Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?LEASE'S BESIBMT10N. KIQHT WORDS WRITTEN IN RED INK CAUSE SENSATION. No X%\\MM? Are Assigned end All Kinds of Surmise** as to Why t.ov ??01 Took Such Sudden Action. Columbia, Jan. 14.?Written In his own handwriting and with red ink were the words "I hereby resign as governor of South Carolins." That was all there wax to the communica? tion that started a whirlwind In the legislative halls today. The note was written on the stationery of Cole I*. Bleaee. lawyer, and not on that as chief executive of the State. A great many who heard the umor of the reatgnatlon did not believe that It was so. but when the house r eard the for ?sal Tending of the note there was considerable applause, snd later on when Oov. ('has. A. Smith sent his speesul message No. 1 to notify the goneral assembly that he had quali? fied aa governor there was another outburst of applause. The history of politics may be pic? tured to some extent by the fact that the formal resign* Uon of a governor of South CarollT:a was written on the lower martin received a? information "nod tha: disposes of the whole mat? ter." It la a real case of "long live tha King." Of course, It must be realised that the unexpected resignation of Qov. Bleaee created a tense situation. It was hke an earthquake. The news? paper men were the first to grasp the situation and In five minutes had her? alded the news to all parts of the country. Lieut. Oov. Smith, In com? pany with friends, lost a very few minutes in qualifying, but it was not satisfying to have a seisatlon like this "break" without asking the whys. Aa yet no one has been able to an? swer, there are all sort sof reasons as? signed. Of course, every one knows that Governor Blease Is a quick and Impulsive man and that re may have none it upon the ?pur of the moment, yut there are many who do not credit Dim "Rh such Impulsiveness. Here are some of the many reasons that are assigned for the unexpected resigna? tion: t Firel, that It was done for advertis? ing purposes. ._Second, that he wished to give Chas A. Smith, with whom ho had been wsry friendly, the privilege of being governor for five days. Third, that he wished to oust Sen? ator LeOrand Walker from the posi? tion of senator from Georgetown county by virtue of the fict that he la.President pro tern of the senate. Fourth, that Oov. Blease is not on such friendly political termi with Oov eJect Manning that he wishes to par? ticipate In the letter's Inauguration and be present at the ceremonies in? cident to the inauguration of one in whose election he had no part. Fifth, that he did not care to enter lato Impeachment proceodings, of which there had been some rumor. Tha last Is probably the least prob? able, because Oov. Blease Is never afraid of a political result?nor does he shun the limelight. None of these may be the roal rea? son, because the governor has kept hie own counsel In this matter and his resignation was limited to eight simple words that had no bearing on reasons. At all events It Is no longer Govern? or Blease. but It Is now Gov Chas. A. Smith. The senate hi giving s*rlous consid? eration to the status of Senator Le? Orand Walker?aft ?r whose scalp It Is suggested Oov. iilease 1* aiming. Whatever may be done the senate Is intent upon not sacrificing Senator Walker and will not force another election for senator for Georgetown county. Many of he best constitu? tional lawyers contend thut the Oeorgetown senator is simply "act? ing." and In the moaning of the con? stitution, and until be qualities as lieutenant governor he has not vacat? ed hie orrVce as senator. It is also suggested that the J dnt assembly hav? ing declared the result of the election In favor of Oov. Manning and Lieut. Oov. Bethea, that Mr. Dethea Is in line to be sworn In as lieutenant governor, having been officials declared elected, and that such proceeding would avoid any complication. # Smith's First Message. When the house got Us bearings during one of its Intormlsslons a messenger from the governor was an? nounced shortly before the result of the tabulation of the vote for gov? ernor was declared. It was a message from the new governor and hero is what It said: "Message No. 1- - "To the Honorabls the Members of the General Assembly of the State of South Cart Una: "I have the lonor to Inform you that, upon the r 'SlgnUlon of the Hon. Colo L. Bleaer as