Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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GOES FOR COLE Cat. T. B. FeMcr AUresset Opti LetWi * Iff It Ctvtrttr Ctlc L. Bleat*. , LIBEL SUIT OR A DUEL Publishes Two Interesting Letters of t ^ Blease, and Dares Him to Enter Suit for Damages.?Promises to ] Pay Attorneys Fees if He Sues and Wins. J The Atlanta Constitution Saturday published a moot sensational open < letter addressed "To Coke L. Blease'' < and signed by raomas B. Felder. This letter follows one of a more general character addressed to many newspapers. Charges of the gravest nature are made against the governor of South Carolina, and he is challenged to go into the United States courts for redress. Two letters signed "Cole" alleged to have been addressed to a liquor establishment, one asaing for pay for services and the oth** er acknowledging the receipt of $500 and expressing doubt of "Hub's", reliability in money matters, are printed. It is distinctly shocky ing to South* Carolinians to have * "coward or thief" applied to the governor of this State. While the matter has been published in a responsible newspaper, we do not feel warranted in reproducing the language conveying criminal charges until there is more light shed. Mr. Felder should be made to prove his charges or else suffer the penalties for gross libel. He says in part: ntinrvAo T makfi are false. they are libelous per se, and I am suably solvent. Moreover, with apologies to the shade of my departed ancestors, I in modesty (?) claim to be your equal, and If you are aggrieved by the charges, it will be my pleasure to * meet you at such time and place * without the confines of your State ^ that may suit your convenience, to the end that abundant opportunity may be afforded to redress you* ; grievances. j If my charges are groundless and libelous and you do not wish to seek j personal satisfaction, you can institute suit, against me In the United States court In the city of Atlanta? ^ should it be objected, however, that this Is my home county, then In any of the subdivisions of the district. As soon as suit is filed I herby A n A O fffflfl til ArHflT 11\ | J i is ill a aro auu i wf ?u ?v if ate and expediate the same -and by way of circumventing any excuse you may offer for inaction, that I will acknowledge service and will enter into a recognizanoo with good and ap? proved security in an amount covering the sum sued for, the fees of your counsel and the cost of court, together with your personal expenses and the expenses of your witnesses; the only condition of the bond be .that you shall finally prevail in the litigation. An investigation of this court will disclose that it is presided over by a distiguished Jurist, who, in the administration of the laws, knows neither friend nor foe, and white his decisions are occasionally reversed, they abound in such riigid integrity that they are universally interpreted * to I>3 "WiLnoui vanaoientjue or suttuow of turning." Then follow the direct charges on which Blease Is Invited to base his suit for libel. They affect his conduct while senator from Newberry in dealing with persons selling supplies to the State dispensary. Here are two letters as presented by Col. Felder: 41 I use you own language: From * th.? "mountain of evidence" In my possession I submit for your consideration ">a few grains of sand." In doing so I omit the name of the addresser "naar atr? T Am arreatlv surorlsed t that you failed to call upon me during your recent visit to Columbia and arrange the matter as promised. SpoUe to Hub about it and he referred me to you. Have performed all services as agreed, both as to matters pending here and as to the last purchases by the board. Let me hear from you at once. Read and destroy. Yours very truly, (Signed) "Cole.