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KMUKCNA1QELL0R SUPRISED AMAMCD AT INTERPRETATION OF HIN 8TATKMENT IN UNITED STATE?. Explain* Thau EiprrMslon A Serao of Flfw^ Referred to Belgium at These That Country Hod Forfeited Ito /tight* as Neutral State. Gener*t Feld Headquarters of the Otrmtn Armies (In France), 'via Borhn and London. Jan. 24).?"I r\m owfartoad to loam that my phraoo, 'a scrap of paper.' which I uaed In my loot conversation with the British am hoooador In connection with the Bel? gian neutrality ahould have cauaed ouch an unfavorable Impression In the United States. The expression woo uood In quite another connection art the meaning implied in Sir Wil? liam E. Goschen' i report and the turn given It In the biased comment of our enemies undoub;edly are respon? sible for this Jmpreftrion." ? Dr. Theodald von Bethmann-Holl WCaT. Oerman Imperial chancellor, made this stater lent to a repreanta ftvo of the Associated Press In a villa at Oerman fieli headquarters In northern Prance, serving as the offlco and dwelling of the chancellor, the foreign minister. Qottlles von Jagow, sold the v .plomatlc suite accompany? ing Km per or William* aflald. The chancellor explained that he had spoken of the treaty, not as a scrap of paper for Germany, but as an Instrument which had become ob? solete through Belgium's forfeiture of neutrality; and that Oreat Brltnin had other reasons for entering the war, compared with which the neu? trality treaty appeared to have only the value of a scrap of paper. My conversation with Sir William K. Goschen." said the chancellor, "oc? curred Aug.ist 4. I had Just declared In ???? -etct?tHK that only dire neces? sity and ordy the struggle for existence Compelled Germany to ma* h through Belgium, but that Germany was ready to make compensation for the wrong committed, -When I spoke I already had cer? tain Indications, but no absolute proof that Belgium long before had aban? doned Ito neutrality In Its relations with England. Nevertheless, I took Ossroany's responsibilities towards the neutral states so seriously that 1 spoke frankly of the wrong commu? ted by Germany. "What was the British attitude on the tame question'' The day before say conversation with Sir William E. Ooeohen Sir Edward Orey had ?iell ? arod his well known speech In par? liament In which, while he had not stated expreesly thai England would take part In the war, he had left the matter In little doubt "One needs only to read thla speech through carefully to learn the reason for England's Intervention. Amid ull h?i beautiful phrasee about England's honor and obligations we find It over and ovsr again expressed that Eng? land's Interests?its own interests? call for participation In tho war, for If is not In England's Interests that a victorious, snd therefore, stronger Gormany should emerge from the war. "This old principle of English pol? ier?to take as the sole crlteron of Its actions Its pr ivate Interest regard lose of right, reason or consideration of humanity?is expressed In that speech of Gladstone's in 1870 on Bel? gian neutrality, from which Sir Ed? ward Quoted. "Mr. Gladstone then declared ho eras unable to subscribe to the doc? trine that the simple fact of tho ex? istence of a guarantee 4s binding on ?Very party thereto, irrespective sl together of the particular position in Which It may And itself at a time When the occasion for action on the guarantee arrives; and he referei to auch Engttah atatesmen as Aberdeen and Palmersteln as supporters of hfrj vtswa "England drew the sword only be? cause it belle"od It* own intereabt de? manded It Jcat for Belgian neutral? ity It would never have entered the war. That is what I meant when 1 told Sir William Edward Goschen that among the reasons which has Im? pelled England to go Into he war tho Belgian neutrality treaty had for her only the value of a scrap of Paper. "I may have been a bit excited and aroused. Who would not have been, at seeing the hopee and the work or tho whole period of my chancellorship going for naught? I recalled to tb ? ambassador my efforts to bring about an understanding between England and Germany which would* make a general European war Impossible. Such ?u? uiulerstamllr.