BTy Action in Several Cases of Interest. BSi^ . to The Herald and News. IBlumbia, Jan. 1.?Governor Blease i m-d the old year 1913 by exercising j utive clemency in eleven cases, i ting one pardon and ten paroles. | our of the cases the defendants ft white men, the seven others w fg negroes. Seven of the prison- ! I were serving life terms. b. each case the reasons will be Ismitted by the governor to the fete. In three of the cases a short ppsis of the reasons is given here- j fc. Lack of space prevents more i in a mention of the other cases. ? 'he cases acted upon recently carGovernor Blease over oie ^00 mark I pardons, commutations, reprieves Hd paroles. The eases are as follows: ' J. Caesar Watts, (white), convicted r.t the October, 1911, term of court for j Lancaster'county, of murder, with reWT commendation to mercy, and sentenc- 1 Ied to life imprisonment in the State penitentiary. One of the petitions j [presented in the case is signed by all Reive of the jurors who tried it, in Hlch they state: "Since the trial of Hcase, we find tjat the circum-l Kes surrounding the killing were ^rent from what the evidence Befi them to be at the trial of the Seeing tfie matter as we now He feel that Watts is being punishHr a crime ttiat he is not guilty of, i therefore humbly ask that he be J JMRed a pardon.'' In addition to: that, there were presented petitions j from the county of Lancaster, signed by Representatives Sapp and Massev; Sergeant-at-arms Wilson, of the house j of representatives, and one thousand j Pand thirty-one of the otJaer good citi zens of Lancaster county, includiHg Tural mail carriers; rural policemen; ministers of the gospel; cotton mill operatives; farmers; merchants; lawyers; doctors; being a large part of the male citizenship of that county. Upon this showing, the defendant has been granted a full .and free pardon. Pardon dated December 31st, 1913. Henry Patrick (white), convicted at the November, 1903, term of court for Marlboro county, of murder, wito recommendation to mercy, and sentenc ed to life imprisonment in the State penitentiary. Taking into consideration the fact that this man has served ten years, and the peculiar circumstances set out in the petition in reference to the death of his wife, and the prominence of those who have signed tee petition, including Former Senator Rogers, ex-Judge C. P. Townsend, ex-Clerk of Court Drake, the county supervisor. Postmaster McLaurin, several of the jurors, and other reputable citizens of the county, the defendant has been granted' a parole upon the condition that if he should again take another drink of intoxicating liquors, or if he should not be of good behavior, he shall be returned to the State penitentiary to serve the remainder of the sentence above mentioned. Parole dated Decinber 31st, 1913. Harvey Jackson, (white), convicted at the April, 1900, term of court for Chesterfieled county, of murder, with recommendation to mercy, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the State penitentiary. Under the strong showing made, the petition signed by som? of^ve jurors who tried the case, ,-S t^e raan7 personal letters, including 1 letter f;otn the foreman of the jury, Mr. Welcli, who is known to be a man of high character and good judgment, and the petition coming from two counties, signed by the leading citizens thereof, and in view of the fact that the defendant served nearly fourteen years, a parole has been granted to 'him, during good behavior, december 31st, 1913. The following other cases were acted upon: * Henry Felder. (colored), convicted Bamberg. November, 1909, of mur der with recommendation to mercy, and sentenced to life imprisonment. ; Paroled during good behavior. | William Oliver, (colored), convictled in Anderson, February, 1900, of murder with recommendation to mercy. and L?ntenced to life imprisonment. Paroled during good behavior. Sumpter Brooks, (colored), convicted i^i Barnwell, in March. 1910, of mirder with recommendation to mercontopppri tn life imnrison | V-?> , C4.11U. ii i-vu v- ^ v* -w ^ ment. Parolde during good behavior. Xockey Colley, (colored), convicted in Barnwlel, in March, 1910, of assault .with intent to ravish, and sentenced to eight years' imprison- j ment. Paroled during good behavior. I . William Braswell, (white), convicted in Richland, September, 1913, o highway robbery and larceny, and sentenced to three years. Paroled durduring good behavior. iHollie Leslie, (colored), convicted in Abbeville in 1911, of murder, with recommendation to mercy, and sen- | tenc-ed to life imprisonment. Pa-roled j during g;od behavior. i J Ludie Heard, (colored), convicted in ; | Greenville, September. 