Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?V7MTKR WATCHMAN. Grasolidated kmg. 2.1881. Cbt ?-?atrbinan anl> Sovtbron i mi tmil PUBLISHING COMPANY. ?tarm, sl c ?1.1? aar ua??-la edrenoe. raara Srat insertion.fi.tt aaiMtaiat taaartloa.IS raata far three month*, or will ha made at reduce* rate*. .tloaa whiah eub wUl ha charged aad trljutee of %m ha laaeaad for. %m APPEALS TO FARMERS ARK CROEJD TO HOLD COT TOM FOR IlfTKEN CENTS. Thai Those Who Sell are Prwtaas Vrom SIS to ? the Spiymhuore whh Each an Frlc* Not Justl I Columbia. Sep.. 17.?The* fight for IS eeats cotton find* Its most ardent aad most active exponent In Mr. E. V Smith, the Held agent of the Bouth ?m Cotton Association. Mr. Smith (feat today la the eity. after a day or wk* at his home in Sumter county. 4}d wae area at the office of the eeso Allna la the NMtonal Loan and E* sfrsnge Baak Ballding. J'After a trip through the West." d Mr. Smith. I find on my return merooa requ?ste from . different rts of the state asking me to urge ? people to hold their cotton from I market until the price set by the nhem Cotton Aasodation and the "mere* Union Is reached. If there ever wae a time when thf iditlone were clear aad unmistaka -without there being any compll llons. it Is nor. It Is a clear case 0% pure speculation against real con? tain ens. To put the case as It Is no Chat any one may see what tribute we are paylpl to gamblers because we ?fc aot organise) to WtthstVrtd them, the facta are th *se; The mills have sold their outputs for months ahead on a basis of II cents per pound; the demand for goods at these price? in? creasing; the price of the manufac? tured article actually advancing; the supply of cotton in sight; the present crop unquestionably short, probably two mfltIon balen less than last year; the demand for cotton for the current year far In escetw of the nupply; the condition of the crop steadily deteri? orating; the mil * running full time, eager for cotton; no alarming condi? tion* In the money market; no com? plications at home or abroad particu? larly, with the spinners thirty days ago buying cotton cheerfully and profitably at It and 14 1-tc per pound. Yet in the face of all these favorable conditions the price ha* dropped from 1 1-1 to t cents per pound. Why? Because a few specu? lators, who neither grow nor spin cotton, pleas* to have It so. The ques? tion is squarely np to the South., the whole* South, the merchant, banker., farmer, lawyer, doctor, preacher and laborer In any and every vocation, av oeatlou or profession, whether they will tamely submit to this outrage, whether they will allow these gentry to eaact a toll from us. at their plea* are of from |10 to ttl per bale, or whether they will put their price on their property and refuse to accept any other. The only answer to give this absurd decline Is to refuse to take the prices offered. "In the West they are making a brave stand. They are complaining bitterly that the Atlantic States are aot standing for the price agreed up? on. How true this Is. I am not able to say. Let every man In South Car? olina, who has cotton to sell drop r.e ? postal card saying how many bales h ? has and how many he will hold. I will ocmpile the number and give it to the public, so that we may know what to depend upon. If we would absolutely refuse to sell a bale of cot? ton now. stop receipt?. then the re i< - tion would be Immediate. "The only possible way to remedy thl* outrageous condition is to refuse to submit to it "With present condition! warrant? ing lie. cotton, ?rhnnwlidsjsfl by all parties to be .vrth ir.e . if the people put it on the mark? t ?t present i?rie.?<*. then we acknowledge that aetth I the Isw of supply and demand, tie- cofidt* Mas of trsde and finance, or th i of production ha\> anything t-? d with the price or value of cott-.n, hut simply the eaarte* of ? few million* alre gambler * Sureh we nrv p-iy|ug dearly f-?r th. privilege of ?>? Inic dis? organised, for ?. lag wtthoul ware tjous"*, without organist i capital t > hold our cotton. "Can not each community meet at and device meant, where there Ished April, ISM. ?He Just ai SUN are none, to help each other to hold cotton? It will take organized co? operation to accomplish our purpose. "Every bale sold at present prices means a gift of $15 to $20 per bale to the gambling bunch to enable them to take a like or a greater amount from the next bale. 