Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Pabltebed Weducedu) and Saturday. ?BT? OSTEEN PUBLISHING COMPANY 8umtkk. 8. C. Ihm 11.SO par annum?In advance. Advertisements: Ob? Square um Insertion.$1.00 ?very subsequent Insertion.Ii Contracts fgj three months, or langer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which sub? serve private Interests will be charged far as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will bs charged for. The sumt-r Watchman was found ad in IS&u and the Trut Southron in list The Watchman and Southron aoa h Ml ths combined circulation and halucnc* cf both of the old papers, and .? manifestly the beat advertising en* Hum In Sumter. The Blease ? Jennings - Matthews controversy has reached the stage that a suggestion that it be taken out a*id buried is in order. ? ? ? Mr. Todd. of Charleston, the archi? tect of the Plaster of Paris State House, is a victim A over confidence In the might and influence of the pow? ers that be. and his state is sad to contemplate. Ho has fallen upon parlous times when a little claim for $11.560 cannot get through the leg? islate e without the whole thing be? ing messed up by a lot of vulgarians who have no appreciation in their souls .,f art and beauty. To have spent ta.OOO and lots of time draw? ing plans and "acquainting" the members of the General Assembly with the bea jty of a million dollar 8tatc House, ind then to have his fellow members view the transaction askance and question the legality and validity of the alleged contract is haart-rending. However, since Ar? chitect Todd kept no itemised account of hts expenditures and was unable to furnish any vouchers for inspection of the committee, he would be bereft indeed were it not for that beautiful plaster model of the Imag? inary State House, for he can keep it aa s sad but precious memoir of the effulgent period of his career as ar? chitect extraordinary of the sub? committee and ambassador pleni? potentiary to the m*mh*r* of the legislature in ,h? four earners M ihej commonwealth. ? as Yhe rs<-.? ?ruck g ?mhllng plant h*S license to continue operations until Juli* and it may continue Indefinitely If no more attention is paid the en for -lent of the recent act of the legislature than the law against Mind Ugejfi, g a o ThV cotton warehouse system to be established urder authority of the State of South Carolina will be a radi? cal Innovation In business method* and H it Is properly managed will be of tremendous b?-n. t\t to the? farmers. We are convinced that It is a begin? ning nlong the right lines of a move? ment that wll. eventually revolution? ise ?he wealth producing crops of the fagglfc Partial failure may befall the Initial experiment a|id tho revo lutleg may SO retard- I i r even temporarily defeated, by the opposi? tion of those who fatten in parasiti? cal prosperity on tho producers by reason of the <-rud.- g*tth??ds of mar? keting; but a revolution Is tecessary If the many pr aim ?>rs are to centime to pay an injust and ??xorbltant trl gajii Is ttm tern whn ecmtfol and manipulate nffftOM for them on profit. Tb?- ?weeam m failure of the ware* gsWmi plan Is depend* nt upon the men who are put in charge?If they are men of business ability end ln tegrltv th?- chance of failure Will ha minimised, hut if they are offb e seeker* and grafters failure Is ce? - tain. ? ? ? Former Senator John I.. M< I.aurin la ouoted as threatening to enterxthe ggee for governor In the ?-von? that *'.< ? HI as?- r.-toes the cotton w are gamss mil win Manag tuk the dar?? ? ? t Mr WntlSiell m. .\>?r has trans? ferred tho PloSWf* ? Tun-M In a com pany In which he 1-4 the lirgest stock? holder. Mr. \\.-r will continue as editor and Mr. K. I?. Sallenger. fat ne\e.i| \ ?? .< rs with tie Now* and Courier, will b#. husln ^ manager. Th? gem Unenp'nv - P? b:.e *J.*..i?na and the stockholders are all Floren? e Lupines* iio-ti. Many lin pro\?ni nts are planned Inf th?