Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-lot VOL.____ X.NIA-.,'rING - C. W- NED FEBRUARY 27, V85 __ O 1 TIIlJXAN INTERVIEWE. WeY HE ATTENDED A RECENT CON FERENCE IN COLUMBIA. What Was Agreed Upon by Those Who Were at the Conference--Equal Repre sentation in the Constitutional Conven vention of Both Factions. CoLmBa, S. C., Feb. 22.-Every one who has any eyes or ears has re alized that something important is go ing on in the political world. A good deal of what has been done has been known, but for obvious reasons noth ing could be said about it. There have been conferences and consultations Tetween various leaders of various factions, and rumor's tongue has been waggi to a considerable extent and no end of reports have been in circu lation. Whenever Senator Tillman comes to the cicy it is expected that there is something in it, and he was quite naturally a central figure to those who were doing the speculating. It was known that he and Governor Evans had a conference on Mondav night, lasting for several hours, with a number of leading Censervatives. This conference naturally excited more interest and curiosity among those-who were not on the inside than anything else, and it was given addi tional force from the fact that it is the first time, so- far as is known, that "Our Ben," as he is popularly called, has ever met with leading liticians on the other side except :n battle roy al on the stump, when. as they used to say,-"the fur flew." Everyone has been on the qui vive to catch on to what happened at the meeting, but it must be confessed that although it is a bard matter to keep such a, thing quiet, the participnts in the various conferences have et their own coun sel remarkably we and there has been really no authentic or well grounded statement of the real pur poses of Monday night's meeting or what came of it, Senator Tillman came here ostensi bly-to attend a meeting of the trustees of theWinthrop College, and it was not until after he had gotten through with an important executive commit tee meeting that I managed to get a chance at him fer an interview. The interview was started in Columbia, but as it grew in import it was found to accompany Senator Till man to lotte in order to complete the interview, as he had made all ar -angements to go on to Washington. When asked the direct question as to he truth of the various reports which were in circulation and with which 28 was associated Senator Tillman mid: "I & not know why my presence here should put so many tongues to wagging. Ordinarily my rule has been to pay no heed to such chatter, but to leave people to find out for themselves about such things." When asked about the conference with the Conservative leaders he said: "I have no objection to letting it be known: wIhy I -agreed to meet these gentlemen. I did so simply for the purpose of showing that I, as an indi vidual citizen and asa Lan occupyig aresponsible public position, am ready and anxious to do anything within reason that I can to bring about a bet ter state of feeling. There is a hack neyed phragecontmually appearmng in the bitter anti papers--The Tillnman Irby-Evans Ring'-and the stock in trade of the recalcitrants who have fought me personally and the Reform party from the very beginning is to chreall the animosity which exists, to the machinations and influence of this "Ring." Some of the loudest mouthed and most blatant talk along this line has come from men - who would certainly never have been heard of in the politics of the State but for the -Reform movement. Now, fortu nately I occupy a position which im the minds of all fair persons, should l ift me above any cag fsitro selfish motive in waIamtrying to do.' I realize with painful certainty the seriousness of the crisis, which is upon us inState affairs. The Consti tutional convention has been called in spite of the intense opposition of al most the entire 'Anti' factidn. There have been charges of fraud in regard to the vote on this question, but that is neither here nor there. Fraud or no fraud, and no one has produced ny proofs of fraud, the convention is ;u be eleeted and will meet next Sep 'enber; and the question now agitat ing the mind of every thinking man in the Stateis asto how itwllbe con stituted and what will it do when it assembles. The distrust and suspicion which has been industriously foment edin thezminds of the factionls, towards each other have brought us to this de plorable condition: that we must eith er shortly enter upon a struggle for the mastery of the convention, which 'will leave wounds to rankle for a life time; or we must come together. The present unnatural and strained rela tions must cease, or we will commence a fight -which will leave one faction or the other complete masters, with an intensified desire for revenge burning in the hearts of the vctor's. I wish to avert such a struggle if possile, and when I consented to ;neet those who have persecuted and opposed me with all the vigor and malignity of which they were capable, in an effort to de vise-ways and means for restoring harmony, I gave an earnest of my honesty of purpose that ouoht to save me from the charge of selfis ess or fear, though I am satisfied it wil] not do so. Those breeders of strife who live by' fanning the flames, and those aspirmn self-seekers, who, under guise of paroi motives, would be tray the eommovement, will trv to make the contrary appear. It <Ioes not matter; I can bear that with the same equanimity and indifference thai I have borne their attacks in the past." "Senator, will you tell us what you did in the conference?" "I was just coming to that, for tc my friends I need make no explana tion or concealment, and for my e mies I do not care. In the first place, it will be well to say that neither Gov ernor Evains nor myself claim any right to speak or to act other than im dividuals. The people are the mnaster's in South' Carolina. and we can only advise or give our opinions. The pole who have honored us both sc hihy are naturally looking to us for guidance, but they will Judge f10 themselves and. attach only such iun portance and yield such adhesien t< our advice as they deem best. 