Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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-I 1 . . V; .' V ' founts ItccorD. VOL. 36. ~ KINGSTREE, SOUTH' CAROLINA, THURSDAY. JULY 28, 1921. NO. 20 THREATENED WITH PELLAGRA EPIDEMIC PRESIDENT CALLS UPON RED CROSS AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE FOR REPORT. Washington, July 25.?Alarmed at reports of a threatened "semi-famine" coupled with an epidemic of pellagra; in a large section of the southern | cotton belt, President Harding today :equested both the public health service and the American Red Cross to make immediate investigation and re* port what could lv done by the Federal government to relieve the situation. The fullest cooperation of al! Fed eral agencies in the relief measures was promised by the President, who declared that if found necessary congress would be asked to pass special legislation. He urged that no time be lost in ascertaining the actual conditions and applying to them an effective remedy. The threat of "famine and plague" the President wrote to the health service and the Ked Cross, seemed to arise from the fact that depressed markets had made it impossible for' the people of a large section of the south to sell their stocks of cotton, The resulting shortage of money, he said apparently had deprived many thousands of the variety of food necessary to ward off pellargra. President's Letter. The President in his letter to Sur geon General Cummings said: "I have been greatly concerned to note the public statement from the public health service as to the menace of pellagra and conditions at least of semi-famine in a large section of the cotton belt. That such a ^ condition is obviously a temporary incident to the economic dislocation following the war, cannot lessen our ccncern. Famine and plague are words almost foreign to our American vocabulary, save as we have learned their meaning in connection with the afflictions of lands less favored, and toward which our people have so many times displayed large and generous charity. "Immediate and effective measures 01 ameloriation are manifestly de-| manded if conditions even approxi-, mate the gravity suggested by the' public health report It is unthinkable that we should delay for a single day the institution of such measures. Therefore I am writing to ask you for the most complete possible report that can be made at once?provided there is anything t<* add to what yoa have already made public?and especially for a suggestion of proper measures to deal with the situation. "I am also writing to Doctor Livingston Farrand, head of the American Red Cross, in the same tenor, and suggesting that cooperation between his organization and your own might be helpful; having in mind the reed for haste in making a full survey, and in planning relief measures. I wish you both to be assured of my \ cooperation and of all aid that can ? ?' il I approximately oe given uuuugu Wv executive departments, and to know that in full information about the situation shall maki apparent that legislative action is necessary I will cn a proper showing be prepared to ask the requisite authorization from the congress." In his letter to Dr. Farrand, Mr. Harding said: "Recent reports of a distressing con dition among the rural population in B a large section of the cotton belt are Jp confirmed by a public statement from the public health service. They indicate that, due to the depressed cotton market, many thousands of people are unable to sell their one product for money where with to obtain a necessary variety of wholesome food, and that there is grave threat of an epidemic of peHargra. "It must bring a shock to the American people to realize that a great section of their own country, which they want to think of as immune from such experiences, is actually with famine and plague. For IIIVliwvvv* .. x that is what it wculd be called if it should befall in any other country and we may well give it its right name. It is, of course, a consequence ot the economic disorganization fol-j M lowing the war, and it demands in srant and vigorous attention. Our V people, so long and so often moved by splendid charitableness toward ^ the unfortunates of other lands, will never permit such an affiction here at home. , "Moved by a realization that there' DECISION REVERSED. South Carolina Supreme Court Overruled in S. B. Poston Case. In the South Carolina case of the Western Union Telegraph company, petitioners, vs. S. B. Poston, the supreme court of the United States, in a decision rendered by Justice Brandeis yesterday, reversed the decisiin of the supreme court of South Carolina By the decision r\ the court, it was Carolina, it was held that Mr. Boston was entitled to damages resulting from "negligent delay" by the company in delivering an intrastate message sent November 17, 1918. According to Justice Brandeis, the only