* Times it.I If It has the support In its horn* town that It deserves Messrs. Ayer and Halb nger will give Floren? If a newspaper that would do Sradii In i bigger town than Horence. They know how but It takes a mi Si mon v\ i.? run an up-to-date newspaper and unlese the support Is idequate all tin- know how In the world will n??t enitM* them to get out the sort ? f paper they have In mind. Messrs. T. R. Hodge end W. A. Broadway of r ndal. were In the < by Thursday. THE ANANIAS CLUB. STUMH.RAPHIR HLAdilUltN NOMINATES CASH I KU MAT? TH 11 WS. Murr About That PoCtOffOd letter Of CgggggSJ lu tiovernor Blcuse?Who Is the Crook und Who Tin? Idar? Columbia, Feb. 15.?W. F. Hlack burn. stenographer for Qov, Hlease, yesterday gave to the press a copy of a fitter he had written J. Pope Mat? thew . cashier of the Palmetto Nat? ional bank, this city. The letter to Mr. Matthews refers to the alter? ations in leter No. 1. brought t> the bank by Mr. Hlackburn, together with letter NO. The letter, it will h** recalled, was signed by Mr. Mat? thews, and made a part of a special nussuge on the Jon*' rf $500,000 to the State of South Carolina. Mr. Blackburn in his letter states that Mr. Matthews tore up the first 1. tier. Mr. Matthews did tear the letter up. but afterwards had It pasted together and it is locked up In a safety deposit vault. Vest*nlay Mr. Matthews was in? formed Ol the contents of the letter from Mr. Hlackburn. and said that he had no statement to make. He said he might have something to say later. In a special ? ?ommunioation to the house yesterday morning. R. H. Jen? nings State treasurer, transmitted the letters of J. Pope Matthews, cashier of the Palmetto National bank, which declare that his letter to the gover? nor on the State loan was changed in the office of the chief executive so as to pervert its meaning. The com? munication will be printed in full in the journal of the house. Letter by Mr. Blackburn. The letter sent by Mr. Hlackburn to Mr. Matthews is as follows: Mr. J. P. Matthews, Cashier Pal? metto National Rank. Columbia, South Carolina. Hear Sir: My attention has been called to a letter from you bearing date February 9, In which you state: "Yesterday when the lefter was pre? vented to me to be signed my atten? tion was called to the fact that there had been some repetition in the wording of the original draft and to the fact that the letter had been re? written. "I was very busy at the time, and on being assured that the letter was In -ill respects substantially the same, I signed the letter without comparing It with the original draft except for the first paragraph. I now tlnd that In copying the letter certain changes had been made which makes the sense different from what 1 intended, and somewhat misleading." And. In which you further state: "in reading the letters over yam will notice that other mistak -s have been made. In other words, in at? tempting to revise the wording of the lotter It has been very much confused and the meaning completely twisted." In reply thereto 1 beg leave to state that fOOff letter of February 7 Is just as you dictated It In the governor's office to me. with the exceptions Whloh v ere called to your attention, when I presented to you letter No. I, Lett, r No. L', as 1 designate it here to idntlfy it. was written out by me; enrri d to the Palmetto National bonk and handed you by me in your private oAeoi you wore sitting at sour dank; i showed you both letters, the 1 !>?? >oii signed in the governor's oflies, No. l, and letter No. I. point* Ing out the eheogea which hod been msds and compared the tirst para? graph with you. You continued read Ing letter No. I and gftOT JfOU finished roedtag the entire latter, you signed it and tore up roar copy of letter No. 1 and threw it in the wast, basket under your deek; hooded the origin? al latter No. I. back to me, which i you. I then left the bank. A n examination of the original lei ler win ah on iwo pencil marks made OR the margin thereof, indicating the places where the changes Wer.? made. A further examination of the original letter, No, I, will show that you Inl tlaled pagS one OVO the margin, sign? ing. "J. P. M.' clearly showing that you did read the lotter and in order to pro?, et yourself from any chances, a business man. you initialed tho lit t p ur' . ai d on the bottom of the letter (the second page) signed "J. I*, Matthews. Cashier Palmetto Nat lonal hank of Columbia. S. C." Your statement that th letter wai twisted by ma If absolutely mislead* in ? and r?all\ amusing. The idea a man. th.- dhshler Ol a b.nk with i capital stock of $!&,eoo, a surplus and proiit of 1100,000, and deposits rf 11,100,000 i approximately. ) sign? ing a paper Involving a $100,000 transaction without reeding it over. and 0 Ihoul knowing what h?