Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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;i* ?il MTFH WATCHMAN. Established April. IHM He .lint and Pear not?Let all the ends Thou Alms't at be thy Country'.*:. Thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON. l>iabli>h<? June, IBM Consolidated Aim.3, 1881. SUMTER, 8 0, WEDNESDAY, JANUAR? 17, 1918 Vol. XXXIII. No. 41. ???????? O0TLIOK BRIGHT, SAKS BRYAN. COMMON KU WAHNS DKM<K R \TS AO\l SHt ()VKK.( OM II>HN('K UK SLOTH Nchraokan Thinks Party Sluml<l Stcvr Clear of l> ? tallon I'rom Morgan a? iHt tiiior of !(m Presidential: Ticket. < oiumbla St: to. Jan. 15. ThM the outlook Is ?.riichi for the Demerath i arty, hut that the l>emo crata should leave nothing undone whhh may Injure to the advantage of tfeft party was William Jennings Bry an * summing-up of the political sit? uation when asked last night what he thought of conditions In America. Mr. Bryan, who was In Columbia to deliver ? l>?cture under the auspices of the Y. M C. A., talked freely of his views, ?apectally with regard to tho team** of ins next campaign. The tariff Mr Hryan **ld. wonld occupy a prominent place in the campaign, ??but." Uv continued, "the Democratic party can not Isnore the fact that back of the tariff, back of the tru-u Sack of the railroads standa the fall street oligarchy, as heartless ofc a band of pirates and aa despotic as the esar or the aultan ever were." Asked the tflrect question as to what was his view of the present political situation. Mr. Itryun re? sponded*. 'The political Bstta-tton is a v difficult thing to analyse In a few words It differs somewhat in dif? ferent sections. Generally speaking, the outlool. seems bright for our party, snd yet It is not wise to over- i estimate our chances; for that might as to leave undone some things might prove to have been necea In tile East last fall's balloting s needing of the tide of 1910 ( an thot we should be pre- ' to ftirht for every Inch of the ; sasaloav and If maty j uaslos? ttiat should be 'iha'lHsnecratlc \ should adjotfr* submitting the amendment popular election of senators, the iocrata trill hav? hard work to en why. 'Take the tartb' question. If the Ideal should consent to some ma reduction* snd the Democrats should contend for greater reductions than they will be able to secure they j will appear to the rountry to be more anxious to make an Issue than to se- 1 cure such relief ss Is possible, where- ! ae If. after contending for what they want, they accspt what they can get, they will lessen the acuteness of the tariff leans to the extent of the re? dactions made. ? "As to the tru4t question, something must be done. The supreme court dec Intone have created sn Issue that the Democrats must meet. If they re? buke the court by restoring the lsw they will be accused of disrespect for Use court, and If they do not they will he guilty of contempt of the public. If t?ST carry out the antl-tnut plank of the Democratic platform they will Beak} the trur: magnates mail, and if they do not they will make the peo? ple hot. "Therj Is demand for sn luveet'.ga tlon of the Money trust. Some of our Eastern Democrats say that on Inves? tigation will create a panic In Wall street, srhlle other Democrat* say that If thero Is not an investigation there will be a panic among the voters "Thene are some of the difficult questions that our party has to meet, and they make It difficult to predict with any certainty as to the results of the oampalgn. A million votes msy he changed by the action of congress sad a million more by the action of the Democratic national convention. It con* us 1.210.000 vote* to compro? mise with Wall street In 1904. and as the progressive sentiment Is mu<h stronger now than It wa* then, it might cost us more than that to com promise now. "Will you aay what you now regard ss the principal Issue for the next campaign ?" "The tariff question M the one that In the most talked about, and I have no doubt It will occupy n prominent place In the campaign, but the Demo? cratic party can not Ignore the fact thst back of the tariff, back of the ? trusts and back of the railroads stands the Wall street oligarchy, as heartless as a band of pirates ?nd as despotic as the csar or tho sultan ever were. And that Is why I am not willing that J. Plerpont Morgan pi k nut the Democratic candldat. Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Jenkins have re? turned from New York where they went to attend the automobile show SO MF MOUK AHOI T C. K, JAM US. Mhahng sabfjfsigeff Re4caasrd Here Thursday Wm Aken Jailed vn North C'urollna on Chary e of Solling Bo? ichs Stork?Skij11m <i Bond. Til.' following letter from Mrs. Helen Gantt Mima, assoelat B editor of the Whlteville. NT. <'., News-Be? t?rter will bo of Interest to many of the peopL* of Sumter in view of the fact that James tat twice arrested here for selling bogus mining stock in violation of the laws of the State and twice released upon the advice of the State Insurance Commissioner. Mc Master. James left Friday morning on the Palmetto Limited from Flormee to Augusta. It is sincerely ho| ed that he will not again try to 3ell any of his stock In this county as many of the negroes whom he Is alleged to have defrauded by selling them ittock In h's supposed bogus company are now as anxious to get back their money as they.formerly were to get stock in the >? mpany. As James had no money when arrested and his board bill and ? (her expenses here had to be paid by a negro, rtees James, the question asked by many people and left un? answered Is:- "What does he do Wlill the money he gets?" There Is no doubt about it that he sold a great deal more stock than enough to pay his expenses. The letter is as follows: Th" Sumtcr Dally Item: Seeing In the Item where C. E. James was arrested. I thought it might be pf news Interest to you to knew that he aas lodg.nl In jail here on the same charge that the Sumter authorities are holding him for. He was confined in jail for a couple of months when Mr. C. S Lew is. a well known business man of this place, went on his bond for $100. Ha Jump? ed It and nothing was heard of him until the account of his arrest ap? peared. He was to appear for trial at the November term of court. Mr. Lewis holds $1,4 00 in negroes' notes given him by James aa security for the H00 bond, Several of these notes iisrve bwan contorted Jn a magnate's court hare and pronounced by the bar and magistrate to be valid. James Is said to belong to a prominent .Vorth Carolina family, his uncle is ex-sheiiff of Pender county and worth from fifty to seventy-five thousand dollars. They Ignore C. E. James al? together and telephoned to parties here that he was a reprobate. He got thousands of dollars here from negroes, and negroes, too. who are financially responsible. I don't think the authorities here will make any effort to have him brought back. I am only writing you this because I thought you could use it as news. (Signed) Helen Gantt Mlms. Wbltevllle. N. C, Jan. 12. Thirty-Da j Session. Senator Clifton of Sumter county, last night in the senate, took occasion to express himself in favor of a 30 day session. The matter came up In a little disagreement over the ques? tion of adjournment. "1 am in favor of a 30-day session." said Mr. Clifton, "and I think now is the time to start." Mr. Clifton waa opposed to adjourn? ing so soon Tuesday, and desired to remain In session to transact some of the business on the calendar. It will bo remembered that the senate last Near by resolution expressed itself as In favor of a 30-day ssslon, but prac? tically the full 40 days were consum? ed.?Columbia Iteoord. The Governor's Me**ag<\ The first annual message of Gov? ernor Blease which was read in the General Assembly Tuesday is dis? appointing in at least one particular ?the executive makes no reference whatever to the numerous pardons and paroles he has granted since coming Into office. However, this item may be cov? ered later In a special message, as it is generally understood that the <o\, rnor should make som - explana? tion along this line to the members of the General Assembly. Governor Bleat* stresses with e.-nslderable labor the Vcoiminy" of his administration, and he wishes to further extend his Idea of eronomy to the abolition of i. number of Im? portant State oftlees. including those of game warden. bank examiner sad insurance aommlegftdtier. The rattle and Importance of these offiees |S Well klloWll tO the people of South Carolina. Greenville NaWB, Everybody's Store, M. H. Beck owner and proprietor, has entered a plea of voluntary bankruptcy, The Sumter Trust Company has been ap? pointed as receivers for the creditors, v : i.l GET OUT OF OFFICK WHEN M.i.Mllts AUK overthrow:;. However, Head of Republic insists 11 at PiemUr Shall Not Dictate i? mis of Agreement, Nanking. Jan. L4, ? President Sun Vat Sen received the news of the pending abdication Ot the emperor Qttietly, HC said he was pleased to leam that the first step towards the pacification and reorganization of the country bad been taken, lie antici? pated some delay in the readjustment of affairs and added that it was quit ? possible Yuan Shi Kai might bo president Ot the new republic. He adhered to his declaration that he would resign when the Manchu gov? ernment had been ousted and peace completely restored throughout the country. The first stage would necessitate a military government, under which j order could be secured and the re- j luhlieant were determined that the J old regime of corruption tnu.