The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, July 19, 1899, Image 6
Censure for the Censors.
CORRESPONDENT'S PRO
TEST AGAINST SUP
PRESSING TRUTH.
"Bound Bobin" That Has Caused a
Stir in Administration Circles.
Manila, Joly ll, via Hoog Kong,
Jnly 17.-The constantly increasing
striotoess of the censorship of press
dispatches from Manila, which has
prevented the cabling to the United
States of anything that did cot reflect
official views of important events and
conditions, resulted in a united effort
on the part of correspondents here to
secure an abatement of the rigor of the
censorship. The initiative in this
gg^direction was taken a mooth ago acd
esuited ia the framing of a statement
hieb was presented on Joly 9th to
Maj. Geo. Otis, commanding the mili- j
tory forces of the United States in the j
Philippine isl&ad, with a request for
permission to telegraph it to the United
States. The correspondents also asked
that they be allowed to cable to their
respective papers all facts aod the
cifre rent phases of events as they trans
pired here. The correspondents had
two long interviews with Gen. Otis, io
tee coarse of which they complained
that the evident purpose of the censor
ship was not to keep information from
the enemy, but to keep from the public
a knowledge of the real condition of
affairs here. It was also asserted by
the correspondents that newspapers
printed in Manila, which reacted the
enemy quickly, are permitted to publish
statements similar to those which cor
respondents are forbidden to cable.
It was made clear to Gen. Otis that the
objection was to the system and not to
the censor.
Gen. Otis finally promised greater
liberality, agreeing to pass all matter
tba! he might consider not detrimental
io the interests of the United States.
Gen. Otis censor appointed Capt Green,
of bis staff.
The statement of the correspondents
is as follows :
"The undersigned, being all staff
correspondents of American newspapers
stationed at Manila, unite in the follow
ing statement :
"We believe, that owing to official
dispatches from Manila made public in
Washington, the people of the United
States have cot received a correct
impression of the situation in tbe
Philippines, bat thar, these dispatches
ave presented an ultra-optimistic view
that is not shared by tbe general
officers io the field.
"We believe that these dispatches
incorrectly represent tbe existing con
ditions among the Filipinos in respect
to dissension and demoralization result
ing from thc American campaign aod
to tba brigand character of tbeitr army.
"We believe the dispatches err in the
declaration ihat 'tbe situation is well
io hand' and in the assumption that the
insurrection cao bo speedily ended
without a greatly iooreased force
"We think thc tenacity of the
Filipino purpose has been underesti
mated acd that the statements are
unfounded that volunteers are willing
to engage in further service.
'.Tbe censorship has compelled us to
participate io this misrepresentation by
excising or alteriog uooontroverted
statements of facts oe the plea, as Geo
Otis stated, that 'they would alarm, tbe
people at home/ or 'have the people of
tee United States by the ears/
"Specifications : Prohibit ion of hos
pital reports ; suppression of fall re
ports of field operations io the eveot of
failure ; numbers of heat prostrations
is tee field ; systematic minimization
of naval operations aod suppression of
complete reports of thc situation.
(Signed) Jobo T MoCutobeoo,
Harry Armstrong,
Chicago Record.
Oscar K Davit,
P G McDoootil,
New York Sos.
Robert M Collins,
Jobo P Daooing,
L Jones,
The Associated Press.
Jobo F Bass,
Will Diowiddie,
New York Herald.
S Keene,
Scripps-McKae Association.
Riobard Little,
Chicago Tribune.
CAUSES SENSATION IN WASH
INGTON.
Washington. Joly 17 -The publi
cation of tbe war correspondents'
formal indictment .cf Geo Ons, mao
agement of the Philippine campaign
caused a sensation io the departments
here. Seoretary Hay had received
advices late as today from civil as well
as military sources in the Philippines,
which led bim to declare that the situa
tion there was certainly improved mater
ially and that the prospects for the
future bad brightened very much
With these advices, the seoretary said,
Geo. Otis bad bad nothing to do, aod
they were from disinterested persons
whose opinions must carry weight
Generally there was stroog disin
clioatioo exhibited by tbs officials to
8C0S8 this last "round robin." Gen.
