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^^P^Dollar and a Half a Year. " BAMBERG, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY, 17,1918. Established 1891. ^ .1 Huilllllll HLI'ij LETTERS mW IN VARIOUS SECTIONS. News Items Gathered All Around the County and Elsewhere. Colston Clippings. Colston, January 16.?The cold y weather has the most of our people frozen in at present. Only a few were at Sunday-school Sunday afternoon, but we soon hope for the weather to moderate, and a good attendance once again. Misses Elvie Kearse, Ethel McMillan, and Mr. Albert McMillan, of Bamberg, were Sunday visitors at lio hnmo ftf "Yin onH \Tra .T f! Mc Millan. Messrs. J. D. Kirkland, Jones and Will McMillan spent last week-end / in Augusta. Mr. W. G. Kirklkand, chief of police of Bamberg, was at home last week-end on account of illness. He will remove his family to Bamberg as soon as possible. Miss Lessie Wooley spent Saturday night and Sunday with Miss Mary Clayton. Mr. G. A. McMillan happened to . an accident that came very near proving serious Saturday afternoon. While going at a fast rate around a corner on the Colston and Bamberg road his car got cross ways the road, and in some way overturned. The car was damaged, but not very badly, while Mr. McMillan was not injured at all. 'Mr. George Fender, formerly of this x section, but who has been in Bamberg for several years, was call" ?1 1? "attw loef tito air tin vine till vy LUC uaijr laov nvvu, ... joined it last summer. He was only waiting for the summons to go and serve his country. , ELECTIONS IN ASSEMBLY. \ Spain Defeated.?Hydrick, Rice and Wilson Had no Opposition. Columbia, Jan. 15.?Election of judges occupied the greater part of the legislative programme, at the morning session today. Edward McIver, of Cheraw, defeated Judge Thos. H. Spain in the fourth circuit. Associate Justice Hydrick was reelected to the supreme bench without opposition. Judges -Hayne F. Rice, of the second circuit, and John S. Wilson, of the third circuit, were reelected without opposition, and Judge I. W. Bowman, of the first circuit, ttas reelected over E. J. Dennis, of Berker ley county, the vote being 81 to 43. Successors to Judge Ernest Moore, x- of the sixth circuit, Frank B. Gary, of the eighth circuit, and T. J. Mauldin, of the thirteenth circuit, are to be chosen when the balloting will be resumed at noon tomorrow. The election of an insurance commissioner, State warehouse commissioner, code . commissioner, State librarian, trustees of the State penitentiary will follow. Two ballots were necessary for a choice in the fourth circuit. On the first Mclver received 56; Jennings K. Owens, of Bennettsville, 30; Spain 49; number necessary for a choice, ? Al ?J MaTttot* t>5. un me secuiiu uauui, iuvitsi received 69, Owens 20, Spain 46; necessary for a choice 68. Mr. Mclver is the son of the late - Chief Justice Henry Mclver. He studied law at the University of Maryland ai^d has practiced in Cheraw 30 years. He is 57 years old and has presided as special judge in a number of courts. r American Tractors in Prance. To increase France's crops and to lighten the burden of toil on her old men, women and children, 1,500 farm tractors will go to that country from the United States. The first hundred are already on the way, and the whole number will be in France by March, in time for the spring plowing. Deck space was provided for the first shipment on a naval transport. Schools of instruction will be organized. The acreage sown to crops in the uninvaded portion of France in 1917 fin nnn nnn nrrpc Iprs than I nao uuv/ut x v,w v,v v v ?? in 1913, or 24.4 per cent. The increased production through the use of tractors this year is expected to ? . greatly improve the food situation. Government barges have been placed in service on the upper Mississippi, and through government assistance a new fleet is to be built for: this service. Sugar is being moved by barge from Louisiana plantations * -- to New Orleans. Read The Herald $1.50 the year. * ?' WINTER HOLDS ARMIES DOWN. Only Minor Developments Recorded by Secretary's Review. Washington, Jan 14.?Only minor developments at the battle fronts are recorded in the weekly review of military operations made public tonight by the war department. Wintry weather is interfering with operations in Italy, France and Flanders, and in Russia the military situation is overshadowed by peace negotiations, from which, the review says, no conslusions can safely be drawn. The report also says Austrian howitzers from the Italian front have appeared on the front in France. Of the American forces in France the department announces that their preparation for the ordeal of battle is being steadily pursued and that Gen. Pershing reports their health and fighting spirit extremely good. Camps at Home. General improvement in health and equipment conditions in training