-t be abolished and tho people of China permitted to earn the full reward of their labor. President Sun said he would pro? ceed with the work of organization. Dvldently he is determined not to listen to dictation from Peking. The future government of China mu3t be carefully considered. Yuan Shi Kal OOUld not be regarded as the dictator of terms. It would be senseless, he con? tinued, to hasten the semblance of pea< ?. a d he declared that the pres? ent movement was directed toward the establishment of permanent good government. The mere abdication of the court, said the president, was not sufficient in Itself; the Manchu army must lay down it3 arms. Yuan Shi Kai like? wise must pledge adherence to the form of government adopted by the national convention. Sun Yat Sen added that he earnestly desired peace, but before peace could be assured any riemblance of, MAnohu*^power^must be renounced; formally "amipabtleTy. 4 REVHX TURKISH BOATS SUNK. First Important Naval Battle of Tur co-Italian War. Rome, Jan. 12.?The first Import? ant naval battle in the Turco-Italian war occurred In the Red Sea on Jan? uary 7, with the result that an Ital? ian squadron sank seven Turkiali gunboats. A large number of Turk? ish seamen went down with their ships, but others were rescued by boats from the Italian warships. The Turks were believed by the Italians to be preparing to convoy a : military expedition, which was to [cross Egypt and join the Turkish force in Tripoli. Attacked While Leaving Surr.. London, Jan. 12.?The Turkish vessels destroyed by Italian warship* were those which took refuge at Suez several weeks ago, according to a dispatch to a new3 agency from Rome. As a result of protests by Italy, tho dispatch adds, the Egyptian authorities disarmed the vessels and the Turkish commander obtained per? mission to leave. Whilo departing the flotilla was overtaken by the Italian warships and sunk. The Italian commander reports that the Turkish gunboats offered stubborn resistance. There are rumors here that 4,000 additional troops will be sent to Cyrenalca. The Turkish war ministry, claims that the Turks, on January 6, repuls? ed an Italian sortie from Rome, kill? ing 50 Italians, and that the rear guard of 160 Italians was annihilated. SUMTER TRUST COMPANY ELEC? TION. Elduoiury Institution Holds Annual Election Of Officers. The Sumter Trust Company, for? merly the Sumter Loan and Trust Company, held Its annual meeting Thursday and the stockholders elect? ed the following board of directors: R. [, Manning. Nelll O'Donnell, C. G. Rowland, 0? A, Lem mon, L. D. Jen? nings. i?. i>. Moles, J. n. Clifton, R. o. Purdy, I. C. Strauss. T. 0. McLeod J. A. Weinberg. O. 1 >. Levy. W. W. gittert? C, U StUbhg, V. M. Spann. P. Iffosee, Jr. After the meeting of the Stock? holders adjourned, tht board Of di? rectors met and sleeted the following officers: President, I. (Strauss; Vice President, R, O, Purdy; Beere? tary and Treasurer. R. L. Edmunds. NO DELAY OF PARCELS POST. i>o (iRWV DECLARES SYSTEM SHOTJIiD OOME NOW. Fourth Assistant Postmaster General Urges I'lan on Score of Service and Revenue. Washington, Jan. 14.?The estab? lishment of parcels post delivery along rural mail routes should not be delayed any longer, is the opinion of V. P. De draw, fourth assistant I postmaster general, as expressed in his annual report, submitted today to Postmaster General Hitchcock. "Every consideration of practica- 1 billty, business expendlency and good administration," he says, "favors the plan as being a probable source of large revenue and great public ac? commodation." Mr. De Graw bases his recommen- ( dation for a parcels post on the ground that the expenditure for rural service is increasing much more rap dly than the receipts, and the par? cels post, he says, would provide ' much additional revenue. During the past year the rural mail receipts were $7.750.000. while the expend!- ? tu res were $47.790,000. while it is not expected that there will be ar? appro- j claMe Increas?, in receipts. This loss will become greater each year, he SI ys. unless parcels post Is established to help. There are at present more than 1,- ^ 000,000 miles of rural mail routes, and the average mileage per day for j each carrier is 24.19 miles. During the past year 577 routes were added, j making the present total 14,65c. More than 13.000.0G0 letters and papers were received at the dead letter office during the year, the . dally rceipts averaging 44,500 pieces. I an increase over the previous year of 8 per cent. ; IN GRASP OF ICE KING. Snow and Cold Seriously Interferes With Traffic During the Past Two V'Aays. \ The Ice King has had a firm grasp on the city during the past three days and. if the weather forecast turns out to be correct, it is probable she will still be held firmly for some time to come. "* 1 For the pa3t three days there has been very little traffic on the streets J and almost none at all between the country and the city. Every road has been blocked by the drifts of snow and the streams are so swollen that it is almost impossible to cross them. However, while traffic has been seriously interfered with, there have been no reports of suffering among the poor of the city from the severe cold. Everybody has suffered more or less from the cold, being unprepared for it when it came, but no more ser? ious