Miles who was aotiog as secretary of
war in the absence of Secretary Alger
aod Assistant Seoretary Meikeljohn,
would oot comment upon the dispatch,
and Adjutant General Corbin took the
same attitude.
CORBIN MAKES DEFENSE
WasbicgtcD, July 17.-Regarding
tit iia-emen-'E last calle tspatefef rs
ceived ia Washington aud other news
regarding the war had beeo censored
contrary to the usual castors, Adjutant
General Corbin today eaid :
"The censure of the so-cailed cen
sored press is without just cause ; aocl
evidently made nader misapprehension
of facts. There has been no ioforma
tion received from Gen. Otis that has
not been given to the press promptly
j on the bulletin beard in the hall of this
i office.
I "Toe standing instructions of tb
president and secretary of war are that
the public shall be given ali informa
tioa we receive. This bas b en doma
and wiil continue to be done. Of
course plans of campaigns that would
be to help to Aguinaldo aod other re
bels have not and will not be pro
mulgate^, bat ali faots of events tran
spired have been given in fullness."
A QUESTION OF NUMBERS
Washington, July 17.-A statement
was prepared at army headquarters
today and given oat for publication in
which it was said : "There has been
some discussion in the press recently
relating to an alleged difference of
opinion regarding the number of troops
s = nt to the Philippine islands in the
first instance."
Then follow a namfcer of letters from
Geo. Miles and Geo.'Merritt, io which
each recommended what troops he
thought necessary to be sent to the
islands. These estimates, according to
the letters, ranged from 14,400 men to
15,425.
In conclusion the statement says :
"It thus appears that there was no
controversy regarding the number of
troops to be sent, Geo. Miles, in fact,
having designated more than Gen.
Merritt oalled for, but only a difference
of opinion as to the composition of the
force, Gen. Merritt desiriog to have
more regulars than were designated by
Gen. Miles.
"Certain newspapers have attempted
to show that Gen. Miles did not want
more than 6,000 troops to be sent to the
Philippines under Gen. Merritt, but the
above official correspondence, show this
not to be the fact."
ENGLISH COMMENT.
London, Joly 18 -Mest of the
morning papers comment upon the joint
statement that the American corres
pondents at Manila regarding the cen
sorship there.
The Times says : "Gen. 0;"i3 cannot
conceal nor explain away tho great
fact that he fails to bring the war to
ao end. He might just as well cease
playing the ostrich and allow the cor
respondents to tell the public what
they see "
The Daily News says : ''The moral
of it is that the correspondent will turn
wheo you tread too hard upon him, and
that bis determination to let the cat out
of the bag may still prove a blessing to
modern states.
Dewey at Port Said.
Washington, Joly 14 -Secretary
Long has received the following cable
message from Admiral Dewev :]
Port Said. Joly 14, 1899. "To Sec
retary of the Navy, Washington :
Olympia io voluntary quarantine
As soon as coaled proceed Trieste^
for pratique and recuperation officers
and men. Dewey
Inasmuch as be is silent oe the
subject, it is assumed that no change
has occurred in the health of Admiral
Dewey and bis men since their
departure from Hong Kong, when ali
were reported well It is said at
the navy department that the
Admiral's reference to "pratique"
means simply that he is going to
Trieste to get a cletta bili of health
that will enable bim to continue his
voyage through the Mediterranean
without delays from- the health
authorities at the various points.
IN BOSTON ?
Boston, July 15 -The Post vtili say
tomorrow : ' An uprising of the colored
race agaiost the administration at
Washington is being organized in
Boston This is the seat of the move
ment that is proposed wherever the
colored people are pf puions
"The instigators assert that it wiil
mean the downfall of McKinley,
imperialism and the Republican party.
"The object of this organisation is a
revolt at the ballot box. But there are
those among its support who would
willingly take part ic an armed uprising
and who, were it possible, would oiler
their strength to aid the Filipinos ia
their struggle for iucependenee."
The Post says the negroes have had
a conferences with Edward Atkinson
relative to the organization of a colored
auxiliary of the national anti-imperiaiist
league.
- - ? i -
A RAILROAD RUMOR.
