The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, June 19, 1895, Image 1
VOL. X. MANNIN, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19 1.895. NO. 47.
TURNED 110JWN!
THE DOUGLASS REGISTRATION CASE
PUT OUT OF COURT.
Judge (otra Injunction Dissoived by the
Circuit Court of Appeai on the Ground
of Lack of Juri.diction of the Equity
Court.
RICHMOND. Va.. June 11.-The cele
brated South Carolina ragistration
case was decided in the Uuited States
Court of' Appeals here today. The
State wins, Judge Gof,"s famious in
junction is dissolved and the original
bill will be dismissed. The decision
of the court was announced by Judge
Hughes shortly before 3 o'clock and
an outline of the court's position was
given. Judge Hughes submitted a
strong individual opinion and the or
der reversing Judge Goff was entered
at once. None of the counsel who took
part in the argument were present.
Judge Hughes, in announcing the
court's decision, said:
"This case was heard by the Chief
Justice, Judge Seymour and myself,
on Friday last. We thought it was of
a character to call for an early decis
ion and it was determined after ad
journment on Friday that the decision
should be annouced later and a decree
entertained. The case was exhaus
tively argued at the bar and nothing
can be gained by waiting a further
time for the examination of briefs.
We are of the opinion that the injunc
tion which was granted in the case
ought to be dissolved and the bill dis
missed. A decree to that effect will be
entered at once. The opinion of the
court on the important questions pre
sented by the record will be prepared
by the Chief Justice and filed and re
ported as soon as possible. Meantime,
-a brief statement of the grounds of the
decision prepared by the Chief Justice
is now filed."
The Chief Justice expresses his views
as follows: "The judiciary act of
March 3, 1891. contemplates prompt
decision on appeals such as this and
as we cannot give extended expression
to our views at this time, we content
ourselves with a brief statement of our
conclusions.
"Under section 7 of that act, where,
upon a hearing in equity in a circuit
court an injunction is granted or con
tinued by an interlocutory order or de
cree in a cause in which appeal from
the final decree may be taken under
the provisions of this act to the circuit
court appeal may be taken from such
interlocutory order or decree granting
or continuing such injunction to the
circuit court of appeals so by section
5, appeals or writs of error may be
taken to the supreme court in any
case in which the legislation orlaw of
a State is claimed to be in contraven
tion of the Constitution of the United
States. But although the constitution
ality of a State law may be drawn in
question in the circuit court, yet if the
case may be disposed of on other
grounds not involving the validity of
such law, we think this court has jur
isdiction on appeal. Carry vs. Railway
Company, 150 U. S. 170, U. S. vs.
John155, U. S.109. If, in the istance
of appeals from interlocutory orders,
on consideration it should appear that
the question of the constitutionality of
the law is controlling and must be de
cided, the cause can be remanded to
the circuit court, so that petition to
the supreme court for certiorari may
be made. American Construction
Company vs. Railway Company, 14S
U. S. 372.
"In this case the bill of complaint
callenged the constitutionality of cer
tain laws of South Carolina, but the
question was raised on the threshold
whether the case made was one of the
equitable cognizance, and this beino
so, we sustain the jurisdiction an<7
overrule the motion to dismiss.
"The jurisprudence of the United
-States has always recognized the dis
tinction between law and equity as
under the constitutional matters of
substance, as well as of form and pro
*cedure. Cater vs. Allen, 149 1U. S.,
451; Missppi Mills vs. Cohn, 150 U.
S., 202, 205. ~It is well settled that a
court of chancery is conversant only
with the questions of property and
-the maintenance of civil rights. The
court has no jurisdiction in matters of
a political nature, or to interfere with
the duties of any department _of the
government, except under special c ir
cumstances, and when necessary for
the protection of rights of property;
or in matters merely informal which
*do not affect any rioht of property.
In Sawyer, 124, U. 9. 200; Fletcher
vs. Tuttle, 151, 111; 4t Hordesty vs.
Taft,-23 Maryland, 513 ex parte Lums
nSouth ~Carolina, 19 5. E. Rep.,
"The equitable powers of the court
can only be invoked by the presenta
tion of a case of equitable cognizance
and there can be no such case in the
Federal courts where there is a plain
and adequate remedy at law, nor does
illeg-ality alone afford ground for
equitable intereference, Shelton vs.
Platt, 139, U. S. 591.
"Tested by these principles, the bill
of complaint cannot be maintained,
for it asserts no threatened infringe
ment of rights of property of civil
rights, and no adequate ground for
equity interposition. Being of this
opinion the restrainig order must be
reversed and the cause remanded with
directions to dismiss the bill."
JUDGE HUGHE'S OPINION.
Judge Hughe's opinion in the South
Carolina case is, in part, as follows:
The Judge gives a careful review of
the record, and continuing says:
"There is nothing in the record to
show that the complainant is a man
of color or that those for whom he
sues are colored persons. The bill
contains no allegation that the parts
of the law complained of were devised
against the complainant or those for
whom he sues on account of their
race, color, or previous condition of
servitude. There is nothing in the
averments of the bill from which it
may naturally, or must necessarily be
inferred that the complainant and
those for whom he sues are citizens of
color. There are no averments in the
bill which show that the case falls
within the purview of the Fifteenth
amendment of the Constitution of the
United States. Nor does the bill con
tain any allegations which raise a
Federal question under the clause of
the Fourteenth amendment which for
bids a State to deny any person the
equal protection of the laws. It
charges that the provisions of the
registration acts complained of is to
give unequal facilities of registration
.o differnt classe of citizens, but it
A GREAT GATHERING.