effects have followed than th2 1 urstlng of a few water pipes and o."ETAOIN hmh m hm hmh mmm trouble in getting pipes thawed out In order to get water. While there was plenty of snow? balling Saturday all day long, there was very little of it Sunday and to? day the youngsters who had engaged in It previously found the snow too wet to play with. Sunday was one of che Quietest days ever experienced In this city. There were very few peo? ple who went out at all except to the postofliee or to church, and the at? tendance at the churches was very small indeed. Everybody who could do so seemed perfectly contented to stay indoors where it was warm and comfortable. Saturday the thermometer hung around 24 and 25 degrees all day Saturday and Saturday night it took a tumble still further downward un? til the mercury got below twenty de? grees. Sunday the mercury again rose somewhat, but remained below freezing point all day. Sunday night the mercury went down to twenty four, but gradually rose Monday until it came up to thirty-five at one o'clock. At that time the snow was melting freely and the streets and sidewalks, where the snow had not been shov? eled off. were becoming sloppy, ah morning the porters and employees at the various stores and business houses were busy shoveling the snow away from in front of their doors, street Commlaioner White had a force of hands at work clearing away along the sidewalks bo that .pedes? trian! could walk along th< street without walking In the snow and so as to remove the danger of falling on the frosen snow. Miss [soline Moses of Richmond, Va., is in the city on a visit to her COUSln, Mrs. J. H. Levy. TO SOLVE COTTON PROBLEM. "Farmer" Declares Tliat Legislation of a Rattier Drastic Character is Needed. The papers are covered each day with notices of meeting! and sug? gestions, but the price of cotton con? tinues to decline. The South lias shown the world how much cotton she can grow. The world has shown | the South how easy it is for them to dictate the price under present con? ditions, and to buy cotton below the cost of production; in short, at their own figures. The Farmers' Union is a fine organization, a noble body of men banded together for a good pur- j ? ose, and these men have done much hard work, but they have been work? ing backwards, and the price of cot? ton stamps all of their efforts wiih failure. They will continue to fp as long as they occupy a pas.save ana not a positive position. The union with its passive methods of persua? sion will l?e as great failure 25 years from today as it is now; for there is too large a number of negro and ?mall white farmers, who grow a ma? jority of the cotton, to be gotten to? gether or reached by reason. "A des? perate disease requires a desperate remedy." Legislation and legislation alone can remedy this. Have the members the union, the nerve and good judgment to go to the root of the evil, and demand that their dele- I gations assist in enacting laws that j will give them at once what they have I been lighting for for many years. These lawmakers will have to be dealt with in a most positive manner. So far a large portion of them have been weaklings without the courage of their own convictions or the nerve to act for the best interest of the peo? ple. I recall that it took them years at a cost of much time and money, to pa?s even the "yellow dog" act and to repeal the lien law. But I now trust that this cotton proposition is so plain and the remedy so easy that none of our legislative body will fail to see it The cotton acreage must be limited by law, and warehouses es? tablish.*uwder Stc.te "M- . r laws will make the South the garden spot of. the world. Any other coun? try but the South would have solved this problem long ago. ~The South Is the only spot in the world that has the natural climatic conditions for the successful growing of cotton, that is, extreme seasons of heat and cold all in one year. To what use are we putting this lavish gift of nature? Every acre of good farming land in the South should be .worth over $300, and would be in any other section of the United States or the world. Where every other coun? try has a particular product that the rest of the world needs, that enter? prise is fostered and cared for under the law. Take Brazil, with her coffee, Germany with her potash, South America with her nitrate of soda, and other specialties of other countries too numerous to name. Any law that is for the best in? terest of the people should be con? stitutional. If not, the constitution should be evaded by a lasting emerg? ency act. (1 mention this evasion, for it is a well-known fact that no great good has ever been accom? plished without opposition, and the mutton-heads must, of course, have something to rant over. A law lim I iting the acreage would not be class legislation, for cotton is our money crop and the prosperity of the farmer means the prosperity of all lines of business. Limiting the