The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, November 03, 1897, Image 1
VOT~'XII III. MANNING, S. C.,_ WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER31897 No. 15.
DEPRESSION IN COTON.
SHEPPERSON SAYS IT IS DUE TO EA
GERNESS TO SELL.
Dealers of South at Fault- iz. e Same Lot
of Cotton to Several Difrereut Fiim',
Bence Large Eatimattd Yied- R-mcdy
for the Evil.
Since the beginniug of the rew sea
son on Sept. 1 cottce, has erclined 1
cents per pound in New York. and
correspondingly in all American mar-t
kets. The present price is the lo est
sir-ce March. 1S95, wten sales were
made at 5 9 16 cents-a price lower
than during any season since 1S48.
The price is now 1 cents lower than
a year ago, despite the fact that on
October 15 the stock of cotton in all
the Americ-n markets was 560.000
bales less t' 'n at the corresponding
time last ye- Not only this, but tie
stocks of-all 'descriptionr 'f er ttrn in
the European ports were 269 COO bales'
Jess than at the correspording Lie n
1896; 991,000 hss thant 1895, ar~d 734.
X00 less than 1894,while the combined
stocks of European ard Axnerican
spinners are moderate and much less
than a year ago.
The season opened with small sup
plies of cotton in the markets and the
mills and the actual statistical position
was and is strong. The chief ceuses
of the existing depression are the
opinions held by many spinners that
our crop will certainly reseb, and
msy considerably exceed. 10,000 of
bales; the unsatisfactory conditi'n of
the cotton spinning industr7 in E
land, with the fear c a strilke in the
near future in view or the proposal of
mill owners to reduce wages of opera
tives; the depression in tr de in some
sections of the continent in conse
que nce of poor crops. etc.; the tempo
rary dullness in the cotton gc.cds trade
of the United States and more espec
ially in Fall River, and the liberal of
ferings of cotton by soutaern interior
merchants and brok -rs to northern
and European markets at constantly
failing prices. I de not think there
will be a strike in the English mills.
In my opinion the l ersisient offerings
of cotton by southern dealers have
contributed to the depression more
than all other causes, inasmuch as
they indicated weakness and tended
to confirm the idea of a lare crop.
The prevalence of yellow fever at
New Orleans and other southern ports
and the closing of the offices of some
of the cotton buyers and exporters in
each of these places, broke up the
business connections of many of the
cotton buyers and shippers of the in
terior towns, and these interior ship
pers were forced to seek new connec
tions in this country and Europe, in
oraier to find an outlet for the cotton,
which it was their business to buy, as
marketed by the producers, and to sell
to Europe and the northern and east
ern markets. In order to sell to ne t
customers it was necessary that they
shculd offer cotton at lower prices
than the old correspondents of the
firms to whom they were seeking to
sell cotton. Thus a sharp competition
was started, with the result that nor
thern and European cotton spinners
and dealers were constantly r-eceiving -
offers of cotton at low prices. South
ern dealers, in their eagerness to sell,
would simultaneously offer the same
lots of cotton to several firms, and this
would cause the quantity of cotton so
offered to-appear many times greater
than it really was. A lot of 1,0001
bales, if offered to two firms in each
Providence, New York and Liverpool
would have the weight on the general
market of the offering of 10,000 bales,
and it must be remembered that all
these markets are in hourly comnmu
nication by means of telephone, tele-1
graph and cable.I
Opinions differ as to whether the
decline has now proceeded far enough
or whether the price will fall still;
lower before any subs-antial reaciun
to better prices will cctur. (It is per
fectly evident to me that sooner or
later a reaction must come.) It is only
a question of time, and the greater the
decline the greater will be the te
bound. It is always so. Taking a
broad view of the present and pros
pective supply and demand, and of
the causes of Ilhe existing depression,
1 think the decline in cotton has been
greater than the conditions waraant
ed, and, therefore, that a moderate re
action, which might easily develop
into a decided one, may occur at
any time. Frosts in the cotton
belt, or liberal buying of spinners;
investors or speculators, would, at
once, check te declining tenden
cy, andi turn the current of the
market qu'ckly in the opposite
direction. The first sian of a decided
reaction would undoubtedly cause lib
eral buying by American and foreign
spinners, who would suddenly discov
er what they ought to know now
that cotton is chaeap and a safe invest
ment, even at prnces considerably
higher than th :se nowe ruling. There
is doubtless a large "shrgt interest on
the New York C2otton Exchange. No
people are as g icek to see the it~com
tng of a rising tide in prices as those
gentlemen who sell for t uturme delivery
thousancs of bales of cotton whicu
they do not happen to own previous to
the little formality of sellingt it. When
they 'scent danger," and start ini to
buy "futures" to cover their "suort
sales," they will r ush the prices up on
themselves, and on the belated spin
ners. An advance in "futures" start
ed by the buy ing of frightened "bears"
to cover their " short sales," and sus
tained by the legitimate buy ing of spot
cotton by spinners would quickly at
tract to cotton mae attention of outside
inventors and speculators, and thus a
permanently higher range of prices
might suddenly result. European and
American spinners alike complained
of unsatisfactory business last season,
but te fact remains tiat on eachl
side of the Atlantic considerably more
cotton was consumed than the pre
vious season. My friend, Mr. Thomas
Edison, of Liverpool, tae most emi
nent and painstaamng cstton s.Stist~i
cian in Europ-t h.as j it paulis:ed .
estimate that European sad Amnerican
spinners will consume during inis sea
son 228,000 bales (of 500 pouncs net)
more than last season, lie also esti
mates than an American crop of 9,-100,
000 bales will be re qured in order to
keep stocks at tne European and
American markets andi muls at ite
close of the season fronm falling below
the small figures at toe eu? of let
sesson. At about the present range
of prices our own spinners and tne
continental spinners mi~ght each sale
ly buy 500,000 bales aoe their r equir
ments, just as they have cone before
when tuey thought cotton was cheap.
anothe,. nlonk of 500,000 bhle as an
addition to the stocks of Euroi ean and
American markets at the end of he
::eason would not be a burden. In
d-ed. such an increase in stccks, by
serving to prevent such an undu- ad
vance as occurrrd last summer, would
stimuia:e consumption. I have thus
indicated how, with low prices, a crou
of 10 900.000 hales could 1e disposed
of, although the probability 'f so Jarge
a crop is tco remote for serious con
sideration. Indeed. under certain con
ditions. the cro) may fall 1,000.0010 to
1.500,000 bales short cf that quantity.