'ThE Tilman-Irby-Evanls Ring is of thE peple, and a very large one, an( while we may tie the ends whici bringthe ring together, we under .+nd oue position too well to imaginE for an instant -that we can do more than advise. We must convince our friends that what we advise is best be fore we can expect them to follow. In a word, then, in that meeting we tried to arrive at an understanding, which will unite the people of the State once more without any surrender of princi ple on the part of anybody, and pre vent any struggle over the convention; and we realize very fully the delicacy and difficulty of the tas k. The more radical and unreasonable elements of both factions will necessarily be dis gruntled and endeavor to antagonize the scheme. But we cannot give any serious consideration to the. opposi tion of such men as these. We must appeal to the patriotism and good sense of the large conservative mass of both factions to make the conces sions which are requisite to bring them together. As the victors and the rul ing majority, the concessions mustne cessarily come from the Reform side, the conditions must be subscribed to by the other side." "What concessions do N au allude to?" "To begin with, I wouldsaythat the one overpowering and essential idea which made the convention a necessity was the preservation of white suprem acy by such qualification of the suf frage'as will save us from negro dom ination in future under any and all conditions. If this essential and fun damental requirement shall be sub scribed to by all those seeking admis sion to the convention, along with a very few other changes in the present Constitution, the other questions like ly to arise in the discussions before the convention will inevitably be decided on their merits as '-eneral propositions in government an-I cannot by any pos sibility excite any factional debate. It follows then that if the factions can unite in formulating the basic priMci .ples to be incorporated in the Consti tution by common consent, the ques tion as to whether the convention shall be composed of a majority of Reformers or Conservatives is of mi nor consideration. But for the suspi cion and distrust which exists as to the good faith and honesty of each side towards the other, I have no earthly doubt that the Reformers would read ily grant to their opponents equal rep - resentation. It will depend entirely on the attitude and utterances of the Conseruative faction and the newspa pers which represent them whether such an arrangement can be consum mated. If the charges of fraud and 'ring rule' and the bitter sneers which have become to be the daily theme of the newspaper writer and scheming office-seekers are continued, it is ut terly impossible to ask the majority to trust those who show so much distrust themselves, and who, while claimin to be honest themselves, accuse al who oppose them of being dishonest. Confidence is the first requisite to compromise." "Are we to understand you to say that you are willing for the Conserva tives to have half of the delegates tc the convention?" "Provided, we can be assured on cer tain points, yes. I can conceive of nc harm that could result and of great benefits that might accrue therefrom. To illustrate: A purely factional con vention would be a misfortune, and if the delegates to the convention arm elected, as they should be, because o1 high character, intelligence and liberal ty of thought, the &trition of suc -in"ds m-ainst such mind, in intellec tual comlat seeking after truth an( -the best Constitution possible, woulk make the convention an ideal one. 11 the convention was composed of a fac tion or dominated ab"'lutely by fac tional feelino, it wguld be far more radical and 'i -elv toimeer rate unrea sonable provisiolis in the constitution, Iand we must never forget that we ar~ to live under the Constitution to b~ framed, as well as our opponents, anc that we would hurt ourselves as badly as we would hurt them by making a bad Constitution. A sense of fairness should compel us to give them a faii share of representation, or even mor< than a fair sha e if they will let us. A Constitution is different from an act of the Legislature in that it cannot be repealed by the Legislature, but con trols the Legislature, hence its import ance. All classes and all interests o1 the State should, therefore, have rep resentation in the convention." "How is it to be brought about anc how would the Conservatives get theil half?" "There's the question. If our peo ple could by common consent forg-e the factional strite which has divid'ec them and elect delegates without re ard to factional lines, it would be fag better, but that is a mere theory anc we are confronted by a condition. Th< factions are here, the bitterness is here the distrust is here, and last and mos1 threatening, all the negroes ai e here t< create a dread on the one side and t< produce temptation on the other. L n derstand me, if the fight has to come I have no fear of the result. WVhite supremacy and Anglo-Saxon civiliza tion will inevitably triumph, but i will be the saddest day in the histora of the State when it shall be recorde< that sensible practical, patriotic mei would not meet on such commo2 ground as exists, and cease their strife for a time in the interests of the Stati and of posterity." "You have just spoken of condition! to which the Conservatives must sub scribe. What are they f "The main one, as I have already mentioned-the preservation of whit< supremacy by a qualification of th< ballot. Another, is that no delegatF shall be elected who does not pledg< himself to vote against submission t< the people of the Constitution adopted for it goes without sarmng that the fight which we are seeking to avoi< would be precipitated in such an event Next, that every delegate must sub scribe to the general proposition tha no white man should be disfrancrised except for crime. Still another, is tha the Constitution shall deal only in gen eral principles of governmeut an< leave the Legislature absolutely un trammeled on the questions of polici regulations and free schools. With all delegates loyally supporting thes' general ideas, together with the pre servation of the homestead, it become a matter of indifference to the peopl< whether the Conservatives or the Re forers are in the nmajority in the c-on venton. There are various oluer 's tions which will enter into the o1se.n sion which will p recede the election o delegates, but they will settle thern sel ces and the people can instriuct as ti their wishes." 