The Florence daily times. [volume] (Florence, S.C.) 1894-1925, June 29, 1920, Image 1
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The Florence Daily Times
THE LATEST ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES
26th Year
Florence, S. C. Tuesday Afternoon, ' June 29, 1920.
$6.00 a year.
Administration Forces
In Complete Control of
. Convention Machinery
W. j. Bryan Not Even Included in Sub-Committee to Draft the
Platform. Convention Refuses to Seat Reed of
Missouri. Slim Chance of Successful Com
bination of Opposing Forces.
McAdoo Stock Rises
WILL PRESENT ROAD COMPLETE PLANS LOR
SHOWS THIS YEAR IN , C'NTY ORGANIZATION
DARGAN ST, THEATRE CIIMERCLAL BODIES
The Bond Issue
Good Business
O’Dowd to Build New Mov
ing Picture House on
East Evans.
Interesting Meeting Held
At Court House Here
Last Night.
LIST OF BOOKINGS MR. WHITING’S PLAN
San Francisco. Itmc 29 .—The administration forc
es entered the second day o •. the convention apparently
in full control.
Senator Glass as chai r man of the resolutions com
mittee, Senator Robinson, of Arkansas, another adminis
tration supporter, chosen p ermainent chairman, and ad
ministration men at the hea d of other committee was
the line up.
The threatened anti-ad ministration fight, as far as
it is related to the organza tion of the convention ma
chinery, collapsed without showing.
Mr. Bryan was not inc luded in the sub-commit 1 e-
chosen to draft the platfor m.
The rules committee de cided that the nominating
•speeches would be made vvh ile the resolutions commit-!
tee is working on the pir.tfo rnj but there will he no bal
loting until after the platfp rm is adopted. This plan
will save much time. "
The administration con trol indicates less prospect .
today of an open fight on ni c platform on the cm von-,
tion floor, administration le aders appearing confident',
that all differences will be settled in committee.
The convention meets r oday at one o'clock. 1 T’n
will be four o'clock this aft ernoon Eastern time.-
CONVENTION PAYS
TRIBUTE TO WILSON
IN DEMONSTRATION
Mighty Outburst Follows
Unveiling Of President’s
Portrait In Hal.
LAST HALF HOUR
Striking Testimonial Of
Party’s Faith In Great
Leader.
REED DENIED SEAT
Sau Francisco, June 2Etr-The cre
dentials committee denied a seal in
the convention to Senator Reed, ot
Missouri. The Clark nowell dele
gates from Georgia pledged to Attor
ney General Palmer will be seated.
There is no indication from the Reed
forces as to their next move.
McADOO'S CHANCES IMPROVE
San ^rancisco, June :;9*—Events
so far have shown a marked reaction
over night on the discussion of nomi
nation booms. There seemed to be
a general feeling that the prospect of
McAdoo’s selection was improved.
McAdoo’s friends expect he wil run
third in the early balloting, with Cox
second, and Palmer first. They ex
pect later a break fo McAaoo.
PRESIDENT WINS
HIS FIRST FIGHT
ON THE PLATFORM
Senator Glass Unanimously
Elected Head of Reso
lutions Committee.
BRYAN IS BLOCKED
Opposition May Combine
San Francisco June 29—Whether a
combination of opposing forces can
bo accomplished to stem the tide of
administration success has not yet
been revealed. Close observers would
not be surprised to see the next move
a definite trend toward some particu
lar candidate fer the presidential
nomination. While the administra
tion forces worked in concert to con
trol the machinery of the convention
there is no assurance community of
interest among them will coulinue
when the balloting is reached and of
the preliminary stage of complimen
tary voting. Many believe there will
be no definite drift of presidential
senUment until after the platform is
adopted. Delegates are expectant as
to whether the nominating speeches
will be reached today or tonight.
PLATFORM STILL OPEN
San FTanclsco., June 29.—Actual
preparation of the Democratic plat
form waited today while the platform
committee keut. open house to hear
Anal suggestML&nd arguments from
many sourdl^^^ibor. liquor and the
Irish qiMMj^^^Qe up for debate
at publi^^^Bngs. also many speak-
of lesser controversy
id there eemed little
long list would be
late in the day.
