The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, December 16, 1916, Image 1
CO iTJMTKR WATCHMAN, SVtttblUhod AprfL HUM.
"Bm #n?l and Fear not?Bet an the ende
at be thy Country's. Thy God's and! Trwth'e."
0
THE TRTJ o OCTBStON, F#rtAbMshe<1 Jon% T
Consolidated Ahr. 2,1881.
SUMTER, 8. 0., SATUBl k, DECEMBER 16, 1916.
MM
4 VoLXLin. No. 36
ONE CHANGE IN CABINET.
GREGORY WILL RESIGN AS AT?
TORNEY GENERAL, WHILE
OTHERS REMAIN.
Possible That linker Will be Shifted
to Department of Justice, and Me
Oormlek sent In to lake Ills Place
as Secretary of War.
Washington, Dec. 11.?Every mem?
ber of President Wilson's cabin jt,
with the possible exception of Attor?
ney General Gregory, is expected to
remain la office after March 4, when
ths president's second term begins,
it was learned definitely today that
all of them have b.isn or will be
asked to keep their posts.
Reports concerning possible resig?
nations have centred chiefly around
Seeestarles MoAdoo. Houston and
Dake". and the attorney general. It
has been taken for granted that Post?
master General Burloeon and 8ecre
farter Lansing. Daniels and Wilson
would remain, and indefinite rumors
that Secretary Red field might wish
to retire to private business were de?
nied some time agr<
Secretary MrAdoo personally denied
that ho had any Intention of lOtiign
lrur. The reports In his cai;e have
been moat persistent.
Regarding Mr. Houston it became
known that ths officials of Washing?
ton university at St. Louis, have ex?
tended his leave of absence as chan?
cellor of that Institution so that he
can continue as bead of the depart?
ment of agriculture. Because of the
Investigations into the high cost A
living and other important work un?
dertaken by Secretary Houston, the
president Is known to consider hi*
continued service In the cabinet as
highly desirable.
Although Secretary Baker has been
credited with a desire to leave* the
cabinet, it is learned that In all like?
lihood be will remain. It is under?
stood, however, that there Is a pos?
sibility that he may be shifted to
frM department of Jnntioe if Mr. Greg?
ory tastet* on rsstimlpf thnt
WfaewOtfc national committee, may
be placed In charge of the war de?
partment.
In the attorney general's case the
reports about his Intentions to resign
have been very circumstantial, and
have been generally accepted by
officials as true, although he has
given no Indications of hU Intentions.
The president has offered Mr. Gregory
a seat on the supreme court once and
should another vacancy occur during
the administration It is thought prob?
able he would bo seriously considered
again.
THOUSANDS KILLED IN EXPLO?
SION.
New? Agency Reports Disaster in Rus?
sin.
Perl: . Dec. ? (via Sayville).?An
explosion In a Russian ammuntioi
plant has caused ths death of about
1.000 persona, according to the Over?
seas News agency today, quoting tho
Russian newspaper Rech.
The news agoncy statement says:
"The Russian newspaper Rech re?
port* that a new* explosion took pluce
In an arnmuultlon factory on Lu Sa?
ls nnnya. The cause Is unknown. At
the moment of the catastrophe about
l.eoft persons were working lr. the
factory, all of whom evidently per?
ished. The factory was completely
destroyed.
FIFTY LONE LIVES.
Dil? ?ter Occurs In Alexandria Ex?
plosive* Plant.
'I i. in. Friday, Dec. 8 (via Paris.
Dec. )?An explosion has occ irred
In tho Alexandria explosive plant. It
Is fiared that more than f?U people
have been killed The cause of the
disaster has no' ?n established.
H#t York, Dec. 13.?Sixty-live thOO
I i d ?arment workers struck 1: od ay?
es, ths refusal of employers to gysjH
$ ' a week increase in wages.