camps at home is reported, and the department says in spite of the abnormal cold the camps have been adequately heated and s:oldiers have had a sufficient supply of blankets. "On the active fronts in the west and in Italy the equilibrium of battle has been maintained," says the review. "The usual engagements so repatedly recorded during the past week, which are merely every day occurrences in the normal course of modern warfare, raids, reconnoitering thrusts, patrol encounters, artillery duels and disturbing fire can have#but little influence on the general situation. Of Doubtful Value. "Any discussion of the military position in the west must be confin ed td the analysis of minor engagements, which amount to a speculative discussion as to their significance. This in the present stage of the war is of doubtful value. "During the period under review the enemy has concentrated his attacks against the British in the region north of the Cambrai area and in the Ypres salient, and by continuous harrassing fire and minor offensive thrusts endeavored to make tactical readjustments and,, new dispositions of units. Operations Impeded. "Owing to the intensely cold weather all along the entire western front operations have been impeded, though the terrain in Flanders and Artois, normally so muddy and waterlogged, has been frozen, which will facilitate operations us soon as clear weather returns. "The identification of Austrian units along the western front is of interest. For some time past we have been receiving information to the effect that Austrian howitzers, which had been participating in the offensive in July, we're being detached from the Italian theatre and transported to the west. Aviators Keeo Busy. "In spite of unfavorable atmospheric conditions French and British aviators were very busy along the whole front and brought down a number of hostile planes. Air raids into the interior of Germany were crowned with success. "In Italy the enemy has been immobilized by the deep snow7 in the mountain zone. Fresh snow has fallen throughout the Alpine region, blocking the passes and rendering active operations impossible. Nevertheless the Austro-Germans are endeavoring to continue their bombardments of the Italian positions along the Asiago plateau and the Monte Tomba. Deceiving German People. "While information reaches us that the Austro-Germans proposed to undertake simultaneous offensives in Italy and in the west, it is to be noted that within the central empires great efforts a:re being made to spread broadcast the news that the Germans have fuiiilled their widest objectives in the Italian theatre and that no further forward move ment could be of any advantage to their interests. "In Russia the military situation is for the time being overshadowed by the peace negotiations, which have been instituted. "No conclusions can safely be drawn from the latest incidents." The home of Max C. Brittain, in Lancaster was badly damaged last Friday night by the falling of a chimney before the storm. There was considerable other damage in the town and vicinity. Watermans Ideal Fountain Pens at Herald Book Store. IN THE PALMETTO STATE SOME OCCURRENCES OP VARIOUS KINDS IN SOUTH CAROLINA. State News Boiled Down for Quick Reading.?Paragraphs About Men and Happenings. Major David L. Sinkler, who has been city assessor in Charleston for the past twenty-five years, was defeated last week by W. Aiken Rhett. There is a bill before the house to designate chickens as amraais. ine object of the bill is to make the owners of trespassing chickens subject to damage. A bill to require that the salaries of special judges be paid out of the salaries of the judges for whom they serve has been killed in the house by a narrow vote. Ex-President William H. Taft is expected to visit Camp Jackson on the 28th of this month, when he will be asked to deliver an address to some of the soldiers. Nine cases of meningitis were discovered last week at the naval training station at Charleston and an epidemic of the disease is feared by the men in charge of the situation. In the court of general sessions for Richland county last week Judge Memrainger, who presided, sentenced twenty men to the chain gang and penitentiary, probably a record for a week. John R. Tolbert, for many years leader of the Republican party in ? i 11 i. ? South uarouna ana once coneciur ui customs at Charleston, died at his home at Ninety-Six, in Greenwood county last Thursday, aged 84 years. Mrs. Charles Ligon and little daughter, of Cherokee Falls, in Cherokee county, were both burned to death at their home last week. There was a fire in the yard and the child's clothing cought from that. The mother rushed to the rescue and both were so terribly burned that death ensued. Oscar Cook, a Richland negro, was sentenced by Judge Memminger last week to serve ten years for stealing chickens. The evidence