'Ex-Oov. D. C. Heyward, who Is president of a warehouse company In this State, Informed me this morning that he was doing all in hia power to secure funds and to provide ware? house facilities for the farmers in this emergency; so that all parties in? terested can communicate with ex Go v. Hey ward In reference to the matter." sir. Smith added that If the pro? posed ?>lsn of cotton banks were now In effect, the situation could be con? trolled by the farmer and the weak cotton kept off the market. Under present conditions, cotton, on which Hens have been given, Is forced Into the ha/ids of the buyer as soon as ginned. "Then there la another thing " said Mr. Smith. "The cotton that waa sold rn March, April and May la now be? ing used to accomplish the purposes [of the speculators. Why, in some sections of this State farmers sold thslr cotton for 11 and 12 cents be fore It was planted and ttsgf are now compelled to deliver It no matter what Is the market price, or the fu? ture prospect."?News and Courier. ? *i i ? ? ? LESS COTTON GINNED THAN LAST YEAR. 1.4S?.265 Rales Ginned Against 2, 0&7,28? Same Date Last Year?Two Thousand GlnneeU.'* Did Not Ite Put Washington. ?e:. 2.--The census hureu today ami' hoc 1 I.i3u..'ti5 bales of cotton ginned from the growth of 1907, to September 25th as compared with 2.057,233 bales of the corresponding date last year. The total number of active ginner? ies reporting was 18,307, as compared with 20,416.. The bureau adds that about two thousand ginneries were not h'iard from on account of the tel r lesrrapn strike. Crop Condition. Washington, Oct. 2.?The crop re? porting board of the agricultural de gh partment todav reported that the av? erage condition tt cotton to S?pt. 25th was 67.7 per cent. AFTER THE NORTHWESTERN. Editor the Dally Item: The cltlsens of this community feel somewhat encouraged after reading In your columns the improvements begun In Sumter by the Northwestern Railroad. We all with one accord second the motion and hope that It is the intention of those In authority to move on up the line when the of? fices, 4tc, in Sumter are finished. As Dalsell Is the next station with a depot, we feel somewhat elated. Your correspondent Is not so well posted on the railroad law as to what Is required of a railroad "under forty miles in length." Possibly they are allowed to do as they please. There la a general complaint here in regard to our depot and passenger accommo? dations. We have a freight ware? house (which is too small), an agent's office, express office, baggage room and v siting room all combined. There Is one other room, slightly damaged by fire now, that haa never been used. There has never been any seats, stove or lights in it since the road was built. We have never noticed the sign "for rent" on the door. During the summer months, passengers sit on the steps coca cola crates, cross ties, trunks, etc. In the winter, they crowd Into the office and all sit on the agent's desk?, that can, and the rest stand up. A bulletin board would be of little use only to passengers going to Surnt'-r. for we have nine miles of straight track and can look and see when the train Is coming. Unfortu? nately we have to wait for the whistle when going south for we cannot see but a mile and a half. The merchants complain a great deal about the condition t-i which freight arrive* h?>re. Scarcely a ship? ment from Sumter arrives here with? out being damaged or something xhort. Th-* Northwestern break* the rcc# ord In the way of maintaining sched - nie*. Our morning mall has arrived here but ones on time in two rears and one month. It 1? always from 16 minutes t<? tw?? hours late. There Is much complaint iboul tn?- mall on the ii. v. i? ax 'ii" morning mall ar? rives too late for the carrier t'? g< t ' ?? M-k for the ev< nlnp mall. a petition n\;im gotten up nearly <> year .o*-? and unanimously signed and Ifnrwsrded t ? th?? raiir"a,i authorities, but nothing has been gone. I Th??s#? nr<- fhots and I think worthy of ei,n^i< ? rstlon. "Maud." Dal/ell. s C, H\ pt. If, HOT, id Fear not? Let all the ends Thou All [TER. S. P., WEDNE TILLMAN OMHMSSUEs" THINKS IT IMPORTANT TO COM? BAT FEDERAL USURPATION. I State Rights are Saered?Corpora? tion.