man on
o uti) con
ff SB SUMTER WATCHMAN, Kstabliihed April, 1850.
"Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THE TRUE SOUTHRON. Established Jene, J St 6
Cosoiidatecl Aug. 2,1881.
SUMTER. S. C.. WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 30, 1903.
Sew Series-Vol. XXIII. So. 9
Pablisisd ?7917 Wedaesdar,
IM. Gr. 0?"t??23.5
SUMTER, S. C.
V>. . ' "' v ... ....
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IDTISTISEEIKT:
One Square first insertion.$1 00
?very subsequent insertion~. 50
Contracts for.three months, or longer wili
oe made at reduced rates.
All communications which Rabserve private
nterests will be charged for as ad versements,
i Obituaries and tributes of respects will be
Jharged fer.
THE PRESIDENT'S PISTOL.
Mr. Roosevelt Never Goes in Pub?
lic Without li
A New York dispatch to the Wash?
ington Post says: When President
Roosevelt jumped to the wharf at Ellis
Island from the immigration cutter
H. B. Chamberlain this afternoon,
and ran forward to shake hands with
Commissioner General Frank P. Sar?
gent, a gust of wind caught the skirts
of his frock coat and whirled them
against the back of his head.
Those standing behind the President
saw a sight that evoked much com?
ment Sticking out of his right; hand
hip pocket was the handle of a revolv?
er. One of the secret service men
quickly restored the skirts of the
President's coat to their proper place,
but the momentary glimpse of the
spectators had convinced those famil?
iar with such matters that the handle
indicated a weapon of heavy caliber.
Those unfamiliar with the Presi?
dent's custom wondered why he should
go armed when on a commission so
peaceful as an inspection of Ellis Isl?
and. It was explained by one of the
secret service men, however, that tbe
President invariably carries a revolver
when he goes to a public place.
The President has carried a pistol
ever since he took the oath of office,
after the assassination of McKinley.
He has the greatest faith in the abil?
ity of the dozen or more of secret ser?
vice agents who guard him, but prefers
tooee armed himself in case f emer
bgncy. Bis most intimate friends have
kowen of his practice of carrying a
sis-shooter, but some of the secret ser?
vice men looked surprised when they
saw the handle protruding from the
President's pocket today.
A Change of Count/.
Columbia, Sept. 21.-Governor Hey?
ward toady received a petition from
the citizens of Lee and Lake town?
ship, in Williamsburg County, asking
.: for an election to be ordered, so that
they could go over into Florence coun?
ty. The petitioners state that they
wish to become incorporated within
the limite of the county of Florence,
and that the portion that is desired to
be transferred from Williamsburg to
Florence embraces nine square miles.
It is stated that ali of the contsi tu?
torial requirements have been com?
plied with, and as soon as Governor
Hey ward can see if the petitioners
have carried out the requirements of
the law he will order an ? election to
decide if a amjority of the citieaas in
th portion of the county want to be?
come citizens of Florence.
Exempt from Charges.
Columbia, Sept. 21- Answering ar.
inquiry of Dr. S. C. Baker, secretary
of the State medical examiners. Attor?
ney General Gunter states that the
graduates of the Medical College of
the State were exempt from all charges
for their licenses and all charges inci?
dental to these certificates, such as the
payment of fees for recording the
same. The Attorney General steted
in his letter that the statutes were
rather mixed on this question, but his
view of the law is that the graduates
of the Charleston Medical College are
exempt from examination by i:he State
board, and also exempt from the pay?
ment of fees to this board.
Franchise Tax in Georgia.
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 22.-The Atlan?
te Coast Line's franchise tax return
has been more than doubled by the
arbitrators, and the assessment of
the tangible property of the road
stands practically as fixed by the Comp?
troller General of the State.
The return made by the railroad
placed a valuation of $8,096,369 on the
property owned by the railroad in
Georgia. The Comptroller General
refused to accept this return and
assessed the property at $12,913,471.
The question was then given over for
settlement to a a board of arbitration.
The rpeort of the board of arbitration
lias placed the valuation at $?0,649,986.
On April 26, I860, a Maine newspa?
per contained the following notice:
" Freedom notice-For a valuable con?
sideration I have this day relinquish?
ed to my son, Hiram S. Maxim, his
time during his minority. I shall
claim none of his earnings or pay any
debts of his contracting after this date.
