The Marlboro democrat. (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, February 17, 1905, Image 2

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The iVlari-boro' 'DO THOU, GREAT LIBERTY, INSPIRE OUR SOULS AND MAKE OUR LIVES IN THY POSSESSION HAPPY FOR OUR DEATHS GLORIOUS IN THY CAUSE." VOL BENNETTSVIIJLIE, S. C., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1905, NO. 8. UGLY CHARGES. Books of State House Officials Examined. COMMITTEE REPORTS Numerous Irregularities and Discrep ancies, Caused by Failure to Keep a Proper Set of Books ia a Proper Way. Secretary of State Complains. Senator T. B. Butler and Represen tatives Richards and Ralnesford Tues day submitted a report on the ex amination of the unices of the secre tary of state, comptroller general and state treasurer. The report was or dered printed in the journal and is considered one of the most sensa tional yet died. The report says of some of the of fices: "That they have examined the book of accounts of the above named clll oers and find the ( filces of state treas urer, comptroller general and sinking fund correct, with proper vouchers, the o ni ces and the books neatly and well kept, and the committee, with pleasure, commend the efficiency of the ctficers and assistants in theBe sev eral departments." The report then recommends that the comptroller general be supplied with file cases for the keeping of the records of the office. The report cn the secretary of state'B office la in part as follows: ThlB office has not been included In the examination heretofore, but last year this additional duty was placed -^m this committee, and lt hos been an eb?rmous, unpleasant und extremely dlfficilt^niatter to ascertain,the exact and true ?6941 t'.ou ol iffe ? Dar ces of this i nice-due to many reasons which we will attempt to show later. When we first went to this office In April, 1904, we were informed that we could oonclude our labors "in ten minutes" and were shown the bank nooks and a mero statement, Of amounts, aggregate, received In that office, and amount paid ?tate treasurer. OJ Insisting that we came for a real examina tlon, we were begged for time to prepare books, etc. However, your committee went to work but soon ... iaond?von-Bocount of tho absence .of books and In proper entries of cash received, wrong and improper entries made in the books furnished, which bad been badly kept. Your commit tee feeling the need of a thorough ex amination adjourned, and secured the services of an account, Mr. J. O. Hol lis, of Gaffney, S. G., and with bis valuable assistance made up a book of every item we could findend was furn ished by Mr. R. M. MoCown, the as sistant clerk, said book being now In the possession of your committee. Af ter adjourning, and before our return with Mr. Hollis, many erasures and corrections were made on the books attempted to be kept. The only way we could do was to handle each de claration of oharter, roturn, applica tion for notary public-in fact, every paper during Mr. Gantt's administra tion. Seeing that considerable time would be consumed in this i ximlna tlon, we did not feel justified in go ing back of Lis term without express authority, so did not do so, riui reel now that this should he dene by tire committee to be appointed. In comparing the return of corpora tors to the charters that were record ed, we found some unrecorded and others erroneously recorded, such as where a charter had h. en granted in the Bum of 815,000, same was recorded as having been Issued in the sum of .50,000. This work we did not com plebe on account of a very damaging fire in the office where, principally, all records were kept, and since that'time we have been unable to do any such work for the books were badly injur ed, hence, such examination was nee essarlly suspended. In many cases we found whore over collections had been made aggregat ing 8367 55, ranging from 50 ceut-t to 877 50. There was no evldt nee that these vari tun items had baen return ed to the pr per parties, but, on the contrary, the secretary of state in formed UB wo "had notldng to do with these excess amounts as that was a matter between himself and the par ties sending them." We do not agree to such a proposition. On the book which was supposed to be kept i terr s were left off entirely. To illustrate: Camperdown mills, chartered April 30, 1904! charter fee ?loo, and others. Improper amounts credited bo state: Puckaber Bros., Charleston; charier foe 850; amount state credited with, 815, March 23, 1904. We f-.el C( m polled to condemn this carelessness In handling thc people's money, and In not keeping proper entries of all m<<u eys coming thvougb tt:is olllce, also . tba method that bas prevailed in manv Instances whore a creditsyatom has teen allowed. To give an Instance, tho Norris cotton mills, obarter in creased on April 10, 1903; charter fee, 850, amount received after charter Is sued 925, and the claim was made that the late Col. D. K. Norris con tended that "the office already owed him 825." Either this money ls lost to the state, or is a los', to the score tary of state; at any rule, such prac tice should bo discontinued. 