Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. XVII. LAURENS, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1902. NOi 34 HOW THEY DIG PHOSPHATE. NKORO L,ADOKF,K8 IN TIIK KOCK FIELDS. A Winter?? Day at an Old Desert ed Plantation Home ami n Visit to the Phosphate Keek Fields. Arthur James in C harleetnu Sunday News. The sunlight falls on a low cottago, whoso I tall white chimneys and ovei hanging red roof bring to mind a Dutch picture. Tho view from its vine-clad porch opens on ono of the loveliest landscapes of the Southland. There aro no mountains, nor is there any sea, only a lino sloping lawn sur rounded by avenues of livo oaka, which havo numbered their centuries, and from whoso widespread aims hang streaming peudauts of grey mos?. These trees, like sentinel*, seem guard ing tho approach to a colonial mansion now in ruius. In suushinc and shadow, iu rain, in storm, or fair moonlight, these oaks are ever grand and beautiful. In the stillness of dawn they stand motion loss, but for the quivoriug of their bil lion loaves, which seem to nod and shako and say: "Wo arc alivo, and have been here for ages; wo know so much, oh, so very much! We know the joys and scrrows of the many gen orations who bavo passed under our arms; we know raturo's secrets that you poor mortals are yet groping blind, ly to find out." " Wo aro as God made us, while you, who ate made in His image, arc ever defacing His baodiwork in your natur s as well as your deeds. You are ever making crosses and burdens for your own aching backs, by striving against your Creator, oh, ye puny men. of so small wisdom." Jicueath these oaks spreads a smooth, wide lawn, with shaggy sheep browsing on dry tufts of glass. It was here our ancestors mounted their horses for tho chaso, here tho children gambolled, welcomes extended and farewells said. Hero tho slaves were gathered to receive largess in the Christmas season, hero burnod tho bonfires which celebrated Ihe births and marriages of tho children of the house, and honco wended the shadowy processions when the dead were taken to thoir last resting place in the family vault, which stood amid the flowering shrubs on tho bank of tho winding rivor. Entering a small gate ono sees a garden covering acres of ground, which might aptly be termed an earth ly paradise, so bewildering is tho con fusion of flowers that bloom in the springtime beneath the oaks. They border tho shadowed lakea and seem to follow tho shining rivor be yond, they fringe tho broad paths and color every vista with their bnllancc, in each opening between the tree tops is seen the turquoiso blue of a South ern sky. All sounds arc distant and mellow, tho rumbling of a cart, the blows of the ousy hammer, the far-away whistlo of a locomotive, the dull throbbing of a phosphate-washer, a sharp call of ono laborer to another, tho occasional low ing of a calfless cowj the rooster's shrill crow and tho ceaseless chirping of tho birds while busy about their daily portion. Ono is loath to leavo tho languorous quiet of such a spot, but tho time ap pointed for a visit to the phosphate fields had arrived, so we stepped across the intervening corn beds to the narrow track} where a small locomo tive and empty trucks were ready for their outward trip to the rock Holds. Comfortably seated in the front part of the engine, a shrill whistlo an nounced the departure and wo rush noisily past tho quiet forest trees, low banks of green moss and ferns, near a bubbling spring where the work horses are slaking their thirst; past baro rock fields, whose yield had been exhausted, or lie s too deep for profitable digging, thus they are abandoned, with up heaved sutfaco, and strewn with up rooted trees lying prono and dead. H ear the track are numbers of negro cabins, tho dwellings of tho phosphate laborers. These houses have no claim to the rustic attractiveness of tho daya of slavery. There is now no Kcueroua wood pile nor grunting sow, with squealing litter, no scratching, fussy hen, wilh brood of chicks, nor tho numbers of fat, greasy, happy little picaninnies basking in the sun. Theie we see only tho bare, dingy looking house, a clothes line across the yard, filled with ragged garments flapping in the wind, a few thin, half-clothed chil dren, whoso mothers are not the erst while healthy, well-clothed specimens, adorned by pleasant manners; instead of these, are bedraggled women, decked with remnants of tawdry finery, cunning and surly in their looks and ways. Their occupation is that of cooks and washers for tho rock diggers, charging thom exoibitantly, you may be sure. These women at noon stand near tho track to sling their buckets of food on tho train as it rushes by to the* rock fields, thus tho negroes in the pits got their diucor. Further in the woods, may be seen the cabins of the Italian laborers, who are brought from the North every winter to supplement the uncertain work