'How will the division be made? - "That I cannot say: each count; most settle that for it-self. O)ne othe importaut matter is the re-uniti1g th people in support of the priyiary, so the election of delega:'rs. (.i e ot] siesrprn,-nation on uoards of man agers. or, if the delegates are chosen by a convention, let itbe und-rstood that all parties are committed to the sup port of the nominees." "Would you be willin( to take the stump in advocacy of tliese general propositions?" "if it becomes necessary. yes; but I trust the matter can be adjusted by the good men in each county getting together without any such necessity. The only trouble Isee that may arise is that those who have sought to betray the people under the guise of pacifi cation may endeavor to throw obsta cles in the way. I would say further that these views are not new, and have not resulted from any recent develop ments. Last fall, when I was strain ino every nerve to have the convention cahled, ~I expressed practically the some ideas. It will depend upon the spirit in which the Conservatives meet our people. 'A soft answer turneth away wrath,' and if we begin a race to see which shall outdo the other in obliterating the scars of our past bat tles, satisfactory results are bound to follow. The Reformers can be per suaded if the right means are used. They cannot be bullied or driven." "Suppose after the primaries are held or the nominations made it were found that the Conservatives had not secured half of the delegates, what then?" "Well, as a matter of simple justice, they could not feed any great dissatis faction if they receives two-fifths their strength in the primary of 1S92 but by proper conduct and advocacy of the demands of the people they can obtain more than proportionate representation. Should the Conserva tives put forward men who have not made themselves especially obnoxious, and should that faction show a will Singness in Charleston, Sumter and Richland to do by the Reformers what they ask the Reformers to do by them. it would increase the chances of the idea of an equal division. At all events, it is worth while for us to try, and we will succeed in electing a satisfactory convention, beyond aoubt, and one that will do nothing rash or unreason able, and the Constitution which it frames will command the respect and support of all the people, just in pro portion as it shall represent all the peo ple. I have been accused of beine an element of discord and strife. If I am allowed, I will endeavor to merit the blessnos promized the peacemakers. and if Ifail, I will at least h ave a clear conscience. "What do you think the "Forty' will now do?" "I don't know. I was never taken into their confidence, and therefore am not aware of what schemes they have in view. But it has seemed to me that any effort antagonistic to the action of the regular Democratic party or an attempt to nominate any set of delegates by caucus, such as they have called, would precipitate the very conflict they claim to wish-to avoid. Our people should frown down any effort alone this line." "What ao you think of the address of the sub-committee of the executive committee of the Democratic party ?"' "I think it an able and timely pres ontation uf e case from" a De o cratic standpoint. It is especially timely and strong. in recalling the scends and incidents of the struggle of 1876, and the evils suffered at the hauds of carpet-baggers and neg.ocs. If the memories of those days will not bring the people to their senes and cause them to orgei. and forgiv the hard things said and d. ne durimg the last four years. then nothig ill. If. both sides cumtvate Catuoficeny of spirit and charity and muzzle the hot heads, our people will comn to gether." PERISHED IN THE FLAMES. Three Women Los~e Their Lives-Mrs. Mc Leod's Fatal Jewels. HOT SPRINGs, Ark., Feb. 22.-Fire broke out in the Ledgerwood bakery on Oachita avenue at 4. a. m. It is in the southern part of the city, where boarding houses abound and in an hour three women had been burned to death, six boarding houses, several storehous~es and fifteen cottages, in all worth $100,000, had been swept away. The dead are: Mrs. Murat Scammed, Mrs. Henry J. McLeod, Austine Sti vetts, colored. Mr. and Mrs, G. H. Browninon of Macon, Mo.; Mrs. Pea cock and others were injured, none dangerously. A strong wind fanned the flames, but prevented them from movmng in the diretion of the big hotels and bath houses. The streets covered by the fire were Ouachita, where it origi nated, Sealey, Malvern, Wodbine and Orange. The Leagerwood bakery was in a frame building, on the -second story of which Mrs. Scammon had furnished apartments, Charles Ledger wood first saw the fiames and in his efforts to extinguish them, neglected to warn people in the neighborhood. Nothing was heard of Mrs. Scammon until the fire was over, when her bones were found in the ashes of her house. Mrs. McLeod was a guest of the LaClede boarding house. She was arouseu and with her husband s~arte'd out of the house, but before reaching the door re membered some jewelry and returned for it, ao-ainst the advice of her huns band. V~hen she started back she found her way blocked by the nlames. Her husband tried to reach her and almost lost his life in the effort. She endeav ored to rush through the flames but fell down in the midst and perished. The remains of the colored woman were found in a partly saved room in the same house. >Mr. and Mrs. Brownson, of Missouri, ,had a thrilling escape. They lived on the third floor of the Ouachita board ting house, and whecn aroused found .the house wrapped in fire. Escape by -the stairway was cut of f. They rushed to the-window and cried to the people below for help, but none could be given them. Mrs. Brownson tied sev - er-al sheets and blankets together, mnak l ing a rope long enough to reach down - to the window below. She went down first, entered the second floor window Iand escaped by a back stairwvay. W'hen her husbend reached the second - oor the stairway was blocked byV lames and he had to jump. He re ceived several bruises and the woman -was badly lacerated in sliding down -the rope. T wenty-eight buildinigs were burned. - including tifteen cot tages of an age*. gate value of $25,ui00.. The boardiui - nouses destroyed are the Uuachiita, 1 linois, Latiede. Missouri and Bloomi U UV with conitemIs. The other~ io-es! - ar thet E. h and(olphI resliee. worth e' 4.