?k W&m?wM at? Soatfoim
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1907.
The Sumter Watchman was founded in
5 850 and the True ScnUhron in 1866. The
Watchman and Southron now bas the com?
bined circulation and influence of both of
the o?d papers, and is manifestly the best
advertising; medium in Sumter.
IMPORTANT NOTICE.
Subscribers are requested to ex?
amine the label on their papers,
which show the date to which the
subscription has been paid. Those
-who find that they are in arrears are
requested to call and settle or remit
ai the earliest convenient date. The
amount that each subscriber owes is
email, but in the aggregate the
amount due us for subscription is
ijuite large-and we need the money.
The sentiment in favor of repealing
fthe lien law seems to be gaining
?i?rength and in the course of time the
?Legislature may be persuaded to rid
the State of a law that has outlived
its usefulness to the farmers. ?
m m m
It is stated that cotton exchange,
operators in this State will hold a con?
ference in Columbia in the near fu?
ture to devise ways and means to
prevent the passage of the proposed
anti-bucket shop law. Their efforts
will probably be fruitless since there
is strong antagonism in all sections
<xf the State to the business.
* . ?
There are less than twelve thousand
?tato mo biles in New York State, at
lieast there are less than that number
registered. There are a greater num?
ber of machine in use in Sumter, in
proportion to population, than in New
York State. We don't know exact?
ly what this fact may indicate, wheth?
er it shows that our people have more
money for luxuries than the average
Kew Yorker or that they have more j
sporting blood. We have an idea that i
i
Tom Jenkins' persistent advertising of j
. automobiles had a good deal to do I
do with making Sumter the automo- !
fcile town of the country. Now that
be has Charleston on his string and |
has annexed The News and Courier
and all its staff to his advertising bu?
reau, we anticipate there will be al?
most as many machines in Charleston
hy the end of the year as there are in
Sumter. There is nothing like good j
advertising and Tom Jenkins has the j
art. He is not afraid to spend money
for regular space, but aside from this j
he knows how to make the automo?
bile business so interesting that it gets j
into the news and editorial columns j
In preferred positions. It requires ]
.something akin to genius or hypno
tism to do this, and Tom Jenkins has
4one it time and again.
. ? *
t
"Tom Watson's new magazine
.Watson's Jeffersonian Magazine"- \
which is published in Atlanta, has j
made its appearance. The first num?
ber is interesting and readable from
start to finish. Tom Watson is one
of the notables^pf America, .md he
always has something to say, and
says it in a way to attract notice and
provoke thought.
Tf the legislature should abolish
the State dispensary and permit the
establishment of county dispensaries,
a proviso should be inserted in the act
forbidding county dispensaries to ship
liquor into other counties.
q A LIBEL LAW NEEDED. \
South Carolina Has None at Ail Now
-Depends Upon Common Law and
the Latter Leaves Newspapers No
Defense Whatever..
_ j
I
Columbia, Jan. 4.-Among the
many vital matters which will be
brought before the next legislature is
that of the passage of a suitable libel
law. There is now no adequate libel
law in this State, all cases involving
libelous publication going back to the
common iiaw, which permits of no
defense on the part of the publisher.
The lack of proper libel laws puts
the newspapers of South Carolina at
a great disadvantage, and the pub?
lishers are satisfied that it was never
Intended that the newspapers should
thus be placed at the mercy of "dam?
age suit lawyers." On that account,
the State Press association, through a
committee headed by Col. August
Kohn, of this city, is undertaking to
get a law passed that will in no way
he unfair or severe on the public or
upon anyone who might be unjustly
injured by a newspaper publication.
AH that is sought is to have the
statute upon the matter so drawn
that if a newspaper should, by acci?
dent, maire an error, it may make
s.mple apology and remedy the wrong,
without subjecting itself to suit for
other th tan actual damages. The bill
.vhich has been drafted by the com?
mittee gives the public every ad?
vantage.