question before the supreme court was whether the company, in view of the fact that the government had taken it over for war purposes, could Le held liable. By the decision of the ocurt ,it was held that the company could not be held liable, and that the people, durir. the period of government control and operatiDn, were at the mercy of the company. must be no delay in coping with such a condition, I am willing to ask you if the Red Cross can make an immediate investigation and report the present situation, the outlook for the future, and the measures necessary for prompt and effective relief. I am enclosing a copy of the report which Surgeon General Cummings has made and asking to be advised whether the Red Cross possesses the organization and measures to make, perhaps in cooperation with the public health service, a survey and outline of necessary measures. Inasmuch as promptness and accuracy are vitally important in such a matter. I will be glad to enlist any public instrumentalities that may properly be employed to assist in the task. Concurrently with this letter, I am also taking the liberty to do with you, that vnn and he confer about the mat tre. You may be assured of my full cooperation. It proper for me to add that if your survey shall develop the need for legislative porvisions for special relief, I will be glad, when the evidence is at hand, to lay it before the congress and ask the authority that I have 110 doubt it would promptly grant if the need be shown. "Please consider me ready and anxious to help in any proper way, by conference or otherwise." Latest reports received by the public health service were said to indicate that pellagra this year in the cotton belt would claim about 100,000 victims, of whom it was estimated 10 per cent, would die. Increase in Pellagra That pellagra would show a heavy incrase this year was foreseen last fall when the cotton market failed." said a statement issued by the health srvice. Most American cotton is raised on shares by tenant farmers who are "carried"' by the land owning planters for about six months each year during which they are provided with food and clothes for themselves and their families, to be paid when their crop is sold in the fall. Last year's crop, however, is still unsold and neither tenant nor planter has received the money on which they had depended. The planters are almost moneyless and are unable to obtain further credit from the banks which also are hard pressed. Neverless the tenants must be carried till next fall with no assurance that the cotton market will come back even then. "Inevitably there is pressure all down the line and the tenants whose credit has been reduced to the disappearing point, are obliged to live on the cheapest foods possible. These foods, salt pork, corn meal and molasses valuable as they are when balanced by other goods, lack certain elements that are absolutely essential to the maintenance of health. And the other foods beyond the purses of the tenants. "Conditions have been getting steadily. worse for months and the cumulative effect is becoming serious. It takes about five months of the particL-md of semi-starvation before UlOl OAUV* ? pellagra begins to manifest itself but after that it does so with appalling rapidity. ? This second stage is now well under way." The public health servi<* in its statement issued prior to receipt of President Harding's letter, sugested two remedies?to help the victim directly and to help them to help themselves, the former of which was said to be the only one immediately applicable. INTERESTING NEWS ! FROM HEMINGWAY ITEMS GATHERED BY THE RECORD'S SPECIAL CORRES PONDENT. Hemingway July 25.?Our tobacco I market opened Tuesday, the 19th with 50,000 pounds of the weed offered for sale. Prices were fairly good, ranging from $1.00 to $26.00 per hundred pounds The farmers generally were well pleased at the beginning. Since Arvnnin rr KnWflVflT' mn/?Vl nf f.VlP wuc \jy^iiuigf ?vnw?v*j iuwmi va burnt and green stock has been offered creating some disatisfaction, but the current opinion is that when these grades are throuh selling all clean and desirable tobacco will sell well. The citizens are organized into a I working board of trade for the good of the market and will do much good towards the upbuilding of the Hemjingway tobacco market. Sales are expected to imporve in quality this week and prices will likewise improve so that we may hope to report some good prices for th;.c: week. The Baptist have recently built a nice brick chujeh in town and have it so near completed that they can hold services in it. Mr. Winchester Graham of Denmark, who represents the Atlantic Life Insurance Company spent last week in town Mr. E. L. Daughtridge, Jr., of Tarboro. N. C. is visiting his grandfathe \ Capt. J. R. Hutcliins. Miss Winn of Columbia, district secretary of the Epworth League, vis- J ited our league here Sunday