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I The Fort Mill Times Established in 1891. FORT MILL, S. C., THURSDAY, MAY 25,1916. $1.25 Per Year. " PRESIDENT Wl IOOJ1P PRESIDENT AND WIF WITH ENTHDSIA! THRONG FR1 I America Has Set Example of Bringing World Together Upon Terms of Liberty, Co-operation and Peace, Says President-Europe Would Profit By Calm Counsel. MILITIA MAKES SHOWING IN PREPAREDNESS PARADE President Says Europe is Undergoing Stress Through Which America Has Passed and is Warring Over Problems Which America Has Peacefully Solved.?Many Notable Guests In Charlotte. Charlotte. ? President Wilson addressed approximately 100,000 people hero attending the 141st anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The President lighted a beacon of hope to the war-ravaged nations of Europe und pointed them to tho peaceful conquest achieved by the United States of America over the identical problems that have plunged Europe into the greatest strife the world has ever known. f Address Was Brief. Though profoundly significant, the address was characteristic in its brevity. For exactly 18 minutes Mr. Wilson spoke, and during that time tense silence save for his spoken weds prevailed throughout the cosmopolitan audicnco which massed about his stand. Tho President talked Intimately, seemingly not raising his voice above a conversational pitch, to the throng which crowded closely about his stand and which rose tier on tier on the largo grandstand across the street President Views Parade. Tho President's address was enthusistlcally applauded by a crowd gathered from several states to celebrate tho ono hundred and forty-first anniversary of the signing of tho Mecklon burg Declaration of Independence Bet'oro speaking he reviewed a long military and industrial "preparedness" parade, and afterwards he was the guest of honor at a large lunch and went ny uuiumuuue iu uaviusoa v. oilego, 20 miles away, where he once was a student. He was accompanied by Mrs. Wilson. Secretary Daniels, Secretary Tumulty, Dr. Cary T. Grayson, his naval aide, Senator Overman and Representative Webb. Tho re ceptlon committee included Governors Craig of North Carolina and Manning of South Carolina, and Mayor Kirkpatrick of Charlotte. A Great Day. It was a cordial crowd that had stood in lino for hours waiting to heat tho voico and look upon the face of the Nation's Chief Magistrate and Mrs. Wilson. It was an eager multitude that populated the line of the parade for dozens of blocks and cheered tho President with hearty unanimity. And it was a happy crowd that helped Charlotte celebrate May Twentieth, 191f>. in a fashion that sonds the day down Into the annals of the city as one of tho most notable In the history of the state. With Precision. With marvelous precision the pro gram of the day was observed. Not an Incident marred tho general en Joyment. A parade which In variety and quality has rarely been equaled here was reviewed by the presidential party, and President Wilson?the master attraction of the ontlro event ?was seen by countless thousands, and heard by many. Veterans Give Souvenir. The first Incident of Interest at the stand was the appearance of Mecklenburg Camp United Confederate Vetorans, who came marching up. Hftincr hla lint n a ha i\qooo/1 h?? the stand. A huzza from tho grandstand announced their coming, a glance revealed the cause and in a moment tho President and Mrs. Wll son were on their feet, the former with uncovered head and an expanalvo smile. The audience nrose? that portion which was seated?amid cheers which grew in volume as Commander W. B. Taylor stopped In front of tho stand and handed *o President Wilson a huge hornets' nest. The President smiled broadly as he accepted tho tendered token. During this time the Marine Band played "The Star Spangled Banner," "The Waf^h on the Rhino" and "Dixie," amid great cheering. *:loar and strong rang the martial note of tho parade. There were the 30DR0W WILS EOPLE AT CHI EMJREETED SIM BY A GREAT 1 hi nnirnu nnTrn Jill Dtvtm DlttltD ?khakNclad hoys and men, on whom the Nation will first call n case of need in Mexico or elsewhere, many hundred strong. There were the Rich mond Greys in uniform. There wore the veterans?Carolinians and Virginians?who were like ambassadors bearing messages of the past. After the veterans had been cheerod came a delegation of 100 students from Davidson College. Then followed a great procession of industrial floats. Exercises Begin. When the parade had ended Mr Heriot Clarkson motioned the crowd to stiiiness anil asked Kev. Dr. A. A McGeachy of make the invocation At the -conclusion of the eloquent prayer Mr. Clarkson presented Hon. T L. Kirkpatrick. Mayor of Charlotte who spoke briefly cf the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and its birthplace and welcomed the disting uished guests and host of visitors tc the home of the Hornet's nest. Craig Presents President. Governor Craig's presentation ot President Woodrow Wilson was briel and clever. He said: "My fellow-citizens of the State. 