The Barnwell people. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1884-1925, May 21, 1914, Image 2
TWIST mr MHX1CAW SITUATION'
AS RHBBLS TAKB TAMPIOO.
SOW CONTROL SEAPORT
It.
Captmr* of City GItm Coastitntloaal-
Isto Better Standing Among the
Nation a of the World-United
States Warships Move np Rirer
tlTiere Federals Blockade Port.
Tampico’s fall, enlarging the Con
stitutionalists’ sphere of control and
giving them a seaport through which
munitions of war may be dlrectly'im-
. ported, Injected Into the Mexican sit
nation Thursday new phases attract
ed the attention of official Washing
ton. The Last conference of the
Sooth American mediators was held
and later it was announced that the
envoys would depart for Niagara
Falls by way of New Tork. N
Interest centred on Tampico and
the vigorous prosecution of the Con
stitutionalists campaign southward.
The American government already
has begun representations to the Con
stitutionalists to secure protection
for American and other foreign oper
atives returning to the oil wells;
American warships have gone up the
Paauco river to their old stations be
fore the town. At the mouth of the
river are the federal gunboats with a
part of the federal garrison. The
captains of the ship have asked for
an Interview with Rear Admiral
Mayo, which was granted, but 1C3
purpose has not been divulged.
Discussion centred chiefly on the
Question of shipping ariqs amt am-
mnnftfofl'iffirpBgh Tampico as the
Constitutionalists are short and wish
to avail themselves of the first oppor
tunity to replenish their stock. Arms
were prevented from reaching the
Oonstittulon&llsts through the em
bargo which was replaced by Presi
dent Wilson some time ago.
At ifansaatllo and other west coast
ports no efforts have been made to
prevent arms reaching Huerta and
the belief was general that the Con-
•Uttonallsts would have no difficulty
In Importing munitions through Tam
pico In any quantity.
The presence of the Huerta gun-
Boats in Tampico harbor after evac
uation by the federals has led to the
conjecture that they will be used In
blockading the port. ,It Is believed
that It was with the purpose of learn
ing whether Admiral Mayo would re
spect such a blockade that the com
manders of the federal gunboats ask-
«d for a conference. Naval experts
agree that so long as the federal com
manders are able to make this block
ade really effective, It must be re
spected by foreign shipping. The
recognition of an effective blockade
by a belligerent does not, It Is said,
Involve political recognition of ether
party to the strife.
The state department regards the
Lobos Island lighthouse Incldeht as
closed. Secretary Bryan acquitted of
any blame Lieut. Commanders Jef
fers of the destroyer Fanning, who
gave the light keeper a certificate
that he had taken possesion of the
light by force.
It was a Mexican and not a Nor
wegian vessel from which shots were
fired against Americans at Vera Cruz,
for which Incident five South Ameri
cans were arrested, according to a
report from Gen. Funston to Secre
tary Garrison. The case under con
sideration Is Interesting the state de
partment exceedingly.
The whereabouts of John R. S1U1-
man, the missing American vice con
sul at Saltillo, and Samuel Parks, the
American orderly reported executed
by federals near Vera Crux, has also
been taken up. a
The secretary of state Is devoting
much Interest to the proposed impor
tation of arms through Tampico by
the constitutionalists. Sir Cecil
Sprlng-Rioe, the British ambassador,
and Mr. Van Rappard, the Dutch min-
fster, after a long conference at the
state department expressed satisfac
tion over the outcome of the meeting.
It is understood that satisfactory as
surances had been received as to the
safety of workmen and oil tahks at
Tampico, removing for the present
danger of foreign complications on
this score.
Although Admiral Mayo has re
turned with his fleet to the Panuco
river It was made plain that he was
not to land any marines or to assert
any control whatever over Tampico.
It was said at the department that he
had not asked for or received any in
structions regarding the admission
of arms Into the port.
