The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, February 19, 1902, Image 1
VrOLl XVI. MAlNNING So C2, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAR. 9 92 O 9
PASSED THE SENATE.
Only One Slight Change from Bill as
It Passed the House.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
As Fixed by the New lteJ0rictia;
Bill. There Was a Long De
bate Over the Bill. But
It Finally Pnssed.
There was a long and at times ex
citing debate in the senate Tuesday
over the redistricting bill. The meas
ure, as it passed the house. !lnally
passed its second reading in the senat e.
with the single amendment that Clar
endon is taken froi the seventh dis
trict and placed in the first district.
It is thought that this amendment will
be agreed to by the house and that the
bill will be ratified in this shape.
Senator Gruber Tuesday offered an
amendment which would have materi
ally changed the first, second and sev
enth districts. but aft er a long debate
the amendment was lost. When Sena
tor MKiryeld undertook to have EJze
field and Saluda placed in separate
districts. This brought forth a spirit
ed protest from Senator Sheppard, who
carried his point, and Edgetield and
Saluda remain side by side in the sec
ond district.
As IT PASSED.
The redistricting bill, as it passed
the senate Tuesday, arranges the con
gressional districts as follows:
First District-Charleston. Berkeley,
Colleten. Clarendon and Dorchester.
Second Districts-Aiken, Bamberg.
Barnwell, Beaufort, Edgelield, Saluda
and Hampton.
Third District-Pickens, Oconee.
Anderson, Abbeville, Greenwood and
Newberry.
Fourth District-Laurens, Spartan
burg, Greenville and Union.
Fifth District-Cherokee. Chester.
York, 'Fairfield,- Kershaw, Chester
field and Lancaster.
Sixth District-farlboro, Marion,
Horry. Darlington, . Florence, Wil
liamsburg and Georgetown.
Seventh District-Richland, Sum
ter, Orangeburg and Lexington.
THE DEBATE.
At 10:25 the special order of. the
day, Mr. McGowan's bill "to establish
congressional districts and name the
same," was reached.
Senator Gruber offered an amend
ment to sustitute Orangeburg for Col
leton in the First district; Colleton
for Edgefield and Saluda in the Sec
ond district: and Edgefleld and Saluda
for Orangeburg in the Seventh dis
trict. This proposed amendment af
fected only the. first, second and
seventh districts as the bill came from
the house.
Senator Mayield spoke in favor of
the proposed amendment. arguing
that it would mate close, compact dis
tricts, of equitable size and population
and that it would put people of close
and allied interests into the same dis
trict. The proposed change does not
affect the districts in the upper part
of the State, but only those in the
lower section of the State. It con
forms more nearly to the arrangement
of the judicial circuits than any other.
Senator Gruber said he recognized
fully that it would be impossible to
arrange the districts so as to meet the
approval of all the people of the State.
because there are so many conflicting
interests. All that can be attempted
is to carry out the spirit of the federal
law, and in this proposed amendment
it is simply proposed to do substan
tial justice to the people and the in
terests concerned. The amendment
is not offered in the interest of any
prospective candidate or any particu
lar interest. Senator Gruber then
reviewed the disparities in the popula
tion of the districts as make u pin the1
house bill, lie declared there was
gross injustice in the house bill. Why
is it, he asked can 168,.000 people in
one district have a representative in
congress, while in another district it
takes 211,000 people to elect a con
gressman. Let any man study the
bill and it will condemn itself. lHe
called attention to the fact that in
the amendment he proposed the first
district would have a population of
194,000; the second would have 184.
000, and the seventh would have 197,
000. Tils brings the population of
the three districts gy nearly to the
required general average-191,000
much nearer than is secured by any
other arrangement yet proposed. This
bill, of course, has not been introduced
for the purpose of legislating any man
in or out of congress, but the districts
should be so arranged that every coun
ty should have a fair showing in the
election of a congressman. He dis
claimed any accusation, but the temp
tation would be great on the part of
congressman to distribute their favors
in counties that have large IDemocratic
majorities, whle the smaller ecunties
would have. no political influence. Un
der this. arrangement Colleton county
would ha no political. weight or in
fiuence in district with Charleston.
Senator Sheppard then took the
floor. H~e said the whole burden of
Mr. Gruber' argument seemed to be
that Coileton. with a small voting
population, should not be placed in a
district with a large county like Char
leston. because her men might not
have the opportunity they would like.
The senators from a majority of the
counties that are affected by this pro
posed amendment will vote against it.
The proposed change w-ill make a dis
trict running from the Savannah river
two-thirds of the way across the State
--a gerrymandinlg dist rict truly. It
is not absolutely necessary that all of
a county should be placed in onel conl
gressional district, and if desired Coi
leton counity can be divided and one
part placed in one district and part in
another. A t >e same time we can't
arrange the districts solely in the in
terests of the peopl: of Colleton coun
t.The only issue is shall tis dis
Stitbe formaed to suit the individual
abauf the mn who are clamoring
for a chance. Senat or Sheppard was
very unwell, and was not able to speak
Senator sheppard said te amend
ment was so remnote from what he
would agree to that it could hardly be
considered seriously. Saluda cannot
be changed from one district to the
other district without increasing the
disparity in population. rather than
increasing it he plead that Edgetleld
and Saluda should not be separated, as
they had been affliated together since
the country was settled. Senator
Caughmani mcved to lay the amend
ment on t table. This was done by
a vote of 34 to 3. and Edgefield and
Saluda will continue together side by
side in the same district.