1 wish to assure our honored guest to ...... ....... tiv nun no V CI IUIUU IU U SIUIC or spoken to a people more loyal tc him and the great work ho has donf anil (lie great causo for which he stands than this. I have the honor my fellow countrymen of North Caro lina and South Carolina and the re gion round about to present you to the President of the United States!" The effect was instantaneous. In i moment every man and woman was on his or her feet, cheering wildly The grandstand was an animated spectacle of waving handkerchiefs and hats. The suppressed enthusi asm of the audience, touched o.T bj the greatness of the moment, burst Its bonds and for nearly a mlnutt Charlotte let Mr. Wilson know tlia' slio was glad he was hero, but wher the President opened his mouth tc speak, a great stillness descended. President Wilson Speaks. Mr. Wilson said: "Your Excellency, ladles and gentle men: "It Is with unaffected pleasure thai I find myself In the prescnco of this Interesting company today, f or I havt come hack for a visit all too brief t< a region very familiar to my heart and the greeting of whose people is peculiarly welcome to me. "I do not know, my fellow citizens whether I can Interpret for you todaj the Slllrlt rvf fVita nwnolnn Ki,? l? t. a W. " WV* MOIWII, UUb 11 12 mrs. woonnow wilson. necessary when we get togother ir celebrations like this to take counse together with regard to Just what 1 is that we wish to celebrate. Yoi will say wo wish to celebrate the mem ories of that time to which we lool back with such pride, when our fath ers with singular wisdom of I and stoutness of heart mulct took tc j set up an Independent nation on this side of the water; but It is very muct moro iraportan that we should reminc ourselves of the elements with whlcl our forefathers dealt. There wore onlj three million citizens in that origina republic of tho United States of Amer ica. Now there are one hundred mil lions. It is a long cry back to thos? ' modest beginnings; a great period o time not only, but a great period o profound change, separates us froa 1 that time, and yet I would remind yoi that the same elements which wen present then that are present now. "What interests my thoughts mon than anything else about the Unltec ION ADDRESSES IRLOTTE'S MAY States Is that it has always been in process of being made ever since that little beginning and that there have always been the same elements in the process. At the outset there was at the lioart of the men who led the movement for independence a very high and handsome passion for human liberty and free institutions. And yet there lay before them a great continent which it was necessary to subdue to the uses of civilization if they wore going to build upon it a great state among the family of nations. I 1 heard a preacher once point out the very interesting circumstance that our Lord's prayer beglus with the petition of 'our daily bread,' from which he President Wilson, w Carolina, Take: I Fh 5 drew the Inference that it is very diffi- ; cult to worship God on an empty stomr ach and that the material foundations , of our life are the first foundations. . What I want to call your attention to is I that this rountrv fiver .ilncn that tlm? has devoted practically all of its at- | tentlon to the material foundations of t Its life; to subduing this continent to : the uses of the nation and to tho building up of a great body of wealth and j material power. I find some men who j when they think of America do not think of anything else but that. But, ' my friends, there have been other nations just as rich and Just as powerful in comparison with the other nations of the world as the United States is, and it is a great deal more important that we should determine what we are going to do with our power than that we should possess it. Origin of America. "You must remember, therefore, the elements with which we are dealing. Sometimes those of us who were born in this part of the country persuade ourselves that this is the charart eristic part of America. Here more than anywhere else has been preserv | tti u Krr-iii pun ui uit" wrigiiiu.1 siock which settled this country, particularly that portion of the stock which came from the Urltlsh Isles (I am - not meaning to exclude Ireland.) And i then I find a grent many of my friends 1 who live in New England Imagining t that the history of this country Is i merely the history of the expansion - of New England, and that Plymouth t Hock lies at the foundation of our in atltutions. As a matter of fact, my 1 fellow-citizens, however mortifying it ) may be to them or to us. America did 3 not cbme out of the South, and it did l not come out of New England. The 1 characteristic part of America origil nated in the Middle States of New r York and Pennsylvania and New Jer1 sey, because there from the first was - thnt mixture of populations, that mix turo of racial stocks that mixture of j antecedents which is the most singu f j lnr and distinguishing mark of tho j f ' United States. The most Important | i ' singlo fart about this great nation ; i , which we represent Is that It Is made > 1 up out of