showed that the negro had stolen the chickens from a small house that was within statutory distance of a residence. The law provides a sentence of life imprisonment; but the jury recommended mercy. The following members of the house of representatives were absent from the first roll call, being in the service of their country: L. B. Harrison. Spartanburg; A. W. Horton, Spartanburg; M. C. Lumpkin, Columbia; E. P. Passaillaigue, Charleston; W. R. Richey, Jr., Laurens; H. L. Smith, Jr., Georgetown, and E. M. Whaley, Charleston. Chris Blanding, a negro from Anderson county, was recently arrested there and carried back to Detroit, from which place he had escaped, and was tried on the charge of having murdered a Belgian woman there. He confessed to cutting her throat from ear to ear and was sentenced to life imprisonment, Michigan having abolished capital punishment. / The first selective draft in South Carolina cost the government $61,968.76, according to announcement of the provost marshal general. Of this amounj; $28,221 was paid to members of exemption boards, $26,762.$0 was paid employees of the boards, $980.30 was expended for physical examinations, $1,083.37 for travel, and $4,069.91 for supplies. The State revenue for 1918 from taxes is estimated by Carlton W. Sawyer, comptroller general, in his annual report at $2,716,922.76, bas ed on the present rate of 8 1-2 mills on the present assessment of $319,637,972. With estimated income from other sources than taxes of $351,050, the total estimated revenue is $3,067,972.76. Of taxes amounting to $2,716,922.76 levied in 1917, only $566,615.63 was paid by the last of the year, the comptroller general says. A bill containing the following provision was introduced in the senate last Friday: "It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, or company to transport or convey, to sell or offer for sale or manufacture essence or tincture commonly known as Jamaica ginger within this State. Any violation of the provisions of this act shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than one year nor less than thirty days or a fine of not more than $1,000 or both, at the discretion of the judge." i REGISTRATION FOR YOUTH. Young Men Will l>e Classified as They Become Twenty-One. Washington, Jan. 15.?The government has decided on draft registration of all young men as fast as they become 21 years of age, as the means of keeping filled the ranks of the war army. It was decided against raising the draft age limit above 31 years. An administration bill was introduced at the request of the war department by Chairman Chamberlain of the senate military committee to register for draft all men who have reached 21 since June 5, 1917, when tne arart law Decame enective. <> The administration's support seems to assure its prompt passage. The bill agrees with the recent recommendations of Provost Marshal General Crowder. Other administration bills introduced today by Chairman Chamberlain at the request of the war department will supplement the draft law to make it workable under conditions that have developed. One would permit furloughing national army troops for harvest work or other civilian duty; another would eliminate enemy alien population from basis of calculations for draft quotas by making the basis for each State, the number of men available in class 1. Recommended by Crowder. Registration of men who have become of age since tl\e draft law was I enacted, was the recommendation of Provost Marshal General Crowder as one of the means by which a supply of men for the national army could be obtained without taking those who have other dependents on them. It could be done also, General Crowder pointed out, by extending the age limits above the present line of 31. The war department has adopted the first sugestion. It is estimated that it will add about 700,000 men to the draft available each ye^ir. Congressmen have been advised that further legislation would be necessary to perfect and carry on the draft and the passage of Senator Chamberlain's bill with administra tlon support is expected promptly in both houses. Another bill introduced by Senator Chamberlain would provide a distinctive badge or button for exempted men. The bill changing the basis of State quotas is believed to provide a more equitable system, as it will exclude entirely enemy aliens from the basis. Enemy aliens were included in the basis for the $rst draft and there was much complaint. Heavy enemy alien populations in some congested districts forced Americans to army duty regardless of exemption claims to make up district quotas. For Agricultural Work. The bill to permit troops to go to agricultural work, merely would authorize the secretary of war to furlough men for civilian duty. It is known, however, that the war department intends to use the authority principally to provide men for harvest time and other agricultural work vital to the food supply. To facilitate collection of private insurance policies held by troops, another bill woul(} require private insurance companies to accept the official army record as proof of death of men among the army insured. It is designed to meet the cases of men reported missing to which there is ? ? -J 1 ? ?