Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

OO?Ii IS SCARCE. ?ilk Will Save to Curtail or Shut DOWD. Serious Situation Confronting the Manufacturer-Mills Will be Out by August I. -:-1_ The cotton mills of the South are confronting a serions situation, ac? cording to tho Spartanbnrg Journal, on account cf the unprecedented scarcity of the raw material and .the prevailing high price. A large manu? facturer said recently: "The mills will have to curtail or shut down, and we cannot afford to do the latter." Some mills have already been com? pelled to shut down or reduce theil output, and in the cours? of a few weeksthe situation will be more seri .V. ons stilL Only a few mills have cot? ton on hand to run them any length of time and with many of the* mills it is a question of but a few weeks be? fore they will have to buy cotton at the prevailing price, which is the highest known for two years, or will have tc shut down or curtail. The cotton crop in this section is *now exhausted and whatever cotton is used - by the mills will have to be brought from a distance. The mills which are "the greatest sufferers are those who save made contracts to deliver yarns -or cotton goods during the next month or two on a basis figured out when cotton was lower. Fortunately, howev? er, there are few mills in this predic? ament After August 2, at the farthest every mill will be ont of cotton entirely, and the entire crop will be exhausted, ifc is predicted here today, so that Shore will be two months for the mills t?rwsdt for the new crop to begin to TOve. Taking these facts into con? sideration the situation will become C;Uite serious by July lo, it is said kere, and as a matter of necessity ^here must be a large amount of cur? dling, mills running on shorter isours, while some will be forced to close down entirely. The big mill ? owners are already on the anxious bench and are beginning tc realize the serious aspect of the situation, There is only one bright spot on the H?krad now threatening and that is with a few of the mills which are long on cotton, having either bought or contracted for a sufficient amount of cotton when prices were lower, to mn them far in the summer, and as cotton : "Pinots have been advanced along with cotton these milk will reap a rich harvest of profits while the other bellow is trying to pull through with - the least loss. -It is probable that . many of the s??lls will prefer to fun even at a loss cather than to shut down, as the latter course is regarded by many big mill owners as a very expensive procedure ] ia disorganization of help and in -many ways. TOM^OiBiT EXCLUDED. Hew York Board of School Su? perintendents Excludes Mrs. Stowe's Notorious Book From Public School Libraries. New York, April 2?.-On the tie qrote at a meeting of the board of pub He school superintendents "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was dropped from the catalogue. The general reason given is that the book has served its pur? pose; that it is not of great historical value and ofttimes revives sectional : feeling. When the board of superin? tendents, eight in number, met to ex? amine and approve s the revised catalogue they pronounced the cata? logue excellent in selection, and the -sole question was on the inclusion or exclusion of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The vote was a tie. The list will not be revised. "The. book is not in the catalogue," said Superintendent Le? land, "because there is no desire to titivate sectional feeling in the pu? pils. The war has been over a long time and sectionalism is virtually dead. There is a strong feeling against the "book in certain quartiers, especially ?oath of Mason and Dixon's line, and -3??w York is a cosmopolitan city." It is believed that no further action will be taken by the board of education. - iiii' - fiaee Prejudice in indiana. Bloomington, ind., April 26.- Thir- ? ty-eight unmasked men broke into a i ?ouse here today and white-capped 3?isses Be becca and Ida Stephens, white, aged 18 and 16 years, and also whipped Joe Shively, a negro, aged 50 years. The Stephenes lived with their mother, in the same house in which Shively had a room. The ne gro was whipped with a barbed wire and was hit in toe eve with brass inucks. The older girl was whipped with barbed wire and the younger one with apple switches, but neither is dangerously injured. Many of the -white-caps were recognized and war? rants will be sworn out for their ar -rest, A Russian Disclaimer. St Petersburg, April 25.