night and, gave a very helpful and instructive! talk which was enjoyed by all present.' N Miss Eunice Spmey is home after attending Summer school at Puggaw, N. C. Mr. Otis Huggi'is and Miss Ida Newman were quietly married at the home of the bride's brother, Mr. J. R. Newman,, on July 16th, at 9 o'clock, p. m. Only the immediate family attended the wedding. Mr. Alex Campbell has returned to his some at r;bson, N. C. after spending sometime here with his brother,! Mr. C. C. Campbell Miss Blanche Deer of the Florence} ?? - ?hnr va/>ntinn I lUiirmary is spcuuiu^ nv& . here with hei sister, Mrs. Chas. Haselden. Misses Nan and Jane Hemingway ere visiting their friend, Miss Anna Dora Campbell at Gibson, N. C. The following have spent their vacation at Mytle B';ach: Dr. and Mrs. W. C. Hemingway, their daughters, Misses Mildred and Bell, and son, Walter; Mesdame3 F. E .Huggins, J. R. Newman; Misses Bessie Huggins, Minnie Huggins, Mildred and Lorena Huggins and Mr. Bertie Huggins. Miss Iva Purney who was called home on account of the receitt illness and death of her sister, left last week for the U. S. P. H. Hospital, Fort Mc Henry, Baltimore, Md., to resume her work as as public health nurse. The body of Private Dewey Douglass arrived from France last Tuesday and was buried at Ebcnezer cemetery. The young men of the American Legion acted as pall bearers. Mrs. T. W. Ed ere worth has returned from a two week's stay at Lake Junuluska, N. C. Mr. W. T. Hemingway spent Sunday with his parents at Rome. . Miss Lila Ruth Weatherly of Benr.ettsville, is the guest of Miss Blondall Cockfield near hear. Miss Amy Eaddy spent part of last week at the home of Dr. Johnson at Rome. Work has commenced on the six class rooms that are being added to the Hemingway High school, which it is hoped to have completed for the opening of the school in September. Misses Bessie *nd Janie McCutchen of Indiantown spent Sunday with their aunt, Mrs. Geo. S. Hemingway. The large brick sales stable being " TT T Cfrt/?lr erected here Dy me namm ^.nc uww Company is nearing completion. Chain Gang Prisoner Escapes Eli Parsons, a member of the county chain gang, detailed as gang cook, made his escape Tuesday of last week i t 4. -"A U/va* lA/iofo/l Rofnro ana nas not yei uctu >wav^u. taking leave, Eli appropriated one of the county's 45 calibre Colt's revolvers and stole about $30.00 in cash, it is alleged. He was evidently trying to fortify himself for emergencies. Parsons is a mulatto, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs between 140 ' and 150 pounds. A reward of $100.00 will be paid for his delivery alive to Sheriff Gamble of this county. TOBACCO INTERESTS MEET AT FLORENCE RESOLUTIONS 13Y E. C. EPPS, ADOPTED.?ASSOCIATION MEETS TOMORROW. A meeting of the tobacco interests of the state was held in the court house at Florence ^Friday as a result of a number of the markets having called up the secretary of the South Carolina Tobacco Association and ured him in view of theutter dissat isfaction of the tobacco growers over the state that an immediate meeting be arranged. Several markets were then called and notified of the request of certain markets for a meeting and as a result some eight or ten markets were represented at the Florence meeting. Some delegations brought in reports of such bad feelings in sections of the state against the present low prices that it makes some of our citizenship feel apprehensive as to what might happen in some localities unless people are brought to understand fully all conditions. In many sections the feeling is very keen against the large tobacco interest. After full and frank discussion by farmers, bankers, warehousemen and business men in general from a number of leading markets of the state, the following resolutions were unamimously adopted, having been offered by Mr. E. C. Epps, cashier of the bank of Williamsburg, at this place. Whereas, citizens representing vamovWc in .QmitVi flaro Iiuua lUUdLLU liuuabu w lina, called together in mass meeting by the secretary of thfc Tobacco Association by request of certain local markets for the purpose of discussing the prevailing conditions of the present markets and the prices offered thereon, after due deliberation and thought do hereby resolve and reccommend the following suggestions as the only practical means and methods \\hereby more uniform and more satisfactory prices may be obtained: 1st?We recommend that fanners devote their best efforts toward harvesting and curing only better giftdes of tobacco and that the same be cleaned and picked before being offer ed for sale on the warehouse floors. 2nd.?That all such tobacco receiving bids less than (this price to be determined tomorrow) to be witheld from sale and be used as fertilizer upon the farm upon which it was grown. 