The newspaoers want nothing more
than a square deal, an dthe members
cf the committee having the matt T
in charge are approaching the mcm
The committee is composed of Col.
fTe committee is composed of Col.
August Kohn and Messrs. Elbert K.
Aull, R. R. Hemphill, J. M. Peurifoy
and Wm. E. Gonzales.
?t is to no advantage of a newspa?
per sued for libel, under the present
law, to show that the publication al?
leged to have been libelous was true;
that fact may be pleaded only in
mitigation of damages, and its ef?
fectiveness will depend upon tho
whim of the jury. Since al' newspa?
pers are dependent principally uj.^n
h.?ar.tay for their information, ?h:-y
ar** peculiarly liable to mak>| eir-.?is
which, under the present law, may
cost the publishers an amount of
money in damages that is entirely
out of proportion to the wrong done,
and probably takes no account what?
ever of the lack of malicious intent.
Afternoon newspapers, in the nature
of things, are particularly exposed to
the attacks of damage suit sharks,
the time gi-, en them for verification
of reports received being so short that
the newswriters must necessarily
take at its face value any "story"
brought to them by an apparently re?
sponsible person. The proposed bill
of the State Press association, as
agreed upon after consultation be?
tween the committee and leading as?
sociation members, reads as follows: i
"Be itenacted by the general as?
sembly of the State of South Carolina:
"Section 1. That from and after j
the approval of this act, the defendant ;
in actions of libel or slander may in?
troduce in testimony In mitigation -e? i
damage that the publication or !
charge was made by mistake or
through inadvertance, and that he
has retracted the charge or offered to
make correction before the com?
mencement of action by publishing, if
a daily paper, on the first page, in
all other papers on editorial page,
an apology verbally in the presence
of witnesses, when the accusation was
verbal or written, and had offered to
certify the same in writing; and be?
fore any action for libel shall be
brought for the recovery of damages
on account of the publication of an
article in any newspaper, the aggriev?
ed party shall, at least five days be?
fore commencing action, serve no?
tice in writing on the publisher or
publishers of said newspaper, at their
principal office of publication, if
within the State, specifying the state?
ments of said article which are al?
leged to be false and defamatory? and
if it shall appear in the trial of said
action that said article was published
in good faith, that its falsity was due
to mistake or misapprehension, and
that a correction or retraction of any
false or incorrect statement therein
was published in the first or second
regular issue of said newspaper, if a
daily paper On the first page, in all
other papers on editorial page, after
receipt of said notice and request, in
case of a weekly or semi-weekly
newspaper, or within five (5) days
after service of said notice, and re?
quest in said newspaper with "prom
inent head lines, then and in said
event recovery of nothing more than
actual damage shall be allowed."
THE WOXJAMSOS PLAN.
j The Formula Which May Revolution?
ize Agriculture in South Carolina
I and Put Wealth in Pockets of
Farmers.
The State has published freyuently
the formulai for the Williamson
pian or the way devised by Mr. E.
Mciver Williamson, of Darlington, to
make five tars of corn grow where but
one grew before. The formula as
given heretofore has been a little
long. The following has been prepar?
ed by Mr. James Henry Rice, Jr., as
the most concise form in which it can
be given:
Break land in winter one-fourth
deeper than common* lay off in six
foot rows, leaving five-inch balk.
When time to plant break out balk
with scooter, following in same fur?
row, on this ridge. Ridge then with
same plow, going deeper; run corn
planter with Dixie plow, with wing
taken off. Plant as early as possible,
usually about middle of March. Drop
corn grains every five or six inches.
Use no fertilizer. Give first working
with harrow or any plow that will
not cover plants. Second working
with 10 or 12-inch sweep -on both
sides of plant. Thin after this work?
ing.