-, Must be Curbed Without Fed? eral Interference*?Republicans As? sume Inconsistent Attitude?Won't be Bamboozled. From the Houston Post. New York, Sept. 23.?A dispatch published in the American from San Francisco says: Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, after visiting thirty States since the adjournment of congress and meeting thousands of people, gives his observations on the vital questions of the hour and the Issues that will pre? dominate in the coining campaign. He does not discuss candidates nor politicians, because, he says, he does not know anything about what they are doing in the way of political com? binations and tickets. He says: "The one significant transaction ov fact that has come to the front since the adjournment of congress last March is the apparent clash or threat? ened clash between State and nation? al authority In the effort to control corporations and railroads. "Secretary Root, who has been con? sidered the brain of the administration (and to a large degree its mouth? piece), whose Intellectual grasp of things is recognized by people who know him, declared in substance in his new York speech that the people of this country would see. to It that the reforms and protection demanded In dealing with trusts and railroads are granted, that the national govern? ment would be called upon to act if the States do not move to correct the evils. "Immediately there came strong protests from high Republican sources against the tendency to centralize power in the administration. Justice Harlan, of the Supremo Court, utter? ed a vigorous protest, and more re? cently Samuel McCall, of Massachu? setts, one of the big Republicans of the House of Representatives, pro? nounced against the Root doctrine. Took Root ut His Word. "But the striking fact that followed the statement by Root was that the Legislatures In the Middle West and some of the Southern States set about doing Just what Root said they must do to preserve tbelr own powers and authority Intact. "Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, North Caro? lina and Alabama passed 2-cent fare bills and some took othev prompt ac? tion in the direction of regulating charges for freight and passenger transportation. Oov. Hughes vetoed the New York bill. The Pennsylvania Railroad, which owns Pennsylvania, set about annulling (he 2-cent fare bill In that State. Corporations ol other States feel grateful. "In North Carolina and Alabama, however, United States Circuit Judge Pritchard and District Judge Jone? issued sweeping Injunctions restrain? ing the State officials from enforcing the laws. "The situation In Alabama is not as Interesting as In North Carolina Judge Pritchard went further in usur? pation of power than the Roosovell administration seemed willing to fol? low him. This judge undertook, b\ decree, to annul a statute of Xort'.i Carolina by requiring the railroads tf attach a coupon to every ticket rep? resenting the difference between lh< old and the new rate and which tht passenger was to hold till litigation determined whether the law was val? id, when It would be redeemed If tht courts sustained It. "The constitutionality of the law was not attacked. It could not be at? tacked except upon the plea of con t flscatlon. Southern Was Brought I nder. "Gov. Glenn caused the arrest ol railroad officials. Including President | Finley, of the Southern, and Judgt Prltchard's interference set them free, j Hut when Finley was arrested and the governor disregarded the federal [court, the Southern Hallway decided ; to obey the law and litigate after ' ward. I "While the matter was in the pub? lic mind, tin- plutocratic prdss i ? n '(.