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WtOntSOAY, DECEMBER 23. 1908. The Sumter Watchman was found ad la tit* aad the True Southron In lift. The Watchman and Southron aow aae the combined circulation and Influence of both of the old papers, and la manifestly the best advertising medium la Sumter. Merry Christmas. ? ? ? And a Happy New Tear. ? e e For more than fifty years the Watchmen has extended the compli? ments of the season to the people of Sumter aad the habit, while confirm? ed. Is aene the less sincere, tag The Semmote Securities scandal has done to Seutsern Insurance companes what the New York Insurance scandal did to the Northern companies and more tee. ? 0 # a There Is something wrong with the law or the enforcement of it. There are too many questionable failures of corporation* and Arms, mercantile and otherwise, of which the assets do not approximate the liabilities, see It Is evident that the liquor ques? tion will once again occupy the great? er part ef th< time and attention of the Legislatur*?. The uncompromising prohibition!*** and the politicians who think that State-wide prohibition is the band wagon, have formed a coali? tion to jam wich a measure through the Legislature and, the com? bination stands to win. The prohibi? tion sentiment has gained strength steadily for several years, and, having become the dominant political factor in fully one hall' the counties of the State, all the political camp-followers and office-seekers have attached them solves to the movement to the end that they may seise all the spoils of cfflce In the event of a prohlbtlon vic? tory. It la becoming the popular an ' proper thing to be a prohibitionist In this year of grace. Just as It was prop? er end popular?politically?to be an uncompromising dlspensarylte back In the II?'*, When it was akin to trea? son to criticise the dispensary, even when the criticism was uttered by those who recoganlsed the good fea? tures of the system and would have purged and purified it, the camp-fol? lowers aad office-seekers were the most vociferous defenders of the great moral 'restitution, graft-laden and po? litically corrupt its it was. The oro hlbltlon movement ha* attracted the ?aump-follower* and the movement bids fare to triumph politically, but we have great doubts of Its moral vic? tory: we fear that morals, as well as good sense, will be over-shadowered by politico and tie ultimate effects of th* > ? lltloe-prohthitlon movement that In now la full owing will be more harmful than beneficial to the State And ' ? 'he moral tone of society, e e e Senator Nells Chiistlensen, of Beau? fort, who was the brains of the com? mittee that Investigated and over? threw the State dispensary and Inci? dentally forced Mr. J. Fr?ser Lyons Into prominence and thereby made ?^ilm attorney general, has made sev? eral contributions to the current dis? cussion of the advisability of a State? wide prohibition law that the ram? pant prohibitionists cannot answer, so they denounce his arguments and de? ride his logic. They have not yet de? nounced the man. for they are con? fronted by the stubborn fact that Christiensen Is a better prohibitionist than a majority of the polltlco-pro hlbttionlsta who think they are riding officeward In the prohibition-band wagon. Christiensen Is a prohibition? ist In practice?a total abstainer, but he does not believe that he can force all others to go and do likewise by legislative enactment. Politically ho has made a great mistake by not get? ting aboard the band wagon, for he could have attained a prominence that would have ensured his election to office. But Mr. Christlens?n seems to h<* a peculiar Individual In this re? spect, also. In that he does not seek Office, and I* Hornewhit paitii-nl.tr about the company he keeps and the vehicle he rides In. ???? (' ? -t Hale At Shaw 4t Mct'ollum * for I week beginning Monday 18th. and continu? ing through to Saturday. January 2nd. E\ ? rything at actual cost, to r.du<e th?- ?tork bOfOfS Mock-taking lt*l>lt if body of Amelia Williams, a ne? gro woman who had been missing In Klngstree since December 1. wiw found burled In a swamp. It Is sup? posed that she was murdered and rob? be, i <>mt Hale. At Shaw A McCollum's for 1 week beginning Monday 2Hth. and continu? ing through to Saturday. January Jnd Everything at actual cost, to reduce the stock befotf stock-taking. 