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% I r ?1|t Hamhrrg 2|mlb (2.00 Per Year in Advance BAMBERG-, S. 0., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1920. Established in 1891 - I - ??? MORE DANGEROUS TO WALK STREETS NEARLY POUR THOUSAND PER- < SONS KILLED IN 1920. J j Increase is Noted. 1 ? 1 Census Bureau Says Automobile ; Death Rate Gives Food for 4 ^ Serious Thought. Washington Dec. 5.?A total of 3,808 persons wer? killed in auto- J mobile accidents or died as a result of injuries therefrom during last 1 year the census bureau announced to- 1 day, in a statement offering sugges- 1 tions for traffic improvement. An au- ] tomabile accident death rate of 14.1 1 out of every 100,000 of persons were J reported for the year 1919, an in- 1 crease over every year since 1915 when the rate was 8.0 and an increase 1 of 245 in the total number of deaths over 1918. "Each year it becomes more and ( j \ more dangerous for a person to walk the streets," the bureau's statement says. "The reason usually giv- ' en, and probably the correct one, is ' that the number of automobiles in use is constantly increasing. How ' then, shall this ever increasing dan- i ger be lessened. The. obvious remedy is to improve constantly the traffic regulations to keep pace with < the ever increasing number of auto-' biles." Suggestions made by the bureau t for traffic improvement follow: * Erection at street crossings of 1 curbed safety isKnds, which, at the most dangerous spots, should be very close together. Construction of additional cross- ' ings in the middle of blocks, where automobiles can approach from only two directions. * Demonstration of great skill in' driving each machine before granting a driver's license for that ma- 1 chine. ] Reduction of the speed limit, especially at crossings. Fine, revocation, of license and imprisonment, each .to have its place as an autual penalty. Youngstown, Ohio, leads the list of 66 cities in the automobile death rate with 28.5 per 100,000, but showed a decrease from the previous year when the rat? was 31.9. Richmond, Va., had the lowest rate with 5.9, but showed a slight increase over 1918, when it was 5.4. New York had the largest total number of deaths with 780, an increase of 89 over the previous year * and more than double the number in 1915. New York's automobile death rate was 14.0 per 100,000 persons. Chicago's total deaths numbered 328, an increase of 37, a death rate of 12.3. Statistics for other cities of 250,000 or more population follow: Philadelphia, total 191, decrease 35, rate 10.6; Cleveland 126, decrease 42, rate 16; Pittsburg 94, decrease 11, rate 16.1; San Francisco 85, increase 11, rate 16.9; Kansas City 42, decrease 22, rate 13.1; Denyer 41, decrease 2, rate 16.1. Statistics for southern cities include: Atlanta 43, increase 23, rate 21.7; Birmingham 21, decrease 2, rate 11.9; Dallas 19, increase 6, rate 12.1; Houston 14, increase 1, rate 10.3; Louisville 19, decrease 9, rate 8.1; Memphis 26, increase 7, rate 17.4; Nashville 18, increase 4, rate 15.3; New Orleans 30,, increase 8, rate , 9.4; Norfolk 24, increase 11, rate c 21.1; Richmond 10, increase 1, rate ^ 5.9; San Antonio 14, decrease 9, rate ^ 8'9' Nut Stuff. I "Yes," said the mess sergeant. "We'd have had a change from this j everlasting slum diet if Washington had let that cargo of walnuts come t through. But they stopped it." "Walnuts? Stopped it? What t for?" "Well, you see, buddy, they said i there was danger of the shells ex- 6 plod'ing and striking the colonels." I Unsurmoitntable Objection. "Mama," cried little Willie. "Do you think I'll ever grow any bigger?" j "Yes, duckie, of course." ^ "Well, I'm hanged if I see how," ( retorted the bright infant. "My head t is in the way." By order of King George of England, two captured German guns have been placed in the grounds of Buck- i ingham Palace. 