BIRMINGHAM TAKES
3RD PLAGE IN SOUTH
POPULATION ANNOUNCED TODAY
ATLANTA MAINTAINS SEC
OND PLACE WITH 200.616
Wastngton, June 29.—Atlanta with
2(10,616 population retains her place
as the second city in the South, the
figures for ^irmlughim announced
t*day showbfj the Alabama ci'.y Las
178,270 people an increase of more
than forty^flve thousand, Ttirhiing-
ham retains third place. New Or-
e o a , n ° come flrst in the South with
057,408.
—* ;
COUNTERFEIT V ISSUED
Washington, gune 29.yWarning of
f ? ou t lter teit five dollar note ot
me Federal Reserve Bank of Rich
mondwag issued today by the Treas
ury Department,
Any Move He Makes Must
Be Known To Presi
dent’s Friends.
Siui Francisco, June 29.—By the uu
opposed choice of Senator Glass, of
Virginia, as chairman of the resolu
tions committee, which w.n draft the
platform of the Democrvic national
convention and the selection of Sen
ator Josph T. Robin am. of Arkan
sas, for permanent chairman of the
1
Jconvention, .administration larces
demonstated last night that Uiey
were in complete control of the con
vention machinery.
Any planks which Wm. J. Bryan
may desire to nav einserted in the
platform and which fail to pass ap
proval of the resolutions committee,
will therefore, have to be brought
into the convention with the endorse
ment of only a minority report.
Senator Robinson is accounted a
thorough going administration man
and he will be wielding the gavel
when any attacks are made on the
administration program.
These two developments, demon
strating the control of the adminis
tration forces, while not lessesing
the chances of a tight on the floor of
the convention were pointed out by
the administration forces as evi
dence that they had the convention
in hand and in support of their pre
dictions that they would carry it
through to the end.
Glass Heqds Committee
Auditorium, San Francisco, June
29.—Senator Carter Glass, of Virgin
ia, was unanimously elected chair
man of the committee on resolutions
when the committee met for organi
zation last night. There was no op
position. .Senator Walsh, of Mon
tana. seconded Senator Gians’ nomi
nation for the chairmanship.
The flrst test of strength proved
ttie claim of the administration forces
that they were in control of the sit
uation and they contended it fore
cast further control in the framing
of the platform. Senator Walsh was
underwood to have the backing of
William Jennings Bryan.
..Senator Walsh had been urged for
thq chairmanship by a group head
ed by Eastern delegations. They
abandoned-the fight when a canvas
of the committee i-evealejl a majority
agaidst them. With the choice of a
chairman, the committee turned at
tention to the discussion of methods
to hasten its work.
San Francisco, June 29.—From the
shadow of the Golden Gate, the hosts
of Democracy sent a roaring tribute
across the country yesterday to Presi
dent Wilson.
The j?aty l al convention flung
aside for the moment the business
before it while delegates carried on
a demonstration that swept the great
gathering off its feet. It was a half
hour before the outburst evoked by
a sudden display of the President’s-
portrait could be stilled. Again and
again as his none was mentioned,
the cheers broke out anew to culmi
nate in the shout of approval that
adopted and sent to the White Mouse
laftit night a striking testimonial of
his party’;* faith find pride in the
iiian who has led it through troublous
years.
When Vice Chairman Kremer of
(tie national committee gave the sig-|
nal, a bugler sounded ’•Attention.'.''
the sharp stacatto call rang out over
the uproar of conversation. The
first note of “The Star Spangled
Banner" rang out from the band and'
the organ together and, as delegates
alternates, spectators and attend
ants stood in tribute, a monster flag
dropped from the ceiling to form a
wall of color behind the platform. It
obscured the view of the band gal
lery and organ loft, but as it fell the
booming tones of the organ rose from
behind it. joining with majestic thun
der in the national antnem. From
floor and galleries delegates and spec
tutors joined in the mighty tones,
then came the. touch that set the con
vention off ith a wild shout of ex
ultation. The gerat flag was gath
ered slowly upward In the slings as
it rose, it uncovered a flag draped
and illumined potrait of President
Wilson placed against the high pipes
of the or-an. For a moment there
was a brief pause. Then came the
tumult.