Corn should not be worked again
until sufficiently stunted, so that, it
will never grow large. When it is
about 10 to 12 inches high put on fer?
tilizer. Mix 200 pounds cotton seed
meal, 200 pounds acid phosphate, 400
pounds kainit. Put half in old sweep
furrow, on both sides of every other
middle. Cover by breaking out mid?
dle with turn plow. One week later
treat the other middle in the same
way, fertilizer and all. In a few
days side corn in first middle with
16-inch sweep. Put all your nitrate
of soda in this furrow, if less than
150 pounds is used; if more, put
half. Cover with one furrow or turn
plow, then sow peas in middle broad?
cast, at rate of a bushel to the acre,
and finish breaking out. Lay by ear?
ly. More corn is ruined by late plow?
ing than by lack of plowing. Xo hoe?
ing is necessary and middle may be
kept clean until time to break out by
harrowing.
For 50 bushels to the acre leave
stalks 16 inches apart; for 75 bush?
els, 12 inches; tor 100 bushels. S
inches apart.
Do not pull fodder; do not cut
tops; let peas and peavines die on
land. Value in fertilizer to land is
worth more than forage.-The State.
Northern "Animus'' Eliminated.
No northern newspaper ever ar?
raigned and condemned a southern
lynching as effectively as, or more
severely than, has the committee of At?
lanta's leading business men in its
report on the recent massacre in that
city.
The first point made by the com?
mittee is that the killing of twelve ne?
groes, there was no justice, even of
the "wild" variety. Those, whom the
report calls "the toughs who have
crucified Atlanta in the eyes of the
world" made no attempt whatever to
find the negroes guilty, or even sus?
pected, of the crimes that were the
nominal excuses fer a general butche
ery. Instead they took those who
could be most quickly and convenient?
ly found, and these, naturally, were
negroes of the best sort, quietly work?
ing at respectable trades in the cen?
tre of the city.
"Among the victims of the mob,"
we read, "was not a single vagrant.
The victims were earning wages in
useful work up to the time of the
loriot. They were supporting them?
selves and their families or dependent
relatives. Most of the dead left small
children and widows, mothers, or sis?
ters with practically no means and J
very small earning capacity. About
70 persons were wounded. Many of
these, are disfigured or permanently
disabled."
The second point made in the re?
port is that the killings were as use?
less as they were wicked-had no de?
terring or frightening effect on the
really vicious class of negroes, for
their assaults and robberies have con?
tinued as before. Why should they
not, since no criminal has been pun?
ished? "It is clear," say the members
of the committee, "that several hun?
dred murderers or would-be murder?
ers are at large in this community.'
Well, it certainly does look so, and
the natural conclusion from these
facts is that something rather serious
should be done in vindication of At?
lanta's claim to civilization.-New
York Times.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
RICHARD S. WHALEY ELECTED
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.
-
I There Were Three Candidates and
Two Ballots Were Required-Mr.
J. W. Nash;'Withdrew After Eirst
Ballot-Whaley Won. by a Narrow
Margin-No Business Transacted
First Day.
Columbia, Jan. 8.-Practically all
that was accomplished in the house
today was the election of officers and
the drawing for seats. The reading of
the governor's message was postpon?
ed until tomorrow by the house, al?
though it was read in the senate.
Mr. Gary Presides.
The gallery and floor were crowded
when Mr. Thomas C. Hamer, acting
clerk, rapped for order at noon and
asked fer the election of a temporary
chairman. Mr. John G. Richards, Jr.,
nominated Mr. Frank B. Gary of Ab?
beville. Mr. Gary was unanimously
elected and on taking *:he chair or?
dered the calling of the roll. Messrs.
Courtenay of Aiken, Doar of George?
town and Gauze of Williamsburg were
absent.
Contrary to general expectation but
two ballots were held for speaker
when the house of representatives
met yesterday at noon. On the first
ballot the voting was for Messrs.
Richard S. Whaley of Charleston, D.
D. McColl, Jr., of Bennettsville and
J. W. Nash of Spartanburg. On the
result of the vote being announced
and there not being a necessary ma?
jority to elect, the name of Mr. Nash
was' withdrawn and Mr. Whaley was
elected by a vote of 64 to 55.
Mr. Fraser seconded the nomina?
tion of Mr. Whaley and voted for
him on both ballots. Dr. Dick and
Mr. Stubbs voted for Mr. McColl.