g overnor of the ?Uta of South Cardina. that I ap? peared before the S jpreme Court of the Stats of South Cirollna and. Oe? ing duly presented by Mr. Assistant Attorney General Fred il. Domlnlck, EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY GRANTED BLEASE GIVES PARDONS, PA? ROLES AND COMMUTATIONS TO TWENTY-SEVEN. Last Act of Retiring Governor?One Hundred Left In Penitentiary?To? tal List up to 1,74)8. Columbia, Jan. 15.?The retiring governor yesterday granted 27 par? dons, paroles ard commutations, which bring the total numoer of cases of clemency up to 1.708, not includ? ing the "blanket 1 pardon list of 1, 000. D. J. Griffith, superintendent of the State penitentiary, said yesterday that | there were 182 st.ite prisoners. Less than 100 are confined in the State penitentiary. There are 50 prisoners at the State farms, four on the coun? ty chaingangs and 150 boys in the Lexington reformatory. Ton manslayers and two convicted for criminal assault were included in the list sent to the office of the sec? retary of State yesterday by the re tlrin" governor. SUFFRAGE CAUSE NOT DISMAY? ED. Defeat of BUI In Congress Docs Not Dampen Enthusiasm In South Car? olina. Spartanburdr, Jan. 13.?"We are ?Imply delighted with the defeat of equal suffrage in the house of repre? sentatives yeate.dny, said an officer of the Spartanburg fclffttl Suffrage j club today. She explained that the ' suffragists of South Carolina do not regard the question as one for the federal government to handle but one to be met by the several States of the Union. "We were not at all surprised by the fact that the South Carolina delegation voted against the measure. We expected that, on the ground that it Is not a federal Issue." The South Carolina suffragists have not abandoned their idea of carrying the question before the South Caro? lina legislature. There has been some discussion as to whether or not the Iron Is hot, the opportunity at hand or the psychological moment arrived, but these debates have not shaken the faith of the advocates of votes for women. FALLS UNDER MOVING TRAIN. W. E. Austcll of Gtffncy lias Right Foot Badly Mangled?Member Is at Once Amputate*!. Gaffney, Jan. 14.?W. E. AHUM, manager of the Insurance Trust com? pany of Gaffney, had the misfortune to have his right foot badly man? gled while attempting to board No. 39 this morning while the train was in motion. The young man was late in coming to the train and attempted to board it from the wrong side and in attempting to attract the atten? tion cf some of the crew in order that the door might be opened lost his footing. A physician whose office is near the passenger station, rushed him to the hospital where with assistance of other physicians the right foot wis amputated Just above the ankle. The patient stood the operation well and it is to be hoped that he will soon re? cover. A strange fact in connection with the accident is that Mr. Austell told his friend, J. G. Prldmore, yesterday that he had dreamed the night before that he had been run over by a train. PROTEST BY BRYAN. Secretary Objects to Proposed Closing; of oil Wells. .Washington, Jun. 14.?Secretary Hryan has sent a vigorous protest di? rect to the Carranza authorities at Tamplco against their thieat to close tho great oil wells in that vicinity because tho foreign operators refused to pay a heavy assessment levied by the Mexicans. The matter also has been brought to the attention of Gen. Carranza himself. Doubt has to whether Oen. Gutier? rez has been continued by the con? vention at MtHtten Clt> as provisional president existed today at the State department. A telegram from Mexico City announced that the chairman o' the convention late Tuesday night , gave out a notice "that the convention had concluded and would continue President Gutierrez In olllco." but for some unknown reason the notice wai ' re< ailed. as sworn in as the governor of the .State of South Carolina, the oath or aflsOi having been taken by me at 12.45 o'clock P. M. this day. Very respectfully, "Charles A. Smith, Governor." Mr. Me.Mahan suggested tl. .t it mlKht be well to save some further inaugural ceremonies for Governor Smith, and at this suggestion a com? mute waited on him. At first Mush he suggested that such ceremonies might l?e held tomorrow. A commit? tee wan appointed to consult him fur? ther a id there may or inny not be additional exercises tomorrow. PROGRAM