--; the Ten'nessee i, the We st House. the latter~') woth NJ5,00-: iiats store and dwelug, s?i-~ UA: 11 THE COMMITTEES APPEAL. THEIR ADDRESS TO THE DEMOCRATS OF SOUTH CAROLINA. Statement of the Conditions Now Confront ing the White People of South Carolina An Appeal for White Unity. CoLmBIA, S. C., Feb. 22.-Special: It will be remembered that at the re cent meetino- of the Democratic State Executive Nommittee, in this city, a sub-committee was appointed to pre pare an address to the party in South Carolina. The sub-committee met on Tuesday night and, as the result of their con ferenee, has issued the following ad dress: To the Democrats of South Carolina: The demand for a Constitutional convention to frame an organic law adapted to our people and our condi tions has become a cardinal principle of the Democratic party of this State. The call for such a convention has been duly made by the people, provi ded for by the Legislature, ana the convention will assemble to do its work on the - of September next. Upon the complexion and acts of this convention depend the welfare of our people for many years to come. Therefore the election of proper dele gates to the convention is of para mount importance. Our best and wisest citizens should be chosen for this great and responsible trust. Realizing this, your State commit tee, charged by the constitution of the party -with the execution and direc tion of the policy of the party," in ac cordance with its constitution and platform of principles,has unanimous Il resolved that delegates to the con vention to represent the views of the Democratic party of this State, should be nominated at a Democratic prima ry to be held, in each county on the - day of July next, unless the county executive committee shall adopt a different mode of nomination, and the State committee will in due time prescribe suitable rules to govern the primary election. It cannot be ignored that the factions "Reformers" and "Conservatives" exist in the De mocratic party of this State. and that much bitter strife has existed between them. But no matter where the blame, ;f any, should lie, the time has come wNhen union and harmony should agein prevail among the white Demo crats of the State. We believe the reat body of the Democracy earnest ly desire the restoration of peace and hazrony, and we observe with pleas ure that patrioti: men on both sides are sincerely endeavoring to bring about a union on fair and just lines. By every fair and honorable means we should strive to prevent a bitter factional fight for the control of the Constitutional convention, with its in evitable appeal to the negro to arbi trate the differences among Demo crats. There is no reason why all white Democrats in South Carolina cannot heartily agree and unite in the adoption of a Constitution. The trans ccdent issue is the preservation of white supremacy by a qualitied suf frage. In tnis is.nue Couservaives and Reformers alike are equally and vital ly concerned. On this supreme issue the tocsin should be "white unity for white supfremacv." There was onice such a tiue, a:., may not be amis to recll it. Nineteen years ago a duil govern meia existed in our State capital, with two Gover~nors. each claimiing to be the legal executive, and two Legisla tures with full sets of State otlicers. The one government was composed of carpet-baggers, scalawags and negroes the vilest set of thiexes and scoundrels known to A~merican history, was sus tained by l'aderai troops, who had been ordered to seize the State House by Grant. The question of the Presi dential successien was in doubt, and the iron-willed President, without a scruple, propped ttae edifice built by Gen. Canby and the carpet-baggers with bayonets, because the State's electoral vote was necessiry to save the Presidency to the Republican party. The other government was sustained by the white people of the State with a unanimity and determination 'corn of despair and with the immovable purpose to throw off the yoke of igno rance and vice let the consequences be what they might. But it was a period of doubt and gloom and the minds of men have never been kept at such high tension for so long a time. The campaign of 1870; with the exciting scees which it engendered, the Ham burg and Elleniton riots, 'the Cainhoy massacre, the red shirt cavalcades, the troops at the polls, all these were fresh and vivid pictures in the minds of our people. South Carolina had been and was then in sore strait. Her citizens had been subjected to a tyranny such a has never ben borne by an Eng lish speaking people since the Saxon wore the Norman collar." The sun of hope had been in eclipse for eight long, dark years and their liberties hung in the balance. But true to*their lineage and the love of freedom in herited from their sires South Caro lin's true Sons came together as one man and when thus united her contest was no longer doubtful. The State's vote was counted for the Republican candidate for president, but we held our State government, and the Gover nor of our choice was duly installed and assumed undisputed control as soon as the troops were removed, Iwhile the horde of miscreants who had defiled our State House fled beyond or borders for safety. It is not pleasant to recall that sad and gloomy period of our history, but some of our people seem to have for gotten it, while others were too young Eknow and realize the terrible condi -ions and the ahnost superhuman ef jorts which were necessary to rescue the Stale, can read the story with profit, if