Isaac Maxim Witness, D. I). Flynt,
Abbott, April 13, I860." The lad
who was given his liberty is now Sir
Hiram Maxim of London, England,
the inventor of rapid-fire guns and
airships.
What is Life ?
In the last analysis nobody knows, bnt
we do know that it is tinder strict law.
Abase that law even slightly, pain 'result*.
Irregular living means derangement of
the organs, resulting in Constipation,
Headache or Liver trouble. Dr. King's
New Life Pills quickly re-adjusts thi?. It's
gentle, yet thorough. Only 25c at J. F.
W. DeLorme's Drug Store.
SUBSCRIPTION FOR
THE STATE EXHIBIT.
Col. M. V. Richards Suggests Pian
for Representation at St. Louis,
Which Has Governor Hay?
ward's Approval".
Columbia, Sept. 22.-Gov. Hey ward
has recieved a letter from Mr. M. V.
Richards, thb land and industrial
agent of the Southern railway, in ref?
erence to South Carolina's represen?
tation at the worlds* fair in St. Louis
nest ye-r. It will be remembered 'that
not long ago Mr. Richards telegraphed
the governor that as South Carolina
would not be represented, and in or?
der that some plan might be devised
whereby the State's greatness should
bs advertised, he suggesetd that the
bankers of the State raise a fund by
pablic subscription, they being the
medium through which the contribu?
tions would be made.
At the time that the telegram was
recieved the governor replied to Mr.
Richard, saying that while he did not
feel that he was able to undertake the
scheme himself, yet he would take
pleasure in presenting it to the Bank?
ers' association of South Carolina at
their convention in Columbia on Oct.
6 and 7. Mr. Richards* letter, which
follows, gives his estimate of the
amount that the towns and cities of
South Carolina would be able to sub?
scribe and also preesnts suggestions to
the several banks of the State.
Gov. Hey ward, realizing that the
bankers* convention is but two weeks
away, and wishing to give the letter
all the publicity possible, has handed
it to the press, for publication. He
has given the plan his approval and
sincerely hopes that it may be carried
into effect. The governor, as is well
known, is most heartily in favor of a
creditable represenation at the exposi?
tion, and bas already exerted his in?
fluence to further the plau of an ex?
hibit.
Mr. Richards' letter to the governor
states :
"From the press reports I regret
that tile prospects for representation
from South Carolina at the St. Louis
exposition do not seem favorable, and
knowing the public spirit and enter?
prise of your people, and f uUy believ?
ing that they will heartily endorse, and
sustain any effort looking to a proper
representation of the resources of
South Caroiina, I am confident that
if a feasible and reasonable plan is de?
vised much can be accomplished.
"I now confirm my telegram and
supplement it with the following
statements and suggestions, hoping
they will result not only in awakening
an interest in having an exhibit such
as the State can have, but in securing
by popular supscription the funds
necessary.
"On investigation I find that South
Carolina has 135 banking houses
located in the following towns: Abbe?
ville $800; Aiken, 8700; Anderson
SI, 200 ; Bamberg $400 ; Barnwell $300 ;
Batesburg $200; Beaufort $900; Bel?
ton $600; Bennettsv-ille $400; Bishop
viUe $250 ; Blacksburg $250 ; Branch?
ville, $250; Branson $100; Camden
$500; Charleston $4,000; Cheraw$250;
Cehster$800; Clinton $400; Clio $100;
Columbia $2,000; Conway $250; Dar
lineton $800; Denmark'- $100; Dillon
$200; Due West $100; Easley $200;
Edgefield $300; Florence $1,000; Fort
Mill $300;: Fountain Inn $200; Gaff?
ney $800 ; Georgetown $800: Granite
vilie$350; Greenville $l,00Q; Green?
wood $6C0; Greers $100; Hampton
$100; Heath Springs $100; Honea Path
$100 ; Johnston $200 ; Jonesville $100;
Kershaw $150; Kingstree $150; Lake
City $100; Lancaster $300; Latta $100;
Laurens $900; Lexiangton $150; Lib?
erty $100; McCoU $700: McCormick
S10O; Manning $300; Marion $350;
Mayesville $100; Mullins $150, Ninety
six $100, Newberry $1,000; Orange
burg $1,000 Pelzer $1,000; Pendleton
$100; Pickens $100: Prosperity $100:
Ridgeway $100; Rock Hill $6,000;
Seneca $200; Spartan burg $1,500: St.