- The offi? cials of the foreign office here express^ ed to the correspondent of the As? sociated Press today intense surprise over the report that American public opinion is disturbed by the news regarding Manchuria. They declared the people of the United States were being mislead by the Japanese, and said the improvements which were in progress in Manchuria certainly would benefit international commerce. The foreign official added that new funda? mental conditions were being imposed, declaring that what are now in pre? press are pourparlers concerning the act of evacuation itself and the organization of the Chinese adminis? tration to assure order. The Chinese administration, however, is not ready, j?ussia desires an assurance that China will maintain a sufficient police force to repress local disorder, which are continuous throughout Manchuria, especially in the mountains. The .detachments of Russian troops remain? ing in the country have no object but the maintenance or order locally, un? til China is able to guarantee that or? der will be maintained. The foreign office adds that the number of railroad guards ultimately will not exceed 20, OQ?, nnless under exceptional circum THE GOAL BABON TESTIFIES, President Baer Says That he is "Tired of People Lying to Make Out That all Business Men are Trying to Evade the Law." - New York, April 24.-President George, F. Baer, pf the Philadlephia and Reading Railroad, was present to? day as a witness when the Later-State commerce commission resumed its hearing on the complaint of Wm. R. Hearst against the anthracite coal carrying railroads. President Baer said the Philadel pliia and Reading Coal Company and the Philadelphia and Reading Rail? road Company are operated by voting trusts, the personnel ofr -which is I different except that J. Pierpont Mor? gan is a member of both. At times contracts existed between him as president of the railroad and as presi? dent of the coal company. Mr. Baer said about 60 per cent of the mining properties of the anthracite region *is owned or controlled by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal Com? pany. About 21 per cent of the coal produced is owned by the Philadei phia and Read ir.g Coihpany. Mr. Shearn rt ad to the witness the section of the PeraisylvaniaConstitntion which debars companies incorporated as carriers from engaging in the busi? ness of mining or manufacturing, and asked if the operation of the Reading Coal and Iron Company is not in violation of that provision. The Philadelphia Coal and Iron Company exists: under the statutes of tile State of Pennsylvanhia," replied Mr. Baer. "It does not evade any laws of the State nor of the United States. I shall be glad to have the question tested in any form you may select. There is no application of that provision of the Pennsylvania Con? stitution to our charter. That ques? tion has beer decided in various Courts. The corporate franchises were grant? ed prior to the adoption of the new Constitution and the Courts have decided that these charters are inviol? able." Mr. Baer said he bought np the Temple Iron Company to head off the proposed independent railroad. It world have hurt his companies and the public because the cost of carrying coal would haye been high. If like conditions arose again he would advise his stockholders to do again as they had dona r "Even if it be in violation of the law?" asked Mr. Shearn. "I welcome yon to proceed in any Court of the United States," said Mr. Baer, rising and facing the lawyer, "and if you can show we have violated any law we will undo it. If we are guilty go to the proper forum and prove it. I'm tired of you people who dream yon represent the people, lying to make ont that all business men are trying to evade the law." Hester's Cotton Statement. New Orleans, La, April 24.-Secre? tary Hester's weekly cotton statement, issued today, shows for the 24 days of April an increase over last year of 89,000 bales and an increase over the same period year before last of 1,000. For the 236 days of the season that have elapsed the aggregate is ahead of the same days last year 238,000 bales and ahead of the same time year be? fore last 6(57,000. The amount brought into sigh?; during the past week has been 111,851 bales, against 83,665 for the same seven days last year and 84, 418 year before last. The movement since September 1 shows receipts at ail United States ports to be 7,306,450 bales, against 7,157,660 last year; overland across the Mississippi, Ohio and Potomac riv? ers to Northern mills and Canada 993, - 951 bales, against 1,031,240 last year; interior stock in excess of those held at tlie close of the commercial year 106,226 bales, against 154,917 last year ; Southern mill takings 1,511, - 500, against 1,346,283 last year. The total movement since Septem? ber 1 is 9,918,127 bales, againts 9,690, 100 last year and 9,251,399 year before last. Foreign exports for the week have been 35,48"! ables, against 100,697 last year, making the total thus far for the season 6,129,420 bales, against 5,828,817 last year. The total taking of American mills, North and South and Canada thus far for the season have been 3,467,769 bales, against 3,301,464. Stocks at the seaboard and the twen? ty-nine leading Southern interior cen I tere have decreased during the week ? 