The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 23, 1908, Image 4
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.