Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ROB PUBLIC CRIB STEtL MILLS WITH MANOPOLY MAKE SAME BIDS ON V AKMUK FUK BATTLESHIPS Three Stool Makers Seek to Hold I'p Hovornmont by Demanding; l'rolit id' Over a Million on Work Worth Three Millions?May Mean Clovei anient l'lant. One year ago, the Navy department asked for bids oil armor plate for battleship No. 38, now named the Pennsylvania. The bids of three different steel companies were received, and when they were opened it was found that each company had quoted exactly the same prices on the half dozen grades of armor plato asked for. There was not a variation of a single cent, although the price ranged from $154 per ton for the lowest grade to *1 *u~ i.?~??* T .. v* iui mo uigut'm. Two months ago the Navy department again asked for bids for armor plate, this time for battleship No. 30, sister ship of the Pennsylvania. The same three companies again submitted bids given, and when they were opened a few days ago it was discovered that again the bids of the three companies were the same, even to the penny. Moreover, the figures quoted woro identical with those given last year for battleship No. 3 8. The three firms which submitted the bids, and which, by the way, are the only ones in the United States equipped for the manufacture of armor plate?are the Carnegie Steel company, better known as the Steel trust, the Bethlehem Steel company, controlled by Charles M. Schwab, the former Steel trust head, and the Midvale Steel company, which has been rated as an independent company. If these companies were figuring close on their profits for making the armor plate, there might he a reasonable excuse for the bids being the same, but investigations have shown that the armor plato desired can be made at an average price of $314 a ton. The average price asked by those three companies was $154 a ton. A simple bit of arithmetic shows that these steelmakers are attempting to hold up the United States government for a profit of $140 a ton. The amount needed totals 8,054 tons, hence the Steel trust and, in this case, its allies, calmly demanded a total profit of $1,127,560 on the job of providing armor for a warship built by the public for its own defence. The estimated cost of the battleship's armor was figured at no more than $3,500,000 by the Navy department; the steel companies demand almost 33 per cent, of this as profit. Tn other words they seek to charge the public $3,000,000 for doing $2,000,000 worth of work, simply because the public has no other place to get It. The attempt of tho armor plato makers to dip their hands deep into | the public purse has resurrected the ; remedy suggested in Congress a year ago, that the government make its uwn u-rmor piace. /v Dill ror tne establish ment of such a plant was introduced at that time by Senator Ashurst, of Arizona, who asked an initial appropriation of $1,000,000 for the work. This resolution still Is In committee, but a week ago Representative Britten, of Illinois, introduced into the House a bill seeking an appropriation of $7,000,000 for the establishment of such a plant, complete In every detail. In the face of the Steel trust's attempted hold- ' up, It is certain that the project will receivo considerable attention and study. The success of the government , powder manufacturing plant will ( make plenty of friends for the armor 1 plato proposition. Some years ago the United States was confronted ( with the same problem in tho pur- ' chase of powder for the army and ( navy that It now faces In armor plate. Tho government built a pow- ' der plant, entered Into direct competition with tho powder companies, < and to-day the United States is sav- ' j a ct n n o a -i- * ? ? k nig ^oo.jsu on eacn ion or powuer it uses. A government armor plant Is not \ a new thing by any means. Frame f has erected a plant for the manufac- } ture of a portion of the armrr plate It j requires. Russia makes practically < all its own armor plate, while Ttaly c has entered the field of foreign competition. Some armor now is being made for the Italian government in ? ' the United States, but the pv.'ce is \ kept a secret. Japan has two gov- y eminent factories, installed under j the direction of Americans, and it is f freely predicted that England will f make her own armor in the near fu* ? ture. c ? a There are many tilings that we can c * hide but we cannot hide what we aro. For a time a false reputation may deceive but ultimately a man's real e character stands revealed. & I n Governor Rleaso seems to he anx- r lous for a war with Mexico. It would t be a calamity. d SHOT (ilKL AND