1 FINGER PRINTS NOT SURE. Great Identification System Scored by ExPerts, Tests Being Made. Officials of the International Association for personal identification in New cork, an organization havintg for its object the "finger printing" of every man, woman and child in the United States and Canada, have started an inquiry into the charge made by Milton Carlson, a Los Angeles handwriting expert, that finger prints can be forged. Carlson says he "forged" the finder prints of a convicted murderer in New Jersey in human blood on a butcher knife, making a perfect thumb impression of a man 3,000 miles away. Experts, it is said, pronounced it perfect. So far as known the Californian is the first man to innounce successful duplication of Bnger prints used for the past 1,000 years as an Mailable means of identification. Forged finger prints are possible, but ineffective, it is said by officials Df the association. "A criminal," said th6 secretary of the association, 'would have one chance of success in i million in fastening a crime upon an innocent person by means of a forged finger print. Our researches show that in every case of a reproduced 'print' the lines are palpably false. They show up under a strong magnifying glass like a rubber stamp ?r wood engraving and not like the Driginal finger lines, which, .by reason of perspiration and oil, are clear ind sharply defined. "Handwriting experts may attempt :o discredit finger prints because LL ^ J r i.u AM -u? Liieir use ueiracts uuiii ixxeii uusmess 3ut the fact remains that human seals,' as the finger prints are called, ire an unfallable test so far as identity is concerned. They have practically superceded the Bertillon system in New York state, but, antil the [aw is changed the Bertillon must be used in the penitentiaries. When the lines are blurred, as often happens, a finger print is worthless, but if they are clear it is infallable evidence. It has been shown that if the Snger ridges were shaved off or sandpapered they came back. "It is popularly supposed that finder prints usually are only shown in blood. The fact is that you leave a anger print upon everything >ou :ouch. It is quite invisible to the aaked eye. The expert, however, will take a bit of powder?a dark powder pn a light surface or a light powder pn a dark surface?and will quickly develop' the print. The powders usPd are lampblack, graphite, cinnebar, red and mercurious sulphide and dragon's blood. "Nature has carved on our fingers ;hese 'seals' and they should be put ;o civilian as well as police use. Unloubtedly they have been the means pf detecting thousands of criminals. Hundreds of individuals who come to \Tew York and are swallowed up in :his great city, their bodies finally anding in tne moirgue, mignt neverbe buried in the potter's field if we lad a national finger print registry civilians." The New York finger print organization officials say that despite Mr. Carlson's charge genuine finger prints ire an invaluable aid to identify vic:ims of train wrecks or other disasters, and for ascertaining the identi:y of persons who have temporarily lost' themselves. Literally Speaking. A patriotic Scotsman was present it a meeting at which an eminent Shakespearean scholar dwelt on the virtues of his favorite author. . At :he close of the lecture the Scot approached the lecturer and said: "Ye think a fine lot of Shakespeare, doctor?" "I do, sir," was the emphatic reMy. "A' ye think he was mair clever ban RnhhiA "Rurns?" "Why, there is no comparison be;ween them." "Maybe no, but ye tell us the nicht t was Shakespeare who wrote 'Unjasy lies the head that wears a croon, s'ow, Rabbie would never hae writen sic nonsense as that." "Nonsense, sir!" cried the indigiant doctor. i "Ay, just nonsense. Rabbie would j lae kent that a king, or a queen ei;her, disna gang to bed wi' the croon )n his head. He wad hang it ower ,h' back o' a chair." ? "There will be no meeting of the F. VI. Bambeitg chapter, U. D. ., this nonths on account of the Christmas *ush. MOVE BY TO ASS. Inquiry Begun Into Situation ture With View to Sendi ington to Urge Leg Conhribute Harrisburg, Pa., I>ec. 1.?Governors and governors-elect, representing more than half the states of the union, voted at their annual conference here today to begin an inquiry into what was variously called "acute," alarming" and "tragic" situation facing farmers of the country with a view to recommending federal legislation to assist them. As a first step toward carrying out their plan, which was suggested by Gov. \V. L. Harding, of Iowa, the conference appointed a committee, consisting of Governors'Harding, Bickett, of North Carolina, Holcomto, of Connecticut; Parker, of Louisiana, and Goodrich, of Indiana, to make a preliminary survey and report back before the convention adjourned. After that it is contemplated to send the committee to Washington-to urge legislation before congress which convenes this month. The object of the state executives which is said to be without parallel