^ would have formed the halHla on whlc.i ws could have approached the I'nite l States as third partner, hut England had not taken up this plan. ami through Its entry Into tho war or swoysd forever the hope of Its f ?I nihwent. "is comparison with such momen? tous consequence* was the treaty not a scrap of paoer? England ooght really to cease harping on this theme of Belgian neutrality. As you kmnv, we found in the archl ?vca of the il l flau foreign office documents show? ing that K inland In 1911 was deter? mined to throw troops Into Belgium without the assent of the Belgian gov? ernment if war had then broken out; In other words, to do exactly the same thing for which with all the pathos of virtuous Indignation it now reproaches Germany. "In some later dispatches Sir Ed? ward Grey, I believe, informed Bel? gium he did not believe Englard would take such a st^p because he did not think English public opinion would Justify that action. And still people in the United States wonder that I characterize as a scrap or paper the treaty whose observance, according to responsible British states? men, should he dependent on the pleasure of British public opinion?a treaty which England itself had long since undermined with its military agreements with Belgium. "Remember, too, that Sir Edwnrd Grey expressly refused to assure us of England's neutrality, even m the event that Germany respected Bel? gian neutrality. I can not understand, therefore, the English displeasure at my characterization of the treaty as a scrap of paper, for this scrap o^ paper was for England extremely val? uable, furnishing an excuse for em? barking in the war. "I hope, however, that in the United States you see clearly enough that England acted solely on the principle of right or wrong, my interest.' " SPINNERS SHOW INTEREST. Sir Charles Macara, Their President, Studies MeLaurln Project for Cot? ton Selling. Columbia, Jan. 22.?John L. Me? Laurln, State cotton warehouse com? missioner, is in communication with Sir Charles Macara, president of the Federation of International Spinners of Manchester, England, *with a view to establishing direct selling connec? tions through tie State spinners. Commissioner MeLaurln got In touch with Sir Charles on December 18, when hs explained the State ware? house syst em to him by letter. Mr. MeLaurln told the president of the English spinners' association that he was anxious to arrive at a basis on which tho staple could be sold di? rectly from the State cotton ware? houses to the English mills, with the guarantee of the State to establish beyond qtisstion the cnaracter of the receipt for the cotton. Commissioner MeLaurln wrote Sir Charles that he was considering mak Inr a trip to Manchester to got in touch with the buyers there, hoping to establish direct selling relation with them from the South Carolina state cotton warehouses. Commissioner MeLaurln received yesterday the following letter from the secretary of Sir Charles: "I am directed by Sir Charles W. Macara to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 18th ulto, and to ex? press his deep interest in the steps which are being taken to bring to? gether tho grower of cotton and the consumer through the medium of State warehousing of the raw ma? terial. "Sir Charles is giving your letter his close attention, and hopes In the course of a mail or two, to communi? cate with you on the subject." PLAN EXCHANE OF FORCES. Germany Will Send Large Contin? gents to TransyB anla?Austriaus to Go to France. Rome, Jan. 24.?A Vienna dlspatoh to The Glornale d'ltalia says the Jour? ney to Herlin of Archduke Charles Francis of Austria, heir apparent to the throne, and his meeting with Em? peror William Is connected with a vast Plan providing for exchange of forces between Germany and Austria. Tho former, it is said, is to send large con? tingents to Transylvania as a defense against a possible Invasion by Rott? mania, while the latter will send cor? responding contingents to Flanders and France. The German troops will find In Aus? tria a large German staff, so that hereafter tho strategical movement! and military government of the coun? try will he entrusted to German ele? ments, while Count Tisha. Hungarian premier Baron Burian. Austio-lliin? garian former minister, and other Hungarian statesmen will Centn? their energies on Austria's Internal Affairs. MAY DISCHARGE EMPLOYEES, kunsus l4iw Relative to ViUon I'n ?'oiistitutloual. Washington. Jan. LT?.- The Supreme <'ourt today declared the Kansas law prohibiting the discharge of cm ptoyeSS w ho rofoOO to resign from a imbm unconstitutional. DAC1A READY TO s\lh. F.xiM'cts t ? h'UU' This Arteruooii. Tak? ing I Mini Route. Gaiveston, Jan. 2f?. The merchant ship Dooia lay at anehor today with ?team up ready to sail this afternoon for Germany with a cargo of cot ion. it win lake the iieal route, PROGRAM Sunday School and B. Y. P. U. Institute Grace Baptist Church, Sumtcr, S. C, January 2?, 27 and 28, 1915. REV. TIIOS. J. WATTS. JUDGE J. J. GENTRY. Tuesday, ?Jan. 20. 7.30 P. Mi?Opening Addressee Srate Sunday School and B. Y. P. U. Secretary, Rev. Thos J. Watts and Judge J. J. Gentry, Superinten? dent Baptist Hospital. Subjects: "The Magnitude of the Sunday School Enterprise" and 'How to Realize the Enrollment Possibilities of the Sunday Schotd." Wednesday, Jan. 27. Mi P. M.?Devotional service led by J. W. Guy. 4.00 P. M.?"A Standard Sunday School"?Judge J. J. Gentry, 4.4 5 P. M.?Conference. 