Echo of Shouting
A wild shout rang from the floor.
It was caught up and echoed from
side to side. Rising with hysterical
force, the sound grew and grew, a
formless, toneless thing that had in
it something that stirred the blood
and pulled at the emotions. Dele
gates leaped on their chairs, waving
and shouting. They stampeedod into
the aisles, jostling and cheering in
a packed mass before the platform.
Over in the Virginia section a dele
gate ripped the standard from the
loop and charged towards the speak
er’s stand, waving It high in the air.
Other states followed. Some of them
were f’owor to gf-t. In motion, hut as
the shouting and tumult continued
standard after standard came up,and
the inarch around the hall began. In
the New York section Assistant Sec
retary of the Navy Roosevelt seized
the standard and rushed Into the
crowded aisle, battling with others
who sought with eager hands to up
held the sign
But there were some among the
New York delegates wtio struggled
with Roosevelt to prevent him carry-,
ing the state standard in the demon
stration for the president. There was
a lively scrimmage akin to a center
rush in a football game in which fists
were flying and these seemed daitger
of bloody noses. A policeman who In
terfered got a pummeling. One man
had his coat dragged off andseveral
men lost their nose glasses. No one
was hurt, the protesting delegates
changed their minds, and Roosevelt
triumphantly marched off with the
New York standard to. join the Wil
son demonstration. A shout of add
ed intensity marked the delegates’
I eoognitlon of the incident find a
beer for Roosevelt was .all but lost
in the general tumult.
Season Opens At O’Dowds,
September 28 With
Savage’s Best.
.
?'ir. J. M. O'Dowd announced today
that during the theatrical season he
would present his road shows in h : s
own theatre on South Dargan street;
which seats 915 persons.
Work is now , well under way on
the completion of the stage and th j !
building of eight dressing rooms
which will be underneath the stage.)
The theatre wa,s constructed with,
Urn end In view, and Mr. O'Dowd
feels that the growth of Florence ras
has been such as to warrant the out-j
lav. He is expending at least ten j
th' usand dollars on the completion |
and equipping of the stage with the ,
most modern scenery and appliances (
It will be so arranged as to permit)
the presentation of the largest road
shows. The accoustics. lighting, ven
tilation, with the commodious dress
ing rooms and rest rooms for men;
and women make the theatre one of i
the most modern and complete in'
the state. One of its most valuable
features is that the stage can be
seen perfec'ly from every seat in the :
house, including the balcony.
New Moving Picture house
Mr. O’Dowd further stated that he j
was having plans drawn for the erec
tion of a modern moving picture
t^oatre on the ’o t lust east of the
Weeks-Bmdtey llardware Company.
Ho nnrehased this lot some time ego
for this purpose. The p’ans for the
new moving picture house are not
conip'ete us yet. but Mr O’Dowd is
incorporating in them the best fea
tures in moving picture theatre con
struction. The new theatre will be
a valuable addition to East. Evans
street. It will be built to seat 1,2*1'!
persons, giving each one a tree and
unobstructed view of -the screen.
Work on it will begin nert snring.
While itie new ■moving picture
house is being built Mr. O’Dowd will
contimm lo use bis house for mov
ing pictures while Ihe stage is not
occupied by road snows.
Mr. O’Dowd lias just returned from
a trip to New York where he visited
the Klaw and Flange and Schubet
booking offices with whom he has a
contact fo all the shows they send
out and which ne states control prac
tlcally all road bookings. He states
that the aoproaching season will h»
the best that Florence has ever had.
He is making an effort to bring to
Florence the best shows obtainable
believing that the patronage will well
warrant thir showing here.
Season Open September 24
The season will open on September
24 with Henry W. Savages produc
tion ‘‘See Saw,’ a musical extravan-
za which has attracted great houses
on Broadway. Up to this date the
bookings are as follows: ‘ See Saw;
Bringing Up Father; Lassie White’s
Minstrels; Girl in the Limousine;
Mutt and Jeff; Buddies; Irene; Take
It From Me; Hill’s Minstrels; Rose
of China; Three Showers; Rainbow
Girl; Lightning; Turn to the Right;
Adam and Eva; Robert E. Lee; Not
So Long Ago; Breakfast In Bed; My
Golden GirJ; Nightie Night; My
Sunshine Lady.