Another phase of the situation
which attracted much attention was
the embarrassment which their suc
cess brings to the Constitutional lata
because of demands made by foreign
ers to the rebels In their capacity of
a governing body. The Spanish am-
BLJfe
BIG BATTLE OVER PRIMARY
COMES UP NEXT TUESDAY.
• . i ■':■■■
• ? . ■ r . ~-
—«r~• 1 . ... ;
Two Distinct Plans Are to be Pro-
seated to Convention Looking To
wards Primary Reform.
Plans of those advocating the re
striction of the primary to registered
voters are going forward Wisfactor
|ly, according to information in polit
leal circles. By the time the State
Democratic convention meets every
thing will be mapped out, all details
perfected, and the structure ready
for presentation to the 336 delegates
who will make up the convention.
The State convention meets next
Tuesday at no6n In the hall of the
House of Representatives, and the
most important question to come be
fore that body will be the reform of
the primary.
There is sharp division in the
ranks of the antl-Blease faction
which will control the convention
over how far the suffrage restriction
should go. One section favors let
ting every white man vote, but stands
for such reforms as allowing enroll
ment on only one club and the clos
ing tif'the lists some days before the
first primary and the filing o£ a certi
fied copy with the clerk of court or
some other tesponsible officer. This
plan Includes also such regulations
as will provide a correct list of all
voters and some of them favor a re-
enrolment while still others favor
purging of the rolls.
Another wing of the anti-B-lease
forces are for going the whole length
and want the general election re
quirements applied to the primary.
They say that anything less than this
will be a makeshift and .accomplish
nothing and point out that there is
very HttlWin the cry that to make
registration certificates mandatory
for the primary will deprive any con
siderable number of Democrats from
voting. They want every opportunity
given for every white man qualified
to register.
This wing Is headed by John J.
McMahan and the Richland county
delegation in the convention, they go
ing Instructed to vote and work for
amendments to the rules and consti
tution of the party requiring each
voter to present a registration certi
ficate before they can vote In the pri
mary. Just how much strength this
wing will develop is uncertain, but
they are optimistic and will make a
great fight to carry through their
point.
Nearly half of the county conven
tions endorsed primary reform, but
to what length this will go is not yet
apparent. United States Senator B.
R. Tillman Is a delegate to the State
convention from his home county of
Edgefield, and his attitude on the
primary reform will have great
weight. There Is general hope that
Senator Tillpmn will attend the con-,
vention.
United States Senator E. D. Smith
is likely to be the dominating per
sonality in the convention, and his
wishes will be referred to. He Is a
delegate from his home county of
Lee, but has not Indicated whether
he will attend the convention-.—He
and Senator Tillman are both need
ed In Washington right now In con
uectlon»with matters before Congress
and they may not be able to. get off.
The Biease minority in the State
convention will oppose any change In
the present primary regulations If
they follow the wishes of their leader
as expressed by him on several pub
lic occasions. Governor Blease Is
opposed to both plans which have
been talked of and thinks that the
primary is good enough and ought to
be left alone.
MELELN SHEDS . LIGHT ON FIN
ANCE OF NEW HAVEN ROAD.
REVELATIONS TO AMAZE
SEVEN KILLED IN EXPLOSION.
Accident Happens Aboard Passenger
Steamer Near Norfolk.
Seven dead and three severely In
jured was the toll of the explosion of
one of the boilers of the Old Domin
ion Liner Jefferson at 10.66 Tues
day night, five miles this side of Cape
Henry, Va. The dead were all col
ored firemen and coal passers, 'while
the Injured are Chief Engineer W.
^L. Portlock, First Assistant Engineer
H. B. Smith, both of New York city,
and M. Olsen, an oiler.
The Jefferson Is on her way to New
York and should have arrived Wed
nesday morning about 4 o’clock. An
Inspection of the boilers will be made
at New York by the best experts that
can be obtained and the cause of the
explosion arrived It is Impos
sible to say at this time what caused
the accident. It was the blcfwlng
out of a tube ha the after starboard
holler that caused the tragedy and
the men wha were killed imd in
jured were ta the engine room at
the time.