The bill was passed to its third
reading.
NO BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
Fifteen Senators Decline to Let the
People Vote on It.
Senator Gruber's bill to amend the
constitution so as to provide for bien
nial sessions was taken up in the Sen
ate Wednesday. The bill had a favor
able report from a majority of the ju
diciary committee. the minority re
port being unfavorable. There were
in fact three bills bearing upon the
same subject by the same auth
or. According to the plan of Sen
ator Gruber the biennial sessions
are not to commence until after the
session of 1904. Senator Gruber ex
plained Tuesday that if his amend
ment to the constitution should he
adopted a great deal of preliminary
legislation would be necessary as at
present aUl the statute law of the
State is based on the idea (if annual
sessions of the general assembly. le
explained his bill and landed into an
argument in favor of biennial sessions.
He thought the amendment should be
submitted to a vote of the people, so
they could express themselves on i t.
He thought the people wanted an op
portunity to vote on the question.
The people want biennial sessions as a
matter of economy. There are only
six states in the union that has annual
sessions, and so far as he has been able
to learn no State having biennial ses
sions is dissatistled with the plan.
He thought the time has come in
South Carolina when annual sessions
are not only not neccessary but are
actually harmful. He spoke of the
harmful ,,nd vicious legislation that
is proposed at nearly every session, and
the demoralization and unsettled state
of affairs that exists while such
measures are pending. Then there is
a considerition of economy. The cost.
of the meeting of the general assembly
will be reduced just one-half. He
thought this a progressive measure.
one which the advanced progress of the
people deriands. and one which the
people of the State demand. There
was no further debate, and a direct
vote was taken on tie passage of the
bill. There were 20 votes in favor of
the bill, and 15 against it. but the bill
was lost for lack of the requisite two
thirds majority. The vote was as fl- i
lows: For Biennial Sessions-Sena
tors Appelt, Barnwell, Blakeney.
Caughman, Dean. Dennis, Gaines,
Gruber, Henderson. Livingston. Man
ning, Ragsdale, Raysor. Sarratt,
Sharp. Sheppard, Stackhouse. Walker,
Williams.-20.
Against Biennial Session-Senators
Bowen, Douglass. Goodwin. Graydon,
Hay, Herndon, Hough, Hydrich, Il
derton, Marshall, 3Mayfield, Moore,
Mower, Stanland, Talbird.-15.
Far From Home.
William E. Curtis, writing from
Rome to the Chicago Herald says:
"Not long ago two young colored wo
men from Alabama appeared at the
oice of Mr. de Castro, the United.
States consul general in Rome. and
asked for information eoncerning the
steamers to the holy land. Thiey
were dressed in the typical plantation
style, with bright colored calico
dresses and bandanna turbans, and
both were "shouting Methodists,"~
they said. when questioned as to their
religious belief. They were on their
way to Palestine "t see the place
where the Lord was crucified," a nd
seemed to have plenty of money, which
they claimed to have earned by doing
laudry work at hlome. They asked
no favors, paid their own bills, and.
although neither of them could read
or write or speak any lanlguage but
the negro dialect of Alabama, they
had met with no diiticulty during their
journey; everybody h~ad treated thlem
kindly and they had enjoyed ever.y
moment of their experience. When
Mr. dle Castro asked them if he could.
do anything for them. they whispered
together for a moment and then
modestly requested him to read aloud'
to thlem that portion of the thirteenth
hapter of Isaiah which begins: H~owl
ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.'
Wanted an Injiunction.
Judge Teasdale in the circuit court
at Kansas City. Wednesday granted
the application of Frank James for an
injunction to stop the production of
"The James Boys in Missouri," a
drama depicting the James boys as
train robbers and bank looters which
has been playing at a local the1at re.
The injunction proceedings wereI
brought by Frank James, his mother.
Mrs. Samuels, and his step-father. Dr.
Samues. Tile suit raised the ques tionf
as to whether or not a private. citizeni
could be portrayed on the stage wih
out iis consent, whether to his dis
redit or not. Judge Teasdale in-1
structed that James furnish a bond ol
$4:00 to indemlnify the theatre pee
pe against loss in case the decision is
overturned by a higher court. and un
til the bond is given the play will go on
Killed By an Automobile.I
Henry Thies. a seven year old )biy,
was struct aad killed Wednesday in
New York by an automobile occupied
by Edward iR. Thomas, son If Gecn.
Saual Thomas, and th~ree friends.
The party was arrested charged with~
homicide, and was released v o bil.
The automobile which stuc the b.y
is known as the "white flyer"~ because
of its great speed. ILt f~rry heC
long to Won. K. Vauderbilt. Jr.
Wednesday Mr. P. N. Haluerc~ a
student of the Nuthi Carin~a College.
after a week's illness or doublie pneu
monia, died1 in Colu:ubia. lie was one
of the brightest and nmost popular
younr men in the Cohieo-.
rorcibly against thie poposed amend
men~ t.