FOR IHA JSUUL. JOIXT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FILES REPORT. Address el Governor Manning Will be Delivered From State House Stops. Columbia, Jan. 16.?The commit? tee appointed to arrange a program for the inauguration ceremonies for Gov. Richard I. Manning next Tues? day, with George W. Dick of Sumter as chairman, has drawn up the fol? lowing report: "The joint committee respectfully report that after consultation with the governor and lieutenant, governor elect they have arranged the 'ollow ing programme for the inaugural, ceremonies: "The house of representatives being I in session at noon, January 19, will j be joined by the senate. As soon as the Joint assembly shall have been organized and seated, the governor, J the governor-elect and lieutenant governor-elect, the senators and rep I resentatives in congress from this State, who may be in Columbia, the chief justice and associate justices of the supreme court, the circuit judges of the State and the United States judges who may be present In Co? lumbia and the State officers, incum? bent and elect, the trustees an 1 fac? ulty of the University of South Caro? lina and students of said university, said university being a State institu? tion located at the capital, will be escorted by the committee on ar? rangements from the supreme court room to the hall of the house of rep? resentatives. "As iney approach the rostrum, the sergeant-at-arms of the house of rep? resentatives will announce: 'His ex? cellency, the governor-elect, and lieu? tenant governor-elect, and thei* es? corts.' The Joint assembly, the or? der of the president pro tempore of the ser.ate, will arise and receive them, standing until they are seated. The governor-elect, lieutenant gov? ernor-elect and the chief justice and the associate justices will be seated on the rostrum at the speaker's desk; the escort accompanying th em will be seated to the right and left of tho speaker's desk. "The assembly having been (ailed to order, the president pro tempore of the senate will announce that the proceedings will be opened with prayer and after the prayer the pres? ident pro tempore of the senate will announce that the Hon. 1 icha-d I. Manning, governor-elect, i* present and ready to qualify; thereupor the governor-elect will advance tc the desk on the right of tho speaker and the Hon. Eugene B. Gary, chief jus? tice, will advance to the de.ik on the left of the speaker. The oc.th of of? fice will then be administered by the chief Justice of the supreme court of the State of South Carolina. "The president pro tempore ol the senate will then announce that the Hon. Andrew J. Bethea, lieutenant governor-elect, is present and ?ady to qualify, whereupon the lieutenant governor-elect and the Hon. Eugene B. Gary, chief justice, will advmce as in the case of the govorior-elect, and the chief justice of the supreme court of the State of South Cardina will administer the oath of offic? to the lieutenant governor-elect. "The president pro tempore of the senate will then announce that the governor Will deliver his address from a rostrum on the front steps of the j State house and then declare the joint I assembly dissolved. Tho governor and lieutenant governor and their escorts will then immediately prcceed in the same order in which they entered the hall of the house of representa? tives to the front of the State houso, the members of the general assembly following. "The committco: For tho senate: George K. Laney, lt. J), Epps and Hugher Makler; for the house: Geo, I W. Dick. J. T. Idles and F. C, Rob inson." FOR NEW JUDICIAL DISTRICT. Aikcn Presents Bill for Additional Judge, Federal Attorney and Mar? shal. Washington, Jan. 14,?Congress? man Alken today introduced a bill providing for the appointment of a district Judge, a district attorney and a marshal for the western district of South Carolina, The judge to he sd named would receive the same com? pensation as others and the district attorney and marshal would each ie celve $4,100 a year. The announce? ment that thll bill has been intro? duced will probably interest a num? ber of persons In South Carolina, who for many years have been hoping that BUOh a bill WOUld be passed by co i gress. ADOPTS CONFERENCE REPORT. House Sends Burnett Immigration Bill to President, Washington, Jan. 16. ?The house adopted the conference report on ti e Burnett Immigration bill, which