'lhere are other Instances. These items of over collections may have been re turned, but wc have no evidence of same. Your committee ls cognizant of one instance where there luis ht en a refund. The charter was granted on February 23, 1904, and refund made June 23, 1904, after these matters had open called to tho attention of this Office. We regret to report that "all mon eys" have not been paid over "quar terly" to the state treasurer as ls re quired by law, same being held, in some instances, considerable time af ter the expiration of the Eeveral quar ters. Your cimmitte begs to report that, as the report Of receipts and disburse ments will.show, hereto appended, the (secretary of state has deposited in bank several hundred dollars lo ex cess of amounts shown by his books or evidenced by proper vouchers in his ofilee, as having been collected for fees. In this amount, no doubt, ls included some ot these excess collec tions, sent by mistake by different parties throughout tho state and which do not belong to the state, but should be refunded to the proper par ties when the charters were Issued. We found by mere chance that one item of $120 50 for charter of the Union Ware House company of Co lumbia, chartered on the 15th day of January, 1902, during Mr. Cooper's administration, was presented for pay ment in June, 1904, and bas not yet been turned over to the state treasur er, being, we are informed, now In the o?lee of secretary of state. There may he other items of Mr. Gautt's pre decessor still outstanding, but, as we stated, we did not go back that far. A letter was then sent by Mr. D. H. Means to Chairman Butler of the committee stating that although the wish book of his c Alee had been lest, he was ready to check up all of the accounts except the receipt book. A letter was accordingly scut Secretary 1 Gantt asking fur these bcoks, but a ' reply was received stating that the lire which gutted the room made im possible for them to be found as yet, but that so far as he knew Mr. Mean's 1 accounts were always accurate. The ! committee then concluded aa follows: ' In justice to Mr. Gantt, we beg to state be informed us the reason his books were in bad condition was due to the fact that bis time was occupied securing valuable and necessary in formation for Senator Tillman to aid aim in collecting certain funds from 1 jhe national government, and we are 1 satined bc did good work. The books and accounts since Mr. 1 [t. M. McCown hus been anting as 1 ihlef clerk have been kept in much Detter condition, and since our thor- 1 )ugh examination in June it is a very { ;asy mattor to koep track of the funds 1 md vouchers. Too much care in keeping the books , D this office cannot oo spared, for, as will ba seen by th'; following state- , ?sent of receipts and disbursements , luring the years of 1903 and 1904, a large amount of money goes through \ this o?dcj: Amount received from pre- , deccssor.8 2,070 89 Deposited in banks. 31,430 89 Total. Total.831,101 78 Paid state treasurer . 30 302 89 Balance in bank.8 3,799 89 Fees received In 1903. 10,151 19 ifees to June 13, 1904. 7,543 73 Fees from June 13 tb to Dec 13, 1904. 7,105 58 From predecessor. 2,670 89 Total.833,531 39 Paid state treasurer. 30,301 89 B30ks show balance.8 3,229 50 Which shows a balance in hanks of S570.40 over amount the books and vouchers of secretary of state show. Under the present law charters are granted on payment of one mill on the dollar up to 8100,U00, and in a ;rcat many Instances the state re ceives only fifty cents, and in some Instances as low as rive cents, and it costs the state as much tu grant one of these small charters as it does one capitalized at $1,000,000, where the fee is 8100. Therefore, we recommend that the law he changed hy the secre tary of state. There are about eighteen or twen ty bocks containing the records of corporations damaged hy lire In th ii tilca, and while not destroyed, the lindings and edges have been de i troy cd and it i, almost absolutely lecessary that these books be tran ?crib id. Therefore, we recommend ;hat these records be put lu better ,hape and cundill m for pr per band ing and preservation, and that a imall appropriation be made to carry jills into effect. Respectfully submitted, On part of the senate. T. B. BUTLER. Ou part of house, of representatives. J. G. RICHARDS, JU. T. H. RAINSKORD. Dynamita Kiiicii F ii rue. A Haughton, Mich., dispatch says three men are dead, seven Injured and three are missing as the result of an explosion ol 10,000 pounds of dyna mite In No. 3 shaft, of the Kearsargo branch of tho Osceola Consolidated mines Wednesday afternoon. No ex planation c?n he given for the explo sion. The dynamite was kept In a drift at the eighth level and was used by the men in blasting. The Bhaft is on lire and it is feared the three men mis lng are dead. The searching party was unable to get down further than the fifth level. The shafts are hoing sealed. Found l)?A(i. A dispatch fri m Spartanburg says the body cf an unknown neuro was found near the side of the track which lead.s off from Wellford to Tucapau Milton aids Wednesday n orning, lt is believed that the negro frozo to 1 -a th duri ig the night. li?; wan seen about Wtdlforl and was drinking fieely. il?; evidently started tor his home and being overcome from drink fell clown in tho sleot and froze to death. Jumped to Doutt). II. C. Swift, 75 years old, who came to Savannah from Stockton, t?a., eight months ago, Jumped from a window of his home tuero Wednes day night and died Thu slay. He had been suffering from gi lp for sev eral years. Mr. Swift wa? a resident of New Ycrk, but came s iii Ll) seeking a warmer