5.10 P. M.?"Why a thoroughly Graded Sunday School?A Student of Pupil Characteristics and Needs, Elementary Departments"?Thos. J. Watts. C.30 P. M.?Luncheon in church. Inspection of Exhibit. 7.30 P. M.?Praise Service. 7.45 P. M.?"The Adolescent Pupil, His Characteristics and Needs"?Thos J. Watts. 8.15 P. M.?"The Baptist Organized Class Movement."?Judge J. J. Gentry. Brief Quostlonaire, Thursday, Jan. 28. 3.30 P .Iff.?Devotional Service?W. E. Thayer. 4.00 P. M.?"Housing the Departmental and Graded Sunda School"? Thos. J. Watts. 4.45 P. M.?'The Convention Teacher Training System."?J. J. Gentry. Conference. 5.45 I?. M.?"The Teacher Who Teaches?T. J. Watts. 6.30 P. M.?Luncheon in Church. 7.30 P. M.?Praise Service. 7.45 P. M.?"The Function and Methods of the I?. Y. P. U."?T. J. Watt?. 8.30 P. M.?"The Relation of the Sunday School to Denominational En? terprises."?J. J. Gentry. Closing words. The State Sunday School and D, Y. P. U. Secretary will be assisted by Judge J. J. Gentry for some time General Secretary of the Baptist Sunday School work of Kentucky a?id now Superintendent of the Baptist Hospital, 'Columbia. Everybody Is Invited. WOULD FOIlM TRl'CKFKS' ASSO? CIATION. Coast Line Anxious to (?et Furniers Interested in This Import int In? dustry. A number of prominent officiate of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad com? pany conferred with Managing: Secre? tary Bourdon, of the Sumter Cham? ber of Commerce last Friday night re? garding the proposition to form a truck growers' association among the farmers of Sumter county. Those present were <;. A. Cordwell, Agricultural and Immigration Agent; B. S. IfSOltS, Traveling Freight Agent; Kwen Davidson, Assistant General Freight Agent, and C, M. Brandl train master, all the above representing the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad com? pany. The railroad officials are very much interested in the diversification of held products They str. isod the Im? portance and value of planting of truck, Irish potatoes, string beans, I peanuts, particularly, aa well as grain J of every description which can bo grown in this agricultural section. Those gentlemen went Into the de? tails of a truck growers' ass relation ' fully with the local secretary, proniis j Ing their hearty cooperation. They said that Cpton and Company. <>f Nor ! folk, and Mixon Seed Company, of 'Charleston arc ready to furnish seed I and fertilizers, to furnish demonstra? tors to show farmers how to plant i potatoes, beans, etc., to show how to harvest, barrel, box, and to market the produce, etc. I Secretary Ueardon stated to the railway official! that he would let them heal* from him just as soon as Mesora, J. Frank Williams and Ii. L. Baker, the State and county farm demonstrators, can be talke I with about the matter, as this la n ques? tion in which the Pur mere' Union and other agricultural interests must fust be consulted, if Messrs, Williams and Baker and President B, W. Dabbs, of the Ktate Farmers' Union endorse the Idee of n truck growers' association, and If any number of farmers doalre to form such an Organisation a moot? ing will be hold at Bumtor next Sat? urday to lie railed by the Humtor Chamber of Commerce, .jut as aoon ;is tin- farmers decide that they wish an association, the ma? chinery of the Chamber of Commerce will Immediately be started to ^et the farmers, the railway officials, and the seed and fertiliser companies formed Into a compact ami systematic work? ing organisation, HOUSE IX SESSION. Iiilos Kill Goes Buck to Committee? Thirty Local Bills to Third Read? ing. Columbia, Jan. 25.?In a short half hour session this afternoon the house recommitted to the ways and means committee, the Liles bill seeking1 to impose a 5 per cent, penalty on unpaid ta:ccs. About thirty local bills were given third reading. The house meets again tonight. BIRTHDAY OF LEE, School Children of Bishopvillc Honor Hero. Bishopvillc, Jan. 22.?Lee's btrth I day was observed here by the pupils and teachers of the high and graded sciools in the school chapel Tuesday afternoon. As requested by the Lot? tie Green chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy the last class period was devoted to exercises ap i propriate to the day. The programme which was especially well rendered, was educative and inspiring. The numbers were as follows: "Ronnie Blue Flag'' as a chorus by school; i poems, "The United Confederate Vet? erans" by Ruth Manning, and "The Confederate Flag" by Carlisle Boykln; reading Tom life of Lee, Bupt. W. M. Scott; solo, "When This Cruel War is Over," D. J. Brimm; "Sketch of Trav? eler." Miss Beptlma Smith; poems. "A tribute to Lee." by Kathleen Tlsdale lan.i "A Song of Forgotten Men." Pau? line DuBose; "Peace." hymn by the I school. DEER CAUGHT IN TOWN. Captured by Darlington Ice Plant