of the negroes during the busy season. These Italians are a florce, wicked looking set of men; they herd together like rats, and live not much ,better than the rodents that they eat; those, with snakes, buzzards aud macaroni, form tho staple of their meagro faro. The train runs down to a field of busy diggers, whore the empty cars ! are left to be filled with rock; then with chance of switch the little engine puff? off alone to another field where fifteen loaded cans are awaiting trans portation to the M washers." A short delay here, while hitching on the cars, gives us a view of the woraers in tie rock field; these arc negro boys and men of all ages, rag ged, insufficiently clothed and surly in manner. They dig in pits whose di mensions are usually from six by six teen to oighteen feet, with a depth of from four to ten feot, according to the depth the strata of rock lies. The mud and rock are dug out together, and hard work it it, desperately so, in cold and rainy woathor. The} nun aland in tho boggy pits, often with a foot of water in the bottom. Two of them usually.work a pit together with pick and shovel. This muddy rock is thrown in heaps near tho mouth of the pit, afterwards it is placed in whoel. barrows, rolled on plauks to tho rail road track, where it is dumped ready to bo pitched into tho empty cars. Tho negroes work only when they please, and that is not of ton, unless drivon to it by hunger or debt. In very cold weulbor they make small fires near tho pits, as their scair' cloth ing does not protect them iV&Vd tho wiutry blasts. Many of tbeso pooplo are coatless, batless and shoolcas, but oveu presents of thcbe articles have proved of no avail to help th6m, as they are gambled away beforo the noxt sun rises. A white man is foreman for each field and " takes tho timo" for each nogro'8 work. These rock dig gors are oven lowor in tho scale of hu manity thau the worst of the ex-slaves; they aro noaror akin to the brutes in habits nu 1 morals; all their idle time is spcut in gambling and thieving from each other, bo it their fowls or their wives. Among themselves thoy aro lawless to a degrco, not stopping short of murder, porhaps, for tho possession of a fow cents. They neglect their sick, who havo uoither modical atten dance nor medicine, unless furnished by tho whites, so they ofton die alone like the animals. Their kind hearts seem tc havo disappeared with slavery ai.d only the instiucts of the savago remain. Tlic exceptions to tho nbovo condi tions uro tho ""older people, former slaves, who are rather hold in con tempt by tho present generation for being favorable to the while race. A sorry picture of things existent, but true nevertheless, as all know who have any dealings with this particular class of negroea. A certain neb Northerner, a " phos phate man," thought the Southerners too inert and did not mnke sullicient efforts to help these poor, thrill less people. So he showed the sincerity of hia convictions by building comfort able cottages, with glass window sashes, besides tho shutters, neat strong doors and steps. In each cot tag3hohad beds or bunks made, and in them ho placed good mattresses, besides other little conveniences; ho then gave them permission to uso as much dead-wood as "thoy pleased to gather in his forests for their fuel and his only proviso was that they should not touch the game in his preserves,; and to try and Keep all nent affN^Jn good condi ion against his return from, the North in tho fall. Ho then left, 1 feeling content that he had left these " down-trod(lenJf*?Heoplc so-much more comfortable. In November he returned from Ins distant Noillicrn homo, anticipating great satisfaction in beholding the im proved condition of his laborers. So bis amazement knew no bouuds when he found Ihey had shot his game free ly, or at leaat when they got the op porluuity, and rather than go after the dead wood and toto it homo they had chopped doors, stops, shutters, ami oven the bunks to feed their flres, had torn up or carried off tho licking covers of the mattresses, and other wise ignored his generosity. I be lieve the philanthropic views wore changed, at least no further efforts in their behalf were mauifest. Query: Which is the better and happier for this race, the hireling or the slave? Are they the people who can over stand entirely alono? What can bo done for auch an immoral and irresponsible people, who will not help themselves? The colored educators claim they arc helping themselves and are taking steps to prove it right here in South Carolina. But what are tho efforts of a few hundreds against tho retrogression of the mill ions? Will the little leaven leaven the whole? The showman brings his trained an* imah as evidences of their education, butbecauflo of ihcso will the whole an imal kingdom become revolutionized? Exception may bo taken at this com parison, but nono is intended; wo know tho negro has