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vUatchma onthrom. WATCHMAN, mmmmmmmmmt AprU, 1U4, 4Be Sum and Fear not?l?et an tbe ende Ooneolldated Auk. 8, 1881. sumter, 8. c, sat at be thy Country'*, Tbj God's Md TrMfc'i." r, december 23, 1916. THE TRUE SOUTHRON, FsnsMiahfrd Jand> 12WL Vol. XLIII. No. 37. REJECTS PEACE PROPOSALS Lloyd-George intf nitial Speech as Pre? mier Annotinces His Policy of Government. Says That FnHnfe Will not Change from Former Stand Until Germany Promise* i4Complete Restitution, Full Repara? tion and Effectual Guarantee" of End of Prussianism. Berlin Offer Regarded as Admission of Weakness by Brit ieh^Openinx Left for Further Overtures and Discussion in Future. London, Dec. lt.?The announoo mhnu in the house of commons today by David Lloyd-George, the new pre? mier, that the fli-et act of his adminis? tration was the rejection of the pro? posed of the central powers for a paa<e conference constitutsd ons of the moat momentous scenes which the oldest parliamentary veterans had ever witnessed. I The new premier declared tlu.t be? fore the slllee could give favorable consideration to such an Invitation thsy must know that Germany was prepared to "accede to the allies' terms, giving compute restitution, full reparation and effectual guarantees," and to enter a conference upon the Invitation of Germany proclaiming herself victorious, without any knowl? edge of her proposals, would be ' put? ting par heads into a noose with the end Of the rope In Germany's hands." Mr. Lleyd-Ooorge asserted that at the mosnertt German) was penning the note, assuring her convictions aa to the rights of other nations, ahs was dra.Tglng Boigtans. Into slavery. He snnounoed that ths note presented tawoufth Washington contained no pro flfiooaje Of terms, but waa a paraphraso Of ghsmcellor von Bethmarm-Iloll wof* *eee? and that the allies had osfaotitsly poa^odod ^ /?frjft.A.?1;. flf AequUh. the former premier; Oseooued air. Lloyd-Goo rge's declara? tion with oven stronger words and al? most tit the same monent Earl Cur San war informing the lords that the government would enter no confer? ence that did not guaiantee for Eu? rope tho free and Independent exis? tence of nationa great and small. Tho Marquis of Crewo affirmed the ap? proval of the members of the late govern ment. The day waa a doubly Important one for th i commons because tho new premier unfolded a programme for wide reaching war measures and Mr. Aaqutfn closed the last chapter of nine roars of leadership with an ac counting of hla war stewardship. The principal feature of Mr. Lloyd George s programme Is a measure for natlom I service, matching Germany's latest ucherae. whereby every citizen will be llablo for enrollment to per? form Mirk for which the authorities consider him best equipped. Arthur Neville Chamberlain, mayor of Birmingham and a member of tho Ifamous family, whose enrgy and bus? iness capacity are rated high, will be director of the national service with civil and military directors responsible to him. i amm The premier prefaced his review of the f it nation by 'the statement that Britons did their best In time of dan? ger, that the country should be told unpleasant facts and that he wot Id give net a dark but a stern view of the outlook. Rising In the house a gsj minutes after 4 o'clock, the prime minister said: "I appesr before the house today with the most terrible responsibility that can fall upon the shoulders of any living man aa chief adviser of the crown in the most gigantic war In which this country was ever engaged, a war upon the events of which Its destiny dependa. It Is the greatest war ever waged: the burdens are the heaviest that have been cast upen thla or any other country and the Is? sues the gravest that have been at? tached to any conflict In which hu? manity was ever Involved. "The responsibilities of the new government have been suddenly ac c ?ntuated by the declaration made b th'> Grrman chancellor. The state? ment made by him In the reichen:: has b^en followed by a note presem bv the I'nlted Htates without note .?: comment. The answer given by this government will be given n full ac? cord with all our allies. \Hturwllv there has been an Inter change of views, not upon the not.?, I?ereu*e It has onlv recently arrived, but upon the speech which Impelled it, and as the note itself is practically only a reproduction or a paraphrase of the speech, the subject matter of the note Itself has been discussed in? formally between the allies. I am glad to be able to state that we each separately and Independently arrived at identical conclusions. "I am very glad that the first an? swer given to the statement of the German chancellor was given by Prance and Russia. They have the unquestionable right to give the first answer to such an invitation. The enemy is still on