Senator Talbird said that all that
Beaufort county asks is to he placed
in a separate district from Charleston.
ie had nothing against Charleston or
Charleston people. but Charleston's
interests are cuntlicting with those of
Port. Royal. and they should be in
separate districts. Pesonally he fa
vored Senator Gruber's amendment,
but he was entirely willing to vote
for the McGowan bill as it camine from
the house. The only thing we want
is to be separated from Charleston.
Everybody knows the history of the
removal of the naval station from Port
Royal. when we counted on the sup
port of the congressman who lived at
Beaufo'rt and failed to get it..
Senator Biakeney said that every
one recognized the expendieney and
necessity of redistricting the State,
but the interests of the State are so
varied and contlicting that it is im
possible the suit everybody. Tierefore
Ve must make mutual compromises
and concessions. le hoped that the
personal ambitions or Interests of any
man should not be allowed to have
weight with senators in their votes.
le did not care to discuss tae bill in
detail, other than to say he would be
glad to see the tifth district unchang
ed though he had no opposition to
taking in Fairdield.
Senat.r Barnwell said he intended
to vote for the bill as it came from the
house. As to the assertion that Char
leston could control the elections of
the congressman, he called attention
to the fact that for the most of the
time since 1S76 the congressman has
been elected from Orangeburg or
B.eaufort, once Charleston candidates.
Charleston.people have never solidly
sapported Charleston candidates as the
records will show. As for himself, he
had no personal interest, for it is
practically certain that he would never
again be a condidate for congressional
honors. As to the question of the
ports. he thought that Charleston,
Port Royal and Georgetown should be
in separate districts. The real ques
tion seems to be that of congressional
honors, and he thought none of the
counties should fear to go in with
Charleston. for Charleston people al
ways vote for the best man, regardless
of where he comes from.
Senator Raysor favored the amend
ment proposed by Senator Gruber, as
he believed that arrangement would
more nearly do justice to all the coun
ties interested than the bill as it came
from the house. While he had. no ob
jection to the present arrangement of
the Seventh district, he said he recog
nized there were many inequalities
and thought there should be changes.
He had no special preference, but only
wanted to see fair and equitable dis
tricts.
Senator Sharpe said he wanted to
enter a solemn protest. on the part of
the people of Lexington, against the
proposed amendment. He thought
the bill as it came from the house was
good enough. We should not pay
much attention to the interests of con
gressional aspirants, for if a candidate
is the right kind of a man he will be
elected to congress any way, no matter
where he lives. It is no argument to
say that one county would be over
shadowed by another. for we are all
itizens of South Carolina. and we try
to select the most accepta1'le men to
represent us in congress, regardless of
which county he lives in. He thought
the bill as it came from the house
would give the most general satisfac
tion to the people at large.
Senator Henderson said Aiken coun
ty was satisfied with the bill as it
ame from the house. After all each
senator will try to look aftei- the in
terests of his own county. Aiken is
very comfortably situated, though he
would not object to some other coun
ties coming in-he only wanted not to
be nlaced in some other district.
Senator Maytield then spoke again
t some length in favor of the pro
posed amendment.
Senator Manning opposed the
amendment. It will not make any
more complact or more homogeneous
istricts: it will put people who have
o interests in common into the same
istrict.
Senator Sheppard again spoke in
pposition to the amendment, which
would put Edgefield and Clarendon in
he same district. It would take
onger to go from Edgemield to Claren
don than from Edgefield to New York.
ie moved to lay Senator Gruber's
mendment on the table. The vote
stood 22 to 17. and the amendment
was lost.
'THE FREEMAN SU'BsTITUTE.
Senator Manning then offered as a
sbstitute for the house bill what is
nown as the Freeman substitute bill.
t makes a radical change from the
ouse bill. Senator Nianning called
ttention to the fact that it arranges
he districts more nearly equal in re
gard to population and size than any
ther plan, that the grouping of the
istricts is more homogeneous than
any other plan vet offered.
Senator Sharpe moved to lay Sena
or Manning's amendment--the Free
an substitute-on the- table. The
vote was 24 to 15, and the amendment
was laid on the table.
ANOTUER AMENDMENT.
The senate then went back to the
:onsideration of the bill as it came
from the house, and Senator Raysor
offered an amendment to change Clar
endon from the seventh to the first
district. This, he thought, would
mke the two districts more nearly
equal, while it would not materially
affect the shape of the districts.
Senator liarnwell said he did not op
pose this. but he feared that if the
senate made amendments and the bill
got into the hands of cmrnittees, the
ultimate passage of the hill might be
jeopardized. Hie suggested thai the
bill be passed in the senate just as it
came from the house.
Senators Sharpe and Sheppard both
favo red Senator Riaysor's amendment.
on the ;rround that it was necessary mn
rder to mnake i he dlistricts have some
equality on the grod of population.
On the question of adopting Sena
ter Rtaysor's amendment the vote was
::8 to 1, and the amenlmnent was
adopted. Lexingten goes into tihe
First district. along with Charleston.
Senator Mayfield then offered an
amendment to take Saluda (out of the
Second district, with Edlgefield, and
put it in the Seventh district, with
Leinton. Richland. etc.
FAILED TO PASS.
The Senate Kills the Bill to Estab
lish a Fertilizer Plant.
IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH TO
Succeed in Doing What Its Advocates
Thought It Would. Would
Require Five Hundred or
a Million Dollars.
Senator 31ayield's bill to provide for
the manufacture and sale of fertilizers
bv the State was taken up in the Sen
ate Thursday iiight. The provisions
of the bill have already been published.
Mr. Tatum's joint resolution to pro
vide for the appointment of a com
mission to investigate the scheme was
taken up at the same time, and the
two were considered in connection.
Senator Manningstarted the ball by
moving to strike out the enacting
words of the bill. le said he believed
the scheme was wrong in principle.
for he does not believe it a proper
function for the State to engage in
business. There could not be no simi
laritv between the State dispensarv
and a State fertilizer plant. As to
the argument that the State owns the
phosphate beds and has the convicts,
and could therefore engage in the
business, more economically than pri
vate parties, he said the cost of equip
ping a plant would be about three
hundred, thousand dollars-even a
plant of limited capacity--and he did
not believe the State could make mon
ey on the investment. A plant of
this size would turn out about 50,000
tons per year, and as the State con
sunies about 800.000 tons per year. the
State plant would have very little ef
feet in reducing the price to the farm
ers. Another objection is that the
f4rtilizer business is necessarily a cred
it business. Very few farmers are able
to pay cash for their guanos. and they
would receive no benefit. Take a year
like the one just past, when so many
farmers were unable to pay for their
guanos. Suppose the State had been
selling the fertilizers-and had been un
able or unwilling to extend credit, as
the fertilizer companies have done, it
would have meant general bank
ruptcy.
Senator Mayfield, the author, de
fended the bill. He said he had intro
duced it soley with a view of benefit
ing the farmers. It is stipulated in
the bill that fertilhzers should be sold
t a profit of not more than 10 cents
per ton. The amount of fertilizers
used in this State each year reaches
300.000 tons, which range in cost from
ten dollars to twenty two dollars per
ton. You can't buy acid for less than
ten dollars per ton and any ammoniat
ed fertilizer costs sixteen dollars per
ton. He says he has been assured that
the net cost of acid phosphate to the
manufacturer is only six dollars and
thirty eight cents per ton. ThIs leaves
a profit of three dollars and sixty two
ents on each ton. These are the fig
res of expert manufacturers, as to
the cost with free labor and buying
the ph:osphate rock. He said he esti
mated that the State by owning the
rock and the labor. could produce acids
t a cost of four dollars seventy cents
per ton, and leave s profit to the State.
n the same way he said he estimated
hat tie State could produce ammon
ated fertilizers at a cost of about
welve dollars per ton against sixteen
ollarn to twenty two dollars charged
by the manufacturers. If the St-ate
egages in this business itwill demon
trate how cheaply fertilizers can be
produced, prices will be lowered, and
e wi~i be no longer in the hands of
he fertilizer trust. lHe argued that
he convicts should be put to work in
he irterests of the farmers of the
State. rather than be worked in com
ptition with them. - He thought the
cheme was opposed because it was a
ew one-a novel one. There is no
onstitutional inhibition against work
ng the convicts in this way, and the
nly question is one of policy. Shall
his thing be done in the interest of
the farmers? They surely need help
eedl relief. One advantage that would
e derived from this plan would be
tat the farmers would get pure ferti
izers. for the State would not turn out
mpure goods. Yet we all know that'
housands of tons of impure, worth
less fertilizers are sold in this State
very year, the examinations of our
nspectors to the contrary notwith
standing. By this plan we would save
o the farmer from one million ilve
undred thousand dollars to one mii
ion seven hundred fifty thousand dol
lars every year-enough in three years
o wipe out the State debt.
Senator Henderson said there was a
idespread dissatisfaction in the State
over the fertilizer business, and re
ief is demanded. The question be
fore us is whether we are now ready
to go into the business, or to appoint a'
ommitte to make an investigation
and report at the next session, lie
hought the bill should not be passed
ow. but that the committee should
e appointed.
Sn1tor Talbird opposed the bill.
[Te is from Beaufort, in which county
most of the phosphate rock is dredged.
ie sa.id the cost oIf engaging in the
usiness would be far greater than is
maind Besides the costly machin-,
r that will be necessary in dredging
he roek, the greater part of the work
n manipulating the phosphate rock is
ote by skilled laoor, and the pen iten
tiay cannot furnish skilled labor. lie
tought the cost of engaging in the
bu~iness would he between tive hun
rd thousand dillars and one million
dollars, with the probiabilities in favor
of the latter.
Senator Graydon also opposed the
bill, because he believed the planim
practicable. There is no doubt that
me rarmning interest is depressed, and
that they neced help, it is also true
that a gireat deal of worthless fertili
.er is soil. lI ut the latter can Oe
rmdied by inisuringr wholesome comn
p:ition. I we can keep up whole
lme comnpetitioni, we need not fear
tht ertilizers or any other comimodi
t vwill be sold at tigures that are too:
high. He thought the thing to do~
would( be to join hands in passing need
Sed law roresre competition in the
fertilizer business, and not for the
State to engage in the business itself.
A smicient answer to be made to the
arguments in favor of the bill, is that
the State hasn't got the money to en
gage in the business.