all the nations of the world. I dare say that the men who came to i America then and the men who have 1 i come to America since came with a , \ OVER CELEBRATION single purpose; sharing some part of the passion for human liberty which characterized the men who founded the Republic, but they came with all sorts of blood In their veins, all sorts of antecedents behind them, all sorts of traditions in their family and national life and America has had to serve as a melting pot for all the diversified and contracted elements. What find of fire of pure passion are you gokind of fire of pure passion are you goorder that the mixture that comes out may be purged of its dross and may be the fine gold of untainted Americanism? That Is the nmhlftm Elements In the War. "I want to call your attention to ith Governors of No n in Charlotte, N. C . " v ;;? .; ^ pto copyrighted by The Moons, Charlotte, 1 anothor picture. America has always been making and to be made, and while we were in the midst of this process, apparently at the acme and crisis of this process, while this travail of soul and fermentation of elements was at its height, came this great cateelysm of European war, and almost every other nation in the world becamo involved in a tremendous struggle which was what, my felfellow-ieltizens? What are the elements in the struggle? Don't you see that in this European war is involved the very thing that has been going on in America? It is a competition of national standards, of national tradi nulla, mm ui II ,1111 nun puiiurs?ponucal systems. Europe has grappled in war as we have grappled In peace to see what is going to be done with these things when they come into hot contact with one another. For do you not remember that while these processes were going on in America some very interesting things were happening? It was a very big world into which this nation came when it was born, but it is a very little world now. It used to take as many days to go from Washington to Charlotte in those days as it now takes hours. I heard an Irishman say if the power of steam continued to increase in the next 50 years as it had in the last, we would get to Charlotte two hours before we left Washington. And as those processes of inter-communlcatlon have been developed and quickened, men of the same nation, not only have grown closer neighbors; hut men of different nations have i;rown closer neighbors with each other; and now that we have thoso invisible tongues that speak by the wireless through the trackless air to the ends of the world, every man can make every other man In the world his neighbor and speak to him upon the moment. While thoso processes of fermentation and travail were going on, men were learning about each other, nations were becoming more and more acquainted with each other, nations were more and more be oming Inter related and intercommunication was being quickened in ever* possible way. so that now tho meltlhg pot is bigger than America. It As as big as tho world. And what yow see taking place on the other side If the water Is tremendous? ( ? > I had about said final process by whcih a contest of elements may in God's proc ess be turned Into a co-ordination and co-operation of elements. Processes of War Stand Still. "For it is an Interesting clrcuni stance that the processses of the war stand still. These hot things that are in contact with each other do not make very much progress against each other. When you cannot overcome, you must take counsel. See then, ladies and gentlemen, what a new age we have come into. I should think that it would quicken the imagination of every man and quicken the patriotisim of every man who cared for America. Here in America we have tried to set the example of bringing all the world together upon terms of liberty and co-operation and peace, and in that great experience that wo have been going through America l has been a sort of prophetic sample of mankind. Now the world outside i of America has felt the forces or America; felt the forces of freedom, fho fnrrftd nf pntn nirtn ncnirntlnn forces that bring every man and every l nation face to face with this question, j "What are you going to do with your power? Are you going to translate it into force, or are you going to trans>rth and South Saturday, May 20 M. C. (Courtesy Charlotte Observer.) late it into peace and the salvation of society'? Does it not interest you that America has run before the rest j of the world in making trial of this great human experiment, and is it not the sign and dawn of a new age that the one thing upon which the world is now about to fall back Is the moral Judgment of mankind. (Applause). There is no finer sentence in the history of great nations than that sentence which occurs in the Declaration of Independence (I am now referring to the minor declaration of Philadelphia, not to the Mecklenburg Declaration) in which Mr. Jefferson said, 'A decent respect for the opinion of man | kind makes it necessary'?and I am 1 not now quoting the words exactly? 'that we should state the grounds upon which we have taken the important step now asserting our independence.' 