Hand. Darlington, Jan. 22.?This morning about 12 o'clock II. D. Gregg saw an animal, apparently exhausted with night, loping through one of the streets near the Ice plant In town and soon after fell in a puddle of watt r in the street. Mr. Gregg noticed thai (h ? head v as under water, and, think lng that it was a calf, approached it to lift the head to prevent drowning-I a.s he approached the animal rose m l ran under a warehouse nearby ail I he discovered that it was a deer. Later In the day a deer w as cap? tured by a hand who works at the lee plaid. It is thought that the deer was probably run out of the swamp because of the recent heavy rains and the swamps being full of water. WOMAN SUFFRAGE LECTURE. Mrs. Ii. B. Valentine, President Vir? ginia League, Will Address South Carolina Legislature und Visit Sev? eral Towns. It is with great pleasure that the South Carolina Equal Suffrage league announces the coming of Mrs. Ii. ii. Valentine, president of the Equal Suf? frage league of Virginia, to this State at an early date. An able New York suffragist, asked recently what lecturer she would sug? gest as the best to help South Caro? lina begin its suffrage work, said "Mrs. Valentine, if you can get her. i She is a lady who gives her time and talents for the love of the cause. She Is, also, a most convincing sneaker, ] of great charm, and being a South- i erner she knows just what the South j needs and the best way of telling her of it." With this reputation it is needless to say that Mrs. Valentine is much in demand and the South Carolina league considers itself fortunate to have captured her for ten days on her way to Alabama, where she is to make a Statewide campaign for tho ! suffrage cause. Mrs. Valentine will begin her Itln | erary in this State with an address ? before the legislature on the subject I of equal suffrage. The Columbia Equal Suffrage league has secured her for a talk at its monthly meeting, on the night of January 28. She will speak in the Columbia theatre at 8 o'clock Tuesday evening and will ad? dress the general assembly Wednes? day evening. After her speech before the Co? lumbia league, Mrs. Valentine will be heard at an afternoon and eveing meeting in Sumter on January 2'j; at HartSVillc on the evening of the 30th;before the Spartanburg league, probably, on the evening of February 12; at Greenville before the league there and on the next evening; she will end her tour of the State at Ab? beville, the home of Mrs. M. T. Cole man, the president of the State league. This is a great opportunity for suffragists and for all interested in one of the most important social and po? litical questions of the day to hear the subject of equal suffrage discussed by an acknowledged authority, who is throughly conversant with it In All its phases and who has also the abil? ity to put this knowledge before her hearers in a most convincing and in? teresting manner. The people of Sumter should con? sider themselves fortunate that Mrs. Valentine has consented to give them one day of her Southern tour, and will speak at two meetings here on Friday, the 29th. And it is hoped that she will be received by large and representative audiences both limes. A woman of her type and in? telligence is well worth hearing, and I even if one is not a sympathizer with her teachings, they could hardly af? ford to miss the oportunity of hear? ing this subject, which is one of world wide interest, discussed by one so well equipped to handle it. On Friday at 4 o'clock P. M. she will hold a meeting for women in the Chamber of Commerce rooms, .and at 8.15 that evening she will address a mixed audience in the Court House. Mrs. Valentine will be the guest of Mrs. Xina Solomons during her stay in Sumter. COTTON GINNKKS' REPORT. Crop of 10 M Exceeds That of Pre? vious Year Nearly Million and a Half Bales. Washington, Jan. 23.?The govern? ment census report issued today shows that 14,907,942 bales of cot? ton were ginned to January 16th, against 13,5S2,03'J to the same date last year. ZERO WEATHER OUT WEST. More Than a Foot of Snow Falls in Indiana Today. Indianapolis, Jan. 23.?Over a foot I of snow fell In Indiana and Illinois I today. The mercury is rapidly ncar j ing zero. PETITION IS FILED. Annexation of Brookland to Kichtand is Proposed. Columbia. Jan. 23.?Petition tor an election on the question of annex? ing the Brookland section of Lexing? ton county to Itlchland county was tiled yesterday with Gov. Itichnrd I. Manning by X. W. Ilrooker. The pe? tition was taken under consideration. Conference to Meet. Plncwood, Jan. 23.?The first quar? terly conference of tho Plnowoo.1 charge will bt> held at the Methodisl church on Saturday next at ll o'clock, Dr. Ii. W. Hays will preside. San Diego, Jan. 23.? Wireless re? ports state Mexican rebels under Cuasco were defeated by Villa troops