12 li lt COURT HOUSE GROUNDS. Present Is an Eye Sore and Needed ImprovemeiiUi Stiould be Made. To the Editor of The Item: Some months ago the writer called attention, through your columns, to the appearance of the court house grounds, with hope that It might arouse the county officials to the Im? portance of doing something In the way of Improving their appearance, and had not Intended saying anything more on the subject, but for the re? quest of a lady, who has requested him to keep up the fight until some? thing Is done. The person making this request Is one of the best known and most pa? triotic ladles in the city, one who prac? tices what he preaches, by keeping her own yard In beautiful order, and this being the case, the writer takes pleasure In complying with her sug? gestion, especially when It is consid? ered thst there is no real reason why the ground in rear of the stately new court house should present such a dis? reputable and unsightly appearance. Some weeks ago the D. A. R.s met In this city, and it Is almost needless to say they were elegantly entertained In Sumter's hospitable homes, but it is easy to Imagine the surprise of the visitors at seeing the ugly and un kept condition of the grounds aroun-l the building, and the mortification of their hostesses at such a condition of affairs. The grounds in the rear of the building could, with the exercise of s >me taste and with a moderate ex? penditure of money, be converted In'o a charming little park, and if there is any city that needs a park that plaoe Is Sumter. It. Sumter, Is probably growing as fast as any town or city in the State, and yet despite this there Is not a single place where a stranger can sit down and rest, outside of some building, and this lack Is simply a re? proach to our people, both of the city and the county. One thing is very certain and that Is If the county Is not able ?> keep up the ground*, there is no escape from the conclusion that putting up such an expensive court house was a very reprehensible piece of extravagance, yet there ha* not. so far aa the writer haa heard, been a single complaint on thla score. The truth of the matter Is that the county was not only able to put up the court house, but to keep the grounds In or. der also, the condition of the latter be? ing due to indifference and not to poverty. About alx montha ago the writer ent a communication to the grand Jury respectfully suggesting that it i?con mend an appropriation, from the county funda. for the purpose of Im? proving the court house grounds, -but no action was taken on It; the conse? quence being that practically nothmg has been done. The grounds in front of the building are In very sore need of attention, but are really decent: in comparalson with those In the rear, facing Harvln St What la really need? ed la for the grounda to be systema? tically laid off, the trees, ever-green* and ahruba aelected and planted with care, and If thla be done the place will, In the courae of a few years, when the plants have attained iom<i size, be beautiful and attractive and a source of pride to the citizens of both the city and the county, Instead of be? ing a reproach and a cause for morti? fication as at the present time. Then too if the grounds were kept in proper condition the beauty of the building would be very much enhanced, Intend of, as things are at preaent, being very materially Impaired by its sur? roundings. As the writer does not know who Is really responsible for this Inexcusa? ble neglect, this article is not intended as a criticism on any one county of? ficial, or on them as a whole, but merely to call attention to an actual condition, for which somebody is re? sponsible, and which should not ex* 1st; at least not In the wealthy county of Sumter and its properous anl grow? ing county seat. W. D. WOODS. Dec. 18, 1908. COTTON GINNKD TO DEC, 13. Census llurcaiiItcport on 1908 Crop ?F.st 1 ma to of 1I,H92,II5 Dabs. Washington. Dec. 21.?A total of 1 1.892.1 15 running bales of cotton ginned from the growth of 1908 to POOOHiWf 13, against 9,284.070 at the same date of last year and 27,269 ac? tive ginneries against 27.156 In 1907 WON announced by census bureau In Its PSpOrl today. The figures count round halts as half bai? s and Include Unters. The halts ginned to December 13, aggregate,i 1 1.1 12.789 In 1906 and 9. 297,819 In IMI, Th?> total 1907 er ?p was 1 1.057,822. of which 84 per cent. was ginned In Deoembof ll] erop ?>f 1906. 11*988,1! I, of which 85.6 per cent, was ginned to December 13 and crop of 1905 10.495.105. or 8S.6 per cent, by December IS. The report In eluiles 215.029 round hales for 1!*0S, 167.2'M f??r 1907, and 243.