Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WIN MUESS CALLED. COL. WATSON PUNS CONFER? ENCE TO PROTECT PLANTERS, PfuMcni of United States, Members of Coniivvt, Planters nod Business Men to Meet In Washington. Columbia, Aug. 2.?In view of the tremendous uncertainty attending the status of the cotton crop the follow? ing extraordinary call has been issued to the Southern Cotton Congress by President E. J. Watson. "To the People of the Cotton Belt: "In 1111. In the face of an Impend? ing disaster to cotton, with a 16.000, 000-bale crop almost certain to drive the pries to 8 cents or lower, entail? ing Incalculable loss to the producer, at the suggestion of the Farmers' I'nlon. the cotton growers, the mer? chants, the buslaess men and the bankers of the South met In Montgom? ery, Ala., and formed the Southern Cotton Congress. Inaugurating the great fight for the maintenance of a fair price for cotton, resulting by De center of that year In a complete vic? tory over the manipulators, and sav? ing millions of dollars to the produc? ers and to the nation, means being employed that It Is needless to dis? cuss, "When ths congress was adjourn tag. as the president of the body, the onddrsigned undertook to push the ngrht for Justice to cotton in the mar? kets snd to be ths watch dog on the tower sounding the call for action only wann eoiton was again threatened with disaster. The body adjourned swbleet to tne cell of the president, and with the understanding that such next meeting would be held In Atlanta, Oa. "Since It 11 there has been no ne? cessity for the congress to meet and hence I have Issued no call, for no greet disaster has been imminent at any time. "Though the Iniquitous methods of marketing that have been permitted to prevail have not yet been cured by national governmental action, and this had become a vital matter to cotton growers, almost necessitating the call? ing of the congress to wrestle with the problem, we have preferred to await the action of the United States congress In thai regsrd. "Cotton Is not alone the South's chief asset; It ta the <*hlef asset of the nation, preserving the world's balance of trade In favor of the United States and bringing to America her golden stream. In the past few days the great Euro? pean cotton-consuming countries have been plunged Into a war, which It now appears, brings the grower and handler of cotton face to face with disaster. In two days the pries of cotton has begun to fall startlngly. Cotton Is about to move to tms markets, the markets are about to be curtailed by millions of bales end closed. From the standpoint at the financial stability and integrity of the nation Itself, of the producer, of the banks and bankers, of the mer? chants and h ts'nesa men, of every commercial Interest of our own textile plants. It is vital that the 1914 crop of American cotton shall not be sacri? ficed to the Irreparable damage of a prosperous and rapidly developing sec? tion of the union and of the nation. "I do not believe In business hys? teria snd for several days have welt? ed and watched the cours? of events. It Is clear that .rent damage has al? ready been done, certainly more than can bs undone were there an Im enedlate euspenalon of hostilities. Whether ths danger of a total financial loss for one year at least to grower* of cotton Is Impending Is Immaterial; ths danger Is sufficiently manifested to show that the time for concerted ac? tion betwesn growers, merchants, hus ineas men, linkers, cotton manufac? turers snd even the National 'Jovern menl llssif has come. "I sm. therefore, exercising the au? thority voted in me by the Southern Cotton Growers, and after consulta? tion with officials of the Farmers' Union, the most Important regular or? ganisation of Southern cotton growers, and with business men, Issuing this call for an extraordinary session of the Southern Cotton Congress to be held on August 13-11, 1914. In view of the fact that It is important that all mem? bers of the Congress of the Tutted States should be given the opportunity to confer directly with those so vitally sffected. the session Is hereby called to meet In Washington, D. C, In? stead of Atlanta. Oa. An Invitation to attend the congress Is hereby extended to the President of tho United Statea. the Secretary o. the Treasury, the Secretary of Agricul? ture and other Cabinet officers and all members of both bouses of tho, l'nlted State? Congress, the Governors| end commissioner* of agriculture of the cotton State*, the president of the National Farmers' I'nlon, and the of? ficers thereof, and the pre*ldcnt* and officers of each of the State union*, the Governor snd commissioner ot agriculture In each State it. the cotton belt, and the presTderTtTbf each"8tate Farmers' Union, each State Bankers' Association, each State Cotton Seed Crushers* Association, and each com? mercial organization are hereby ear? nestly requested to appoint as many delegates as they may deem proper to attend this extraordinary session of the congress, and all cotton farmers, bankers, business men, merchant* and members of trade and commercial or? ganizations are invited to attend, whether regularly appointed as above provided or not. "The date fixed is at the time when cheap round trip excursion rates arc on salo to Washington. Due