Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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IMPERIAL CHANCELLOR SAYS THAT GERMANY IS PLAYING BEST CARD TO WIK. Be*ftunan-Holl weg Declares That Se l-to if new of Undersea Warfare la Pally Understood by Central Pow Bat la Only Step to Save Thcni Destruction at Hands of Their Berlin. Jan. St (via London, Feb. 1.)?Chancellor von Bethman Holl v.?? ? and other ministers attended an im? portant meeting of the ways and moans committee of the relchstag to? day at which the entire situation was gone over and new steps planned by the central powers were considered. The chancellor opened the sitting with a spech of which the keynote "We have been challenged te fight to the end. We accept the challenge, we stake everything and we shall be victorious" The secretary of State for the ad mlralty spoke of the situation from the technical, military and naval viewpoint. Detailed statistical data In regard to the economic position of the world was supplied by the secre? tary of the Interior and Foreign Sec? retary Zimmerman replied to several special questions. The committee then went Into se? cret session at which speeches were made by representatives of the Cen? tres, National, Liberal and Progres? sive parties. In his address Chancellor von Beth raann-Hollweg explained why in March and May of last year he had oppteed unrestricted submarine war? fare, and why again In September, "according to the unanimous Judg merl of the political and iutl'*ary au? thorities, the question was considered t +4 for dec is* >n." The chancellor repeated his previ? ous utterance that as soon as he, In aepounent with the supreme army command, reached the conviction that ruth sos submarine war would bring Germany nearer a victory the u-boat war wobld be start* 1. "By thla development of the situa? tion the decision concerning sub? marine warfare haa been forced tnto the last ' stage," said the chan coUor.->v>Ofwe question of u-boat wa-, an mesa^bars of the relchstag will re has, oooupied us throe 0^3tt|8?e^w^^p^e^^T^e?^fc^(^j(?Jf Ago1 Jus* aess*?**? ?i las? Oft ceA frooojieh* In en exhaus? tive statement I expounded the points fee and against this question. I emphasised on each occasion that I wga speaking protempore and not as g supoprter in principle or opponent 111 principle of the unrestricted em? ployment of u-boats, but In considera? tion qf the military, political and eco? nomic situation aa ? whole. "I have always preceded from the standpoint whether u-boat war would bring gs nearer victorious peace or not Every means, I Said In March, that Was calculated to shorten tho War constituted the most humane no Hoy to follow When the moot ruth? less methods are considered best cal? culated to lead us to victory and gwift fVettity, I said then they murt bo employed. "This moment has now arrived. Last autumn the time was not yet ripe, but today the moment has como when, withy the greatest prospects of success, wa dan undertake the sate:' prise. We must, therefore, not wait any tenser "Where has there been any changes In the situation?" the chancellor a.dc ed. "In the first place the moat im? portant fact of all Is that the number of our submarines has b?en very con? siderably Increased as compared with last spring, and thereby a Arm ba.? * for success has been established. The second conclusive reason is the bod cereal harvest of tho w orld. This fact already confronts England, France and Italy with serious difficul? ties which by means of unrestricted u-boat warfare will be brought to a point of unbearableness. Tho coal question, too, Is a vital question hi war. Already It Is critical, as you know. In Italy and France. Our sub? marines will make It still more criti? cal. ' To this must be added especially oro for the production of munitions, aa regards England the supply of In tho widest sense, and of timber for coal mines. The enemy's difficul? ties are rendered still more acute by the increasing lack of enemy oargs space. In this respect time und u-boat and cruiser warfare have pre? pared the ground for the dccls.vc blow. "The entente suffers owing to luck of cargo space. The lack makes Ii? ?elf felt In Italy and France no less than In England. If we may n >H venture to estimate the positive ? I? vantage of unrestricted u-bont I i at a very much higher value t I last spring the dangers which arise for us from u-boat war have corre? spondingly decreased since that time" The chancellor referred to military aTalrs as follows: "A few days rsco Field Hersfc von Hindenburg described tho I tu tion to me