TWO THOUSAND FREE SILVER MEN
MEET IN CONVENTION.
A Full Synopsis of the Proceeding-The
Democrats Control the Body--The Plat
form and Resolutions Adopted--Tillman
and Evans Attend.
MEMPHIS, June 12.-The convention
was called to order at 2 o'clock by W.
N. Brown of Memphis, as chairman of
the central bimetallic league, of Shelby
county, Tennessee, which sent out the
call for the convention. Ou the plat
form were the following: Thomas
Scott, Secretary of State of Louisana:
31. J. Cunningham, Attorney General
of Louisiana: John Fitzpatrick, mayor
of New Orleans; A. J. Warner, presi
dent of the American bimetallic league
Gov. J. P. Clarke, Arkansas: W. J.
Bryan editor of the Omaha World
Hearld; Senator James Berry, Arkan
sas; Senator Stewart, Nevada: Anson
Wolcott, Indiania: Senator I. G. Har
ris, Tennessee; Alex Delmar, Califor
nia: Representative H. D. Money, Mis
sissippi; Senator J. K. Jones. Arkan
sas; Sentor Marion Butler, North Car
lina; Senator J. Z. George, Mississippi:
Senator David Turpie. Indiania: Ex
Governor Eagle. Arkansas: Gov. L.
Bradford Prince, New Mexico: ex-Gov.
Benjamin R. Tillman, South Carolina:
Gov. John Gary Evans, South Caro
lina.
From start to finish the convention
was one of great enthusiasm. Every
pronounced free silver utterance was
the signal for prolonged applause and
when the various, well-known in pub
lic life, appeared on the rostrum each
received an ovation. When Chair
man Brown had called the convention
to order, L. D. Bates offered a prayer.
He emplored Divine guidance for the
delegates and hoped they might be led
into adopting "honest money as their
platform. This created a bit of sensa
tion until it was learned that he meant
free silver.
Col. Casey Young, of Memphis, wel
comed the convention in a ringing
speech, in which he predicted the suc
cess of the cause that had called the
convention together "When only a
few days ago," said he," the objects
and aims of this convention were de
nounced from this stage by a distin
guished public man, as rebellious and
revolutionary, he proclaimed the truth
as sublime as ever fell from the lips of
man. The sturdy, honest yeoman of
the land, the busy toiler of the fields
and shops, the patient artisans who are
building up the nation's wealth and
greatness, are in open rebellion against
a despotism, cruel and remorseless as
any that ever brought sorrow to any
member of the human family. The
forces of the grandest revolution that
ever hurled a despot from power are
gathering for an outset that will sweep
every enemy into the dark sea of de
feat. The invincible lesions which
lead it will never halt or waver until
their standards are planted on the
shores of every sea and their banners
float in triumph over old England
herself. They will never lower their
flags nor sheath their swords un
tile the conflict is ended and a glorious
victory won: not until all the temples
of Mammon are turned into sepulchers
for the burial of greed and avarice and
let us hope for the sake of suffering
humanity that no angel of resurrection
will ever unseal this tomb. Can these
things be brought about ? In the be
ginning of the struggle which gave
separate nationality to the Amrican
colors, our ancestors gave to the world
a declaration of independence that
rang like a bugle call through every
land and awoke the slumbering spirits
of liberty among people. The descen
dents of these heroes and patriots are
about to send forth another declaration
of independence to allthe nations of
the world in fixing' their own financial
system and in legislating for the good
and happiness of their people.
Senator Harris arose to introduce the
permanent chairman. He made a
short speech, explaining the object of
the convention and the call. It was
strictly non-partisan and was called
for one purpose only-to consider the
rehabilitation of silver. "Democrats
can be here in this convention," said
Mr. Harris, "without impairing in the
slightest degree their allegiance to
their p arty., So may Populists and
Republicar's." Senator Harris then
introduced Senator Turpie as perman
ent chairman in the following words:
"There is no more able or truer bimet
allist in the United States of America
than David Turpie of Indiana." Mr.
Turpie addressed the convention in
substance, as follows:
"Coined money has always been
and yet is in itself a thing of value and
this value is of two kinds-the meellic
or bullion value and the monetary
worth or legal value; the latter is al
ways a matter of law-the bullion
value is always one of estimation and
opinion. The bullion value of silver
and gold here and elsewhere has al
ways rested and rests today upon the
conception, upon the one opinion,
upon one single and simple item of
belief, that as there has been in the
past so there will be in years to come
not departure of either of such metals,
which as to the quantity shall make
them comparable in value with any
other materials suitable for the use of
mankind as money. There has al
ways been a difference between the
comercial or bullion value of the
two metals and the leg'al or coinag'e
value. According to thie tests of th~e
enemies of bimetallism, that the legal
value of coined money must be the
same as the commercial or bullion
value of the metal in it, nothing could
be more dishonest. According to that
test there is not and can not be an lion
est dollar of either silver or gold. The
use of silver or gold money has added
very, greatly to their commercial or
builon value.
"Although every friend of human
ity rejoices in the destruction of ex
clusive government ownership of the
precious ores, and other metals, yet
there was one consequence which fol
lowed the private ownership of the
same much to be deplored. For a lona
time the equilibirium was maintainea
by law between the two parties but at
last the holders of gold, being tihe same
as the holders of debt, succeeded in
having the government interfere by
law in this strife. They said we will
not dispute any longer about relative
values. Silver must be barred out.
When we have killed silver for tile
use in coin, it will be worth less and
"We can buy and sell it at our own
price and the ratio will be an idle lic
tion of the past. The syndicate of gold
is of no country, of no age or creed.