George $100; St Matthews $150;
Summerton $100; Summerville $500;
Sumter $1,000; Timmonsville $150;
Union $1,000; Varaville $100; Wal?
halla $300 ; Waiterboro 300 : Westmin?
ister $150; Williamston $200; Winns
boro $300; Woodruff $150: Yorkville
$400.
"I believe if these banks named will
take an active interest and make'an
honest endeavor to secure the amounts,
which are based on the population, set
opposite the name of the place it
would be a comparatively easy matter
to raise a fund of $35,000.
"While it may appear at first sight
that the amounts allotted to several
towns are large, yet in these cases it i
will be readily seen that the towns are
large banking centres and represent a
much larger constituency than the
smaller banks of the State. I belive
that a thorough canvass should be
made by each banker of his district so
that when the State Bankers' conven?
tion meets every man would be thor?
oughly familiar with the subject when
it comes up and will be ready to say
that his bank has raised the necessary
amount. The bankers will have no
difficulty in securing the cooperation
of the business men's associations,
real estate agents and others in the
movement.
"There will be no question in the
minds of thefsubscribers as to the ex?
penditure of the money collectled or
pledged as the bankers throughout !
the State are interested in the further
development of the State sufficiently
to reasonably expect that they will
give this matter such attention as it
requires.
"The question as to how this money
will be expended should not arise
here. The thing to do is, first, to raise
the money and there will then be no
dicffiulty in arranging a tasty and
proper exhibit.
"I have talked with a large number !
of the people of South Carolina, and
without exception, all are of the opin?
ion thal: the State should be represent?
ed, and I am convinced that one way
to secure an exhibit is to properly
\
present the matter of popular sub?
scription to the masses and afford
them an opportunity to back up their
opinion with money.
"I remember years ago a northern
city decided to erect a building at a
cost of 8202,000 for exhibition pur?
poses. This was a large sum of money
for a small city, but by active and
earnest work the matter was taken in
hand and by popular subscription, to
which the ministers, bankers, bakers,
butchers, storekeepers, clerks, ser?
vants, hucksters, draymen, and all,
subscribed their mite, so that in short
time the building was an accomplish?
ed fact.
"I am sure the citizens of South
Carolina can and will do the same if
the opportunity is presented.
"South Carolina has had for years
prosperity and the prospects for future
developments were never brighter than
now. It is acknowledged by all that
South Carolina wants and invites
?apitial and labor and nothing can do
more to interest both of these in the
resources of the State than a proper
representation made by an exhibit.
"Many of the southern States will
be well represented and there would
be much disappointment if South
Carolina is not."
CURTIS JETT TO BE HANGED.
The Verdict of the Jury in the
Kentucky Feud Case at Cyn
thiana.
Cynthiana, Ky., Sept. 22.-After
a trail lasting eight days, the jury in
the case of Curtis Jett, charged with
the murder of Town Marshal Thomas
Cockrill, at Jackson, Ky., July 21,
1902, this evening, rendered a verdict
of guilty and fixed the punishment at
death.
" Tlie death sentence was then read
to Jett by Clerk T. J. Robinson,
after which Jett was given over to the
custody of the deputy sheriffs.
Col. Blanton, Jetts lawyer, will file a
motion for a new trial tomorrow morn?
ing, and if the motion is overruled he
will apeal the case to the Court of
Appeals at Frankfort, Ky
This has been the second trial of
Curtis Jett on the charge of murder.
In the first trial for the murder of J.
B. Marcum, Jett and Thomas White,
were sentnced to life imprisonment.
GINNED COTTON OF NEW CROP.
Washington, Sept. 22.-A census re?
port on the quantity of cotton ginned
in the United States as from the
growth of 1903 up to and including
August 31 gives the following figures:
Total commercial bales, 17,587, in?
cluding 16,991 square bales, 570 round
bales of upland crop and 26 bales of
sea island crop. The total gins in ope?
ration numbered 2,176.
