Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I ====== AX HONEST PRIMARY. Haw to Get It.?Read and Ponder Carefully. (Rapidly growing cities and towns and the activities of candidates with a corruption fund, are the two prin| eipal causes of our primary election I troubles. In an earlier day when elec| tion managers knew each voter as he came to the ballot box. and when bribery was resented, it was easy ij detect the dishonest voter, and the temptation to vote dishonestly was not so strong. The problem now is to change the law so as to carry out the rame primary idea under new conditions. It Is the same old ship but sailing stormier seas, and needing a stouter keel and tighter calking. When you come down to it the necessary changes are simple and few, but they are as necessary a3 the "keel is to a ship. Some say the constitution and rules of the party are all right, and that it is in the execution of them that the fault lies. Both need reform. But execution is a broken reed unless it is supported by sound laws. When Factionalism Rages. The very foundation stone of our k State Democratic organization rests on sand. As long as all is quiet no harm is done. But as soon as the storms and torrents of factionalism and of bribery and greed begin to beat upon the foundation, it crumbles. * The club meetings held in April are the foundation stones. They rest on the party constitution and rules. These are as sand because they do not safeguard the membership rolls *of the clubs. Any one, without regard to nationality or residence can vote in a club meeting. You can vote in thc=e club n cetings even if vou are not qanli fled to vote in the primary. Designing men can pack club rolls, and thereby control club meetings, county conventions and the State convention, county executive committees and the State executive committee and name the managers at the ballot box. Here are two instances, the first occurred in one of the largest voting counties in the State, and the second in one of the smallest. Rushing a Club Meeting. ' The chairman, one of the best i known and highly esteemed citizens of South Carolina, and an able law yer, was calling his club meeting to order. It was the night of the regular biennial re-organization. Partisanship was running high, but this particular club had always been so largely a unit that it was presumed that there would be no contest in the meeting. But the opposition was fighting for every advantage no matter how desperate the chance of sucA# w>on fho UCdd. A tlVWU Ul 111VU tutbivu kuv room claiming the night of membership. Consternation reigned among the old members. There was no use to appeal to the party rules and constitution, or to the State laws. They required only that a man be white, twenty-one and a Democrat. Under the party rules he might be a foreigner, resident of Georgia, or of another part of the State, or a newcomer of one day's residence in the precinct and yet be a qualified club member. This crowd included a number of men who appeared to be utter strangers in the precinct." Their demand to be recognized as members was accompanied with threats. While some of the members delay' ed proceedings by motions and discussion, others left the hall and hastily gathered up stay-at-home members from all over the precinct. I pnchon tr? thp meetine: and x. uycv ? w ??? w when the vote on organization was taken they saved the day by a smail margin. The men who were used in the attempt to rush the meeting were afterward found to be largely tem, porary residents and some were ' foreigners. But under the parly rules they had a right to participate with all the privileges of the oldest club member. Where the attempt failed in this instance, it has often succeeded in that county. r Capturing a County. ** More than two years ago a memb8r of the State executive committee 4 owed his high position in the party councils to a padded club roll. This successful ruse at the same time gave the control of the party in the county to his political faction. The county was pretty evenly di Tided. One club conceived the idea of putting on its club rolls the names of most of the- members of its rival club. They elected delegates to the county convention based on the swollen club list. On the temporary convention roll they had a bare majority. But it was enough. They elected their own organization and threw out the protests. Under the rules they couldn't be * stopped. The scheme can be worked again and skillful manipulators can r THIEVES BEAT AGED WOMAN. Ransack Home of I>ying Person i Search of Gold. Baltimore, Md., January 12.?Ai ter dragging a dying woman, 8 years old, from her bed, and lyir. her to a chair and beating into ir sensibility her 60-year-old son, wh went to her rescue, two masked me: to-night ransacked the home c Charles Kimmel