Kl Paso, Dec. 18.?Pueblo. 60 miler
southeust of Mexico <Mty and the gate?
way to the capital has been captures
by Gens. RobL.. and Diaz, who art
leadi iit a new revolution In the south,
according to dispatches received to?
day. Villa continues his raids ar >und
Chihuahua City.
Fairfax. Dec. ! 1.?Over 200 farm?
ers, merchants md business men
mating hero tod iv, to form boll wc
vll clubs In the seven border COUn?
tie*. These clul s will Igtfrl the
ton netfl. Gov. Manning was the
pi neinnl BS>SOkSl at th^ meeting. Tlo
? r?v? i m attending promts* i their rop<
P? ??? in meotlnt* ho changed OgrlcOf
tuiul conditions.
GOVERNMENT MAY RAISE PAY.
EFFORT BY AMERICAN FEDERA?
TION OF LABOR.
I*lun to Provide More Money for nil
From President to Lowest Wage
Earner Because of High Cost of Liv?
ing.
Washington Dec. 10.?An organ'se?
ed effort directed hy the American
Federation of Labor to induoo con?
gress to grant wage and salary in?
creases to all employes of the United
States government front president
down to the humblest laborer was
planned at a meeting here today pre?
sided over by Samuel Gompers, presi?
dent of the federation.
Resolutions were adopted sotting
forth that government salaries ht.vo
not kept pace with the cost of neces?
sities of life and directing that con?
ic res? be petitioned to grant increases
ranging from 10 to 33 1-3 per cent,
to government employes whether in
or out of the civil service.
Mr. Gompers was authorized to ap?
point committees to urge the cause
before congress. The resolutions
agreed to include a scale of In?
creases which will be embodied in
tho plan to be presented. It would
provide 33 L-3 per cent, increases for
those receiving less than $1,000 per
annum; 25 per cent, for those re?
ceiving $1,500 but less than $2.000; 10
I per cent, for those receiving $2,100
|or moro. No employe paid by tho day
should receive less than $3, If paid by
the month less than $00 or $l,0So .f
paid by the year.
Should the plan be acceptod by
congrem tho president, cabinet offi?
cers and national legislators would be
Included In tho class to receivo a 10
per cent. Increase. The labor com
! mit tees, however, while meaning to
overlook no one, will confine their ef
1 forts chiefly to procuring Increases in
the lower paid grades.
The question of Increasing* wages is
already before the house of repre?
sentatives in the legislative appro?
priation
RUSSIANS ANNOUNCE GAINS.
>
Aii?tro-Germsn Trenches In Transyl?
vania Captured.
Petrograd, Dec. 13.?Tho capture
of a line of Austro-German trenches
on the heights south of Auguslla
Transylvanlan frontier is announced
by tho war office. It is also reported
thai strong German attacks east of
Chibena and southwest of Putna val?
ley were repulsed.
GERMANS CAPTURE STEAMERS.
Two Ships Carrying Contra baud to
England Reported Seized.
Berlin, Dec. 13.?The seizure of
the steamer Caledonian and the Bra
zilian steamer Rio Pardo, which were
carrying contraband to England, was
otflelally announced today.
The Caledonian is not listed in
Lloyds register. The fUo Pardo is a
vessel of nine hundred and thirty-rive
tons from Rio Janeiro.
ALL PLANS COMPLETE.
Germany Ready to Submit Concrete'
Peace Terms.
Berlin, Dec. 13.?That the central
powers have agreed upon concrete
peace terms was learned from an au?
thoritative source today. Although
these conditions wore not disclosed
by the chancellor yesterday, they are
iti definite shape and can be com?
municated to the allied governments
immediately should the pence pro?
posals get ? favorable reception.
Chicago, Dee. 13.?That indictments
wil*. bt asked by the government
against twelve egg und butter speou
lutors and storage warehouse men
I today, was announced at the distr.ct
attorney's office. The twelve laelntfe
only thfse Investigated by the grind
Jury, Other indictments will be ask?
ed Of the evidence tends to Involve
??! her dealers,
Bertha, Deo. II,?The Danube and
Ninth armies are driving forward In
the wake of the retiring- lion mania us.