Senator Raysor said he would be
willing to do anything to relieve the
people of the State from the thrall
dom of the trusts. but he did not be
lieve the Mayfield bill should pass, be
cause there was not suflcient data at
hand to show that it is the proper
thing to do. He thought, though,
that the resolution providing for a
committee to investigate the matter
should pass. so that at the next ses
sion we can act intelligently. Then
i it is found necessary or desirable
ne can go into -he business. Some
might say it would be an idle junket
trip. but he thought the matter one of
suflicient importance to warrant the
appointment of the committee.
Senator Barnwell thought the thing
to do was to contrive some way by
which during the coming year the
farmers should have good seasons,
make. good 'crops and iix up some
scheme by which cotton would sell
next fall at 12 to 15 cents per pound.
If we can do this it will solve the
whole matter. Seriously, he was as
tounded at the proposition for the
State' to go into this business, espe
cially after her experience in the other
business she has engaged in. But we
are not to monopolize the whole fer
tilizer business, but to engage in com
petition with private parties. What
a proposition! And that, too, in a
husiness that has been abandoned by
nearly everybooy engaged in it. He
reviewed the history of the phosphate
business in this State during recent
years, and aflirmed that he didn't
know of a single c~ncern that Is mak
ing money. As to the proposition to
appoint a committee to investigate
the natter, he saw no practical good
to come out of it, but there would
probably be very little harm done, and
it wouldn't cost much. These com
mittees have been appointed off and
on for 20 years, and he had never seen
any practical good come from any of
them.
Senator Ilderton then entered Into
the discussion. This is no new scheme,
he said. Senator Connor introduced a
bill of this kind, several years ago, he
said, and if that bill had passed the
State would not now be in the grasp
of the trust. He thought the Mayfield
bill should be passed without the ap
pointment of any committee. If the
committee should be appointed and
make a report to the next session there
would be scores of lawyers on hand to
fight the bill then. The opposition to
the bill would be stronger and more
insidious at the next session than at
present. He was confident that the
State would never lose any money if
the plant should be established, and
the farmers would be saved many tens
of thousands of dollars every year:
Senator Goodwin favored the bill.
He Said shere said there is a demand
by the farmers of the State for the
State to take charge of the phosphate
beds and convert the rock into fertil
izer. He did not regard the plan as
impractical. He said that within the
wails of the State penitentary were
two manufacturing plants owned by
private partids and they hire the State
convicts and make money. Would it
not be better to have the convicts
working in the interest of the whole
people, rather than for a private cor
poration? He favored beginning on
a small scale and not on one that
would bankrupt the State. If cir
umstances warrant the plant could be
increased.
Senator Mayfield then made some
farther argument in support of his
neasure. He said the appointment of
the committee would sidetrack the
whole matter-what is wanted is ac
tion. The time has come for the State|
to say whether she will give the farm-|
rs the relief they need.- We can get!
the money to go into the business if|
we decide to do so. There can be no!
question about that. We gave 50,
00 to the exposition in Charleston,
we spent nearly half a million in
equipping Clemson college-shall we
now say that we haven't got the
roney to give the farmers relief from
trust that bleeds and crushes our
people? In reply to a question he said
hat the money to start the plant
ould he raised by a special levy,
which would not be more than two
mills.
The vote was then taken on the
uestion of striking out the enecting
words. The vote stood 22 to 10, and
the enacting words were stricken out
s follows:
Ayes-Aldrch, Appelt. Barnivell,
Blakeney, Bowen. Brice. Dennis, Glenn
raydon, Hlay, Henderson, Hlerndon,
ydrick, Manning, Mower, Raysor,
Sarpe, Sheppard. Kullivan, Talbird,
Walker, Williams-20.
Noes-Caugh men, Douglass, Gaines,
oodwin, Hough, Ilderton, Mayfield,
arratt, Stackhouse, Standland-10.
'The vote was then taken on the pas
sage of the resolution to appoint a comn
ittee. The resolution was killed by
a. voteof 20 to 12.
Death of Representative The.
The Columbia Record says Repre
setative B. H{. Theus, of Hampton,
died of pneumonia Wednesday morn
ing about 7 o'clock at the Caldwell
otel, where he has been stopping.
He was a man of fine appearance and
seemingly in the best of health. A
few days ago he was attacked with
the grip, which soon developed into
pneumonia. Though from the start
the discase was quite severe, none of
his friends expected a fatal illness,
and his rather sudden death created
surprise and sorrow. He has been a
legislator for two terms, and although
he was not heard much on the floor he
was a concientious and hard worker.
He was about 50 year old, and leaves
a wife and several children. He lived
at Seminole, Hampton county, and,
his remains were taken to his former
home for interment.
Unexpected Explosion.
John Dooley was instantly killed
ad Samuel Brown was fatally injured
by7 the unexpected explosion of a blast
; the works of the Sagamore Coal and
Cke company near Duhring, Mercer
county. W. Va., Wednesday. The
nan thinking a fuse which had been
lighted some time had gone out, re
turned to cut another fuse and re
light it when the blast went off with
fejti reults.
FERTILIZER COMPANY WINS.
The Senate Kills the Bill Against the
Virginia-Carolina Company.