*' This letter was written by you durir* a session of the legislature of I the State of South Carolina, In the month of February, 1905, to the re. preservative of a well know liquor house which has had large transactions with the State dispensary. Thereafter, on March 16, 1905, you addressed another communication to the same party, as foVows: "Dear sir: Since writing you on the 26th ultimo, saw Hub. He handed me the five hundred. Hereafter either deal dftectly with me or through J. F. Confidentially cannot rely on Hub in money matters Hope to see you soon and report happenings. Very truly yours, (Signed) "Cole." Other charges about the methods NEED OF RAIN IS FELT ALL OVER THE SOUTHERN COTTON BELT. Price of the Staple Hangs on the Words of the Weather Man for This Week. A dispatch from New Orleans says this week in the cotton market nearly everything but tb9 weather will be lost sight of. It is generally acknowledged that the crop is fast getting into a critical condition as the result of protracted drought and high temperatures. At' the end of last week there was no relief in sight on the weather map, and if the week opens with a dry and hot map the chances are that a sensational rise in prices will take place and that new high levels for the season will be established on the new crop months. * It is seldom that at this time of the year the cotton belt has suffered such uniformly bad weather. According to both private and official reports every state in the cotton belt needs good rains. The high temperatures would not be a draw-back in most localities if sufficient moisture were falling to keep the plant growing. Warm nl<rhtn rlch+ nnw nr? an advantage that the crop seldom has. Without rain however, the high temperatures are adding to the Injury being worked. At the end of last week the worst complaints were coming from the Carolina^, parts of Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. All other states, however, needed rain but not as badly as the ones mentioned. It was claimed that in parts of Missisi'npl cotton was taHt .< *o germinate because of the excessive dryness of the soil. Should these conditions be relieved this week the trade will "gain take another look at bu rcau reports of last week. The improvement in crop condit'ons that rain -would bring will be corrmtred wi-.n ihe condition figures of 87 8 on May 2b and calculations made on the basis of the 3 ) 000,000 acres reported planted this year to arrive at the first real crop pointers of tne season. Should the drought cont'nue the tr-ide wov.ld la*, c no*b ine much to ba*e cnlciilat 'cr s on beoause it would have no way that that both bulls and bears would accept of determining the number of points in condition that the crop has fallen off. It will be a weather market more than anything else from now on, although the summer months may again spring into prominence. The departure of W. P. Brown of New York, has again revived stories of an onganized bull campaign in July and August, and wifh Mr. Brown again in the New York ring, it may be that definite operations of the bull crowd may come to light. of securing votes in the primary election last summer follow, and Felder closes in a caustic taunt to the governor of South Carolina to seek vin dication. Commenting on the letter, the Atanta Constitution says editorially: The Constitution publishes elsewhere an interesting, though somewhat personal, communication addressed by Hon. Thomas B. Felder to Gov. Bloase of South Carolina. To those who know Col. Felder and who are informed as to the chaos existing in the political affairs of South Carolina, it is scarcely necessary to say that the governor of South Carolina has, to say the least of it, taken a circuitous route to at| tack Mr. Felder, his allegation, as mysterious and misty as It is, relating to an event of seven years ago. I If there had been anything in the governor's position, he was recreant in his duty in not having given the people of his State the benefit of his information before how, when he suddenly springs an -attack on Col. Felder in a general fusillade in which he assaults at the same time many prominent citizens of South Carolina. Gov. Blease seems to have a way of running amuck, and that he has done so in this instance no one who W-Ma. will Known VAJIf *"31VI*7I mil uuuuh. The State cannot, of course, forecast the course of the governor of South Carolina in this crisis. ? ? Found Nearly Dead. John D. Rodenburg, at one time a very prosperous merchant of Savannah, was found almost dead in his room in a hoarding house there Sunday miorning, and died shortly afterwards. Attracted ,by the odor of escaping gas, the landlady and others broke into Rodenburg's room with an axe and worked for an hour or more in an effort tk> resuscitate him He was 