thus: Our fronts stand firm' on all sides. We have every? where" the requisite reserves. The spirit of our troops is good and con? fident. The military situation as a whole permits us to accept all con? sequences which unrestricted u-boat war may bring and as this u-boat war is the means of injuring our enemies the most grevlously, It must be be? gun. "The admiralty staff and the high seas fleet entertain the firm convic? tion?a conviction which has prac? tical support in the experienced gain? ed in u-boat cruiser warfare?that Great Britain will be brought to peace by arms. Our allies agree with our views. Austria-Hungary adheres to our procedure also in practice. Just as we lay a blockaded area around Great Britain and the west const, of France in which we will try to prevent all shipping traffic to the enemy coun? tries, Austria-Hungary declares a blockaded area around Italy. "To all neutral countries a free path for mutual Intercourse is left outside the blockade area. To America we offer, as we did In 1915, safe passenger traffic under definite conditions even with Great Britain." The chancellor here read the note' to tho United States and said that cor? responding notes had been sent to he other neutral states. He concluded as follows: 'No one among us will close his eyes to the seriousness of the step we are taking. That our existence is at stake every one knows aince August 4. it 14, and this has been brutally emphasised by the rejection of our P3ace offer. When In 1914 we had to seise and have recourse to the sword against Russia's general mob? ilization we did so with the deepest sense of responsibility toward our people and conscious of resoluio strength which says: 'We must und therefore we can.' Endless streams of blood have been shed, but they have not washed away the 'must' and the 'can/ "In deciding to employ our best and sharpest weapon we are guided solely by all the circumstances that come lato the question and by the firm de? termination to help our peoiple out of the distress and disgrace which our enemies contemplate for them. Suc? cess lies in a higher hand, but as re? gards all that human strength can do to enforce success for the fatherland, be assured, gentlemen, that nothing has been ae?le"ted. Everything in this respect wlB be deny . ? S, S. WOBJLKR COMING. Dr. William A. Brown of Chicago to Be Here February 9th. Dr. William A. Brown, of Chicago, missionary superintendent of the In? ternational Sunday School Associa? tion, will be the chief speaker at the Sumter County Sunday School Asso? ciation meeting which will be held In Trinity Methodist church on February 9. An interesting program has been arranged for the morning, afternoon and night sessions and it is desired that a big attendance be on hand Mr. C. L. Cuttino is president of the County assorlation and Mr. C. E. Stubbs is secretary. The program for the county con? vention le: Morning Session. . i0:15?Devotional Service?By Dr. R. 8. Truesdale, pastor Trinity Meth? odist Church. 10:30?Story Telling for Character Building?By Miss Agnes Bavcnel. Elementary Superintendent. 11:00?The Sunday School Organiz? ed for Service?By R. D. Webb. Gen oral Secretary. 11:30?Reports of County Officers: (a) Preeident, (b) Secretary-Treasur? er; (c) Division Superintendents. I 11:45?The Three Great Superla? tives?By Dr. William A. Brown, Mis? sionary Superintendent International Sunday School Association. It:20?Appointment of Commltttes. Adjournment for Dinner. Afternoon Session. 3:00?Devotional Service?By Dr. W. E. Thayer, pastor Sumter Baptist Church. 3:10?Reports of District Presi? dents. 3:20?The Growing Sunday School ?By R. D. Webb. 3:60?Fundamental Principles In Work with the Teens?By Miss Agr.es Bavenel. 4:20?The Rights of the Child ? By Dr. William A. Brown. 4:50?Reports of Committee;?. Adjournment. Night Session. 7:30?Devotional Service?By Rev. J. P. Marlon, pastor Sumter Presby? terian Church. 7:46?Our Program of Service In South Carolina?By R. D. Webb. 8:10?The New Day In Sunday School Work in South Carolina?By Dr. William A. Brown. Columbia, Feb. 3.?At the r?