acreage is the only thing that will cause the all cotton farmer to diversify. Grain, stock, fruit, vegetables, etc?all would follow in the only country that can grof cotton and In addition can grow every necessity of man With the cotton crop limited and protected by State warehouses, with the diversification that would follow in a few years the World would be astounded at the wealth of the South; and the location of the garden of Eden would no longer be a question. But instead, what are gross ignorance, pernicious laws, and no protection of our specialty doing for us Esau in all ages and all climes ha3 b^en con? sidered foolish for seling his birth? right for a mSSS of pottage, but Esau at last paid for his pottage while th i cotton farmer still owes for his. <The farmer still owes th<> merchant, fertiliser dealer, doctor, etc., In short he owes every one from whom he has bought.) So far the tanner has made less use of nil birth tight than Esau. History has proven Unit wise lawi sre more beneficial to the people of any country than the climate condi? tions or the Industry of a people. The history of any nation in the old world Will show that under a wise ruler the nation prospered and ad iiEISE OW W8IQ1 yili REFERRED TO BEX ATE t'OMMIT TEE ON PENITENTIARY. S inkier*! Resolution A^ks i luit Thor? ough In v< stigatiou be Made Into Charges Hade by Qwu!Of Con? cerning Conditions at Stute Prison. Bissaus Advises Something be Done; If Not, "Then Don't Blame Me for W hat I Do."' He ' ay-. Columbia, Ja* ^ -The Senate to? day, after \W t i a message from Go\ cd. jgf use, in re the Penl tentiary, 0 ., ,iery mill and sugges? tions for ^S**nprovement of the con? dition* ^ .e prisoners of the Insti? tut' *9.>pted a resolution, offered \r ^5?.or Btnkler, of Charleston, and d the message to the commit *m the Penitentiary, with the re? st that they make a thorough and rigid investigation into all the charg? es and conditions and make such a report as in their judgment deemed i st. Senator Sinkler, before offering his motion, said that this was a mat? ter of serious import and should be thoroughly inquired into. ^ Senator Young suggested that the message be referred to the committee on penal and laritable institutions, but Senator Hardin said the commit? tee on Penitentiary was the proper place and he, too, called for a rigid investigation "Where there is much smoke there is bound to be some fire, and 1 want a thorough investigation," was the way Senator Sullivan put it. WATERWORKS AND SEWER FOR KINGSTREE. Bonds Voted Last November in the Sum of $12,000 and Systems Will Soon be Completed. Kingstree. Jan. 14.?Last November the citizens of Kingstree voted bonds to the amount of $12,000 for the pur? pose of installing a waterworks and ,% sewerage system. The last eel* fdj^ gave Kingstree a population of 1 '2 people. The voting o# bnjta* for to purpose of making Kingstree as mod? ern and up-to-date as possible, shows the true and progressive spirit of her citizens. B. F. Meeks, of Atlanta, Ga., has contracted to put In both systems, and in a few days will begin active operations. Several car loads of piping and other supplies have arrived, and Mr. Meek says that ha will have the jpb completed' in the course of five or six months. M.WY PIPES BURST. Plumbers Have More Calls Thau They Can Attend to This Week. Mt is indeed an ill wind blows no? body any good. The recent cold snap has dealt severely by many of the householders in the city while at the same time it ha3 offered much work for the plumbing establishments in the city, altbouogh. as one plumber remarked, that is not the kind of work they are looking for and not the kind that they like to get. All over the city the water pipes leave been reported frozen, and in many places the water Was RO| turned off properly and the pipes burst with the freeze O'Donnetl & Company an advertbv Ing their annual white sale for Wed neaday and Thursday of this week and a glance over their ad will show what a 'arge list of bargain* the f are offering the public Those who are in need of white goods will do well to rfalit their store either Wednesday or Thuistlay. vanced. the same country under un? wise rule retrograded and proverty, strife, and chaos resulted. The Velpe SO popular in the West T think could be transposed to !Uit the cotton farmer under present con? ditions: "Every time I c nie to town The boys si art to kickin' my dog aroun'i Makes no difference if he is a noun', They gotta, stop kickin' my dog aroun." In The South. "Every tlnao i ei mo to town The buyers rtart cryln' my cotton down. Bven if it's worth nothln' poun,' They gotta unit kickin' \ny cotton aroun." Let the legislature pass a law lim? iting tie cotton acreage ami establish warehouses under government con? trol, request the governor to invite all governors of the South to a cotton conff rence to adopt the above plan, and the problem will be solved, and proeperitj will lesgn. Farmer R< mbert, January id.