climate. lMondml Guilty. In the court at Towanda, Pa., Wed nesday Bigler Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge that ho murdered his wife, Maggie B. Johnson and her niece, Annie Benjamin, ten years old, on September 18 last, and afterward burned their bodies. Ho is 20 years old and his wife was 40. MAKES REPLY. Mr. Gantt Promptly Defends Himself From the Charges OP THE COMMITTEE. Offers to Resiga If His Statements Are Disproved. The Secretary Reviews the Report of the Committee and Denies Some of The Charges Made. Secretory of State Gantt ?ave out the following, willoh has been sent to the general aj-sbrably : Gentlemen of ithe General Assembly: I beg to subunit to you herewith a full report of l\e nuances of the office of the aecretary\f state and a detail ed itemized s;t.at.emr.nt of all official re eel pta aud disbursements during my entire term in office. j>*\eg to Inform you that 1 have this day piarad'ih'bhe hand? of tho State printer as a sup plemental report to the general as sembly a full, accurate and complete list of all persons or corporations who have paid any fees to the office, which In its every detail proves the state ments banded you herewith to bi cor rect. In doing so I beg to make the fol lowing statement in reply to the re port of the cjmmittee appointed to examine the books and accounts of my office: I have boon continuously since thc appointment of the committee willing and anxious to make up aud present this siatemi nt to them, having offer ed bo do so open their tirst visit to the office, but waa informed that they de sired the papers of the office turned ayer to them without any checking, verification or statements lu the cou il ti on in which they were at the time. Presuming the committee competent Lo come into the office, take tho books and make up a correct statement of Its affairs, the entire papers and books of the office were turned over to tbem; they were furnished a key, which the chairman retained for three months, and which was used to gain entry tc the office when none of the clerks or employes thereof were present. This was permitted to allow the fullest and freest opportunity for full and com prehensive investigation of the office. During most of the time of the tlrst investigation I was confined to my house by sickness. Durlrg the progres of thl3 investigation reports . were brought to me or statements by mem bers of this committee of a shortage in this office. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, which was during the week prior to the filing of the pledges by candidates for State offices, I becurod an opp >r tu ni ty to state to the committee the reports I had heard, and asked that they state to the public what they bad found. In response to thlj request, Hie commit tee published a communication in which lt was asserted that no books were kept, which was false, and that they had collected certain vouchers from which they had made up a set of books, which was equally untrue, as there is not now and never has been any "vouchers" to bo ojllected, and thc original declarations and returns Df corporators could uot be so de dgnat ad, and principally from these 1 under stood the committee had made its statements. As I was assured that the committee bad found nothing .vhich tliey especially criticised, 1 nipposed the statement they had se .ured to be accurate. I had repeated assurances given me that nothing wrong was found. Consequently my as bonishment ab the remarkable state ments made therein was as profound is was my surprise at the partial, in jomplete and inaccurate statement ot the financial affairs the-eaf. Wheu reduced to its logical conclu sion and freed from the insinuation and Innuendo In which it ls clothed, thc report charges that no accurate books are kept, or proper rcord of the receipts and disbursements of the ! nice, aud that the manngemcnt of the office has been deficient. The only reply which it ls in my power to make to this charge ls the rendit! m at once of a full statement of every financial transaction of the ( dice, properly bal ancing the cash found on hand durlrg my term of office. I assert to be trii'i that, though prepared upon le-.s than 24 hours' notice, this statement is.sub stantially accuiate, and 1 will forth with and Immediately resign as secre tary of state if I cannot prove to thc satlsfac'.ion of any competent and un prejudiced bookkeeper that it ls a sat isfactory statement of tin condition of the t m :e. ar d that the statement of the committee purporting to bc such Is nob a true htatement of its af fairs and contains many errors. KKPLIKS TO ABSBKTIONS. Replying to the several remarkable assertions of the committee, I wish bo quote them as follows: "When we went into thc cfflie we weie informed that we could con clude our labors in 10 minutes." I de ny absolutely aud unequivocally that I made any statement at all in refer ence to the time it would require to make thc investigation to any mem ber of this committee. "Oi insisting that wc came for a real examination, we were bpgged for time to prepare books." I neither beg ged or cared for any time whatever; I suggested that I would like b.