943 bales, against a decrease during ! the corresponding period last season of 59,594. Including stocks left over at ports j and interior towns from the last crop and the number of bales brought into sight thus far for the new crop, the supply to date is 10,133,201 bales, against 10,049,787 for the same period j last year, THE WORLDS' VISIBLE SUPPLY. New Orleans, La, April 24.-Secre? tary Hester's statement of the world's visible supply of cotton, issue today, shows the total visible to be 3,242,301 bales, against 3,343,727 last week and 3,723,598 last year. Of this the total American cotton is 2,061,201 bales, against 2)136.727 last week and 2,605, 598 last year, and of all other kinds, including Egvpt, Brazil, India, etc, 1,181,000 bales, against 1,20S,000 last week and 1,118,000 last year. Of the world's visible supply of cot? ton there is now afloat and held in Great Britain and Continental Europe 1,8S0,000 bales, against 2,030,000 last year; in Egypt 97,000 bales, against 176,900 last year : in India 714,000 bales, against 610,000 last year, and in the United States 551,000 bales, against 908,000 last vear. Mother-4'You say your husband no longer spends his evenings at t??e club?" Daughter-"I soon broke him of that." "How did you manage?" Before going to bed I put two easy chairs close toesther by the parlor fire, and then held a match to a cigar until the room got a faint odor of smoke. "-New York Weekly. Thomas Lawrence, a Pettus County, Missouri, farmer, was knocked twen? ty feet by a train a year ago and es? caped injury. Last August he was struck by lightning and recovered. Five months ago he fell twenty feet from a barn roof and was not hurt. Last week be stumbled over a two months-old ?pup and in falling broke his neck. GERMANY EXPELS THE MORMONS. The Governments of Prussia and the Grand Duchy of Mecklen? burg Decide to Expel the 235 Missionaries. Berlin, April 24.-The Governments of Prussia and of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg have decided to expel the Mormon missionaries, of whom there are one hundred and forty-five in Ger? many and ninety in Prussia, on the ground that they are propagating a form of religious belief incompatible with the laws of the State and public morals* and because polygamy is not excluded from their doctrines. The missionaries, who are all Americans, will be allowed sufficient time to settle up their personal affairs. None of the Mormons have yet been deported. The Government of Prussia d?finies the expulsion as being simply a police measure, for which no explanation need be made. When a Mormon arrived in a Ger? man village he would rent a hall and begin to preach the new faith, and the common result was that the local pastor of the State Church or the Catholic priest of the parish would complain to the police, who not infrequently or? dered the missionary to leave. The latter then would telegraph to the Mor? mon Bishop in Berlin, who through the United States embassy, would ob? tain a suspension of the police order indefinitely or its cancellation. The foreing office, owing to the num? ber of case pending, took up the sub? ject with the view of settling the status of the Mormons for good, instead of being bothered by numerous individual cases. The result has been the decisions of Prussia and Mecklenburg to expel the Mormons, which course is likely to be followed by Saxony, where there are twenty-five missionaries, and by other States. Bavaria some time ago decreed the expulsion of the Mormons and they quietly left, without creating a stir or attracting discussion. Bishop Cannon, who has been in? formed officially of Prussia's and Mecklenburg-s decsions, has not yet determined what to do, but he will endeavor to obtain a reversal, of the policy. He affirms that the missionaries ?ever teach polygamy, never persuade their adherents to emigrate and al? ways admonish obedience to the laws, j 6ATTIS-HL6D CASE. j Probable That it Will be Removed to Another County. Oxford, N C., April 23.- The dam? age suit of Gattis vs. Eilgo was not reached in Granville Court today, and there is a strong probability that it will not be tried at this time or ! in this county. Counsel for defen? dants have prepared an affidavit de? manding the removal of the case to another county, the reason given being that the previous trial and indiscrim? inate newspaper publications have made it impossible to get a jury in the county that could give an impar? tial triai Counsel for the plaintiff have been given the courtesy of ad? vance access to the affidavit, .so that they can prepare their answer and have the whole matter before Judge Allen tomorrow morning. Concensus of opinion is that the case will be re? moved to another county, most prob? ably Person. A large party of witnesses and others interested left Raleigh for Ox? ford this morning to attend the third trial of the case, it having been twice remanded by the Supreme Court to the Granville County Court for new trial. The first trail was before Judge Hoke and