Bimetallists are not against gold. We
are for silver and justice. Much has
does iiot point Out how this is so. It
leaves the discrimination as to the
privilege of registering, if there be
discrimination, to inference and re
search in sources other than its own
averments. It charges that the pro
visions of law complained of discrim
inates, but does not describe the man
ner of discrimination, or define the
classes affected, pro or cou, nor does
it show that the laws complained of
in discriminating between classes as
to the privilege of registering granted
by them, violate the clause in the
Fourteenth amendment which forbids
a State to deny to any person within
it, the equal protection of the laws. It
confounds privilege with protection.
"The bill has no reference to a Fed
eral election in setting out complain
ant's case. The gravamen of the bill
contemplates only a State election to
be held for members of the State con
vention to convene in August next. It
is not shown that any Federal elec
tion is to be held in South Carolina
before November, 1895.
"To the bill just described and to
the order of injunction granted by the
court below in pursuance of its pray
eis, several objections are urged in
behalf of the State of South Carolina.
In what follows I shall consider but
one of these. In the ruling of the
Circuit Court rendered on circuit, in
this case, it was held that the court
had jurisdiction to restrain a county
supervisor of registration in the per
formance of his duties under the elec
tion laws of South Carolina. The di
vision of our government into the leg
islative, executive and judicial depart
ments is a distinguishing feature of
our American policy and it is essen
tial to its existence that each of these
departments shall be independent of
the other. The division is fundament
al and organic. It would be just as
dangerous to its stability for the judi
cial department to override the others
as for executive or legislative depart
ments to do so. Hence, while the
right of the judiciary to pass upon the
constitutionality of the laws is un
doubted, it has that right simply as
an incident to its protection of private
rights. It has not that right as a mere
means of settling abstract questions
and even in the enforcement of pri
vate rights it has not the power to in
terfere with the discretion vested in
the other departments or with the ex
ercise of political powers of this de
partment. It seems to me that it is a
dangerous encroachment upon the
prerogations of the other departments
of the government, if the judiciary be
entrusted to exercise the power of in
terferring with the holding of an elec
tion in a State. If the supervisor of
one county can be enjoined from the
performance of the duties imposed
upon him by the election laws of the
State from whom he holds his com
mission, those of the other counties
can be also; thus a single citizen in
each county, and if he is not even a
qualified voter, can enjoin an election
throughout the entire State, and thus
deprive thousands of their rights to
vote. If a court has power to do this,
free elections are at an end. If elec
tions are improperly held, there are
appropriate means provided by law
for questioning their methods and
remedying wrongs without the exer
cise of this dangerous power by the
courts. A candidate who has been
defeated may contest; a voter whose
right to register has been denied may
proceed to compel the enforcement, of
that ria'ht, and these provisions give
what tYie Legislature deems sufficient
protection to the injured, but in my
judgment one citizen cannot, under
pretense of righting his own wrongs,
disfranchise others.
"I do not think that a court has ju
risdiction to interfere by injunction or
otherwise with the enforcement of the
laws by officers holding and deriving
their powers from these laws; certain
ly not to the extent attempted to be
done by this bill. In arriving at this
conclusion I hav~e not considered the
q~uestion whether or not the registra
tion laws of South Carolina violate
the Federal Constitution or laws. I
prefer to rest my opinion upon the
oround of the independence of the
ifferent departments of the govern
ment upon the impolicy of interfer
ence by the courts in question which
will result in dragging constantly in
to array party politics, and upon the
general prmciple that each depart
ment of the government and each of
ficer there, high or low, has the right
to administer according to his best
judgment the duties imposed upon
him by the laws crating his othece.
"As illustrating these general prin
ciples, I refer to the following decis
ions: Mississippi vs. Johnson, 4 Wall,
475, Gaines vs. Thompson. 7 Wall
347: Louisiana vs. June, 107 United
States. 711 Hagood vs. Southern, 117
United States; Ayers in re 123 U. S.,
in re Sawyer 124 U. S., 209. It is use
less to cite the many cases which
beard on the questions arising in this
case and so profusely at the bar.
"So far as the rights of the individ
ual complainant in the bill were con
cerned it may have been competent
for the court to grant individual re
lief. The Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States the other day granted relief
from the payment of an income tax to
the individual complainant in his
suit before it but it went no further.
On the authority of Mississippi vs.
Johnson, supra, we may assume that
it would not have entertained a bill
for enjoining internal revenue officers
of the government from collecting in
come taxes generally. The judicial
power covered the right to grant indi
vidual relief, but it did not extend to
the general power of repealing the law
imposing the tax as to the entire pub
"I repeat that in the case at bar may
have been competent for the court to
rant individual relief, but the bill
asked more. It asked similar relief for
all other citizens of the county situat
ed like the complainant. It practical
iv asked the relief for a numerous
political party, forming a portion of
the people to whom the Legislature
was solely responsible for its laws and
to whom alone the o'enins of our insti
tutions makes the Lgislature respon
sible. Moreover, it brought the court
into immediate and active contact
with party conestations. It make the
court a controlling factor in party
strife. It can imagine nothing more
pernicious than a direct participation
by the .judiciary by judicial action, in
the politics of the p~eople. The bill
asked practically that the process of
registration under the laws of the
States had been suspended an entire
county during the pleasure of the
court and that all citizens of a county
not then registered as voters shoul~d
be deemed the right of suffrage during
that pleasure. it seems to me that the
mere view case shows that the injunc
tions were improvidently granted.