Tim capture of more than 7,000
prisonsri by the Austro-Germsni yes?
terday If. a.mourned by the war office.
New York, Dec. 13.?"German> is
ftvtnfj the allies an opportunity to
make peace, but Is not suing for
peace," according to Ihe New York
Stats Zeitung, the foremost German
paper of this country.
Washington, Dec. IS,? The senate
today is ready to pan the Immlgra
I on bill in direct defiance to the
White House announcement that
President Wilson will again veto it.
Neutral Powers 1
Central Allies W|
Negotiations f oj
Not Indicat*
Annol
i io mm
ially Notified That
1 Once Enter Ioto
ce?Peace Terms
Preliminary
ements
Merlin, Dec. 12.?Germany t<
not fled neutral countries tlutt
central powers will enter at once
peace negotiations.
The announcement was given
by the seinl-otficial Overseas N?
Agency.
It stated that Imperial Chane?
von iiethman-Hollwegg hud given
note to representatives of the Ui
States. Spain, the Vatican and Si
?rhu. setting forth the purpo?
the Cci.tral Powers to enter
peace negotiations at once.
Similar notes will also bo giv<
tho above namod representatives,!
Sofia, Vienna and Constantinople.
Tho German chancellor will
the not? and announce the p<
plans at u special session of
relehstag today.
The Overseas News Agency si
that the plan calls for lasting pt
CAVSES PROFOUND IMPRESS^
Washington, Dec. 12 ? The tn
cinl news of Germany's peace
i?osals created a profound impel
hore. The pi ess reports were '}
before President Wilson by Secr<
Lansing immediately. The ofllcli
titlcation from Charge Grant, at
lin, is not expected for several
It is generally conceded that,'
land will have the final veto powi
whothor or not Germany's termi
acceptable.
The general disposition Is to
the German chancellor's peace
world fOT^PFWIfrW^iWoW7whe* Uer
or not iff brings a cessation of the war.
It became known today, however, that
advance information which had
reached Washington officials shows
that Germany at least hopes to bring
the representatives of the warring na?
tions into a serious discussion of
peace terms.
Secretary Irnsing refused to dis?
cuss the matter at length, until he
Dads out whether Germany merely
wants this country to act as messeng?
er to place Germany's proposals be
i fore the allies or wants the active aid
j of this government. At the allies' em
j basstOS here doubt was expressed as
i to Germany's sincerity.
WILL FIGHT ON.
Rcrlin, Dec. 12.?Kaiser Wilhelm
issued a proclamation to the troops
stating that he has made peace pro?
posals, but will fight on until they
are accepted.
PANIC IN STOCK EXCHANGE.
New York, Dec. 12.?Peace reports
caused wild trading, bordering on
panic, on the stock exchange. Bcth
i lohem steel, copper stocks, and other
war brides tumbled three to ten points
in an hour.
WHEAT PRICES DROP.
Chicago, Dec. 12.?Peace reports
caused sellers to dump wheat Into the
Pit this morning, prices declining one
to four cents in less than an hour.
WILSON WILL PRESENT PRO?
POSAL.
Washington, Dec. 12.?The central
powers' first formal move for peace
will be presented to the entente allies
by American diplomats with an in?
formal statement of this country's de?
sire that the allies enter peace nego?
tiations.
President Wilson will ask the allies
that they make every effort to have a
peace convention result from the ini?
tial negotiations, it was learned this
afternoon.
WHAT GERMANY OFFERS.
Washington, Dec. 12.?The German
embassy announced that the follow?
ing are the main points of the peace
proposals:
That Poland and Lithuania should
be recognized as independent king?
doms, tbat Germany will restore liel
glum and northern France and that
the late of the Balkan States be set?
tled in the general peace conference.