> c':eck over tho. entries that "aad nob been checked for possible errors; I suggest ed tbab the examination would bc fa cllltated if the committee would per mit me to make a complete statement of Its affairs, showing proper balances. Both offers wore declined, and evident ly misconstrued. As a result of the re fusal of the committee to accept any help or suggestion in their work, noth ing whatever was accomplish! d during two entire weeks, and when Hollis, the expert, came everything that had been gone over was recht eked. "Many erasures and corrections wore made on the books." Mr McOown says that he made one or two corr, colons, with the knowl edge and, he thought, permission of the committee. "A charter has been granted in the! sum of 91,500, same was recorded as| having been issued lu the sum of 860, 000." This bas never been oilled to my attention, and I have no idea to what is referred. I would suggest tbat a record must ha va been accessible to them which showed the proper capital stock. "In many cases ws found where over collections had been made aggre gating $367,65." I beg to say that owing to the change in the law for recording cer tain papers, reducing the fee 50 cents, tl ie reduction has been frequently overlooked by applicants for charters, in spite of the adoption of every means by the ornoo to appraise the public of it. As every declaration on which it la paid is followed generally in .two or three days with a return upon which a furtber fee ls payable, lt has been the practice of the o ill co to deposit the additional 50 cents to the credit of the nillcial account of the oilier, to be applied on the return fee. In some cases thc return has been delayed, andjn others lt is never marie. THCPB" is now unrefunded of these matters, the sum of 341 25, which is in bank to the credit of thc State. "Improper amount credited bo the Stace: Puokhaber Bros., Charleston, S. O., charter fee 850; amount State credited with .15." It was discovered by the committee that the olllae had failed to detect an error in computiag the proper foe for the charter of this concern made by John C. M eb rte us, Esq , their attor ney. Only $15 bad been paid the oftice, as it was so entered. When the committee called attention to the error, the attorneys were wired and immediately rcnitted the balance of $35, which was entered on the books as soon as rec i ved and the matter explained to the committee. "All moneys have not been turned over quarterly to the State treasurer." It ls true that I have directed that funds be not checked out of the bank uutil ample time has been pillowed for the collection ot all checks, ect., de posited. Sometimes a check which is received by the ollie3 is not paid wheu presented, and confusion in our ac counts arises therefrom. For in stance, on March 3rd, 1903, a check given by Thos. B. Butler upon tho Carolina National bank for $3 was re fused payment when presented, and thc amount was not finally collected for about three months, lt would have been inconvenient to have turned that over to the State treasurer, even though ?the office books showed that lt was chargeable to us. uWe found by mere chinee that one Ham of 8102 50 for charter of the Union Warehouse company of Colum bia, chartered on the 15th "Sajr-bf January, 1902. was presented for pay ment in June, 1904, and has not been yet turned over to tho State treas urer.'1 It is true that I discovered that through some neglect there bad been a failure to collect the fee for this charter. I demanded its payment and a check was given therefore, which was held for final determination as to its pruner disposition. This check is properly accounted for. "There were certain books we hau in our possession last year concerning the period of Mr. Gantt's predecessor willoh we were informed were kept by the preseut secretary of state." "The present secretary of state" wishes to say that he has never, ex cept for a short period at the begin ning of his own term, kept any of theoash accounts o' the ofilce. Dur ing Mr. Cooper's term these aocouuts were kept by Mr. ?. H. Means and the roc >rd books during this period 'lave never been in the personal cus tody of the present secretary of state. AS TO KEES. When fees were paid thc ofilce to him, they were turned over to Mr. Means, whose pesonal receipt was taken therefor. Prior to this time, receipts were taken, the same prac tice being in vogue. Ile regarded Mr. Means' letter as official notice to him of the luss of the honks, from a subordinate to bis superior officer. The state ment ls made, however, that the report of the secretary of State and the original papers and rec o:di which were used by the commit tee to verify the liabilities during the present term, can be mane to servo the same purpose even in the absenci of this hook, while deposit at the bmks and payments to the State treasurer will show all disbursements Again reverting to the general fea tures of this report 1 wish to say that I requested an opportunity to test the accuracy of tho ligures made up hy the committee and to explain any cause for criticism that appeared to thom, but was refused. Without having seen the totals arrived at, I challenge tho accuracy even of the addition in the purported statement which wus mide up. It clues seem that mon who proclaim so loudly their j alousy of the piople's money should at least put enough value upon the charactor and reputation of a man that they would at least re frain from imputing to bim ttiat which is discreditable until they had observed the caution of ascertaining facia to rest their assertion on, and when criticising the elllcienoy of an other lo bo