When prices are low it is is'unishing
bow much more cotioi is consumeo,
and how quickly a big visiblasapn.y
dissnreers If our crop should be 10,
U0,000 baks Pvd the spinners but
only wbat Mr. Ellison says they will
probably Deed for actual consumptior.
the result would be an addition of lass
than 600,000 bales to the stocks of Ei
ropean and American markets at the
end of the seasoc. If, in January,
when arangenents being made for an
other crop, low prices should prevail.
it may safely be assumed that the
acreage in cotton will be materially re
duced. It will be a matter of nces
si'y and not entirely of choice, from
the simple fact that investigrtion's,
made by me as secretary of an il:ves
tigating committee of the senate, cou
vince me that a m:4j riy tf those w o
raire cotton canno. produce it st si
low a cost as the amount they ould
realize from present prices
A probable surplus of 600,0(0 bales
cvr the actual tq irements of spiu
ter; from the presrt crop would hive
no appreciable effect i-1 preverting
the advance fron the low price s whicn
would certainly foliow the blief in
any considerable curtailment o' acre
age of the next crop. The 600.000
bales would he quickly absorbed by
spinners, and prices might be catried
:u as mouch too high as taey are nmv
too low. It is urg. d by some of those
who hope that cmton _ill :o still lock
er. a,.d who would profit It!he d:
clie, that print cloths sre soiling n')v
at the same iow price at which ti e
sold during the seasou of 1831 95,
when cottn reached the low price of
5 9 16, and they argue from this that
because print cloths have declined to
the lou' price of that s-ason, that cot
ton should also decline to the lo l
price to which it fell in that great de
pression. A t first this statement seems
plausib!e, but it reveals only one hal
of the truth. The other half of the
history of that season is that the price
of print cloths, in corsequercC of the
small stock and good dtuand, did not
decline in any thing like the same d,
gree as the decline in cotton. As a re
sult of the far greater decline in cot
ton goods, the cotton mills of the
country did a profitable business. The
dividends of the Fall Rtver cotton
mills for 1S95 averaged abxit 8 per
cent., against only about 5 per cent.
for the previous year. indeed, the
mills of the entire country wera ex
ceedingly prosperous during the sea
son of 1S94 95. Moderate prices:
which will afford the spinner a fair
margin of profit, and yet give the cot
ton growers a fair and proper remu
neration for his toil, are in thte end,
for the best interests alike on the man
ufacturers and producers of cu-ton.
A LFRED B. SHEPPER3ON.
THE COTTON GROWERS.
A Convsnion Olled to Meet to Columbia
Fair Week.
President Wilborn, of the State
Farmer's Allianca, Weduesdi issu:d
a call which means the inauguaratio
of a movement towards securing a
conventioni of the cotton growers of
the southern States for the purpiose of:
taking definite action in regard to the
planting of next year's crop. 'e
call provides for the holding of a State
convention in that city during the ap
proaching State fair. The following
is the call for the State convention of
cotton growers for fair week:
As president of the Farmers' State
Allian ce crganization c f this StLate, I
have been requested by numbers of
the representautve members of the or
ganization to take the initiative in
calling a meeting of the farmers of the
southern States, with a view of sug
gesting some action in the future,
looking to the regulation of the aere
age of cotton, also to discuss the plans
and methods of marketing the cotton
crop so that the producers of this great
staple shall receive the real value of
the crop, and not be forced to sacrifice
the crop by unfair combinations, to -
gether with the manipulations of the
gambling cotton exchanges of the
country, aided by the unjust accumu
try at one center at the principal time
of the year when our cottoa 3' goig
into market. With these ot j acis in
view I desire to request the cotton
growers of the various counties ina this
State to meet on salesday in Novem
ber and select one or more delegates to1
reoresent them at a meetina' to be held]
in the city of Columnbia on WednesdayI
night of fair week for the purpose o
discussing matters mentioned above.
J. O Wiuimj: ,
Presdent Farmers' Alliance S. 2.
"-rhe coiumnbl "
Columrbia can now boast of one of
the neat~est and oest furnished hotels!
in the south. Nothing has be:-n left
undone that will td i to the comfort
of the guests of Tae Ciumuia. It is
furnished from g:-ound Iloor to root
with new and elegant furniture. each
and every room is elegantly lighted in
day and the entire rvxase farnished
with electricity a-nd gas for nigas.I
The house has many elegaatly ap
pointed rooms with baths coninecte4i.
Parlors and rec ption rooms for botni
iadies ar.d gent~nmea and onecof 's
handlsomnest dining roomas ever seen
any where are f. at arts. Ar augemem.
have ben made by the propriet,,r to
give to his guests tile bst of attenltion.
i'he Columnia wilt niot be de p-'nint
upan the city mnarket alone for itssp
piies, but it is the intention of tne
management to supply the taole witn
the best that can be obtaineu troau
other points as well. Tne, propriator
of The Columbia ctfers this elgaiit
resort as a place of delightful iest to
the msny tourists on thetr way to z
from Florida, Leileti:2g ti. hlica -
send them on their jouruiey enn-.r go
ing or coming witu loud praises of
Tne Columbia and of thie prettiest ci'.Y
in the south, wliere th::y can tnjoy
elegant drives, pure air anda ts aio
attentmin. Tne proprietor, in opn
ing The Columbia, .says lefesta
he has accompish~ed a l onge-. .-nt
in Columota and tops by i-o th
pub:le an up to-date Lote. Uh h .
gain their liorai patronage. T
doors or this new haotel will be !nrown
open Nov. 1, and Mr. M. F. Nixn
tae proprietor, hopu, .o see the pieas
ant faces of his man~y riend andl nis
former patrons at ?ne Gaiuott.-iee
State.
IHE OFFER TO CUBA.