now goes tot he president. A WARNING 10 CARRANZA. AMERICAN GOVERNMENT TAKES VP OIL WELL CASE. May Cause Trouble as Interests or British deeply Involved in Embargo on Oil Shipments. Washington, Jan. 15.?The United Stales government has warned Gen. Venustiano Carranza that "serious consequences may follow*' his threat? ened c nflscation of foreign owned oil plants in Tampico. This an? nouncement was made by Secretary Bryan today after a conference with Sir Ceril Spring-Uice, the British am? bassador, and representatives of American oil concerns. Already the Carranza officials have enforced a vir? tual embargo on the exportation of oil by a big English company. The British ambassador, at Mr. Bryan's suggestion, sent an urgent protest to the British consul at Vera Cruz for Gen Carranza. As the British fleet obtains much of its fuel from Mexican fields, the possibility of serious complications over the Car? ranza government's attitude is fully realized by the American govern? ment. Mr. Bryan said today that the foreign owned oil companies "feared confiscation of their wells" by Car? ranza and that urgent representations had been made to forestall such ac? tion. A decree issued by the Carran? za government makes it impossible for foreign oil companies to operate with? out the consent of the Carranza au? thorities and some American concerns, it is said, have been ordered to pay so heavy a tax that they have been com? pelled to shut down. The prospect of a battle on the out? skirts of Tampico is expected here to develop the situation further. If Villa forces are victorious a solution of the problem is confidently expected be? cause of previous assurances by the Villa-Gutierrez officials. AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY, Founders Day to Be Observed on Jan. 28?-Governor Manning to Preside. Col umbia, Jan. 16.?Since the holl^ days the various departments of the University of South Carolina have been busily engaged rounding out the first term which ends this month, {he mid-session examinations to be held the first week in February. . Last Saturday night the Euphra dian literary society elected Howard E. panner president for the tbird term. At the same time the Euphra dian and Clarisosophic societies, in joint assembly, elected E. S. Gam brell, of Belton, editor-in-chief of the Carolinian; and Eugeen Geer, also from Belton, editor-in-chief of The Gamecock. The Januaiy number of the Carolin? ian was given to the publishers this week and Will be issued within the next fortnight. Founders' Day, the largest annual celebration held at the University, oc? curs this year on the 28th inst., at which time Dr. William Spenser Cur rell, the University's new president, will be inaugurated. The inaugura? tion will be the occasion for an ex? ceptionally elaborate observance, and preparations are being made for one I of the most pretentious celebrations I ever held. It is known that a large ! number of alumni from all over this section of the nation will attend the exercises of the day, while some of the country's most prominent educa? tors and distinguished men will be present, many of them having parts in the exercises. In the morning there will be meeting in LeConte College of the General Alumni association. In the afternoon there will be an academic procession from the library to the historic old chapel in Itutledge col? lege, at which time literary exercises, presided over by Lieut-Gov. Andrew J. Bethea, will be held. The speakers are: Hadden Johnson, for student body; President J. Henry Harms, Newberry College; Professor W. Le? Conte Stevens, Washington and I>ee University; Chancellor James R. Kirk land, Vanderbilt University; Dr. S. I*. Capers, United States Bureau of Edu? cation; Col, Aabury Coward. From five to six o'clock of the af? ternoon there will be a reception by the president. Governor Richard I. Manning will preside over the exercises which are to be held in the hall of the house of representatives, at eight o'clock on the evening of Founders' Day. At this time President Currell will de? liver his inaugural address. This is to be followed by a smoker to the alumni and visitors. Academic cos? tumes Will be Worn at all the exercis? es. K. I?. J. Cotton Ginned to January 1. The Genaue bureau shows that up to January 1. 