c irtain of their own. Respectfully submitted, T. L. OANNT, Secretary of State. ?.'numi Willi Throat Out. Tho little town nf Pearson, Ga., on the Brunswick and Western railroad, was thrown ,into the wildest state of excitement Wednesday morning by the discovery of the mysterious mur der of Mrs. Mary Smith, an aged white woToan. Mrs. Smith resided on the outskirts of the t"wn with her little ten-year old grand daughter. Wednesday morning the screams of the child attracted the attention of neighbors, and upon investigation the dead body of the woman was found In the house with her throat cut from ear to ear. The child could give no Information abnut tho killing. She had only discovered her grandmoth er's body a few moments before the neighbors arrived. GOVERNMENT COTTON REPORT. Number or Bale? Ginned to January IOU), 1003. A report h sued by the census bu reau Wednesday shows the quantity of cotton ginned from the growth of 1904 td January 10 to be 12,707,000, counting round as balf bales. These consist (if 12.524,777 square bales. 280.425 round bales and 98,110 sea Island bales. Counting the amount as running bales the total is 12 912,312. This was ginned by the 30,221 ginneries which were operated at some time this season prior to January 10. The statistics of the cotton ginned to the corresponding date of 1904 show a total of 9,869,277 bales, embracing 9,038,890 square bales and 7,407,480 round bales and 72.907 sea island bales and 30,171 active ginneries. Ia the canvass this January 824 ginners have refused returns or failed to report and the quantities previous ly returned by them have been brought forward for this report with out any addition The total quantity of cotton thus brought forwa-d is 327,243 running bales. A maximum estimate of the quantity ginned by thesi establishments between Decem ber 13 and January 16 is 32,724 run ning bales. This estimate of 32.724 bales ls not included in the above to tals. In this report no account bas been talton of linters obtained by cot ton seed oil mills from working cot ton seed. The Anal report of thc season will be issued about March 25. The final report will distribute the crop by counties, agr?gate upland and sea island cotton and give weights of bales. In connection with the censuB di rectorthe report saj s that every com plaint regarding the accuracy of tho returns'of Individual ginners which has reached tho ce m\ ? office has been carefully Investigated and no material errors sp far Leen round. REFOKT BT STATES. [ Th** report by states and running : bales follows: States. Bales. Ginneries Alabam <.1,422,426 3.902 ? Arkansas. 826.528 2,440 ? Florida. 81,855 279 G .'.orgia.1,903.868 4,974 | Indian Ter. 463.549 509 Kontuoky. 1,882 6 Louisiana.1,005.328 2,223 i Mississippi.1,576,853 4,055 , Missouri. 44,203 76 North Carolina.. 704 801 2,929 ? Oklahoma. 323,727 298 , South Garollna. .1,144,514 3,244 Tennesiee. 298.132 768 Texas.).3.093,908 4,403 Virginia. 15.938 120 vale or? Talking Tree. 1 C i.thi farm of Will Albert, neu ...cavil-,'county, Ky., the people \ are -Wrought up over the "talking tree" that has been there for some time. Enormous crowds continue to gather there almost every Sunday to hear the strc.nge noises that come from tho tree. The voice can be dis tinctly heard, and says. "There are treasures buried at my roots." A party comprising thc most trust worthy citizens uf the county, visited the tree to make a thorough investi gation for themselves as to the noises being heard. They listened patient ly for several hours when a sudden crash, which hus been given many times before the marvelous produc tion of the human voice, came. The mystery yet remains unsolved, and so great has the number of people been who have gone there in the last sev eral mouths that thc tree ls now dead, caused by the continuous tramping on the earth suriounding the tree. The only theory that has been sug gested ls that a man was killed under the tree in 1802, and wbi'e many do not believe in "hpirits" the facts are so plain and tho voice can be so nls t'notly heard that they cannot dispute thc fact. A family of people who lived there soveral years ago becamo su frightened at the voice that they sold their farm at a sacrifice, went West and are now living in TexaH. i w 111 j ; 111 by Mrs. bander. The property of the Williamston Female college was sold at public out cry Monday In Anderson. The build ings and grounds were bid in by Hou. Geo. E. Prince for Mrs. L. A. Lan der for tho sum of 80.650. Since the removal of the college Lo Greenwood the property has beeu of no material use to the Institu? lon and a sale was deemed most advisable. The grounds cover a little more than tlvo acres, upon which H Retted the old college building, built under the direction uf Dr. Lauder, its founder. It ls prob able that the building will be con verted into a hotel. Express onion Cluued. A dispatch from North to The State says the sudden closing up of the oillco kof the Southern Express company there has bern the toplo of much discussion. Numerous pack ages for people at that point have been pigeon aolcd elsewhere. It ls learned on reliable authority that the railroad commission has given no au thority for tba closing of the office and au investigation has b:;en started, lt Is understood that the company tutors the plea of not being able tu get an agent. KIIIIHI t)> a Train. Miss Magnolia Waters, a young lady of