Women Injured by Bomb.
A tomb thrown mysteriously Into
>»«ui awa—mb fr*
Former Railroad President Starts
What Is Expected to be the Most
Astonishing of Business Revela
tions—Tells of Acquisition of Stock
of Another Road.
Cool, composed and matter of fact,
responding readily and concisely to
the fusillade of questions put to him,
Charles S. Mellen, former president
of the New York, New Haven & Hart
ford rallrcad, Thursday began before
the Interstate commerce commission
what is expected to be one of the
most amazing stories ever told In the
history of high finance.
Mr. Mellen, placed on the stand
over the emphatic protest of Attor
ney General McReynolds, is the prin
clpal witness In the proceeding
through which the Interstate com
merce commission, by direction of the
United States Senate, is endeavoring
to develop the facts concerning the
financial operations of the New
Haven and its subsidiaries, as well as
of the much discussed Billard com
pany. He promised, both personally
and through his counsel, to place at
the disposal of the commission every
fact and “every scrap of paper with a
New Haven mark on it” relating to
the transactions with which, he had
to do as president of the New Haven
system. _
It was evident that Mr. Mellen was
anxious to lell his story. He had In
dicated his desire in letters hereto
fore produced In the pending Inquiry
In which he said he was tired of bear
ing the brunt of the cltlclsm heAped
upon him for the New Haven trans
actions and that, if any blame was at
tached to them, he proposed to put
the blame where It belonged. As he
seated himself in the high backed
cathedral chair, he turned smilingly
to Chief Counsel Joseph W. Folk.
Mr. Mellen is bald and his face has
the appearance of parchment. Be
neath the closely cropped gray mus
tache Is a mouth drawnjn firm, al
most hard lines. His eyes are keen
and his glance direct. He responded
to all Inquiries promptly, at times
even emphatically. His answers dis
closed, too, a sense t>f humor, some
of his responses provoking outbursts
of laughter among the interested au
ditors.
Mr. Mellen was on the witness
stand only a little more than an hour.
Just before the opening of the hear
ing he was served with a new sub
poena which covered much more
ground that that originally served
upon him. The new one called for
the production of all documents or
papers In possession of Mr. Mellen
that related in any way to the opera
tions of the New Haven and all Its
subsidiaries. Although he had
brought to Washington several
trunks full of papers and books, he
did not have all the commission
wanted.
Not more than an Inkling of Mr.
Mellen’s remarkable story was given
by him during the brief hour he was
on the stand. He told how, In the
acquisition of the New York, West
Chester & Boston railroad by the New
Haven, 80,000 shares of the stock of
the latter were given for 2.4,000
shares of the Westchester’s stock, al
though, he said, he considered the
latter stock worth'only ”10 cents a
pound”.
The details of the exchange were
arranged, Mr. Mallen i4stlfle<l, by
Former Police Idepector Thomas F.
Byrnes of New Yorkrahd he said that
he found much of the Westchester
ACT AGAINST AUDITOR
v- y > ■ ■
' ' ' * . 4 ■ *
COMPTROLLER ASKS FOR ACTION
AGAINST. SALUDA AUDITOR.
stock was made out In the names of
people who really did not hold s It.
Mr. Mellen testified, at this time the
New Haven wanted certain changes
made In the proposed charter of the
Westchester and he had “a suspicion
that the Westchester shares were
scattered around among people who
had influence".
Mr. Mellen said that often when
the holders of Westchester stock
came to him and asked for the re
demption of their value he did not
have the cash with him and “could
not make out cheeks or give them
new New Haven atock’’. On these
occasions, he aald, he gave them per
sonal due bills. About 15 or 20 of
the holders of these, he testified, had
come to him later, some after he re-
signea from the New Haven, and he
had given them the cash. He said
he had redeemed about 5150,000,000
worth of the due bills in this way bub
that there now were outstanding
against him the equivalent of $50,-
000.
ffmewer HMWjfc U d’SUlfWers'Tr'
fcATtt hean Mpflee^tad by tfce.COJUtl- Kingston, N. Y., early Tuesday, ex-
' ploded and seriously Injured two of
them.