the second before Judge Shaw. The suit is by Rev. T. J. Gattis against Dr. John C. Kilgo president, and B. M. Duke, one of the trustees of the college, for $100, - OOO damages, claimed to have been sustained for damage by reason of certain defamatory utterances and publications made by president -and trustes of the college. W. R. Odell; of Concord, was at first made one of the defendants with Kilgo and Duke, and the jury gave a verdict for $20,000 against the three. At the second trial the verdict was for $15,000, the jury finding that Mr. Odell was not liable for any part of the damage. The present new trial was principal? ly allowed because the trial judge al? lowed much testimony to which ex? ception was made by counsel for the I defense to be given and argument made I thereon, and then instructed the jury not to consider it. The supposition | is that the minds of the jurors were necessarily influenced by it. The publications complained of were in 1898, during the noted fight before the trustees of now Chief Justice Wal? ter Clark against Dr. Kilgo, as presi? dent of the college, Rev. Gattis being one of the principal witnesses against Dr. Kilgo. Principal counsel for the defense are ex Judge R. W. Winston, Durham ; T. T. Hicks, Henderson ; F. F. Fuller, Durham, while for the prosecution ex-Judge Graham, Oxford; A. A. Hicks, Oxford ; C. B. Watson, Wins? ton-Salem, and Major Guthril, Dur? ham. Berlin, April 26.-Seven counter? feiters have been arrested in a body at Posen. The men counterfeited varions coins, the coupons of Government bonds and foreign coins, including those of the United States. They are said to have had American connec? tions. Direct inquiry to the Court at Posen for information and details con? cerning this American connection brought the reply that the Court could not answer the inquiry for several days, pending examinatin of the prisi? onera. A certain minister, name unknown j also color and denomination, thus de j scribes eternity: " You will suffrr i for all eternity : Don't you know what j it means ? I'll tell you: If a little ; sparrow would dil) his bill in the At ? iantic ocean take one drop at n time and hop across the country and put that drop in th?' Pacific ocean, and then hop back to the Atlantic, and bop each day after another drop, and if he kept it up until the Atlantic was as dry as a bone, it wouldn't be sun up in hell." Call and get a copy of Pupils Pot? pourri. K. G. Osteen &, Co. NEGRO DISFRANCHISEMENT. Dr. Hadly, President of Yale, Says it Was a Mistake to Al? low Him to Vote After the War. New Haven, Conn, April 21.-Dr. Arthur R. Hadley, president of Yale, tonight said a mistake was made after the civil war in giving to the negro the ballot before he was prepared to use it intelligently. He followed this statement by declaring the suppres? sion of the negro vote inevitable ; but, he added, a mistake equally as great as giving to the negro, unprepared, the franchise, would be to withhold it from him, prepared. Dr. Hadley's address was in the annual Dodge lecture course on "The Responsibilities of Citizenship." His speech topic was "The Government of Self -Restrain t. " He said: "The nergo race was given freedom and the ballot with a rapidity which even the French nation did not paral? lel. A corrupt government followed after the negro was allowed the use of his vote to elect unscrupulous per? sons of his own race dr adventurers from the North. "It was not the fault of the negro. It was the fault of those who gave bim the ballot without previous prepara? tion. The same North did not recog? nize this, at the close of the civil war. They had recognized the dictum that all men are born free and equal. "When the North recognized the condition which prevailed in the South it acquiesced in the suppression of the negro vote. The fact that the negro vote was restricted showed that it was inevitable. I shall not attempt to predict the outcome ; but one thing should be said : "The error of those who said thirty years ago that the negro could be given the ballot before he was prepared for it was no greater than that of those who today think that these rights can be withheld from him after he has deveoiped and is ready for them. -New York Herald. TEMPLE OF PEACE AT HAGUE. Andrew Carnegie's Munificent Gift to The World. Washington, April 25.