University of South Carolina Libraries
mm m ?m. ?-?IRL BRINCI8 WORD FROM RRITI8H PACinsT. to Wilson to Stop War Reaches Neutral Conference hy Romantic ues Oeasora New York, Dec. SI.?A girl who came to America aa a meaeenger from Bertrend Russell, an Entlieh pacific? ist, famona as a philosopher, deliv? ered to the American Neutral con? ference hero tcday an open letter from Mr. Russell addressed to Presi? dent Wilson appealing to him to "bring peace to Europa" Ine letter waa sent by mssoengsr to evade the British censor. The name of Its \ hearer waa not disclosed through fear of making trouble for her should otto return to England. Three members of the conference committee, Georgs Foster Pea body, Paul Kellogg and Mlas Emily Green Belch, were selected to carry he let? ter to President Wilson and left here tonight for Washington. ^ Mr. Russell, who Is the hslr of Earl Russell and was a lecturer and fol? low of Trinity ollege, Cambridge, re omttly won flood $S00 for having written a pernshlet opposing con? scription In Eng and. He also was pro? hibited from coming to the United States to lector* at Harvard and was forbidden to ?nter any prohibited area In London. In his letter Mr. Russell asserted that It was within the power of thn president to bffctg the war to an end by a "just pone*** and that "the Unit nee tke power not only to the European governments to ike peace but aloe to reassure the populations by making Itself the guarantor of pei.ee." ? ?ftueh action." Mr. Russell wrote, "even If It were resented by the gov? ernments, would be hailed with )oy ay the populations." WjUBHlNGTO* WAITS WORD. ?0 Farther Penes Move Win he Made tin** Hens of Reception of Note Is Washington, Dec. 22 ?With the notes in the hands of all bel Ugerente the administration today an*louAy awaited official word an to manner In wlieh It was resolved, oomment In England mostly tee the vnrwthai Prasidsnt Wuson'a geotJve Oaneoi hi criticised, hot note la ? i r win force the Her the government to formulate definite and the adn InHrtration Is hope? ful of the outcora?. The official an? swers are not exported until after the drat of the year. MAY ASK MEDIATION. That He Will Invite Ambus Gerard to Headquarters for Con* The Hague, Dec. 12.?A report from Berlin that the Kalter may soon Invite Ambassador Glrard to headquarters for a conference on the possible me? diation by the Unite 1 States has arous? ed much comment In diplomatic dr? eien, The kaiser Is putting much hope In the resistance of the United States In bringing about a peace conference. OPPENHEIM ALLOWED TO PASS. Permit 14^1 to Enter In Mod Hintes on Rand for Period of Three Month*. Washington. Dec. 21.?Bsron Rob? ert E. Oppenheim, Jxmdon and Paris banker, held up at Xew York oy Im? migration authorities on the ground that he had been Implicated in charges involving moral turpitudo was ordered released today by the immi? gration bureau under a bond of $1.000 for three months, pending further in? vestigation. The ni.ture of the charges has not been made public. It was said at the Immigration bureau the banker would he free to go anywhore In the United States subject to deportation later If Investigation should disclose grounds for It. Baron Oppenheim arrived at New York from Europe early this week and after examination was ordered deported. He appealed to Wj.dung ton. ROUMANIANS NOl WHIPPED. Von Mackensen Trying to Drive Them Into Danube s tn.nps. Berlin. Dec. 22.?A big battle ban developed In northern Dobrudjn. Gen. von Mackensen I? trying to drive the Russian army Into the ?wnmps of the Danube, or drive It Into Bessarabia. Ha\lng been heavily reinforced the Russians are delivering heavy coun? ter-attacks In the Wsllachlan plan. The Germans sre approaching Rlm nlk. PEACE TERMS SOON. Washington, Dec. 22.?Well defined reports sre current that Germany will shortly place her p??are terms In President Wilson's hum a. AWAIT WORD FROM EUROPE. NO IMMEDIATE MOVE ON WIL? SON'S PEACE NOTE EX? PECTED. Teutonic Alliance Expected to Wel? come President's Move as Step To? wards Peace, but Action of Entente Is Uncertain. Washington, Dec. 22.?While noth? ing official came from Europe today to show when the belligerents will re? ply to President Wilson's note urging discussion of peace, or what the na? ture of the response might be, the London news dispatches Indicating that an early reply was unlikely be? cause of the necessity of consultation between the allies agreed with the view prevailing here. Apparently the administration, hav? ing dispatched the note and in tho In torst of caution having taken steps to see that no misconstruction abroad was placed on the president's pur? pose, now is carefully watching the expressions of opinion, particularly in the British press. As the attitude of ths Teutonic allies had beer, clearly foreshadowed in advance, and tho president in the note specifically dis? claimed any association with that at? titude, the interest of America 1 of? ficials centred on the reception of the note In the entente countries add among the European neutrals. It was recalled, as the London dispatches, most of them hostile, arrived that similar expressions greeted the origi? nal proposals of the central allies, but that the views were moderated in the