VON RF. TIIM . W' HOLLWEGG'S
SPEECH.
Berlin, Dee. ii'.?"Germany and
her allies, conscious of their respon?
sibility before Cod. their own nation
and humu? ity" have proposed to on
tsr into peace negotiations, declared
Chancellor von Bsthman-Hollwejrg In
bis speech in tho relehstag today.
BRITAIN IS UNCHANGED.
WILL, NOT DISCI SS PEACE OF
FEUS UNTIL TERMS ARE
KXOWN.
British Officials Pessimistic Concern?
ing; German OITer of Peace Nego?
tiations?Will Not Agree to Any
Conditions Otlier Than Those Al?
ready Enunciated by Premier.
i London, Dec. 12.?The foreign of?
fice today informed the Associated
Press that it is unable to discuss the
German peace proposals until the
terms have been received. Mean?
while the attitude of the British gov?
ernment towards possible peace terms
Iremains as frequently enunciated by
the former premier and foreign sec?
retary.
A general note of pessimism pre?
vails in London. One prominent of?
ficial expressed himself to the Asso?
ciated Press today as being very skep
Mlcul that the proposed terms would
>Offer even a basis for negotiations.
? This -official said, however, that the
note was a dramatic coup which
would create interesting developments
the diplomatic situation and pro
e the first official peace overtures
the war. /
A strong current of public senti
tent opposed to the German peneo
was evident in the firot cx
itona available both from public
igb
definite terms and without any word
from high authoritative sources indi
ieating the attitude of the government.
The only information in the press
reports was from Berlin and in the
absence of some tangible official pro?
position, British officials were dis?
posed to maintain reserve. It was
noticeable that the proposal had not
created any profound impression
among the average I^ondonors. There
was little talk in the hotels or other
public places and this discussion was
far less animated than in the recent
ministerial crisis.
Government circles also held aloof
from any discussion, with an evident
desire to learn more of the details be?
fore committing the new administra?
tion to a definite course of action. The
foreign office would make no comment
in the absence of the terms, but said
that the British attitude up to the
present was embodied in the declara?
tions made from time to time by the
former premier und Viscount Grey
and that any new proposals would
have to be considered by al! the en?
tente allies before a definite attitude
was possible.
Those in close association with the
new government took the view that
the proposals would prove entirely
unacceptable, mainly because they
were not likely to touch what the
ruling authorities regard as the most
essential basis of any peace, namely,
such guarantees against German mili?
tarism as will permit England, France
and their allies to demobilize their
vast armies, reduce their enormous
military expenses and return to last?
ing conditions of peace.
Both Premier Lloyd-George and
Mr. Palfour, secretary for foreign af
fairs are slightly ill and this may re?
sult In deferring the announcement of
the plans of the new government ncx1
Thursday but if an announcement Is
made it will possibly include reference
to the German proposal though this is
Mltllkel) pending receipt of the pro?
posal Itself through official channels
Berlin, Dec. 13,? Only artillery tir?
ing la reported on the Somme and
other Verdun fronts.
Paris, Dec. 13.? Ridicule and in?
dignation of Germany's peace prof?
fer was reflected in Paris newspapers
toda y.
Columbia, Dec. 13.?The Palmetto
Fire Insurance Company today no?
tified the Secretary of state of an In?
crease in capital from $25,000 to
$100,000,
Berlin, Dee. IS.?The mos! con?
spicuous German newspapers hold
out no hope that the peace proposals
will be accepted by the allies.
TEUTONS HUE CONFIDENT.
SEEK PEACE MERELY AS A|
PROOF OF THEIK LOVE OF IT.