( with editorials and cartoon), 'ill Intended to direct the attention d th<- people to tin- ghost of State rights, which we were told, was shol t death In 1861 t?. 1 B66. ??The country was led to suppose that North Cnrloinn and Qov. Glenn were attempting a rovlvul of tin- old ante-bellum doctrine, in truth, these organs of Morgan. Harrlmnn, Rocke? feller et al have attempted to mls l. a 1 the 1.pie and bolster up the Root Idea "f national authority upon absolutely false grounds. "When Judges Pritchard and .1 ???? -?fan i up and proclaim in thundering t >n. s, 'We .ii" the Nation; we have ns t at be thy Country's, Thy God's an 1SDAY. OCTOBER 2. the power and authority to protect vested rights and the State shall not i destroy the property of the railroads,' they waive their arms frantically and the ghost of Calhoun is conjured from under the bed, and they bid it begone. "People who have eyes and who have examined this affair closely, saw looking over the judges' shoulders the grinning faces of the railroad mag* nates and the judges are mere man nlkins, obeying the orders of their former employers. ? People Won't be Bamboozled. "The American people never will be bamboozled and deceived by fake appealt to the national spirit, invok? ed to protect-the Harriman-Morgan Rockefeller gang in their efforts to compel producers of the country to pay tribute to them and dividends on watered stock. "The usurpations of power by the federal judiciary and the absolute sub? serviency by many federal judges In ihe Interests of the trusts and the ne? cessity for congressional action in clearly defining and laying down the jurisdiction and power of federal courts will attract more attention than the great question of regulating trusts themselves. "Judicial usurpation and trust abuses are correlative questions. The two are Interlocked and one hinges on the pther, as President Roosevelt u cent|y recognlred when he made 'he issue in 1904 and 1905 that the. rail? road rate fixed by the commission should i?o into effect immediately and stick there till reversed by the courts. "Of oourse, we all know he sur? rendered on this important point, and that Aldrich came off victorious. This bit of legislative history turns the light, on the striking fact that in North Carolina the attempt was made to do just what the president declared all railroads ought to b( compelled to do. But the federal court butted in and said they could not do it, but they did. Hoot Idea a Vital lisne. "The Root Idea of centralization will be tho vital issue in the next prestylentip.1 campaign. The Root ldea'vvill be pressed by the Republi? cans and Roosevelt; the Democrats will, naturally and Inevitably, take the other side. "This nation must speak through congress and define the powers tft federal courts that are clutching States and everything else by the throats. "The real and proper method ot government control and regulation af trusts is the other important question which must be determined in the next campaign. "Whenever our people giv-j up lo? cal self-government we shall lose the substance of liberty and nothing but the shadow will be left. When Slates are hampered by federal interference when the people are harassed ani plundered by corporations, we must look ahead and steer away from dis? aster." gameIock city praised. COMPTROLLER GENERAL JONES SAYS SOME NICE THINGS. New Ctmrt House Better Than State Capitol in Many Respects?County Ofllces in Good Shape Considering Heavy Expenditures. Mr. A. W. Jones, comptroller gen? eral of the State, who is here today on business, said some very compli i mentary things nbout Sumter's new Court House and her county officials this morning. This praise was entire? ly unsolicited, as the comptroller gen oral was talking to an Item represent? ative on an entirely different matter. "You ndghjt say in your paper," said Mr. Jones, "that I found Nthe county offices which I have examined to be in a very much better condition than would be expected after the heavy expenses that the county has been put to within the past year." "Your new Court House is the handsomest in the State, and one of the most convenient buildings I have ; seen anywhere. Why, it is even bet i t? r than the State House in Columbia, j My office there has only one window ' and there are six clerks to get light ' from that window. Your Court House ha* ample light ami ventilation and room and is certainly a handsome edflce." Tin- above coming from a man in public lite who travels all over the State, can be counted on as no men flattt i v, ami the people of $umt< r count> mny feel ^l?l prouder of their "temple of justice." ?. The carnival for the Baseball \>-<o clatlon M ill lie hi Id <>ct. 14 to 19. Tin? Jones Carnival Company, which has been i ngaged t this occasion, was In Washington, X. C, last week md The Messenger of that place gives It some very flattering notices. d Truth'*." THE TRU 1907. New S< EXCESSIVE EXPRESS