an? nouncement of the hour and place of meeting will be made through the press. (Signed) "E. J. Watson, "President." DISCUSS COTTON SITUATION. Lever and Others Talk of Crisis hut Make no Statement. Washington, Aug. 5.?Chairman Lever of the committe on agricul? ture, chairman of the subcommittee appointed by the conference of South? ern senators and representatives to deal with the cotton situation, was closeted all the morning in his offices with officials of the department of ag? riculture going over suggestions and plans for relieving the acuteness of the crisis in the cotton trade. His subcommittee at 3 o'clock today call? ed upon Secretary McAdoo and went over the entire problem with him. Mr. Lever would make no statement as to what transpired In these con? ferences. He has called a meeting of the ag? ricultural committee for Saturday, at which time his cotton grading bill will be considered. This bill pro? vides a system of government super, vision of grading of cotton by which it* grade and identity can be definite? ly known from the time it leaves the gin until it reaches its point of final destination. It is understood that all the experts agree that the enactment of this bill into law is of the most vital concern as the basis upon which may be worked out the problems in? volved in this unforeseen situation. Mr. Lever is just out of a sick bed and is working under tremendous difficulties and nervous strain. Whole Claae Guilty. A school-teacher complained to the principal the other day that one of the big boys was flirting outrageously with the music teacher, who came In once a day. The principal spoke severe? ly to the class and ended by saying that, cut of consideration for the feel? ings of the culprit, he would not name him in public. At the close of tho session, however, he was to come to the principal's office for an interview. Tes, you guessed it. All the boys in the class showed up. TOBACCO MARKETS REMAIN OPEN. Pee Dee Not to Allow Paralysis?Fed? eral Aid Wanted. Florence, Aug. 4.?The largest meeting of representatives of various tobacco interests of this section held In a long while was that at the Cen? tral hotel tonight to discuss the situ? ation brought about by the war in Europe and the calling off of buyer* by foreign concerns. All tobacco markets were represented by ware? housemen, buyers and bankers who discussed the situation fully and de? termined to keep the markets open and to advise the farmers to market the weed slowly. Indt,;?"ndont buyers and some large American concerns will continue to buy if bankers can arrange to support them. The bankers of the Pee Dee section held a mooting and conference im? mediately following to devise plan* and will probably sond a committee to Washington to lay before tho treasury authorities the value of thi* ?*?otlon of tho tobacco trade and fte'S ?l*i. such us Is being arranged tor other crop movements. They speak hopefully of the prospects of being able to get this aid and to carry the buyers who remain on tho markets. Many conscr. tlvc bankers do not think that the situation will grow worse and expect all nervousness to disappear In a short time. A resolution was passed by the to? bacco warehouse association as fol? lows: "That it i* decided to keep open the warehouses for the ?ale of tobacco. "That, owing to the war ( loud* banging over Europe and several countries helm already Involved In war, several of which countries are large users of South Carolina tobacco, It has In ? measure affected price* and some of the large llrms have wlthrawn from the markets; Net sev? eral large concern* are still buying tobacco ami we hope that the worst may be over iti a short time, though It Is Impossible to forecast the future. The continuance of sales give* ths planters Opportunity to try the inar | ket ar.d make up bis mind whether to accept prices or not. It Is not ad\>able for this committee to make any further suggestions except that It is best not to ruflh the tobacco on ktbc market.'' BIG ARMIES READY. THE POLICY OF ENGLAND NOT YET DEFINED. Germany and Austriu, Russia, Kenia and Montenegro Offielully at War. but State of War Exists Between Germany and France Also. London, Aug. 3.?All the great Eu? ropean powers except Italy and most of the secondary powers are mobiliz? ing with all their energy. Mobilization has not yet reached a stage where any of the armies have met in battle. Italy, which declared her neutral? ity, will begin to mobilize officially to? morrow, although tho process prob? ably Is well under way. Great Britain's mobilization is near? ly complete, hut she has not an? nounced, that she will join in the general war. Tonight war officially extended be? tween Austria and Germany on one side and Russia, Servia and Monte? negro on the other. There had been no official declaration of war between Germany and France on either side. But tonight the German ambassador in Paris received orders to demand his passports. The most important event in the past 24 hours was Germany's demand upon Belgium in the form of a 12 hour ultimatum that the German troops be permitted to cross Belgium to the French frontier, coupled with the promise that Belgian integrity should remain unimpaired at the end of the war and that Belgium should be compensated. To this Belgium refused