a soul and tho ani mal has none; at the same time all hu man lifo possesses characteristics per taining to thoir order and unchange able as tho creation. The Anglo Saxon stands alone, relying only on himself. Will tho . Afro-American over bo ablo to do tho same? i'aat history says no?the futuro alono can decide. Loudly summoned by tho screaming whislle of the locomotivo, we lako our scats and tho heavy train of fifteen loaded cars, with many jorks and vio lent puffing from tho ongine, starts on its homeward journey. Tho strain is immenso at first and we hardly crawl along, thou tho speed quickens and without stoppages tho train arrives at tho groat phosphate washers on tho banks of tho river. Ifete the ongino is dispensed with and the negro " hands" from tho washer roll tho cars, ono by one, up a steep incline and at tho top their contents aro dumped into the great wire cylinders, whose rapid revolutions, under streams of water, cleanses the mud from tho rock before throwing it down in groat pdes upon tho w barf. Afterwards it is placed under t be drying sheds and undergoes a sort of baking process by the fires built beneath?thus is tho ??dry rock" produced. Lator, as is needed, it is convoyed by lightors to the phosphate mills, where it is crush ed and otherwise manipulated, thus making tho forlil.zor which is shipped to all points of the world. This is only a superficial view for tho ThcWoi^s Greatest Cure for Malaria X. JViT ill forms of MftUrlM poison >ng take Jebneun'a Chill and Pevov Tonic. A taint of .Mulm in I poison in yr? jr blood mAanrtmlMi-jranri 'illore. Blood meriloiucrtoan'tour* .Unlorlnl polHonlng. The antidote f?rAl,H0H'll?oN'8 TONIC. Pet a bottle to-day._ fiosti 59 Cuts If It C"*t. .'.,_ &m Don't Compkin about poor health if you won't spend one dollar to secure a full quart of that panacea for all the usual ills? Quart Bottles, It has been used for t ..ty years in the cure of Scrofula, Rheumatism, Indigestion, Nervousness, Neuralgia, Catarrh, Anemia, Female Troubles, Eruptions, Insomnia, Salt Rheum, and Similar Complaints. Sold by all druggists at one dollar for a full quart bottle. Take no substitute. MADE ONLY BY THE HIGHIOAN DRUG CO., Detroit, Mich. For S a'o bytho L%urons Drug Company, Laurene, S. C. uninitiuled of tho workings of Ihc great phosphate industry, which saved South Carolina from ruin at tho close of tho war for Southern independence. The hours have waxed and waned, and wo leavo the scenes of work and noise to enter ouco more tho vine clad porch and watch tho twilight as it deepons. Far overhead a long black line ex tends, for a mile or more, it moves on and ever onwards, arrow-shaped at times, then thinning to a more thread, thickening again to the si/.o of a large floating cloud, which streams out in small black masses, and finally ends in a few black dots. This is tho home ward Hight of hundred, nay thousands, of crows, who have boon feediug all day in distant fields, and as tho sun sinks below tho horison tbey rise i' flocks and soar across tho river to tho marshes, where they spend the night, sheltered nmld tho reeds from tho force of the wintry winde. At last they aro settled, their hoarso cawing ceases and all is still again save, por haps a belated bird, with lrightcncd cry, darts past and the chorus of the frogs iu a distant pond is faintly heard. The thud of tho axo in tho distance scarcoly disturbs the wonderful still ness, while through the trees gleam tho lights from tho cabin doors. On an unseen road a passing laborer sings Jtock of Agos," while far away groups of negroes shout their wild re frains, keeping time with tho rythmic beating of the sticks. As the patient kino pace slowly to the milking their bells tinklo in sweet accord, and high above us the great oaks seem dreaming of mysteries be yond our kon. Ciisp yet balmy is the evening zephyr; a crescent moon glit ters in tho dark bluo of tho sky and poaco unutterable prevades the little corner of the great world that seems so far away. And this is tho morning andovening of ono winter's day. PUN FOR MAI hi NO MONEY The Pape)? Currency to he Cued Ah Checks on the Govern ment TrenHiiry. A unique fenturo in Congressional legislation this winter, says tho Wash ington Shir, is presented iu tho pro motion of a postal curroncy. The sys tem was devised, perfected and patent ed by a privato citi/,on,wbo offers tho result of bis efforts to tho government free of all cost. Tho system baa the approval of many officials, and is en dorsed by a long list of manufacturers and business houses throughout the country. Publishers end farmers are especially interested, iu that tho now curronty promises an easy way for a man in the country to promptly send remittance for his favorite publication. Undor the proseot inconvenient money order system the individual dosiring to socd a small sum of money through tho mail is met by tho necessity for a time killing