The Islazd to Have Goverrnment Similar
to Cauxda.
Tne Spa. ish minist:r, &eor Depuy
D- Lnme, consented for the iirst time
Wednesday to sptar concernic the
policy Of autcnoay which the Span
ish covernment proposes to sruly to
Cuba. This has been referred to in
General teros since the advent of the
S gast: ministry, but there has been
lack r'f autuentic details. Berfcre ieav
iu Washington for Ner York, Wed
nesday, where the n inister and his
fat-ily will spetd s vtral weeks,Senor
DePay De Late gave the evolutions
through which autonomy had passed.
leading up to the present policy, and
the general outline of the policy it
self.
Ulnder the provisions of the treaty
of Z tnjon, concluded in 1878 at the
close of the last Cuban disbarbance. it
was provided that Cuba was to enjoy
the same liberties as those accorded to
the Ilanc of Puerto Rico. This laitr
island had the satne hbarties as those
o- any province of Spain. This
brFug t the Autouomirt party, so
sl'ed, into eais.eace, its essenttl
p-ltciple being that of self govern
went for Cuoa, an~d not treating Cuba
As a nrovince of Spain, as was the sys
tem in Puerto R Teat earty adopt
ea a plaz'crm and in 1SS5 cif red a
cniplete progran' of autonomy for
the consideration o the. country. A
petc-ful gitation of this autonomy
C'ara m was then inaugurated. Iu
1'3, for the ar: time, a minister in a
L oeal cabinet, Senor M.tura, sa. the
LLisQ.ae of that svsien of rule known
as "ssimitlation ' which treated Cuba
as a Spanish province, aud ha presee
ted a plan of reforms This w
strongly opposed, and af tr two yca
of diseuasion it was found imauss!iie
) pu. t e plan ihroagh the cortes.
Tih-o a cocm r isie r ura n ta rc
wa- framed woin& acknowIed..ed tie
oersKnality of ;uol s a sz'narate body
iut under the Spanish lag. Th"sr
reforms having been cJasidcred in
sntlidenit, on aczustt of the State of
toe island, Premier Canovas vrcoted
ed to greatly enlarge them, his plan
being, no ;ever, snort of absolute au
tonomy.
Now Mr. Moret, minister of the cil
onies in the ne-c cabinet, fulfills the
prnise of the Liberal party when it
was in the minority and proclaims
autonomy as it had ai vays-been de
rmanded by the Home Rate party of
Cuba.
Urirer this policy as applied to Cuba
the .sland will have a system on tae
lines of those of Canada, or of the
American States, maintaiuin1 its in.
dividuality on all internal affairs and
yet retaining its place as a part cf toe
fedcral system. It wili have a vic!
roy, or governor general, as is always
the case in the maintenance of a colo
nial system, such as that of Australia,
Ne Z :aland or Canada. The island
will have its own legislature, chosen
directly by the peopie, who will enjoy
universal suffrage. From th-e majori
ty in the legislature the governor gen
eral will Choose his ministry, Consi
ing cf a president of the ministry and
four min sters. namely, minis:er of
the interior, minister of public works,
minister of public instruction, and
minister of finance. At the same- time
cub- will have regp:sentation in the
Spauish cotns, as Weli as her local
legi ature. The representatives to the
cartes will also be elected by the pea
Ie of Caus, tarough universal suf
rsge, anua mi~l not ta s:ieca.d by tan
nunistry as has been erroneoudy
stated. Tne ministry will be respon
sible to the legisiature and not to the
governor general Tne subjezs bo
fore the legislature will include those
of taxation, public instruction and al
matters of tae in'.ernal administration
of the island in the broades', sense of
this term.
BY MAIL OR EXPRESS.
Ometcais of a Leading comp any oomment
on a Recenst Loss.
Recent press dispatches, reporting
the myvster-ious disappearance of a
large sum cf money in transit tnrough
the mails from a bankiog house in
Chicago to one of its western corres
pondents, prompted an inqiuiry as to
the cause of such an amount being
intrusted to the pasa ser vice, and,
wnen approached on the subject, a
prominent otlizial of one of tue lead
irg exoress companies stated yester
day that the last year had witnessed a
radical change in Lne transportation
of moneys, which formerly had all
been forwvarded by express, but were
now being sent ia "'any instances by
mail, the aggregate postage and regis
try fees pireseniting- a diiference as
coanpared. wira exare:,s rates that
temnpted many to cepart. from tne old
method and adop theca new.
Tne ciliciat added farther that fre
quest tramn robries nad compAlled
tiieexpress.. c>npais ' a go to great
expenae in equ2'~iping tntir thea.u n
eirs with v~um e > eat-.a
safes, which, as recen't ld-pia
proven, aU"ard seurtyaaiu ay
aue3nps ou the p.rt of. road -et: tou
get at the cents, b . that rcen
stiould ther sa caed is tne.~ in:>ry
of cases i~tnail oul nu e coia
foi thm:ir oains oua ae:nu . c:. o. . di
version aot uhe ~i ney fr 'm express to
the mals *a tat awould uo t e
unnatur :t exp-et that Uncle dam
woul s'a' -a e h as hi.dsta! 10k
'ers wil, of c.aue g> waere tme
money isan ui . isno: in tue mail
intad of thieexpress'car.
eO npame we .d L t regam tae
tradir ilicited tne reply thlAt tuky hid
ex.,ndei all the rveau-:s ir u tuis
source in the pts 'a surarou-dn a
amd raninla ov a.s. ...ni
uhiev'es, and t a: 'ney 'noat 41:.91
wait uutul su~m lose as on- r eered
to and the an'eentou of tr~ robbrs
to tuis new channel for :.raparng
money proved i" to b. neins a sc
eesiat nor proaiil eeru .
have Deen 'a s-ar'a o 1n ue , a
catue hi :tiraaa
Tne feeia' la Urangebu..rgi nau
't a very a h' ia'W a th ego
DEAR V CHEAP MONEY
FORMER ONE HUNDRED TIMES
GREATER EVIL.
Clinton. Co, ins Draws a Para:i1al Between
Two Cordtsiona-Dear Money R.verses
tbe Wh c is (f Progress ard I'ra_ zes
C(v'z etion.