British press and among the entente diplomats here after reflection and discussion. To preclude any possibility of mi' construction of the president's pur? poses from the flurry of yesterday, caused by Secretary Lansing's two statements, both statements were cabled today to American diplomats abroad in neutral as well as belliger? ent countries, so they might be pre? pared correctly to state the president's attitude to the governments to which they are accredited. They are Intended to offer official evidence, if It be needed, that the president's note is exactly what it purports to be on Its face. The suggestion from London that the manner of replying to the presi? dent's note will differ from the form of replies to proposals of the German allies corresponded with official ex? pectations. It Is thought here that the entente allies might not make eie jtended^nswer to tho proposals of tho liiii?gsffcijjii i hjrt.wjpylrt rt?s|. ?Ur. fChe wn^ pOaOe subject In their re? sponse to the United States. The German view here is that whatever the reply of the entente al? lies, the relations between Germany and the United States will have been Immeasurably Improved, probably to the point of assuring careful steps by the Berlin government to avoid any such conditions as led up to a crisis which threatened to break diplomatic relations. That view is that the ad? vantage of comity with the greatest of noutrals will be so forcibly im? pressed upon the people >f the cen? tral empires that it will not again be endangered. Entente diplomats, white they ap? parently had decided to accept the president's attitude in good faith, had not wholly disposed of their fear that it might redound to the advantage of their enemies. It wss reiterated today in all offi? cial quarters that there was perfoct understanding between Secretary Lunsing and the president and what ever might have appeared as discord in interpretation of the note to tho belligerents had been disposed of by tho issue of the secretary's second statement and the steps to Inform the foreign governments of the facts. The notes to the belligerents, Sec? retary Lansing's explanatory state? ments and recent German submarine activities furnished the chief topic of discussion at today's cabinet meeting. Later it was said that the discussion was directed toward no particular end but merely brought forth the views of the cabinet members. After the cabinet meeting. Secre? tary Lansing said that full forma? tion concerning the sinking of the British liner Arabia was not at hand. The American government is anxious? ly uwalting word from Berlin regard? ing the British horse ship Marina, which admittedly was sunk without wurnlng by a German submarine, and which the state department has been convinced, was not a transport. No course of action will be deckled on until Germany has been heard from again. It was learned that after the full discussion the cabinet took the view that the force of the note to tho bel? ligerents had not been materially af? fected by Secretary Lansing s state? ment. PrSSt comment In both Kngland and Germany was read with the deep? est Interest by members of the cabi? net. Spokesmen for the administra? tion thought that the unfavorable Impression made at first in Bug land would be changed when tho note was I examined carefullv. Messages rongnu. luting tho prosi CONGRESS GIVES HOLIDAY. ADJOURNS TO RECONVENE AT? TER CHRISTMAS. House Especially Has Put Much of Its Legislative "Stint" Behind It. - j Washington, Dec. 22.?Congress ad? journed today for the Christmas holi? days to reconvene January 2. In the three weeks of the session the house passed live government supply m? ures, the urgent deficiency, legislative, Indian, District of Coumbia and dip? lomatic and consular appropriation hills, more than ever were passed be? fore ip the brief period preceding a holiday recess. ^ Of these bills the urgent deficiency bill has passed the senate. j Railroad legislation suggested by President Wilson failed to get much atte lion in either branch. The house commerce committee decided to await initiative action in the senate, where beginning January 2 the senate com? merce committee will hold hearings ! on the proposed railroad arbitration measure and the bill authorizing the president to take over the railroad, telephone and telegraph Hm i In ease of military necessity. At the conclusion of the hearings the railroad measures In some form will be pressed as amendments to the pending bill to enlarge the interstate commerce commission. Senator New lands, chairman of the committee, hopes to get action before the Mardh adjournment. Efforts to extend-^tdr one year the life of the joint commis? sion investigation railroad problems were checked in the house to be re* newed immediately after the holidays. The senate passed the immigration bill with its literacy test provision and it now Is in conference. The senate also began consideration of the Dis? trict of Columbia prohibition bill and fixed January 9 for a vote. The national prohibition constitu? tional amendment was reported favor? ably from the Judiciary committee In each house and will be pressed by tys champions at every opportunity,;*}} though they have little hope ot'.rfljt tlng the necessary