(?96 for 1906 Sea Island bales Included aggregate 80,187. The corrected statistics of the quan tlty of cotton ginned this season to December 1 are 11,008,661 bales. LADY MEETS HOKK1BLE FA1 ! Mrs. Carrie Hallman of Gilbert Falls Into Fire and is Burned to Death. Lexington. Dec. 21.?One of the saddest deaths that has ever occurred in this section was that of Mrs. Car? rie Hallman. wife of Mr. O. Henry Hallman, a prominent merchant of Gilbert, this county, on last Friday. Mr. Hallman left for his store at the usual hour Friday morning, leav? ing his wife apparently in the best of health and cheerful spirits, only to be called back a few hours later to find her In the agonies of death. About 9 o'clock neighbors were attracted to the Hallman home by a woman's screams, and whecn they arrived at tho house they found Mrs. Hallman lying on the floor with very nearly all of her clothing burned and some parts of her body almost burned to a crisp. It is the supposition that she had a fainting spell and fell forward into the Are. She expired within a few hours, death coming as a relief to her terrible suffering. Mrs, Hallman was 44 years of age and leaves, besides her husband, an aged father, one brother and two sis? ters. She was a member of the Lu? theran church and a devoted Chris? tian. She was buried at Shiloh Methodist church on Saturday in the presence of a large assemblage of relatives and frl&nds, the funeral services being conducted by her pastor, the Rev. B. D. Wessinger.?The State. CRIME IN HARTSVILLE. Hartsvllle. Dec. 22, 1 a. m.?There Is a great deal of excitement here to? night because of an outrage commit? ted upon a white woman by a negro at this time unknown. On account of the fact that it is raining and that the crime was com? mitted at night, the news was slow to spread, but at midnight a large crowd had collected, and it Is sure that the negro will be caught. The young woman, who is respected most highly, is but recently married. f^he was alone at home Monday night, when the brute forced his way in and overpowered her. Dr. Eggleston says that her injuries are serious, but not necessarily dangerous. She fought the negro off and will recognize him upon sight. The crowd has the guilty man spotted and he will be arrested before daylight. No mob violence is feared, although the men are deeply lncen-ed. Coat Sale. At Shaw' & McCollum's for 1 week beginning Monday 28th, and continu? ing through to Saturday, January 2nd. Everything at actual cost, to reduce the stock before stock-taking. 12-28-lt. The dispensary got its share of the holiday trade today and there will be lots of spirits in Sumter and Claren? don counties for the Christmas festiv? ities. Coat Sale At Shaw & McCollum's for 1 week beginning Monday 28th, and continu? ing through to Saturday, January 2nd. Everything at actual cost, to reduce the stock before stock-taking. 12-23-lt. County Treasurer Lee has been busy writ' ig tax receipts for the past week and has taken in a large amount of money, but the rush will not come un? til after Christmas. The big tax-payers usually postpone paying taxes until the last week?many of them until the last day. SEMI-WEEKLY NEWS AND COU RIER. A Splendid Newspaper That Gives the New? of the Whole World?Club Rates With tho Watchman and Southron. Beginning with February 1. 1909, the combination price of the Watch? man and Southron with the Charles? ton Weekly News and Courier will be raised to $2.25 a year. Two months remain In which new and old sub? scribers may take advantage of this this splendid combination at the pres? ent price. $2.00. Send in your orders now. Think of It a little. For the small price of $2.00 you get your own county paper once a week and a twice a week neyspaper that covers the news of the whole world both for one year. Published every Wed? nesday and Saturday, each issue of the Weekly News and Courier con? tains all the news of Importance, not only of the day of publication, but of all the intervening days. The cream of the Associated Press News?tht greatest newsgathering agency in the world?and all Important happening* in South Carolina are given, as well as Striking editorial articles and stories of one kind and another. It has de? partment! for men, women and chil? dren, it Is a clean newspaper, nnd it it is a home newspaper. 12-2-tf COST SALE At Shaw & McCollum's for l week, beginning Monday, L'sth. and continuing through Saturday. January 2nd. Every thing at actual cost, to reduce the stock before ?took taking. It .^T (-TUBERCULOSIS DEMON? STRATION. Tho Rain Thla Morning Interferred With the Attendance But the In? structive Programme was Carried Out Nevertheless. The Anti-Tuberculosis Demonstra? tion was held in the armory hall yes? terday at the advertised hour, but owing to the down pour of rain at the time the attendance fell far short of the large number that had been con? fidently expected to be present. There were, however, some twenty-flve or thirty persons, whose interest in the great and important educational and hygienic work that the demonstration inauguarates the inclement weather could not destroy, assembled In the hall at the appointed time and it was decided to carry out the programme for their benefit. The first feature of the programme I was a series of short phonograph lec? tures on tuberculosis, sanitary meth? ods for the prevention of the disease and methods of treatment for the cure of those who contract it. This was followed by an interesting series of stereopticon views illustrating san? itary and unsanitary dwellings and sleeping rooms; hospitals and camps for the treatment of