-Before sail? ing for his home in Scotland yesterday Andrew Carnegie donated $1,500,000 for a temple of peace, for the per? manent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. The gift was made through i Baron Gevers, the minister of the Netherlands at Washington, and was j made with the understanding that the j Government of Holland will be re? sponsible for its administration. In a letter to Baron Gevers Mr. Carnegie says of his gift : "Believe me, your Excellency, this closing act before my departure has given me profound satisfaction. I believe that the creation of the per? manent tribunal for the settlement of international disputes is the most im? portant step forward of world-wide character which has ever been taken by the joint Powers, sinee it must ul? timately banish war, our foulest stain." Acknowledging Mr. Carnegies' let? ter, Baron Gevers says he has cabled the contents to the Dutch foreign office and adds: "Awaiting the answer of my Gov? ernment, it gives me great and intense satisfaction, dear sir, to express to you my personal and sincere admira? tion of the truly humane and noble sentiments which prompted you to show to the world at large in how high an esteem should be held the in? stitution of peace, whose seat, by the common consent of nations, has been placed in the realm of my most gracous sovereign, Queen Wilhelmina. Mr. J. N. Brand Promoted. Mr. J. N. Brand, assistant superin? tendent of transportation of the first division of the Atlantic Coast Line, with headquarters in Wilmington, has been promoted to superintendent of the second division, with headquarters in Savannah. He will have entire con? trol of the transportation department of the former Plant system; which is now a part of the Atlantic Coast Line. Mr. Brand is one of the rising young men connected with the Coast Line. A few months ago he was pro? moted to assistant superintendent, having previously been chief clerk to j Mr. E. Borden, general superinten? dent of transportation. He will leave here May otb. for Savannah, and Mr. W. J. Haylow, whom he relieves there will succeed Mr. Brand at Wilming? ton. While Mr. Brand's friends regret very much his departure from our city, they are gratified that he has teen given a wider field of usefulness. -Wilmintgon Messenger. A negro near Davis Station captured an eagle weighing 18 pounds and measuring 6 feet across his spread wings. The McLeod Drug company of Bi3h opville has applied to the secietary of state for a charter. ? The receipts of cotton at Wilmington since September 1st, 1902, reach 324, - 019 bales. At Charleston, 208,560, or more than 50 per cent, in favor o?r Wilmington. The commissioners appointed recent? ly by Governor Heyward to settle the Lee county disputes has appointed a clerk io go over and arrange the vari? ous claims, and report to Senator Man? ning. As soon as this report is made rhe commission will meet and consider them. It was asserted some time ago that Texas oil would knock out coal^ as fuel, being cheaper and better. Now the Gulf Oil Refining Company, right in the midst of the oil region, at i Beaumont, has made a contract for I 150,000 ton of coal for the next twelve , months, as the oil is too expensive for 1 fuel That seems to settle the (paes : tion of cheapness between oil and coal. Smallpox in a malignant form was so prevalent in Cleveland last year that there were 1,248 cases, with 224 deaths. In August 170 physicians were appointed as public vaccinators, anti t?iey did their work so thoroughly that they vaccinated 195,000 persons at the city's expense. The result was that in the three months following their appointment the disease was practically stamped out. Still there are people who are violently opposed to vaccination. |THE SEIZURE OF MANCHURIA. Statement Sent Out From Wash? ington. RUSSI? BREAKS ?OREEMEKTS. Umte? States. Great Britain and Japan Expected to Unite in a Forcible Protest to China And Russia. * Washington, April 24.-Minister Conger, from Pekin, has cable to Secretary Hay a synopsis of the de? mands made upon China by Russia re? specting control of Manchuria. This account agrees precisely with the full and accurate press report of Russia's last coup from the Chinese Capital. Secretary Hay will take no action in the matter until he has com? municated to tlie President and has learned the latter's wishes. The present impression here is that the Russian action is a distinct breach of faith with the United States. The Russian Government pledged itself three times formally, and the docu? ments are on record, that the*4open door" should be maintained in Man? churia, and that the Russian troops would be withdrawn as soon as peace was restored. Finally the latter promise took the shape of a treaty stipulation. It was provided that the evacuation should take place within three distinct periods. The last Rus? sian soldier should have quit Man? churia on the 8th of this month ac? cording to that treaty. But a plausible explanation for a temporary retention of the remaining Russian troops was offered by Russia in the claim that the country was still disturbed, and that vigorous military methods were neces? sary in the interest of sanitation. Officials declare there is no danger of war with Russia over the incident. The Government of the United States has recorded its ideas of what should be done in Manchuria, and as the result of Secretary Hay's projected conference with the President it is probably that a further remonstrance will be added. But it is anticipated that. Russia will, for the time being at least, allay