Charleston, July 15-There is a
rumor in some quarters that the Ohio
River and Charleston railroad is to be
finally built to Charleston. The road
bas a continuous line from Marion, N.
C., to Camden, and all that remains to
be done to complete the road from
Ciocionati is to build from Camden to
Charleston and complete the gap
between Marion. N. C., and Johnson
City, Tenn.
The engineer corps of tho Seaboard
Air Line has reached Summerville and
wilt strike the suburbs of Charleston in
a few days
Paper'novels, new paper novels at H. G
0*e* k Co5 .
UNIQUE CRIME
OCCURS IN GEORGIA
Farmer Si. Smith, Who KUl
j ed Judge Bel], Lynched.
Gainesville, Ga , Joly 15 -A mob
of about 30 men surrounded the
county jail early this morning and by
a clever ruse tricked the sheriff into
admitting them into the jail, after
which five of them went to the cell
of Si Smith, the murderer of Judge
W. B Bell of Atlanta, and shot him
to death, riddling his body with
bullets and spattering his blood on
the ceil walls.
The mob pretended to be a sheriffs
possee from Gwinnett county with
a prisoner, whom they wanted to
lodge in the Hall county jail for safe
keeping. The ieader of the mob
said he was the shenff of Gwinnett,
and the unsuspecting sheriff of Hall
county, W. B. Munday, admitted the
men.
After their bloody work the mob
quickly dispersed. The governor
will be asked to offer a reward for
the capture of the men composing
the mob. There is great indignation
among the people here that such a
crime was committed.
Smith was asleep when the mob
entered. Without warning or
arousing him, one of the mob
deliberately leveled hie pistol at the
heart ef the victim. The men open
ed fire on the prisoner, and when they
ceased firing the victim's body had
been riddled with bullets
The shenff said the leader of the
mob was about 50 years of age and
the others all young men, ail weil
dressed, one of whom was fleshy and
clean shaven.
The coroner of Hall county sum
moned a jury this morning and held
an inquest, but no verdict was reach
ed
Si Smith was recently captured
in Habersbam county and was
brought here and lodged in jail for
safe keeping. He v/as held for the
murder of W B. Bell who formerly
traveled for an Atlanta drug honse.
Who Did the Guessing ?
It is now pretty generally conceded
even by the supporters of the admin
istration's Philippine war policy that
lhere has been some very poor guess
ing done as to the outcome of the
military operations in the island of
Luzon. The New York Tribune, a
few days ago, had an editorial on
this guessing from which we clip the
following paragraph :
"The couree of events in the Phil
ic pines bas not met expectations
encouraged by ootgiviDge that pur
ported to come from the war depart
ment. One cannot tell whether the
optimistic dispatches announcing a
near surrender of the insurgents as
the result of negotiations were in
spired by some hopeful soul in the
department or having the run of it,
or by the conciliatory Professor
Scburman, wno is now returning
from service on the commission. It
does not yet appear that his hopeful
predictions have ibeen answered by
facts But Washington bas its
champion optimist also. Whether it
was somebody in the war department
or some Coo sanguine reporter of the
press, eagerly interpreting a wink as
a victory and a nod as,the end of the
campaign, the elaborate tactical de
seri plions of moven ts in progress,
which never resulted at all as Wash
ington expected, gave the public the
impression that Gen. Otis did not
often guess very well. Later events
have indicated that it was not Gen.
Otis who guessed wrong,:t
Somebody besides Gen Otis, it
seems, according to the Tribune, did
the poor guessing, but didn't Geo.
Otis report that he could finish up
the business there with 3 ,000 effect
ive troops ? Some other military
gentleman guessed differently for
they have expressed the opinion that
it would take a good many more than
that, and they seem to have done
better guessing for more troops are
to be sent. The fact is there has
been too much guessing all along,
which suggest the inquiry, bow much
confidence can people have in men
who have proved such poor guessers
and prophets ?-Wilmingtou tar
--^- < .-^
The Cheraw and Chester
Railroad Will be Built.