"I think the bill should be dis
value of silver and gold, concerning
which it may be said both these metals
are variable in valve. Each changes
in value from time to time. like other
commodities, but they vary in value
infinitely less than any other commo
dity. It is said that if we restore sil
ver to free coinage, gold will leave us.
This isasserted asprinciple under what
is called "the Gresham law or rule"
where two or more kinds of money are
circulated together, the inferior will
drive out the better currency. This
rule, save in very rare instances, has
no application to coin. But what party
in our country is seeking to debase
its coin ? The loss of our gold, the de
parture of our gold will, assome oppo
nents say, bring about depression. Yet
gold staid with us from the beginning
in usual quantity and proportion until
1873. when we ceased coining silver.
"From 1873 to 1878 when silver was
not coined gold touched a low ebb.
When, in 1S7 . we began to coin silver
again gold returned in larger sums
than ever and stayed and increased
with us. Since we ceased the coinage
of silver in 1898, during 1S0i4-G5 gold
has left ;s again. The faith of the ai
vocate of a single gold standard is
compounded of one truth and one per
nicious error that coined standard dol
lars should be of equal legal value is
true, but that the metal in them must
be of equal bullion value is a fallacy
so contrary to our common sense and
experience that it cannot be much
aided by prophecy. Let us. as bimet
alists. remember that we are Ameri
can citizens of the great republic deal
ing calmly and deliberately with our
own highest interests. Let us take
counsel of faith and hope. Let us go
forth with the manly hearts without
fear, believing in all confidence that
the silver and gold dollar of our mints
the mHoney of the past. sound tried and
true, shall also be and remain the
:moner of the future."
The election of E. B. Wade. of Ten
nessee. as secretary. followed and at
the suggestion of Senator Harris all
the newspaper men present were made
assistant secretaries. Resolutions were
passed that each State should name a
vice president and a member of the
committee on resolutions. A roll call
of States followed, with these names
being presented: Alabama State Treas
urer Frank Smith as vice president
and James Bankhead on committee on
resolutions; Arkansas Senator James
H. Berry as vice president and Sena
tor J K. Jones on committee on reso
lutions; Colorado, Alva Adams, vice
president and Charles S. Thomas on
committee on resolutions; Florida del
egation delayed, but will arrive to
morrow; Georgia, Judge F. M. Lang
ley as vice president and Henry Jones
on committee on resolutions: Indiana,
David Turpie as vice president and
member of committee on resolutions,
Kentucky, J. Randall as vice president
and Joe A. Martin chairman of com
mittee; Louisiana, M. J. Cunningham
as vice president and Gilbert L. Du
pree on committee on resolutions;
Mississippi, W. G. Yerger as vice pres
ident and J. Z. George on committee
on resolutions: Nebraska, W. J. Bry
an as vice president and on committee
on resolutions: Montana, Paul I Fuse
as vice president and Charles S. Hart
man on committee on resolutions;
Nevada, W. M. Stewart as vice presi
dent and on committee on resolutions;
North Carolina, T. F. Heath as vice
president and Marion Butler on com
mittee on resolutions: Ohio, A. J.
Warnerasvice president and on commit
tee on resolutions; Pennsylvania .Jos C
Sibley as vice president and member
of committee on resolutions: South
Carolina, John Gary Evans as vice
president and ex-Governor Tillman on
committee on resolutions; Tennessee,
'Wm. D. Bate as vice president and Ed
ar Carmack on committee on resolu
tions; Virgina, P. F. 'Weaver as vice
president and E. C. Treadway on
committee on resolutions: N ew Mexi
co. Rev. J. D. Bush as vice president
and L. Bradford Prince on committee
on resolutions.
Amid enthusiastic applause Senator
Harris was then named delegate at
large from the United States.
The Convention then adjourned
until 8 o'clock in the evening, when it
reasssembled with Senator- Stewart, of
Nevada, presiding. Congressman
Sibley, of Pennsylvania, then address
ed the convention. He said: I be
lieve that there are going to be two
parties at the coming election. One of
them will be the monometalists and
the other the American people in their
majesty. The gold standard has been
erected inany times before. Aaron
erected a golden image, but it was not
a success and once Nebuchadnezzar
set him up one and said whosoever
refused to bow down and
worship it should str-aight way be cast
nto a tiery furnace and burned up.
Without meaning to make any invid
ious comparisons, I respectfully refer
you to Grover Cleveland's letter to Gov
ernor Stone of Mississppi.
There were three men who refused
to worship this image and NebuchAd
nezzar ordered the furniace to be made
straightway seven times hotter, and
had these men cast in, but they walk
ed upright amid the flames and camne
out brighter and happier than ever.
There are a good many Nebuchadnez
zars in this work yet, but they do not
cut much of a figure. If you will
just read alone a little further you
will find that Nebuchadnezzar found
his level all right. For seven years
le had to eat grass. 'We silver people
have all the logic and all the law on
our side. The Secretary of the Tre
asury sp)oke to you in this hall the
other day. I do not knowv what to
quote MIr. Carlisle when he said that the
demonetization of the white money
would niean misery and u nhiappin ess,
for half the people of the world; then
John G. Carlisle was the tribune of
people, now he is the high priest of
the temple of Mammon. Mr-. Carlisle
the plebian and Mr. Carlisle the aris
tocrat are two very diflerent kinds of
people. But I do not wan t to complain
of Mr. Carlisle. Every word lie
said about the demonetization of
silver tas come true.