Westminster was run over and killed by the fast mail Monday. The deplorable accident happened at Harbins, about four miles south of that pl joe. Mist Waters was 27 years old and was affl cted with dcaf nepa, which probably accounts for her not having heard the approaching train. Cut Aoreage and Hold Crop. At a meeting of tho Greenville County Cotton Grower^' association held Monday tho farmers present pledged themselves to decrease aore age 26 per tent., buy less fertilizer and to hold cotton on hand until paid 10 cents a poi nd. Astilirned i'ti Mouth Carolina. Post?nica Iti8pcotor Gregory has neon assigned to duty in the lower part of Suuth Carolina, succeeding In spector Marie, who has been called to Washington for lervlco at tr.at piaoe WILL MEET THEM President Roosevelt Names the Day When He Will See COTTON GROWERS Representatives, Who are Headed by Senator McLaurin ai Chairman. About Pitty Southern Lending Mill Men Expected to Meet Committee. President Roosevelt has appointed Monday, Feb. 20, at 12 o'clock, to meet the committee of 10 appointed by the New Orleans Cotton Growers' convention to confer with the presi dent, Beoretary of agriculture and mill men with a view to making arrangements to enlarge A moria'* cotton trade with other oountrles. Tbo committee will aleo confer with the secretary of commerce and labor. About 50 leading mill men from every southern State are exp?oted to meet tho committee at the Raleigh hotel in Washington at 4 o'olo-ik on the af ternoon of Saturday, Feb. 18. Sena tor MoLaurin, the chairman of the speoial committee, gives out the fol lowing correspondence for publica tion: Florence, Ala., Feb. 4, 1905. To the Honorable Senators and Con gressmen representing the Cotton Growing States in the Congress of the United States: Gentlemen: I beg to call your at tention to the following resolution adopted by the National Cotton Grow ers' association in convention as sembled In New Orleans, Jan. 24th to 26th, 1905: '"Whereas, the present markets for American cotton products are not 5 tilel.-nt to dispose of the present srop; and "Whereas, we believe the consump tion of cotton can bo greatly Increased In the markets of the world; and "Whereas, such increases will re mit in untold good to the cotton ?rowing States, reducing the surplus, thereby creating a greater demand and necessarily higher prices for our cotton; therefore, be lt "Resolved, That a Bpeclal commit tee be appointed by thin convention che confer with the president of the United States, the secretary of agri oulture and the manufacturers of cot ton gooda, to obtain suoh concerted action aa will enlarge our trade in cot ton produots in foreign countries." I beg further to call your attention to the faot that this was tho most representatives body of men which has ever before been called together to dlscuBS the great agricultural in terests of the sontli. You are therefore earnestly request ed to give your active and hearty sup-1 port to such measures aa will effectu ate the purposes embodied in these resolutions. Most respectfully, JOHN LOWNDKS MCLA?RIH, Chairman of Special Committee on Foreign Trade, Cotton Growers' Convention. EIUSTKU ABHCKAFT, Secretary. Florence, Ala., Feb. 8, 1905. rion. James Wilson, Secretary of Agricultre, Washington, D. C. Dear Sir: I beg to make grateful acknowledgment of your favor of the 2d, and to thank you for your very courteous suggestion contained In some. Aotlng on your advice. I have to day directed a letter to Hon. Victor ll. Metcalf, asking his co-operation in our effort to enlarge our foreign mar kets. It is a great pleasure to note your hearty approval of this movement, and 1 feel sure that we will receive wise and valuable suggestions from you when our committee vlsLts Wash ington on February 20th, Thanking you for tho Interest you haye shown in this matter, I have the honor lo be Most respectfully yours, ElUBTJCR ASHKHAFT. Secretary of Special Committee on Foreign Trade, Cotton Growers' Convention. Washington, Feb 2, 1005. Mr. Erlster Asbcraft, Florence, Ala bama. Bear Sir: I have your letter of January 28ch, asking whether lt will bo agreeable to me to co-operate with the committee appointed by tho cot ton growers' contention recently held at Now Orleans for the purpose of ob taining conoortod action looking to ward an extension of our foreign mar kets for cotton produots. I entirely approve of this move ment, lt ls legitimate and v.i3e, and anything this department can do to help will be very cheerfully done, but permit mo to call your attention tu the fuct that congress hos created a new department, that of commerce and kb jr, one of the obj jets todo this very kind of work. 1 think it would not be wiso for you and your associates to Ignore that department, and I advise you to get into com munication with tho secretary of com merce and labor, non. Victor li. Metcalf, and solicit his co-operation in your enterprise. Of oourne I shall be pleased to meet your committee at any time, hut I advlso you to call also upon tho secretary of commerce and lah ir. In fact, 1 advise you to do that first. Very truly yours, JAMES WILSON, Secretary. F.orence, Ala., Feb. 8, 1905. Hon. Victor II. Metcalf, Secretary of Commerce and Labor, Washing ton, D. e. Dear Sir: Pursuant to a r?solu tton adopted by the cotton growers' convention In New Orleans, January 20bh, a special committee, of which ex-Senator Jno. Lowndes McLaurin