SELF. ? The Hodics Were Fouml in the Woods Xear the Town. The body of Ida Tx?e, eighteen years old, a high school girl, was found in a grove north of hero to-day with a bullet hole through her head. She had been missing since Saturday, when she went mushroom hunting with Oscar Gray, also eighteen years old. Gray is missing. Gray was a high school student and leading athlete. When the couple did not return homo Saturday evening an elopement was suspected. Then James 1\ Gray, the boy's father, found that his revolver was missing. Alarmed, he notified the parents of the girl, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee, and a search was instituted. Mrs. Theda Allen, the boy's grandmother, living at Patmos, six miles distant, said he appeared at her home Saturday morning greatly excited and then disappeared in the woods. The body of Oscar Gray was found shortly before noon in a field on the farm adjoining that of Mrs. Allen. rrunK r rantz, owner of the farm, found the body. The hoy had shot himself through the head. "Keeping the Record Straight." Under the above caption Hugh Nugent Fitzgerald writes as follows in the Fort Worth Record of recent date: "Hon. Benjamin Ryan Tillman, Senator from South Carolian, has stirred a hornet's nest. Dr. Anna Shaw is going about the country comparing South Carolina with other States. She says South Carolina has no compulsory education law and that it ranks third in illiteracy. It has no child labor law, no woman labor law and no white slave law. Dr. Shaw could have added that it has a largo negro population, and that the hulk of its negroes are illiterates. She could have added that Northern carpet-baggers and renegades stole what remained after four years of bloody war. Sho could have added that South Carolina has no divorce law, that South Carolinians protect their own women to the death if nponssarv nnd t)m( Umi-n it. little ? J f % V? it u i in; i u J o Hint? demand for a white slave law in that commonwealth outside of one or two cities. South Carolina has a civilization of its own, and when it comes to morals, public and private, the people of the Palmetto State are willing to he placed by the side of the people of Massachusetts, New York or Ohio for a fair comparison and await a just verdict by an impartial jury. For upwards of 125 years the code duello was the unwritten law of the Palmetto State. It compelled men to weigh well their utterances in public or private. It warned them that slander was a crime punishable on the socalled field of honor, and as a result civil tongues in the mouths of mortals was the rule and not the exception." Strong minded women like Dr. Anna Shaw delight in slandering the South in general and South Carolina in particular. Put let the heathen rage and imagine vain things. Such !i woman as Dr. Anna Shaw would find a residence in South Carolina very unpleasant, as most of the issues she believes in and practices find 110 place among us. BFllGLAK SLAIN ON HOOF. Hundreds Saw Mini Shot and Fall to the Street Below. Hundreds of citizens, men and women watched the slaying of a negro burglar on the roof of a residence in lA?r.4. T).. 1 rii x * * 1 rj.mi, i>?t\ur oireei, at Atlanta, alter a duel between the negro and the officer. The negro was discovered entering a house and was chased by pedestrians. Policeman Mashburn joined in the chase and the negro climbed to the roof of the residence and tried to hide. The officer followed him to the comb of the roof, when [he burglar drew a knife and defied the officer. Mashburn struck at the burglar and received a slash in the face. Ho then drew his revolver and diot the burglar dead. The body rolled down the roof and almost into he arms of bystanders. We are in danger of having an ex- 1 tdus of criminals from Georgia 'into ^outh Carolina. The Athens .Hanner jays: "And so, if persons in Georgia iccused of crime can manage to get nto South Carolina they will be safe, ' 'or the Carolina governor has, in efect, taken tho position that he will 1 lonor no requisitions made by the I governor of Georgia." This is a I lass of immigration that South Car- I >lina should not encourage. I ? ( The Augusta Chronicle snvs: < 'Many of the Georgia papers are ad- ! rersely criticizing Governor Cole L. lleaso for the position he has taken n the matter of refusing requisitions rom Georgia for criminals and in re- ! using to mako requisition on Geor;ia for criminals." His pardon re- ' ord shows that Governor Please had < i tender spot in his heart for the \ riminal class. t ? C The fact that the Democrats fall- r d to carry B.laino's old district up in 1 laine is no