'It is impossible under the present
condition of the American agricultur
ists to compete with those of India and
the Ar-gentines. You take your bushel
of wheat to the London market and
you get 50 cents for it. When the In
dian or the farmer from the Argen
tines takes his money home, lie has
l1t0 cents. Under the presenit sy-stemn
you are sim ply fostering the industry
of other countries. This is a ruinous
cometition for y-ou. Mr. C2arlisle
told von when lhe was her-e that mue
wages of everybody had increased
under monometallism abou~:t 51 per'
::ent.- it is not that way in my- c'ountry
Fifty thousand coal miiners in Ohio
and Peiinsylvania had 9 cents a ton
taken oil' tiheir wvaoes about tl'c day
that Mr. Carfisle spohe to
you here in Memphis. Why,
which they make bread was lower
than it ever wca and yet more people
starved to death for the lack of this
low priced wheat than ever did before.
They tell you cotton and wool are
cheaper than they ever were,yet there
is a greater army of tramps walking
up and down our highways and our
byways today in rags for the lack of
this same cheap cotton and wool.
They tell the farmer East that what
he needs to make times better is a
higher protective tariff. In certain
parts of the West they tell him what
he needs to be prosperous is free trade.
You have to give this tariff question
as a medicine according to the locali
ty. Now the fact of the matter is tar
iff has nothing to do with monetary
panics and it's about time the people
gave it a long needed rest, and I be
lieve they are going to do it. There
were two monetary panics under a
high tariff and two under a low tariff
and I think this shows the tariff has
nothing to do with this.
The President says he is afraid the
silver dollar will depreciate, but the
only way the dollar can depreciate is
for prices to rise. This equivalent to
an admission by the iaesident that he
is afraid prices will rise. If the Presi
dent would divide his anxieties more
equally between the persons who pro
duce the wealth of the country and
the limited few who absorb them, he
would make a better chief executive.
The magnificent patriotism of Mr.
Rothschild, who, although an alien,
was willing to come to this country
and save.it for the paltry consideration
of X,000,000 which the people of the
United States lost and which he gain
ed, is worthy of note as is also the
magnificent patriotism of Mr. Cleve
land in thus helping to save the coun
try. But if these two men could save
the country they could also wreck it.
"With the mints open to the unlim
ited coinage of silver and gold there
will be no more talk of a fifty-cent dol
lar. They say our shores would be
flooded with silver if the mints were
open to free coinage. Now that is not
true, and if it were true we would
simply give them something to have
rather than for something we would
rather have.
"Banker Cornwall of Buffalo, made
a speech in Chicago the other night to
a lot of bankers and the next day a re
porter showed me the article and asked
what I thought of it. I told him if he
would have a number of copies print
ed and distributed to all the voters in
the United States I would never make
another speech on the silver question,
but would rest my case on his argu
ment. He tells the bankers they must
keep their thumbs on their customers.
We have felt the thumbs of the bank
ers heavily in the last few years.
"We must win this fight in 1896. If
we do not win it then it will be too
late. There will be two avenues open
to the people after 1896. One will be
repudiation and the other revolution
and both I dread. If the English were
to land in New York you would help
to drive them out, wouldn't you? The
English'are in New York: they have
been there for years. Will you drive
thement; even if party lines have to
be dropped?"
The convention then adjourned un
til'tomorrow.
SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.
MEMPHIS, June 13.-The first thing
the convention did this morning was
to adopt a platform which will be
found elsewhere in this issue. Al
though nothing was said in the reso
lutions about abolition of party lines
as proposed by Sibley. Stewart and
others, the speakers of the day, almost
without exception. took care to assert
their Democracy and to repudiate any
atliliation with either Republicans or
Populists.
The committee on resolutions intro
duced the following resolutions,
which, like the platform, was unani
mously adopted:
Resolved, That a committee com
posed of one member from each State
be appointed by the delegates thereof
in this convention whose duty it shall
be to correspond with the representa
tiv.e advocates of bimetallism and bi
metallic societies in the different sec
tions of the Union and devise meas
ures to advance the cause of bimetal
lism throughout the United States.
That this committee shall have power
to cause a national conference of bi
metallists whenever, in the opinion
of the committee, the cause of bimet
tallism can be advanced thereby.
Said committee shall have power to
fill all vacancies.
At the beginning of the afternoon
session Secretary Wade announced
that tGese letters endorsing the work
of Ihe cunvention had been received:
Senaxr John T. MIorgan. of Alabama;
John P. Jones. of Nevada. and Jas.
L . Pugh. of Alabama and E. C. Wal
thall, of 3Mississippi. The letters were
voluminous and were not read to the
convention.
There was uproar and applause
when Senator J3ones, of Arkansas,
arose to read the report of the com
mittee on resolutions. It was received
with wildest enthusiasm and adopted
without a dissenting voice. A resolu
tioru providing for the appointment of
a delegate fromi each State to a Na
tional MIonetary Convention was then
introduced by Senator Jones and
unanimously adopted.
Senator Jones was called on for a
speech. lie said: "I have made my
speech already. The resolutions em
body all that I could say about silver.
I do not think it is necessary for me
to trespass on your time. I have un
bounded confidence in the people of
the United States. and I believe they
will settle this question and settle it
in the right way. I think they will
make no mistake. The prosperity and
happiness of this country are insepa
rably united with the cause of silver
anid'I believe there is no help for the
country until the coinage of our
fathers is restored.
Governor L. Bradford Prince, of
New Mexico. followed. Senator Jones.
of Nevada, with an apology, inter
rupted Governor Prince to say: "I
have just received a telegram from~
Philadelphia stating that a mass meet
ing was held there and resolutions al
most similar to ours were adopted and
utmost enthusiasm reigned."'