. These statistics were collected
through a canvass of the 32,625 gin?
neries of the cotton States by 631 local
special agents. Only 2,176 ginneries
had begun operations up to September
1, and these had ' ginned but 17,587
commercial bales, or bales as pressed
at the ginneries, equivalent to 137,02
bales, counting round bales- as half
bales. This report will be followed*
by four others for this season showing
the quantity ginned respectively to
October 18, November 18, December
13, and a final report, which will give
the quantity ginned from the growth
ofl90a The statistics by States fol?
low:
Alabama, ginneries in operation
243, total commercial bales 3,314, in?
cluding 1,218 square bales and 96
round bales, upland crop; Arkansas,
12 ginneries, total commercial bales
17, all square bales ; Florida, 60 gin?
neries, total commercial bales 582, in?
cluding 56 square bales, upland crop,
and 21 sea island : Georiga, 460 gin?
neries, total commercial bales 6,283,
including, 922 square bales, 356 round
bales and five bales sea island; Indian
Territory, 3 ginneries, total bales 4,
all square; Louisiana, 117 ginneries,
total commercial bales 448, comprising
443 square bales and 5 round, Mississip?
pi, 141 gimiereis, total commercial
bales 384, all square ; North Carolina,
35 ginneries, total commercial bales
112, all square; South Carolina, 254
ginneries, total commercial bales 1,
681, all square; Tennessee, 1 ginnery,
total commercial, 1 square bale; Texas,
850 ginneries, toal commercial bales
6,761, comprising 6,648 square bales
and 113 round bales,. Kansas, Ken?
tucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and. Vir?
ginia, no ginneries in operation.
Sir William Willcocks, the well
known British expert on irrigation
and late director general of the irriga?
tion works in Egypt, now proposes to
restore Chaldea to its ancient produc?
tiveness and glory by means of irriga?
tion. The Tigris river bears much
the same relation to Chaldea that the
Nile does to Egypt and might be made
now as it undoubtedly was in ancient
times, the great resource of the coun?
try. Bagdad lies about 500 miles up
the Tigris, and from it to the Persian
gulf spreads a desolate barren country
which was one of the most fertile dis?
tricts in the East. At Opis, on the
banks of the Tigris, once the wealth?
iest mart of the East, are the ruins of
the mouth of the great Nahrwan canal,
which fertilized an area of 4,600
square miles. The Tigris was gradu?
ally diverted from its old bed, the
mouth of the canal silted up and the
country became a desert. It would re?
quire an outlay of $40,000,000 to re?
claim about 1,250,000 acres of the best
of this land, which would, according
to Sir William Willcocks, produce a
rental of $19,200,000.
Bucklers Arnica Salve
Has world-wide fame for marvellous
cures. It surpasses any other salve, lotion,
ointment or balm for Cuts, Corns, Burns,
Boils, Sores, Felons, Ulcers, Tetter, Salt
Rheam, Fever Sores, Chapped Hands,
Skin Eruptions ; infallible for Piles. Cure
guaranteed. Only 25c at J. F. W, De
Lorme's Druggist.
MARKET THE CROP SLOWLY.
Take Advantage of the Cotton
Situation and Protect Your
Own Interests.
Hon. Harrie Jordan, of Georgia,
president of the Southern Cotton
Growers' Protective Association, has
issued the following address to the
farmers of the cotton growing States :
The cotton producers of the South
have long wished to realize good prices
for their staple, and the opportune
time has now arrived if proper judg?
ment is exercised in marketing the
present maturing crop. To make a
success of any business, a thorough
knowledge of every department con?
nected with it, and a judicious exer?
cise of sound judgment must be dis?
played. We have now reached the stage
in the world's production and use of
cotton where the laws of supply and
demand can be fixed and regulated
upon a legitimate basis. We are no
longer faced with an enormous sur?
plus as was the case each year until
quite recently, giving the mills and
the speculators an opportunity to de?
press prices by claiming the existence
of heavy stocks on hand.
Since the organization of the South?
ern Cotton Growers' association in
1900, strong efforts have been put for?
ward each year by the members and
officers of the association in each State
looking to the adoption of more syste?
matic and businesslike methods in
selling the crop. The rapidity with
which the great staple crop of the
South has been rushed on the market
in past years has been ruinous to the
producers. An enormous oversupply
has been created during a short period
of time when no legitimate demand
has existed. In the early fall spinners
have been in the habit of buying sup?
plies to last for 30 and . 60 days only,
after which they retire from the mar?
ket and the producers are then left in
the hands of speculators who continue
to buy up the crop, making contracts
with mills for future deliveries as the
staple may be needed for actual con?
sumption. To force . the sale of a
twelve months' supply of any commod?
ity within the short space of three or
four months will necessarily place the
seller at a great disadvantage in the
market.