reason for discouragement. The district has always been topublican. Wo are surprised that ; he Democrats did as well as they c id. v CHILDREN WHO LABOR ? OYKU MILLION HOYS AM) (OHI/S SIIOI LI) HK IN SCHOOL. Half Arc Americans ami Most of Them Are I'mler Sixteen Years of Age. More than 1,000,000 children or school age will not start in school this month because they are employed in some 2 00 occupations. Statistics collected by Owen R. Lovojojy, secretary of the National Child Labor committee, indicate that all the girls and nine-tenths of the boys who leave school to go to work under sixteen years of age enter low wage industries and remain unskilled workers throughout their lives. The National Child Labor committee is urging that, in the light of the widely recognized evils of factory work for young people, It" would bo well for all states to consider following the exainplo of Ohio, which has just put into operation a law forbidding employment in factories and several other occupations to boys under sixteen and girls under sixteen years of age. Mr. Lovejov estimates that about one-half of those now at work under sixteen in all occupations aro white American children, one or both of whose parents are native born. American families are as ready as foreign families to let children enter the factory before they are sixteen. The Connecticut State commission, in a study of more than 11,000 women and girls representing fourteen racial groups, found a larger percentage of Americans with American fathers among tno workers under sixteen than among the older workers. The latest volume of the Federal report on tho condition of woman and child wago earners make a similar showing. Of the twenty-eight racial groups into which the 03,000 workers are divided, only four races, involving less than one-tenth of the total, had a larger percentage of workers under sixteen than tho native white Americans. ? ? DOING A GOOl) WORK. Trying to Attract Settlers to the South. Educational exhibits will he made at nine southern state and general fairs and twenty-six county and district fairs during tlie coining fall by tho Southern railway anl atllliated lines, including tho Mohiio e- oi.u railroad, Cincinnati, New Orleans <fc Texas Pacific railway, Alabama Clreat Southern railroad and Georgia Southern & Florida railway. In making exhibits at fairs and expositions in the south-east, the Southern railway and affiliated linos have a two-fold purpose. First, to bring the advantages of the section before its own people, to show them that the opportunities at hand are greater than any they may hope to find by moving away. Second, to assist the movement for bettor farm conditions in the southeast. Demonstrations will be given by experts in horticulture, dairying and domestic science. The agents of the railways will bo assisted by state representatives and special effort will bo made to teach the best methods of handling milk, butter making and caring for orchards and gardens. At the same time that these exhibits are being made in the southeast, the same railways will be making exhibits at thirty-eight fairs and expositions in the north and west for the purpose of attracting desirable settlers to the southeast. The stato and general fairs in the southeast at which exhi tuts will 1)0 made are as follows: National Conservation exposition, Knoxville, Tenn., September 1 to November 1 ; Alabama State exposition, Montgomery, September 20 to October 4; Virginia State fair, Richmond, October 6 to 11; Alabama State fair, nirmingbam, October S to 18; North Carolina State fair, Raleigh, October 20 to 25; Alabama-Mississippi fair, Meridian, October 20 to 25; Georgia State fair, Macon, October 21 to 21 ; South Carolina State fair, Columbia, October 27 to 81; Mississippi State Fair, Jackson, October 2 8 to 'November 7. The exhibits at county and district fairs will bo arranged in threo circuits as follows: Circuit No. A?Morristown, Tonn., September 2-5; Concord, Tonn,, September 0-12; Sweetwater, Tenn., September 10-10; Sylvia, N. C., September 22-2 0; Waynesville, N. C., September 2 0 to October 3; Asheville, N. 3., October 7-10; Greensboro, N. C., October 14-17; Union, S. C., October 22-24; Charlotte, N. C., October 2811; Spartanburg, S. C., November 47; Orangeburg, S. C., November 1114; Charleston, S. C., November 1720. Circuit No. n ? Mountain City, Tenn., September 17-10; Chase City, v'a., September 20 to October 3; Danille, Va., October 14-17; South Hoson, Va., October 21-24; Valdosta, la., November 4-8; C.rifTin, C.a., November 10-17; McRae, Ga., November 8-20. Circuit No. C?Union City, Tenn., leptember 