two-thirds majority at this session. . <v House committees also report* Borland food Investigation resolt with a favorable recommend and the Susan B. Anthony coi tlonal amendment for woman suf without recommendation. N? resolution advanced to consldei in the house. ^ YORK FABMERK W. w. Jones of Bullock Creek Section Ineantly Killed While Trimming Tree. York, Dec. 21.?W W. Jones, a well known farmer of the Bullock Creek section, was killed yesterday morn? ing hy the limb of a large tree that he had chopped, striking him in the face, hreuklng his neck and causing death almost instantly. Mr. Jones had fe!l od the tree the previous afternoon and yesterday morning he was trim? ming the branches when the tragedy occurred. One end of the trunk; was resting on the stump and the other on some limbs, and as Mr. Jones cut the last one of supporting branches, the tree lurched off the stump and plunged forward, one of the upright limbs striking him a terrific blow be? tween tho eyes, his neck being broken i y the impact and his face badly mangled. Mr. Jones was about 4C years of age and is. survived by his wife and six children. State Superintendent of Education, Swcaringen was here last Saturday at the Teachers* meeting and made a line address. There were about 75 or 80 trustees of school In tho county present and nearly all the teachers. It Is a good sign for the schools when we see so many trustees turn out to hear a school address. Every one was glad he came and felt benefited and encouraged to go on with their school work.?Bishopville Leader and Vindi? cator. dent poured into the White House today in increasing volume. Almost without exception the sendete inter? preted th< ^ction as a peace move. Repu1 ^an Leader Mann referred .o the note on the floor of the house today and heartily praised President Wilson's action. "Without regard to partisanship." he said, "I believe the whole people of the country warmly congratulate and commend the presi? dent in every effort e had made or may make to restore peace In the world." It became known during tho day that some members of the diplomatic corps are worried over their personal status with their home governments, whom they have been Informing for weeks past that the United States would take no action in the European situation. With the arrival of the German proposals and the announced decision of this government not to add any word of its own, most dip? lomats became finally convinced, nnd bo reported to their governments thnt no step towards peace would ho taken he*o unless a decided chnnge oc? curred. RIG6S GETS DATA ON STUDENTS AUMCLiyrritAL COURSE POPU? LAR AT CLEMSON COLLEGE. Sons of Furniers in Large Majority at Agricultural Institution ? Alumni Sends Brothers to Take Course. Columbia, Dec. 23.?Both interest? ing and illuminating is the vital statis? tics chapter of President Kiggs* an? nual report to tho board of trustees of Clemson college. The assembled data relates to the entire student body of 84 3 students. A surprising fact is tho predominant proportion of stu? dents who come from the rural dis? tricts. Of tho total enrollment of 843 students 706 are sons of farmers or men who formerly gave their time and attention to agricultural pursuits. A total of 610 have lived on the farm as long as 14 years. Five hundred and fifty-three wero born in the coun? try. Only 246 now live in town or cities with a population above 2,500. Six hundred now live in the country or the very small towns. Another detail indicates the influ? ence of the alumni on succeeding gen? erations. Two hundred and forty-live of those now enrolled h ive had 338 brothers to matriculate at Clemson, of which number 121 were graduated. The average age of the student body is 19 years and 5 months, and the average height 5 feet and 9 inches. The present senior class has a mem? bership of 111. There are 150 juniors, 189 sophomores, and 332 freshmen. Thirty-two have matriculated for the one year agricultural course. Twen? ty-six are classed as irregulars, with three pursuing post graduate courses. Agricultural courses arc by far the most popular. In these 473 students are now enrolled, with 370 in all other departments. President Riggs emphasized while in Columbia Wednesday for the an? nual meeting of the trustees that a decidedly wholesome result had been obtained by referring the matter of .State aid to the board of charities and correction. Nearly 100 per cent, more paid tuition this fall without ap? plication for State aid than one year ago and upon recommendation of the board of correction free tuition has been denied 156 of the 374 making ap? plication. Concerning the distribu? tion of scholarships the president's report says: "There are in effect this session 145 regular four-year county scholarships and 17 one-year scholarships from the State at large to fill county vacan des. There are also 24 scholarships In the^Tfie~year a^lcUltul^nclmTse "Of the total number holding scholarships, 162 are taking agricul? tural courses and 24 textile courses. Under the law not more than one man per county can take the textile course. "Of the total number holding scholarships, 133 or 71 1-2 per cent, are farmers' sons, and 53 or 28 1-2 per cent, are sons of merchants, law? yers, etc. Some