to accede on the grounds of her rights and honor. Sir Edward Grey, British secretary for foreign affairs, made a statement in the house of commons indicating that Great Britain's interests and ob? ligations could not permit her to sub? mit to the violation of Belgian terri? tory. This virtually left it?as to whether Great Britain should make war?to public opinion. There is no doubt that British sentiment is for war. The appeals of the pacificists get no hearing. Not one man in a hun? dred in London seemingly wants the nation to remain nedtral. Germany, through her diplomats, has tried to keep' Great Britain by a virtual offer to refrain from using her navy against France as the price of Great Britain's neutrality.' But the English people clearly are convinced that their honor and vital interests compel them to protect Belgium, France and the other nations which are their closest neighbors. There is a report tonight that H0I-1 land has been ii.vaded through the province of Limburg. The people of the Dutch kingdom, resolved to go to any extremity, are s?id to be opening; the dykes and hooding the country, which would make, the passage of an. army impossible. SHIFTING THE BLAME. Germany Issues Statement Denouncing France for Provoking- War. Berlin, Aug. 3.?A further official communication regarding French acts of hostility against Germany was pub? lished hero tonight. It said: "The German troops hitherto have obeyed orders not to cross the French frontier. French troops, on the con? trary, since yesterday have made sev? eral attacks on the frontier posts with? out any declaration uf war having been made. "The French have crossed the fron? tier at several places in spito of the fact that tho French government a few oays ago Informed us that it would not infringe on the unoccupied zone of six miles from tho frontier, and since last night companies of French troops have been in the occupation of a num? ber of German villages. "French army aeronau. have been fly'*:;, over Baden and Havaria yester? day and today throwing bombs, and havo violated Belgian neutrality by fl>lng over Belgian territory Into the province of the Rhina in an effort to destroy our railroads. "In this way France has opened the attack upon us and has established a state of war which has compelled the German empire to take measures for the security of its territory." TU COMPLETE RESERVE HOARD Senate Committee Favors Two Washington. Aug. &.? Nominations of Paul M. Warburg of New York and Frederlelt a. Delano of Chicago to be members of the federal reserve board Were favorably reported to the sen? ate today by the banking committee. Action on them was deferred until tomorrow, Senator Brlstow, who opposed the favorable report on the Warburg nomination by the committee on hanking und currency. moved In executive session that the testimony of Mr. Warburg be mad. public, sen? ator Hhafroth objected^ but Senator Brlstow will insist upon bis motion when it comei up tomorrow, Nominations. MONEY FOR AMERICA. CONGRESS ADOPTS MEASURES TO MEET SITUATION. Assets of Banks Made Basis for Issue of Emergency Currency?More Thun a Billion Dollars Will be Available. Washington, Aug. 3.?More than a billion dollars in currency will be ad? ded to the circulating medium in the United States by the action of con? gress today to meet the situation re? sulting for the crisis. This is new money backed by prime assets of banks, issued under a modification OJ the banking law passed in both house and senate, compromised in confer? ence and approved by the administra? tion for final action in both houses to morrow. National banks and all State banks and trust companies, members of the new federal reserve system, and those that have agreed to join, may issue notes under the Aldrich Vrecland section of the banking law, up to 125 per cent of their combined capital and surplus. There is approximately $1,760,000, 000 such capital and surplus on which issue of notes may be based. Of that about $800,000,000 invested in govern? ment bonds is not available. Approxi? mately $900,000,000 plus 25 per cent therefore is ready as a basis of issue. Bankers told administration leaders the issue available should more than care for any situation. The senate imposed a further con? dition that hanks shall deposit with the government, against the new issue, a gold reserve of not less than 5 per cent and that the new notes shall be apportioned geographically to care for local banking needs and industries. As originally proposed by the sen? ate, banks might have issued up to the former limit of $500.000,000. The house today removed all restrictions as to amount. The senate amended the proposal to limit the issue to com? bined capital and surplus, and the extra 25 per cent was added in con? ference as a compromise. liundreds of millions of new notes are ready for the call of the banks; shipments to financial centres have begun and the bureau of engraving , is making more night and day Further relief for the situation was expected by the organization of the federal reserve board. Paul M. War I burg's delayed confirmation was ad? vanced by his examination In the banking committee today and Chair? man Owen predicted a favorable re? port. President Wilson has selected his nominee for the place of Thomas D. Jones, but will