Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOLUME XXXI. STATE NOT FACING $1,000,800 DEFICIT ii:. 'Chairman Liles Says All Claims WHI Be Met When Taxes Are Paid SIX AND A HALF MILL LEVY IS SUFFICIENT No Reason to Be Alarmed About Credit of South \ Carolina. Columbia.?South Carolina is not facing a deficit of $1,000,000, according to a statement today by J. I. Idles, chairman of the way.-, and means committee of the House, who is in Columbia on business. Mr. Liles said tiiat the State tax levy of (j 1-2 mills was not a mill too low, but would be sufficient to meet all expenses of the government. The only trouble, he said, was the fact that the people have not paid their taxes. When the tax money is received from the various counties, all claims will be met, he said. The j State has been unable to meet sever-1 al claims recently presented. Mr. Liles issued the following statement: "The State of South Carolina has not operated on a cash basis since 1890, because claims against the State came due at times when the tax returns have been insufficient to meet them. If all taxes levied for State purposes for the year 1916 had been collected and were in the hands of the State treasurer, the State * " * - * - 1 i. would pay every aouar 01 irs inaeoiedness. According to the estimated value of the taxable property in South Carolina and the income to the State from all other sources, a 6 1-2 mill levy was sufficient to cover the appropriation for 1916, with the exception of the two conditional appropriations made for law enforcement and the continued progress of the work at the State hospital for the Insane. There is no cause for uneasiness or alarm in regard to the present situation. When the taxpayers pay their taxes the claims against the State will be paid, and in the meantime the credit of South Carolina remains and is regarded as equal to that of any State in the Union and far better than a majorittr A o on illncf r<if inn Af fVliu IVJT iVO Ull lUUUVKAVJVII WJL Vltio A-MVxVf % a loan was made in South Carolina this year at a lower rate of interest than the State has ever been able to borrow before." ' o HIGH POINT GRADED SCHOOL The High Point Graded School has been in session for the last several weeks with a most successful beginning term. We have secured the good services of Mr. M. D. Cox as principal, who has been highly recommended by our superintendent, Mr. Brown, and Miss Grace Hendricks, as primary teacher. She is a very good girl and a splendid teacher. We feel that she is unexcelled. She taught for us last year and proved perfect satisfaction. The High Point Literary Society met last Friday evening and discussed the subject of Wjoman Suffrage. The affirmative was represented by Tr?,i pr>vMi uuiuiriun, uijcr ouiuau, ivunu Martin and Annie Capps, the negative by Mayfield Singleton, Berry Jordan, Shatter Johnson and Walter Martin. The arguments were pointedly and the subject was thoroughly discussed before a large audience, who constantly interrupted the speaker with an applause. After a few moments hesitation the judges reported their decision in favor of the negative. : i M' NOTICE. There , will be a Xmas tree and Entertainment at the Cool Spring church, Saturday evening, Dec. 2&rd, at 7:30 o'clock. The public is cordially invited to attend. COMMITTEE. Wkt "HOI x <j MISS LOU GILLESPiE HAS PASSED AWAY Stricken With Paralysis Last Week?Died at The Burroughs Hospital. Miss Lou Gillespie died at Burroughs Hospital last Friday after lingering there for two or three days from the effects of a severe stroke of paralysis. This lady, who was much loved and highly esteemed by many friends, was stricken with this illness while at the breakfast table, at the home of herself and her brother near Conway. Dr. H. H. Burroughs was called and she was taken to the Burroughs Hospital where her malady grew worse. After a period of unconsciousness she pass ed away. Her sister, Mrs. Kate CyshntUii, oi Ureensine, and members of her family were with her at the end. The interment took place at Lakeside cemetery. She was a member of the Conway Methodist church, and had been faith ful in good works for many years. She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Kate Cushman, and her brother, Mr. G Beaty Gillespie of Conway, and Thomas Gillespie of Bennettsville. S. C. She belonged to one of the oldest and best known families in this section of the State. She was loved by all who knew her and many friends were sad upon learning of her untimely death. OUR SOUTH CAROLINA ! SUNDAY SCHOOL DAY To All Sunday School Workers of All Denominations in South Caro. lina, Greetings: February lx, 1917, has been designated by our fState Sunday School I Association as "South Carolina ! Come-to-Sundav School Day." Ali i schools of all denominations are in' vited to