in the history of American government is for the organization of governors to. suggest to congress and actively advocate passage of legislation necessary to refund the debts of farmers who are pinched by falling markets with heavy stocks of surplus products on hand, so as to give them a year or more to recoup losses and wait for a strengthening market. It is supposed to do this through extension of adoption of the federal reserve system. Foreign Made Plan. A second proposal, also scheduled to receive consideration by the committee, is another by Governor Hardong that a foreign.trade corporation be formed to finance purchases of American farm products by foreign countries unable, through present lack of funds to come into the American market. Acting on Governor Harding's suggestion Governor Bickett introduced a ' resolution providing for appointment of the committee to act under instructions of the conference and take the propositions up with congress direct. This motion received second and was about to be voted on when it was objected to, that the constitution of the governor' conference forbade formal resolutions or action of the sort. At this, Governor Sproul of Pennsylvania, pointed out that no such formal action was necessary and at the call of Governor Bamberger, of Utah, who presided, a vote was taken on the suggestion to appoint the committee informally. Approbation of the governors was overwhelming. One voice,, that of Governor Edwards, of New Jersey, was raised in objection. The eastern executive, who is a banker, said he thought federal legislation, such as is contemplated by hs colleagues, would be "economically wrong." Conditions should be * r? i . _ 1 i J. 1 1 ^ -3 M leit to adjust tnemsexves, ne ueciai-j SOON TO RETUR MAL BASIS Fl Washington, Dec. 5.?The dose of the business year of 1920 is described by the federal reserve board in a statement tonight as the turning point in the transition from war produced conditions to the normal economic basis of industrial life. The reserve board's statement which reviews the economic and financial situation confronting the nation during the year, treats of present conditions generally in an optimistic manner, declaring that the difficulty of transition will not be much further aggravated. It also asserts that owing to the nation's strong banking structure, a normal situation will be restored with far less than the usual distress usually i attendant on periods of readjustment. The board declares that previous periods of marked readjustment have been accompanied by sharp reduction in prices, heavy decreases in production, extensive unemployment and business reaction, often involving bank failures. While necessarily urncomfortable, the transition through K PERNORS 1ST FARMERS \ i Facing Workers in Agriculng Committee to Washfislation That Will to Relief. ed. . Apprehension regarding agricultur al and industrial conditions throughout the country characterized most of the expressions by speakers today. Several states, represented by the chief executives or governors-elect, 1 were reported in a condition verging on the extremely critical, while spokesmen for most of the others assented to the general proposition that there is a genuine cause for alarm in the outlook. Menace to Existence. Conditions in Iowa, Governor Harding said, menace the very existence of the agricultural industry. He urged on every state offical the necessity of emergency legislation to protect farmers from impending ruin. Few people, he said, realize the extent to which they are dependent upon* the farmers. Most cities, he declared, "are within 48 hours of starvation." The farmers, he warned, are facing conditions under which they will be unable to supply cities with the necessities of life. Production of foodstuffs will positively cease in the Mississippi valley within the next two years if better conditions are not quickly brought about, Governor J. B. A. Robertson, of Oklahoma, told the conference when he was introduced at a lunchen tendered the visitors by the Har risburg chamber of commerce. Governor Robetson told of huge supplies of grains and foodstuffs as well as -cotton- which, he said, have crowded warehouses in) the southwest following bumper crops which could not be moved from their points of origin when prices were still high on account of the car shortage, while present prices received for the commodities are not sufficient to pay