"I anm glad to hear that,"~ said Go
ernor Prince, as he continued his
speech. His concluding passages were:
"When the Fashioner of this unive'se
madle it he pult in the fastnesses of the
mountains silver and gold in the pro
portion of sixteen tons of silver to one
of gold that They should become the
blood of the cominercial body. Shall
we set om-rselves up as knowing better
than the God who made us? What
God has joined together let no man
put asunder.'
Ex-Governor Tillman of South Car
olina then spoke as follows: "I shall
open my remarks by congratulating
iLcoNTINU-ED oN PAGE FOUR.)
DISPENSARY EARNINGS.
REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE IN
VESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
The Profits Since the Big Gin "Mil Began
Its Operations-What the Figures on the
Books Show--The Report.
CoUMIA. S. C.. June 12.-Mcndav
Governor Evans received the follow
ing report of the legislative committee
appointed to examine the books and
accounts of the State dispensary. The
report was signed by Messrs. Efird,
Thomas and Carroll, and makes inter
esting reading:
"We herewith submit our report of
our examination of the books and f
nancial transactions of the State dis
pensary for the quarter ending April
30th, and request that you submit the
same, together with our report for the
quarter ending January 31, 1895, to
the General Assembly at its next ses
sion as required by law.
Mr. R. M. Carroll, one of the com
mittee, was present at the taking of
the stock at the State dispensary on
April 30, 1885. He personally super
vised the making up of this inventory
of the stock on hand in the State dis
pensary on that day, verified the to
tals making up the various aggregates
as set forth in the statement of assets
below given. He found the items and
aggregates as below set forth to be
correct:
A few days after the taking of stock
the committee entered upon their
work, commencing with the business
commencing on ?pebruary 1, 1895,
when Col. F. M. Mixson the present
State commissioner who succeeded
Mr. D. H. Traxler, took charge. In
the prosecution of their examination
of the books of the State commissioner
the committee made a close scrutiny
of each and every item as entered in
the various books of original entry.
and checked off the posting of all such
original entries in the general ledger
kept by the commissioner, from which
general ledger the balance sheet of the
commissioner is made up. The items
upon the merchandise account and
upon the other accounts, representing
the purchasing of supplies, etc., were
checked off by comparisons with the
original invoices kept on file in the
invoice book and the sales to the vari
ous county dispensers were checked
off by comparison with the daily en
trance of such sales in the salesbook.
The cash received by the commission
er was checked off by examination of
the receipts of the State Treasurer,
with whom the commissioner makes
deposits of all funds received and also
compared with credits given to each
county dispenser upon the general
ledger. The cash disbursed by the
commissioner was checked off by ex
a.mination of the warrants drawn by
the commissioner upon the State
Treasurer and by examination of the
original vouchers kept on file by the
commissioner,and also by comparison
of the entries of such payments upon
the various accounts of the general
ledger. Except in a few minor mat
ters hereafter mentioned we found all
of the entries and all of the balances
upon the general ledger correct.
From t&e balance sheet of general
ledger of April 30, 1895, we find the
assets and liabilities to be as follows:
ASSETS.
Cash in State Treasury and
in bank..............$ 75,523 75
Teams and wagons per in
ventory............ .... 706 65
Merchandise on hand at
State Dispensary per in
ventory.............. 62,821 57
Machinery and office tix
tures per inventory...... 2,625 97
Supplies, bottles, corks,etc. 15,697 15
Books, stationary, etc.......607 00
Merchandise on hand in
ecoun ty dispensaries
(State's 40 per cent. add
ed) according to Commis
sioner'sbooks.$122,258.41
Less 40 per cent. of unearn
ed profit added by State
at time of chipment..
............34,930.9S
Value of above merchan
dise in hands of dispen
sers (at cost price)......87,327 43
Personal accounts due the
State according to Coin
missioner's books....... 9011 91
$254,321 43
LIABILITIES.
State appropriation... 50,000 00
Personal accounts due by
the State on merchandise
purchased, according to
Comimissioner's books... 44,033 95
Net profits of State Dispen
sary accrued from begin
ning of operations up to
Feb. 1, 1895........ . 111,959 82
Net accrued profits for
quarter ending April 30,
1895..-................ 4,327 66
$234,321 43
Of the net accrued profit of -$48.327,
66 for quarter ending April 30, 1895.
13679.79 is a profit on sales for this
quarter. The remainder, $34,647.87
was an unearned profit on February
1, 1895, on goods unsold then in the
hands of county dispensers. but since
that time this profit has accrued by
the sale of goods.
By reference to the report of Mr. D.
H. Traxler, the late commissioner, for
the quarter ending January 31, 1895.
at page 4, it will be seen that the total
profits there given is $151,295.51, as
this committee explained in the report
of their examinations for the quarter
ending January 31, 1895, this amount
of total prolits included the earned
and the unearned profits at that time.
The books of the present commission
er, based upon a calculation made by
chief bookkeeper, shows that on Jan
uary 31, the earned profits were $111.
959.82, and that since that time 8:h!,
647.87, of what was then unearned,
has accrued and may properly now be
added to the earned prolits, making
the total net profits earned upon busi
ness done by Mr. Traxler, $146,697.69.
The difference between these ligures
and tihe net profits given by Mr. Trax
ler on page 4, of his report, to wit:
tion of Mr. Traxler's net profits as
shown by the present commissioner's
books is caused by the correction of
various errors in the comfmissioner's
books which occurred prior to Janu
arv :31, 1895, and which were not de
teted until after the present commiis
sioner took charge, and which the
present commissionier wvill set forth in
detail in his quarterly repor-t.