participate, i The purpose of "South Carolina Coire-to-Sunday School Day" is: (1) To arouse the entire state to the value of the Sunday School. (2) To rally each Sunday School for more aggressive work. (3) To bring into the Sunday School on this day thousands of people who do not ordinarily attend, and to make every effort to retain them as permanent memI bers. ; We, therefore, call upon all Sunday School officers, teachers and members in South Carolina to join in this concerted effort to build up the Sunday School cause of the State. In particular we ask the following requests: 1. Study carefully the leaflet entitled "South Carolina Come-to-SunC1_L rv ?? L!.t- 1 " - ocuuui JL'ity, wnicn explains tne plan, how to prepare for the day, and how to secure the best results from it. (This leaflet was printed in the j November Promoter, and may be secured by writing to the South Carolina Sunday School Association, Spartanburg.) | 2. Plan at once to have your school observe this day. 3. Pray for God's guidance and j blessing upon the plans made and ithe efforts put forth. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, ' Arkansas, will observe this day with j South Carolina. Wie ask your co-operation in making it a great success in our State. John D. Cappelmann, President; W. H. K. Pendleton, Chairman' Executive Committee, B. H. DeMent, Vice-President; W. S. Morrison, Vice President; D. D. Jones, Recording Secretary; S. T. Reid, Treasurer, and W. I. Herbert, Horace L. Bomar, F. M. Ellerbe, T. M. Lyles, R. E. Bocrcra. and S. T. Lanham, members of Central Committee. * o ENTERTAINMENT. There will be an Entertainment at Salem School House on Friday night, Dec. 22nd, 1916, consisting of Songs, Recitations, Plays, Music and a Pantonine. Good order expected. The public is cordially invite1. Exercises begin at 7:45 o'clock. ' ;?yMP9P ^JT^jrir Pott i IRY COUNTY AND HER PEOPLE, 1 IQNWAY, 8. 0.. THURSDAY, D1 PEACE OFFER NOT j FULLY REVEALED Allies Can Learn Remainder of Chancellor's Program If They Desire GERMANY'S POSITION CONSIDERED STRONG Whether Entente Nations Decide to Reject Offer or Negotiate. Berlin.?Although Chancellor von Bethmann-Hoiiweg did not disclose mi definite proposal upon which Germany and ner allies are preparec to make peace in his speech before Hie Reichstag, such proposals arc ready and will be communicated tc the Entente powers if the Chancel tor's offer should fall upon lespon sive ears. In the corridors of the Reichstag, where, after the historic ?0-miuute session the members gathered in keen discussion of the Chancellor's speech, the general opinion would be advantageous to Germany whether or not the Chancellor's offer is accepted by the Entente. Some ot the opponents of the Chanclelor arc opposed to any move in the direetior of peace except on the basis "of woe to the conquered." Most members of the Reichstag, however, express the opinion that the Emperor's decision v/as wise and timely and showed pleasure at the formal step taken tdward ending the war. Government Left Free. The speech of the Chancellor wag not marked by a single expression of '.ioscnt while the significant passages were greeted with hearty bravos and cheers. It was noticeable, however, that Count Frederick von Wcstarp, the Consrevative leader and others of his following sat silent and unmoved even when the -galleries, and newspaper men joined demonstrativley in applause. When the Chancellor had concluded his speech an attempt was made to force an immediate debate by the annexionists bbc under Major Er nest Basscrmann, leader of the Na tkna! Liberals, and Count Westaru supported by the extreme Socialists. This move was firmly resisted by the leaders of the moderate parties who agreed with the Chancellor that a general discussion of possible peace conditions before the attitude of the Entente powers was made known could only injure the cause of peace and place Germany at a diplomatic disadvantage. Their attitude . 11 A ? i* 1* ^ wits tnat 11 me central Fowers exposed all their cards before nw' negotiations bgean they would be placed at a disadvantage. The indefinite adjournment of the ? Reichstag by its own decision leaves the government a free hand to conduct further negotiations and is regarded tantamount as a vote of confidence. HEARING WAS HELD IN LAND CONTROVERSY Clerk of Court W. L. Bryan, last Thursday held a hearing as special referee, in the case of W. G. Stackhouse, plaintiff -vs- W. J. Conerly, under an order made by Judge T. S. Sease in the cause last Spring. The controversy grows out of a deed from Stackhonse to Mr flnnnoi'lir ? ? - ? wmivi IJ 1V? l tract of lapd of 100 acres, more or| less, in Floyds township, and a bond j for title from Mr. Connerly to the j said W. G. Stackhouse for conveying the property back. The contention of the plaintiff, who