Prople seem to look always only on
one side of this money question. They
1 all setm to know what "cheap money"
means, but w hen you get to talk about
"dear money" they do not seem to
have any char conception of what it
is. Tae advccates of gold never yet
saw a case of "dear money," but they
cave seen one or two cases of "cheap
money," and have never yet got
through talkig about it. "Dear
money" they can'tsee, and don't know
what you are talking about when 5ou
sp-ak or i-. It may be well to inves
tigste. What is cheap money and
what its eff cts?
Chean money does not mean that a
dollar is worth forty, fifty or sixty
cents. It meaus that when you go
sround with a dollar you cannot get
s> aful much for it. It means that
da-lirs are so cherp that men will not
give much of tneir land, produce,
merchandise, shors, drygoods, c>ttoni,
.C)rIL, wheat or lab-r for them. I,
oth1 r words, you have to gi;e a Good
dali on oey for these articles; not
bc isese articles have uec ne any
more'v'iable, but be ause n ey is
. Dariur the war periou we
t id $11for he;, $20 a barrel for
Sour. acuzlous prios for Ia-d, no: be
caut .' ms art;c>es had bic ,:ue aay
ri re v.auable, but tecause tie gov
errn oy setting the pring:n, presse
to "v:n to turn out millions of dollars
(so c!id) had madu dollars cheap.
Now woom does it benefit and wun
Ihu, t to have money cheap? It
I hurts all those wno have the greater
part of their wealth in the shape of
moaey-either actual money, or in
the shops of oc:ual money due them,
or money lent cut. It enriches all
those who nave the greater part of
their w,:atth in other shapes; suca as
cotton, oats, corn, lumbar and forms
of merchandise or real estate. For
instac_, a man is worth a thousand
dollars, all in the shape of mn)ey, or
money due him He will be hurt by
having money become cherp, because
he can no longer procare as much of
otter things for it. If he is worth $503
in money and $503 in goods he will
not be arfected; oecause, although his
money wili not buy as much, his
goads will go up iu price. If he is
worta $1,000 because he has '1.5YJ
worta of goods and owes a five han
dred dollar debt, he wi find by nai-o
in- m).ny cheao that his goo.s will
:, qu'ted at $2,500 or $3,000. so ;hat
by the sale of a vory smAll part of
inem he can wipe oat hts debt and
hale $3,000 or $3,500 north of gools
loit.
This is why the creditor class ra*-!
I a holv and j astly about makin money
cheap. Uheap money helps all those
wno do not nave tae bull of their
w aith in money shape, and hurts
those who do bave the greater part of
their wear h in money shape. As the
amoa u ws:alth in the forms of land,
dry good~s, manuractures, merchandise
Ifar'm p:osdas, labor, audIso forth, ex
c.me.is tae ai~aat o: suia parely a
moneiy formt about ns tauca as one
hundred exceeds one~ it is easy to see
tnat it heles one nuudred where it
hurts one to :nake money cheap. Bat
oar money should be stanle, and once
beung estaoitsned, it is no; right for
congcress. by legitia.ioa, to make
mon~ey eithe-- "dear" or "c leap." This
is why we hear tae c:y of the injas
ti::s of the demonemtmon act of 1873,
w aing m~oney "dear." Prior to 18$73
all silver ann ali gold could be taken
!O thes miats and made into dollara;
since 1873 the owvners of gold only are
allo wved to do this, Tnis brings into
existence only half the number of dol
jiars that could be brougnt into exist
enee prior to the passage of this act.
Igoes without saying tnat the mar
1ag or dollars scarcer and consequent
Ily deajer must be tne result of this alt.
We nave~ saown waoai cneap money
hurts and wnom it neneiits. Nowv,
waci is hur; or benefited by '-dear
money," its opposite! By "dear
mouey" We do not mean that a dollar
passes for $2 00, or $1.50, but that peo
pe who have goodls or laue.r in any
tera tast give mauch of tuese for i:.
If a man nas the~ greater part of his
we.Ulta la the ;oonn of money, or
money ioaned cut., he wil be benetited
by dea~r money ; Decause he wili tind
taa ne ca get a maan greater quan
ty of goods for it. ii he loancd
?foney out bs.ore mroney became dear
ne w i iai that besidies hiving re
cIrdn i"erest a 'can exzrige
b'1 m"e We; mu- m->)re goonis afiLer
:: - pta.d U..k It a mau has hisj
weUaiiaie fdor ura:naey aldI
":Al1 1': tui I~:' I 0 o.Ai: . Le wd not'
-L .fecte of "dea"r money."
"! maa i wvo'tu St.00 Uo e'ue he1
nas t,5 wa o gojds an:d oTsj
s-ven ndred doliars la ca wita
whi'c' to lIq..iate his $~>00 debt, and
his propierty~ is pr'acticailvly wp d out.
Wer a aima I)ve jr SJ axi ha.
$1,000 w'rtu cA ercaaeis- ur jtaer
pprtla a'ay formn other aaP
alney, hve i s r.-adered ba?naptand
utrywipmd ont at once. As proper
'y m tae':oran of taaercomnpred to
roeyin alt Ome: iorats is only
aboutJ a one is to one hundre.., so itl
oi that makind auoney dear' nLips~
th.eciu? 'wnde it auris tue nandrie..
"l?is is the evil of 'Cearmoe.
h is oe a.irunued timnes, possioly lv
uand~~ Lumes, g-e 'er taa the~ evil
t:ua a as fromr ca-a 'oney, andu
y'- w' :av s:.es ad so-cle
ul / n.s .t vi tue una commnon sn
ho~ teus t.o me any harm an it and'
stand out in dmefense of saca an en"o
mitny an theay o~ ur Ljat eislauen.
Mone ' -uia l bi ei ao la:- upon
1e.. is ait ip upoa LaiJ basis there
Ishould a' no leisl~auon miakmg
moiv"er e"ner de-'o caeao. Buti 1!
yacap may s oe deaxr toe
.*.:u c--uatry sa v.liat mae- wcic
I M *'t cie ry declaron 'tua .s
sit it sa aid have reauniaed for m
ppiles o gol and silver discovere'J
may arise whez leiuionttpr
witil i.-Climtoni (ilms.