1910. of assault, I atid battery with intent to kill, and j ! I I tr\ coven VP3T'S* inrnrisOll- ! ) r-CXl LCUV. ru cw ^ w,. ? t ! ment. Paroled during good behavior. I FEDERALS HOLD (MIX AGA. Withstand Storm of Bullets, Shells 1 Mini Sltrflnnpl From Rebels.? ...... r , Driven to Shelter. Presidio, Texas, Dec. 31.?After; withstanding bullets, shells and : shrapnel poured in 011 them from the ; 'rebels, the Mexican federal army at: Ojinaga, Mex., tonight still was en- j trenched within the village but in the j opinion of military experts with small | hope of beating back the attacking! force. Gen. Ortega's army of G.000 scat- i tered over ihe surrounding hills, af- ; tf>r driving the 4,000 federals from all ! their outposts and into the shelter of the adobe buildings and inner trencwes, at sundown began to ad- j vance their artillery with a view of ; demolishing the horse corral and oth- 1 er loopholed buildings where the bulk | of the federals were housed. Many Reported Rilled. Many federal officers, including | Gen. Marcelo Garavo. commander of! 1 volunteers, were reported killed or, wounded. Much of the rebel cavalry j fire was of 110 effect, but when Gen. Ortega put field pieces into action the outlying adobe houses crumbled into. heaps of dried mud, leaving a clearer ( range into the heart of the settle-1 ment. j The number of dead and wounded is not known, but losses were not bel lieved to be heavy, as most of the huts had been adandoned by federals for safer positions. Jury's Verdict in Calumet Tragedy. Calumet, Mich., December 31.?An open verdict, including a finding that t)je Christmas Eve panic which cost 72 lives in Italian, hall was caused by an alarm of fire raiscwl within the hall, was returned tonight by the coroner's jury which for three days has been hearing e\idence. Every allegation that enemies of the Western federation of miners were responsible for starting the panic was rejected by toe jury. The taking of testimony was concluded after midday, and it was well along in the afternoon before consideration of the testimony *vas begun. The jurymen wrestled with their problems for six houis. "By the evidence of the witnesses we find that the cause of death was suffocation, the same being caused by a jam on t'.ie stairway leading to the entrance of the Italian hall, ?vhere a Christmas celebration was being "held." said the verdict. "The -tampede was caused by some person or persons, unknown to the jury at this time, raising an alarm of fire within the hall." The jury decided the evidence Showed that only those possessing ^ union cards or vouched for by some member of the union entered the place. Rejection of charges that deplty sheriffs, mine guards and company doctors had held back, would-be rescuers was held in a paragraph commending the work of men who cleared the stairway of its mass of dead and injured. LINE UP FOR 1914 ! STATE LAWMAKERS ELECTION OF HERBERT'S SK I ESSOR WILL COMPLETE HOISE. i Senate Remains in Taet.?Next Session of the General Assembly Convenes .January 13. i Columbia, December 27.?Barring resignations or deata between now and the session, the election of a successor to the late George R. Rembert, of Richland county, will complete the quota of the house of representatives, i which, with the senate, convenes in I annual session here January 13. There have been eigiht changes in | the house during the year, as follows: Anderson county?J. Mack King, elected at the 1912 election, resigned to become county supervisor, ana n. u. Summers, Jr., a brother-in-law of Governor Blease, was elected recently to succeed Mr. King. Charleston county?R. S. Whaley, resigned to become- congressman from : his district, and Capt. J. C. D. Schroder, of Charleston, died. In the place of these two members of tfte house M. .1. Clements \md A. W. Todd, the latter a former member of thre house, were elected. Clarendon county?Harvey \V. Mitchum, State dispensary auditor, | resigned at the last session to accept that appointment from Governor P-loaco Trwprih FT Rnre'PSs: was; elected to succeed Mr. Mitchum. Darlington %-county?W. E. James, member of the house, died, and J. F. Pate was elected to succeed him. Marion county?S. O'Quinn.member of fc'.ie house, moved over into Sumter county and resigned, M. C. Harrelson. of Mullins, being elected a few days ago to take his place. Pickens county?r^red Williams, member of the house, took his life, and J. L. Bolt.'of Easley. was named to succeed him in the general assembly. ? Will^omplete Membership. W^en Mr. Rembert's successor is selected the house will have a complete membership. The election for a successor to Mr. Rembert will be held January 6. For many reasons the next session of the general assembly for South Carolina, which convenes Tuesday, January 13, is regarded the most important in recent years. Issues of