Do Not Believe That Their ITnsilllnii
Can Hope to Recover Any of Ad?
vantages dlained by Central Allies,
or in Any Way to loivc Them to
Come to Terms?Would Shift Re* !
spousihUity for Continuance of War
London, Dec. 12.?An official Aus- j
trlan statement referring to the pea.:e
offer any a:
"When in the summer of 1914 the
patience of Austria-Hungary was ex
hautcd by a scries of systematically
[continued and ever increasing provo?
cations and menaces and the mon?
archy, after almost 50 years of un?
broken peac found itself compelled
! to draw the sword, this weighty de?
cision was animated neither by ag?
gressive purpose nor by designs of
; conquest, but solely by the bitter
'.necessity of self-defense to defend its
J existence and safeguard itself for the
?future against similar treacherous
? plots of hostile neighbors,
j "That was the task and aim of the
monarchy !n the present war. In
l i
combination urltn its allies, well tried
in loyal comradeship in arms, the
i Austro-Hungarian armies and fleet,
j fighting, bleeding, but also assailing
'and conquering, gained such successes
ithat they frustrated the intentions of
! the enemy. The quadruple alliance
not only has won an immense series of
victories but also holds In Its power
extensive hostile territories. Unbrok?
en is its strength, as our latest t reach -
i erous enemy has just experienced.
"Can our enemies hope to conquer
or shatter this alliance of powers?
They will never succeed in breaking
i in by blockade and starvation mea.
! urea Their war aims, to the attain?
ment of which they have come no
nearer in the third year of the war,
will in the future he proved to have
been completely unattainable. Use?
less and unavailing, therefore, is the
j prosecution of the fighting on the
11 i !t of the enemy. Li
m*tm>#e**tii hf tin nVtien-u?ic^L.
lUance, on the other hand, have effec
Itively pursued their aims, namely, de
! fenne against attacks on their exist?
ence and integrity, which were plan?
ned in concert long sine and the
j achievement of real guarantees and
, they will never allow themselves to
j be deprived of the basis of their exist
' ence, which they have secured by ad
I vantages won. -
i "The continuation of the murde ous
war, In which the enemy can destroy
?much, but can not?as the quadruple
alliance is firmly confident?alter fat.1,
is evermore seen to be an aimless de?
traction of human lives and property,
'an act of inhumanity justified by ac
necessity and a crime against civiliza?
tion.
j "This conviction and the hope that
j similar views may also ho begun to be
entertained in the enemy camp, lias
caused the idea to ripen in the Vienna
cabinet?in full agreement with the
j governments of the allied (Teutonic)
; rowers?of making a candid" and loyal
J endeavor to come to a discussion with
their enemies for the purpose of pav
j ing a way for peace.
"The governments of Austria-Ilun
"iry, Germany, Turkey and Bulgaria
have addressed today identical note^
to the diplomatic represntatives of
the capitals concerned who are en?
trusted with the protection of enemy
nationals, expressing an inclination to
enter into peace negotiations and re?
questing them to transmit this overture ]
to enemy states. This step was simul?
taneously brought to the knowledge of
the roprosenatlves of the holy seo!n
a special note and the active interest
jof the pope for this otter of peace was j
solicited. Likewise the accredited rcp
j I
resentatives of the remaining neutral
states in tho four capitals were ac
qualnted with this pro* ceding for the
purpose of Informing their govern?
ments.
I "Austria and her allies by Mil)
step have given new and decisive;
proof of their love of peace. It no -
is for their enemies to make known
their views before the world. What?
ever the result of its proposal may
he, no responsibility can fall on the
quadruple alliance, even before the
judgment seat of its own people, It it
eventually is obliged to continue the
war."
London. Dec. 13.?"I pray that ?
Almighty God may bestow his blessing
on this step.'* said Emperor Charles in
his proclamation to his troops, no?
tifying them of the peace movement.
Washington. Dec. 13.?The official
declaration of willingness t<> enter ne?
gotiations to bring about peace hu
not reached the White House at 10:30
o'clock this morning, but it is cxpet I
ed during the day.
COTTON CHOP IS SOT.
INSECT AND STOUM DAMAGE DE?
CREASE YIELD.
Estimated Production of 11,511,000
Against 11,191,820 Imst Year?I>e
crease in South Carolina.