of South Carolina Ia chairman, will visit Washington on Febiuary 20tu, to take up the special work called for by the resolution looking toward the enlargement ot foreign marketa for crt.ton produots. I trust lt will be convenient for you to seo the -eommlttee, and that they may ?h?ve your co operation in this movement. Hoping to have from you a favor able replyv I hare tho honor to be, Obediently yours, ERTSTER A e II CR A. KT. Seoretary Special Committee on For eign Trade, Cotton Growers' Con vention. STAR V KU TO DEATH. Bow a Negro Escaped Trial im Coart at Columbia. Was Wanted for Shouting at a Polia? Officer, But Preferred to Starve to Death. The Record says word was received in Columbia one day last week that Sam Harris, the negro who is wanted in Columbia for attempted assault and battery, and who was oaugbt lu Savannah some time ago, will not be be roturned to the city. The reason is plain en ugh. Harris has starved himself to death In the Savannah jail, ending one of the most remarka ble criminals with wbioh the police have had to deal. Harris is a Columbia negro, and while not desperately wioked, was just bad euougb to be continually in che bands of the police. About three years ago in a raid by the police he shot twice at one of the officers and dashed out of the house, which had been surrounded by the police. A number of shots were fired on both -ides, but Harris escaped and nothing was heard of him until about ten days ago, when lt was discovered that he was at work on the cbalngang In Savannah. The authorities there were notified and preparations made for his return, but the negro deliber ately refused all food until he was so weak that it was necessary to Bend bim to the hospital and there ho died. The Savannah papers contain long accounts ot the remarkable end of Harris, and the News has the follow ing: "One of tho most remarkable cases of suicide known to the Savannah authorities was brought to light ro cently when Sam Harris, a negro prisoner, died at the county jail prac tically as the result of his self-imposed ; starvation. Exhibiting the most wonderful will power in abstaining from partaking of food, the man slowly wasted away until, he was past all medical aid. "Harris* enforced starvation was tbe result of being told several days ago that as soon as he completed his sentence on the county cbalngang Y>~\ ; would bo taken to Columbia, S. 07; inswer the charge ci* shooting at ? police Eergeaut some time previous to the crime for which he was commit ted last February. "With the expiration of bis sen tence but ten days off be was rudely awakened from his dream of liberty about a week ago by the boss at the i convict canm where he waa con?ned. From th??rtrour he grew morose and refused to eat. No manner of per suasion could Induce him to partake of food enough to sustain him and slowly he wastea away. "Harris was arrested by Patrolman R. B. Davis on Liberty and Eist Broad Htreets In January, 1904. He resisted while waiting for the patrol wagou, and shot thc officer in the leg. He was rearrested and given twelve months on the chaingang, and with his tiir.o oil Tor good behavior would have been a free man on February 15. About ton days ago the authorities here rr ccived a letter to hold ia arris vt nea he was released, that he was wanted at Columbia for shooting at a police sergeant while resisting arrest. The order was sent to tho Pipe Mak er's creek camp, where Harris was confined, and the unwelcome news was transmitted to Harris. "After fasting for a week the man grew sick and his condition was suob that ho was ordered placed in the hos pital ward at the Jail, where ho re mained until his death. The county physician said the case was the most remarkable he had ever attended." iVOrucHUiut) Find. . A dispatch from Uuion to The State says a gruesome find was made at thc Monarch cotton mills Wednes { day afternoon when as the cottou was drawn through the loug black suction pipe Into the picker room, In the midst of which, as lt fell out, was a long black withered finger. The miss ing member was apparently the third fir gar of the left hand and the nail stilt remained on it. Where tho cot ton the finger was found In came from of course cannot be ascertained, but it is thought it must have boen here in Union couuty as Monarch mills ls a heavy buyer of Union county raised cotton. A Pair of FOOIB. A dispatch from Dresden, Tenn., says young Willie MoOaleb, 15 years old, and his former teacher, who la new his bride, though Bho is 30 years old, most go luto exile as a result ol thmr elopement. The Indignant father of the lad bas made this the condition upon which ho will refrain from beginning proceedings against the woman on a ohargo of kidnaping his son. So the happy couple will take to Arkansas next week. Despite the sentence, neither shows the slightest regret. The bride says Bho would be happy In a desert with her youthful lover, willie Willie adoringly declares he would follow tho womau to tho end of thc earth. Distressing Accident. Mr. Charlie Livingston, a young man about 21 years old, while adjust ing a belt at A L. Otti' ginnery at Elloree, Tnursday, was oaugbt In the shafting aud both arms and legs were broken. Tho body of the young man was wrapped around the shafting In a H JU ?t torturing manner, mutilating tho lllesh of his legs and breast before assistance could reach him. Medical aid was quickly summoned and