Tipping Prohibited by Law.
An antl-Upping measure has pass-
pose a fine'of $100 on either the giv
ing or the acceptance of tlpe.,
Wilson May Speak at Cberaw. 1
Announcements from Cheraw are
that President Wilson and Secretary
to
It Is Claimed That the County Offl-
v , ? r
rial Does Not Charge Tax Penal-
/
ties Prescribed by Law. /
.Comptroller General Jones Monday
night asked Attorney General Pee
ples to bring mandamus proceedings
to compel Auditor Hazel of Saluda
county to charge penalties for non
payment of taxes. In a letter to’the
attorney general, he said:
“Mr. Hr B. 'Hazel, county <auditor
for Saluda county, has refused and
continues to refuse to charge upon
the tax duplicate for the fiscal year
1913 in Saluda county the penalties
for non-payment of the taxes on or
before the 31st of December, 1913,
aa required by Section 454, Volume
1 ,^Code of Laws -fieuth Carolina,
1912,. He assigns as a reason for
this refusal that such penalties have
not been charged for several years
past In Edgefield county and he be
lieves in some other counties of the
State on delinquent taxes paid be
tween January 1 and March 15. If
these penalties have not been charg
ed and collected In Edgefield county
or other counties, the State and
county have a remedy to collect
them, and If the proper county offi
cers do not act, the State Sinking
Fuhd^ Commission has power to en
force collection of those penalties
jUrough its agents.
“If, however, you should conclude
that the auditor of Edgfield should
bo required to enter the penalties on
the books, and the treasurer of that
county to collect them, then I sug
gest that you proceed against the au
ditor of Edgefield to require him 4»-
comply with the law.'
“When the matter was called to
the attention of the county auditor
at Edgefield, ‘he stated that the fail
ure to charge these penalties at the
proper time was due to an oversight
in following his predecessors’ prac
tice with no intention to evade or set
aside or disobey the law, and Mr. D.
H; Wise, a representative of the
comptroller’s office, had approved a
settlement several years ago, made
up by the county auditor and county
treasurer, which apparently on the
face of the settlement Included all
penalties imposed by law, when as
a matter of fact, the January and
February penalties were not Included
until March, when execution* were
issued for taxes not paid by the 15th
of that month and these settlements
being approved by Mr. Wise, the
county auditor of Edgefield was, he
states, misled Into believing it was
unnecessary to enter these penalties
In January and February.
“The county auditor of Saluda
county, however, has deliberately de
clined and refused to enter these pen
alties on the duplicate or« delinquent
taxes as required by Section 454, and
has advertised the fact that he would
not enforce these penalties as re
quired by law. Under Section 411,
Volume 1, Code of Laws, 1912, I
issued instructions to the county au
ditor of Saluda county along with all
other county auditors calling this
law to their attention. .
“I now ask that you Institute pro
ceedings in the nature of a man-
damua against the county auditor of
Saluda to enforce the performance of
this clear ministerial duty by him;
the laws of the entire State can not
be set aside and penalties in which
the whole State is interested remitted
by the act of a single officer.
“Please advise me promptly as to
what action you will take In this
matter. I will be glad to consult
with you and give you such particu
lar Information as you may need In
the proceedings. Prompt action Is
necessary to enforce the tax laws of
the State.”
LAURENS ATTORNEY KILLED AS
HE CONVICTS DEFENDANT. ,
SLAIN AS JURY RETIRES
After Finishing His Argument Law-
Je of Build
ing, Where He Is Accosted and
Slain by Brother of Lad He Had
Convicted.
Just after he had concluded a
speech In Magistrate Hellam’s Court
at Gray Court Tuesday afternoon
John M. Cannon, a prominent attor
ney of the Laurens Bar, and one of
the bestknown citizens of the County
and State, was shot and almost in
stantly killed by Joseph O. Sullivan,
son of Thos. J. Sullivan, and a prom
inent young farmer of near Tumb
ling Shoals.