1915, a total of 1,388, 779 bales were ginned in South Caro? lina against 1.342.707 In 101:5. The report shows Bumter fifth in amount of cotton ginned, the counties coming Orangeburg 81,38t, Bpartanburg 67, L?24, Barnwell 58,f>(Mi, Marlboro 68, L?r?8, Bumter 60,538, Clarendon 47, 530, Lee 10,435. ADJUTANT GENERAL SATISFIED MILITIA MIX UP NOT REGARDED AS SERIOUS. If Disbandmoiit Order is Declared Le? gal, Companies Will Iluve to Re Reorganized. Washington, Jan. 15.?Adjt Gen. | Moore of South Carolina, who has been in Washington for the past two or three days straightening out the trouble with the South Carolina militia, caused by ex-Gov. Blease dis? banding the troops, returned home to? night. Gen. Moore was in conference several times with the officials of the war department and stated before leaving for home tonight that so far as the officials here are concerned there is no trouble in sight. He found the secretary of war and the army of? ficers very glad to talk with him about the matter and they assured him that the fullest cooperation of the federal authorities would be ex? tended the South Carolina troops. The only real question about the matter, according to what Gen. Moore said, is whether or not the order is , sued by ex-Gov. Blease is lega\ This i question is now being examined by good legal talent. If the Blease or? der is illegal, that settles it and Gov. Manning can rescind it, thus restoring the troops to their former status. If, on the other hand, the order is declared to be legal, then the differ? ent companies must be reorganized. While this will cause much additional work to fall on the office of the adju? tant general for a few months, every? thing will go on as usual after the re? organization WOr?* has been com? pleted. Gen. Moore does not take the sit? uation at all seriously and said that in either case the most injury that would come to the National Guard of South Carolina by the Blease order j would be a temporary inconvenience. I There will be no delay in holding the ; inspections throughout the State and within a few months, at most, every? thing should he in good working order again, even should the Blease oraer be declared legal. GOVERNOR* WHO HAVE RE? SIGNED. Resignations Have Heretofore Been Due to Promotion in Public Life. Columbia, Jan. 15.?The resignation of the governor yesterday established a precedent in South Carolina. A. S. Calley, Jr., secretary of the South j Carolina historical commission, said ) that there had been six times within I the history of the State when the of i lice had been vacated by resignation j to accept higher office or by death, I but there had been no instance prior I to yesterday of resignation to return to private lii'e. On March 4, 1879, Gov. Wade I Hampton resigned to take his seat In j the United States senate, soon after i he had been inaugurated for a second J term as governor of South Carolina. J Ho was succeeded by William 1>. Simpson, lieutenant governor. Gov. Simpson was elected chief jus I tice of the supreme court of South 'Carolina and resigned In 18S0 #the governorship. Thomas B. Jeter of Union, then president protem of the senate, succeeded Gov. Simpson. Gov. I Jeter served until the inauguration of ! Gov. Ilagood In December of that , year. President Cleveland appointed Gov. Hugh S. Thompson of Columbia as? sistant secretary of the treasury in the summer of 1886. Gov. Thomp? son resigned forthwith and Lieut. ; Gov. John C. Bheppard ol Edgefteld? j now the oldest surviving former gov? ernor of South Carolina?was au? tomatically elevated to the office of chief executive. Three times the office was vacated by death, two of these instances preceding the Reconstruction period. The first was In 1S00, when Gov. Ed? ward Rutledge died and was succeed? ed by John Drayton. Gov. Dray ton was elected to succeed himself in the following December. Again in 1S40 the office became va? cant by the death of Gov. Patrick Noble Within a few months of the ex? piration of his term. Lieut. Gov. B. K. Henegan was his successor. The last unexpired term, previous to that of yesterday, was In 1S!)9, j caused by the death of Gov. William H. Ellerbe, just a few months after he had been inaugurated for a second term. Lieut. Gov. Miles B. Mc Swoeney became chief executive. SENATE COXCEDS POINTS. - i Accepts House Action in Striking Out Amendments to Immigration Bill. Washington, Jan. 14.?The confer? ence report of the immigration bill was accepted by the senate today without opposition to the elimination