at Middle Rivei near here, in search of a quantit of gold reputed to be hidden in th house. Kimmel and his mother wer found an hour afterwards by a ph> VioH hpon summoned t Diuau nnw nuu the house to attend the aged wc man. The robbers obtained only small amount of money. TO FACE TRIAL. True Bill Brought Against Gurgan ous and Mrs. Hit?. Lexington, Jan. 12.?The Lexing ton county grand jury to-day return ed a true bill in the case of Walter E Gurganous, the Southern Bell Tele phone lineman, and Mrs. Ella Bell Hite, charged jointly with the shoot ing of J. Milton Hite, a prominen young business man of Batesburg, oi the night of December 6. About 25 witnesses appeared be fore the grand jury. J. Milton Hit was shot in his own home upon re turning from the store of L. D. Cul lum, where he had been employed a bookkeeper for many years. Ther was no one in the house at the time so far as is known, except his wife Mrs. Ella Belle Hite, the 8-year-ol daughter of the couple and Walte E. Gurganous. Tile young man wa.& ai icaicu a once and brought to jail. He was re leased on bond a few days ago. i day or two after the shooting Mrs Ella Belle Hite was arrested upoi a warrant sworn out by John G. Dai by, chief of police of the town o Batesburg, charged with being an ac ce-ssory to the shooting of her hus band. Mrs. Hite has since been con fined in the jail. She has made n statement, nor has Gurganous, except to deny that he did the shooting J. Milton Hite is not in attendanc upon court, and it is understood tha he will not be here to testify agains his pretty young wife. He is stil suffering from his wounds, his righ arm and right side being parti paralyzed, it is said. MIGHT HAVE BEEN SERIOt'S. Buggy Demolished in Collision Wit] Engine at Denmark. Denmark, January 12.?Wha nearly resulted in# a serious acciden occurred here yesterday mornin when a shifting engine on the Sea board Aair Line Railroad collide with a horse and buggy driven b Mr. Texas Sanford, of Orangeburg The ^accident occurred at the cross ing near the Ice Factory. The fat tory obstructed Mr. Lanford's vie^ and he did not see the engine unti it was upon him. He turned hi horse, and as he did the engine hi the buggy, demolishing it. Form nately Mr. Sanford escaped with I few bruises and the horse was nc badly hurt. As Described. At a fancy dress ball two ladies who were attired in ordinary ever ing dress, were present. The butle asked in what characters he shoul announce theni. "Oh, no particular character," sai one of the new comers. Whereupon the servant announce loudly. "Two ladies of no particular chai acter!"?London Telegraph. get away with it every time. Not An Exception. If you have doubts, examine th records. You can find a hundre examples, and perhaps some to beat club I knew of, that makes up a clu roll of 8,300, and yet can show or ly 750 primary voters. Many a delegate has sat in a cour ty convention representing a grav yard. In the first instance we have method of carrying a club against it will, in the second a willing club ii creases its power. Summing Up. The article published a lew da\ ago showed the wide spread disn gard of the rules we have. This on gives two of the vast number of o< eurrences that show the rules w have to be vitally defective. Thei can be no doubt that the party regi lations have fallen into disrepute i a large measure because they are s defective. The legislature has passed laws i assist in enforcing the .rules. But has been like driving nails in rotte planks, they won't hold. Rip o everything to the good timbers au -build with sound statutes. LEGISLATOR. JURY ACQUITS HEBERT. u Blease Will Pardon Former Head of Seminole Company. I Columbia, S. C., January 10.?C. 6 J. Hebert, of Chattanooga, was acg quitted today of the charge of coni spiracy and obtaining $98,000 uno der false pretences, a Hebert was accused of securing if $98,000 in the deal by which the de\ funct Seminole Securities Company v obtained the majority stock in the e Southern Life Insurance County. Hebert declared that he had honeste ly earned anything he got and claimed that the companies involved realo ly owe him money. ?