The great object and purpose of our
association has been to, first, place
into active operation a scheme by
which correct and reliable statistics
could be gathered regarding the yield
of each year's crop, and put that in?
formation into the hands of the pro?
ducers, manufacturers, and the legiti?
mate trade as rapidly and as early in
the season as possible. This is now
being perfected through the co-opera?
tion of the United States census and
agricultural department at Washing
ton, by the reports of ginners on the
one hand, and the reports of fully 90. -
000 active correspondents through the
other. It may safely be predicted now
that the time is near at hand when
commercial reports, often gotten up
for selfish purposes, will become a
thing of the past, and will exercise
but little or no influence upon the
crop from the standpoint of a statisti?
cal report commanding serious consid?
eration.
Our second great aim, equally im?
portant as the first, is to edacate the
producers upon the high importance
of moving the crop slowly. To market
one-tenth of the crop each month, in?
stead of one-fourth as has been the
rule in the past. If the growers of
cotton will co-operate to break up the
present bad system by which nearly
one-fourth of our cotton crop is con?
tracted for . in October deliveries,
a giant stride in the right direction
will have been gained. The legitimate
market for spot cotton can be and is
easily glutted as with any other farm
product. Two important essentials are
necessary to a solution of this prob?
lem ; make our fall accounts due in
October, one-third, January, one
third, and the balance April 1st the
following year, then begin to raise
more supplies at home and cut the
strong band of the supply merchant
which dictates the sale of most of the
crop as fast as gathered.
This season the producers occupy
the strongest position in the regula?
tion of prices for the crop which will
soon be ready for market. S applies
for the raw staple nave been more
completely exhausted within the past
year than at any time within the past
four decades. T3ie present high prices
for spot cotton is due to a scarcity of
raw cotton, and a denial of this fact
cannot be unloaded on the shoulders
of the Brown, Sully "bull" clique.
The mills have shut down because
they cannot find in th3 market such
grades as are fit for spinning purposes.
Stocks are exhausted and the active
operation of spindles ion this -country
and in Europe can only be undertaken
after the present crop begins to move
to market. This fact is clearly empha?
sized by the activity of mills ia push?
ing their orders for new cotton at
this time. This state of affairs could
not exist if the mills were shut down
simply because the present prices were
higher than usual. These reports are
being sent broadcast over the county
at this time to depress prices and
to enable the mills to get their sup?
plies at greatly reduced prices.
Aside from the exhaustion of sup?
plies, which can be designated better
as a cotton famine, the condition of
the present growing crop is not such
now as to forecast any hope in the
minds of any one that a much larger
yield will be made this year than last.
The boll weevil, according to advices
just received, are doing great damage
to the crop in 81 counties through the
middle and southern portions of Texas,
while the boll worm is ravaging the
crop in northern Texas. East of the
Mississippi rust and shedding is seri?
ously affecting the plants in all of the
old States. Just what would result
from a crop already three weeks late
by the visit of an early frost it is hard
to predict. These are matters which
must to a greater or less extent figure
in the future of the crop. Certainly
there is no sound argument in farmers
forcing their cotton on the market
rapidly during the next two months
unless present prices should prevail.
If a heavy rush of the staple is made
on the markets prices will at once be?
gin to sag, and the strong present
position of the producers greatly
weakened.
There are no debts due in Septem?
ber, and hence no necessity for rapid
marketing during that month. In
October if prices should go down ma?
terially farmers can store their cot?
ton, or part of it, and get assistance
from their local banks to meeting ma?
turing obligations if their merchants
are unable to back them up in this
fight for fair and better prices than
have heretofore prevailed. Our cotton
is worth ten cents per pound every
year, and it should net that amount
to each producer. "When supplies are
exhausted and the prices of cotton
goods are advancing, even higher
prices should rule. The old argument
that farmers should be content with
eight cent cotton is swindle and a de?
lusion.