46 years old. Brings Grief to Family. Two miles from Austin, Pa., Mrs. Jacob Swanson was killed and four of her children, ranging in age from 5 to 12 years, were seriously hurt Saturday, when an automtobile, driven by her husband, struck an iron girder in a bridge. Swanson escaped with slight injuries, but Carl Freeland, also a passenger, was seriously hurt. The flve-year-old child suffered a broken leg. HIS DAYS FEW Secwd Ur'ser hik f ill Peactnte D? p r Tku Ik Fust. NO DOUBT OF HIS GURT Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections Have a Stormy Meeting ?Kenyon Demands tliat Inquiry Be Made Into the Activity of the Beef and Lumber Trusts. The Washington oCrrespondent anva fhn Hnva nf Wlllum T-nrlmftr ah Senator of the United States are numbered. The second probe ordered by the senate will penetrate deeper than the first and seek to ascertain his personal knowledge and corruption practised in hie election. Moreover, the demand was verified this morning at the motion of th9 Senate committee on privileges and elections, that the senate committee should try to learn: First, did the beef trust and the lumber trust seek to buy a seat in the Senate for one of the henchmen? Second, have not several individuals subjected themselves to criminal prosecution for acts of bribery and corruption practiced in connection with the election of a United States senator? The meeting of the Senate committee was anything but peaceable. The issue came up upon the selection of a sub-committee of eight to conduct the investigation in accordance with the "gentlemen's agreement" jl iwviwouiji cu igicu iiilvi Senator Kenyon demanded that the investigating committee should inquire into the activity of the beef trust and the lumber trust in securing the election of Lorimer tc the Senate. Until recently Mr. Kenyon W'38 the chief trust buster of the administration and conducted the prosecution of the beef trusts. Other members of the committee strongly opposed this and largued that the inquiry should be limited to Lorimer and his right to retain hisj seat believing the Senate committee should not deliberately seek evidence to incriminate others in the acts af fraud and corruption. Senator Kenyon insisted that the sub-committee make a thorough and sweeping investigation of the whole case and expressed the opinion that evidence will be found to sustain criminal indictments. With this in view he and those who support his view seek to have a sub-committee or nine, of which Mr. Kenyon will be a member. The "gentlemen's agreement" provided for a sub-committee of eight, to consist of Senators Dillingham, Gamble, Sutherland, Clapp. Kenyon, Republicans; and Johnston, Fletcher, Kern and Lea, Democrats. Gonofirtp Worn r>omr?nrAt. otrered to III* WV/4 A?.V/? m.mj , _ ^ give up his place on the investigating committee to Kenyon, Republican, if only eight .were to be named. It was Impossible to reach an agreement and the matter went over until Monday afternoon, when another meeting will be held. The telegram received today by Senator Dillingham from Lorimer is taken to mean that the rumors that Lorimer would resign rather than subject himself and his friends to another gruelling investigation are entirely groundless. 8TAGK OOACH FATALITY. One Killed and Ten Injured in Yrosemite Valley. In a. stage coach runaway in the Yosemite Valley late Saturday, R. L. Leisensing, of Allentown, Pa., was killed, three women were seriously injured and seven other persons sustained minor injuries. The coach was on a steep grade between the ? ? ? i V> r. Hlg Tree urove, >ii L W ?tl Olia, anu buu floor of the Yosemite Valley. The party, numbering forty persons, occupied four big mountain stage coaches. At a steep grade the horses of the front stage became frightened. The brakes failed to hold and the team galloped down the winding road with the stage swinging from side to side between a high bank and a sharp precipice, while the passengers screamed in fright. Convinced that he could not stop the animals, the driver finally turned them straight into the wall of the cliff. The stage turned over and several of the passengers were caught beneath it. Lei* ~ ? L 4 sensing was tnrown cieur, uui duuvh on his skull. Train Fired Upon. Clifford Foxhall, a brakeman, colored, was killed and two white men