their soil and thoir sacrifices have been the greater. "The answer they have given has already appeared In the papers and 1 simply stand here to give clear and definite support to the statements they have already made. "Any man or set of men who wan- | tonly or without sufficient cause pro longed a terrible conflict like this would have on his soul a crime that j Oceans could not cleanse. "On the other hand, It is equally true that any man or set of men who from a sense of weariness or despair abandoned tho struggle without achieving the high purposes for which we entered it, would be guilty of the costliest act of poltroonery ever per? petrated by any, statesman. I should WtJflpi* iwtmi lUilunjiii1 i *"We accepted this, war for an ob? ject, and a world object, and the war wHl end when the object Is attained' under Ood. I hope it will never end until that time.' "Are we likely to achieve the object by accepting the Invitations of the German chancellor? What are tho proposals? There are none. "To enter, on, the invitation of Ger? many, proclaiming herself victorious without any knowledge of what pro? posals she proposes to make, into a conference is to put our heads into a noose with the rope end in the hands of Germany. 'This country is not altogether without experience in these matters.' This is not the first time we have fought a groat military despotism overshadowing Europe and it won't be the first time we have helped to over? throw a military despotism. Wo have an uncomfortable historical memory of these things and can recall one of the gi-entest of these despots, whose favorite device was to appear In the garb of an angel of peace, either when he wished time to assimilate his con? quests or to reorganize his forces for fresh contest: or secondly, when his subjects sliowed symptoms o? fatigue and war-weariness, an appeal was always made in the name of human? ity. He demanded an end to the bloodshed at which he professed him? self horrified, although he himself was mainly responsible. "Our ancestors were taken in once, and bitterly they and Europe rued it Tho time was dovoted to reorganizing his forces for deadlier attack than ever upon the liberties of Europe. "Examples of this kind cause us to regard this note with a consider? able measure of reminiscent disquiet. I ''We feel that we ought to know, before we give favorable consideration to such an invitation that Germany is prepared to accept terms on which It Is possible peace can be obtalnod and maintained in Europe. Those terms have been repeatedly stated by all the leading statesmen of the allies. They have l>een stated repeatedly here and outside. To quote the lead? ing of the house last week: I " 'Reparation and guarantee aguinst repetition, so there ?hall be no mis? take, and it Is important that there should he no mistake in a matter of life or death to millions." "Let me repent?Complete restitu? tion, full reparation and effectual gun ra litres. "|)id the German Chancellor use a single; phrase to indicate that he was prepared to accept such a peace? Was there a hint of restitution 1 W;is there n sumrestlon of reparation? Was there an implication of any security for the future, that this outrage on civilization would not agslu be por LIGENSES YIELD REUE CHIEF GAME WARDEN'S LECTIONS INCREASING. Wardens are Instructed to He Wi fill Against Violations of Laws During Holidays. Columbia, Dec. 20.?"If the cembee collections increase in Jsame proportion that collections increased during the other mont tho year, this department will in this year between $50,000 and 000," said A. A. Richardson, c game warden, yesterday. When Richardson took up tho work March, 1913, only $1,900 had taken in by the department the ceding year, Since that time se al game laws have been enacted the number of deputies has been creased. Mr. Richardson said y day that although 13 new have come under the hunter law within the last year, and though the number of arrests and victions has necessarily incre there has been manifested by the pie a greater respect for law. cember 1 Mr. Richardson's b showed a revenue three times gre? than the revenue shown December^! 