CHARGES HOG AN & SON APPEAL TO RAIL? ROAD COMMISSION. Southern Express Company Has In? creased Rate from Augusta to Suni ter on Fresh Meats Nearly One Hundred Per Cent. Hogan A Son have filed complaint With the State railroad commission on account of a sudden and unexpected increase in the rate on fresh meats, which went into effect Monday, with? out previous notice. vTor years the rate on meats shipped from Augusta to Sumter has been 60 cents per hun? dred pounds. Monday Messrs. Hogan & Son were required to pay $10.45 on a shipment of 950 pounds of beef and were notified that hereafter a rate of $1.10 per hundred pounds would be effective. There was nothing for them to do but pay the rate demand? ed, for they needed the meat and had to have it regardless of the express. They were not satisfied, however, to pay almost double the express freight they have been paying for years with? out question, and, not being able to obtain a satisfactory explanation of the increased rate from Agent Dorn, beyond the statement that he had no? tice to make the Augusta-Sumter rate $1.10 per hundred instead of 60 cents, they called up Chairman Caughman of the State railroad commission and laid the facts before him. They ask? ed that the commission investigate the matter and, if possible, take some action looking to an abatement of the excessive rat?. Chairman Caugh? man informed Mr. Hogan that as the rate was an interstate business the State railroad commis ion had no au? thority to interfere in the matter, but h<i would endeavor to use the good offices of the commission to secure an abatement of .the rate. This morning Mr. Hogan received the following letters from Commissioner Caughman, from which it will be seen that he taker the view that the rate is excessive and should be reduced: Columbia, S. C, Oct. 1. 1907. Mr. Eng?- e Hogan, Sumter, S. C. Dear Sir: We are in receipt of yours of the 30th ultimo, In which you en? close expense bill of express charges on moats from Augusta, Ga., to Sum? ter. S. C. You will see from the enclosed copy of letter to Superintendent Sadler, that this being in interstate matter, it Is rather dilncult for us to adjust same, unless we can convince the Southern Express Company that this Is an excessive charge and all South Carolinians will be sufferers there? from. At any rate, we hope to do something for you and will let you hear further from us on hearing from Mr. Sadler. There is no question, in the opinion of the commission that this is an excessive charge and* we propose to handle the same to the very best Interest of our citizens. Mr. O. M. Sadler, Supt., Southern Ex? press Co., Charlotte, N. C. Dear Sir: We are today in receipt of a letter from Mr. Eugene Hogan of Sumter, S. C, in which he states that he was notified on yesterday that the express charges on beef or meats from Augusta, Ga., to Sumter, S. Cm have been raised from 60 cents per hundred to $1.10 per hundred. We realize that this is an interstate matter, but at the same time, the citizens of South Carolina are the sufferers from this excessive raise in expresi rates, and we shall thank you to handle this matter at once and ad? vise us if there is not some mistake in your agent at Sumter, S. C, notify? ing the consumers of this raise. You can appreciate the fact that we are to look after the Interests of our South Carolina citizens, and trust you will see that they are not Imposed upon. Yours very truly, B. L. Caughman, Chairman. T.VIT'S VISIT TO JAPAN. Tendered a Royal Reception There ami Much Gratified by His Wel? come Tokio, Oct. 2.?Secretary Taft is de? voting himself to Japanese royalty to? day. H'^ entertainment at the Impe? rial Palace equals in magnificence any i ver tendered a visiting prince, tie <!.iy'-- programme Including an early visit to the O-Kura museum, an au? dience with the emperor, breakfast at the Imperial Pnlac? *tnd an Interview with tli crown prince. Tafl ind, party Ii ave Tokio for Kyoto tonight. The secretary was much gratified at his recptlon and believes the rela? tions betwe? n ids own and the Mika? do's countries will be much pleasant er from now on. Yours very truly, B. C. Caughman, Chairman. October 1, 1907. E SOUTHRON, Established June, ISM Bries?Yol. XXYII. No 10 IS SPIVENS INNOCENT? PUBLIC OPINION APPEARS TO BE IN HIS FAVOR. A Case Of