iotirnoy to the post ofllco to ob tain safe money. This sets up a bar. rler to the prompt transaction of busi ness and results in much loss from tho fact that many people never carry out their original intention to subscrlbo or purchase. The need is for money in the hands of tho people that can bo safely and instantly sent by letter. The provisions of the "post checks" currency bill,niw before Congress, in troduced in the Senate by Mr. McMil lan, and in the House by Mr. Gardner, of Michigan, provides for printing the one two and live dollar bills in tho fu turo with blank spaces on tho faco. These bills of course pass from band to hand before the blanks arc tilled. When it is desired to send one in tho mails the blanks arc tilled in with the name of the payee, his city and State, a 2-cent "Y?ostago stamp is placed in another blank space and canceled with tho initials of tho sender in ink, the namo of the sender is Bigncd on tho back, and, presto! his money has sud denly ceased to exist as currency and has been transformed into a check on the United States government, having all the safety of any bank check, and ready for enclosure in his lcttor. When the payee receives this check be treats it just as he would any other check? indorses it, goes to the nearest bank or post ollico and deposits it or has has it cashod. Tho paid check finally reaches the Treasury Deparlmont, when it is re placed by a now one with tho spaces unlilled. This keeps the circulation at par. No change whatever is mado in he linancial policy of the government tho only change being in the character of tho printing on the bills of live dol lars and under. Tho bill f.i80 provides for the issue of 87f?,000,000 of fractional currency, with blank spacca similar to the larger denominations, in placo of an equal amount of money of larger denomina tions, presumably twonty and fifty dol lar bills. Tho provision undor tho now system for a continual reissue insures clean monoy both in tho fractional cur roncy and in tho larger bills. Tho gov ernment feo on tho tlvu, ten, fifteen, twonty-IWe and fifty cent pieces ia to bo one cent each. I'orhaps in no better way can tho reader come to understand tho press ing ncod for postal currency than to recall tho times without number when ho hi nisi'II' has been desirous of Bond ing a small sum of money through tho mails with safoty. Always in such cases comes up tho barrier, and only the persistent ono will carry out his purpose by using stamps, coin placed in holes in pieces of pasloboard, or risking looso money. Tho average per son will not oxpond tho valuablo tlmo required for a journey to tho post oflico for a money order. Only the prcssuro of necessity in tho absenco of asimplo convenient system brings to the monoy ordor system its prcsont patronage. Statistics show that from ten to twooty times tho number of let ters received by business houses, pub lishers and othors who do a large busi ness thiough the mails, contain stamps, loose money or somo olhor representa tive of monoy, than contain money or ders, a clear enough mark of tho die approval of tho public. While is not thought that, if adopted, Uio proposed system would entirely suporsodo tho money ordor svstem, hccau8o for amounts over f50 tho money ordor would ho ?hght'y choapoi, it is thought by the advo cates of tho ponding bilh that such a system of post checks would prove a great convonienco to thoso desiring to sond small amounts of money through the mails, and would result in gain to morchants, pnbhshors and business | firms who now rcceivo such a remit tance in tho form of stamps (often torn and mulil itcrl), drafts on small banks,or loose coin in letters?always a temptation to postal cmployocs. A'l of those forma of rdtmttanco entail some loss, in many cases to the re ceiver, and to that oxlent, perhaps, a Small crops, unsalable veg etables, result from want of Potash. Vegetables arc especially fond of Potash. Write for our free pamphlets. GERMAN KAM WORKS, creditor is unjustly defrauded, inno coutly it may be, by the debtor. Under tho now system these troublesome and unfair methods of making remittances would bo done away with, owing to tho simplicity and convenience of tho post checks, and the cost ol sending the re mittance would bo placed where It properly belongs?with tho sending debtor or the person making the pur chase. Tho main dillieulty with tho present money order system is that less than half the post olliees in the country arc money order ollicos, and even at these such evidences of money can only be ohiained at the expenditure of much time and trouhlo and during certain specified hours. With a post check note in his possession ono has but to fill in the blank spaces for the purpose, attach a postal stump, cancel it, in close in an envelope, place in a mail box, and the transaction is finished. Unquestionably the intent of the pos tal authorities is to