they will heed the lesson of the State's rescue from the darkest pe riod it. has ever known. White unity alone wrought our redemption. White unity alone kept the govern tent inl tihehands of the inteligence and virtue of tanis State. Obedience to he will of the white majority and a oval siuuport of the caudidates 2hosen y thle rt-gular party mac-hiniery alone p'esrved the purity of tue victory which was wonl agrains. such fearful (d in 187t. The slogon, ''An Inde pedn is worse than a .Radical" has ..se nol idle oihrase, but a livig, bur-n ig text, faith in wuich meant Augio -'~ a suipretuacy. good goveanlent aud the pres-erVatin of our .civiiza But the swo-d of Damnoces has been The huge black snake, which, anac onda-like held the State in its folds and came so near crushing it to death during the dark period from 1868 to 1876, has been redered harmless, tem porarily paralyzed, by the registration and eight-box laws. But it is not dead, nor is it even sleeping. Encouraged by the bitter feud existing between the whites and on the belief that they will be called on as a balance of forces to settle the quarrel, the Republican party has been reorganized. the negro preachers, always the most influential leaders of their race, are already pre paring to mobilize the black horde. It is a sad commentarv on the mad ex tremes to which factional pollitical strife can carry men to note the atti tude of some of our men and newspa pers toward the movement. Thirsting for control and blind to all the evil con sequences they encourage the negroes to political activity. Irreconciliables, few in number. we are confident, but bitter and scheming men are evidently in league with them, and a perfect understanding seems to exist. The devil, moving and instigating them, as it were, taking these men up on a mountain and showing them the ne roes. saying: -Energize, mobilize these black men, and ou can rule in South Carolina." The plea is made by the Republican leaders that the Republicans do not seek to obtain office or regain control of the government, but . no men of sense can be deceived by such a plea. Their offer to vote for the best men of the faction which will give them their rights may be a temptation to a few ultra politicians but we have more faith in the good sense and patriotism of the conservative masses than to be lieve that they are to be thus fooled, or that they can be led designing men to form an only bring disgrace to them and jeopardize, if not destroy our gov ernment for all time. We have the op ortunity, so long sought, of fixing th3e privilege of suf frage so that the fullest political free dom shall obtain and all danger from the ignorant black majority, which has been a menace to our liberty and civilization and has hung as an incub us on our progress, shall be averted forever. Will fiot our people. remembering the struggle of 76 and its lesson of white umty, ceased their mad strife and come together as the sons of a com mon mother to protect that mother and secure for themselves and their posterity the blessings of liberty and goodgovernment, freed fromthe black shadow which has so long been over our beloved State. There has been bitterness and angry crimination and recrimination on both sides. The spirit of antagonism if longer nursed can only breed disaster, and no patriot should wish a constitution made by a victorious and enranged faction after a fight in which white men have call ed on the negroes to settle the differ ences. Whatever have been the causes of the differences which have embroiled our people, we can all unite in select ing our best, our wisest, our purest cit izens as delagates and leave it to their wisdom and patriotism to frame an org-anization for the State. Let these deledtes be chosen at a prymary, in w LAen all white De uocrats can unite and move, and vote for men wit.iout regard to past political diiferences or aftiliations. Let character, patriotism, ability and devotion to the ruaia pur ose for which the con vetion uas ' called be the tests of titless of the deegates. and let the nominees of the party be loyal su.pporte~d at tne elec tion. A Constituion framed by our best men, elected in this spirit. would be worthy of our State and its history. All must recognize that a Constitution should deal with principles proper to be incorporated in the organic law, and not with matters of detail, which is the province of the Legislature. With a Constitution made by our own peple, suited to their genius and con ition, endorsed by the great body of the white irace as promptive of the best interests of the whole State and establishing by adequate and valid provisions the supremacy of the white men and delivering us forever from the fear of ,negro domination, our State will begin a new er-a of progress and prosperity. (Signed) C. M. Efird, Ira B. Jones, WV. D. Evans, J. J. Gentry, J. P. Glenn, .. Committee. Burned to Death. COLUMBUs, Ga., Feb. 21.-At 7 o'clock yesterday morning, Mrs. Win. Norseweather, standing in front of an open grate, caught lire and was most horribly burned before assistance reached her. She suffered agony sevr eral hours before death. Over in Girard, about 10 o'clock yesterday. Mrs. C. C. Best, wvho was recently re leased from the asylum., was left akune in the dining room. She had not en tirely recovered her mind, though she was not considered hopelessly crazy. In some way she caught fire from the stove and was burned so fearfully thai death is inevitable in a few hours. The Unloaded Rifle. EDGEFIELD. Feb. 22.--Johnnie, the eleven-ear-old, son of Sheriff W. H. Outz was accidentally killed by Alhe. his nine-year-old br'other, this morn in. The sheritf was absent from home and onc of his eider children loaded a rifle for protection. Alhie, supposing the gun to be empty. point ed it at his brother, and in some way it was discharged, thie ball taking ef feet in the face of the deceased and coming out at the back of the head, causing instant death. SheritF ()utz is one of our biggest hearted men and he and his good family have the deep sympathy of the community. Tenth Victim. A LBANY, N. Y., Feb. 22.