Washington, Dec. 11.?Another re?
duction in the estimated size of this
year's cotton crop was reported to?
day in the department of agricul?
ture's tinal report putting the pro?
duction at 11,Sil,000 equivalent 500
pound bales, exclusive of lintevn
That is 126,000 bales less than foie
cast after the last condition report in
October.
Indications at the beginning of the
growing season were that a crop of
;;pproximatelv 14,206,000 bales would
I be produced but storms and insects
wrought havoc with the growing
, plants as the season progressed. The
jacreage planted was the fourth larg?
est on record.
] The average price a pound paid to
j producers of cotton on December 1
was 19.6 cents. At that price the
season's crop is worth $1,079,351,616
exclusive of the value of Unter cot?
ton and seeds.
Last year 11,191,820 equivalent 500
pound bales were grown and during
the five years, 1910 to 1914, the av
ara#n was 14,259,231 bales. The rec?
ord crop was grown in 1914, when
16,134,920 bales were produced.
Production by States with last year's
figures for comparison follows:
2^16. 1915.
Virginia . 29,000 15,809
North Carolina . 646,000 699,494
South Carolina . 920,000 1,133,919
Georgia.1.S45.000 1,908,673
Florida . 43,000 47.S31
Alabama. 523,000 1,020,839
Mississippi . 800,000 j 953,9G5
Louisiana . 440,000 341,063
Texas .3,775,000 3,227,680
Arkansas .1,145,000 816,002
Tennessee . 378,000 303,420
Missouri . 62,000 47,999
Oklahoma. 835,000 639,626
California . 60,000 28,551
{'A11 "TTriTeT^ScCtes*. 1,QmWa *
TO RAISE SALARIES.
Secretaries to Get From $1,500 to $2,
000 a Year and Extra Employes at
$900 for Each Member.
Washington, Dec. 12.?After a
warm debate the house today voted
rinto the annual legislate e, executive
and judicial appropriation bill a pro
\ . ion increasing the salaries of Rep
j resentatives' private secretaries from
$1,500 to $2,000 a year and giving each
representative an additional employe
; at $75 a month.
! Chairman Fitzgerald, on the ap?
propriation committee, predictee a
treasury deficit of $284,000,000 for
the current fiscal year.
TO DINE AT WHITE HOUSE.
Maiming Goes to Washington Today
to Participate in Conference of
Governors.
Columbia, Dec. 13.?Cov. Manning
goes to Washington today to attend
la meeting of the conference of gov?
ernors. He has accepted an invitation
to dine with President Wilson at the
White House tomorrow evening. The
governor will go to New York to at?
tend to several business matters be
fcre rotu.ning to Columbia. He is ex?
pected back the middle of next week.
LITTLE GIRL BURNED.
Elizabeth Antoinette Wcdanian Loses
Her Life.
Fomaria, Dec. 12.?Elizabeth An?
toinette Wedaman was so badly burn?
ed Monday morning that she died m
about two hours after the accident.
No one else was in the siring room
at the time, but it is supposed that
a toy with which she s/aa playing had
rolled into the lire, and in attempting
to ?et it out her clothes caught fire.
She was one year, 10 months and 2S
days old. Her parents are Dr. and
Mrs. R. H. Wedaman. The Rev. S. C.
Pallentine officiated at the funeral
and her little body now ?estfl in Beth?
lehem cemetery near Pomaria.
ON UNUSUAL CHARGE.
Negress Accused of Criminal Care?
lessness.
Chester, Dec. 12.?Annie JcfTord. a
ncgress, has been placed in the Ches?
ter county Jail on a warrant charging
her with criminal carelessness In con
noction with the death of Charlie
Perry, the three year old son of
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Perry, la: t ThHin?
di v. She is said to have locked the
child in a room to go on some er?
rand for herself, and while she was
gone the little tot got into the lire and
was frightfully burned, dying shortly
afterwards.