were shot through the hands Sunday morning on a Southern Railway train at Traloo, Ala Foxhall was shot twice and died on the train. The shoots came from ambush as the train was proceeding at a rapid rate of speed. Endorsement of Governor Marchall. A resolution endorsed Governor Marshall for the presidency in 1912 ' was adopted by the Indiana Democratic Editors association at its summer meeting in session at Laport, Ind. BOCKS THE BOARD ? STATE TREASURER REFUSES TO ALIiOW MONEY REMOVED. Dispensary Board Had Ordered Fund of $25,000 Divided Among; Banks at Homes of its Members. State Treasurer Jennings will refuse to countersign checks transferring the dispensary fund amounting to |25,000 to four banks in the state because the banks have not been approved by the state financial board as depositories for state funds. This $25,000 in question is now on deposit in the National Loan and Exchange Bank of Columbia, where it w,as plaoed as a working capital by the old commission. Several days ago the new commission jwissed a resolution authorizing the $25,000 to be placed in the following banks: Enterprise Hank of Charleston, $5,000; Hank of Muilins, $5,000; Hank of Hishopville, $5000; Newberry Savings Hank, $5,000, and Farmers Union Savings ami Trust Company, of Orangeburg, $5,000. The Newberry Savings Hank, of Newberry, is the only bank that has .been approved by the financial board which is composed of the governor, state treasurer and comptroller general, as depositories for state funds. State Treasurer Jennings has addressed a letter to the secretary of the new commission informing him nP K5o nnultirvn TtlO 1 nt t <"? r 11(1 VI 11 IO pVO<Vl\/Ui m. ??v ?. dressed following the receipt of the resolution. Comptroller General Jones is of the same opinion as the state treasurer and the action of lyir. Jennings will be upheld. The state treasurer will countersign checks for the money to be placed In banks that have been approved by the financial board. It might be mentioned that the banks in question are located in the home towns of the members of the new commission. State Treasurer Jennings is acting under Section 12 of the acts of 190S. This act repuires that he countersign all checks payable according to law. He takes the position thajt the checks transferring the money to four of the banks would not be according to law, and therefore will refuse to give his signature. The following is the resolution of the commission: Whereas, the moneys on deposit to the credit of the state dispensary commission are deposited in the National Loan and Exchange Bank, of Columbia, without interest; and 'Whereas, it has come to the knowledge of the commission that the same can be deposited in other .banks at a rate of interest not less than 4 per cent per annun, subject to call; and Whereas, this commission is of the opinion, the said funds should be deposited upon interest. Therefore, be it: Resolved, That out of the funds on deposit 'as aforesaid, the sum A? AAA I. ~ JnnnnUn/1 OnrtAT?/1 ill (/ <A OI ^ i) , U U II UK Ul*|IUi5H.CVI UVVUI Mllih vu law in the Enterprise Bank of Charleston; $5,000 in the Bank of <Mullir.s; $5,000 in the Bank of Bishopville; $5,000 in the Farmers Union Rank ami Trust Company of.Orangeburg; $5,000 in the Newberry Savings Bank of Newberry as required by aw, said deposits to be made upon the condition that interest will be paid at the. rate of four per cent per annum and that the said funds be subject to call." * ? ? FARMERS BEING BUNCOED. Lumber Trust is Behind Fight ok Reciprocity. In a speech before the Westorr Economic "Society of Chicago on Sat urday night, President Taft declarec that the principal opposition to the Canadian reciprocity agreement came not from the farmer but from the lumber trust and from American mar ufacturers of print paper. In one of the mont comprehensive addresses that he has made on the subject, the president outlined some of the methods employed by the op ponents of reciprocity; practically told the farmers that they were be in<g "buncoed" by special interests an*i anM thnt the fate of the agree ment rested not so much with th< United States senate as with the peo pie of the country If the farmer and the country at large, he said, could be brought tc understand that this treaty was it the interests of the majority of th< people, he would no longer fear th< coming vote in the senate ? ? Suicides With Handkerchief. Using a handkerchief as a noose Mrs. Minnie Wiler, aged 76, committed suicide in the police station at Philadelphia, Pa., Saturday by hang ing herself from a cell bar. The ^woman was arrested on a charge ?