of the latter are in the textile course, for which mill ex? perience rather than farm experience is desirable." SALE OF ISLANDS APPROVED. Danish Landsthing Adopts Island Deal Bill. Copenhagen, Dec. 21 (via London). ?Both houses of tho Danish parlia? ment now havo approved the sale of tho Danish West Indies to the United States. The landsthing, or upper house, voted favorably upon the prop? osition today, 40 to 19. The bill for ratification of the treaty providing for the sale was adopted by the folks thing yesterday. MEANS QUICK ACTION'. Washington, Dec. 12.?Approval by Denmark's parliament of the treaty by which the United States will ac? quire the Danish West Indies opens the way for a prompt exchange of ratifications between the two govern? ments and consummation of negotia? tions that have been in progress in? termittently since the War of Seces? sion. The United States senate al? ready has given its approval and a* soon as the formal exchanges have taken place the administration will press measures in congress appropri? ating the purchase price ot $25.000, 000, and providing for the institu? tion of an American territorial gov? ernment on the islands. American naval strategists for yours have regarded possesion of this Ht tle archipelago, lying GO miles east of Puerto Itieo, as absolutely neces? sary to prevent any European power from acquiring it and moreover to establish there a great naval base and coaling station for the United States fleet. Commercially the islands eve regarded as of comparatively little value. There are three of them, St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, and on their 14 2 square miles live some :j:1,000 people. Jacksonville. Dec. 22.? Six trainmen are reported to have been killed when a doubleheader freight on the Sea? board Air Lne ran into a washout near McKinley, Fla., this morning. GERMANY WILL STATE TERMS. PREPARED TO MA .E ITS OB JECTS CLEAR, If Allies Leave Door Open, Teutons Will Make Step Toward Peace. London, Dec. 22.?An Exchange Telegraph dispatch from The Hague says it is announced semi-ofTleially that should entente allies in their re? ply to the peace proposals of the cen? tral powers leave the door open for negotiations Germany will make known her chief peace terms imme? diately. The German newspapers which contain the announcement declare that tho speeches of Premier Lloyd George and Premier Briand do not contain a single word which justifies the supposition that, the answer of the entente powers will deliberately re? ject Germany's peace offer and that therefore, the German government will define its attitude after receipt of the reply. BERLIN WELCOMES PROPOSAL. Reception of Wilson Note Revives In? terest in Germany's Pence Over? tures. Berlin, Dec. 22 (via London).?The announcement of President Wilson's I peace endeavor received through the I Associated Press was accorded a tre? mendous welcome in Berlin. The im? pression of official and newspaper circles appeared in the noon editions under large display headlines as the all important news of the Christmas season, reviving the interest of the German peace overtures which had sunk to a low point under the in? fluence of the preliminary declara? tions of statesmen of the entente pow? ers. The American embassy, to which the ambassador, James W. Gerard, returned late last night from New York, the Associated Press correspon? dent and tho American charge, Joseph C. Grew, were besieged by newspaper men who sought additional informa? tion concerning the president's peace note, but nothing beyond the press dispatches could be given. PAXVILLE NEWS ITEMS. Marriage of A. B. Curtis and Miss Eichelberger Announced ? School Closed for Holidays and Teachers Leave for Homes. Paxville, Dec. 21.?Cards have been received here announcing the mar >raj?e~of KfrrAIva^ Curtis T?~M1t? Sallie Mae Eichelberger, on Saturday December ICth, at Anniston, Ala. Mr. Curtis is a son of Mrs. S. E. Curtis. He left here several years ago, and has held responsible positions with the A. C. L. railroad, at Wilmington, N. C.i and with the Florida East Coast railroad at New Smyrna, Fla. Not many months ago he went to Annis? ton, Ala., where he is engaged in the real estate and insurance business. Rev. Leslie, the new pastor of the Methodist church, preached his first sermon on last Sunday morning. The removal of Rev. S. D. Bailey came as a surprise, as he had only served the charge for a year. The graded school began 'the Christmas recess at 3 o'clock Wednes? day afternoon, and will resume their work at the usual hour Tuesday morn? ing, January 2. Christmas exercises were held in each of tin ..ss rooms, which had been artistically decorated with holly, mistletoe, evergreens and other floral decorations of the season. Miss Lethea Edmunds, the principal, will leave Thursday morning to spend the holidays at her home in Mullins. Miss C. E. McLaurin will :;o to her home In Sumter. Miss Alice Broadway will entertain the pupils of her grade on Friday afternoon at her home near town. Miss Vivian Curtis came Tuesday night from the Columbia Female Col? lege tor the holidays. Mr. T. P. Brown has moved to Sum? ter, which place he expects to make his future home. Messrs. J. H. Touchberry and T. 11. Oliver have recently