<in of his father, Theodore McCloud wq met at the Seabourd station yesfc ? I > moi ling by Policemen Talon and Kramer and will be held awaiting further advices from the father, who lives In Sumter. The boy had t . u t ly run away from home. TO PROTECT AMERICAN RIGHTS TOLLMAN SPEAKS PLAINLY OF CRISIS. Would Use the Navy?Thinks Every Ship, Man and tiun Should be Em? ployed In Defense of Sea Trade. Washington, Feb. 1.?The situation arising from Germany's announced in? tention to pursue a ruthless subma? rine warfare in the future was re? garded by senators today as the most I serious which has confronted th.j United States since the war in Europe began. Although some of the sena? tors were willing to express their views on the declaration of Germany, there was a general air of waiting and expectancy about the senate chamber. ??What will the president do?" was the question on every lip. The opinion was expressed that he probably would make some announce? ment to congress or to the congres? sional leaders before finally acting. It was recalled that In a former crsls it was stated that the pre .dent would fully inform congress or the leaders before he took any final steps looking to the breaking off of diplo? matic relations with Germany or any of the belligerents. Senator Tillman, chairman of the naval affairs committee, said there was only one thing to do in the cir? cumstances. "We should tell the diplomatic rep? resentatives of Teutonic governments in Washington to pack up and go back to their fellow barbarians at once. We should protect the rights of the people of the United States on the high seas with every man, ship and gun in our navy. The sug? gestion Is Intolerable to contemplate." MISS H. F. RONAN RESIGNS. Principal of Confederate College for SS Years Resigns. Charleston Post. The resignation of Miss Harriet F. Ronan, for twenty-eight years prin? cipal of the school, was submitted this morning at the annual meeting of the Confederate College .and Miss Susan K. Maxyck, former assistant principal, and who has been acting as principle; since Mise Ronan's illness forced her to retire, has been elected temporarily, to till her place. ^ Mies Realm ha4 dMag her 28 yeai? of active service been, absent from her duties as principle only three days. She was quite sick, however,' some time ago, and although recover? ed now, has taken this action on the advice of her physician. The board of control was elected for the ensuing year, and held a meet? ing for the purpose of organizing af? ter that of the association had come to an end. Mrs. W. B. Frost was elected president. Glimpses of the Dark Corner. Dark Corner, Jan. 31.?It is raining again here this morning. We are having lots of rain these days, so much that farmers have done very little towards preparing for another crop. We are having measles around here and they are still here. Mr. Arthur Johnston has had them and Is well. Mr. Joe Johnston has had two chil? dren, Misses Bertha and Maggie (those two running girls of field day fame) to be very sick with measles, but they are better. He has four more children and his wife to have them yet. Rev. Corbett of Dalzell, the new Methodist preacher, spent last Satur? day night and Sunday at the "Syca? mores" with Mr. T. H. Osteen and preached a fine sermon at the church j here yesterday at 4 o'clock. He Is to preach for us again on the second Sunday in February at 11 o'clock in the morning, and Rev. Willam Hayns? worth will preach for us the same second Sunday at 4 o'clock p. m. The Sunday school and prayer meeting are Retting along nicely at the church here. Mr. Dewey Reynolds, a young man from Paxvllle, led the prayer meet? ing here last night. Come again voung brother. Mr. I? E. Avin had one of his mules hooked by one of his COWS some days ago and the mule has not been =?o it could work since, but is seems to be getting better now. Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Johnston visit? ed Mr. H. C. Scott, their son-in-law, at Paxvllle yesterday. Mr. Rollln Scott of Paxvllle visited his uncle,, Joe Johnston, h^re yes? terday. Mr. R. N. Owen and son, Mr. John Owen, of Orangeburg, visited at the "Sycamores" a feu* days at?o. Mr. Douglas Uartlette of Sumter visited his grandmother, Mrs. S. A. T. Lackey, here some days ago. Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Kolb of Priva? teer attended preaching here Sun? day evening and beard Rev. Corbett. 