. Mr. Cannon was shot five times,
four of the bullets penetrating his
body and the fifth piercing his arm
near the elbow. One of the bullets
struck a bystander, Archie Willis,
passing through his leg near the an
kle. Sullivan was brought to Jail
soon after the shooting. When seen
by newspaper representatives he de
clined to make any statement, say
ing that he might have something
to say later. The body of Mr. Can
non was carried to Laurens on the
late train.
The tragedy grew out of a case
brought In the Magistrate’s Court by
Miss Maude Sharp, teacher of the
Mount Bethel School In Sullivan
O’SHAUGHNESSY REPORTS
SAYS ANY GOVERNMENT
PORTED BY U. 8. WILL STAS
aged 18, a pupil of Miss Sharp and ,,
a brother of Joseph G. Sullivan, the
alleged slayer of Mr. Cannon. Hum
bert Sullivan was charged with com
mon assault, using profane Ihnguage
In a public place and committing dep
redations on the property of the
school building several weeks ago.
Mr. Cannon was employed by Miss
Sharp to prosecute the case.
A change of venue In the case was
obtained and the trial came up for
a hearing Tuesday before Magistrate
Hellams, of Dial Township. W. R.
Richey, Sr., of the Laurens Bar, rep
resented the defendant. A number
of witnesses for both sides testified,
including a v slster of the defendant.
After ascertaining that Miss Sullivan
was a sister of the defendant, Mr.
Cannon Is said to have asked her to
“come down.” Exception was taken
to this by i opposition counsel and
Mr. Cannon disclaimed any intention
of reflecting on whatever she might
have testified to and thus the Inci
dent ended.
Mr. Cannon made the opening and
closing arguments and is said to have
excoriated the conduct of the young
defendant In no uncertain terms.
When the jury filed out of the depot
office, where the trial was held, Mr.
Cannon stepped out Into the depot
yard. He was approached by a pat
ron of the school, .who complained
that the attorney had in his speeches
reflected on the character of his son,
one of the principal witnesses lor the .
defense.
Mr. Cannon is said to have replied
that he sought only to bring out the
truth and had no apologies to make, >
Denies Huerta is the Drunkard He is '
Pictured and Says He 1* » Detwr*
mined Man Not Apt to Yield.
Nelson O’Shanghnessy, charge d’af
faires of the American embassy at
tfwreo ttty, Tuesday night told Pres
ident Wilson the story of v hat ha P-
pened in the Mexican capital during
the days Immediately preceding and
following the occupation of Vera
Cruz, and gave him an Intimate pic
ture of Gen. Huerta. It was the first
time Mr^ O’Shaughpessy had seen the
president since his arrival In ‘Wash
ington last week. He was at the
White House fo'r more than an hour,
and went away highly pleased with
his reception. ,
The charge advised the president
that Huerta was a hard man and not
apt to yield bts position as dictator
easily. He expressed the opinion,
however, that any government set up
in Mexico which has the support of
the United States will stand.
After he left the White House Mr.
O’Shoughnessy Intimated that he be
lieved President Wilson had a broad
and firm view of the Mexican ques
tion. He quickly disposed of reports
that he believed he had been badly
treated by the administration. The
president thhnked him, he said, for
his services In Mexico, pnd express^
approval of his course. No othi$
post has been offered the charge, a"
he indicated that he expected to
allowed to take an extended vacation
in the United States.
It is understood that Mr.
otifien, Huer-
strongthoBi if pon- -
slble the president’s determination to
force the elimination of the Mexican
dictator. He denied, however, that
Gen. Huerta was the drunkard that
he has been painted in some quar
ters, and he also told the president
he did not believe the Tampico Inci
dent had been planned by Huerta to
bring about trouble with the United
States.
Mr. O’Shaughnessy expressed fear
for the safety of Louis D'Antln, left
in charge of American embaesy build
ing. He said that D’Antin’s mother
was a Mexican and that the man is
constantly having disputes with
Mexicans over the United States and
In that way has made enemies.