3rd.?We recommend that the warehousemen of the state refrain from bidding upon offers for sale unless at least one bid is made by an authorized buyer not engaged in or in any way connected with the warehouse business. 4th.?That all tobaccoes offered for sale that do not bring at least (price to be determined tomorrow) be passed by the warehousemen and returned to the producer. 5th.?That the warehousemen's Association be and is hereby requested to call a meeting of all warehousemen in South Carolina be called to meet in Florence on Saturday, July 30th, and at this time the said Association together with a committee, which will be appointed from the Growers' Association which meets in Florence tomorrow. Friday July 29th, will fix a minumum price at which any tobacco will be permitted to sell in this state. That it is the sense of this ihceting that the farmers throughout the state be encouraged as far as possible to withhold sales of tobacco from the warehouse floors until after the meeting of the state growers' association on Friday and the meeting of the Tobacco Warehousemen's Association on Saturday, the 29th and 30th, respectively. Definite action as to what is best to do after this week will be detremined at the meeting tomorrow, at which time tie growers' of the state will meet i:i the court house at Florence, at 11 c'clock, and all interested in tne tobacco business in this state are urged to l>e present. After the meeting adjourned the following resolutions which were forwarded by mail from Manning, to be introduced at the meeting, were received too late for the meeting, but for the information of the growers' of the state in other counties we give the resolutions below: Whereas, at the opening sale of tobacco in the Manning markets the av erage price paid was four cents per pound; and whereas this price is far below the cost of production and not more than the cost of curing and marketing: And, whereas, it is the sense of this POULNOT SUCCEEDS MARTIN. I Governor Appoints Postmaster to Fill Unexpired Term of Sheriff. Joseph M. Poulnot was last night appointed sheriff of Charleston county j by Governor Cooper to fill the vacancy 1 caused by the death of Capt. J. ElJmore Martin, who had held the offiec for nearly a quarter of a century. I Mr. Poulnot has had practical exI-erience in the office, having served foi twelve years as chief deputy to Capt. Martin. He left the sheriff's office in the fall of 1913 to accept the appointment as postmaster. Mr. Poulnot has been postmaster for ' two trems of four years each and an examination to chcose his successor will be held next month. Creamery For Greelyville? I i Mr. L. C. Madison, agricultural . agent for Williamsburg county says in Clemson Week y News Notes of 'July 23rd: "We held a meeting at . Greelyville on Friday to talk over the advisability of erecting a cooperative i creamery and I was surprised at the ! interest shown. There are four mer. I in the business at present with several {ethers ready to get into it as soon as they can find a market for their product. These are about the only men in that section that have any cash and it is arousing the attention of their neighbors who wart- to get their fingers in the pie." We thought everybody at Greelyville had money, for it's one of the finest sections in the county.?Ed. Newman-Huggins. | , An interesting wedding of the past week was that solemnized Saturday, July 16, at the home of J. R. Newman, uhen his sister, Miss Ida Belle Newman was married to Otis G. Muggins. The ceremony was performed by Rev. B. G. Guess. Only the members of the family and a few friends were | present. The bride was formerly from Strawberry plains, Tenn., but has spent a part of the past two years in South Carolina. The groom was a member of the Fourth Division and served overseas. He is a prominent young business man of this section and has a wide circle of friends who extend their congratulations. Hemingway, July 26, 1921. Visitor From Jacksonville. Herbert Bayer, of Jacksonville, Fla, a nephew of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Coward of this city, who came here over a week ago to visit his relatives and meet his mother, Mrs. Frederick S. Bayer and brother, Robert, who have been spending the summer here left Tuesday for Charleston. Mr. Eayer is connected as a news reporter will the Florida Metropolis, one of the largest papers in the South. While in this section of the state he | visited his uncles and aunts, Mr. and I Mrs. Oscar Wilson and Mr. and Mrs. Robert McElvene of Lake City and Mr. and Mrs. Walter McElveen of Cades. After spending several days ia Charleston they will proceed to J:icksonville. Before leaving town Tuesday morning the young man paid the Record a pleasant call, and remarked interestingly upon the wonderful changes that have taken place in the community since he left here eleven years ago. convention that we petition the Tobac~ - ? - OmM, riar. co (irowers associauuii uj. uvuw olina, which is to meet in Florence, S. C. on