PUS AN END TO HIS LIFE.
Having Hurderc d Bis Neigbbor He Beame
a oonvict.
One night in a felon's cell in the
State penitentiary with the prospect of
spending the remander of his life
within those massive stone walls and
grated dcors and windows proved too
much of a strain for Stephen Bryant,
a white convict who hart just been re
ceived at the prison, to stand and he
has ended his li'e. He s creted a pair
of lcissors about nis parson while
working in the hosiery mill on Thurs
day and during Thursday night he
plunged them into his neek twice, fell
over on the floor and died. His life
blood quickly flowed out through the
gaping wcunds he had made. The
guards discovered him just as be was
breathing his last. ThA body lay as it
was fourd on the cell floor, maaing a
ghastly picture, until yesterday morn
ing when the coroners went down to
the prison and gave a permit for the
removal of the body. Tae story of
the unfortunate maa who has thus
died by his own hand rather than face
a life term in prison is a readabie one.
Only a ;short time ago Bryant was
living quietly upon his farm in Marion
county; clcse by lived another white
farmer named Prevatt. It seems that
one day Bryant's 12 year old brother
in-law went over to visit Prevatt. Up
on going home he told Bryant stories
about the domestic affairs of Prevatt.
When Prevatt neard of it he warned
the boy, who later came to see him
again and once more told tales. Toen
Prevatt gave the boy a moderate
whipping. This made Bryant very
angry and getting his g uau he rode
over to where PrevaItt was worning in
his field. He called him up and ask
ed him why he had whipped the boy.
Pre7mtt fully exulained tVe matter.
"Will you do so age-in?' demanded
Bryant.
"it he gives me the s oe provoca
tion," was the cool reply.
"Taen take that, and that, shouted
Bryant as he discharged ilt one and
then the other barrel of his gua at the
nead of Prevatt, almost tearing it off
and killing him instantly.
At toe trial, which took place in
Marion and was ended last week,'the
evidence against Bryant was over
whelring, but on acaoaat of the plea
of unsound mind, which was worked
for all it was worth by the counsel for
Bryant. the jury, while finding Bry
ant gailty, sow tit to recommend him
to the mercy of the court, tnereby se
curing a life sentence for him instead
of giving him death upon the scali ,ld.
B:yant was brought here to begin
his life term in prison on Wednesaay.
He was put to work in the hosiery
mill and given a comfortable cell in
the main building. He managed to
get through Wednesday night in his
cell, and on Thursday appeared to be
p ssive and resigned to nis fate. He
nad then determined, Lowever, to kill
himself, for he watched his cance
during the day and slipped a pair of
scissors into his jacket wnile working
in the mill. At 5:30 o'clock he wes
seat :o his cell for the night. Nothing
more -es heard or thought of him un
til 10:3j ocionk at night. At night a
"key man," a trusty convict, is wept in
the corridor inside the main cage, to
attead to tao wants of tae prisoners
duriang thi night in case they are sick
or anythin:g of that kind. On Thurs
day night Convint H anter was on his
duty. In answering a call fron one
of the celis he had to pass by the cell
occupied by Bryant. He heard a
strange gurgling sound in the cell
and notified tae guard.
Corporal Smitn camie quickly and
the celi was opened. a. revolting
sene was preented. Oi the floor
lay Bryant oreatnting Isis last; the
body lay ia a pool of the man's life
bloo.l, which was still ilo ving from a
gaping wound on the left side of his
neck. He died in a very fe er moments.
d&ill tightly clinoned in his hand were
the sciss-or4 wita whicai he nA ended
his earthly career.
d:raigaening the body o-a the cor
poral aad the guards oaca more lock
ed tne dur and left the building to
wait the coming of day. Taen Coro
ner Green was notifiaet and in a short
time he was a: tae prison. He enter
ed the cell and saw~ enough to con
vince him tnat it was a case of self
destraction and that it we not neces
sary to hold an inquest. Accordingly,
ne granted a perawit for tne burial of
the oody and it was removed to the
prison morgue.-Columbia State.
A DOD TOn IN DANGER.
11 is oh arg d with a Serious matter and
Had to Escapd.
A special dispatch from Conway to
the Columbia State says: Tucsday
morning at alou; 3.3J Mr. Jeremiah
d~ia proprieLor of the Commercial
Lbuse, 'vs waked by some one
auo.:an a. his door. Hle went out
and founds- t:-. W. D). Coleinan, a spe
cial depay iroms Mariion, w:ah apis
oueirl Dr B2ja-nm~ -. kill, aBait
pre.ene and a f aii-cre doctor. Dr.
di i as eOIr tOver tome-eing~
and loi-d j:t rue county jil. B3oh
the aepuy nsueru and tue prisouer
Oy nae steritl ara '.arse:
ose imne past Dr. Hill has
osen living in Marion and miaiing a
living 4y preachmng aad curing people
by tuia laying on 0: ixands, is pos
sessed the art of hypno".ism and it
sei taatt some of hi patients were
5oa ladies. Svera usys ago a
young lady was tae w:Lh toothache
and wvent to cousuit Dr. ill abour it.
deavsedhr to g~o to the dntin and
ha reLi ex- 'el, which~ sa.A d
Ia pulg ine L.es oa the deatt
eruhedit nd avene a g~ood deal of
pain. S.: wen oca to see Dr. Hill
anis ypa snia hand taken
uudu----v..te~g of. ahe youag ily,
w e an would no. D0 divulged,
wvas of good famnily andi such conduct
w7as resented. O02 Monday af'ernoon
trae repolr; ieaked coa: ani a moo soon
gathercd. Tncy begu iaimediately
to loca ihe doctor up. ' ey sooa htad
store. The sheriff, Lis de puty and tne
mayor seca came to his rescue a ad LSe
wa. spirae? off and brught ner for
WI alle in jai th risoner was inter
vie e, bs would no. say anytg
.dad- in &-' a-or Scariorougn, who
oegaii cy tryir" to see if le coulad not
get nim cut. v1. Scarborough tele
grpe o ta sneri of Marion coun
ty and received inrpiy a message
s atm that so specihi charges hadt
uten uiade agamnst 1t11. and to have
nin turncd loose. So ilil got oi' on
the 2:45 p. as. tra in, and Harry's name
was saved from the. bnt of a lyenching,
THE FALL ELECTIONS.