1915. "This increase," said Mr. Riojj ardson, "is due to better organfifi tion." I 1 Orders have been sent by Mr. Riet ardson to his deputies throughout m State, urging the closest possible sU| velllsnce of every nook of territol during the holiday season and reqojj ing dally reports to the office at (I lumbia. _ ">| petrated at the first profitable oppej tunity? vj "The very sifbstance and style^ tho speech constituted a denial^ peace on the only terms on wfefi peaco is possible. He is not eyi conscious now that Germany has cos mitted e.ny offense against the rigs of free nations. Listen to this fro the note: '-'jyL&arfw KS convictlo#?iat respect of the 'rights of other nations is not in any de? gree incompatible with their own rights and legitimate interests.' "When did they discover this? When wan' respect for the rights of other nations In Belgium and Servla? That was self-defense, menaced, lj suppose by the overwhelming armies I of Belgium. I suppose the Germans had been intimidated Into Invading' Belgian cities and villages, into mas sacreing thousands of the inhabitants, old and young; to carry off' the survivors Into bondage. Yea, and they were carrying them into slavery at the very moment when ?"Is note was being written about their v ..swerv? ing conviction as to the respect due to the rights of other nations. "Are these outrages the legitimate interest:* of Germany? We must know. If excuses of this kind for palpable crimes can be put forward two and a half years after exposure by the grim facts, is there any guar? antee that similar subterfuges will not he usod in tho future to over? throw any treaty of peace you may enter into with Prussian militarism? "The note and speech prove that they have not yet learned the alpha* bet of respect for the rights of oth? ers. \ "Without reparation peace is im? possible. Are all these outrages against humanity on land and sea to be liquidated by a few pious phrases about humanity? Germany leaves us to exact the damage for all future violence committed after the war. We must exact it now, so as not to leave such a grim inheritance to our children. "Much as we all long for peace, deeply as we are horrified with war, this note and speech, which heralded it, do not afford us much encourage? ment to hope for an honorable and lasting peace, "What hope is given in tho speech that the whole root and cause of this great bitterness, the arrogant spirit of the Prussian military caste, will not be as dominant as ever, if we patch up peace now? The very speech in which these peace suggestions are made resounds to the boast of Prus? sian military tr.amphs. If. is a long paen over the victory of von Hlnden burg. "We must keep a stadfast eye upon the purpose for which we enter? ed the war; otherwise the great sac rlACOS we have been making will be in vnltt, The German note states that it was for the defense of their ex? istence and tho freedom of national development that the central powers Were constrained to take up Arms. Such phrases are Intended to delude the German nation into supporting the designs of tho Prussian military ISS TO BUILD STORE. >NTRACT FOR BUILDING WAS AWARDED YESTKRDAY TO J. M. HAK?Y. Five and Ten Cent Store to lie Erected on Comer of Main and Caldwell Street, Work Commencing Once?Will be Two Stories High -and Cost Will bo $28,000. II Kress & Company of New York oaterday awarded the contract for a tiding in this city to be erected on rtr lot at the corner of Main and ildwell streets, work to commence once. The contract was awarded to J. M. Harby of Sumter, the lowest adder for the job. The building Srhen completed will cost approximae ?r $28,000. u The structure will be a two story ?brick building with basement. The ?front will be of plate glass and Dixie jjtexture brick, to be furnished by the pointer Brick Works. A change in the [kind of brick to be used was allowed in the specifications at the last mo bent, the architect being so much [pleased with the nature of the brick made here. The side will be of Dixie texture brick. The contract for the new structure was let yesterday by Mr. Seamorc tBurrell, architect for Kress & Com I* pany, who has been traveling about sfor several months inspecting build? ings being erected by the company and letting contracts for others. He ^haa just completed a tour through taxas and Florida and goes from here Greenville, where Kress & Company ire erecting a new building. The work rill commence at once, Mr. Harby lied this morning, either this week ?r at least before the first of the year, le contract calls for the completion | the building by June 1st. Tphe coming of Kress & Company to imter will be a good toning for the and community and the erection le now building is one more step ryelQRjaent of the city. iff [ging in his left aSIWir" HO went to i Dr. T. It. CaretBOjsJ^he extracted therefrom a needle. Sir. Bturgm has no idea how it got into his shoulder or when.?Rock Record. caste. Who ever wished to put an end to their national existence or freedom of development? We welcomed their development so long it waa on the path of peace. "The allies entered this war to de? fend Europe against the aggression of Prussian military domination and, having begun it, they must insist that the only end Is the most complete effective guarantee against the pos? sibility of that caste ever again dis? turbing the peace of Europe. Prus? sia since she got into the hands of that caste has been a bad neighbor, arrogant, threatening, bullying, shift? ing her boundaries at