10-14; Humboldt, Tenn., September 17-20; Shubuta, Miss., September 30 to October 3; Thomasdlle, Ala., October 7-11; Dalton, Ga., REFUSE TO TAKE EX?M FOl KTII CLASS ! OSP.MASTLKS STAND \LOOr. Depart iiu'iit Faces Serious Ritlicull) in Not lleing Alile to l'ci'suudu Democrats to (Qualify. Serious trouble is being experienced by the post ollico department in taking advantage of President Wilson's order of May 7, 1913, modifying the Taft order of October lf>, 1912, whereby all of the fourth class postmasters of the United States were covered into the civil service. It was only after much persuasion that Postmaster General Burleson succeeded iu getting President Wilson to change the Taft order; and now that the change has been made, there is growing apprehension that it will not accomplish even the substance of its purpose. When President Taft issued his edict in October, all of the fourth ' class postmasters in tho Southern states were appointees of Republican administrations. Mr. Taft's act was plainly designed to keep the Republican incumbents in ollico under the approaching Democratic, regime. The I Wilson modification of the Taft order! was simply to require that in putting1 the Southern fourth class post ofllces ' under the civil service, examinations should be held, thus giving tho Democrats a chance to compete for the places. Postmaster General Burleson has been signifying to the civil service commission the offices at which ho desired to have examinations, and the commission has been undertaking to oblige him, but . A groat many Southern members of Congress have been receiving communications from the civil service commission like this: "Sir: The commission has the honor to invito your attention to the following fourth class post offices in your district at which there are existing vacancies in the position of postmaster." (Here are written the names of the oflices in question.) "Examinations wero recently announced for these offices, but no applications were received, and other examinations have been announced to be held on" (Here is given the date of the next examination.) "The commission is bringing the matter to your attention in order that you may take it up with the patrons of tho offices with a view to having applications filed for the pending examinations. Applicants may obtain ft nnl Inn I 1,1 ? l? ? ^ " 1 1 1 ..,>,.... ><1^11 uiciiiivM <iu(i 1110 nocossary information from tlio postmasters at tlio offices names or from this commission. " Most of the fourtli class post offices pay only a few hundred dollars a year and are filled by citizens who are by no means bookish. There seems to be general indisposition to undergo the examinations which President Wilson lias authorized in order to give Democrats a chance. Where the! Republican postmaster lias resigned, died or been removed and a vacancy therefore, ovists, the bonding conii any Is p sponsible for the conduct of I'm office through a designated agent, in many cases this agent is the UepubMean incumbent whose resigtiatIon lias been tendered. SlIOOT KACII OTIIKK TO I)MATM * A Wry Poor Way to Settle a Personal Difficulty. ('. II. Taylor, postmaster at Farris, Okla., and Pert Stevens, a constable are dead as the result of a revolvel duel in which they engaged on the streets of Farris Tuesday night. Two years ago two men went to Taylor's home and after ealiingliim out attacked him an dinflicted injuries which kept him under a physician's care for three months, Taylor accused Stevens of being one of his assailants. Since then both men liaye threatened to shoot each other on sight. Whren tliey met Tuesday night both began shooting and each foil fatally wounded. Both died soon afterwards. - ? The Greenville News says "Judge Bowman knows one solution of the Illegal liquor traffic. He showed this knowledge when he announced that he would impose chaingang sentences with no alternate fine in case of vio lations of the liquor laws. A prorf porous blind tiger can well afford to pay a fine from time to time for the profits in his business are very large." The way the Democrats have handled the tariff in Congress has made the old stand-pat Republicans sot up and take notice. They expected the Democrats to spend the summer wrangling, but instead they went to work and did what the people elected them to do. ? Tho Lancaster News asks: "How can Governor Glens? stand midway between the aspirations of Humbert and MeLaurin for the governorship?" Goth of these gentlemen have taken a firm grip on tho Governor's coattails, and what elso can ho do but pat each of them on tho head. October 13-17; Jasper, Ala., October 