--
ELECTORS IN FOURTEEN STATES -
VOTED LAST TUESDAY.
Several Governors to be Elected and Sena.
torial Combats in Three States-Trets of
the Goldbog D amocralic Strength.
Elections were held in fourteen-St.tes
last Tue=,'r. but in one of them, Ne v
Jersey. ly members of the assembly
and one thid cf the senators are to be
chosen; in another, Delaware, only
assemblymen from the northern sec
tion of the State are to be elected, and
in Nevada and Washington only leg
islatures are to be chosen. Governors
and other State officers are to be chos
n in Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio and
Virginia; legislatures in tae same
states and legislatures or park of leg
islatures in Maryland and Virginia
will have the choice of United Stats
senators. Oaly minor State officers
are to be elected in Kentucky and
Nebraska, but the electi.,n in those .
States is of special interest as a test of
the gold-bug Democratic vote. There
will be a like test in the vote in Iowa
and Ohio. where the gold bug Demo
crats have conducted an energetic
campaign.
Below a-'e stated the offi.e- to be
ilied i.. "ach State with the parties in
the contest and the returns of the two
precee !i-ag electious:
COLORADO.
Onl? justice of t'e s::prermle court
will b-. chosen in C-orado. Trie re
two ti.ke-s in the fidd, the Republi
can aid the POuulist, the no-ninee of
the latter being accepted by tie Silver
D-mocrats after their candidate had
withdrawn. The R~publican c tdi
date was also nominated by the Silver
Republicans.
1896 (Presiden) -R -publican 26,
279: Democrat, 158,880; Populist 2,
389. 1894 (Goveroor)-Repubiic-i,
93 502; Democrat, S 337; PopuiiSt, 71,
894.
IOWA.
In Iowa these state offiNers sill be
chosen to serve for t o years: G:ver
nor, lieutenant govern-r, supreme
j idge, railroad commissioners, and
superintendent of public instruction.
A house of representative= and part of
the senate are also to be elected. The
tickets noainated are those of the Re
publicans, the National Democrats
(zold), the triple-alliance ticket of the
Silver Democrats, Populists, and Sil
ver Republicans, and a bolting ticket
of the Middle of-the-Road Populists.
1S96 (President)-Republican, 289,
293; Democrats, 223,741; National D c
mocrats, 4,516; Populis:, fusion with
Democrats. 1895 (Gaverno)-Repub
lican, 208,659; Democrat, 119,189;
Populist, 32.215
KENTCCKY
Ocly one offiee is to oe filled in Ken
tucky, that of clerk of the court of ap
peals. The tickets nominated are those
of the Republicans, the Nation ti Dem
ocrats (gold), and the Silve Demo
crats.
1896 (President)-R-pubic z, 218,
171; Democrat, 217,890; National Dem
ocrat, 5,019; Populist, 23,500. 1895 I
(;overnor) Republican, 172.436; Dam
orat, 163,521; Populist, 16.91!.
3ARYLAND.
In Maryland a comptroiier general
and a clerk of the court of appeals and
members of the legislature are to be
chosen. A constitutional amendment
on civil service reform, modelled
somewhat after the clause in the New
to the people. Four ti&kets have been
nominated, the Republican', the Silver
Democratic, the Socialist Labor, andI
the Indeponaent Ret a biicaius-the lat
ter largely a negro miove~nent. Toe
National Democrats (gold) made no
nominatians, and the?ir votes are ex
pected to be cast for the Republican
legislative nominees, in order to pre
vent the return of Gorman to the
United States senate.I
1896 (Presiden') --R pablican, 136,
978; Democrat. 1C4.747; National
Democrats, 2,507. 1855 (G-overnor)I
Republican, 124.936; D amocrat, 106,
169.
MASSACHUSETTS.
In Massacausetts, governor, lieuten
ant governor, secretary of state, attor
ney general, state treasurer, auditor,
and members of tne legislature are to
be chosen for one year. Tae tickets
are those of the R publicans, the Silver
Democrats (gold), and the Proibi
tionist.
1896 (President)-R~-eoubican, 278,
976; Democrat, 93,53U; Nationali Dam
ocrat, 11,789 Populist, 15.1S1. 1895
(Governor) Republican, 1S6,230; D.-m
oc-rat, 121,599; Populist, 7,786.
NEBRASKA,
A supreme court judge and 'vo re
gents ofthe State umversity are to oe
chosen in Nebr-uks. T::e Silverites.
have united on a tickun, an uheR
publicans, the National D 's~c-aIs
(gold) and a fraction~ of the~ Siver RaC
oublicans have matde noi atins.
189)6 (Uresiden )-R p'blian,10.
56; Demcrat 115,9) N~N Io alD m
tic' Rsuuslc 'n, TJ,13 D2: a
A chief clerk of the court of apea
and menbersof theaseby *amdobe
chosen in NewYork Th adiae
for chief juisti::e are thos-e o' 'h-- R
publicans, of the' Sdver Demo ras
(endorsed by th Naioa D'-merat ),
of the P)ros~ibiioniss and cfte i
cialists.I
1836 (Presiden' - c bin, 8I),
838; Democr4, 55L '; Nati'a
IDmocrat, 18t35J; Pr~, o- r 10.
(Secretary of Str') R- ph ablm 601,
20-5; Democrat, 511 VGJ: Poi~m:
25239; S.>ciadist L:,br, -1I 97.
nor, attorne~y genearal, sm ir. Ir
miembe.- of rne b:'r.. of pulUwoks
and se:iool cnmmssione ar-ob
chosen for two vears. A~ ju;I o- t
supreme court is alsi -ob ktd
and memiber of the leisaur, whiich
is to cho-ose a Umtei Stt sa acr.