foreign opposition, or at least that of the United States, by carrying out its pledge as to the "open door." There will be no additional treaty ports in Manchuria if Russia succeeds in this last move. New Ch wang, however, is still a treaty port, and, until Russia makes a furth? er move of applying her customs sys? tem to that port. United States pro? ducts may enter there at the same uni? form rate cf 5 per cent duty as are col? lected in the Southern Chinese ports. The dispatches from Pekin announc? ing the terms which Russia has named to China for the carrying out of the Manchurian agreement were read with deep concern in diplomatic circles today. While the diplomats are not j disposed, for obvious reasons, to pub? licly comment on them, it is epxected that at least the United States, Great Britain and Japan will join ina finn note to the Chinese Government, in? sisting that China do not agree to the conditions which Russia seeks to im? pose. It is rather expected in dip? lomatic quarters that the United States will take the initiative, be? cause of the prompt action taken by Secretary Hay on one other occasion when Russia sought to secure an agreement with China, which was held by this and other Powers to be inimical to their interests. The in? terests of the U^ted States, Great Britain and Japan in Manchuria are such, it is said, to bring those coun? tries closely together in this matter. Another reason which leads at least some of the diplomats to think that the United States will move first in the matter of represenaions to China to withhold acquiescence to the Rus? sian terms is that Russia has made, as one of the conditions precedent to the evacuation of New Ch wang and the two southern provinces of Man? churia, the condition that there shall be no treaty ports in Manchuria where? as the draft of the new commercial treaty between the United States and China provides for the opening of Mukden and Taku-Shan as treaty ports. Count Cassini, the Russian ambas? sador, said concerning the announce? ment in the dispatches from Pekin relative to conditions which Russia has named to China : "I have not yet received official news, and in consequnce cannot dis? cuss the points mentioned in the dis? patches. I can say, generally speak? ing, however, that it is only n.itural that Russia, before evacuating Man? churia, should take measures to pre? vent a repetition of the troubles of 1900, as well as to insure ir that country her political influence, which was never contested, owing to its geographical position." In answer to questions as to bow the proposed terms named in the dispatch from Pekin would affect American trade interests in /Manchuria, the ambassador, repeating that he could not discuss the details of the terms mentioned in the dispatches, since he had not been officially advised of them, said : "The assurances which Russia has given on different occasions relative to the security of American trade interests in Manchuria continue in full force, and could not be otherwise con? strued." HOW FRANCE STANDS. Paris, April 2.-Owing to the ab? sence of Foreign Minister Delcasse foreign officials maintain reserve in the matter of the Russian terms for the evacuation of Manchuria, bout the belief seems to be generally accepted that strong ties existing between France and Russia assure at least sympathetic support of Russia's posi? tion or else silent acquiescence. Big Hauls by Constables. Chief Constable Hammett reports rh at the Columbia squad seized 60 gal? lons of corn whiskey and a horse and wagon Wednesday night. The seizure was made in the streets of Columbia, and the confiscated stuff was the property of W. H. Sellers. Near Cheraw the same night the constables seized 35 gallons of corn whiskey. One hundred gallons in two seizures is pretty good business. WASHINGTON'S BIG SCANDAL I Latest News as to Mrs. Tyner's Abstraction of Papers. Washington, April 25.-The two im? portant developments today in the in? vestigation of the sensational abstrac? tion of papers from the safe of the office of the assistant Attorney General for the postoffic6 department, which led to the dismissal of that official, were the submission of what purported to be the papers to the inspection of the postal officials and the decision cf Postmaster General Payne to im? mediately relieve Acting Assistant At? torney General G. A. C. Christiancy from his office, pending an investigat? ion of his conduct. The action in the case of Mr. Christiancy was taken at his own request. He "states that he courts the fullest investigation. Mr. Christiancy has held the office of assistant Attorney General since January 1, 1903, and has been in charge of th^iegal affairs of the de? partment most of the time since then,, owing to . Gen. Tyner's absence^ caused by ill health. Gen. Tyner's counsel today submitted to Mr. Payne and Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen? eral Bristow papers which, they said, the