tuberculosis pa? tients, etc., and a number of slides giving statistics of the ravages of the disease annually in this and other countries. The most reliable statis-1 tics show that there are 180,000 deaths from tuberculosis annually in I the United States, and the total cost is estimated at $330,000,000 each year. This graphic and impressive illustra? tion of the dangers of the disease that I result largely from the carelessness I and ignorance of those who contract I it was accompanied by a running! commeint of explanation by Dr. I Cheyne that rendered each view clear-1 ly and easily understood. Following the stereopticon exhibl- I tlon the meeting was formerly called I to order by Dr. M. L. Parier, presl-1 dent of the Association, who intro-1 duced Rev. H. H. Covlngton, who of- I fered the invocation. Mr. R. I. Manning was then Intro-1 duced and he made a brief address! of welcome, introducing Dr. Robert I Wilson, Jr., of Charleston. Dr. Wilson discussed "Tubuculosis I as an Economic Problem." His ad-1 dress was a striking and impressive I exposition of the necessity of a world-1 wide campaign to control and even-1 tually eradicate the most fatal and most costly disease that afflicts man-1 kind. The cost of combating the di-1 sease would be far less than the an-1 nual loss It entails, and Dr. Wilson I was fortified with statistics to prove! that as a business proposition it would pay to adopt and enforce preventa-1 tive measures against the spread of I the disease. Dr. S. C. Baker read a carefully I prepared and practical paper on the I "Early Diagnosis of Tuberculosis." The address was not in the least tech? nical and contained information that every person should be conversant I with for his own and the public's good. j Dr. Walter Cheyne read a paper I on "The Doctor's Relationship to I Tuberculosis." in which he outlined the doctor's duty^ and the work that I he has to do in the fight that enlight? ened public opinion now demands shall be made on the disease. This paper I was also along practical lines and contained information that the laity I needs and must possess if the efforts I the doctor's are making to prevent spread of consumption are to bei crowned with success. The doctors I have a geeat and Important duty to I perform, but they need and must have support and intelligent consideration of the public. Dr. J. Marcler Green, Dr. C. Fred Williams and Mr. O. B. Martin, who were expected to be present and de? liver addresses sent letters of regret. Dr. Cheyne, secretary, has a lot of interesting literature for distribution and those who wish to inform them? selves In respect to the antl-tubercu losis campaign can obtain copies of the pamplet by applying to him, or Mr. E. I. Readon. There has been a slump In the price of turkeys and no one need pay more than 12 1-2 cents a pound for the chief requisite for a regulation Christmas dinner. Turkeys are being offered on the streets at 12 1-2 cents and the supply seems to be abundant. The cotton warehouse Is packed to the doors and more than a thousand bales of cotton are stored under the compress sheds. Cotton is still com? ing in for storage, many farmers who are able to hold having confidence that there will be a material advance In prices after January 1st. GEN. CAR WILE DEAD. Bdgefleld, Dec. 17.?(len. Thomas w. Carwlle, commander of the south Carolina division of the Confederate Veterans, died at his home here at 12:30 o'clock today. A year ago he suffered a severe Illness, and has been In declining health ever since, but there was little anticipation that the end would come so soon. TWO TREASURERS SHORT. Hampton County Treasurer Short In His Cash $17,670. Columbia, Dec. 19.?That the coun? ty treasurer of Hampton County, J. C. Langford, is short in his cash $17, 670.79 is the official report made to the governor today by the comptroller general, the report being based on an investigation made by Mr. E. B. Wil? son, chief clerk in the comptroller's office, and by Mr. Giles Wilson, State bank examiner. Under the law, the governor has the power to remove the county treasurer on such a report. The matter came to light when it was recently reported to the comp? troller general by the cashier of the Loan and Exchange Bank at Hampton ! nhat there was error In the amount re- j ported by the county treasurer as be !ng on deposit to his official credit in I v.hat bank. The comptroller general j requested the State bank examiner to j make an investigation and sent his chief clerk to Hampton also for that purpose. The report of the State bank examiner is submitted to the governor also. The chief clerk to the comptroller I I general was unable to secure from the j county treasurer an explanation of the Situation, but it is stated that Mr. | Langford, the treasurer, has been en? gaged in somewhat extensive business , operations, and he may have confused his personal and official