Tnere are eight. ticcet in th iad
(rndors-a b 5 l r i. b~c s)
thie NAtional Democrtie (old), e
Prohibitionist, the LbEr:. (slera
w-oman suffrage P-oul-i" in n
Populist and the Ne-gro Prtcie
991; Democrat, 4,3 N.iua
Democrat, 1,88 Proioittoni:- 5-)
1895 (9overcori) ep'.:bi '-7m
Democrat, 334,519;, P~opuis:, 532 ~
are to be choen' aPnsi is
also members of t.ee legilature froio
Ine northern pat: the S:ae Noms
inations have bcea made by thc Rte
nnhicns, the Silver D,13ai shej
aderndent hp'uIhicars (;tin (giay),
be Populists, ,he Pr hib:tionists and
he Liberty party.
1893 (Presi e )-Repiblican 720.
98; Dcinccrzt. 422,054; Na:iornl
) mr crats. 11,000 Probihntioiist, 19.
74; Populist, 11,]76 1S 5 (Treasur
r) TRpublicar, 456 475: Drecrat,
S2 4 St: Prohibitionist, 20,779; Popu
iist, 7.'2.
VItINIA.
Ia V i...ti, EoCve:;j-r. AieutenaLt
ovemer(, t:-J Lam). 7 Vw
re to e lcd - ye
L house of !eleg.93Ani^d Dart of
e sr-nate ave :-uso to be Ches
r, tee member- of wh:ch will
7ect it sucessor to Seratc.r Daniiels.
Un ivati-ns v-w-e made by the Si1vcr
)em'ineras. sand tt e Prohibitionisls.
he Repub^l~- Sta*e c :nmittee de
it o a S'e convention, :ut
)re as e. Ti, der other direction
cd - 'ich -o M.
1i s (e. e~: -,)-Ri ,blican, 135, -
\SSJ: / } "r 154 ie:c N i^'d
97.7.' m:P i.. ? .44,
.83 (a Cv -. oic'ir. a.-):
)-nocr, 17 .P-Thibitiouist, 6,
62.
T UH I i.U.-E AN H Y.,.
rh s svcaty-tU1:d AunnsI Se-ssion of :.
Bo_ y R-cently Hcd.
The sev":y third an aaul sessio.1 of
he South Carelina Lutheran Synod
:nvened in Macedonia Church on
Wedne-day last Rev. Dr. Hallan
maun~ed the openie p-ayer ser vic?
Pv. Dr. Kinard of Columbia preached
:e annual sermen. Te fclioVing
uiieers of the Synod w-e elected for
:he ensuing ye::r: Rev. M. M
Kinard, P. D., president; Rev. W.
.. C Mu ier of Charleston, vice prisi
;ev. 3 T. alE1mn. D D., of
rosperi, secreary; A.. Hi. K'hn of
PL rro-rhy, treasurer.
Thi Synod represents ab-mt 8 00
:1: m'mncaniS, the Greater rumberu f
which live in Newberry, Lexington.
Richiand, Barnwell, Orangeburg ai -
LsIleston counties. They have fou
har ches in Charleston and two in
1unbia.
Same of the most prominent minis
ters of the Synod present were Rev.
D-. Hallmnan of Prosperity, editor of
.he Lutheran Visitor; Rev. A. G.
Voigt, D. D., professor in the Theolo
zical Saminary of the South; Rev. R.
J. Holland, D. D., of Charleston;Rav.
D:s. Wingard sad Kinard of Colum
bia; R v. L. K. Probst of Atlanta;
Rev. J. 11. Wilson of Barnwell; Rev.
W. A. C. Muller of Charleston; Rev.
J A. Sligh of Sligh's; Rev. J. G.
raichen of Lexington; Rev. Messrs.
Wvse, Horine and many others.
The routine work of the Syncd was
.one in good order. The president's
report showed two dismissals for the
year-R.:v. Dr. Horn of Charleston,
who went to Reading, Pa., and Rev.
J. C. Trouger of Sater-and two
resignations, R:vs. Wyse of Orange
burg and Deaton of the Fork of Lx
ington. Rev. Wyse goes to Burks
a:rlen, Va., and Rev. Deaton to Dal
las. N. i. T -o cornerstones were
laid during the past year and two
churches buill, namely Newberry and
Satr. The Syn;d has had one ac
e sioa from o-her Synods, Rev. J.
H. Hcrine of Pensylvania, Rev. T.
M.$neely was ordained to preach the
ospeN -
The treasur o -the seminary fund
repoted over $21;000 invested in good
interest-bearing securities. This is
one of the best funds Newberry College
has. receiving therefrom u? ards of
The Synod has also the ~chman
endowment fund, which pay about
1,00i0 annually. These fun'
eher with the plant at Newberry
Colege, makes the holdings of the
Synod very nearly $75,000, and she
needs that much more, for every one
of her dormitories are full and some
lass roots are being uied as such
dow~.
Good work is being done in educa
ioal lines by Ne wberry College, over
which the gifted lawyer, G::o. B. Cro
mer, now presides, succeeding the
ate lamented Dr. Holland. This
Snod is carrying on mission work at
Sumter, Florence, Orangeburg, Gran
ievilb, Orange Chapel, Floree and
ther points in South Carolina and in
augusta. The executive committee
>n mia~ns reported pleasing pro
eress of the missions under their care
and asked for the usual appropriation
for the work.
The treasurer's report shored a
larger amocunt of money received the
past year tan any preceding year,
which fa-:t was very e :ccuragmng,
especially so in thee iiunes of depres
sion and lov price of cotton. The
congreations have met their assess
mets with commendable promptness,
and the work of the Synod can 1:e
pushed for the next tear as it never
has been before.
Synod put i:self cen record by pass'
ng resoluions favoring temperacce
an opposing the sale and use of alco
sol ur.urng the necessity of
igsuch text books in all schools as
retupate ul's ernd e-il of intem
Tne -atire. seein1' of the~ Sy~ol was
harmor-i;m.us am'i pleasig, an i ad
=une Sa'day~f'.craoon.-P o- eri
OneGedbng Co?nvinced.