vital importance to the State are to be met and questions of policy that mean much to the future welfare of the citizenship are to be settled. The personnel of the approaching legislature is, therefore, a matter of more than passing interest. Those who will undertake to discuss and vote upon the grave measures that are to come before them have the eyes of a State upoq them, and, in some of the questions involved, the eyes of CUC CUtii u nuiivu. Senate in Tact. From the senate not one of the :nen who served last session will be replaced at this session on account of j deai:h or resignation, for all members ! of last year's upper branch, if nothing happens between now and the 13th of January, will return to Columbia to take their places in the senate chamber. 1 ieutenant Governor Charles A. Smith, of Timmonsville, by virtue of his office, is the presiding officer of the State senate. This is his fourth session in the capacity and will be his last, except for the opening week of the 1915 session, when at the inauguration exercises he will turn his official position in the senate over to J his successor. The lieutenant governor is a candidate for promotion. He is running for the governorship. The president pro tem of the senate is Senator P. L. Hardin, of Chester, a legislator of many years' experience. He was also named chairman of the finance committee of the senate, a position which vies with that of the chairmanship of the judiciary committee for the leading senate committee. By many it is regarded the most important committee chair manship. The clerk to the senate is Marvin M. Mann, an attorney of St. Matthews, and tihe assistant clerk is R. Beverly Sloan, of Columbia, the United States commissioner here and an attorney at the Columbia bar. The reading clerk of the Senate is Dr. W. S. Stokes J ... ; j arid the Journal clerk is George FT. j 1 ' Moore, a newspaper man of^iionea j' 1 Path. The serjeant-at-arms'' is the ' i I ; venerable J. Fred Sehumpert, of New- ; ' ber^ county, who has served in that i capacity for many a year. {: In the senate, Abbeville county is } | represented by .1. Moore Mars, an atj vney, wiio was s#me time ago an 1 announced candidate for lieutenant i governor, but, reports say. he will not i run for lieutenant governor, but next ( summer will engage again in the race for the State senate. Mr. Mars serv- j ed a term in the house before coming ! 1 ' i 1 to the senate. ! Aiken county is represented in the |' *? T-t? m ? 1 ^ |' Senate OV .JOUIl r. Iiiidins, a ian *ri, j who was elected in- the memorable j1 [campaign of 1912. Mr. Williams served in the house for several years be- ' fore coming to the senate. Veteran from Anderson. j1 Anderson county is represented by j( a veteran legislator, Senator George j2 W. Sullivan, a merchant and planter, i1 of Williamston, who served in both ; ^ the house and senate for a number j of years. Senator Sullivan was a ' < close friend to the late Governor Wil- t ! liam Mauldin. of Greenville, who was ] + in li 1 e rl ?1V "\f V t Lli? icauti ax Alio uuj . v Sullivan is chairman of the senate 1 agricultural committee. t Dr. J. D. Black, of Bamberg, takes , great interest in medical and educa- i tional affairs, and is chairman of the 1 medical affairs committee of the sen- IJ i. ate. If the senate ever gets off t'he ,1 track Dr. Black is a-safe and sane pendulum to swing the members into the right course. ] ^ Dr. A. B. Patterson, a physician, is a ' ^ comparatively new senate member at 1 this time from Barnwell, having enj ,< tered last session. Dr. Patterson has ! recently canea upon me ministers m , his county to aid in the fight for better education. : Editor From Beaufort. : ' Beaufort county sends to the sen- 1 ate Xeils Christensen, a newspaper ! editor, w'.io has had much legislative ' experience. Senator Christensen. ] then a member of the legislature^vvas ;5 on the original investigating commit-j < tee that probed the old State dispen- j < rary. He was in the thick of that j fight and also was chairman of the < committee that investigated the State 1 hospital for the insane a few years 1 ago, Senator Christensen made a ! < tight on the drainage' question a few j < years ago also and was instrumental 1 in having the drainage bill enacted in- [ to law. i E. J. Dennis, of Monck's Corner, an attorney, represents Berkeley county in the senate. Senator Dennis is chairman of the federal relations committee, -which committee will now prove a more important one than J ever in State affairs. Mr. Dennis is a lawyer. J. Arthur Banks, of St. Matthews, the senator from Calhoun county, is j one of the best known men in South Carolina. He is a banker and planter and takes an interest in all matters c affecting this State's welfare. He