*1 picking pockets. Fear of disgrace was the motive for suicide. * ? ? Died in An Auto. At Worcester, Mass., Miss Kathe rine Ryan, of that city, was killec and her sister, Miss Margaret Ryan fatally injured, when a large touring car in which they were passengers ran into a telephone pole. "7- ' ' ' ' " ' WILSON STRONG" Tie Gartner ef New Jew; Seem to be Gaiaieg Streagtb. LOOKS LIKE A WINNER Since His Visit to Columbia it Looks Like He Will Get Solid South Carolina Delegations Support, and He Looms Up Strong in All Parts of the Country. The Columbia correspondent of the Augusta Chronicle says Wtoodrow Wilson made an impression there. He was heard by the people that really count in South Carolina, and the general opinion is that ho will ceive the full vote of the South Carolina delegation at the national convention. South Carolina is regarded as most important in the matter of nominations. The state convention here will be held before others, and it is safe tio say that the delegation will be instructed for Woodrow Wilson. The other states will watch how South Carolina instructs her delegates. The governor of ithis state is against Governor Wilson for the sim pie reason that he delivered an address before the members of the State Press association. i ne governor, when he hoard that Woodrow Wilson was to be the principal speaker at the association meeting, immediately declared himself for Harmon. It is very doubtful if the governor of South Carolina can give a,sensible reason for desiring Governor Ilarmon. It is all personal spite with him, and anything to hit back at the editors of South Carolina. Fortunately for Woodrow Wilson the opinion of the governor of South Carolina is held very lightly by the people, and the governor of New Jersey need have little fear of the fight that the governor of this state will start in the convention against him. The governor of South Carolina knows practically nothing of Woodrow Wilson. He is not capable of sizing up a man of the size of the governor of New Jersey, and it is taken for granted that he selected Governor Ilarmon because some of the newspapers have made the suggestion. Wilson in Washington. The Washington correspondent of the Atlanta Constitution says Governor Woodrow Wilson, of New Jersey, prominently mentioned for the ' a ? I ,1 ? * democratic nomination 101 prcaiucm, Mr. Bryan being willing, Saturday gave his indorsement to the Underwood bill for the revision of the woolen schedule. In thus taking a position in favor of a revenue duty on wool at the present time, Gov ernor Wilston supports the position ' of leader Underwood and Speaker ' Clark, and dramatically (opposes the views of Mr. Bryan. The latter la' belled as "Aldrich democrats," anyone who would vote for a duty on raw wicol. 1 Admitting that the doctrine of free | raw materials may easily be carried to an absurd extent, since the gov5 ernment derives most of the revenue for its maintenance through the customs houses Governor Wilson agrees that the question of revenue must ol necessity enter into the discussion ol 1 the revision of the woolen schedule So large a number of members ol congress, and well wishers dropped i in on Governor Wilson Saturday thai - his room at the Willard resembled t I campaign headquarters. He took ad s vanced ground on the subject of free J dom of political thought and deal i with frankness upon the fluidity o i party lines. He said: "Men everywhere seem to be o * the same mind. The next campaigr * is going to mark the political ob * literation of old time political lines * It is going to be a campaign of mer 7 and measures, rather than a cam * paign of parties. ? . "The people are going to vote foi " a man whom they believe will carr> 5 out the things for which they stand rather than a man who professes tc represent the principles of one of the c parties. There is a mild distinctlor * you know, between principles an<3 1 measures." ? Many Soldiers Killed. The explosion which occurred ir the fortress