It is unusual to have so many book
ings thus early in the season. There
will be many more he says as the
season advances. The list given
above includes some of the biggest
Broadway successes.
DEVELOPMENT BOARD
CAMPAIGN OPENS
PUBLIC MEETING AT COUNTY
COURT HOUSE THURSDAY
NIGHT.
The Florence County Campaign
for the South Carolina Development
Board will begin Wednesday evening
with a meeting of the campaign com
mittee in the parlors of the Florence
Hotel. On Thursday night there will
be a public meeting at the county
court house at which there will be
a distinguished speaker. Meetings
will also be held at Lake City to
night; Oianta Thursday night, Tim-
monsviUe and Pampllco on Friday
night. The campaign committees
and their territories will be announc
ed tomorrow.
SMALL FIRE TODAY
The fire department was called ouf
about ten o’Aock this morning to ex
tinguish a roof flame on the house
occupied by Jess Smith in East Flor
ence. The fire caught from a spark
from I lie stqve ‘line. The Are was
put with very littel damage to the
building.
MUM, SAYS LLOYD GEORGE
London, June 29.—No further state
ments relatlvq to the . inter-AUled
conference to be held at Bolougne
will be made until after the Allied-
German meeting at Spa according to
Lloyd George,
Outlines General Plan For
Permanent Road System
In County.
The convention of the Presidents,
Secretaries, and leading members of
the Chambers of Commerce of loike
City. Timinonsville. and Florence, in
Florence last night, comp eted plans
for a county organisation of the com
mercial bodies, which will handle the
matters of general interest to the
county. The meeting determined on
an organizaticn comprising the sec-
retaiies of tlm three bodies, and two
directors from each of them, this
composing an executive and advisory
organization.
Elections of the Directors as .the
advisory members of the organiza
tion was referred to the individual
chambers, at the meeting last night.
Immediately, each of the three orga
nizations are to name these represen
tatives in the county association.
George A. Adye, president of the
Lake City Chamber of Commerce,
presented the subject of a county or
ganization of the commercial bodies.
He stated lie believes such an asso
ciation could accomplish a great deal
of good for the county at largo. J.
M. Lynch, president of the Chamber
of Commerce of Florence, and Dun
can McKenzie, president of the Cham
ber ot Commerce of Tiinmonsville,
heartily endorsed the proposition.
The scope of the county associa
tion, us outlined last night, would be
particularly the development of cash
markets through the county associa
tion of the various agricultural in
terests of this section of the county,
to effect best marketing system, mi
tertaking county exhibits in the State
Fair, and oilier -expositions, handling
comity nud inatt-us, properly adver
tising Florence uiiiniy. ...
questions
Mr. Whiting Presents Plan
R. E. Whiting of Florence, add
sed the meeting last night, by invita
tion , on the question of procuring
good roads for Florence county. He
presented a plan which he originated
and which lias been commended by
various persons to wuom be present
ed it. ilis plan is to finance the
roads building project from special
sources of revenue, these being par
ticularly the interests which receiv
ed the most direct benefit from the
roads. He estimated, that on a $.*,•
000.000 roads building project, the
county would need to raise about.
$500,000 per annum. He proposed
that the property levy should raise
hall the money and be made accord
ing to the nearness of the property
to the road, that immediate'} - abut
ting the road paying a heavier assess
ment, and that more remote paying
the lighter assessment. He propos
es that the other half of the money
should be raised from u vehicle tax.
laid against automobiles, trucks aud
other commercial, and pleasure users
of the road system.
3500 Autos In County
"There are 3000 to 3500 automo
biles in Florence county," states Mr
Whiting, "Tliese automobiles are pay
ing at least $1,000,000 per annum
taxes—for bad roads. True they are
not paying this into the county treas
ury, to be applied to the roads, but
they are paying it in wear and tear,
and depreciation of their cars, where
it is a direct loss. This is an average
of about $300 per car per annum. I
.vould suggest that the automobile
owners be glad to pay one-third of
that amount to build, and maintain
permanent roads, which would not
only save them twice the amount
they paid, but would multiply in ad
ded years of use of the car.