of senate amendments to exclude ne? groes and to exempt Belgians from restrictions. The house is expected to agree to it, then tho measure will go to the president He has Indicated I that he would veto it. I COTTON OFFER MUST EXPIRE OX FEBRUARY 1. Authorities Susi>ect That Producers Wjust Money at Ilainl But Xot Km ployetl. Washington, Jan. 15.?The federal reserve board, acting as the central committee of the $135,000,000 cotton loan fund, decided tonight not to comply with requests recently received ; to extend the time limit lor loan ap? plications beyond February 1. Ap? plications mailed on tha* day will be the last considered. : It developed today that bona hde applications to the New York com? mittee In charge of actual administra : tion of the fund amount only to, about $10,000. This fact is taken here to indicate that probably not more than a few millions of the sum ? s/ioscribed ever will be applied for. In view of this, members of the board : reit that it was not just to keep xl}., 1 tno money of the subscribing banks, j tied up for a period beyond Febru ' ary t. Requests for a time limit extension ' were interpreted as based on the de Isire of cotton producers to have the j fund at hand, but nor. to make use ' of it. j In connection with its action on tho loan fund the board announced that j W. P. G. Harding, its Southern mem? ber, shortly would visit each of the , Southern federal reserve banks to ! discuss with them questions of dis? count rates, eligible paper and mat ' tors of general and peculiar policy. He also will investigate and report on I the cotton market and the probable acreage of the next crop. j Although the statement does not show it, it became known tonight that one of the purposes of Mr. Hard I ; ing s visit is to talk with Southern 1 bankers about the transfer of gov? ernment funds to reserve banks. , When Secretary McAdoo broached I this subject ro tho board nearly six j weeks ago several board members questioned the policy of such transfer. Since that time, however, Attorney General Gregory has held that the i reserve beard is an Independent co? ordinate branch of the government entirely distinct from the treasury department. At tonight's meeting it was said no opposition to the plan was aroused. Mr. Harding is expected to deter? mine the actual needs of reserve hanks and through them the needs of member banks. READY TO PROSECUTE. United Slates Government Will Xot Tolerate Combines. Washington, Jan. 15.?Prompt prosecution will follow discovery of any evidences of illegal combinations j back of the recent increases in wheat and Hour prices, Attorney General Gregory said tonight. He added that j instructions sent to all federal dis? trict attorneys after the rise in food j prices at the beginning of the Euro ! pean war still stood and that the lat ' est developments in the situation would be followed closely. The suggestion of Mrs. Julian I Heath, president of the National t Housewives' league, that an embargo be imposed on exportation of wheat if prices continued to go up, was laid before President Wilson tonight but no action was taken. At the request of Chairman Lever of the house agricultural committee Secretary Houston promised to for? ward to the com mitte as soon as possible information concerning pro? duction, consumption and exporta? tion of grain. It was understood to? night, however, that there is no pres? ent intention of taking up in the house committees any of the various resolutions relating to the food sit , nation. PRAISE TO SEAMEX. Crew of U. S. S. Oneida < omnicndt d for Work on Board the Pilot Boy. Washington, Jan. 15.?The crew of the l'. S. S. Oneldn were today com? mended by Secretary Daniels for he rolc work in transferring from the passenger steamer Pilot Hoy of the Beaufort & Savannah line on Decem? ber 13, last. 4 7 passengers who bo* came*panic stricken when their boat was disabled by an accident to her machinery. A heavy sea was run? ning and a gale blowing at the time. The passengers were so excited, ac? cording to the department, that some were endeavoring to jump overboard. They wi re restrained, however, by the enlisted men. DEMOCRAT GOVERNS TENNES? SEE. Thomas Ryu Sucoo?nU Hooper, Re? publican. Nashville, Jan. 15.- Thomas Uye. a Democrat, today was inaugurated gov? ernor of Tennessee. Hoi per. the re? tiring governor (Republican), de? clined to paredpiate in the celebra? tion.