not disclose his identi? ty until the man accepts. WAR AFFECTS TOBACCO. Farmern of South Carolina May Feel Lack of Market for Crop. Florence, Aug. 3.?The European war scare has thrown a bemb in the tobac o market, and it is generally unde.stood that export buyers have been called off the market through the entire belt until foreign business settles on a new basis. No one of the tobacco men here will take the re? sponsibility of giving out anything for publication and say that there is nothing yet to say except that con? ditions have materially affected the market and the buyers do not know Just where they stand. It is not thought that this condition will last long, for the tobacco from this belt is eagerly sought for, especially in England, and the market normally would absorb a crop much larger than the present at high price. Farmers are in distress because as a rule their capacity for storage on the farms is taxed to fullest extent and more weed is pressing for care. Farmers are advised to hold tobacco If possible for more settled condi? tions. In the meantime American buyers and speculators may be able to keep warehouses going, but at pres? ent no one can tell. A meeting of the warehousemen of this section has been called to be held here tomorrow night to discuss the situation and determine whether to close the warehouse or not. TIIK WAR IN MEXICO. 70.000 Betels Moving on Mexico City. Saltlllo, Mexico, August 2. -?< Via La? redo, Texas, Aug. :'..> ? An advance on Mexico City of over seventy thousand well armed and equipped constitution? alists soldiers was begun today. 1_ MBS. WILSON RALLIES. she Passed Restful Night ami I* Stronger Today. Special to The Dally Item. Washington, Aug. 6.?Mrs, Wilson was slightly stronger today, having passed a restful night. Iron Stands 1,300 Years. In Delhi stands a wrought-lron col? umn which was placed there nearly 11,300 years ago and tuxhiy shows prac* jtlcally no signs of deterioration. METHODISTS OF BISIIOPVILLE OPEN HOUSE OF WORSHIP. A Splendid Building of Large Size, Well Furnished ami Conveniently Arranged for Religious Activities. Blehopvllle, Aug. 4.?Sunday was red letter day for the Methodists in this community, in that they dedicat? ed their beautiful new church which they have now completed after toil? ing for many months in the face of the usual discouragements. The exercises were conducted by tho present pastor, the Rev. G. Em? ory Edwards, assisted by two former pastors, the Rev. E. P. Taylor and the Rev. Chas. H, ?Smith, and the Rev L. L. Legters of the Presby? terian church. The music for the occasion wa.s rendered by the combined choirs of the Presbyterian, Baptist and Metho? dist churches, under the direction of Miss Albert Woodward. Tho style of architecture is English Gothic. The exterior dimensions are 87 by 125 feet. All exterior walls are faced with reshale brick and sand stone trimmings. The church is heat? ed by steam and lighted by elec? tricity. The interior walls and ceilings are plastered with sand finish. The walls below the chair rail are tinted in rus? set. The interior wood work is oak and Southern pine in fumed oak finish. The windows are leaded art glass. Ono especial feature of this church is that it is built along pi ins to em? phasize and accommodate a modern Sunday school. The main auditorium is 60 by 63 feet In size, with bowled floor and ample room for a large choir and pipe organ. The pulpit platform of the main auditorium is continuous with the one in the Sunday school auditorium, which is 40 by 40 feet, and the two auditoriums are separated by rolling partlltlons so that they can be thrown together. Tho seating capacity of the entire building is about 1,000 and the speak? er is visible from all parts of the church. To the right of the speaker's plat? form are the primary and beginner departments, all separated by roller partitions. These rooms will accom? modate 160 children. To the left of tho Sunday school superintendent's platform is the ladies' parlor and classroom. Directly in front of this platform is the Epworth league and prayer meeting room. These can be thrown Into the main auditorium by rolling up the partitions. Immediately above these on the second floor are seven large class? rooms, with an estimated seating ca? pacity of over 250. Fourteen rooms in the building constitute the equip? ment for Sunday school classroom \vor\. In addition to these there are a large well lighted pastors' study on the ground floor and four large rooms in the basement which can when necessary be finished and used for Sunday school classrooms. The church as it stands represents a cost of $40,00(1 in money and the faithful and hard work of n devoted pastor and loyal people. With the completion of this church Blshopvllle can now boast three of the handsomest churches of any city, in tho State her size. BELGIANS DEFEAT GERMAN'S. Von Emmioh's Demand for Open Road Met by Shot and Shell. Brussels, Vln Paris, Aug ?',.?1.38 A. M.)