The total net pr-olits thiereforec of tine
State dispensary from tile beginning
of the oper-ation up to Api-il :;0, 18'5.
is as follows:
Accrued from business done
by Mr. Traxler..........146, 607. 69
Accrued from business done
by od Uison rdnring
quarter ending April 30,
SS95................... 13, 679.79
Total...................8160,287.48
From the profit and loss account
upon the commissioner's general led
ger, we find that a statement of the
gains from the income accounts is as
follows:
Gross gains on merchandise
-sold during the quarter
ending April 30, 1895.... $ 93,263.53
rains on contraband liquor 8,459.50
Discounts allowed......... 5,026.42
Total....... ......106,849.45
And that the losses made up from
the various expense accounts are as
follows:
Supplies. bottles, corks, etc.: 23,963.51
Constabulary.............. 12,174.66
Freight and cartage........ 13,:335.46
Stationary. coal, postage,
salaries. etc............. 2,824.63
Labor.................... 4,79S.38
Insurance.............. 311.75
Breai:age and leakage...... 530.29
Total...................$5 2.238.6S
Gain on sales for quarter ending
April 29, 1S95, to wit:
Accrued profits.. $13.679.79
Unearned profits..34,930.95 $ 48,610.77
Total...................8106,849.45
The $13.679.79 is the amount of ac
crued profits; the $34,930.9S is the un
earned profit on goods remaining un
sold in hands of county dispensers at
the end of the quarter.
These statements according to the
entries in the commissioner's books are
correct.
The commissioner's statement of
cash received and disbursed during
the quarter is as follows:
Feb. 1-Traxler's balance. .8 45,548.40
Feb. 28-February receipts. 68,285.16
March 31--March receipts.. 64,464.99
April 30-April receipts... 71,016.02
Total..................8 249,314.47
DISBURSEMENTS.
Feb. disbursements........8 40,231.14
March disbursements...... 74,045.76
April disbursements....... 59,513.82
Balance in State
Treasury on
April 30. .860,872.55
Balance in bank
on April 30..814,651.20 $ 75,523.75
Total....................249,314.75
The State Treasurer informs us that
on April 30th, he had to the credit of
the State dispensary, 861,784.88.
We find upon examination and
checking off the warrants paid by him
up to this time, that there were out
standing on April 30th,1895, warrants
that had previously been drawn upon
him by the Commissioner to the
amount of $954.65, According to the
commissioner's books, a balance upon
that day including the outstanding
warrants, -was $60,872.55. In order,
therefore, to reconcile the State Com
missioner's balance, as it appears on
April 30, 1895. the amount of the out
standing warrants- must be added to
the $60,872.55, which makes $61,827.
20. In order to ascertain where the
discrepancy between the Treasurer's
and the Commissioner's books occur
red, the committee checked off all the
receipts and warrants of the Commis
sioner, according to the statement pre
pared for us by the State Treasurer
and found that the following correc
tions should have been made, to wit:
Balance as appears in books,
860,872.55, plus outstand
ing warrants $954.65.... .8 31,827.20
Add for error in amount of
Comptroller's warrant,en
tered as $1,191.65, instead
of 81,127.76..............63.89
Add for error in paying
warrant No. 279...... .06
Add for error in amount of
deposit made............--.20
Credited balance.........61,892.67
Take difference between the correct
ed balance and the State Treasurer's
balance and allowing for outstanding
warrants and for the correction above
given is $107.79. As we reported in
our former report. Mr. Traxler's bal
ance was $105.21 larger than the State
Treasurer's, and, allowing for this
amount the present difference between
the State Treasurer's books and Col.
Mixson's is 82.58. In the limited time
at our disposal, we could not recheck
the books to find where this small
difference occured.
We recommend that the Commis
sioner be authorized to adjust his
books so ns to be allowed credit for
this $7.79, and thus have his books
agree with the State Treasurer's.
The committee report that the sug
gestion made by their last report, that
the system in book-keeping in use be
changed. and an improved system has
been adopted The system now in use,
put in operation by'Col. Mixson, and
devised by his efficient chief clerk, Mr.
S. W. Scruggs, leaving in .our opin
ion nothing to be desired.
A great improvement has been ef
fected by the removal of the Commis
sioner's oflice to the second floor of the
dispensary building, where better of
fice facilities exist for the transaction
of the large business of the dispen
sary.
In concl"eion, we would state that
under the present management the
affairs of the dispensary appear to be
managed with an intenligent business
principle. The financial showing is
satisfactory and reflects great credit
on the Commissioner and his corps of
assistants.
We repeat the recommendation
$151,295.51 is $.4,687.82. This deduc
made in our former report that the
law be so changed as to permit the
salar'ies of the Commissioner and
book-keeper to be paid as other dis
pensar-y expenses are paid.
Myste-rious Burgiary.
.BowroxN, Maxss., June 10-A special
from Lovell, Maine, says: One of the
most mysterious burglaries in the his
tory of M~aine was committed in this
village last Thursday night, when the
safe in the store of James E. Hutchins
was opened and cash, stocks. bonds
and securities to the amiount of $50,000i
were stolen. The securities were in a
small tin box. and for several years
Mr. Hutchins had kept it in the big
safe in the country store which is run
by his grandson. C. .J. Hutchins. Fri
day mornin g voung Hutchins opened
the store as usnal. Not a thing had
been disturbed ini the establishment
and not until the storekeeper had op
ened the saf'e did lhe know that
burgil's had been at work. TheC tin
box. wh:tch for a imunber of years had
beenin oneC orneri~i of the .a.fe, was
missing an~d a diligent scarchi failed to
revend its where(abouts. The safe had
been openied by the com~bination lock
and after thme securities had been re
moved the safe had been re
locked. The otticers have been unable
to get the slightest clue to the guilty
THE CROPS IN THE STATE.