-The work~ of clearing up the ruins of the Deice van House, destroyed by fire on D ceber 31). was resumnedJ this week af~ ter a stopp)age of nearly a mionth. At 5 oclock yesterday afternoon the men~f digging~ opposite the elevator mi Broad way front discovered po.rtions of a human body burned beyon~d re. cognition. No bodies were lo.)kedt a. in this locality. 'This makes ten~ bo ies recovered. Omn.ht to bie EXPelled-. fu row occu rred in the s-'tt .enaite to.Ir. Senaar- M\ills in the co.,urse o de..ute called Seu-it'r Pe.ace a har. Mil s threw a pape ei t - t Ienc fr.a d adioarued. THE STATE ALLIAME. CONSIDERING THE MATTER OF COT TON AND FERTILIZERS. The Meeting in Columbia-A Good Rtepre %entation-Aud appeal to the Railroads and an Address to the Farmers. COLUMBIA, S. C., Feb. 21.-Special: Considerable interest was attached to the meeting of the Farmer's Alliance of South Carolina. held here on Tues day night to consider the matter of freights on fertilizers and also the buy ing of fertilizers by the farmers in this State. Pursuant to the call of the President W. D. Evans, representtatives of twenty-one county Alliances assem bled here to discuss the situation and make known their conclusion, to the farmers throughout the State. The following deleoates were present: Abbeville-J. T. Robertson. Aiken-G. B. Seigler. Anderson-J. B. Watson, J. W. Bowden, Joshua Ashley, J. B. Dou thit. Barnwell-S. G. Mayfield, W. S. Bamberg, W. T. Cave, 11. H. Crum. Chester-S. T. McKeown. Darlington-J. W. Warr. Edo efield-W. P. Timmerman, B. L. Cauglman, A. B. Watson, P. M. Lott. Florence-J. E. Pettigrew, J. S. McKenzie. Horry-J. A. Lewis. Lancaster-T. R. Langley, J. C. Elliott. Lexington-J. L. Shuler, D. F. Efird. Marion.-D. McIntyre. S.W. Smith, J. D. Montgomery, T. B. Stackhouse. Marlboro-H. . Stackhouse, J. C. Campbell, J. L. Kitt, J. A. Sligh. Orangeburg-J. W. Stokes, J. F. Fairv. Spartanburg-G. W. Adair, J. L. Howell, A. F. Burton. Clarendon-Jas. E. Davis, D. J. Bradham. Fairfield-T. P. Mitchell. Sumter-R. B. Stackhouse, H. R. Thomas, J. T. Hays. York-W. N. Elder, J. F. Ashe. Colleton-J. H. Lon. . Richland-D'Arcy T)uncan, J. J. Norton, 0. F. Chapel. Senator Odell, of Pickens, sent re grets and his approval of the purposes of the meeting. President Evans announced that he had called the meeting in response to several invitations to consider the pe culiar condition of affairs, by which cotton was sold at less than its cost of production, as well as the question of fertilizers and acreage. Discussion was invited, but no one seemed to want to talk. A recess was taken until the committee was ready to report. The committee on resolutions. ap ointed before the meeting, consists of Messrss. Keitt, Stokes, Watson, Dun can, Mitchell and Montgomery. Chairman Stokes announced that the work of the committee was merely a suagestion and was in no way final. The report suggested that as to cotton options in payment of fertilizers it should recommend that 175 pound of middling cotton be given for a Lon of acid phosphate on Nort mber 1, or if payment be preferred in currenc:: that it be made at $10 per ton f. o. b. at Charleson. if freight be paid inc-t on freight and freight to be payable 1; cotton at 5 cents per pound. For kainit goods 190 pounds of middling cotton on Novembuer 1. or $11 in currency, with interest and freight. Charleston f. o. b., as a basis For ammoniated oods 21- per cent, the commit.ee re commend'three hundred pounds mid dling cotton on November 1 or $17 for currency payment, with interest and freight 'rate from Charleston f. o. b. The acid phosphate is to be from 10 to 13 per cent. The figures are very near, Dr. Stokes said, to those offered by one of the strongest companies. A slight reduction was made in cotton pay ment. and in increase for cash. Their offer was a straight sale for cotton. Both proposit'.ons were for f. o. b. at place of shipment. The difference on dissolved bone was only about 25 cents per ton. Mr. Hays, of Sumter, wanted to know if the company would pay freight. The payment of freight was provided fpor. Mr Montgomery sug ested that the proposition was to give o more, but if it could be gotton for less so much the better. Dr Robert son asked whether any companies had given a cotton option available to far mers until after th4 crop is harvested. Mr. Keitt said that none had been made. Dr. Stokes said the-only pro position was for a straie-ht cotton trade at the time of purchase. Mr. Montgomery wanted fertilizer men to take part of the risk. All the cotton you use on options can be sold by fertilizer people in futures. It was simply a queston of whether cotton could~ be made at five cents. It can not be done. Thc companies could not hold all their ammnoniated goods and kainit. The best thing to do was to use little or no fertilizers. Mr. Warr didn't want any fertilizers used. Darlington would tuse all of its fertilizers on tobacco. Couldn't see see 'how fertilizers could be used on five-cent cotton. He had not asked the price of fertilizers in fourteen months and did unot expect to. He was. sorry to see so many people blowing for a little fertilizers. He would not recommend the proposition. He made better cotton and more corn last year without fertilizers than usual with'fer tilizers. Mr. Watson, of Anderson, favored the proposition as just. equable and right. It was, he urged, lamentable that so many farmers were in debt. Every other product was suffering from the same depression. lHe believe the terms would be accepted. It is tirme for farmers to ask for relief, and it is best to ask for it at home. Let the companies share a portion of the losses if neces sarv. Mr. Pettigrew, of Florence. wanted to see the matter settled. Mir. Sligh wanted the farmers to say wht theyv could do. and then it re mained to' see whether it could be ac c)ted. If it is not ac&cepted it would e better to use no feet ilizers. The recommuend~ationI .w-i adopted. Col. Dutncar, said that all the co panies refuinsd to give a cotton option. ie reaid from the best oiler and that was an~ aci1 phosphtate, payable Nov enuber L $) 4 for eash o" l1.) pounds of -cot on f. o. b. a.t both ends. lie did r ut b~lieve a cottonl option could be secure'd and he did not blame the compainies. Cut.