'A decent respect for the opinion of mankind'?it is as if Jefferson knew that this was the way in which mankind Itself was to struggle to realize i Its aspirations and that, standing In | the presence of mankind, this little i group of three million people, should i say, 'Friends and fellow-citizens of l the great moral world, our reason for > doing this thing we now intend to ! state to you in candid and completo terms, so that you will never think I that wo were merely throwing off a yoke out of impatience, hut know that we were throwing off this thing in order that a great world of liberty should bo open to man through our Instrumentality.' Voice of Humanity. '"I would like, therefore, to think that the spirit of this occasion could he expressed if we imagined ourselves lifting somo sacred emblem of counsel and of j>eace. of accommodation nnd righteous judgment, before the nations of the world and reminding them wi imil mtssuKu in scripture, 'After I the wind, after the earthquake, after , the fire, the still small voice of humanGEORGIA PEACH CROP ESTIMATED AT 3,550 CARS | Atlanta. Ga.?It is estimated by the Georgia Fruit Exchange that fhc peach crop In this state will be about 2.560 cars _ [ftUSTlNS KEEP I DRIVING ITALIANS T^KE TOTAL OF 23,883 PRISONERS, NUMBER OF CANNON TAKEN IS 172. I TAKE IMPORTANT POSITIONS The Italian Defeat Is Steadily Becoming More Serious?Capture Southern Tyrolean Front. uernn, via wireless.? rne Italians have been driven from their entire I yusitlun on Lavarone plateau. accord i ; lng to the Austrian war office an- ; i nouncenient. It is stated that the 1 i Italians' defeat is steadily becoming j . more serious. The Austrian lines have i j been pushed forward rapidly, several j additional positions of strategic im- ' portance having been captured. The I number of Itulians taken prisoner are said to have been increased to 23.SS3. The statement follows: "Tho Italian defeat on the southern Tyrolean front is certainly becoming more serious. An attack of the Graz ! Corps on Lavaronc plateau was attended with complete success. Tho i enemy was driven from his entire posl; tion. Our troops captured Mandriolo, j ' Fima and the height immediately west of the frontier from the summit as far as the Astach Valley. "The troop* of Crown Prince I Charles Francis Joseph reached the Monte Tormino-Monte Majo line. "Since the beginning of the offensive 23.SSI! Italians, among whom are 4S2 officers have been captured by us. The number of cannon taken lias been increased to 172." Austria's annuunccctent of success on the Tyrolean front was described by diplomats friendly to the Central Powers as being of the utmost strate| gical Importance. It was stated that i fllfl flHvn fiVPi1 fl?4? nw.oli f . Itiniie gious on the Tyrol-Italian line, being accomplished under most difficult con ditions had for Its ultimate objective the cutting of the railroads in Venotla, the northeast neck of Italy and then pressing on to the Adriatic to cut off a large number of Italian troops nowoperating within the neck which is surrounded on the frontier by Tyrol, Cariuthia and Goritz. ECONOMIC SITUATION IN MEXICO EXTREMELY GRAVE. Food Shortage Blasts Prospects of Any immediate Settlement. Washington.- The economical situation in Mexico is extremely grave, according to official advices to the state department. With the monetary proD| lent already acute, the food shortage in Mexico and vicinity continuing without prospect ot any immediate re- : lief and with the labor strike extending over virtually all the Mexican railway lines the de tacto government is pictured as facing a serious domestic plight. hirst hand reports as to the sltua- ' tiou in northern Mexico will reach the Department. Consul Letcher from Chihuahua City is en route to Wash.....w,....... 1.1.. i?:.. ,.i ...ist. i_J_ ! iugiuii, i'? rsuuiiiuij unliving Willi mill a synopsis of the reports of iive other consuls re< My ordered to the border to talk o\i. onditions with military officials there. The Department received further advices from Special Agent Kodgers at Mexico City telling of the new note being prepared by the de facto government. but throwing no light on its purport. The Washington government is still proceeding on the theory that the right to follow hot trails across the border has been established and General Funston's instructions are based I Ull lUl.t view. NORFOLK HAS ANOTHER FIRE OF COSTLY NATURE Norfolk, Va.?Fire'in the establishments of Hogshtre, Hudglns & Co. and the Harris-Woodson Harbee Company, wholesale confectioners, and H. B. ; Vessey & Co., printers, did damage estimated at $71,000. The cause is i unknown. TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD REFUSES TO TAKE OATH Washington.?Reports from Gen' eral Funston that 110 members of the Texas National Guard tuid to I " ^ iv/ take the mustering oath ami enter the Federal service under the President's call, brought members of congress from that state to the war department to Hud out what action was in content* ' plation. They were told the matter ! had not yet reached Secretary Maker I for consideration. Mr. Maker's military advisers are preparing recommendation for him. Tney appear to agree that the men are subject to court martial under tt>*? existing militia law, and it is known that some officers believe they should be tried and fined as a warning to National Guardsmen in general that they are undertaking a serious responsibility in joining the organization. The secretary himself has postponed a study of the law In the case until all the facts are before him. A state department announcement said the situation In the Yaqul Valley did not appear to bo acute at present. CONGRESS ACCEPTS ARMY MEASURE i FIRST ADMINISTRATION PREPAREDNESS MEASURE READY FOR PRESIDENT'S SIGNATURE. ONLY 25 DISSENTING VOTES Provides For Regular Army of Over 200,000 Backed by Federalized National Guard of More than 400,000. Washington.?Congress has completed Its part In enactment of the first of the Administration preparedness measures, the army reorganization hill, and sent the measure up President Wilson for his signature. The House approved with only 25 dissenting votes the conference report on the army measure .already accepted by the Senate. It provides for a regular army with a peace strength of more than 200,000 men, backed by a Federalized National guard of more than 400.000, and car * .7 luuiij i * \?i ?11 i, 111 H iciuuu a worked out by War Department officials to ninke the nation's lighting arm more efficient. To complete the main elements of the program of preparedness on which the |Administration plans to spend more than a billion dollars within the next live years. Congress still to perfect and pass the naval bill, embodying the navy increases, and the fortillcat ions bill, which includes provision for most of the equipment for the increased army. Kstimatos vary as to the actual number of men tho army will provide the maximum to bo enlisted under it depending on tho interpretation placed on some sections by War Department officials. As construed by Chairman Chamberlain of the Sennto military committee it provides for a regular establishment of 211.000 at peace strength and 23(1.000 at war strength with u national guard of 457,000. Tho peace strength of tho regulars under interpretation given the House by t nmnnnn nay or the House military committee would be 20(1,000. llesidos the personnel increases the measure provides for a government nitrate manufacturing plnnt to cost not more than f20,000,000 for establishment of a system of military training camps for civilians paid for out of the Federal Treasury; for a hoard to Investigate the advisability of establishing a government munitions plant; and for vocational education in the army. Federalization of the national guard would he accomplished through Federal pay and through n require incut making the gunrdmen subject to '.ho orders of the President. Eighteen Republicans, live Democrats, one Progressive and one Socialist voted against adoption of the conference report. Republican Leader Mann, who believed the measure inadequate, was ono of those voting In the negative. TERRIFIC TEXAS TORNADO SWEEPS INTO OKLAHOMA Three People at Kemp City, Okla.. Killed and Scores Injured. Denlson, Tex.?Nine persons were killed and 3K injured at Kemp City, Okla., eight miles oast of Denlson, and the town was badly damaged by a tornado which swept a path throe quart ers of a mile wide and live miles long in the vicinity of Kemp. Only three small dwellings remain intact at Kemp. Twelve business houses, a twostory hotel and CO residences were demolished in Kenrp City. This 1b the second tlmo in recent years that the little town of 300 inhabitants has been visited by a tornado. Merchants said that the tow a probably would not be rebuilt. Right were killed In the town while the other victim, a child was killed In the collapse of Its father's home Just across the Red River In Texas. Of the 38 persons Injured. 36 are res! dents of Kemp City. Most of those Injured were caught In the collapse of buildings while trying to reach storm cellars. The bodies of tho dead in severn! Instances wero found hundreds of yards from where their houses had stood. The two-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Rrlnson, who wore killed, was hurled FiOft feet with flying debris when the Brlnson resi denre wna destroyed but the child suffered only minor lrvjurfes. Immediately after the storm passed eniorgency treatment wan given the Injured In darkness, with rain falling in torrents. A special train carrying 12 physicians from Denlson did not reach Kemp until several hours aftor ; the tornado passed. STRATEGIC POSTS ON VERDUN FRONT SOUGHT BY ARMIES. Paris.?The battle for possession of Important strategic positions on tlm I Verdun front west of the Meuse River continued, with unabated severity l A...In.. r uuimr Liit- jiiinc u n iiiiys. I 111? ? reiim War Office haa Just announced that the Germans, although repulsed In piost of their attempts, succeeded in capturing ft first line trench on l>eau Man Hill and gaining ground on the slopes woit of the hill.