> was signing, simply doing so at the request of an humble stenographer, working for a I mall salary. Is absurd. If |hll be true, Mr. Matthews, it is time for \our board of director! and ihe de postton of your bank to begin t<> |f|? llgote who! other papers or Irans? actions mlghi hove token place with roof signature, without consideration or without reading. To be frank. Mr. Matthews. I have no objection to you playing "twtttli dum and twittle dec-" with the governor and tho Statu treas? urer, trying to hold the friendship and Influence Of both for your bank, making one statement when you are In the pretence Of one gnd another when you are in the pretence of the etiler; neither do I object to your playing with the State treasurer that little game of "tickle me, Robert; tick Is me do; you tickle me, Robert and I'll tickle you," in order to hold the deposits of the State for your I anhing institution, hut I do seriously object, my friend, Mr. Matthews, to you endeavoring to make it appear that l twisted your lotior or that I made a falte BtSSmsnt to you in or? der to tfet you to sign a letter When it |j not true; but, In order to save yourself In n transaction, which, from your two letters, one is forced to judge that you have been playing double. No; Mr. Matthews, you read tho letter OVSr very carefully, y ?u initialed it. in order to show yoJr oiutton, as all good buslnssi men do, tnd now, Mr. Matthews, don't play the I nby act and try to throw the bl< tin off <>n a poor humble steno? grapher who has to work hard for his little salary and who has nothing to muks his living out of except his brain and his good name for faithful n SS and honesty, while you are eu trenohed with your many thousands of dollars in a handsome paying po? sition, wealthy. Influential and inde? pendent I assure you that you have done me a grave Injustice and I am satis lied that when you take the second thought your manliness will prompt you to apologise foY the insinu? ations, which you have made in en? deavoring to make the world believe that your letter was "twisted to bol? ster claims to credit," and that you were not so careless or so reckless as to sign a paper of this magnitude and Importance without having read it vary carefully. Don't plead guilty. Mr. Matthews, to such folly; it look? had for such a great ilnancier. Yours very truly, (Signed) w. P.Blackburn. TH&UEE MILLION ALMOST STARV? ED. Statement to Famine Committee Points out Horrible Conditions |n Flood-?wcpt Country. New York. Feb. 12.?"Three mil lion parsons In Central China are on the verge of starvation," reads a statement today received by the Chi? nese famine relief committee of which BiShop Davis A. Greer Is chairman "Last summer the worst floods in 40 years destroyed the crop in an area of 50.000 square miles. Many have already died of hunger, and un I. ss prompt relief is given, multitudes of men, women and children must perish. No harvest can be expected until May. Until then the famine will grow daily more acute. "There is a strong famine relief committee in Shanghai composed of both foreigners and Chinese of ail faiths. Bishop Graves of the Epis? copal church is chairman, Dr. W. Ting Pang, former minister to the United States, vice chairman; Hev. B. C. I.obenstein of the Presbyterian church, secretary, and it. C, Qulland mansg r of the International Bank' trig corporation treasurer. This com? mittee will employ as many as pos > b!e f those able to labor in build ing dikes and such other work as will help to prevent the recurrence of flood and famine. This work is in line with the recommedatlon of c. D. Jameson, an engineer sont to China by the American Red Cross. All labor is to be paid for In graiti. not In mon? ey. WOOl>ROW WILSON GETS MOST. Champ Clark Come* Second in Okla? homa as Result of Caucuses. Oklahoma City, <>kia.. Feb. 12.? Unofficial returns of the Democratic precinct caucutet held throughout Oklahoma Saturday from all except two counties show that delegates in structed for Qov, Wodrow Wilson of Neu Jersej as presidential nominee will control 32 of the county conven tioi i to be held next Saturday; the supporters of Speaker Champ Clark will control 22tcountles and of Qov. Judson Harmon of Ohio, one. in 161 eountles no Instructions were given the delegstes. j The counties'In which the precinct! meetings Instructed for Oov. Wilson will send 262 delegates to the State convention: for Speaker Clark, 200, and for Uov, Harmon, 16, and unln . t ructed, 110, The state convention, to which del? egstes Will be selected tie\t Saturday. trill be beid in Oklahoma City, Feb ruufy 22. \ Rrlckbal or a HotiQUct, The only fault \s B have BVor found with the editorial articles of the sum ter Item is thst they art brief i"??i occasional. IHh brethren of the State press would welcome further expressions from Bdltor Osteeb. who never puts