- The jury, after remaining out since 6.30 o'clock Friday night, rea turned a verdict of not guilty this morning about 10.30 o'clock. Two days were consumed in trying the case in Richland county court of general sessions. t To Pardon Garlington, I ? Columbia, January 10.?Governor i- Blease stated this afternoon that in view of the acquittal of C. J. Hebert i- by a jury in Richland county court e to-day he will on Monday grant an absolute pardon to John Y. Garlingt ton, formerly president of the Semin nole Securities Company, who is now cut on parole. Garlington was cont victed of breach of trust with fraudue lent intent and sentenced to three i- years' imprisonment. He was parol1 ed by Governor Blease February 4, s 1913. e "If home juries acquit men like ?, Hebert, who resisted extradition to >. this State, and the men higher up d are not punished," said Governor r Blease, "there is no use keeping the home boys in jail or under parole." t The governor added: "There is no use trying any more Seminole cases while I am governor." J. Stobo Young, secretary of the Seminole Sell curities Comparfy, was some time ago - pardoned by Governor Blease. THE LAST OF THE GANG. 1 Only One Old Pauper Remains of 0 Chicago Crime Society. The last survivor of Chicago's e first fully organized Dana 01 cnuut nals, who flourished a generation ago t under the leadership of picturesque II Mollie Mott, passed from the stage t recently. Michael Sage, white of hair y and showing every one of his 63 years, made no defense against a sentence of one year in the house of correction. His active days are over in the opinion of the police, even if h he lives out his sentence. Half of Sage's life has been spent in prison. He began stealing when x he was 12 years old and never learnt ed anything else. The old man was g arrested for attempting to rob a house. "! didn't get in, judge," he said, v and then added as if to excuse his l failure, "I guess I am getting too j_ old and stiff. I won't mind a year; > I am more at hohie in prison than out, anyway." il The Mott gang of Pickpockets, s thieves, burglars, holdup men and it general utility thugs 20 years ago [_ lived the scenes that usually are a found in dime, novels, and no mem,t ber of the gang was more resource I ful in crime than Sage. Molie Mott by her beauty and personality, led the gang and was the cause of more than one affray between jealous fol5' lowers. k~ The gang's success bred emulation !r and other criminals formed themd selves into a band known in police annals as the Shelvin gang. The rt gangs fought the police and each other until Mollie's charms conquerrt ed one of the Shelvin gang and brought the two tribes under her > harmonious sceptre. Relentless war with the police, disease and prison = cells in the succeeding years broke up the band, and all its members for the most part are dead or at least e passed from the ken of the local port lice. Sage is the last one they know "i mn A tV>oT? foar him nn mnrp - " auu tilVJ IVM* lltui MA/ b Philadelphia Record. I- m Uncle Joe Cannon, in a recent j_ political argument, said: >e "That excuse is not good enough. It reminds me of a Danville bartenda er. He came to work in a Danville s bar and as soon as he arrived, the receipts began to diminish. The boss at the end of the week said to the newcomer. " 'Look here, do you take money out of the till?' " Oh, no sir.' sid the bartender. c 'Xo, indeed, sir.* " 'Now.' said the boss, 'you must e be taking money. 1 know it.' " 'Of course, said the man, 'I take 1_ cut my car fare every night.' n " Oh, you do. eh?' said the boss. ,0 'And where do you live? In San Francisco?' " k Harvey Blue, a 12-year-old Indian n of the Catawba reservation, in i'ork IT county, was accidentially killed with d a gun on Friday by Walter Harris, of the same age, while they were hunting together. HORSE STEALING CHARGED. Young White Man in Lexington County Jail. Lexington, January 11.?Cohen Hedgepath, a young white man from Peak, was lodged in the Lexington county jail at 3.30 this morning, by Sheriff Sim J. Miller upon a charge of horse stealing. Sheriff Miller had just gotten back from Gilbert, where he was called to arrest a party, when the telephone called him to Peak in the upper edg? of the county. In less than an hour and a half he was ill me giUULtu. luuug xicugcyam, it is said, rifled the buggies of several farmers in that vicinity who were in Peak yesterday afternoon. When he found out that the officers were looking for him he is said to have taken a mule and buggy, the property of Adam Haltiwanger, and made his get-away. Officers were in pursuit right away, and the young man was soon captured. Hedgepath is said to have been under the influence of whiskey at the time. His case will likely be disposed of during the general sessions court this week. LEVER WINS IN EDISTO FIGHT. Engineers' Board to Recommend $35,000 Appropriation. Orangeburg, January 10.?Mr. William L. Glover, the indefatigable leader in the fight for the improvement of the North Edisto River from this point to the sea, received from Congressman Lever this morning a very encouraging telegram. It will be remembered that not so long ago the engineer of the United States Government stationed at Charleston and having in charge this territory and supervision of such matters made an unfavorable report upon the opening of the river for navigation, on the ground that the prospective freight would not warrant the government in expending the amount necessary