has I * inot rotirprl frnm thp nrpsidftnCV of ! the South Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical society, which holds the annual State fair. Experienced Legislator. Huger Sinkler, a well-known attor- < ney of Charleston, is till at county's t senator. Senator Sinkler, too, has had ( much legislative experience. He is s chairman of the committee on educa tion in the senate. Before this com- l j mittee at the approaching session will j come the compulsory education bill j and other matters affecting the State's educational policy. Senator Sinkler, T of course, has dharge of Charleston , ? matters, which are generally very :m- 11 portant in the legislature. The Char- j, >. j 1 leston license liquor bill is now on ; t the senate calendar for consideration at the approaching session. t W. S. Hall, of Cherokee, who prac- i tices law at Gaffney, is the State ( senator from his county. Senator Hall is chairman of tine incorparations g committee, before which come many r bills affecting the manufacturing and | > industrial interests of the State, ben- s ator Hall has taken especial interest i in educational matters in the senate. \ Senator P. L. Hardin, of Chester, is j from the town of Bascomville and is i a planter. Senator Hardin, as already outlined, is one of the important members of the upper branch. The senate hearings on tihe appropriations . bill are held before him and his com- J mittee. t George K. Laney, of Chesterfield, is the representative of that county in j - - - the senate. Senator Laney practices : law. He is chairman of the penal and charitable institutions committee, and this committee will likely have some important work before it tihis session. Another Editor. Louis Appelt. the editor of the Manning Times, represents Clarendon county in the senate. Mr. Appelt is chairman of the railroads committee 3f the senate. The committee hears all railroad matters. J. D. Ackerman. of C-ottageville, is the senator from Colleton county. He is a merchant and planter. He is chairman of the engrossed bills committee. L. M. Lawson, of Darlington, repre- i sents his county in tihe upper branch. Mr. Lawson is a lawyer. He is chairman of the drainage and immigration ?ommitree. Mr. Lawson in the senate has taken especial interest in the bills affecting the fir'.i and game legis- \ ation. .T. H. Manning, of Latta, is Dillon county's senator. Dillon is next to he youngest county in tHe State, and j VIr. Manning'came in with the forma-j ;ion of the new county to the senate, is chairman of the rules commit:ee. Dorchester Planter. H. H. Gross, of Harleyvilie. repre- i >ents Dorchester county. Mr. Gross s one of the new senate members, is a planter in his home county, j R. E. Nicholson, an attorney of! Edgefield, that county's senator, when | le came to the senate not long ago j introduced a bill that will be fought j Dut this session, that affecting the pri-1 rary law. It is a* vital issue before Lhe people of South Carolina today, rhe Nicholson bill was amended in several particulars and is on the sen- . ite calendar for discussion at the ap- ' proaching session. T. H. Ketehin, a banker and mer- ! of Winnsboro, is Fairfield's representative in the senate. He is ilso at this time one of the more recent additions to fihe upper branch< Df the State's legislature. J. W. McCown, banker and planter, Df Florence, is chairman of the coun-1 :y offices and county officers commit:ee of the senate. Mr. McCown is one Df the. senators, who rise to speak Dnlv occasionally, but are on the job > when the voting goes. on. Mr. Mc- i Cown is a brother of Secretary of li-i- n -*r \r.ri....? siaie rv. ;yi. jnaunu. "Makes Hall Ring. LeGrand G. Walker, of Georgetown, :>ne of the best lawyers in the State, s a senator of some years' standing. He, too. seldom makes a speech, but ivhen /he does the legislative halls *ing. He is an orator and debater of :he first water. He is chairman of :he mines and mining committee of j he senate. Wilton H. Earle, of Greenville, sue- ! ?eeded the late Mr. Mauldin in the senate. Mr. Earle was a member of he house. He is a lawyer, practicing it Greenville. He is chairman of th^ mrolled bills committee. D. B. Johnson, of Greenwood, a planter living at Kirksey, in that jounty, is also a recent comer to the state senate, ihaving been elected in he campaign of 1912, succeeding ^apt. C. A. C. Waller, who had been ' senator for some years. tn R ninn nf Harrmtrm. is a him- i )er dealer at Varnville, in that coun- J :y. He is chairman of the public j an^r T&nrttee of the senate. H. L. Buck, of Horry, dealing in er.l estate and a planter at Conway, succeeded Senator D. A. Spivey, of hat county. Therefore, Mr. Buck is >ractically a new member, having enered the senate at the last