all that ls possible ls being done to save the. youi g man. Mr. Livlngtson ls a clever and promhing man and the unfortunate accident lu greatly deplor ed there. HANDS OFF The Negro Question Says Repub lican Congressman Bou tele. WILL AID THE SOUTH Ia WorKing Out the Great Race Problem that Confrantn Her. He tayi Intel ligent Smpatby from thc North ls Necessary to Accom plish Great Work. Representative Henry Sherman Boutelle, cf Illinois, was the principal orator at the annual McKinley dinner of the West End Republican club at Delmonico'srecently. About 250 mem bers and guests were present. Charles F. Bostwlck, president of tbe club, was toastmaster, and with him at the guests* table were Gen. Stewart L. Woodford, Job Ii. Hedges, Represen tatives Henry S. Bauteile and James R. Mann, of Illinois; Herbert N. Par sons, William S. Bennett and William H. Douglass, Judges John Proctor Clarke and Edward McCall, and Wil liam Halpin, chairman of the Repub lican county committee. "The South and the Republican Party" was the subject of Mr. Bou*"" telle's address. He devoted the larger portion of his address to the discus sion of the negro question, as regard ing eu ff iago in toe South. He said in part: "A great and wonderful ohange has come over the Suuth in the paso twenty years-a change that can only be understood by contrasting the pres ent situation in the Southern states with the conditions that existed dur ing the ten years immediately follow ing the civil war. No people were ever brought face to face with moro utter desolation than that which con fronted the men of the South on tbeir return from Appomattox. It was not alone that they had lost the cause for which they had fought. Their wholo social, industrial, and political fabric lay in ruins. Tbeir task was to bring a new order out of chaos, and they have triumphed gloriously. "And we of the North rejoice with them in their prosperity, for era they not our peuple, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh? "Betwren"1880 and 1900 the South's lavestment in agriculture increased 76 per cent., while that of the rest of j'he country increased 05 par cent. The w ilue of txxm pror^rjtjea lo thc South ?dvaueect -from $2,'3?i),00?,??0"fco i-i, 0000,000,000, and tho annual value of furn products from $600,000,000 to 11,300,000,000. The railroad mileage bas increased from 20,000 to 52,600 miles, and the value or exports has risen from 8260,000,000 to ?464,000, ooo. "Factories are springing up all over the Southe and North Carolina bids f xlr to rival Michigan lu tb? outpv?t ot furniture. In the manufacture of ' cotton goods the South has mada rap id and surprising progress. Massaohu? etta still holds ti rsl placo among tho states in oottoa manufacturing. South Carolina now comes second, and North Carolina third. The total number of spindles in tho Southern states is now about 7,700,000 an lncrea3c of 6,000, 000 since 1890. "The breaking up of the great plan tations bas multiplied the number of towns and villages. The education of the black* as well as the whites is re ceiving greater attention, libraries and c lieges are increasing, and the whole South is reaping the fruits of the courage, patience and hope of the men of 1865. "The auswer to this question in volves the whole Southern problem. But lt ls more than a Southern prob lem-lt ls a national problem. The present situation is due primarily to tho presence in tho South of two alien raes, between whom there can be there must be-no fusion. "The leaders of Southern thought, at the close of the war, should have been allowed to retain their natural leadership over the ignorant whites and blacks. The fear of Ignorant ne gro domination has persisted long af ter the danger of suc a domination has passed, working often an injury to tho negro, and always a greater injury to tho whites. We of the North have in years past made the solution of this problem more difficult for our South ern brethren. Wo now owe them gen erous sympathy and patient forbear ance. "There is something that the fed eral government can do to help the situation. The South needs men. Her inhabitants are only twenty-nine to the square mile, while in Ohio the density ls 102. Government informa tion should be sent out to the world regarding the resources, climate, soil of the South. "In the work of solving this prob lem the South could hive no Armer friend than President Roosevelt, for all that the South needs is a square deal, aud no one knows better than the president that a square deal for the Suuth means ?lu*p.y Intelligent sympathy from Nortuern men, un prejudiced Justice from the federal government. "-Washington Post. Hold Stamp? Ac Mall' l'rioo. Postofllcc Inspector E. J. Pulistor had arrested in Spartanburg Wednes day afternoon a y( ung white man, who appears to be a tramp. This man, who gives several names as his proper cognomen, was selling 2 cant postage stamps in lots of 75 or 100 at bulf price. He lb in the station house and his case will bo investigated in United States Commissioner McGowan's court next Monday. He slates that his home was in Augusta, Ga., and that bis name is Harry E. Swain. Charged With JBoln? Fugitivo. Charles F. Taylor, being partner of Mrs. Alice Webb; Duke, has been ar rested at his otlioa at Ci hugo charg ed with being r. fugitivo from justice. He is alleged to have boen Implicated In a swindle at Nacogdochcs, Texas, Involving 13,000.