Cheraw July 15-Ata meeting
of the stockholders of the Cheraw
and Chester railroad Compauy held
this week at Chesterfield court bouse,
the company was reorganized, and
Mr G. J Redfearn was elected presi
dent of the road He was given
authority to contract with any one
for the building of this road, the
county having already voted bonds
to the amount of $1,700 per mile for
a completed road. This road wiii
run across the north central part
of Chesterfield county, giving a
large and prosperous section of the
county railroad advantages and touch
ing the county seat. The Chester
field and Kershaw Railroad company
has begun the work of grading A
large number of railroad machin e,
plow shovels, etc , have been receiv
ed and have now been put into use.
BROOKLYN TROLLEY
STRIKE HAS BEGUN.
CAS S BELLI IS THE TEN
HOUR DA F AT TWO
DOLLARS.
New Yoik, July 16.-Another
trolley strike is on in Brooklyo. So
far it has not been as effective as the
shrike of 1895, but there is no telling
how long or far reaching it may
become. For some weeks past the
employes of the several lines con
trolled by the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit company have been com
plaining that the management did not
ive up to the ten hour law. The
men demand a revision of the time
tables at the different barns and also
claitU that they Gbould be paid 20
cents an hour for over time, which is
equivalent to $2 a day, the price
which they 6et for a working day of
ten hours
Meetings have been held daily and
nightly for the last week, and it was
inferred from the reports given out
by the employes and their advisers
since Thursday last that, while a
strike was imminent, it would not
occur for seme days to come. Gen
eral Master Workman Parsons and
District Master Workman Pines had
charge of the men's affairs and i
fitrike"wa3 called at half past 4 this
morning At this hour most of the
motormen and conductors on the
Brooklyn Traction company's lines
had completed their night trips and
the leaders decided that this was the
most opportune moment to begin
what was expected to be a stubborn
Sght with the traction company. A
heavy rain storm was in progress at
this time, and there was very little
passenger traffic The Smith street,
Franklin avenue and Hamilton ferry
lines, which are controlled by the
Coney Island-Railroad company, hav
ing maintained the regular terms
with their employers, were not
impeded in the least, but on ail other
roads transportation was mopped for
a wbiie, and a good deal of conges
tion occurred in consequence
Shortly after midnight about 1,000
policemen from the precincts in
Manhattan and the Bronx districs
were conveyed to the different barns
and many were piaced along the
several routes comprising the terri
tory covered by the Brooklyn Trac
tion company Up to half past 7
o'clock there were very few cars run
over these lines, and those that were
sent out from the different barns
were policed by two, three and four
constables.
TEN MILLION THE
LOSS IN TEXAS.
Hazen Says Rains Were An
alogous to Cloudbursts.
Washington, July 15.-The weath
er bureau today issued a special
bulletin on the recent flood in the
Brazos river district, Texas The
bulletin is accompanied by a map
and tables showing phenomenal rain
fails
Prof II A Hazen, in an introduc
tory article, says : "It must be said
that, after allowing for ali the condi
tions, we still have a most serious
difficulty in accounting for such rains
which are analogous to so called
cloudbursts, about which almost noth
ing is known."
I. M Cline, the Texas forecast
oiucer, says in his report that in
places the river was more than 12
miles wide. The damage to crops
has been very great. There was a
large acreage in cotton, corn, sugar
cane and other crops Cotton plant
era have suffered most Sugar cane
plantations in the Brazos bottoms
have suffered much In some places
half the crop has been destroyed
Farming implements, Block and many
of the small tenant houses in the
bottoms have been washed away
The total losses, judging from press
reports and other available informa
tion, will aggregate nearly ten million
dollars
Action has already been taken by
some farmers to plant other crops
where cotton and corn have been
destroyed Some cotton will be
planted, bot to what extent cannot
be even approximated, lt is desired
to make the distract self sustaining
as soon as possible, and many who
have interests along the Brazos
river consider this the beot course to
pursue.