Every farmer who by the sweat of
his brow produces this great staple is
fully entitled to and should receive
every cent that his cotton is fairly
worth according to its legitimate
value. If all the producers in each of
the 750 cotton producing counties in
the South would get together as did
the farmers of Troup County, this
State, on August 22 and pass strong
resolutions not to sacrifice their cotton
this year by early marketing at re?
duced prices, and then stand by those
resolution, Southern cotton producers
would once again begin to get on their
feet, and a new era of prosperity be?
gin to dawn all over the South in
every line of business.
As the official head of our Inter?
state association I call upon and urge
upon every prouducer all over the
South to take a firm stand for the
maintenance of high prices this sea?
son When the market begins to sag
check receipts at once. Sell the crop
slowly, and furnish the mills with
such supplies as are needed for spin?
ning purposes, and do not by usual
methods give to them and the specu?
lators of the country the whip handle
of the situation. We hold upon< our
farms today the key note to the situa?
tion. The staple is yet in ou,r posses?
sion, it is wanted by millions of spin?
dles in all parts of the world, and is
demanded by yet greater millions for
clothing among the inhabitants of
every civilized nation on the globe.
Consumption of cotton has outstrip?
ped production, and a knowledge of
this fact should maintain prices at a
high level until conditions change,
which are not likely to come to pass
for many years, if ever again. The
South possesses a monopoly of this
great staple, and while 'millions have
been made out of it by others after it
left the hands of the producers, the
latter may now get their reward by
handling this season's crop in accord?
ance with the condition surrounding
it. Let there be called meetings of
farmers in every county, let there be
prompt and decisive action taken, let
a miilimum price of not less than 10
cents per pound be fixed in every local
market, and then be steadfast with
one another and get rid of the yoke
which has for half .a century bowed
Southern cotton producers under t'.ie
domination of gamblers, speculators
and foreign spinnners.
Harvie Jordari.
President Southern Cotton Growers'
Prvotective Association."
The Riots in Gomel, Russia.
Gomel, Government of Mohiley,
Russia, Monday, Sept. 21.-The As?
sociated Press corespondent has made
an investigation on the spot of the
"Pogrom," as the Russians describe
the Anti-Semite riots which occurred
here on September ll, and were re?
newed for several days. The riots
were smaller, but perhaps more re?
markable, than those which took place
at Kishineff, because the police and
military openly sided with the plun?
derers and murderers, the "Pogrom
shiks," as the Russians call them.
The troops, suported by many educat?
ed and well-to-do Christians, formed a
movable shield, behind which the
"Pogromsihks" ruthlessly demolished
the Jewish homes and shops and
cruelly clubbed such Jews as fell into
their hands, leisurely proceeding from
street to street and district to district
as they did so.
The commerce and industry of
Gomel, which is considerable, is
largely in the hands of the Jewish
populaton, numbering 26,000. Few of
the residents and wealthy, but none
are paupers. The Jewish artisans in?
cline to socialism.
Clemson Contract Awarded.
Columbia, Sept. 22.-The building
committee for the agricultural build?
ing at Clemson College, consisting of
Senator B. R. Tillman, J. E. Tindal
and W. D. Evans, met here today at
the offices of Walter & Edwards to
award the contract for the new build?
ing.
. The contract was awarded to Mr.
Henry C. Morrison, of Augusta, Ga.,
for $50,000. The building is to be
completed and turned over to the Col?
lege authorities by August 1, 1904.
This will be one of the most modern
and complete college buildings in the
South. It is to be a two-story brick
and granite building, with a base?
ment, containing fuorteen class rooms,
a modern veterinary operating room,
museum and gymnasium. The plans
were drawn by Messrs. Walter & Ed?
wards, of this city.
Rydales Elixir.
The new scientific discovery for diseases
of the throat and lungs, acts upon a new
principle differing greatly from the old
style Cough Medicines which are compos?
ed chiefly of wild cherry and tar, which do
little more than stimulate the lining of the
throat and Inags. Rydales Elixir strikes i
at the root of the trouble, it kills the mi- i
crobes that cause throat and lung diseases, i i
It removes the cause and hastens recovery .' i
by helping nature restore the diseased or-1 I
gans to health For sale by all dealers. j <
? EOW?BO T?KES il HAN
Exorcises His Bight to Select His
Cabinet.
He is Using His Prerogative to an
Extent Never Dreamed of in
the Victorian Era.