The other officers elected were:
Clerk-Thomas C. Hamer, Jr., of
Bennttsville.
Reading Clerk-John S. Withers of
Chester. j
Sergeant-at-arms-John S. Wilson
of Lancaster.
Chaplain-Rev. R. X. Pratt of Co?
lumbia.
A part of this time was spent in
discussion over the adoption of the
rules for the session and it took the
house 15 minutes to decide whether
or not the election of a chaplain
should be postponed.
The Senate.
There was little of particular inter?
est in the opening of the State senate,
except for the introduction and ad op?
tion of the ready-made committees.
These committee assignments were
made up at a caucus Monday evening.
Senator C. L. Blease was elected
president pro tem of the senate. Gen.
ii. R. He mphil], clerk; Mr. W. H.
Stewart, reading clerk, and Col. J. F.
Schumpert, sergeant at arms, a capa?
ble and efficient trio were reelected
without opposition. The Rev. A. X.
Brimson, pastor of the Main St
Methodist church, was elected cl
I
lain over Rev. J. P. Knox, pasto
the Associated Reform Presbyte
'church, by one vote.
Everybody was sworn in inclu?
! all the new senators, and even
doorkeeper. There was some den
I rer entered when the question
swearing in the chaplain came up,
he got a chance to make the oath
Mr. M. M. Mann of Florence was
j pointed assistant clerk. Mr. J.
I McGhee of Greenwood bill clerk
Mr. G. E. Moore of Honea Path
nal clerk, and Mr. W. Eugene C
secretary to the president
In the election for president
tem, Senators Otts and Sinkler as
to be excused from voting, saying t
would spread their reasons on
face of the journal. It was un(
stood that they objected to the eau
plan of selection, not only in this
stance, but in the case of the cc
mittees also. Senators Bass and 1
bert also asked to be excused fr
voting, but gave no reasons publi
When the list oi committees "\
sent up,Senator Stackhouse asked
suspension of rule 19, and all
chairmen were elected at the sa
time.
The usual formalities of send
messages to the house and the g
ernor were gone throi;gh with t
the governor's message was a
read.
The Committees.
Agriculture - James Stackhot
chairman; P. L. Hardin, C. H. C
pen ter, G. J. Holli day, J. H. Broo
D. F. Efird, J. D. Bivens, Francis
! Weston, Dan T. McKeithan, Geci
W. Sullivan, Ben F. Townsend,
W. Haynes.
j Education-T. M. Raysor, cha
j man ; Niels Christensen, W. H. We]
H. B. Carlisle, G. H. Bates, George
j Holliday, Huger Sinkler, Louis App<
W. X. Graydon, George J. Holliday.
; Claims and Grievances-H. B. Ct
lisle, chairman; J. S. Brice, T. G. T?
bert, J. D. Bivens, G. L. Toole, Geor
W. Sullivan, J. C. Otts, J. S. Griff
B. W. Crouch. ?
Enrolled Bills-Louis Appeit ,cha:
man; George J. Holliday, W. J. Joh
son, J. C. Otts, B. Frank Kelley, 1
R. Hough, B. W. Crouch, W. L. Bai
Contingent Accounts-C. H. Ca
penter, chairman; F. P. McGowan, '.
F. Efird, B. W. Crouch, L. Baf
W. S. Smith, T. I. Rogers, George 3
Laney.
Finance-W. L. Maul din, chai
man; George J. Holliday, J. S. Bric
James Stackhouse, P. L. Hardi
Xiels Christensen, W. J. Johnso
Francis H. Weston, Dan T. McKeitl
an*, George W. Sullivan, D. F. Efin
G. L. Toole.
Dispensary-D. F. Efird, chairmai
James Stackhouse, P. L. Hardin, (
L. Blease, G. H. Bates, J. B. Black, .
C. Otts.
Penal and Charitable Institutions
J. H. Brooks, chairman; George I
Laney, R. w. Haynes, J. S. Griffin, \\
L. Bass.
Commerce and Manufactures
L. Hardin, chairman; C. H. Carpen
ter, George J. Holliday, W. L. Maul
din, G. H. Bates, J. B. Black, T. G
Talbert, J. S. Brice, H. B. Carlisle
Huger Singler, George W. Sullivan, 1
Yancey Williams.