• ‘We should have a complete road
survey of Florence county, so that
we can determine where and how we
should build our roads. The county
highway commission should be charg
ed with the duty of making the zone
assessments to pay for the roads.
“Our first effort must be to procure
legislation, which will remove the
constitutional limits for Florence coun
ty, for roads building purposes.’’
Mr. Whiting suggested that the
roads improvement interests of Flor
ence county, might get together to
induce Ashton Williams of Lake City
t prominent young attorney, to go to
the legislature this year, as a repre
sentative specifically to handle this
proposition, which seemed to meet
with thanks, and a resolution for the
ndividual Chambers to invite him to
appear before their Direettfrs.
Mr. Adye was elected Chairman of
the meeting lust night. Roy i
delle, secretary of me TimmonsvlFe
hamber of commerce, was elected
secretary.
There was a good attendance, cf
representatives from the 3 chambers
o fcommerce of Lake City. Timmons
ville and Florence. The meeting was
very enthusiastic, and manifested a
deop interest in ma.iers ot county-
wide interest.
;Whiie Citizens Are Paying For Good
Roads They Have Not Got Them.
Comparison of Present Costs and
Cost of Operation Under
The Bond Issue. Main
tenance vs Interest
A BUSINESS PROPOSITION
Projsct
Present Cost
Under Bonds
Streets
19,000.00
$21,000.00
Back Debt
’ $8 500.00
$7,500,00
Water Works
Imagine a Fire
$6,000.00
Measure the Results Yourself.
BY WALTER J. JOHNSON
In considering the proposed Muni
cipal Loud issue for $575,000 one can
not but be impressed with the busi
ness judgment, and relative business
values, of running the city’s business
on the present plan, or of voting
bonds, and adopting up to data
means. In determining these values,
one must consider the present cost of
operations, aud the cost cf ihe opera
tions under the bond issue.
Maintenance vs Interest
At present, the city is spending ap
proximately $19,000 per vear for the
maintenance of streets. This item
was increased to $22,000 for next
year. The exact figures for the year
just ended w-re $1 ,992, and for the
year preceding $19,110. With the in
creased cost of labor, feed for ani
mals, and such factors, the cost must
inevitably eontii.ne to rise. If the
citizens vo^p the $350,000 fur build
ing streets, the interest will b'» hut
$21,000 per annum.
Whether or not the citizens realize
the fact, they are paying for good
roads, and have not got them either.
Apply to Carrying Charge
Building permanent streets, this
$19.uoo it* ni would he eliminated—
or better said, would he applied to
maintaining something permanent.
The city is now paying taxes to raise
this money, which is annually being
sunk into mud and ruts. This amount <
to live mills. Allowing for the diver
sion of this, money, now spent for use
less maintenance, to the carrying
charges of the bo:-ds. would leave
only l mill to be raised to pay the
carrying charge on the streets it ini
of the bond issue.
The two results are absolutely in
comparable and citizens should re
member they are paying for good
roads whether they have them ox
not. The inevitable fact stands. I hat
they must continue to pay for them,
whether or not they have them
In the case of the $125,000 back in
debteduess. the citizens cannot over
look the fact that they owe this mon
ey and the obligation rests upon
the city. It must be met. This is
inevitable.
At present the city is paying 6 to 7
per cent, interest on open notes.
Ever since the ob igation was con
tract ed, and the money borrowed
from the banks, the rate of interest
gradually—not because of any dispo
sition on the part of the banks to
take advantage of the city, but be
cause financial conditions demanded
the increase in the interest rates. By
converting these open notes Into
bonds, the citizens will permanently
dispose of this constantly embarrass
ing liability. At the same time, they
will save themselves around $1,000
per annuni interest in the carrying
charges. At present on the open note
plan, the city is paying around $8,500
per year interest. Six per cent bonds
would cut this to $7500 interest per
annum.