extend and increase tho usefulness and popularity of tho rural free delivery service. Tho adop tion of the post check notes will afford a meet couvcuicnt and Bafe money for tho agricultural communities, to whom banks, with their facilities and safe guards, caunot be utilized with con venience. It is claimed by those who have investigated the subject that the rcver.uca of the Poslofilco Department would be very inalctially increased by the adoption of tho post check sys tem. A somewhat unusual feature of tho post check proposition is the fact that the invontor is a successful business man, who has for years realized the urgent necessity for a simpler way of making small remittances in the mails, aud who has devoted a great deal of his timo and means to the perfection of the idea, and offers, in caso of its adoption, to turn the patents, and all rights under them, over to the govern ment free of auy cost or charge what ever. He considers that should the system be adopted the consciousness of having accomplished a reform of such importance to the general public and business men will more than com pensate him for bis time and trouble. GEN. MILES HAS BEEN DOOMED THE PRESIDENT IS TIRED OF im m. IIIh Statement Before the Sen ate Committee (lives the Oc? casioti for His Retirement* (len. .Nelson A. Miles has told the Senate committee on military affairs that if the bill introduced by Senator Hawloy at' tho iustanco of the war de partment for the organization of a gen eral staff for tho army should become a law ho would decline to hold his com mission any longer. Tho reason ho gnvo for tho statement is that the bill is utterly subversive of the interests of the military establishment, and ho said that ho would not bo a party to such a proceeding to tho extent oven of con tinuing to hold his place. Tho statement was mndo in the course of a prolonged hoaring by the coiumittco, which was conducted be hind closed doors, and in which Con. Miles touched upon a variety of sub jects counccted with tho army. The part of tho bill to which ho directed his especial criticism is that contained in Section 7, reading as follows : *? That from and after tho passage of Ibis Act tho senior general olllcor of tho army shall bo assigned to command such portion of tho army as tho Presi dent may direct, or bo detailed to duty in tho goncral staff corps. All duties prescribed by law for tho c mimanding general of tho army shall be performed by tho chief of general staff or other gonoral olllcor designated by the Secre tary of War: Provided that so long as the prescut lieutenant general of the army continues on tho active list he shall bo the chief of tho gonoral staff and upon the separation from active sorvico of the said lieutonant gonoral of tho army, said oflico, oxcept as hore 111 provided, shall coaso and detor mino." Gern. Mil!?>? said that if this portion shall become a law it will havo the offoct of destroying the unity of the army, and ho road numorous authori ties, including Napoleon, Wellington, Washington, Cass and Grant, to show tho necessity of having ono head to the urmy and of controlling authority. His owu exporienco and observation had, ho said, had the effect of confirm ing theso viows and he gave an illus tration of its bonoficial effect in time oi omorgency, instancing the boginning of tho wnr with Spain. " I hoard at midnight," ho said, " that tho Spanish (loot had boon located dofimtoly at SantiagD aud 1 bastonod to tho homo of Socrotary I ,on", whore tho nows was confirmed. Shaftor was then at Tampa, and I sal down thoro, in the Secretary's house, aud wrote a di?patch, directing him to start immodialoly for Santiago, with the result that the army was soon on its way to tho point whore its presence was needed." "Suppose," he addod, exhibiting the message which he had sent to Gen. Shaftor, ** I had been compelled to get aruund to a dozen or more majors, as many colonels and any uutnbor of gencr.Us, constituting n general stalT." Then ho added that iu all probability the Bcnior general of the at my would not under the provision ho quoted, have been in position to do anything, and ho called attentu u to the clause relieving him (tho senior general) of command and making it possible for any other olllcer to bo appointed. Ho declared that under Section 7 it would I be competent one day to promote a c-iptain to tho position of a brigadier .and the next day make him chief of I staff, thus practically placing a captain at the head of the army. Warming up somewhat, ho asserted that tho bill i wns calculated to nccomplieh uo pur ! pose except to al'ow the Secretary of j War and the adjutant general to pio mote the in'.crcBls of their personal ' favorites. Gon.JMiles was questioned as to the reason*) lor locating the American army of occupation at Tampa and holding it there so long with tho resulting con gestion. Replying to tho first quis tiou, he saul