- ^ f J T*? rton/s A f IIO UCCUai JJTUUl UI ucaiu. m ^aoc wi payment by insurance companies upon policies held by men reported missing and who later should appear, the bill provides for reimbursement to the insurance companies by the government. Exemption of the government from payment of the new war tax on automobiles is the purpose of another bill introduced by Senatr Chamberlain to deal principally with the large government purchase of motor trucks. Arrangements have been made by the war department to fill from the second draft sometime this spring the'extensive vacancies in the coast artillery, caused by the organization of provisional regiments of mobile! heavy artillery for service in France, j A limited number of men who have particular aptitude for the special, work of the corps were obtained from the first draft but there is still a de- j | ficiency of several thousand. Unless : j some unforeseen emergency devel-' ! ops organization of regiments for forj eign service in the corps will not be i carried any further chan to complete the units now in process of develj opment. Read The Herald, $1.50 per year, j * SOLONS DOWN TO WORK MUCH BUSINESS TRANSACTED IN . FIRST WEEK. Senate Votes to Take Pardon Power Away from Governor.?OtliMatters of Interest. Columbia, Jan 12.?It is very doubtful if there has ever been a session of the general assembly at which more business has been transacted the first week than has been transacted in the first week of the present one. Both houses have shown a dis position to get right down to work, to pass what legislation is necessary and to go home. Night sessions have been held in both branches the first week, something very unusual. The ways and means committee of the house is hard at work on the appropriation bill and hopes to report it in record time. It is the appropriation bill that always delays the adjournment of the assembly. Chairman yLiles and his committee members hope to get the big measure in shape early enough not to interfere with early adjournment plans. The members of the various county delegations have been requested to furnish their county supply measures at once. Probably the most important measure passed by either house the first week was the bill offered in the senate by Mr. Bonham of Greenville and passed by that body to submit a constitutional amendment taking from the governor the pardoning power and investing it with the board of pardons provided by the general as sembly. This measure has been sent to the house. The senate was practically unanimous in favor of the bill. Just what reception it will meet in the house cannot be predicted. The senate also passed a bill repealing the State income tax law, the enforcement of which has always been a farce, according to Senator Sinkler, the author of the measure, repealing it. This bill, too, has been sent to the house. The house of representatives went squarely on record against the proposed assessment of personal property and lands at 50 per cent, of its value. It seems that the tax commissino has issued instructions to county auditors to increase the assessments this year to that extent. The house is "agin it." The concurrent resolutions asking that the assessment be made at the same rate as in the past has been sent to the senate, but has not yet been brought up in that body. There is little reason to doubt, however, that it will pass the senate with the same vote that it passed the house. Senator Williams, of Aiken, has introduced a bill to abolish the tax commission. nrii^k PivJiihifmn OiiAst.inn. The opposition has arisen to the proposed ratification to the national prohibition amendment, but the concensus of opinion seems to be that it will be ratified. The question of "State rights" has arisen and is being used vigorously by those who oppose the amendment. The strongest opposition seems to be in the house. No sentiment against it has developed in the senate' to date. Senator DuRant has introduced a bill in the senate to tighten the quart-a-month law. This bill seems to have the backing of the prohibition leaders and may be said to constitute the prohibition programme for this session so far as local or State legislation is concerned. The bill, briefly stated, would require the head of a family, before sucuring a permit from the probate judge, to securer doctor's prescription stating the name of the sick person for whom the whiskey was wanted and giving the nature of the disease. It is very probable that a deter mined fight will be made upon this measure. It