SIMONTON TO RESIGN
Judge Siruonton can retire io tbrce
months from con oo full pay, and the
Columbia correspondent of the News
and Courier says he "has it pretty
straight" that he will dc so. He also
eays Senator McLaurio, of Sooth
Carolina, will be Judge Simonton's
successor. This announcement is of
special ioterest in North Carolina,
where Judge Simonton bas done so
much "injunctiog 99 - Wilmington
Star
J. T. Cunningham, a Bell telephone
lineman in Columbia, met with sn
awful death at 1 30 last Saturday by
falling from a high pole co which be
was stringing telephone wires He
broke his neck. The dead man ia about
35 years old and his family in Marietta,
Ga., vrs:e promptlfcj a rified of Lis
death. |
To School Trustees and
Teachers.
i Trustees aod teachers who are
alive to the interests ia their charge
I cannot be indiff rent to the county
summer school for teachers, in its
relation to the problem of better
, country schools-a more enlightened
citizenship aud a more prosperous
people No teacher with profession
al spirit and ambition can afford to
disregard the opportunity of better
preparation for a life work which
entails so much of responsibility and
requires so much of skill. No trustee
that is mindful of his trust-io pro
vide for the good bringing up of the
children of his community-can be
content to dwarf their possibilities
by giving them in this day of
progress a training that is second
rate The more backward to com
munity the greater is the need of the
very .best instruction. The worst
enemies of a community would be
the school trustees if they would act
upon the principle, "Almost any
teacher is good enough to teach our
little school." Hardly is any teacher
good enough, and no teacher can be
too good ! It is a crime to put over
children a less skilful teacher thau
the money available will secure. We
have too much of "the blind leading
the blind."
It is foily to pay a poor salary and
employ an ignorant teacher in order
that the school term may be longer.
It is ar ste of money. It is a waste
of cfc'L lod's euergies If the school
ruu. to be dull and stupid, better
far that the child should be out in the
fresh air in contact with the varied
interests of real life, learning in the
great school of observation and ex
perience. Poor teaching may be
worse than no teaching.
TRUSTEES SHOULD PAY TEACH
ER'S EXPENSES.
The State board of education at its
last meeti g, May 5, adopted the
following resolution to which the
attention cf all school trustees is
asked :
'.'Whereas, in the opinion of this
board, it is essential to the welfare
of our common schools that there
should be a general attendance of
teachers at the sessions of the county
school institutes, be it resolved that
in order to express this desire of the
board the superintendent be request
ed to address a circular letter to the
county superintendents and trustees,
nd that the school trustees be asked
to make some provision to aid and
assist the teachers in their county to
attend the said institutes "
Thia action of the State board is
based upo& the fact that, however
great the personal benefits resulting
to the teacher from self improvement,
the greatest benefits will accrue to
the school children If, therefore,
the teacher will give four weeks to
professional training i order to
become better fitted for successful
teaching-in order to render better
service to the school, the trustees
should be willing to encourage a
faithful servant by increasing the
salary at least to the amount of the
cost to the teacher of board and
lodging while attending the profes
sional school They should recog
nize the fact that a ieacher's diligent
and faithful work is of value to the
school and that the school should not
allow all of the burden to fall upon
tbe devoted teacher In most of the
counties the cost of board and lodging
for the four weeks would not exceed
eight or ten dollars This is 8 small
sum to be paid by the school as sn
additional salary for the entire school
session in consideration of the better
service that the teacher will render
to the children. Yet, small as tbe
sum is, it falis heavily upon the
teacher that receives no more than
$25 or $30 a month and is employed
for only a few months in the year
The pitiful sum of $20 a month is all
that is paid to some teachers, who
are yet expected to possess such an
education and to teach with such
painstaking devotion as to give to
their pupils the mental training that
will fit them for the duties of life,
private and public If the trustees
really want better educational advan
tages for the children, if they have
auy appreciation of the need of a
better teacher, they cannot doubt
that eight or ten dollars paid extra to |
secure this boon will be the wisest
expenditure that could be made even
though tue school term should in
consequence be shortened
TRUSTEES SHOULD ACT.
If a teacher has been engaged for
the approaching school session the
trustees should at once adopt a reso
lution to pay the school teacher's
expenses at the county summer
school. If a teacher has not yet
been engaged, there should be no
further delay in making the
final arrangements. Many teach
ere are-resolved to attend a summer
school and pr ts forward lo a higher
place in their procession, cost what
it may. Yet many are Etill in doubt
ae to where they will teach the next j
sesaion This is a hardship. It
would evidently be a wi6e and just
policy for trustees to chose their
teachers as early in the summer as
possible in order that ail may know
what to expect, and that the teachers
may be encouraged to prepare them- j
selves specially for definite work.