expenses of production and transportation to markets. Cooper Adds Word. The same fears were echoed by Gov. J. H. Bartlett, of New Hampshire, and Governor R. A. Cooper, of South Carolina, who added that his misgivings extended into other fields i of necessary production as well. Governor Cooper emphasized the ; f meed to preserve the morale of the country in facing the difficult situation growing out of disproportionate relations exisiting between supply and demand complicated by labor and transportation conditions. He said necessary readjustments can not take place without casualties, adding that it was foolhardy to i could be weathered "without some ' bankruptcies." Other activities of the conference today included, a discussion of the Kansas court of industrial relations by Governor Allen, of Kansas, and a dinner tonight at the executive mansion as the guests of Governor and Mrs. Sproul. N TO NOR IOM WAR TIMES which the country was passing the board asserts, has thus far been attended with only a minimum of these unfavorable symptoms. The fiscal situation, both at home and a*broad, however, is still uncer- . tain, the board declares. This is held to be due to the late date at which the war was over in the fi nancial sense and to uncertainty as to think the present economic storms the best methods of taxation. In international trade a return to normal conditions is not in progress, the board says. With the exception of agriculture in which the output was the largest on record, production has been decreasing since the spring of the year, the board says. Textiles, ship building and very recently , the iron and steel industries are said < to have exhibited tendencies of this 1 nature. The board describes the tendency s in the retail trades as downward, the j lessened activity occurring for the* 1 most part considerably later than the < BIG FIRE IN ORANGEBURG. Thousand Bales of Cotton Go up in Smoke.?$75,000 Loss. Orangeburg, Dec. 8.?One of the most spectacular and destructive fires seen in Orangeburg in many a day consumed the large cotton storage warehouse of the Farmers Marketing association located on South' Railroad avenue early this morning at a < loss of around $75,000. Flames of undetermined origin were discovered in the structure aibout 12:45 and an alarm wa9 turned in. Firemen of the city stations at once responded and upon arrival found the building a mass of fire. At 3:30 this morning the firemen were yet on the scene to prevent the smoldering debris from igniting surrounding structures. The oss is amply covered by insurance, according to the manager of the association. \ One thousand bales of cotton were involved in the fire. Neither the manager nor other officials were able to give any theory as to the origin of the fire. The building was absolutely fireproof and had not been opened since early last month. Its construction and distance from the railroads tracks made its ignition from sparks but of the question. Among certain spectators this morning was advanced the belief that the destruction of the storage plant and contents was the work of incendiarism. No clue along this line had been developed early this morning. The Official Vote in S. C. The following is the official vote cast in the general election on Nov. 2, for Cox and Harding: Ins. Reg. Dem. Rep. Rep. Abbeville 868 13 Aiken 1,649 13 51 Allendale 440 " 11 Anderson .-..2,489 33 Bamberg , 688 Barnwell 721 25 1 Beaufort 265 134 15 Berkeley 548 ^24 Calhoun 631 7 *34 Charleston 2,929 . 19 354 Cherokee 1,771 24 24 Chester, 1,^37 22 Chesterfield fe,066 14 Clarendon .... ..' 902 Colleton 990 15 Daiiimgton 1,262 18 Dillon 1,003 5 Dorchester 874 2 58 Edgefield 976 Fairfield 737 15 Florence 1,763 79 Georgetown 245 16 22 Greenville 4,409 20 124 Greenwood 1,568 15 Hampton 623 Horry 1,709 2 47 Jasper 219 Kershaw 1,156 42 Lancaster 1,633 10 Laurens 2,263 4 31 Lee 734 18 Lexington 1,813 59 Marion 808 1 Marlboro 1 960 5 McCormick 557 Newtberry 2,015 5 28 Oconee 1,249 8 62 Orangeburg 2,526 32 252 Pickens 955 13 50 Richland 2,434 295 Saluda 1,111 3 Spartanburg 4,584 26 156 Sumter 1,150 26 185 Union 2,162 12 4 Williamsburg. 895 12 York 1,582 35 1? Totals 63,490 366 2,266 Oil Wells Found. Oil wells with considerable quantities of oil have been uncovered in Formosa. ] hi ^ More than 7,195 Canadian soldiers j have settled on grants of 1,726,000 acres of free land throughout the Dominion. The next convention of the Ameri- 1 can legion will be held in Kansas City, Mo., October 31, November 1 i and 2, 1921. 