County Offices and County Officer
-J. D. Bivens, chairman; LeGrand G
Walker, James Stackhouse, T. G. Tal
bert, J. B. Earle, F. P. McGowan.
Engrossed Bills-T. G. Talbert
chairman; J. D. Bivens, J. B. Earle
George K.' Laney, W. R. Hough, G
L. Toole, R. W. Haynes.
Federal Relations-C. L. Blease
chairman; J. S. Brice, C. H. Carpen
ter, J. C. Otts, Ben F. Townsend, T. I
Rogers W. X. Gradon.
Immigration - Xiels Christensen
George J. Holliday James Stack
house, P. L. Hardin, H. B. Car?
lisle, Ben F. Townsend, T. Yancey
Williams.
Incorporations-W. H. Wells, chair?
man; George J. Holliday, J. S. Brice,
j James Stackhouse, C. L. Blease, W
? J. Johnson, G. H. Bates, T. L Rogers,
?W. S. Smith, T. Yancey Williams, J.
S. Griffin, Ben F. Townsend.
Penitentiary-J. R. Earle, chair?
man; George J. Holliday, P. L. Har?
din, T. M. Raysor, J. D. Bivens, W. L.
Bass, J. H. Clifton.
Judiciary-LeGrand G. Walker,
chairman; T. M. Raysor, F. P. Mc?
Gowan, H. B. Carlisle, G. H. Bates,
W. H. WTells, J. R. Earle, W. X. Gray?
don, T. Yancey Williams, Huger Sink?
ler, R. W. Haynes, J. C. Otts.
Privileges and Elections-G. H.
Bates, chairman; James Stackhouse,
C. L. Blease, J. H. Clifton, B. Frank
Kelley. T. I. Rogers, Francis H. Wes?
ton, George K. Laney, W. L. Bass.
Medical Affairs-J. B. Black, chair?
man; J. H. Brooks, W. L. Mauldin,
J. S. Brice, C. L. Blease, Ben F.
Townsend, T. G. Talbert.
Public Lards-F. P. McGowan,
chairman; P. L. Hardin, T. M. Ray?
sor. D. F. Efird, J. D. Bivens.
) Retrenchment-W. J. Johnson,
chairman; George J. Holilday, T. I.
Rogers, Francis H. Weston, George
K. Laney.
Rules-W. L. Mauldin, chairman;
T. M. Raysor, G. H. Bates, C. L.
Blease, J. H. Clifton, Huger Sinkler,
W. R. Hough.
Roads. Bridges and Ferries
George J. Holliday, chairman; C. H.
Carpenter, J. EC Brooks, J. D. Bivens,
Dan T. McKeithan, W. L. Bass, W. R.
Hough.
Legislative Library-W. X. Gray?
don, chairman; P. L. Hardin, C. I*
Blease, W. S. Smith, B. W. Crouch,
Louis Appelt, B. Frank Kelley.
Military-W. J. Johnson, chair?
man; J. H. Brooks, C. L. ^Blease,
Xiels Christensen, George J. Holliday,
B. Frank Kelley, J. H. Clifton, W. S.
Smith.
Mines and Mining-J. D. Bivens,
chairman; LeGrand G. Walker, J. R.
Earle, J. B. Black, Huger Sinkler,
George W. Sullivan.
Printing-Niels Christensen, chair?
man; J. R. Earle, D. F. Efird, Louis
Appelt, J. S. Griffin, Dan T. Mc?
Keithan.
Public Buildings-J. H. Brooks,
chairman; C. H. Carpenter, T. M. j
Raysor, Francis H. Weston, T. L I
Rogers.