is said that several "bone dry" bills will be introduced during the coming week. This Bill Was Killed. A bill by Senator DuRant providing for the removal of unfaithful sheriffs or other peace officers was killed by the senate after a lengthy d'scussion. Senator DuRant and Senator Bonham argued long and eloquently on the necessity of such a measure, while Senator J. F. Williams, of Aiken, argued just as long and just as eloquently against it. The sentiments of the senator from Aiken prevailed. Great interest will center the coming week in the investigation into the charges contained in the message V : - \ HOUSE FOR NEW PRIMARY LAW. Sends Cotliran Bill to its Third Reading by decisive Vote. Columbia, Jan. 15.?After going emphatically on record as being in favor of the Cothran bill for regulating primary elections, which gives, in effect, the Australian system of balloting, the house tonight ordered the measure to third reading after amending it in unimportant particulars. The vote was viva voce after the house, by a vote of 29 to 68, had refused the motion of J. Howard Moore, of Abbeville, to strike out the enacting words. The roll call on the motion showed that the vote of approval was in no manner partisan, but drew from all factions. The vote indicates that the bill will u- - :i.. J v.. it. ^ ue easily passeu uy uie xiuuse i>u third reading. The measure provides that a voting booth shall be provided for every one hundred electors at each precinct. The dimensions are given and the method of keeping the voter concealed. The voter, if he cannot read or writes, shall have two members of opposing factions to assist him and if these be not present any two qualified "voters. After the opening of the polls no person shall be admitted behind the guard rails of the booth, which shall be five feet from the booth and around it, except the managers, the duly authorized watchers and challengers, the chairman of the executive committee or member of the committee appointed in his stead to supervise the polling place, and police officers admitted by the managers. The candidates for public offices may be present to watch the canvass of the vote. The following sections of the bill provide for the manner of voting: "The tickets shall be printed on clear white paper in the usual manner, but shall have a coupon at the top, perforated so as to be easilly detached. On the coupon shall be printed 'Official Ballot.' 'Club . Ward . No. .' The numbers shall* run seriatim for each clnh There shall be fifty per cent. more ballots than there are voters enrolled at each polling place. "The managers shall be responsible for all ballots furnished. When a voter presents himself he shall be given a ballot provided he is a native citizen of the United States, or if he is a naturalized citizen he must show his naturalization papers before the managers shall give him a ballot. The manager in charge of the poll list shall enter the number of the ballot next the name of the voter. The voter shall forthwith retire to one of the booths and without undue delay prepare his ballot by scratching out the names of the candidates for whom he does not care to vote. No voter shall remain in the booth longer than five minutes. "After preparing his ballot the voter shall present himself to the manager. His ballot must be folded in such a way that the number can be seen and the coupon can be readily detached by the manager without in any way revealing the printed portion of the ballot. If the voter is not challenged and takes the prescribed oath the managers shall tear off the coupon, put it on file, stamp the ballot, and the voter shall deposit it in the box arid shall immediately leave the polling place. If a voter shall mar or deface his ballot he may obtain one additional ballot upon returning to the manager in charge of the ballot the ballot so marred or defaced with the coupon attached. The manager in charge of the poll list shall change the number of the ballot on his poll list and plaee the defaced ballot on a file. No voter shall be given a second ballot until he has returned the first one with the coupon attached." of Governor , Manning, vetoing the game warden act, against the former game warden, Mr. Richardson. The demand for an investigation was made by Mr. Richardson in a letter to Senator Williams, of Aiken. President Bethea, of the senate, has appointed the following committee to investigate the charges: Senators D. R. Williams, Alan Johnstone and J. W. McCown. Mr. Beahea has been very widely commended for his appointment of this committee which seems to have completely satisfied both sides of the very unpleasant fight. The committee will begin its in vestigation probably Tuesday afternoon and will probably make its report before the senate votes on the veto message of the governor Friday. There is some little interest in this investigation. ?