Tyners claimed constituted all that had been taken away, but a state? ment made later by the Postmaster General, reciting the scnpe of the subject and of the submission of the papers, specifically declines to accept the statement that the papers sub? mitted necessarily constituted all that were abstracted. The New Militia Act. The contention is made that the miltia have no choice as to the accep? tance of the new Militia Act-at least that those organizations have not that have hitherto accepted their share of Federal appropriations. It is our understanding that the Federal Government does not take that view of the matter, but that it is left to the several States to accept or reject the terms of the new Act, they being given until January 1, 1904, to decide. Whatever view, however, the Federal Government may take of the case, ii is certain that Congress cannot change the terms under which men enlisted and bind the men by those changed terms. That would be expost facto legislation, and expost facto legislation is, fortunately, not fashionable in this country, and moreover conflicts with a little document known as the United States Constitution. For, if Congreesi can change the terms under which the men enlisted in one particular, and, bind them thereby, it could' change, them in any and every particular, and it would have been competent for Con? gress to convert the militia into regu? lars for the term of their enlistment, and even to lengthen the term of en ? listment itself. That is clearly beyond the power of Congress. Accordingly we think it may be taken as settled that neither the Federal nor State Government can dragoon the militia as now organized into the ac? ceptance of the new Act. There is one danger, both for the State and the individual militiaman in the acceptance of the terms of this Act, to which we would direct atten? tion. The feature of the bill that may well' give the militiaman pause is to be found in Section 8. This section pro? vides that any officer or enlisted man of the militia. who is Court-martialed shall be tried before a Court composed "of militia officers." But it does not provide that the accused shall be tried before a Court composed of the militia ! officers of his own State. The conse ! quence, therefore, is that any officer or enlisted man in the Virginia militia I is liable to be tried by a Court-martial composed of officers of the Pennsyl? vania, New York or Massachusetts militia. How would an officer or en? listed man of the Virginia miltia enjoy being hauled before a Court-martial of Massachusetts officers for failure to salute some negro officer at one of the annual encampments with the regu? lars, that a beneficent and paternal Government has arranged for in this Act? We particularly commend this contingency to the consideration of some of the militia officers who are so warm in their advocacy of the new law. So much for the risk the individual militiaman takes. Now what of the State? It is conceivable that circumstances might arise in which a militia com? pany or regiment, in a Southern State at least, might refuse to obey an order issued by the President. A similar thing happened in South Carolina when Tillman was Governor. The captain of a militia company tore off bis badge of rank and threw it, with his sword, contemptuously on the ground before the eyes of his men. Suppose an officer and his men should similarly refuse to obey an order of the President in Virginia or any other Southern State. Suppose further that a Court-martial composed of Pennsyl? vania miltia officers was called to try the offenders. Does any sane man be? lieve that the men would submit tame? ly to the jurisdiction of the Court? If not, what would follow? Either regulars or militia from some other State would be sent to arrest the recal? citrant militiamen, with the certain result that bloodshed would follow. Is this contingency remote? Is it likely that, in cause a clash between the races should occur, the white militia would obey an order that would neces? sitate their taking a hand against their own race? We do not believe it, and their refusal to do so Would afford a first-class opportunity for the begin j ning of a conflagration whose begin I nmg is easier to conjecture than irs ? end. j Thc acceptance of the terms of this . new Militia Act by any State is folly, i Its acceptance by any Southern State ' is sheer madness. That the new Act will be accented by the State of Vir? ginia, or by the militiamen, when its terms are understood, we do not for a moment believe.-Norfolk. Va, Ti lot. Columbus, Ohio, April 26.-Fire early today destroyed the Brunsen and Union Clothing Company's buildings at High and Long streets, and several smaller structures and damaged the Nicholas block, entailing an aggregate loss of about 8600,000. Daniel Lewis, captain of engine company No. ll, was caught under a falling wall and in? stantly killed. His body was cremated in the ruins.