London, Sept. 23.-The political
crisis has taken on a phase which
lends to the present situation a his?
torical and constitutional importance
of almost unprecedented interest. The
king has interferred not ucnonstitu
ti?nally of bej-ond the powers vest?
ed in the crown, but in the exercise
of his prerogative to an extent never
dreamed of in the Victorian era.
Premier Balfour's continued pres?
ence at Balmoral has given rise to much
surmise and comment, bnt the Asso?
ciated Press is unable to state defi?
nitely that it is due to the king's de?
termination not to assent to the for?
mation of a new cabinet until thor?
oughly satisfied that its personnel and
combination are such as to ensure the
efficient carrying on of the affairs of
the empire pending the resumption of
parliament. For years previous cabi?
nets were formed and ministerial va?
cancies filled with the mere formal
presentation to the sovereign of the
names of the new ministers. King
Edward has done away with this tra?
dition. He has spent the last few
days in constant discussion with Mr.
Balfour as to the advisability from the
point of view of the national welfare
of the latter's suggested appointments.
Ministers now holding office and those
nominated for office have been sum?
moned to Balmoral to join in these
conferences.
To such an extent is King Edward
holding his power of veto in reserve
that now he is almost regarded by the
inner circles as more the cabinet
maker than Mr. Balfour himself.
Though with his usual tact the king
has refrained from expressing any po?
litical views or infringing the initia?
tive belonging to the ministers, this
has not prevented him from expressing
his genuine desire, amounting almost
to a command, that steps should be
taken to remedy the scandals in the
army administration revealed by the
report of the South African war com?
mission and insisting that the new
cabinet shall be one adapted to deal
with that question.
King Edward has not shared the
keen public indignation against Lord
Lansdowne, aroused by the report of
the South African war commission,
and after a minute examination of
the circumstances he is understood to
have consented to his lordship con?
tinuing as foreign minister. The de?
cision has not prevented his majesty
from frankly telling the ministers
that he wanted something done to im?
prove the military muddle and that
he hoped some man would be appoint?
ed who, with the commission's report
as a basis, would be capable of chang?
ing the system which rendered ineffi?
ciency unavoidable.
The question of having some gener?
al, notably Lord Kitchener, as head of
the war office has been keenly discuss?
ed at Balmoral between the king and
the ministers, but the Associated
Press understands that the consensus
of opinion was that such an appoint?
ment would be interpreted as a modi?
fied form of military dictatorship which
the public would never sanction.
The Greenville Verdict.
The Anderson Daily Mail comments
as follows upon the verdict of a Green?
ville jury:
' 'Every time we attempt to make a
compromise with justice we make a
mistake. The verdict in the Gunnells
case in Greenville was a woeful mis?
take. If the man is insane he should
have been sent to the State hospital
in Columbia without the conviction
under a criminal charge hanging over
him. If he is not insane he should
have been given a straight conviction
and sentenced to be hanged without
delay. There is no reason or justice
in a compromise verdict."
The principle laid down by our con?
temporary is correct, but the facts do
not justify the conclusion reached.
There was no compromise in the Gun?
nells case, but a strict adherence to
the law and the evidence. The pris?
oner was convicted upon the second
count in the indictment, because there
was no testimony upon which to bring
in a veridct of guilty on the first
count. Our neighbor did not have ac?
curate information upon which to
form a judgment, and hence its reflec?
tion upon the jury that tried Gunnells
is unjust and unwise, which we are
sure it will be glad, to withdraw.
Greenville Mountaineer
Steel Plants May be Closed!
Pittsburg, Sept. 23.- The United*
States Steel Coroporation may close
all its sheet plants in the near "future
unless the Amalgamated Association
will agree to a reduction under the
same plan as was agreed upon last faE
The reason for this attitude is an over?
stocked market and the dullness of
trade at this time of year. Last year
the Amalgamated Association accept?
ed a redcution of 3 per cent, on all
material made for foreign orders, and
the Steel Company, it is stated, in?
tends to make a similar reauest this
year. President T. J. Shaffer, of the
Amalgamated, stated that he felt sure
that the limit would not be changed,,
and that existing conditions do not
warrant; it.
Elliott's Emulsified Oil Lini?
ment
Is the best Liniment on the market for
ase in the family or on animals. It is very
soothing, very penetrating, relieves quickly
ind heals in an incredibly short time. Try
it you will not be disappointed. Large
bottle. Price, 22 cents. For sale bv all
lealers.