is an ignorant col01 ed man, is that he was pressed for money at the time and that he gave the deed as sceurity for this money to get the defendant to take up a mortgage at the Bank of Fair Bluff. The defendant contends that the land is his. Stackhouse has never been out of the possession of the1 place. V t KM FIRST, LAST. NOW AND FO REVER SCEMBER 21, 1916. SMASHES GERMAN | LINES ON 6-MILE FRONT Assault by New Commander Results in Complete and Crushing Victory GERMANS SURPRISED BY FURY OF ATTACK I I Five Divisions of Men Take 9,000 Prisoners and 80 Guns. , j i'aris, Dec. 15.?As his last act before assuming the chief command of! the French armies on the western front, General Nivelle today smashed the German lines east of the Meuse along a front of six miles. The victory has advanced the French position two miles and they are now, within a short distance of where the! Germans stood at the outset of the great Verdun drive. The military authorities describe the victory as complete and crushing and carried out without a hitch. Since his last great stroke when the blood soaked ruins of Fort Vaux and Beaumont fell once more into the hands of Verdun's defenders General Nivelle has been quielty preparing to push his advantage by I an attack on a larger scale. Men ann guns had been assembled, shells piled and everything was in readiness for the moment when the general should I see his opportunity. Then the blow fell like a thunderbolt. A terrific artillery operation flattened the German defenses, then the guns were elevated and threw a curtain of steel behind which .the infantry from Wtery trench from Pepper Hill to beyond Damloup dashed forWard on an enemy Still stunned by the bombardment, Germans Overwhelmed. In places the Germans gallantly strove to hold their ground, but General Nivelle's dispositions were sc well made that they were generally powerless to stem, even momentarily, the tide. One after another Vacherauville and Louvemont villages, Chambrette fram and the Hardai.mont and Besonvaux works fell, without the defenders having time to carry away their guns or material and prisoners began to stream steadily rearward to pens prepared for their reception, the weather, according to hitherto accepted notions, was a-1 against the offensive. It was wet and misty and French officers believe that this fact undoubtedly led to the Germans micalculating the probabilities of attack. The wretched weather did not prevent the aviators also from rendering valuable aid to the attack, and their services are believed to have had an important bearing on the fact that the French losses were singularly small. The large number of prisoners, according to latest advices nearly 9,000 is an indication of the surprise nature of the onslaught. The number of guns captured from the Germans as counted up to the present is eighty, according to the latest reports reaching Paris. The news of the victory was received in Paris with enthusiasm and aj a welcome relief to the gloomy tidings from Roumania. o? ? W. M. Mishoe of Cool Snrinv was ! in Conway the latter part of last week on business. 'claim and delivery 'served on defendant ' Sheriff James A. Lewis last week went to Aynor where he served a claim and delivery writ from Marion County on a Mr. K. Smith. The complaint showed some dissatisfaction with a horse trade made with the defendant in Marion County hence the proceedings to test the matter in the courts of Marion County. H WILSON APPROVES COURT'S SENTENCE Guardsman Convicted for Refusing to Obey Call to Service on Border. Washington?President Wilson to day approved the action of an army courtmartial in sentencing Lewis O. Gardner of the New Mexico militia to dishonorable discharge and a year in prison at hard labor for failure to obey the federal call for border duty last June, but remitted the prison sentence hernusp fhp cnw Knd i>nnn _ v VMVV. HUM UVV.II pressed to a test. War department officials regard the decision as important because of the warning it gives to more than 10,000 -enrolled members of the National Guard who have not appeared for federal service. Army officers say that the right of the federal government to enforce service of the National Guardsmen has been well established and a precedent set for the treatment of future "slackers." They claim, however. that the fact that between 10,000 and 15,000 enrolled mmeber. of the guard never have been located for federal service, constitutes a serious impeachment of the whole National Guard system and expect te have this point fully presented to the military committee of congress | during the present session. A special report on the mobilization of the guard is now before Secretary Baker, but its conclusions have not been made public. FULL PROGRAM FOR THE HORRY UNION The Horry Union will convene with