'Supply of box files just received 1 at Herald Book Store. turning point in production. J The slowing down of the export ? trade of the United States during the year is attributed to the exchange situation, which, it asserts, has steadily deteriorated. America's export seems to be closely conditioned upon the volume of imports, the board s^ys, and warrants the inference that there should be a larger movement of goods into the United States as a result of the extensive credits granted foreign countries. i MOVE TO REVIVE FINANCE BOARD ACTION BY CONGRESS SOUGHT IMMEDIATELY. Byrnes in Fight. South Carolina Representative Will Introduce Resolution in Lower House This Week. Washington, Dec. 4.?^First steps toward remedial legislation for farmer! at the coming session of congress will take the form of a concurrent resolution directing restoration of the war finance corporation. This was made clear today in a statement toy Senators Harrison, of Mississippi, and Heflin, of Alabama, and Representative Byrnes, of South Carolina. The necessity for action by the president would be avoided, it was continued, by making the resolution concurrent in form and it would become effective on adoption. . "We intend during the first week of the coming session of congress/' declared Senator Harris, "to pass a resolution directing the secretary of the treasury to revive the war finance corporation so that our agricultural poducts may be marketable." "The south and west have votes enough in the house and senate to pass such a measure next week," Senator Heflin said. "The conference of the southern senator's yesterday and the joint meeting of the house and senate committee on agriculture wrhich brought together representatives and senators from the south and west in my judgment will speedily result in action by congress in granting the necessary relief. "Sufficient sentiment has been created during the week," Senator Harrison said, "to impress upon those in authority that it is necessary that some immediate action be taken to re- ) Iieve the critical situation." The agricultural committee today heard Governor McKelvie, of NebrasV ka, tell of the situation in his state. They will meet again Monday morning to hear any more interests desiring to present views and then formulate recommendations which are expected to include proposals for methods of procedure to be followed in both houses. _______ \ Washington, Dec. 4.?Resolutions proposing the immediate reestablishment of the war finance corporation will be introduced in the senate and house upon the convening of congress Monday, Represntative Byrnes, of South Carolina, will offer the mea sure m tne nouse ana senator uaider, of New York, will present it in. the senate. Representative Barnes, who has been attending the hearings before * ^2 the senate and house agricultural committees, said today he was convinced that the reestablishment ot the corporation was the most feasible plani of aiding the farmers in the present period of depressed prices for their products. Proponents of the resolution in the senate said th|y believed they had enough votes to insure passage of the resolution. Governor McKelvie, of Nebraska, presented at the joint committee hearing today the resolutions dealing with the agricultural situation adopted at the governors' conference. Asked if the states planned any assistance for the farmers, Governor McKelvie said he proposed recommending to the legislature of his state some system of land loans through long time credits. The gov 11" +V.A + ernurs generally, uc saiu, ich iuat in the present situation congress must act as the conditions were national In. scope. 3 ^ i i mm Carolinians Win Case. Atlanta, Dec. 1.?A. B. Powers, charged with larceny after trust in connection with an alleged horse race swindling game here, was found guilty by a jury this afternoon and sentenced to five years imprisonment. The principal witnesses in the case were Wade Lamar and H. C. Holley, Df Aiken, S. C., who testified that they fvere swindled out of $11,000 by Pow ers. m > > m> Best-Sandifer. Allendale Nov. 27?Mrs. C. E. Best* of Allendale, announces the marriage of her daughter, Clyde Serene Best, to Otis Pinckney Sandifer, cf Denmark, Thursday, November 25. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Wendell White, of the First Baptist church of Fairfax. r