pen to paper without Say lag something sensible and lliy?"ina ting.?Columbia Record. MOWS AM) Ml US FROM PIBUAH. People ai Megan not Pleased Witli Change of schedule on Northwes? tern, Pisgah. Feb. 12.?The change of schedule on the Northwestern rail? road will play havoc with Sumter's trade from this point. Ever since the road has been built the people have j largely used it to go to Sumter rath- | er than drive through the country, | but that is shut off. It was pleasant to go down in the morning, stay all I day. and return in the evening, and ' the big patronage the road always g t warranted such accommodation. However, pleasant it might he to spend a night in Sumter, or two if you now spend a day, time will not admit of farmers slaying so long from home. To say the least 1 think the railroad commission, in taking snap judgment on this matter, without consulting the people here on this end of the road show their bias and untitness for of flee, it matters not how big a peti? tion it got from the other end for a change, the people here should have been conaulted before a er?uge was made, for they have as many rights i as the people on the other end, who have i etter railroad facilities than we have. The report of the grand jury has the true ring about it, especially that part that relates to magistrates grant? ing separations to negroes. I have heard some of them have married again under the belief that they had a legal right to do so. If some of the magistrates would let liquor alone and Bist '.heir heads to the space of a supreme court judge, it would be la'tter for them. It looks as if the good old days of "INTO" have come back judging from recent events in the legislature When a sub-committee was trying to lleece the people of the State out of a considerable sum without any au? thority to do so. I am glad the plot was exposed In time. Both National and State politics have degenerated to a low ebb. Any decent man must be disgusted at the WVitter.son-Harvey-Wilson controver? sy. Oov. Harmon of Ohio is th* presidential Democratic candidate that has conducted himself in a man? ner that a candidate for that high of? fice should do. Clark and Folk of Missouri are scrambling over the en dorsement of their State. Wilson is running about over the country try ing to make votes, or get acquainted, which is the same thing. Underwood is all o. K.. but is not a probability while Hryan is chief cook and bottle washer of Democratic National poll tics. The communication in your paper not many days ago on "Titles" is amusing. Mr. L'.railsford is right when he says so many want to jump to the front on a straw title. He is wrong when he says that a man must be a member of both Cie House and Senate before he is an "Honor aide." which is simply a title to one who occupies a prominent position, generally a law maker. A member of either house, of both State and Nat lonal legislatures, is an "Honorable." Lever is an "Honorable," although he ? as net been a Senator. Five young men stood theexamlna t;* n for carrier to fill vacancy on route from Rembert. Broadus C DuPru made the highest average, ??7 ( Ut of a possible 100. The rest did well and made good marks. Mr. James lb antes is substitute carrier and has an advantage over the reel from point of service. Misses Hattie Hussey and Eva Gar* dner from Stockton. Kershaw county, spent the week-end with Rev. J. W. Kenny's family. The snow . f Saturday evening was the heaviest lall here in our memory, 't measured 10 inches deep on the levels, and 2 and 3 feet deep in drifts. I notice snow is like rains, heavier in some places than in others. Farm work has commenced. Rocky Bluff Notes. it < ky Bluff. Feb. 1ft?If a eold winter i> a s!gn of a good crop year, a better crop will be made this year than lii; been made in some time, it has been . .'oral years sine - we have he ; a snow nd some say this is the deepest th >? ever saw. it was about 10 Inclu s. Very little furni work h is been done, only a few have put oul cabbages, ; nd thai Is about all that has been I done to gardens. Mrs. sallle Winkles spent last Tues da) wllh her daughter, Mrs. Alfred \ ndren s. Mix-? Lottie Witts gave a dance last Tue da) night that was enjoyed by most of the young folks in the nelgh nrhood and several from Sumter. Mrs. Will.