that it was because of tho Order to occupy Havana. The delay was due, he said, to tho fact that the I Amcricau army was supplied with only (il rounds of ammunition, which would not havo been sullicient for more than half an hour of fight ing. Considering Hint Havana waa ono of tho best fortified cities in tho world, ho said that to have attacked it would have boon foolhardy in the extreme. He declined, however, to crilici80 the then Secretary of War, (fen. Algcr, for the condition of i..fairs, saying that probably anyone else in the position would have done about what he did. lie laid the general blame for Ibis condition of unprcparc ncss at the door of Congress. In the course of his remarks (Jen. Miles told the committee in confidence that with the hill a law he could now name the men who would hold tho place of honor provided under it, but the committee did not ask for the names. The printed icport of the testimony of Secretary Hoot before the military committee on this bill has been made public. In bis statement 1 be Secretary said that the general stalT m the army, as it is pioposed to organize it under this bil , would bo simply an advisory board, and that its principal duty would be that of an advisory board. As to the place the cominmandcr-in chief would occupy with reference to this board, the Secretary replied: 41 The plan of the bill is to have the chief of stall selected by the President as commandcr-in-chicf, and to have it a detail, so that be will como in with the President aud go out with tho President." ?Senator Dato: "Do I understand that there is a limit to their powers so that they will not interfere with the lieutenant general?" " Tho proposition is to hnvo the lieutenant general to deride." As to the work of this character dur ing the war with Spain, Secretary Hoot said: "That wotk was dono during the Spanish war practically by tho gentle men in the adjutant general's ollice. If wo had not bud an adjutant general with the strength of ton men, with a wonderful physique and extraordinary oxecutive ability, tho whole system would havo be n broken down absolu tely. You cannot depend on having such men." " I want to say," ho went on, " that i bolieve that with the organization as it was at the outbreak of the war with Spain and is now, tho outbroak of any war would irrctnovably ruin any innn who was Secretary of War. I think tho organization is such that it is im possible that successful results may be produced until they havo been woikcd out by most painful and expensive ex- i pcrtenco." At tho cabinet meeting on Friday the newspaper publications relating to tho statements made by Gen. Miles before tho Senate committco wore brought up, but consideration of them was postponed until nil the facts in tho matter became known. Whatever in tentions tho President had with respect to the treatment to be accorded Gen Miles, his future action will bo some what influenced by the fact that Gon. Miles' statement boforo tho Senate committco has been represented to him as being privileged. Tho president proposes to road tho testimony given at tho hearing, and to consult with dif ferent members of tho committee on military affairs before linally announc ing what ho proposes to do. It is significant that long after tho cabinont meeting adjourned Secretary Koot and tho Attorney General wcro closeted with tho President. Tho President is known to havo stated that ho was tired of tho friction in the army, nud whether it is decided thnt (ion. Miles' statement was privileged or UOt, ho will nt no distant day Uiko action looking to his rotiromont. In discussing tho matter with his callers, nmong whem wero Senators and Representatives, tho President took tho position that the hou tenant general of tho array ehould eutertain toward his superiors the eamo loapccf that ho would oxpect and demand from his subordinates. Tho printed testimony of (Jen. Miles has not yet been made public and ii is understood that it will bo submitted to him for approval. It is well under stood that a groat deal of what tho ; Gonoral said will not appoar in the record. Mcmbors of the committee say the report published was correct in substance in every particular. At tho same timo thoso Honators do not agreo that Gen. Miles can bo punished for his ultorances boforo tho commitleo, wholhor they appoar in tho record or not. Of course tho c mimitteo could take no action to provent the retire muni uf Gon. Milos. Tl at, under tho law, is purely an executive act and needs no confirmation or approval or iho Senato. Tho world's consumption of ten in 1000 is oetimatcd at about 311,000,000 I pounds. * OA.9TOTIIA. Bmn tb? lh9 Kind You Have Always ?cugfrt The Finest Cake Is made with Royal Bak ing Powder. Always light, sweet, pure &> wholesome. ! T1IK NEWS IN WASHINGTON I - Ttllinat Vili Not Confirm lllch nrdsou or Koestcr?Jim Till 1111111'". Pop-Gnu. Tho Washington correspondent