Waterworks Item
iu the matter of the water works,
under the management of Mayor Gil
bert, who has introduced efficient
methods, and installed much modern
machinery at the plant, the operating
cost and the revenues have beep
brought c oser together than ever
before in the history of the city. For
th* 1 year ending 1918, the operating
costs were $25,768, against revenues
of $19,058. a deficit of $6,710. For
the year ending 1919, the operating
costs were $34,522 against revenues
of $26,671, leaving a deficit of $7,851*
For the year ending 1920, the operat
ing costs were $33,612. fthile the reve
lines were $34,081, leaving a credit
of $469 for the system.
This commendable showing of May
or Gilbert for the past year is attri
butable largely to new installation:
in the plant, which permitted efflu
ent operations. He has gons a long
way towards electrification of th
ter works system. With the money
which will be derived from the $100,-
000 item of the bond issue, he ex
pects to complete the plans of mod
ernizing the plant.
The *100.000 for the water work.;
will cest $6,000 per annum interest,
which would require a tax levy of
about 1 1-2 mills. With the water
works plant turned from a heavily
losing proposition, such as was a con
tinual drain on the general taxes, in
to a modern money making business
it. will be capable of supporting itself
in every detai:—paying the carrying
charge; of th“ money invested in it.
paying for the extension of the water
mains, fer fire protection, deprecia
tion charges, and other accruals
agurfist th^ institut’.on.
Net Tax Results
The net results of the bond issue
measured in increased taxes to the
property holders or Florence, very
likely will net l-e more than 2 or 3
mills, as one may sec, by this com
parison of figures. These figures will
stand the test. Anyone who do?s not
understand them is invited to call at
the office of either Mayor Gilbert, or
the Secretary of the Chamber of Com
merce, and have them proven to his
own satisfaction. Or, if he prefers,
bo ma; take a paper and pencil aud
work out the resu'ts for himself.
The citv has now a tax roll of approx
iniately $3,750,000.
The proposed bonds will draw six
percent interest.
The sole object of this article is to
present to the intelligent citizens,
the single question of relative busi
ness values, and business judgm-mt,
under the preent system, as against
voting the bonds.
Blind Man Shoots
With Fatal Result i
C. G. GREAgON, FORMERLY OF
WARE SHOALS, KILLS WIFE
IN MACON.
— ■ '
Macon. Ga., June 29—C. G. Crca-
son, 28 years old blind man, shot and
killed his wife here late yesterday.
A four year old child witnessed the
shooting. Creason fired five shots
and reloaded his pistol. He told the
sheriff’s deputies who arrested him
that he tried to kill two men whom
he had ordered from his home and
did not know that he had' wounded
his wife. The Creson’s have been
here five years, coming here from
Ware Shoals, S. (\
CHILDS CONFERENCE
BEGINS TOMORROW
ALL FLORENCE MOTHERS URG
ED TO ATTEND CONFERENCE
WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
WEATHER REPORT
Generally fair tonight and Wed
nesday. Moderate to fresh South
west winds,
STRIKE IMPROVES
Philadelphia, Juu • 28—General im-j
proven.ent was indicair-d today in thej
trainman's strike situation, according,
to a^Veiinsylvania railroad statement, j
GERMANY’S WAR LOSSES. |
Geneva, 'lune 28—Recent statistics
published in Germany on that coun
try’s war losses state that 1,350,000
men were knled.
There are toJtv 5/t 9tw war wid
ows, according t.» the statistics,
1,130.000 war orphans and 500.009
maimed or consumptives supported
aios^y by eha’lty,
The Childs Welfire Conference
opens tomorrow at Central graded
school aad will be held under the
auspices of the Chila Welfare Com
mittee, assisted by city doctors and
the local public health nurse.
The object of the conference is to
promote health and save the babies,
much re1lai(le information may be
gained by all mothers who attend the
conference and they are all urged to
(fiend an < 1 .$j briif? all children
.under six yours of age for medical
inspection. Your child will be
thoroughly examined and if there be
defects you will be fully advised and
the best results are sure to follow
for all who avail themselves of this
opportunity to attend Miesa confer
ences. The conference will be held
daily beginning tomorrow and con
tinuing through Thursday The sei
sions will be held from 9 to 12 and
from 2 to *> The la v * Friday will
be devote I to colored crildren. Let
* rery motner in 1 ’nrer.ee who hns
ch idren under six Lring their tots
lo the conference where important
le-.-ons will he givtJ them,