HOW THE CROPS WERE AFFECTED
BY THE rOT WAVE.
The Interesting Weekly Bulletin of the
State Weather and Crop Service Issued
Yesterday by State Observer Bauer.
COLUMBIA, S. C., June 12.-The fol
lowing weekly bulletin of the weather
and crops for the past week, covering
the heated spell, was issued yesterday
by State Observer Bauer:
The unseasonable hot weather re
ported in the previous bulletin con
tinued on two days of the week just
passed, with maximum temperatures
of from 95 to 102 over the entire State.
Gardens, corn and the various vine
crops, and truck generally, were be
ginning to wilt under the influence
of the hot sun, and in places the
effect is described as having been the
same as though touched by frost.
Before serious injury was done, the
hot weather was terminated by a slow,
gentle rain, that was of immeasurable
benefit, reviving everything. This in
turn was followed by cool nights dur
ing the week, which were especially
trying to cotton that is already unsea
sonably late and small, although in
much better condition than it was two
weeks ago. The cool nights had the
effect also of renewing the destructive
activity of lice on cotton and cut
worms on other crops, particularly on
bottom lands; while more rust devel
oped in wheat over the western portion
of the State, where this grain is not
yet ripe enough to harvest.
The weather was very unfavorable
for farm work, and crops are generally
free from grass and weeds with the
grounds in fine condition. A few
fields continue grassy, but this excep
tion is inconsiderable.
During the 4th and 5th (Tuesdayand
Wednesday) the temperature was from
S to 12 degrees above the normal, but
during the remainder of the week it
range from 1 to 4 degrees per day be
low the normal, making the average
temperature for the week nearly nor
mal.
The highest temperature reported
was 102 on the 5th from Looper's Pick
ens county: the lowest was 56 on the
9th at Hardeeville and Spartanburg.
The mean temperature for the week
for the State was about 76.8 and the
same period is approximately 76.
A quite general rain began during
the evening of the 5th and continued
at places until the evernirg of the 6th.
The greatest rainfall for the week was
measured at Cheraw and Chesterfield,
but a number of widely separa
places reported measurements of one
inch or more. I' general the rainfall
was the hEav'est ;- the western and
northern portions of the State, al
though no place but that received
some rain. The average of 40 corre
spondents who ieported the rainfall
for the week, is 0.80 inch, and the
State normal for the same period is
approximately 1.00 inch.
There was somewhat more than an
average of 'sunshine, and more along
the coast than in the interior.
The winds were high and easterly
during the greater portion of the week
and their tendency was to negative
the good results of the rain, and were
not otherwise noteworthy.
The condition of cotton has greatly
improved within the last two weeks
and is particularly fine in the western
portion of the State where stands are
reported "as fine as ever seen." The
plant is small and continues lousy in
places. Fields that were not fertiliz
ed show marked inferiority. The cool
nights latterly have checked its growth
somewhat, but not materially. Fields
are well worked and generally clean.
About all chopped to a stand.
There is no marked change in the
condition of corn, which continues
very satisfactory. It shows some im
provement in color and less in growth.
A fairly good stand has been obtained,
except where damaged by cut worms.
It is very small for the season, and its
condition appears, from the reports
of the correspondents, to be quite uni
form over the entire State. It is re
ceiving its last plowing in the more
southern connties, where it is begin
ning to tassel. Stubble land bemng
planted to corn and peas.
Wheat will soon be ready to harvest.
Some has already been~ cut. The
stand is generally thin, but it is head
ing very full.
Oats are being harvested with a fair
yield, running from a full crop to
about 50 per cent. of one. Spring oats
have improved, but their condition is
exceedingly variable, differinggreatly
in the same portions of the State, and
even in the same counties. The aver
ag~e of all reports would make it some
whiat less than an average crop.
Tobacco is doino- well at places and
reported fair at ot ers. Worms have
appeared unusually early, and are
proving troublesome. The tobacco
culture has infused hopefulness into
the farmers, whether the crop proves
remunerative or not.
Rice about all planted, and its con
dition generally satisfactory.
Melons have been doing porly, but
lately have advanced rapidly and are
blossoming.
Sweet potato draws scarce i~n the up
country and the acreage will be great
ly reduced on this account. Elsewhere
its condition is fair and the crop is
receiving about the same attention as
in former years. Irish potatoes are
yielding a full crop from the coast
truck farm westward.
A large acreage of peas is being
sown both as a separate crop and on
same land with corn.
Early apples, peaches, plums and
cherries are ripening and are being
marketed. Fruit exhibited for sale at
present is of inferior quality, except
cherries, being evidently marketed be
fore it was ripe, a practice which can
not be too greatly condemned. Blue
ber ries and black berries continue very
plentiful. ________
Shame on Uritish Seamen.
LosuoN. June 12.-The passengers
of the little British vessel Whynot,
which was on fire and abandoned at
sea by her crew, leaving the passen
gers to save themselves as best they
could, have arrived in Jersey, whither
they were bound for the purpose of
working in the potato harvest. They
discovered the Whynot was on fire
Saturday. There was no panic on
board and the crew and passengers
wcrkcd together to suppress
tile flames. After a time, how
ever, one of the soilors
threw a bucket overboard and the
Captain ordered the crew, four
ini number, to lower the only
boat and recover it. When
the boat was lowered the Cap
tain and crew got into it and rowed
off ndi di not return.