\ Waler, of U'n..ebur, dia n~ot jelieve~ thte plan wouild op'erht. Mr. tStckhouse did n. !!eL e the pr po~ 'tion co : Id be carr d oa the trarmers t-> take the- etne rh money or so mLU 6VULLU. VI wV.LV11 If the companies did not accept the proposition no fertilizers should be bought. The coimttee recommended that railroads be asked to reduce the rates on fertilizers 20 per cent. and that for, the general good of all waive the thir ty days' time granted. No arbitrary demand was made and in the event of unfavorable replies no fertilizers should be used. It was recommended and adopted that the use of fertilizers be curtailed as much as possible and what should be used ought to be of high grade. Mr. Pettigrew wanted one-third of the land planted in cotton. The com mittee's recommendation was adopted that the acreage be out to such a point that each farm should )e self sustain ing.and let the first consideration be the raisingc of suficient food-stuff to supply the farm. The Alliance Exchage was recom mended as a medium for the business of Alliance men. Upon motion of Mr. Stokes a committee of five was ap pointed to prepare an address setting forth what was done to-night. Governor Tillman was asked to ex plain the attitude of the Clemson board on the fertilizer tax matter. He ex plained that the law was specific, and if ay relief was granted it had to come through the Legislature, as a penalty was provided for anyone ship ping fertilizers except in packages. Dr. Stokes then moved to have the request directed -to the Legislature. Carried. Chairman Evans appointed the com mittee to prepare the addresss. Shortly after 11 o'clock the Conven tion adjourned. THE ADDRE5S. The committee on the address, con sisting of 3fessrs. J. W. Stokes, 'J. L. KeittT. P. Mitchell, D. P.-Duncan and D. J. Bradham. prepared th3 fol lowing paprs, which have been is sued as embodying the position of the State Alliance: To the railroads dd.ing business in South Carolina: Fully realizing the effect that the present monetary strin gency has had on all our inter-epeud ent business interests, we feel justified in taiking the position that all interests should bear alike the burdens that arc upon us at this time. The railroads doing business in our State are very materially interested in the use of com miercial fertilizers, inasmuch -as they receive a large amount from the trans portation of these goods, as well as from the haul of all the increased pro ductions from the use of these fertili zers. We desire to call the attention of the railroads to the fact that while there has been a continued decline in the prices of all ag:-icultural products, and especially on cotton, there has been no such reduction on the freight rates on fertilizers. The manufacturers of fer tilizers have, from time to time, re duced the price of their goods, and we think it only just that our railroads should make some reduction in the local and joint rates on fertilizers to the extent of 20 per cent. From infor mation and belief we are satis Red that this will give us a rate more in line with the local and through rates in other sections of the country, and at the same time in some ratio to the prices of our cotton. We therefo:-c recommend to our rail roads a red uction of 20 per cent. on the rates on fertibzers. and request that they put the rate in effect at once. waiving the legal notice of thirty days. The State Board of Railroad Commis sioners are hereby requested to pre sent this recommendation to the rail roads and urge their early considera tion of this very important matter. W.'D). Evans, President. J. W. Reid, Secretary. To the Farmers of South Carolina: After full consideration of all the ab normal conditions surrounding our in dustries, the State Farmers' Alliance in conjunction with prominent agri culturists from various p arts of the State, have reached the following con clusions and have authorized a pro mulpation of thiese conclusions for the consideratson of all concerned: 1. In the first place, we consider it of paramount importance that the ac reage in cotton the~ current year be ma terially reduced. Every. farmer should seek to make his farm absolutely self sustaining. That is to say; abundant acreage should first be set aside for provisions, so as to insure an ample supply of meat and breadstuffs; then the- balance of the crop may be with safety placed in cotton for the money crop. 2. We recommend that the use of fer tilizers be restricted to tuie lowest limit practicable and reliance be placed rather upon home made fertilizers: that wherever practicable such orders as are deemied absolutely necessary should be combined and placed through the State Farmers' Exchange. :3. We recommend further that all contre ets for fertilizers be based upon a cotton option as follows: For acid phosphates per- ton f. o. b. Charleston, 10 per cent. to 12 per cent, phosphor.c acid, we offer 175 pounds middling cotton f. o. b. or $10 in currency pay able Nov. 1, at the option of the pur chaser at maturity. When freight is prepaid by fertilizer companies. freighit and initerest on. freight to be paid in cotton at 5 cents per po:.nd. Second, For kainit per ton f. o. bo. Charleston. we oiler au nounds of middliaig cotton if. o. b. or~ $11 in cur rency. payable Nov. 1. at option of purchaser at maturity, freiahit when prepaid payable as~ above. Third, For ammomiated goods. 