south of Maxatlan and are fleeing northward. REPORTS FROM ALL SECTIONS INDICATE MUCH IM? PROVEMENT. Atlanta. Oft., Jan. 24.?Notable im? provement in business conditions in the South within the last few weeks is indicated In reports from mer? chants, cotton factors and bankers from all over the section. The last month In particular, business men as? sert, has developed the recuperative powers of the cotton States. In all these States cotton, which was selling a few months ago for a little more than 6 cents a pound, now is finding* a comparatively ready market at above 8 cents. * Since the government report of No? vember 1, the increase of 2 cents a pound in the selling price of cotton, I with the corresponding advance in j the price of cotton seed, according to the ligures and estimates of experts, has resulted in a net increase during the period of approximately $:.20, 000,000 in the cash value of co'.ton. The effect of this enhanced value, it is stated, has been felt in every line of business in the South. Conservative observers of the sit? uation say that never has there been such a holding movement in the South as that noted since the opening of the present cotton season. At the outbreak of the European war fall deliveries of cotton ranged frotn 12 to 13 cents a pound, which, with a crop estimated at more than $ 10,000, I 000 bales, forecast a season of re j markable activity. When the Euro j pean markets suddenly closed and the exchanges suspended, the price ab? ruptly decreased about one-half. AVhen the mills entered the markets for their usual fall supply they found the markets closed. Farmers refused I to sell and South -rn business, which depends so largely upon moving of the j cotton crop, marked time awaiting readjustment of conditions. About De? cember 1 this began, owing, it is said, to the resumption of foreign ship? ments and the reopening of the ex? change markets both at home and abroad. Today through the South the movement of cotton from farm to market is steadily progressing and as a result, according to reliable reports, the farmers are paying their debts to the merchants for supplies, the mer? chants are meeting their obligc.tions to the small banks, and they in turn are settling their accounts with the larger banks. The general business tone is declared optimistic. In a statistical statement of the situation, II. G. Hester, secretary of i the New Orleans cotton exchange mentions that on November last., the federal department of agricidture ligures the average price of cotton to producers at about $31.52 per bale, while today the same bale is worth about $10 more. "At that time," Mr. Hester says, "with the cotton exchanges practi? cally closed, the trade for several months had been drifting with no fixed standard of value. Gulf State farmers were selling at one price and Atlantic State farmers at another. J Consternation prevailed. From Au I gust 1 to November 1, 1914, farmers j marketed 2,719,000 bales, or 2,323,000 bales less than was marketed during the corresponding three months of the previous year. But the figures show that from November 1, 1914, to January 22, 1915, 6,S01,000 bales were marketed, as compared to 5,598, 000 bales brought into sight during the same period last season. Thus since the exchanges have opened the South has marketed at advancing value, almost 7,000,000 bales, exceed? ing last year's movement for the same period by 1,110,000 bales. "The world's visible supply of Amer? ican cotton January 22, last was 1,217.000 bales. The 1914 crop gen? erally is estimated at 10,250.000 bales, of which 9,620,000 have been mar? keted, h aving 1,730,000 to be mar? keted. The \isible supply and that remaining to be marketed totals 11, 9 4 7,000 bales. On a basis of $10 a bale advance the increase in value since November 1, last, has been fl 19,4 70,000 and practically all of this increase belongs to the South. Thus the South is better oft today by ap? proximately $120,000,000 than she was November 1, last. The mowing confidence in cotton is held to be due largely to the expecta? tion that cotton farmers will make themselves self-sustaining, if not. pro? duce a surplus of food crops for sale. Calculating on a basis of the 1914 es? timated crop?10,250,000 bales?if the farmers curtail their ltll acreage this year, it will mean a crop of 11. :7T..'Mio bales. Adding the visible sup? ply of 1,671,000 bales left over August l. 1914, this would mean an average suppl) for the two years?1014 ami 1 1.". -of 1 1,6 18,000 bales." V s. Bailey, lrH Br-earetrdU Columbia, Jan. 22.?Alexander A. Sallcy, dr.. w;us unanimously re-elect? ed seer, tary of the South Carolina his? torical commission at a meeting of the commission here today, Mr. Sallcy Is a valuable official and his re? election is a fitting testimonial of the splendid work which he is doing.