Mr. O’Shanghnessy will continue
for the present at least, to retain the
title of first secretary of the Ameri
can embassy and will draw the sal
ary attached to the first post. He
thanked the president particularly
for the courtesy shown him in hav
ing a warship to bring him baca, '
Sailors Held as Witnesses.
Nineteen Canadian sailors are be
ing detained at the Erie county, N.
Y., county ail to be used as witnesses
against vessels owners who are alleg
ed to have violateed Immigration laws
covering the shipping of men from
foreign nations qn American ships.
Shrlners' Special Hits Auto. <
.A. Seaboard Air~ -Line special,
bound for Atlanta, loaded with Shrin-
ers, hit an auto at Clinton Monday.
The occupants crawled out in UnjB.'
Storm Causes Death.
George Johnson was killed and five
other tenants seriously njured when
a Pittsburg tenement building col
lapsed Tuesday. . -
Train Kills Negro.
Jake Gantt, a young negro of
Aiken, was killed by a train Saturday
when he fell asleep on the track as a
result of whiskey drinking.
Swat the plstol-toter.
whereupon Mr. Wood, the patron,
truned away, saying he wanted an
apology or trouble. At this Junc
ture it appears Joseph G. Sullivan
took up the matter and told Mr.
Cannon that he had disgraced his
brother and the Sullivan family, and
that when, he made certain deroga:
tory statements he (Cannon) knew
they were lies.
Mr. Sullivan resented this and
struck Sullivan on the head with a
cane, which the deceased had used
since his leg was broken several
months ago In a railway accident. The
instant he struck Sullivan the latter
drew his pistol and fired five times
in rapid succession, and at a very
close range. Mr. Cannon was stand
ing near the steps of thd depot and
sank as he attempted to ascend them.
Friends rushed up And caught him
before he fell. He said he knew he
was mortally wounded and was going
to die, but he was conscious of Lav
ing performed his duty, and that In
defense of a woman. Then he asked
that he be sent home to his wife and
before ui
ed .ue
baby, and expired
another word.
Just as the shooting occurred
Jury returned a verdict of guilty
against Humbert Sullivan.
Mr, Cannon was thirty-four years
of age, a son of L. M. Cannon, of
Lanford, and a "nephew of John W.
Land ford. He graduated from Wof
ford College and studied law. in
Laurenf and entered upon the pi no
tice of his profession about’ nine
years ago. He represented the cot n-
ty In the legislature one term.
He has been very active In politics
and was a recognized leader. Threa
years ago he was appointed a mem
ber of Governor Blease’s staff and
was recently named by the Governor
as a member oi the board of regents
for the State Asylum. He was also*
recently re-elected county chairman
and a delegate to the State Conven
tion. He married Miss Jessie Huey,
of Rock Hill, who* survives him to
gether with one little son. He was
a Mason and a member of the Meth
odist Church.
A Full Literary, Scientific and Technical School for Young Men
Offm th* xtmBC tom of th« South the bast educational advantacM, tattoo. Thla eonraa leads to the decree of Bachelor of ScienM
Ancient and Modern Lancoacei. Kngllah, HTetorTMaihematlcs, Social
andPoUtleol Kconotox^rntorj and Naiural l^e£riUtaY*S.“
■rnduate eonrao lendjnc to the Deem of Maatar of Alta.
yearOeweleOeetricaland ■■rtata-ilTachMtW in eeperate
i Often a tear-'.
buildings, with taUy equipped
peratua and appliances, tinder n separate corps of experienced InsWoetora.
Mae tbs great advan tags odheftmoo nested with era—ler I IHutt to rti
shops and laboratories, all i
„ __ Porportione and
and indiridual aoeesmtial to the beet results.
The athletic wock of Newberry College in late jean has han<
theSanth CarolinaCoUeg*. ftere£rfi«Uft“S3. ^
r
rtnatalapti and ]
a^L-
**00