At one o'clock on Friday Senator
Graydon's bill to repeal the charter of
the Virginia-Carolina Chemical com
pany was taken up in the Senate. The
judiciary made two reports. The ma
jority reported a substitute bill to the
effect that If the company does not
comply with all the laws of tne State
by May 1st, and also agree to abide
by the State courts, then its permis
sion to do business in the State should
be withdrawn.
Senator Manning moved to strike
out the enacting words, and Senator
Graydon then took the floor to defend
the measure. He said he had intro
duced it without consultation withi
any one, and had done so because he
believed the Virginia-Carolina com
pany is the most vicious trust that is
oppressing the people of the State.
It is grinding the farmers, and unless
the farmers are prosperous and con
tented we have lost the balance wheel,
nothing will go right. Wetalk about
our cotton mills and other industries,
but if the farmers do not prosper
nothing will prosper. le considered
this the most vitally important meas
ure that will come up at this session.
We all know that since the Virginia
Carolina company secured control of
fertilizer business in the state the price
has gone up $2 to $3 per ton. In other
words, the trust is wringing out of
the pockets over half a million dollars
per year. This has been going on for
three years, and the levy may be in
creased at any time unless we put a
stop to this robbery now.
Senator Aldrich said we are. called
upon to do that which has never been
done In South Carolina, to debar a
legitimate business corporation from
doing business in the State. Naturally
the question will be asked, what are
the reasons for this? These reasons
should have been set forth by the ad
vocates of the measure, but so far no
valid reasons have been advanced. As
to the argument that the price of fer
tilizers has been raIsed, hasn't the
price of every other commodity been
increased? Is this enough to justify
this legislation? There is no reason
for this bill except unfounded public
clamor. Are we to drive this company
out of the State because it did busi
ness here before filing its papers-its
naturalization papers so tospeak. The
law already provides a penalty for
this crime-if crime it can be called.
The legislature of South Carolina can
not afford to enact post facto law.
The vote on question of striking
out the enacting words of the bill was
taken at 6.35, and resulted as follows:
Yeas-Aldrich, Appelt, Barnwell,
Blakeney, Bowen, Caughman, Dennis,
Gaines, Glenn, Goodwin, Bough, Man
ning, Mayfield, Moore, Sheppard,
Stackhouse, Stanland, Sullivan, Wal
ker. Williams-20.
Nays-Brice. Douglass, Graydon'
Henderson, Herndon, Hydrick, Mower,
Sarratt, Sharpe, Talbird-10.
The enacting words were stricken out
and the bill was killed.
THE ROBBINS TRAGEDY.
The Whole Matter Brought Up by
Application of Ball.
The interesting Robbins homicide
case was up for a hearing before Jus
tice-*Pope of the supreme court on a
motion for bail Wednesday afternoon.
Messrs. D. S. Henderson, W. H. Town
send and W. C. Best represented the
prisoner, Geo. D. Kirkland, and Mr.
Solicitor Davis, assisted by Col. Robt.
Aldrich, represented the State.
Simply stated the facts seem to be
about as follows: At a party at the
residence of Mr. J. C. Griffin of Rob
bins on the evening of the 31st of De
cember last, while the dancing was in
progress, Mr. George Cobb uninten
tionally gave offence to Mr. Arthur
Dunbar. He left the room and In a
few moments returned with his father,
Mr. George Dunbar, and his brother,
Mr. Harry Dunbar, all of whom ap
proached Mr. Cobb in a threatning
manner. Mr. Alfred Sennett inter
posed to prevent a difficulty, when Mr.
George Dunbar drew out his pistol.
Mr. F. P. Sennett also interposed to
keep the peace, when he was shot. He
then shot George Dunbar dead and a
general shooting ensued, the result of
which was the killing of Harry Dun
bar and the mortally wounding of
Arthur Dunbar, who died a few days
later of his wounds. After the general
shooting was over George Kirkland ap
peared on the scene and shot F. P.
Sennet, who was lying wounded on
the floor; it is for this that he is now
under indictment for murder. The
testimony is said to be conflicting, it
being contended by him that Sennett
was attemnpting to shoot him at the
time. while on the other hand it is
testified to by several witnesses that
Kirkland disarmed Sennett ~before
shooting him. Justice Pope granted
bail-in the sum of $3,000, with not
less than two nor more than five
securities.-The State.
Touched a Senator.
Last Saturday week Senator Sullivan
of Anderson was loser of a purse con
taining something over forty dollars.
He has heard nothing of it since. The
senator was with Col. Thomas Wilson
of Salem, who at the same time was
relieved of a leather book containing a
number of railroad passes. The pick
pocket evidently not caring to bother
with the passes threw this book away
and It was found on Monday by a Co
lumbian. it has been returned to its
owner. The work was evidently that
of a professional.
A Section Master Killed.
J. F. Robertson, section master on
the Blue Ridge road, died at Belton
Thursday as a result of an accident.
The handcar with a number of hands1
had started home after the day's work
and one of the negroes had his feet
hanging over the car and they caught
on so~me object on the track and he
was thrown off. Mr. Robertson was
jerked off the car and fell in front of
it, the wheels passing over his body
and causing internal injuries which
nmove fatal.
A HIA R 1jD CRIMINAL.
A Roving Burglar Who Has Been Ruz
Down at Last.