Railroad and Internal Improve?
ments-J. S. Brice, chairman; T. M.
Raysor, P. L. Hardin, W. L. Mauldin,
W. H. Wells, H. B. Carlisle, Niels
Christensen, George J. Holliday, J. H.
Clifton, G. L. Toole, Huger Sinkler,
B. Frank Kelley.
Mr. John J. Ansel, the eldest broth?
er of Governor-elect Ansel, died in
Walhalla Saturday.
DaOy Market Report.
By Private Wire to the Sumter Cot?
ton Exchange.
NEW YORK COTTON.
Jan. ?
March
May
July
Aug.
Oct.
Spots
Open
9 59
9 79
988
9 95
999
9 81
10.90;
High
9 70
994
10 06
10 12
10CO
9 88
5 up,
Low
9 53
9 70
9 82
9 90
999
9 77
Close.
966
990
10 03
10 ll
10 00
988
There is no item of expense connected with the making of a
crop that is of greater importance to farmers than that of fer?
tilizers. It seems practically a waste of time and energy to at
! tempt the planting of a crop without their use. In good years
they pay handsomely, hut with unfavorable seasons, the results
are very disappointing. . The year just closed was one of the
most disastrous that this immediate section has ever experi
enced. Fertilizers were used liberally, yes we might say,
extravagantly. The sellers were probably as much to blame
as the consumers We were all more or less inflated as the re?
sult of two or three years of good business, and were anxious
to spread our wings; they have been clipped. We have been
taught; a lesson, a very expensive one, and let us hope a profit?
able one.
! The conditions make it necessary that in 1907 we shall have
to practice economy. Banks will not be in a position to ex
tend the liberal accommodations, which they have so cheerfully
done in the last few years, and merchants' resources will be
limited accordingly. We do not know whether it is economy
to curtail to a great extent the use of fertilizers or not, every
farmer will have to exercise his own judgment as to this. Our
observation lias been that those who use fertilizers with a rea?
sonable degree of liberality and apply them intelligently, makes
the best showing at the end of the year. Many customers come
to our office, not knowing what to buy, and want us to make
suggestions. This shows a lack of intelligence on their part.
Every farme r ought to know what is best suited to his soil, it is
his duty to make a study of it, otherwise he is throwing his
money away, lt sometimes happens that a certain grade of
fertilizer will give excellent results on one field, whereas on
another portion of the same plantation it would be practically
worthless. We never make suggestions as to the best fertil?
izers to use, it is not our business, we do not know, but we try
to give people what they want, and if the results are not satis?
factory, they have only themselves to blame.
We are handling the same brand of acid and ammoniated
goods that we have been selling for the past ten years, and
based upon their analysis, we feel perfectly safe in saying that
Iii bk Gui ire
Our kainit, muriate of potash and nitrate of*
soda we import direct.
Holiday Presents
Let us talk to you about the Christmas and
New Year gifts, which you are going to pur?
chase in the next few days. Below are some of
the useful and beautiful articles, which we
have to offer :
Chocolate Sets and Tea Sets heavily plated,
Chafing .Dishes and Serving Dishes.
f Rogers' plated,
< Pearl handled,
Table Knives and Forks ( Ivory "
Opal
Celluloid "
Stag.
Carvers in great variety. Beautiful and
guaranteed.
Gillette \
Zin Automatic ( Safety Razors.
Enders Dollar j
The Durant Hardware Co.
Specially Fine Cabbage Plants.
I have some plants left over from my own setting, the same kind that I set for my
own trucking. I buy the best seeds obtainable on the market. I have two early varieties
Early Jersey Wakefield and Charleston Wakefield. In season we follow these closely
with Succession and Late Drumhead. Prices in thousand lots $1.50, 5000 and over
$1.25, 10,000 and over $1.00. We have only a limited quantity of very selected stock.
We crate them and deliver them to the Southern Express Co. and at very low Express
rates. Send orders early before our stock is gone. _
W. F. CARR.
Dec 33 sm Box 81 Meggetts, S. C.