to proceed with the work. This report or conclusion was somewhat of a surprise to the people 1 here and, perhaps, to Congressman Lever as well, for many who kno thought a very good showing had been made at the reference held by Engineer Howell. However, when the finding was made public Mr. Glover and Mr. Lever redoubled the efforts.with the intention of fighting to the last ditch. The telegram, therefore, which Mr. Glover received today, and which was pleasant news to this city and vicinity, stated that Mr. Lever had obtained from the board of -army engineers at Washington, who sat in review on the matter a decision that they would recommend the appronf 49AHA fr?r rnntiniviriff pi laiXV^il \J JL y U V f V V V v-~ 0 the work. Upon the receipt of this telegram by Mr. Glover, Mayor Bryant sent to Congressman Lever a telegram of thanks and congratulations as follows: "The city council of Orangeburg extends thanks and congratulations for your efforts in behalf of the Edistc River project and the success attained.*' A Dog is Property. An action at law in Tennessee, involving the seizure and sale at public auction of two coon dogs for debt has brought from the Supreme Court of the State a rulling that a dog is property; although, as the report goes on to say, previous rul1 ings. have been to the contrary. If there is any other part of the globe that denies to the dog the manifest right to be property, the error should promptly be corrected. In this instance the dogs were all the earthly .treasures the man possesseed, except the clothes on his back. Otherwise, of course the sheriff would never have levied on them. The hardest hearted officer of the law would not deprive a man .of his dog if anything else could be found to take away. The thief in the night, who occasionally lifts one, is not a fit asociate for a yeggman. There is another .aspect of the matter, which, in, fact, has been a bone of legal contention frdm very ancient times. As the Supreme Court of one State observed, "It bears a tinge Of the ridiculous to contend that however many and *? ? ..ni..nV.in A r\crc o mnn m a v liuwevei vuiuauic u. Ui?u ....... own, he cannot be made to pay his debts if he will only invest his money in dogs." That a dog is not property has usually been argued on the ground either that from its ancestry it remains a wild animal in such sens^e as not to be a leviable possession, or that an animal which is not good to eat has no intrinsic value. But menageries or recently tamed, or only caged, wild animals would probably be regarded everywhere as property subject ^ 1 ? ? * K Ap i ll Q io aitacnmeiiL uy i-icunuia ti.c proprietor; while the suggestion that a domestic animal must be good 10 eat in order to have value would hardly be advanced nowadays.?Providence, R. I., Journal. Spray You and Make WE CARR Y SP1 OF E' GIVE YOU NEC MATI ON ABOU: Orchards Sprayei Reasonable Prices Write for. H n ft TPOT, | vy? i a DENMA J. C. LEE, President Farmers - - Merc % If you are going to Bui!< invite youi COMPLETE HOUSE We manufacture and dei Stairs, Interior Trim, St< Pews, Pulpits, etc., Rouj Lath, Pine and CypressS Siding. Distributing age Estimates Cheerfuil) Woodward Lui AUGUSTA Corner Roberts OUR f QUALITY - w~~ The man who made the his own experience. He 1< his money was the proper .1 same and before you know i joy. You will take more pi , account than you will in spe money that keep so many p Make OUR ba We pay 4 per < pounded quarterly Farmers & M EHRHA.I | lai M I received yes || day) morning on< || of Mules and Ho if to Bamberg. C || them before thej li Railroad ? I ^ Is Avenue J* J* k IBMBBBBBBBttBHH n Orchards Good Fruit MY MATERIALS LYE, AMD CAM' ESSARYIMFOR TSPRAYING : I and Pruned at Particulars K &. SON M \RK, S. C. ____________ F. E. GIBSON, Sect'y & Trcas. ! r . hants - - Builders d, Remodel or Repair, we r inquiries. BILLS A SPECIALTY ' JJ al in Doors, Sash, Blinds, )re Fronts, and Fixtures, jh and Dressed Lumber, . hingles, Flooring, Ceiling ;nts for Flintkote Roofing - and Carefully made. ' :C$5 nber Company GEORGIA & Dugas Streets rtOTTO: - - SERVICE /' . ' / ;. .v. -rv -J HMnHBHBM OUR BALANCE ^ IN THE BANK GROWS BIGGER "K EVERY ?lh-. WEEK Lj&ipri IT WILL COME ,N 3 kjgf HANDY BIN?: SOME I DAY I ?? ' MM--! i ihi? 19 the (way the fortune STARTED above drawing made it from Earned early that BANKING If thing to do. You can do the it, it will become a habit and a easure ADDING to that bank ndingthose dribs and drabs of oor ALL OF THEIR LIVES. nk YOUR bank J - ;. sent. interest, comr on savings deposits erchants Bankl IDT, S. C. I aaagM^^ jl re Here | *-?-J f\\T?J g iierudy, ^ ?? cunco- w e of the nicest load II ^ rses ever brought ?| !ome and inspect g g r are picked over. II * 1? 'MA kV Bamberg jl )luUAJ\ So. Car. ^ ; DH r ; <;/ 9BS$9SS9^x9SBB9B8B983SBB ; 7