of Hie Charleston Sunday News writes as follows: Senator Tillman received a petition today, sigucd by numerous citizens of (Jreenvillc, protesting against his op position to tho confirmation of Post master Richardson nt that place, and urging that he use his indueiieo to ex pedite the hitter's confirmation. Sen ator Tillman said that he had made up his mind some lime ago not to with draw his opposition to Postmaster Richardson, and thai the pclition would not change his intention. Tho fight he is making is a personal, not a political, mutier, and to sustain his position ho has laid before his Sena torial colleagues numerous editorials from the Greenville News, which be believes to have emanated from Mr. Hiehaidson. Members of the post olllee committee who have been spokeu to on the subject do not seem inclined to override a long line of pre cedents in the Senate, which arc cited to sustain the opposition which Sena tor Tillman is now making against Mr. Richurdsou. Unless Senator Tillman can ho induced to withdraw his per sonal opposition to Mr. Richardson the latter will not bo confirmed at this ses sion. It remains to be seen whether the President will reappoint Mr. Itich ard8on after Congress adiourus. Collector of Internal Revenue Kocs tcr's nomination is practically in the same condition. Although Senator Tillman is not openly objecting to a favorable report on Mr. Kocstcr's nom ination, Senator Teller, a member of the finance committee, says be repre sents the views of Senator Tillman in contesting the confirmation of Collec tor Koestcr. Tho Republican mem bers of tho finance committee are ready to report the nomination to the Scuate with a favorable, recommenda tion, but they do not take enough in terest in the subject to tako a stop which would make a prolonged con test in the Senate. They have recent ly consulted some of Mr. Kocstcr's personal friends as to the propriety of leaving the nomination unacted upon for the balance of this session. In the meantime Mr. Koestcr can go right on performing the duties of the ollice and if the President is do disposed he may reappoint him after Congress adjourns. Lieutenant Governor ".Jim" Till man, of South Carolina, is now in-1 volvcd in a controversy with Senator Frye, presiding officer of the Senate, and Speaker Henderson, of the House of Representatives. Having failed to attract the attention of President Roosevelt in connection with the Jen kins sword incident, Mr. Tillman pro ceeds to level his political popgun at the two next ranking officers of the Government. As President oC tho South Carolina Senate Mr. Tillman made a ruling that a 44 motion to postpone indefinitely was not debatable." Iiis ruling was ques tioned, and bo referred the parlia mentary problem to Senator Frye and Speaker Henderson. They both de cided that he. was in error. Senator Frye in his reply stated that, although Jefferson's Manual is silent on the subject, the motion is debatable under the rules of the Senate. Instead of accepting tho decision of the two referees aa conclusive Mr. ' Tillman announced to his friends thai Senator Frye and Speaker Henderson bad sustained his ruling, holding that the motion was not debatable Those in South Carolina who differed with Mr. Tillman on the subject wrote to Senator Fayc and Speaker Henderson, and expressed a doubttbat thoy had doeided as Mr. Tillmanbad claimed. In replying to this communication Senator Frye reasserted that tho mo tion was debalablo and ndded that Mr. Tillman must havo misconstrued tho rosponsc to his inquiry. As Mr. Tillman had not given out tho origiual correspondence, which showed the contrary to what he had staled, Sena tor Fiyo has authorized the publica tion of the entire, correspondence, and it is for Mr. Tillman to explain why he did not givo out their decision cor rectly in the first instance. Mr. Tillman is out gunning for the Governorship of tho Palmetto State and, if his ammunition holds out, he may return from the expedition witli something substantial in his political gamo bag. Thus far he lias not made much progress in trying to bring down game on the national reservation. His try at Prcsidont llooscvelt in the sword incidont was a failure. His aim at Senator Fryo and Speaker Hender son appears to have been so.newhat un steady and without satisfactory results. Ilo should not despair, for tboro are hundreds of othor national characters, including oight Cabinet ofllccrs, 88 United States Senators and :jr>7 mem bers of the IIouso of Representatives still running at largo in tho political I lield. Tho Washington (arrcspondonl of tho Spartanburg Journal aays that v?hon Senator McLaurin was question cd in regard to the appointment of United Stales Marshal to succeed Mr. Melton, whoso term has expired, ho i replied that ho did not know tho Pre sident's intention in tho matter and had no knowledge as to the timo when t'hu nomination will ho sent