session. .T. C. Richardson is the baby count y s senator?.jasper, mi. ni^adiu^ua s a planter and merchant living at , Jarnett, in Jasper county. W. R. Hough, of Camden, a banker i tnd insurance man. is chairman of the , oads, bridges and ferries committee. , Senator Hough is Kershaw county's ( enator. He is one of the best known ! < nen in his county, and, although, a j oung man. holds considerable sway 1 n political and industrial matters at , < lis home. Congressman Once. . Dr. T. J. Strait, of Lancaster, who i3 < i pnysician, represents his county now < n the senate. Dr. Strait was at one ] ime the congressman from his disrict and is known throughout the < (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5.) PROF HAND'S PLEA TO BETTER SCHOOLS SAYS TAKE OFFICE OF SUPERLju^^fl TENDET OUT OF POLITICS.fi Would Have Head of System OhosX by a Board Elected by People. ^ Columbia, December 28.?DecryinH the present system a3 folly and in 9 i c? i. 1? ? l: ft c .fl ringing piea ior eicuuuu ui State board of education which? would choose the State superintendent? of education and take the office out? of politics, Prof. W. H. Hand, State high shool inspector, levels his guns? on the present plan as the plaything? of the cheap politician and the pawn 1 of ti.ie demagogue. "The cheap politican and the two- ? by-four statesman may le depended l|H upon to oppose any such plan on the fl specious plea that it would be undem- VH ocratic. Should sudh a plan be adopt- fl ea they and their kind would have one fpvvor nawns in their little nolitical a I game in election years. Such a plan V would emphasize fitness for the office - instead of stump buL^ombe and campaign bargaining?the hope and glory of the cheap politician and dema- I gogue" is one of r :e flashes from Prof. Hand's withering fire on the present educational system of South Carolina. The Biggest Business. Says Mr. Hand: "ConsiderinjL^jl amount o'' capital invested, the? tude of tne undertaking an^tM port of the results, education is bH the biggest business of the mc^W State. Year oy year me capuai is creasing and the business is growing? Year by year the need of trained lead-^ ership is emphasized. At present there is admittedly too little efficiency V in our school work, financially pr fessionallv speaking. School ' nance? are directed largely by menjf no de-^ monstrative financial acumen or training and the organization and administration of schools -are often ^ directed by men of no professional equipment. "No State can hope to have goodschools until it has a good school system. No good system can be had, un-. less it is uninterruptedly presided over by a competent head, by a man a with a national outlook and of ap?ivQ/iiitivo ffp must. bf> yiUVCU VA^VUVlf V i.v/. v/v. ? a seer, a builder and a leader. In an age wren big business is on the constant watch for just such men it is# nothing less than childish to hope to secure and retain, the services of men of demonstrated abiijiy to direct the education of a State for the beggarly salary now paid by this State to its superintendent of education. Hundreds of people honestly believe his salary ample and liberal. Are thinking men willing to permit suctf narrow notions to prevail? It is but com monpiace to say uiai mere are u?xuj * citizens ready to take M ency at the present salary. There are doubtless not a few wiJing to it at half that salary, but does thp S**?te J desire suoa men at any salary? Say what w? please, the State is in Pie open market for competent men to fill its offices'; the State must compete with other positions of responsibility and remuneration. A Slender Reed. "What State, determined to have a rrnnA normonOTlt QPhnfVl SVStem. ~ , afford to depend upon a political pri- _ ? r 'mmj mary to get and to keep a competent man at the head of this system? What American State has done so for any length of time? As a matter of plain fact, at ti.ie biennial State elections of this State, what per cent, of the total voters manifest any intelligent concern as to who is to be elected superintendent of education? It is safe to say that fewer than one- half care. By the time the average voter has given attention to his favorite candidate for governor and lienteuant governor, he is ready to vote for anybody Dr for nobody for superintendent of education. Is not our system of public education largely a matter of political chance? With a weak or bad administration of .public education *1'no caa place the responsibility? Is mv system sound wnen weaKaess ur Dorruption can not be located and" somebody held responsible? Can our people have no more concern for the management of more than two and one-half million dollars of their taxes (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4).