her will and taking one fair field after/ another from her weaker neighbors and add? ing them to her own dominions. "With her belt ostenstatiously full of weapons of offense and ready at a moment's notice to use them, she has always been an unpleasant, disturb? ing neighbor in Europe. She got thoroughly on the nerves of Europe; there was no peace near where she dwelt. It is difficult for those who are fortunate enough to live thou? sands of miles away to understand what it has meant to those who live near. "Even here, with the protection of the broad seas botween us, we know what a disturbing factor the Prussians were with their constant naval men? ace. But we can hardly realize what it meant to France and Russia. Sev? eral times there were threats directed against them, even within the life? time of this generation, which pre? sented the alternative of war or humil? iation. There were many of us who hoped that the Internal intluence in Germany would be strong enough to check and ultimately to eliminate it. "Now that this great war has been forced by the Prussian leaders it would be folly not to see to It that this swashbuckling through the streets of Europe and this disturbance of peaceful citizens was dealt with here and now as tho most serious of? fense, against the law of nations. "We will wait until we hear what terms and guarantees the German gov? ernment offer other than those, better j than those, surer than those, which she so lightly broke. And meanwhile we shall put our trust in our unbrok? en army rather than in broken faith. "For tho moment l do not think It would bo advisable for me to add anything upon this particular invita? tion. A formal reply will be deliver? ed by the allies in the course of the neat few days." If MOVE 1 GOOD IK L. D. Jennings Proposes That Legislature a Pass Act Allowing Townships to * Vote on Bond Issues. / - o / Chamber of Commerce Rally at Claremont Hotel is Lar < Attended aad Proves Occasion for Interesting Ta.^ - Messrs Belser, Reardon and Williams Tell What Organi? zation Has Done During Past Year?Boll Weevil Danger Emphasized ?To Send Men to See Ravages?Subscriptions Taken for $900?Good Supper Served. The Chamber of Commerte rally at the Claremont Hotel Tuesday night was a most successful occasion from the various angles at which it may bo viewed. There was a good attend? ance, a good supper was served, and a number of* matters of much interest and concern to the future welfare and development of Sumter, city and county, were discussed. The speakers made enlightening talks and none of them spoke to long, as is sometimes the case at these Chamber of Com merce gatherings. Perhaps the most interesting, and certainly the most radical, step pro? posed was the resolution offered by Mayor L#. D. Jennings in the interest of building permanent roads in the county > Mayor Jennings is an earn? est advocate of good roads and now that he has secured permanent streets for Sumter, he wishes the work ex? tended beyond the city limits. His resolution, which was unani? mously indorsed by those present, was that the Sumter County legislative delegation be Instructed to have an act passed at the coming .seas on of tho legislature allowing each town? ship, upon petition of 20 per cent, of the qualified voters of the county, to vote on the issue of bonds to build |fjjjgj|A?|ent roads in the county, the > pave< a certain per cejjffc* of the taxable property in theifewnship, V> be de? cided by a board appointed for the purpose. Mr. Jennings madeljh strong argu ment in favor of, hisj'rwiolution, con? demning the old systgm of building sand-clay roads, wht(*jB6had to be re? built every year, as aruseless expense, and misplacement oX?*~*noney which might go for permanent roads. He argued for a tax on. automobiles, based on their power, the money to go to build permanent roads. He stated that the automobile owners would willingly pay this tax, as they would more than save the. same amount in the wear and tear on their machines. The roads did not have to be built wide, but they should extend from one edge of the county to the other, he stated. If they were voted in one township, and permanent roads secured, other townships would fall in line. ?The bonds could bo paid in 20 or 30 years, he stated. During the course of the meeting, besides the permanent roads proposi? tion, a full time county healta officer, the work of the Chamber of Com? merce during the past year and the work before it in aiding the farmers to prepare and meet the advancing boll weevil, the threatened menace of the boll weevil and steps to warn I the farmers to prepare in time to ! meet it, the building up of a good city j and many other matters of equal in jtercst and importance were discussed, j A subscription was taken to place j the Chamber of Commerce on a soun i der linancial basis and approximately $900 was pledged by the hundred and three persons present. This amount Will be supplemented by what can be raised by a canvas of the business men not at the meeting and the busi? ness houses not represented. The ef? fort Is to secure $2,500 a year for the support of the organization, which was given unanimous indorsement as a necessity for tho community. It was shown that the expenses of the organization were approximately $200 a month and that for the past lew years the body had been carrying a deficit of several hundred dollars each year. The meeting was called to order shortly hefore !