Tilly Swamp Baptist .church, | commenting on Friday before the 5th Sunday in December 1916. The Introductory Sermon will be preached by Berry Williams on Friday at 11 o'clock A. M. Recess 15 minutes. Union opened by the Moderator. List of Churches called. Letters called for and read. Remarks. Invitation to visitors. Committees appointed. Adjourn until 10 o'clock A. M., or Sautrday. , Saturday. Union opened at 10 o'clock by the Moderator. Listof Churches called. Invitation to v'sltors. Query No. 1?Can a Man be a true and Undermine or Ridicule hi* Brother by Words or Deeds? Assigned to J. D. Watson. Query No. 2.?What did the Servant Phobe do in the Churches ? Rom. 16th chap., 1st verse. As; signed to S. J. G. Milium | Querry No. 3:?In whose house or I what house was the Christians, menj tioned, Rom. 16th chap., 5th verse? Assigned to Berry Williams. | Report of Committees. New Business. Location of second session of j the Union. | Union closed in its usual form. A. P. Thompson, C. R. Thompson, COMMITTEE. o Jesse M. Howell of R. F. D., No. 2, Conwav. was ainonc vmmrr farmers visiting Conway this week on business. Russia rejectT germany's offer A further exposition of the Russian government's attitude toward the German peace proposal is contained in the following statement obtained by the Associated Press from the Russian foreign office. "A complete and emphatic rejection by Russia of Germany's offer can hardly have been necessary to convince America and other neutrals of the attitude which the allies will take toward Germany's insincere and theatric peace proposal." , I \T> r^ * o? <0 ?> <3 ? r?'J ???m??i ^ aMMMM ~' %No. 35 CENTRE OF INTEllsT* SHIFTED TO EUROPE Peace Proposals Now on Way to Capitals of Entente Countries PRFSinFMT MAY Ann . v>.i? i i?in i nuu PEACE WORD LATER Sends German, Austrian, Bulgarian and Turkish Notes to Entente Capitals. Washington, Dec. 1G.?The forwarding today of the central pow- / eis' proposals for peace removed the centre of interest in the peace move to the allied capitals, particularly London, where the final attitude of the entente is expected to fnui xpression. With the announcement that the proposals had gone forward without any accompanying comment by this government, spcuiation here turned from what President Wilson may do in injecting neutral mediation to what Premier Lloyd-George will declare to be the attitude of the allied nations when he speaks on the subject Tuesday in parliament. The three versions of the proposal ; (littering slightly because of the translations made in Berlin, Vienna and Constantinople, were harmonized into one official American transI lation, a single copy of which was ! sent to the American ambassadors in the seven belligerent countries where the United States represents German, Austrian or Turkish diplomatic interests. Whether any suggestion or offer to mediate will be made by this government until it is indicated unmistakably that such action would be 1 . welcomed by both sides remains undetermined, but President Wilson is known to be anxious that the United States shall not impair its usefulness as a mediator by premature action. The two days delay while a uniform translation of the peace notes was being prepared here may in the belief of some diplomatists, constitute in itself a hint to the belligerents of the weights that it attached to American officials to any peace proposal. ine unanimous declaration of the Russian duma against the peace proposal aroused great interest, here, particularly in view of the many rumors during the last few months hinting at a possible separate peace for Russia. The Russian empire has been regarded in some quarters as the keystone in the peace situation, and information as to the diplomatic struggle in progress there is meagre. It is known, however, that a semi-revolution has occurred against the German elements in the court and the bureaucracy, and the action of the council and the dunia recently in acting together for the first time in history is taken as an indication of the great strengthen, ing of the anti-German party. SHIELDING SHADOW BEGINS THIS ISSUE The first instalment of the Herald's new serial story is printed in this issue of the paper. A synopsis of the first instalment appeared in the issue of last week. It could not fail to awaken the internet r*f oil ? V? i. Mil T? IIV rt ad it. The first instalment of the 'story published this week will give you a good idea of what the story is. It was written by one of the noted novelists of the day, one who is distinguished for his vivid imagination and his powers of graphic description of situations. The pictures will appear to-nitfht at the Pastime theater. The films are new and when you see or read this serial you may be sure that you are taking in the very latest thing in this line.