July 29th, to do all in its power to assist and advise the farmers of the best means of protecting themselves against the low market at this time, as it is ruinous to the tobacco growers to market their tobacco at such prices. We further petition and request that while we are not members of the Tobacco Growers' association, we feel that it is necessary for our county to organize and that we will do so at the opportune time, we petition and ask that the Association forward us such information as they may be able to give us that may be had at their con vention on July 29tn. Respectfully submitted, J. M. Windham, chairman, D. R. DuBose, C. J. Haley, R. L. Ridgill, committee. The committee ?equests that other counties in sympathy with these resolutions take similiar action. Telegrams were received fi om some other markets stacing that delegations started to meeting by auto but were prevented from arriving on account of the flooded condition of roads, bridges, etc. CAMP JACKSON TO BE CLOSED SECRETARY WEEKS ANNOUNCES ABANDONMENT OF POST WITHOUT DELAY. A news dispatch from Washington says: "Reduction of the United States army to peace time strength of 150,000 men will be accomplished by July 31, in accordance with the decision of congress when it refused to appropriate funds for pay of a greater force after October 1st. With the reduction, Secretary Weeks announced , there would be a general distribution of troops, practical abondonment of seven of the great wartime army cantonments, placement of army organizations on the acthe list and skeletonization of others into material'y reduced strengths. "The cantonments to be abandoned " 'at the earliest practicable date"' as announced by Secretary Weeks, are Camps Devans, Massachusetts; Sherman, Ohio; Pike, Arkansas; Grant, IIlinios; Jackson, South Carolina, and Meade, Maryland, except for a small detachment, and Bragg, North Carolina. Those to be retained under the plan of reorganization are: Dix, New Jersey; Travis, Texas; Lewis, Washington, and Knox, Kentucky. Senator Dial made a special appeal to Secretary Weeks for a reconsidera tion of the decision to abandon Camp Jackson, bat to no avail. It was ex-v plained to Mr. Dial that while the troops stationed there would be retained intact, for training and National Guard purposes. No exact date is giving for the transfer of Camp Jackson troops but it is thought thefe will , be little delay. ' '* . "* o Must Provide Better Coaches. _____ | All the railroads of South Carolina have been ordered by the state rail! road commission to keep their passen- * gtr coashes in better condition of cleanliness. A letter of instruction has been sent out to the superintendents and other officials of all railroads operating in the state, calling attention to the rrilroad commission's rules and to the rules of the state* board of health governing the cleanliness of coaches. "The complaints cover almost ever/ railroad operating in the state." says the railroad commission's letter of instructions, referring to the numerous complaints that have been made in regard to the "unclean, unsanitary, and in some instances, filthy condition of passenger coaches used in South Carolina." "This matter has reached such a point," says the letter of instructions, that the commission feels that it is absolutely necessary that more precaution be taken than has heretofore been exercised. That the health of the public is at 3take cannot be questioned." . < "The rules of the commission and oC the board of health must be complied with," the commission orders, "even if part of the equipment must be cut out of trains on occasion. l? is absolutely necessary that passenin Cn:irti flarnlina^M lrenfc gCi VV?V11WC ill uvwvu W.. .. J- in a more cleanly condition than has been the rule within the past four or five years. The commission trusts that it will not be necessary to resort to extreme measures to have the rules enforced." " / o Distillery Outfit Captured. Rural Policeman Altman, on last Friday made a raid in the lower section of the county near Andrews and captured one large copper still, 150 ~ 11 a Aiionfifir AAW 1 ?^?XllUIlO XllCfcOIl, a vjviUitwvj va. w?uj ? double barrel shot gun, 6 fermenters, 1 flake stand, 1 pot, 1 axe, 1 dipper, and 1 half-allon fruit jar. The owners of this pavaphanalia are not known. Nobody was arrested in connection with the seizure. The operators of the plant are said to have ran away as the officers made their approach. o Tyler-McQueen. Mr. B. M. McQueen and Miss Mabel Tyler were quietly married in Florence Sunday, July 24. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. H Tucker Graham at the Presbyterian manse. The bride is the attractive daughter of Mr. Napoleon Tyler of the Cedar Swamp section and is popular among a host of young friends. Mr. McQueen is a young business men employed for some time past at the garage of D. J. Epps & Son.