- Bird and Miss Leo Mc !. rid spent Saturday iifternoon with .V . n, A If red A ndrew s. Mr. W. W Winkles is spending to? day at DalSell on business. What has become of "Rembert," "Pisgah* and "Smlthvllle?" We have not had ;? b iter from either of these places in some time, \ FARMERS' UNION NEWS E'raciicsl Thoughts for Practical Fsrnscirs (Conducted by IS. W. Dabbe, Pros Ident C. Farmers Union.) AN INTERVIEW WITH 8ECRE TARV WILSON. Why the Consumer Pays More Than i Twice a* \!uch as the Farmer Gets. Farmers' Union Sun. Recently 1 called upon the Secre* tary or Agriculture and had an ex tended Interview with him on the subject of "Why the consumer paid i BO much more for farm products than ths farmer gets." He said that in his Investigation of ] this sul Ject, in- had arrived at the conclusion that ths trouble lay In ths local markets In the cities and trade; The committee appointed by Con- j gresa to investigate the cause for the ! high cost of living was told by Mr. 1 Wilson that they would be the ones I to locate tin- agencies operating in the I various cities to control the price of j ihe retail trade, and that he could , get up all the information n iCOSSSry | except on this one feature. He went i so far as to establish, near his office, I an eating department, and all the employees of his department use it. and by judicious buying of the pro? ducts and having it prepared. the employes (,f this department can gat a tf?od square meal for about one third of the average price they would have to pay in a private establish ment. He did this to demonstrate I that there was fault in our system | of distribution, which in the ag^re- j gate of the United States produces a I difference in value between the farm- j er and the consumer that is astound- i I ing: According to the best statistics that hs could gather, something over | one-half of the price paid by the | consumers of farm products goes to ' pay for the distribution of ttyese farm products, and one of the least expenses in this distribution is that of transportation. So it is up to the farmers and ths consumers to devise a means by which something like a I saving of three billion dollars a year can be made, and we are now urging I the passage of a bill drawn for that ! purpasst. The government should take a i hand in the interest of consumers and producers to aid in establishing ,i better method of distribution, not sy the Government handling it. but j by simply furnishing the producer snd the consumer the information j necessary for them to come to an tin- ! derstandtng Of the exact conditions. j The Bureau of Markets that is 1 contemplated to be established by the bill we are asking for passage IS fashioned on the plan proposed by the last national convention of j the Farmers' Union. Quite a sum of money is furnished | by the Government every year to fur- \ nish exporters the inforamtion nec? essary for them to exploit foreign markets, it certainly Is as incum* 1 bent upon the Government to furnish Information necessary for the farmer j to market h\< products as for the ? exporter to find markets beyond the seas. j Everybody is a consumer; no one I i can live without being ;? consumer, every one should be a producer who Is able to produce; so that is no class of society not Interested In this undertaking. We hope our readers will Invest!- j gate and urge their Congressmen] to support it. Topics for Discussion in Local Unions, ; February. 1012. - I Farmers' Union Sun. 1. The possibilities oi the farmer. 2, Fertilisers? their composition.! the price, how and when to use them, j ;'.. What have I done for the sue-j cess of the Farmers' Union, and what has it done for me? I. What obj action can there be to the election of the United states sen* ators by direct vote of the people? These subjects are to be discussed in the local unions during the month < of February, 1912. It Is hoped that the local unions will take up these subjects and stud) them. The mem? bers should take an active Interest In su< h discussions, The subjects are broad and comprehensive. On the tirst two of these topics volumes might be written, for the) are almost inexhaustible. Much can he said on the third, while the fourth can be answered very easily. I. The possibilities <>( the farmer. I >n this subject it is safe to say thai the half has never yet been told. The next generation \\ ill accomplish results which ate not yet dreamed of. When scientific economic production, together with the elimination of waste is followed by scientific and econo mtc marketing .' " ? distribution of the producta of the farm, then. Ml then only, will the farmer begin to realize something of h's possibilities. VII these factors must I ? brought to ther in ord r to pr- iu ??? desired re iIts. The rentier .1.. s learned a real deal about ieleni k and ecewo ? lie production and ! I bet taught rauch on this line. (' . -?idei. ble SM" p'aasis has been p! ? 