1 have been suffering a good deal ?f late which is the reason I have not written more for the Watchman and Southern, Hope to write oftener in the near future. "Hard Times." AMERICAN POLICY DETERMINED BELIEVED THAT WILSON HAS DISPATCHED NOTE TO GER? MANY ON SUBMARINE WARFARJfr Matter is Kept Secret and Only Few Officials Know Contents of Commu? nication Said to Have Been Formu? lated??G erman Ambassador Said to be Expecting Severance of Diplo? matic Relations. Washington, Feb. 1.?Whatever course of action President Wilson has chosen to meet Germany's decla? ration of unrestricted submarine warfare is known only to three oivj four members of his official family. Neither the cabinet as a whole nor the foreign affairs committee of con? gress. > One high official close to the pres? ident declares tonight that no com? munication had been sent to Berlin or to Count von Bernstorff, who out? wardly was expecting a severance of diplomatic relations. There was every indication In of? ficial quarters that a note had been determined upon but the Indication* as to whether it actually had been di patched were about evenly divid? ed, with a few high officials as authority that it had not and some others who gave intimations of a be? lief that it had. From under the curtain of official silence drawn closely over every move today came various indications tak? en everywhere as Index figures point? ing towards the probable course of the United States. It was undisputed that the govern? ment would not permit Germany's announcement to stand without chal? lenge but whether President Wilson's answer will be a solemn warning of a break in diplomatic relations if Germany's campaign of ruthlessness is carried into execution or actual? ly; a severance of relations without further waiting, remained undisclosed. White House officials and Secretary Lansing followed the same course they have adopted in previous oc esslons when a communication had been dispatched to Berlin and they were awaiting its receipt in the Ger capltal before making any anr 'cement in this country. It was rse of absolute silence; of -fiat l to disclose any informative ever; to discuss the subject'In Way or to answer any inquiries All the day's developments followed this same course, which has become familiar to close observers of the procedure of the administration when it is dealing with a foreign crisis.' Secretary Lansing began by deny? ing himself to all callers. Notwith? standing that it was the regular dav for receiving representatives of for? eign governments at the state de? partment, he declined to receive such persons as the British and Japanese ambassadors and they were turned over to subordinate officials. It became known then that Mr. Lansing was engaged at work "on something for the president." Shortly before noon the secretary went to the White House, taking with him some documents and instead of going to the executive offices he and the president conferred undisturbed in the mansion itself, where he and the' president remained for more than an hour. When he left the president Mr. Lansing refused absolutely to discuss the situation or answer any inquiries. Then later in the day when ho met the newspaper correspondents he said, "Gentlemen, I have nothing to tell you; neither will I answer any questions." He modified this later statement only to say he had no communication throughout the day with the German ambassador, adding that there was no prospect of any announcement during the night. Among all officials capable of knowing the probable course of the president, the only point of doubt seemed to be whether a communica? tion to Germany would carry only a warning or whether it would con? sider Germany's declaration sufficient in itself for action. All seemed to take it for granted that a decision had quickly been determined upon. It was pointed out that one reason for. withholding knowledge of the president's course is the necessity of completing certain arrangements, many of a physical character, to pre? pare the country for eventualities which would be expected to follow a diplomatic break. The safeguarding of American ports, safety of Ameri? cans in Germany, the presence of German ships in American harbon and many other considerations are among them. The last correspondence with Ger? many which demanded the total abandonment of such submarine war fare as the central powers are abouv to resume, declared that the United States would sever diplomatic rela? tions "altogether." That is inter? preted as leaving no opportunity for half way measures; it means the with? drawal of Ambassador Gerard and the whole embassy staff from Herlin and the closing of the German embassy here. Inasmuch as any action by the United States would be directed against Germany as a nation and not against her ambassador as an indi? vidual, it was not thought likely that a severance would be announced by the delivery of passports to Count von Bernstorff but would be preceded by formal notification to Berlin of the American government's decision. The delivery of passports to the ambas? sador would be left as fprmality of the future. Germany's views as expressed in this note is that neutrals should not object to the German blockade inas? much