20-2r>; Tuscaloosa, Ala., October 27 to November 1. ! % WILL 8KLL KOK BIG PHICK. Colon Demand Grows Greater Than the Supply. The outlook for cotton is very pot d, and the staple should bring a good price. Richard II. Edmonds, ed-) :!or of the Manufacturers Record, sa- s: "This year's cotton crop should I b'nc to the South one billion dollars and a very large proportion of tills will come to the central South. The enormous Increase in cotton consumption which is going on throughout the world is increasing the world demand for cotton in excess of the world production. "Even if Texas and the southwest had given the magnificent yield that 1 was anticipated earlier in the season, the total croo would not have exceeded the world's requirements, hut | with a heavy decline fro mthe high ' estimates early in the season as to ' the yield of southwest, the central south should got the benefit not only of its splendid yield which Is practically assured, hut also the high prices which are likely to prevail by reason of a decline in the yield In the southwest." ? ? Will Mexico lleed? That scene in Congress when Prosj ident Wilson was received with enthusiastic applause by members of I all parties was of more than ordinary significance. That ovation was not j merely a tribute to the high oharaej tor and ideals of the chief magistrate of this country, but even more was it fin expression that however much legislators may differ on the tariff and other questions they are one in every crisis, when the national honor and dignltv are involved or wimn I president Is speaking as the repreaentativo of (lie whole people. That, scene enacted when the President took the whole nation Into his confidence on the Mexican situation will have its effect \ipon other Tuitions. especially on any that may have harbored hopes of getting some territorial benefit out of the Mexican troubles. Hut still more will it have its effect upon Mexico itself. if TTuerta has fooled himself with the idea that lie can do as lie pleases relying 011 a fancied lack or harmony on this side of the border he now knows better. TTe may affect not to he Influenced by it and may even breathe a spirit of defiance and rouse tlie feelings of his people. Hut all the same TTuerta realizes now flint the American people will act as a unit in their attitude towards him and the whole Mexican situation And that realization will, on reflection, probably load the leaders in Mexico to seek a solution that may bring permanent peace. Iluerta also realizes that this country will stand no nnnannon f li I ...... ?'i I. will mill wi tiny UllllT leader that may arise in regard to the lives and safety of Americans at present in Mexico. i ll ruitsoNH Missive; + ltclic\cd to Have IVilslieil Willi tiermail Airship. The Herman marine airship L-l was destroyed Tuesday evening in a hurricane eighteen miles north of Heligoland. Torpedo boats immediately were dispatched to the scene and rescued seven of the crew. Fifteen others are reported missing and it is almost certain they perished, as the airship remained afloat for not more than one hour. Among those who lost their lives were Captain Met zing, commander of the marine airship division; Captain TIanne, commander of the wrecked airship, and Ttaron Von Maltzahn. The hurricane came on so suddenly it was impossible for . tho (vommander to reach a landing. ? McA !>()() TO IIHAIt FA KM 10US. + Senator Smith Arranges a Meeting Hctween Them. A dispatch from Washington to The News and Courier says in response to a telegraphic request from President 10. W. Dabbs, of the South Carolina Farmers' Union, Senator 10. D. Smith said that he had arranged with Secretary McAdoo for a hearing, September 17, for a delegation of farmers desiring to discuss tho regulations under which the treasury crop moving deposits are available. It will be argued before the secretary that the requirement that nono of this money is to be loaned to farmers except, upon proof of actual shipment of farm products is too stringent. Tho Louisville Courier Journal is shouting out that there is too much bloodshed?too much useless killing in Kentucky, and has started a crusade to eu4 down the crime record. We can say the samo thing of South Carolina. Lifo is too cheap all ovor the South. The way to spoil a hoy is to let him have an unlimited supply of pocket money, or to leave him so much money that he has not to work for a living. To do that is the surest way to send him to the dogs. ? The Sparanburg Jogrnal says "a man who will knowingly and wilful- ' ly cast a dishonest voto will turn i thief when a favorable opportunity < Is