On the third day of last June th
store of Mr. A. F. H. Dukes, at
Branchville, was broken into early in
the morning. A colored man passing
saw a light in the store at that un
usual, time, went to Mr. Duke's resi
dence and told him of it. Mr. Dukes
and his son-in-law, after arming them
selves, went to the store. Mr. Dukes
entered the back door, which he found
open and was fired upon several times
by the thief inside, who missed him
only by a few inches. -Mr. Dukes re
turned the fire, but without effect.
The thief escaped through the front
door, and was shot at by Mr. Archie
Wright.
On the following morning a man
who gave his name as C. C. Campbell,
of Tennessee, was arrested a few miles
below Branchville, and Mr. Dukes
identified him as the person he saw in
his store, Campbell was placed in the
Orangeburg jail and tried for the
crime at the last term of Court. He re
fused the services of an attorney; man
aged his own case with considerable
ability, and received a verdict of not
guilty; After his release he went to
Branchville, called at Mr. Duke's
store and left a message for him, that
he had forgiven him for the prosecu
tion and hoped God would do likewise.
Campbell then left the town.
On Saturday night, February 8,
the general store of J. B. Gillam, Jr.
at Lees, in Bamberg county, was
broken open by a-professional burglar,
but before he could get away with his
booty he was trapped and captured
by J. W, Fickling, J. B. Gillman, W.
C, Cave and S. R. Rhodes, after a
lively battle with pistols and shot
guns, in which all escaped without in
jury except the thief who now wears a
liberal charge of fine shot in his other
wise not ugly face. The shot
ruined one eye, knocked out two teeth
and left his face much in the condi
tion of a sieve. The burglar proved
to be a white man. He was lodged in
the Bamberg County jail, where he
will remain until his trial.
To a representative of The Baraberg
Times he gave a full account of him
self and his pecolations. His story is
interesting and in the main -can be
fully verified. Recently he nas been
known at different times as Williams
Williamson, Johnson and Charles C.
Campbell, the latter being his real
name without doubt. His story is as
follows:
"My name is C. C. Campbell, son
of farmer W. C. Campbell, of Morris
town, Tenn. Am a machinist, age
27, unmarried. I steal because I can
not help it,-it is a disease with me.
I go months without stealing, then
the fit comes on me, the devil gets
into me, and I go out to steal. My
father has spent a fortune on me try
ing to cure me of this habit, but other
people's property will stick to my fing
ers in spite of me. Spent two years,
1896 and 1897 in the Knoxville asylum
for insane, where my father placed
me to cure me of stealing. I left
home last May 5th, was arrested at
Branchville June 3rd, last, charged
with breaking into the store of A. F.
H. Dukes. Was tried at Oriangeburg
for that crime at the January term of
court and acquitted. I then went tc
Columbia and worked in the Olym
phia mills until last Friday, when I
left purposely to rob Mr. Gillam's
store. I was in his store about a
month ago. Arrived at Lees at dark
last Saturday. Went to depot shed
and took a nap. Woke up about nine
o'clock that night, and found an axe
with which I broke into the store. I1
knocked the safe open with the axe
and found only a few pennies which
I would not take. I piled up such
stuff as I wanted and was almost ready
to leave when I heard some one rattle
the window blind. I was then at the
middle door. I took my pistol from
its scabbard and jumped from in front
of the window. Then the man at the
window fired one shot and said:
'Come out-we've got you.' I fired at
him and he returned the fired. I fired
again and he ran away. Then I went
to the end door looked out and a man
shot me in the face. I shot at him
twice. I thought I was fatally shot.
They told me to throw down my gun
and come out and I complied with
their demands."
There is no doubt but that he is the
same man who broke into the store of
Mr. Dukes at Branchville in June.
He does not confess that he is but he
says he was arrested and tried for that
burglary, but was acquitted. When
he was acquitted in Orangeburg a
handsome purse was made up for him.
The afternoon he was acquitted, he
came into the office of The Times and
Democrat, and requested that his
thanks be returned to the people for
their kindness. He spoke of his old
father in Tennessee and how happy he
would be when he heard of his acquit
tal. He protested his innocence, and
said while he was a poor man he was
an honest one, but it seems that he is
a most accomplished rascal. He may
have been connected with the recent
train robbery, near Branchville.
Orangeburg Times and Democrat.
The Queen City.
"The Citizens of Cincinnati cordial
ly Invite you to the formal opening of
the Cincinnati Building at the South
Carolina Inter-State and West Indian
Exposition at Charleston, S. C., Feb.
rary 15, 1902, and to make their
building your headquarters when in
Charleston. at any time during the
Exposition." Twenty-five thousand
merchants and others throughout the
South have received the above invita.
tion, engraved on a beautiful gray pa
per. with the seal of the city and pic
ture of the building, in a soft blue
tint. The idea and the invitation,
are unique in their way. and is an
other teather in the bonnet of the en
terprising Queen of the Ohio. Long
may she wave to reap the reward of
enterprise and liberality. She is do
ing a great work for Cuarleston and
South Carolina. which deserves, and
will receive, due appreciation.
Terrible Fatal Avalanche.
An avalanche Wednesday killed fif
teen laborers and injured thirteen,
who were working at the foot of a
mountain outside of town of Bel
ade.