A reent diatch from L .on re
ported an in~ terview with the Eon.
haGiil ahihhat entleman
sad a ss a r connect
:dwt idsoeas that we,
a02.. -, dae ra..ght with the
inad q *gun apy of gold to an~sver
hidrra e dman s of bousiness,
should all na'tions discard the use of
asis. d loL- .s o.e - 0tos oa(
ilva in c~jnt iagI.
ther gol enough .o Sup.Py ou. a
mnd, tu:* no- wht gue ot aer ed
i~ n.ics' ei:e-ra ta a mnd
evr"ranue hmi wit ned
om circu a:.o a
u ~e inordirary trade an i
. I onfss the c i:: na .v
ador th standard, bu Ise e
u.er impracica-iity of the systemx 'f
rd otedoy alln ohe ntn and am ?
THE MISSING ROLLS.
COL. THOMAS APPEALS TO PRESS
AND PUBLIC.
History Incomplete Without Them-Un
leee Interest is Taken in the Matter Now
rhry May be Forever Last.
Col. John P. Thomas has issue' the
following appeal to the public in ref
r-rerceto missing rolls:
To the Press of South Carolina and
the General Public:
I have an appeal to make to the pa
triotism and pride of the press of the
State in which I have confidence, and
to our people in general.
Upon assuming this office I find
many rolls missing. My first duty is
to secare these rolls, if possible. The
complete rolls and accompi rec
ords of the troops from South Caroli
na that engaged in the war between
the states was the primary purpose of
the legislation creating and continu
1- this office.
-'i ; is the foundation of the histor
i di: :h at the State Historian may
be commis,:u ed to build. There can
he no superstructure of history until
s foundation is well laid with not
missing. There ought to be
none. - r no history than that
there shouli 'e missing the rolls of
rallant co:npanies from the military
Confederate record of South Carolina.
I appeal to the press" to extend this
notice throughout the State, and I es
pecially urge the county press to hel:?
in this business to the best of its abil'
ty. We have had our Iliad. No mac
with Homeric aspirations can procees.
to relate the story until the Catos art
supplied.
Nor is our appeal to the press only.
It is addressed to all the men and al
the women in the State who have a
Confederate interest. And I further
ca'l upon all parsons to whom the late
General Farley, my predecessor, con
fided rolls, or sketches to return the
same to this office without delay.
South Carolina was the first to lead
cff in the war for states rights. Let
her not be the last to put upon record
the noble services of her devoted sol
diers. John P. Thomas.
The following are the rolls missing
October 2.1, 1897, numbering: infant
ry, 62; artillery, 14; cavalry, 20; total
96.
C FAe RY.
Co. F, Gregg's.
Co. D, Gregg's.
Co. E, Hagood.
Co. A, Hagood.
Co. B, second regiment.
Companies B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I,
K, second regiment.
Co. A, fourth regiment.
Companies C and G, Orr's rifles.
ComaniesA, B, C,D,E, F, G, H,
I, K, Moore's second rifles.
Cos. ., B, K, L, Palmetto sharp
shooters.
Co. E, James battalion.
Co. H, fifth regiment.
Co. H, sixth regiment.
Co. A. seventh regiment.
Co. M. seventh regiment.
Co. A, eleventh regiment.
Co. B, eleventh regiment.
Co. G, twelfth regiment.
Co. K, thirteenth regiment.
Co. H, fourteenth regiment.
Co. H, fifteenth regiment.
Co. G, twentieth regiment.
Co. D, twentieth regiment.
Co. G, twentieth regiment.
Co. C, twenty-first regiment.
Co. C, twenty-third regiment.
C>. Etwenty third regiment.
Co. G, twenty-fourth regiment.
Co. E, twenty-seventh regiment.
o. K, twenty-seveath resiment.
Knies B, C, D, E, F, G,H,I,
Kfirstre -ent regulars.
Cans . G cav-,
Companies H and K, second caval
ry..
~Co. D, fourth cavalry.
Companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H,
I, K, sixth cavalry.
Companies D and F, seventh caval
ry.
ARTILEY.
Companies A, B, C,1D, E, F, G, H,
I, first regiment volunteer..
Eairle's battery.
Smith's battery.
McBeth's battery.
Ferguson's battery.
One Way of Printing a Paper.
Gen. Joseph S. Smith, of Maine,
tells how he published a paper with
out a press in Bath, Me., many years
ago, says the New York Tribune.
"When I'd get my paper all set up
and ready for the press, IPd lay the
type on a washstand, get it all leveled
down well in 19 chase, or the frame
in which 't was iocked up, and then
I'd call in the hired girl. S he weizhed
about t wo hundred and ten pounds
when she sat down. That's what I
wanted- sitting-down weight. So,
after the hired girl came in I inkedi
the type, laid over it the sheet of pa
per, and on ton of that the blanket,
and then I politely invited the hired
giri to sit down on the 'washstand.
Two hundred and ten pounds, re
member. The result was just as good
as impression as you could get on
any $100 hand press made in the
United States. My edition in those
days was about t wo hundred copies,
Iand the hired girl was good for the
iso at one sitting-no, at two hun
dre-d sittings. And she took an inter -
est in it, too, and was just as ready
for buiness every publication day as
Ia $20,000 Hoe perfecting press wouid
staued by seaweed.
Teonsylvania. Railroad comn
pin. W.~ednes'.iay morning started to
raiherular 8:45 o'clock exprs
Pa' 1:iladphia, from Atlantic C.ity,
N. J., oaig decided to risk a run
acr '.hen meadows over inundated
tracks . Wan about half way across
the mead.Lows the train was stalled.
Thie tracks were fairly matted with the
seaweed, besides being covered with
water an-d mud. The passengers
agrreed to wait until the tracks 'were
clae.Big gangs of workmen are
laboring to clear toe way from Abes
con cu'.. Toe railroad offcials hope
to miore the train some time this after
Stume in California.
Rlesorts from the interior of Califor
ni so taat the heavy rains which
feli lat week all over the northern
ar o he state have caused immense
loss to farmers and vineyards and
w~i in all probability put an end to
shiement of grapes to the east. The
total loss exceeds $1,000,000. In Fres
no cou.nty alone it is estimated that
the storms caused a loss of at least
go(X 000 to raisin men. At least one