Ha Lonva, on Tlscapa, Hill, overlooking Managua, Nicara' gue, Thursday afternoon, resulted ir " the killing or wounding of 120 sol dlers. It was officially stated prions that the blowing up of the fortress J was due to a political plot. Manj liberals, supporters of ex-President , Estrado, have been -arrested. Executive Clemency, Since assuming the duties of chiel * executive of the state of South Caro ' llna on January 17th, Governoi > Blease has granted executive clem ? ency in 171 cases, as follows: pa* roles, 84; pardons and commutations, 87. < X | ' INSURANCE FEES \ * OVER $60,000 COLLECTED BY INSURANCE DEPARTMENT. X Of this Amount One-half Goes to the State and the Other Half to the Counties. Insurance Commissioner McMaster reported Saturday to State Treasurer Jennings the amounts to be paid to I the several county treasurers in the | mate on account. 01 wuai is Known as additipnal license fees, collected from the insurance companies for the six months ending December 31, 1910. The several counties get for ordinary county purposes the amounts named as follows: Abbeville $ 463.97 Akien 521.91 Anderson 1,574.54 Ham berg 3 20.80 Barnwell 428.08 Beaufort 189.32 Berkeley 155.78 Calhoun . . > . . 150.97 Charleston 4,599.62 Cherokee 313.89 Chester. . . . > 635.70 Chesterfield 4 98.74 Clarendon 452.44 Colleton ......... . . 228.60 Darlington . . 775.84 Dillon 215.23 Ilorchester . . t 325.4b Edgefield 389.96 Fairfield 318.96 Florence ^ 860.0'/ Georgetown 4 29.41 Greenville 1,486.83 Gre-enwood # . . 675.09 ITampton 2 7 8.0u Horry 168.26 Kershaw _ .. .. 354.80 Lancaster 458.13 Hau reus 625.51 Lee 310.00 Lexington 3 65.23 Marion 8 73.76 Marlboro . . . . 858.73 Newberry 594.31 Oconee 269.29 Orangeburg # ..1,050.47 Pickens 2 74.17 Richland 2,615.84 Saluda 127.67 Spartanburg 1,768.53 Sumter 1,123.39 Union 5 SI. 08 Williamsburg 3 90.24 York 959.93 This shows a total collected on this account of $60,117. One-half of which goes to the State and the other half to the counties. The total collections by the Insurance aeparv* ment from January 1, 1911, to June 1, 1911, amount to $101,120.21. * GIVEN A GRAND TIME. * Meeting of the Press Association in Columbia. The State Press Association met in Columbia on last Wednesday and had a most delightful time for two > days. The Association was never better entertained anywhere. The people of Columbia vied with each other in seeing that the newspaper men had a good time, and if they did not have it was their own fault. The automobile trip, "Seeing Co lumbia" was a success. More than a soore of automobiles made the trip The principal places of interest in ? the city were visited. The trip was [ made under the direction of McDavid Morton. A stop was made shortly > after noon at Fairwold farms, where the members of the association were i the guests of A. E. Gonzales, the ' genial, wholesouled owner of these f beautiful farms. With the election of officers the f South Carolina Press Association I adjourned to meet Friday at a place t to be selected by the executive comi mittee of the association. The fol lowing officers were elected to serve for the coming year: t President, H. L. Watson, of Greenf wood. First vice president, Edward H. f DeCamp, of Gaffney. 1 Second vice president, J. L. Minis, - of Edgefield. Secretary, W. F. Caldwell, of i Chester. Treasurer, J. L. Sims, of Orangeburg. Chaplain, S. A. Nettles, of Sparr tanburg. , Members of executive committee, > Robert Lathan, of Charleston; Will> iam Ranks, of Columbia; Neils i Christensen, of Beaufort. I ? + ?, ? His Head Knocked Off. Daniel P. Wrinkle, aged 33 years, a conductor on an Oak street car at l Chattaniooga, Tenn., had his head * * ? - akaod. j KIlOCKea OIX WI11 It) int? um >tao va uoo . ing the McCallie Avenue Viaduct at l 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon. The . car was loaded with women and r children, who became frantic with i excitement at the sight of the headr less body of the conductor. I Automobile Accident. In an automobile accident near Richmond, Va., Saturday Miss Milf dred Calisch was instantly killed and - the other occupants of the car, Missr es Hanna May, Bessie Straus and Vir .ginia Levin and Emanuel Wallerstein, - Harold Calisch, brother ot the dead . girl, and Sylvan Straus, were more or * lees seriously injured.