A FIERCE FIGrMT
In Kentucky Between-Somei'lwlesr
Mountaineers and Officers.
SEVERAL IT-ED AID WOUNDUD
A Notorious Saloon the Scene .of the
Conflict. Scores of Men Have
Been Kiled There in
the Past.
Six are dead and as many more are
dying as the result of a battle-between
Middlesboro officers and mountaineers.
The battle, one of the most desperate
of its kind in the history of mountain
warfare, occurred between 4 and 6
o'clock Thursday afternoon at Lee
Turner's saloon, three and a half miles
from Middlesboro. Last month Tur
ner had some mules and-other goods
levied on in payment for a debt and
a few nights ago, it is said, he, with
others went to Virginia where the
property had been taken, secured
what was formerly his and returned
to his house. Thursday Deputy Sheriff
William Thompson summoned a posse
of ten or fifteen men for the purpose
of arresting. Turner. Railroad trans
portation was refused the officers and
they footed it through the mountam
Turner had heard that an attemptr-'
would be made to arrest him and he
and his men, fifteen in number, were
prepared. The saloon is built othuge
logs and is surrounded by .a 'thirty
foot fence, in which loop holes were
cut. Turnar's surrender was demand
ed. -.His reply was- a round of shots.
Charley C. Cecil, of MidKdlesboro, was
riding-a palfrey in plain .view-of the
Turngr gang. Some one, believed to
have been Mike Welcb, - Turner's bar
tender;-fired through a window, kill
ing Cecil. -Instantly the murderer
fell back pierced by a half dozen bul
lets. -The officers scatteredi hidng.
behind trees and.rocks. In the shoot.
ing that followed .Tohn Doyle, a form
er railroad man, was badly wounded
perhaps fatally, and S.non
another ex-railroader was shot.
torc was appliedto an expsed side
of the building and in a few
the building was in flame.,eera1
oftthe mountaineers came to the win. >'
dow and were immediately. shot down.>
Lee Turner and several of -his friends,
however, escaped and'are reportedto
be at Mingo mines, eight miles from-,
Middlesboro. Several of his men per -.
isned in the flames. Many TumOs are
reported tonight, one being that five
of tne TUrner gang were killed and
that five more perished In the flames.
It Is also believed that the posse lost
more than one member. Some of the
deputies came in tonight and state
that half of the men are stillat-the sa
loon and that they will, return with'
reinforcements. It Is feared that the
trouble is not at an 'end. Turner, it
is.said, graduated from a college at
Rose Hill, Va. Lee's saloon is knoMn
for the difficulties that have oocurred
there. Placing the day's number of
deaths at only six, fifty-nine' have
been killed there and twice that num
ber wounded.
Hard On connecticut.
We have heard some uncomplimen
tary things said about the Yankees in
this day and generation but they were
generally kindly expressions in corn
parison with the estimate set down by
Levi :Morris of N'ew York, father of
Governeur Morris, in a will he made
in 1760, in which he provides as fol
lows: It is my wish that my son Gou
verneur shall have the best education
that can be furnished him in England.
or America: but my express will and
direcrion are that under no circum
stances he be sent to the colony of
Connecticut for that purpose lest In
his youth he should imbibe that low
craft and cunning so Incident to the
people of that country and which are
so interwoven in their constitution
that they can not conceal It -from the
world, though many of them, under
the sanctified garb of religion, have
attempted to impose themselves upon
the world as honest men.
The President's Visit to Charleston.
The sympathy for the President In
this his hour of anxiety is only equall
ed by the general disappointment
over lhis unavoidable abandonment of
his trip to the South and Charleston.
Great preparations had been made for
his reception and many had timed
their visit to the Exposition so as to
see the Chief Executive of the Nation.
But it is only a pleasure deferred.
The President will surely redeem his
promise at a later day and-all' is for
the best. The thing now to do, is to
hope and pray for the speedy restora
tion of the sick boy and the relief of
the father's anxiety, with which we
are all in sympathy. The Exposition
will continue for four months more,
and will be better, and prettier, if
possible, every day. The welcome
and the pleasure will not be lessened
by the delay.
Military Day at Charleston.
February 21 and 22, three thousand
of the Flower of Georgia - and South
Carolina volunteer troops will encamp
upon the Expositions grounds. Wash
ington's birthday will be celebrated as
never before, in Charleston. Not
since the days of war has there been
such a gathering of soldiery in the old
city. The echoes tigat once resounded
to sounds of sternest war, will now
give back only the mimic volleys of
peace, and bright eves may watch the
soldier boys with never a suspicion of
the tear of parting. We all love the
soldier boys and admire themiin their
bravery or cloth and tinsel.
Another Law Knocked Out.
Judge Gage .Thursday at 1Anderson
knocked a hole in the county govern
ment law. An appeal came up from
the magistrate's court in which two
negres were convicted for ref using to
work on the public roads as required
by law. E. G. McAdams, attorney
for the negroes, raised the point that
the law was unconstitutional in that
the law requires a different-number of
days in different counties, which is
special legislation. Judge Gage up
held the appeal. Maj. J. N. Vandi
ver, couinty superusary left immedi
ately for Columbia to go before the
legislature to have a county ..govern
mat bi ll introduced..that wIllbold