Stranger In a Strange Land ? Testimony At Trial Vaa, Ciivumstantiul And Not Complete? After Discovered 1 v'denoc. The article in yesterday's Item In? regard to the case of George Spl\e.ns? who is In jail here awaiting; an appeal from the supreme court* caused not a little comment and many were heard to express their belief In the prisoner's innocence. The public is familiar with the details of the case of George Splvens, an employe of Cole Brotheres' circus, who was con* viceted of the murder of Ted Galllard nearly a year ago, and of the negro* ' Jack McCoomer, who is held on tho same charge. There Is no need ot reciting the details of the case. After the article appeared in* yea* terday's issue with the letters of two circus attaches, a representative of the Item called at the county jalK Thanks to r.he courtesy of the jailor. Mr. Hodge, he was permitted to en? ter the room where Mr. Spivens waa confined and had a long talk with him. He appeared very grateful for the publication of the letters of tha circus men and said he knew them welf. Winslow was a clown and low was a contortionist with the show at the time of the killing. Mr. spiv? ens said he would most assuredly have had these men at the trial, but he no idea they would be needed, as ho had no thought other than he woulct be acquitted at once on the testimony which he understood would be pro* duced by the State. However, theta men will appear at the next trial, It the supreme court sees, fit to grant an,*, other trial. It is a case of a stranger in a str?ng?? land with no chance to help himself,. The public generally is antagonistic* show people, anyhow, and such is tho fate of this urifortunate man today. All that is said in regard to Splven/a. case may be said of Jack McCoomets even if he is a colored man. The Jury in this case was out from Friday un? til Tuesday, which goes to shaw that grave doubts must have existed in their minds as to the guilt of the de* fendants. It is said, and on good au? thority, that the jury stood seven for conviction and five for acquittal ant> that the verdict was a compromise* one. The Jury could not haw been, more evenly divided on the case. A number of people have interested themselves in the case and spoken of attempting to get a pardon for Splv? ens, but he said yesterday afternoon that he wanted another trial and fce felt" that he would come free. Hhe circus people have been supplying these two unfortunate men with money from time to time, and are preparing to help them if another, trial is granted. % There can 'be no denying the fact that public opinion is in favor of'Spiv ens. and that the people generally* would like to see him acquitted. A pathetic side to this ca?e is the fact that Spivens has a mother, 7% yetars of age, living in Indiana, an<J he does not want her or any of hla family, to know that he is languishing in Jail for fear that it n ay prove in? jurious to her health as he Is, the youngest son. He does not appear to be a man of desperate character at all and easily enlists the sympathy of all visitors to the jail. It is to be hoped that justice will triumph in the end and that Spivena will yet get a satisfactory hearing. COUNTY BOARD PREPARING FOR HOLIDAY TRADE. The county dispensary board at ita last meeting purchased the supply of whiskey and beer necessary to run the three dispensaries for the rest of this year. This will include the holi? day trade and the amount of the ptU> chase is somewhat larger than u>*u?t on this account. The total bill \\m come In the neighborhood of $32.(KVV The class of goods purchased tlV^ eludes all grades of liquors, nrtejeai I gins, cocktails, cordials, malt and tvetj? 'The usual brands wer.- bought and the trade distributed about as u^ual among the hading whiskey houses ! and distill* \ ies. There iv about I2S.OO0 worth v\r stock on hand at the three dispense. ! ries. two |n this city and one in IIa) MK vllle. The hulk of the stock purchaxs led will be placed at the whiskey &gt? I pensary In this city as tin Mayetrrtlta dispensary carries only between 18,* coo and $6,000 worth of stock at a time. The business at th comity ?m*? shops has been Yel > good this f*f| and a good profit has been real ? | About 58 per cent, profit has beer, nette,l. Rverythlng is running in iy I \ satisfactory manner at j^^u.