purchased tour? ing cars. Mr. John Ardis has about complet? ed his residence across the railroad and will move In sometime next week. BATTLE AT VERDUN. Violent Atrillery Action Reported Last Night. Paris, Dec. 22.?There was violent artillery action in the Louvemont sec? tor northeast of Verdun last night, the war ofitcs announced today. There were no events of Importance else? where on western front. There were artillery duels north of Monastlr and patrol engagements on the Struma river section of the Mace? donian front. Now Y??rk. Dec. 22.? Secretary Lansing's qualifying statement issued late yesterday afternoon had a mark" 9d effect on the stock markets. The bulls used the statement to boost prices three to five points on the open inn this morning. THE GOUNTY HEALTH OFFICER. PLAN FOR WIIOLETIME OFFICIAL VOR COL XTV INDORSED. Chamber of Commerce Idea is Dis? cussed and Ix'onomie Value to Com? munity of Sanitary Survey and Ac? cessory Moves and Improvements are Pointed Out. The unanimous and hearty endorse? ment of the proposed whole time county health officer for Sumter coun? ty, by many of Sumter's leading citi? zens at the Chamber of Commerce rally last Tuesday evening, and the further fact that the Sumter County Medical Association, the Sumter Board of Health, the Grand Jury of Sumter county, the Tuomey Hospital Visiting Board of physicians, and oth? ers have endorsed the plan to have such an official, coupled up with the additional gratifying information that, so far as is known, not a single man or woman has entered any objection to the creation of such an important office, an office that will mean a com? plete county health survey by a num? ber of sanitary experts of the United States working with county health of? ficer, should be sufficient guarantee to the Sumter County Legislative del? egation and the board of county com? missioners that a whole time county health officer is needed and desired. The Sumter Chamber of Commerce is seeking to better the conditions Of the agricultural districts of Sumter county, to have the rural homes more efficient, comfortable and attractive, and to in^ 'ce families to remain on the farm. It desires to have hygiene taught in the rural schools as a part of the regular curriculum. Surely there is nothing, of an eco? nomic nature, of more importance to the progress of a community, or a county, than the public health, the decreasing of sickness, particularly of unnecessary sickness, and premature deaths. To do this would mean a great gain in sustaining the earning power of the individual and commUh* ity. Sickness means decreased pro? duction and loss of earning power. Greenville. South Carolina, a coun? ty which had one of the complete county health surveys this year, held a big health celebration at which the secretary of the treasury, the surgeon general of tho public health service, and other distinguished statesmen were present. Hundreds of business concerns had beautiful floats In the big health parades, and thousands of persons attended the celebration. The whole time county health offi? cer, the complete county health sur? vey, and the Improved health condi? tions in Greenville county are shown by reports following the county health survey. These progressive steps show that Greenville is looking for the fu? ture and offers itself as a very de? sirable location in which to live and do business. The Sumter Chamber of Commerce is after new enterprises, and desirable settlers of all kinds. And one of the very best ways to get these desirable enterprises and people is to make Sumter county one of the most en? terprising and desirable places in which to live. By eradicating mosquitos and ma? larial fever, by exterminating flies and the diseases they scatter, by extermi? nating hook worm, and in general de? creasing the amount of preventable sickness and premature deaths, the county indicates that it is trying to improve conditions, which is the best evidence of progress. Sumter co?nty can have its health celebration and its complete county health survey, at? tended by the biggest kind of legiti? mate advertisement of national scope, if our people will only get to work for a whole-time county health offi? cer. The Sumter Chamber of Commerce is far sighted enough to see that the best possible sanitary conditions, and the best possible public health show? ing are the best advertising assets we can possibly geU WIND CAUSES TROUBLE. Display of Pretty Hosiery in Baltimore Produces Riot Call. Baltimore, Dec. 23.?So many men gathered at the corner of Liberty and Lexington streets during a gale today to view the pretty hosiery that the police sent in a riot call. Liberty and Lexington is Baltimore's w indiest cor? ner. LANSING HAS NOT RESIGNED. Washington, Dec. 22.?The report that Secretary Lansing had resigned on account of yesterday's statement, is denied. Paris, Dec. 22.?President Wilson's note received a friendly reception by the French press. The Temps admits that the people want peace, but de? clares they will fiviht until victory is assured. The Intranslgeant says Ger? many cannot dodge making her peace terms known now. El Paso. Dec. 22.?Villa opened the attack on Torreon early today. It is expected the city will fall into his hands before night,