> o'clock in the dining room of the Claremont. where all were invited to supper. A well pre? pared and bountiful supper was plac? ed on the tables and everybody seem? ed to enjoy the repast. Just previous to and during supper music was fur? nished by J, K. King & Co. from one of their large Edison machines. At tbe (lose of the supper, the meeting was opened by a she rt statement by President Belser of the Chamber *<( < 'ommerce. Mr. Belser referred t<? the hotel in which they had met as being secured by the Chamber of Commerce. He referred to the Tobacco Warehouse and the Sumter Roller Mills as enter? prises, fostered by the Chamber of j Commerce, which would prove of immeasurable value when the boll j weevil arrived. Stock raising was an j industry which was being encouraged in every way possible by the organiza? tion, and it would be a necessity on the arrival of the boll weevil. He stated that the Chamber of Commerce neded new life and should be re-or Iganized. He asked that the recom? mendation of the directors that the ? I election of directors and officers in I January instead of in March, as I heretofore, be adopted. Mr. Belser referred to the County Fair as an offspring of the Chamber of Commerce, carried to a successful [consummation by Messrs. Williamson I and Tisdale, with the Chamber of 1 Commerce looking after much of the detail work. He stated that the body was Hsrtill hammering on the Sumter Olanta-Shiloh railway and it was hoped to secure this in time. Efforts were being put forth to secure electric current produced by water power and the Chamber of Commerce had the matter up with both the Southern Power Company and the Parr Shoals .Company. If the companies could b* - *--^-^^^^.^<M*+>e*mm rent could be secured to operate fac? tories, and work supplied, to iftore men and women, a factor which would become very important when the boll weevil drove many residents of the country to the city for employ? ment. He then made a statement of the condition of the finances of the Cham? ber of Commerce and asked the in? dorsement and hearty support of the business men of Sumter and Sumter county, for whom the organization was working. Mr. E. I. Reardon was called upon, and he told of what he had been do? ing in the past year in endeavoring with Mr. Williams and Miss Lenj^pp to encourage the raising of grain and j live stock, and bringing the farmers to realize the danger which was com? ing and to prepare for it by diversifi? cation. He referred to the pessimistic spirit which had grasped many of Sumter's citizens two years ago, Out which had brought only groundless fears, and proposed to continue to encourage a spirit of optimism among farmers and merchants. He referred to the good offices of the bankers and merchants in aidmg in averting what might have been a panic two years ago. After the storm last sum? mer he had secured seed to distribute among the storm sufferers and a gov? ernment fund to be expended among them in work on the roads. He said that the Greater American Shows had been secured quarters here for the winter, when they would turn loose considerable money among the mer chants. * t|l! Mr. J. Frank Williams gave his view of the Chamber of Commerce from a farmer's standpoint and as one working for the farmers' interest. He jsaid the organization was active in disseminating information, that it was conveniently located and that it had cooperated with him in every way re? quested and desired In aiding to or? ganize the farmers against and warn? ing them of the boll weevil menace He referred to the County Fair and cotton grader as secured through the organization. He stated that its chief object now was to secure marketing facilities for grains and stock which were produced on the farms. He said it should see to tho regulation of prices ao that the producer and consumer should n both be fairly treated. Mr. A. C Phelps thought the Cham? ber of Commerce was essential to a progressive community as were churches and schools. It needed hot air and finances to run it. This one seemed to have plenty of hot air. but w;is short on finances, which he thought should be gladly supplied by tin' buslneas men of Sumter. He aid that while it worked for tho