1 upon the elimination of waste, .t H * r.-mains for him to advance one - p further and study scientific and ? eonomic dtatributton and marketing i f his pro* dt'CtS, For IhUi purpose he needs ? in^ agencies to handln his pro? ducts tO the best advantage. OO-Op ? ative selling when put into actual practice Will go very Ear toward se < a ing the desired resulto The farmer ihould be a seller far more than he is a buyer. Ii -hould not at temtp to sell Individually, for he can not do this to the beat advantage. He must learn to sell COllect!vet)r. This is where co-operation Is most neeeded i. Fertilisers?Their c ompoeltlon, 11 e price, how and when to use them. This is a large subject and one that needs a great deal of study. The farmers are learning more about this matter. It will 1 .? observed that there are four subjects under the head of fertilizers. Composition is very important. It is useless to say that the price is a matter of eonsid ahle interest. When it comes -to the question of how and when to ms?* them, this is a matter on which there Is considerable difference of opinion. Wh< n doctors disagree who shall de? cide ? The professor in the agricul? tural college sometimes comes for ward and says some;hing while the old farmer shakes his head and do. I not know whether to believe it or not. The old farmer Is far m'ore ready now to listen to the college professor and the expert than he wes ion roan a????. This is an encouraging ggrn. Let the subject be thoroughly discussed and Studied in all its bearings. Let us suggest, however, that it would be verj well to use less fertilizer tHis year than we have ever done before. 3. What have 1 done for the suc? cess of the Farmers' UnlOO, and what has it done for me? Rome con very quickly tell what they hOVe done for the success of the Farmers' Union, for in some cases one word can answer it. Every one can do something for the success of the Union ami the smounl that we put Into a movement the same bene? fit we will get out of it. If the Farmers' Unjon has not done much for you. whose fault i? it? Is it the fault of the Union or is it your fault We think that the Farmers' Futon has done more than quite of people give it credit for been quite g factor in the Of the farmer and it has I him in a business way. 4. What Objection eon there be to the election of the UOitad States sen? ators by direct vote of the people? In our opinion the answer to this question can be given in one word: None. OH Hid of Waste. _ The elimination of waste hi one of the most important things io be con? sidered in scientific and economic production. When we apply power to machinery we always have to take any waste into account. Farmers usually understand what the term loefl motion means in working with farm machinery. Power should not be wasted and any appliance that will conserve it ought to be promptly used, while an Improvement that will Increase the power ought to be wel? comed. The Southern farmer has not yet learned the lessons of real economy. W aste and neglect of opportunity are serious faults. They are many small items of waste about the farms. These are very small when considered by themselves, but they amount to a considerable sum In a year. IVspise not the day of small things. The Scripture says that be that Is faithful < vor a few things will be made ruler ? vi r many things. The man who negi? ets small oppor? tunities right at his do,?r is not to be trusted with greater matters. Let every farmer resolve to con? centrate his efforts during the year 111! on the elimination of nraste of all sorts on his farm. The state Pro-id nt \cti\e. Farmers' Union Sun. The State president was in Colum? bia this week working In the interest of the matter of legislation that ? re endorsed by the State Farmers' t * - Ion at the special seeston held in Jan? uary. This shows that he is following up the work and aratchlng the situa? tion closely, lie came back this Week for that purpose. Mr. Dabbs went from here to j Charleston to attend the meeting for the purpose Of organizing the Boys' Corn clubs of thai county. HO was invited by the organizers of this movement it is well for the execu? tive head of the State Farmers' Un? ion to attend as many of these meet? ings as he con without Interfering with tits duties as president The Farmers' Union should he represented In thlj work.