?Several thousand dead ana wounded is the toll paid by the tier man army Of the Mens*- for its attack on Liege. The Belgians made a he? roic defence, repulsing the Germans after heavy and continuous fighting. The fortified positions of Liege had to support on Wednesday the general shock of the German attack. The Belgian forts resisted the advance fiercely and did not suffer. One Bel? gian squadron attackeed and drove back six German squadrons. Light hundred wounded Germans are being transferred to the city of Liege, where they will be eared for. Prior to the attack on Liege Gen Von Lmmich, commanding the Ger? man army of the Meuse, issued a proclamation calling for an open road through Belgium for the ad? vance of bis forces. und suggesting that prudence would show it to i>? the duty of the Belgian people to ac? cede to this to avoid the horrors of w ur. Tho Germans committed repres? sions aainst the civil population of the town of Vise, eight miles north? east of Liege, burning the cits and shooting many residents. Selected for Reserve Board. Special to The Daily Item. Washington. Aug. I. ? Frcdoiicl Delano, president of the Monon rail road has been selected a member o the federal reserve board. WORKING FOR SOUTH. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS PLAN TO SAVE COTTON CROP. Government Celled Ppoa to Adopt Emergency Measures to Prevent Bankruptcy of Cotton States and rnincial Dimeter for Entire Coun? try. Washington, Aug. 4.?Measures to relieve the cotton industry of the United States from depression threat? ened by the European war were plan? ned today by a specially appointed committee of Southern senators and representatives In congress. The com? mittee mapped out an exhaustive in? vestigation of conditions affecting the marketing and consumption of cot? ton with a view to securing legislative and administrative action as may be necessary to safeguard American in? terests. At a meeting presided over by Sen? ator lloke Smith, chairman of the committee, three subcommittees were appointed to look into various phases of the subject. Senators Smith, Overman and Bryan and Representa? tives Underwood and Lee were named to confer with President Wilson with reference to foreign relations general? ly in so far as they may affect the cotton industry in this country. Representative Lever, chairman of the house agricultural committee, will head a committee which will consult with Secretary ttcAdOO with a view to extension of government aid to farmers w in may lind it necessary to store their crops in case there is no foreign market. Another subcom ttee will ask Secretary Redfleld information as to transportation fa. '.ities and get h\a advice relative to the effect the Bcropean conflagration may have on cotton mills abroad. The problem of having transporta? tion for the 1914 crop, now that trans-Atlantic commerce has been in? terrupted, was conceded by those who participated In today's confer? ence to be a serious one. "The main thing to look after first," said Senator Smith, "is the transportation and consumption of the cotton. We want to get this cot? ton consumed so as not to have a surplus to glut the market. If we ' .n facilitate consumption danger will be alleviated." MBS. WILSON DYING. Small Hope Entertained for Recov? ery of President's Wife. Washington, Aug. 5.?Mrs. Wood row Wilson, wife of the president of the United States, tonight lie? at the point of death. Four months of almost unbroken illness, a complication of nervous ail? ments and Blight's disease, have sapped the vitality of the first lady of the land. The end is regarded as a matter of days, perhaps hours. Her husband and three daughters are at her bedside and relatives have been summoned* Physicians have been in consultation for days, but it was ad? mitted at the White House tonight that hope for her recovery had al? most vanished. Conscious only at intervals, Mrs. Wilson has been cheerful and has called constantly for her husband. Even spare moment that could bo spared from urgent OfUcial duties have been devoted by the president to his wife. At the side of his con? stant helpmate and adviser, he wrote the tender of good offices appealing to the European monarchs to stay their conflict. From the sick room he has been giving directions to the various department heads for the re? lief of thousands of Americans stranded abroad. The press of do mo lie legislation, the European ami and the Mexican situation and tho Hurry over financial conditions throughout the country have weighed heavily on the president as he has maintained his day and night vigil. For several days it has been known to those in (dosest touch att he White t othose in closest touch at the White House that hope for Mrs. Wilson's recovery was Slight. The president lias clung desperately to the hope that she might survive the crisis, but her frail constitution, drained by months of never-ending illness, has been unable to withstand the battle. Last March Mrs. Wilson slipped on a rug at the White House, injuring her spine. An operation was neces? sary. After weeks of convalescence she finally rose from her bed, buy Ihc landen of a winters activity av tho White Hons.', together with char? ily, brought on nervous prostration. She was well cnUOgh to attend the wedding of her second daughter, now Mrs. Will. G. MeAdoo. but her recuperative powers were not last? ing. Slonuu It trouble added to her nervous ailment and Bright's disease de\ eloped. Really Fault of the People. Amateur concerts are probably ?A\ right In their way, but the trouble is there are so many people who are r.n ?blo to appreciate that kind of music.