funds and ac- ' counts, and eventually may be able I to straighten out the matter satisfac? torily. , - Edgefleld Treasurer Short $7.723. Columbia. Dec. 19.?That the treas? urer of Edgefleld County, Dr. J. T. ? Patterson, is short in his accounts over : s?ven thousand dollars is the official report made today by Comptroller General Jones to Governor Ansel. Un? der the law the governor, on such re? port, has the power to remove the county treasurer. The statement of this matter by the comptroller general does not necessarily imply any dis? honesty on the part of the county treasurer, as the shortage may be due to errors and may be made good. The comptroller general's report is based on the examination made by two ex? perts from his office, Messrs. E. B. Wilson and C. W. Sawyer. Roth Treasurers Suspended. Columbia. Dec. 19.?Governor Ansel tonight announced that he had sus? pended the county treasurers of Hampton and Edgefleld as a result of the finding of the comptroller general, j -j The total sales of the county dis- ? pensaries for the month of November amounted to more than $300,000. Capt. E. A. Smyth and L. W. Park- j er, well known mill men of Greenville, . have purchased the Aetna Cotton Mills at Union. The price paid is un-j derstood to be about $225,000. The j mill will be started up at an early date. NOTICE. A meeting of the stockholders of the Sumter Telephone Manufacturing Company will be held at the regular annual meeting on January 27th, 1909 a.t 12 o'clock noon at the Company's office. Sumter S. C, to consider and confirm a resolution of the Board of Directors decreasing the capital stock j of said corporation from $100,000 to 110,000; the additional $40.000 not being needed. By order of the Board. C. T. MASON, 12-23-4t. President. Woodmen Election. At the regular meeting of Holly? wood Camp. W. of W.. Wednesday night the annual election was held and the following officers were elect? ed to serve during the ensuing year: P. C. C.?S. H. Edmunds. C. C.?J. A. Warren. A. L.?T. V. Walsh. Eanker?F. A. Bultman. Clerk?R. S. Hood. Escort?W. F. Carr. Watchman?J. W. Cox. Sentry?Joseph Newman. Managers?C. M. Hurst, L. I. Par rott, R. S. Churchill. NOTICE. The annual meeting of the Sumter County Board Commissioners will be held on Thursday, January the 7th, 1909. All persons having claims against Sumter County, not before presented to the board will please file the same v. ith the clerk of the board before Jan. 1st, 1909. J. R. SUMTER. Clerk to County Commissioners. 12-9-4t TAX RETURNS FOR 1909. OFFICE OF COUNTY AUDITOR, SUMTER COUN TY. Sumter, S. C, Dec. 5, 1908. Notice is hereby given i.hat I will attend, in person or by deputy, at the following places on the days Indicated, respectively, for the purpose of re? ceiving returns of personal property and poll taxes for the fiscal year com? mencing January 1st, 1909: Tindalls, Tuesday, Jan. 5th. Privateer, (Jenkins' Store) Wednes? day. Jan. 6th. Manchester, (Levi's), Thursday, Jan. 7th. Wedgefield, Friday, Jan. 6th. Stateburg, Monday, Jan. 11th. Hagood, Tuesday, Jan. 12th. Rembert, Wednesday, Jan. 13th. Dalzell. Thursday, Jan. 14th. Gordon's Mill, Friday, Jan. 15th. Mayesville, Tuesday. Jan. 19th. Shiloh, Wednesday, Jan. 20th. Norwood's X Roads. Thursday. Jan. 21st. Oswego, Friday, Jan. 22d. The law requires that all persons owning property or in any wise having charge of such property, either as | agent, husband, guardian, trustee, j executor, administrator, etc., return the same under oath to the Auditor who requests all persons to hp pr^n^pt in making their retu 50 per cent, penalty v rill '.>? add? ed to the property \ ill persons who fall to make .?.t irn with? in the time prescribcu bf Taxpayers return what they own on the first day of January, 1909. Assessors and taxpayers will enter the first given name of the taxpayer in full, also make a separate return in each township where the p-operty is located and also each and every case the number of the district school must be given. Every male citizen between the age of twenty-one and sixty years on the first day of January, 1909, except those incapable of earning support from be? ing maimed or from other causes, are deemed taxable polls, and except Con? federate soldiers 50 years of age, on January 1st, 1909. All returns must be made on or be? fore the 20th day of February next. I cannot take returns after that date and all returns made after the 20th day of February, are subject to a pen? alty of 50 per cent. J. DIGGS WILDER, 11-9 Auditor Sumter Co. H. STEVENS SONS. CO. MACON, - GA. Sewer and R. R. Culvert Pipe, Farm Drain Pipe, Well Curbing, Road Drainage Pipe. Correspondence Solicited on all Lines Clay Goods. r Car Cotton Stalk Choppers, Disk and Two Horse Plows, Fresh Car Horses and Mules, Car Lime and Cement, Two Cars Shingles and Laths, Two Cars Fire Brick and Hard Wall Plaster. SUMTER.' L SOUTH CAROLINA.