2- lpr cent. ant monia. f. o. b. Charleston. we offer 300 pounds mniddiling cotton f. o. b. or 8172 in currency payable Nov. 1. at op tion of purch'aser, at maturity. freight when pr'epaLid payable as above. If these propositions are not met by dealers in the spirit of mutual conces sion actuating this body and demanded by the necessities' of the case, our re commendation is that the use of far tilizers be discontinued this year. not! as a natter of retaliation, but simiply because after ca reful ca hulation we are of the opinion tha t their use at tigher r'ates or ou ht dir -t terms wil involve inevita ble loss to the 'Mrmeri. It will be ob-e'rved tiat no4 re(com-i Th reaso fo thi is, lain \. '1 Imon ade 'e fortunate 1Vso acf i o iK; hos o..n hi on ten s~b B>LUU) UA TH MU 0. EX-GOVERNOR PROCTOR KNOTT MAKES LURID PREDICTIONS. He Says BI-Metalism Must Come or We Will Have a Revolution, and it Wil be a Worst One than the French Revolution, Too. WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-Congress man Hatch, Democrat from Missouri, in a five min' tes speech in the House last Thursday aroused the opponents of the gold bond resolution to great enthusiasm. He had but little time, he said, to explain why he *as to be a pall bearer at this financial funeral. n a word, it was because the passage of this resolution would make every debtor pay his debt in gold. He rea. amid much demonstration a letter ad dressed by ex-Governor Proctor Knott of Kentucky to Senator Blckburn of Kentucky in which Mr. Knott charac terized the pending proposition as the "last insolent demand of the goldites." "They don't seem to want to leave us a hereafter. Whenever the govern ment agrees to- pay gold, silver is doomed for all eternity. As old Judge Forbis said to Johnny Moore, Good bye, world bowdye Rell?'" (Laugh ter and applause.) The letter continued: "Great God! how rapidly this-lon suffering people are being driven to the dreadful alter native of slavery or internecine strife -to determine whether they will tame ly hold out their hands and have the shackles of a remorseless plutocracy riveted upon their wrists, or fight. "Now, mark what, I syfteex orable law of cause and effect has not been expunged from the statute book of the Amighty, unless a halt is called p. d. q. you may expect to see the horrors of the French Revolution put on the American stage with all the modern improvements, and that with in the next decade. I remember I was suspected by some of my friends of political lunacy in 1860 because I pre dicted that in the event of Mr.' Ln coln's clection there would be war be tween the States. They could not see why it ought to be so. Neither could I, but I knew the causes which were at work and which would in the 10 . run produce that result, and I rega ed his election simply as the spark; which would explode the mine. So when the fierce cloud appea-ed in les than one short year which deluged th6 country in blood for nearly a lustrum, some of those who had thought me a croaker, a mere dyspeptic pesimt, began to regard meas Byron did Jef freys-as a d-d discerning fellow. I tell you, Senators, in all seriousnesz , see far more reason to apprehen the speedy approach of aterrible revo lution in this country than Lord Ches terfield saw in France when he wrote his historic predictions from Paris. Nor am I alone. That gentleman As tor who went to England some time ago. boight him a place on the island and became a British subject, saw what is coming as plainly as I do, so he took time oy the forelock and stepped out when there was not such a rush for state rooms as there will be after a while. He'knew very well that if things should keep on as you and I have seen them for some years past, the time was not far off when there would be such a crowd of his class of people hurrying aboard every out-ooing steamer he might be shoved off thte stage plank."_ __ Our Bonds in Demand. NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-The subscrip tion books for the S62,31.5,000 United States 4 per cents. were opened prompt ly at 10 o'cloc~k yesterday morning at the office of J. Pierpont Morgan & Co., and just twenty-two minutes later the subscriptions were closed. There was little or no excitement at the of fice of Morgan & Co. In fact, the at tendance there was about the same as on ordinary business days. Tis is accounted for by the fact that the bulk of the bids were sent in by mail,, and for this reason today's performance was looked upon as a mere formality, to use the expression of onie of the leading members of the syndicate. The bonds were subscribed for at least ten times over, and the loan in every par ticular has been an enormous success Mr. MIorgan is authorit for the state ment that no details wil be given out until Saturday, when the 'Ilotments are tobe made. The bonds sold at 4 per cent, premium in London today, and 116 was bid here on the street this morning. A principal member of the syndicate is authority for the state ment that the enormous over-subscrip tion of the bonds was astounding,even to the syndicate. The success of the whole deal abroad cannot be measured in the immediate connection with the sale of the bonds. It is anticipated that it will revive the interest in American securities and stimulate an interest in our railroad securities such as has not existed since the Bar.ng panic, thus turning the real balance of, exchange in our favor, so that waen exports of breadstuffs begin next fall the natural flow of gold will once more be toward the United States.. The strain upon our gold holdings will thus be relieved for the first time in two years. A Singular. Catastroph. Sr. CLOLD, 3Iinn., Feb, 22.-In re turninG' from a dance at Waite Park early t 'i morning an omnibus con taining twenty-five men and women was overturned one mile from the city, and a morec ignited the curtans and'~ 1straw. Several people were badly in-. 1jured. Mrs. James Heath was tram p led upon and seriously hurt, Mrs. Jos.-' Peters sustained a severe scalp wound, Mrs. Ch~ester Waite was internally in jiured. 0Owen Hines, local mannier of the Northwest Telephone Exchange, was burned in several places, and oth er members of the party were badly bruised. Much trouble was experi eneed42-getting out and all became A1 hig Fire. C'o.u::au.. S. C., Feb. 15.-Ex-com mlission'er Traxler, who arrived in this city yesterdhay ;niorning, brings news ofa destructive tiewhich visited rimmionsville Tuesday nioht. A block .f teni stres situated ariost in the hear. of the town was completely des troyedi by fire. All the buildings were >f woop and we re soon in ashes. The oess is a but $1.3,000, with little or no uLsuranice. Eateni by Wolves. Romi, Feb 19.-Hundreds of a angry wolves fromn the Alps have in -ad..d thec plains in the province ~of eidutouit. a nd several villagers have bee'n killed. The authorities have sent r opes toshioot themi and many -have wen destroyed.