to tho Sena.'o. lie stated that so far as ho knows thai ?hero is no application on lilo at JJtt 1 <4cpartmint of justice by any applicant for the ofllce excepting that o? llic in cumbent, Marshal Melton. There are oilier candidates for the ollice m the Hold, and they arc working for the np? pnt.lmoit, and several of them have written to Senator McLaurln in the hopes of enlisting bis support for his candidacy, but the Senator says he is not aware of their having papers on lile at the department. It was learned from another source than from the Senator that these several candidates have written to Senator McLaurln, It was further claimed by another au thority that the Senator has not taken any sides in the contest, and is holding nloof as far as possible. The term of the present marshal expired a neck ago and it was thought the nomination would be made promptly, bin no indi cation is given cither at I' While House or by Senator McL" as to when the nomination of ' Mel ton's succossor is like ho sent in. I nder the law Mi l tou can serve until his succ? > pointed, and qualifies. The i lief existing in South t'aroli is here, however, that the non s likely to be made at any time ltepteseutativo Lever, c ith Carolina, has introduced in the .louse a bill for the erection of a monument to the memory of Major General Thomas Suintcr. Tho bill has been referred 'o the committee on the lib rary. Canckii and Salt.?Dr. .James Braithwaito has published in "Tbc Lancet" an arliclo upon cancer, in which ho puts forward the theory that there are four factors iu the causation of the disease, excess of salt in food being the most prominent. S; It, ho holds, is an essential factor, but re quires one or probably two of the others to originate the malady. The other factors arc an overnourished con dition of tho system proceeding from the consumption of too much food, and especially of meat, and the impure condition of the body, resulting from the non-oxidation of the food. The fourth factor is local irritation or stimu lation. Dr. Braithwaite, who is on the staff of the Leeds general infirmary, was struck by the almost complete im munity of Jewesses who attended the gynecological department of that in stitution to cancer, there having been but one case in a period of ten years. Dr. Tun8tnll, late medical ollicor to the .Jewish Hospital for Incurables, gives corroborative evidence as to the rarity of cancer among .lews. The argument is therefore made that tins apparent immunity is either duo to race or diet. The latter he claims as the more pro bable cause. The .lews forswear bacon and ham, and, as it has been shown that the pig is the only domestic animal ever at tacked by cancer, by tho process ol elimination he concludes it must bo the salt and the llesh of tho animal that are at fault. The dews also oat less butcher's meat than do the fol lowers of most other religions. That diet has much to do with the incidence of cancer is a belief con stantly gaming ground, and there can be no doubt that a large quantity of salt is consumed by civili/.ed people, but the contention of Dr. Braithwaite, that where salt is absent cancer is ab sent, appears quite untenable, if not absurd. Capt. Grossman, of Cologne, Ger many, the inventor of water shoes, has just completed a 100 mile walk on the surface of the River Danube. !lc started from Linz and finished his journey at Vienna, drawing hh wife in a boat all tho way in loss II' 'i two days. The shoes are luum cylinders, l.'l fect long, aud ight enough to be carried on tb der? iiko a pair of oars. Th it propels himself by a treading i ment, which causes four or.- I wings to revolve. The Senate judioiary coinh i the Maryland Legislature has ?/ opposed the bill admitting wo to the liar of that State, but it is under stood that the committco has decided to make an unfavorable report of tho bill making lawful tho appointment of women as notaries public. Thoro arc already four women who havo been notaries, but the legality of these ap pointments has been doubled aud this bill was introduced to rcmovo all doubt. Tho part of 1'resident William Mc Kinloy and President Hayes in tho battle of Antictam will be marked by a monument erected by tb^ Stato of Ohio. In this battlo, Mc.vinloy, then a private, acted as commissiounry to the Ohio troop9. Tho monument wi'.l Hand at tho place where ho stood dur ing tho fiercest part of the light. At the head of tho Twenty-third was tho late President, then Col. Ituthcrford 1J. Hayes, on whoso staff Mr. McKinley was nn aide. Gootlomon (to yokel): M Well, .lohn did you give the marquis my note?" Yokel: "Yes, sir; but it's no use writing loiters to him. He can't boo to read thorn. He's blind?blind as a ball" Gentleman: "Wind?" Yokel: " Yes, t?ir; blind. Twice he asked mo whore my hat wa??, and I had it on my head all tho time."?Tit Wts. OASTOHXA. BfATitho Stffn&ture The Kind You Haw Always Bought