offered." Jt STATE AID SCHOOLS WHITES TO SCI'EIUXTKNDENT A\l) THISTEES. ?. S ii pot* i nt on (lout Swcaringen Calls Their Attention to the OilTercnt I'd in Is Available. State Superintendent of Education J, E. Swearinger, in a circular letter to the county superintendents of education and school trustees, calls attention to school finances and the State appropriation for aid to schols. Says lie in his letter: Every board of district trustees in your county lias probably formulated by tills time its educational program for the scholastic year 10 13-1 1. One of the most important features of such a program is a clear understanding of the finances of the dlst rict. At this date it is possible only to estimate school receipts for the current session. The cash balance or overdraft existing in each district on .Inly 1 is the only fixed item in tiio funds of the district at. present. I regret to see that too largo a number of district schools, with the approval of a few county superintendents, persist in the illegal practice of overdrawing their school funds. r can not urge too strongly the observance of the law prohibiting school officers from running in debt. Contracts for 1013-11 should bo made only upon the basis of cash payment for claims to be incurred during the session. I recommend that the approval of the county superintendent lie withheld from all overdrafts for whatsoever purpose this year, In order that tax (uiifciiiiiiB timing encn laii may no used in mooting tho expenses of the current year, rather than in paying past indebtedness. Unless thin principle is ohsorvod, the time will soon come in many districts when their schools will suffer. State aid for the year should he used wherever possible. The legislature makes four appropriations for the public schools: 1. $ HO,000 for high sch ools. 2. $00,000 for lengthening the school term. I'.. $'20,000 for graded schools In country districts. 1. $.r?,000 for libraries. Any community with fifteen pupils above the seventh grade, three teachers, a three-room building, a twomill tax, and an eiyht-month's term, 'might well consider the advisability of applying for state high school aid. I All high school applications should he filed immediately. Rural graded schools receiving state aid are of two classes: 1. A school with seventy-five pupils enrolled, forty pupils in regular attendance, a three-room building, three teachers, a seven months' term, a four-mill local tax, and the minimum equipment prescribed by the state board of education, is entitled to $3 00. 2. A school with an enrollment of fifty pupils, thirty pupils in regu'nr attendance, two teachers, and a sixmonths' term, a four-mill local tax and the minimum equipment pre sensed Dy tno estate hoard of education, Is entitled to $d00. Tills type of State aid is especially serviceable In building up efficient country schools. Any community with fifty pupils and a two-room school house can not afford to overlook this means of improving its school facilities. The appropriation of $00,000 to lengthen the school term is intended primarily to help weak, one-room, one teacher schools in the country. Any district levying a two-mill local tax and unable to run Its schools five months on its regular school funds, is entitled to State aid equal to the proceeds of the tax, up to a maximum of $100. It Is, therefore, possible for every progressive board of trustees to maintain a session of at least six months if proper use is made of local taxation and State aid. The rural graded school appropriation for 1913 was practically exhausted in May. Every application in excess of tlie appropriation shall he submitted to the Legislature in January. In my opinion, the law makers will rontinuo their wise policy of strengthening and developing: these schools. I recommend that every claim from your county he filed as soon as the average attendance for the first month of the session 19131 4 can be ascertained. Term extension applications should he filed as soon as tho teachers for the session 1913-14 have been employed and have entered upon their work. Tn each case the enrollment for 1912-13 will be accepted, but the salary schedule for tho current year will he given. T'nder separate cover a sunnlv of blanks Is sent the county superintendent. Additional copies will He furnished upon request. ? ? ? Bobbers Boso Booty. While escaping In an automobile from a store, at Newberry Corners, Wis., robbers dropped a cash register containing $1,000 ? ? A western exchange seems to think that tho woman's suffrage movement has captured them ftll except Tien Tillman, Tom TIeflln and .he Apostle Paul.