Of course no ttustees would be so !
behind to the best interest of their j
schools daring the progress of the
Bummer school for teachers in their j
I county. To keep the teachers from
I attending the summer school would
! be to throw away money which the
State is spending this year for the
improvement of teachers.
John J. McMaban,
State Superintendent of Education.
July 15,1899.
4'Missing Link" Has
Been Murdered,
NOW IT IS A QUESTION
WHETHER IT WAS
HUMAN OR BRUTE.
Chicago, July 16.-A ipeciai to The
Tribane from Booesteel, S. D., says :
Upon the question whether his victim
was brute or human depends Archie H.
Brower;s guilt or ionccence of the
crime of murder. Brower was one of
the owners of a small teat how which
came here for exhibition. Among
their attractions was a creature cf
seemingly a higher form of animal life
thao a monkey and lower than a man.
Brower and Thorodyke called the
anima) the ''Missing Link" and laid
great stress on the fact that no one
was abie to say whether it belonged to
the human or the brure creatioa.
i Brower now avers that thc freak was 3
montey.
In a sci:it! 3 with it the show man
became angry and seizing a heavy
club, dealt his antagonist a hard blow
over the ear, from the effects of which
it died in a few boars.
The locai authorities immediately
piaced Brower under arrest oo a charge
of murder. At the preliminary hear
ing his lawyers set up the defense that
their client did not take the life of a
haman beiDg, bat the magistrate bound
him over to the grand jary.
No I'tte For tlie Alligator.
The colored prisoners in the peniten
tiary are accpiam cd with the habits
of crocodiles and fully realize that they
relish a pickaninny. Under these cir
cumstances they are not anxious to
make '.he acquaintance of a crocodile
that inhabits the fountain of the pris
on. The other day one of them who
had committed some offense was taken
to the cellar to be punished. After he
had been blindfolded one of the men
called out to the other, "Keep that al
ligator back or he will bite this man."
That caused the colored man to com
mence to plead, and he said, "Fo' de
Lord, Mr. Deputy, ef youse let me go,
I'll neber come back here ag'in."
"But you told me that the other
time," replied the deputy.
"But dis is de time I tells you de
traf, and I neber will come back ag'in."
On leaving the tub he declared that
the animal had bitten him a few times,
notwithstanding the fact that the croc
odile had been in the fountain all tho
time. The colored man has kept his
word up to date, but he is liable to
soon forget the lesson of the crocodile
that is the deadly enemy of the colored
men in the south.-Columbus Dispatch.
Tbe Reviver.
"Baby was taken very bad while
you were out, mum," said the new
servant girl.
"Oh, dear!" said the young wife. "Is
he better now?"
"Oh, he's all right now; but he was
bad at first. He seemed to come over
quite faint; but I found his medicine ia
the cupboard"
"Found his medicine! Good gracious!
What have you been giving the child?
There's no medicine in the cupboard."
"Oh, yes, there is, mum. It's written
on it."
And that girl triumphantly produced
a bottle labeled "Kid Reviver."-Lon
don Tit-Bits."
Some royal crowns are merely silk
wadded caps ornamented with jewels
&nd pendants.
TBE OLD THOROUGHBRED
1899 VICTOR for $33
JUST THINK OF IT.
Clevelands
$35.00 to $75.00
And tbe finest in the world.
We sell for cash or on easy payments-either
one, acd guarautee satisfaction.
If yon want to be pleased come aod look
us over. We have reduced oar repair prices
to a minimum tbereby enabling everybody
to keep their wheels in first cl ass* repair.
Don't let yocr wheel run to pieces bat come
and see cs, we are prepared to dj any kind
of repair work and guarantee satisfaction?
Our new prices will astonish yon and the
work wiil please you.
Yours very truly,
JENKINS BROTHERS
'Tbe only original Over-all Kids."
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