as they have been unable to raise the British blockade. American ships venturing into the barred zones, it was frankly stated, would be in danger of being sunk but it was de? clared that Germany and her allies would give up the campaign of ruth lessness should neutrals acting togeth? er cause Great Britain to raise her blockade, or should there be a peace conference. Austria and Turkey are expected to make similar war zone declarations. The first notification that Austria has joined Germany was in the news dis? patches from Paris. No official an? nouncement had reached here to? night. The only announcement the Ger? man ambassador made today was to deny published reports that he had told a friend that he exepected to re? ceive his passports within 48 hours. There was no denying, however, that Count von Bernstorff fully expected the action of the United States to be swift and decisive. It became known that several times during the last week he has attempted to discourage Americans from sailing for Europe. He has declined to write letters of in troduction for friends and on other pretexts without disclosing his knowl? edge of what was about to happen has done his best to discourage them from going to Europe. Chairman Stone of the senate for? eign relations committee, who has been In St. Louis, telegraphed to the White House that he was hurrying back and would arrive at 1 p. m. to? morrow. On a previous occasion the presi? dent told members of the committee that before breaking relation* with any country he would inform tr. em. Col. House spent the day here but left tonight for New York. In ad? dition to a long talk wlththe presi? dent he saw Secretary I^nainaT^^oun^ sellor Polk-of the state department; Secretary McAdoo and Postmaster General Burleson. Public opinion in this country is being carefully considered not so much as a decisive force, but as in dicati..j the limit of the first step to be taken. The officials realize that a severe mental wrench must be experienced to turn public thought from hopes of peace to the eventuali? ties of German's action. There apparently is ho division in official opinion that Germany's an? nouncement justifies this country in severing diplomatic relations, or tak? ing belligerent steps to safeguard American rights. The present situa? tion is regarded as representing a mature policy made in full considera? tion that it will cost the friendship if not the neutrality of the United States and probably other neutral*. Preparations are now known to have been under way in Germany for months and the information that had been allowed to pass the censorship to have been entirely misleading. The fact stands out that official Germany has held off from such a policy not because of international law or con? sideration for the United States, but because it did not feel it expedient at an earlier time. WOULD STOP FUTURE PRICES. Charleston, Feb. 1.?The Charleston cotton exchange today wired New York and the New Orleans cotton ex? changes asking them to discontinue future quotations until normal con? ditions are restored. Wires were sent to many exchanges throughout the South asking that similar requests be sent New York and New Orleans. This step was taken because the dis? organization of the market follow? ing Germany's declaration for un? restricted naval warfare which sent cotton far below its intrinsic value. No steps have been taken to close the local market and the matter wll go before the membership of the ex? change as a whole first. Washington, Feb. 1.?Constitution? ality of South Carolina's law provid? ing for licensing of insurance brok? ers and prohibiting residents of other States from writing fire insurance policies, was brought into question by an appeal filed with the supremo court today by Philip LaTourette, a New York insurance broker. Washington, Feb. 2.?Without de? bate the senate today passed a resolu? tion introduced by Senator Smith of South Carolina, directing the attorney general to investigate the operations of the New York cotton exchange to ascertain if there is any restraint of trade. HOUSE OVERRIDES VETO. VOTES AGAINST WILSON OS, LITERACY TEST. Republicans and Democrats G? Against President in A.Jout Equal Proportions. Washington, Feb. 1.?President Wilson's veto of the immigration bill because of its literacy test feature was overridden in the house tonight by a vote of 286 to 106. Party lines, were ignored, Republicans and Dem<* ocrats being almost equally divided. Tomorrow the action of the bouse will ae reported to the senate, where Che bill passed originally by 64 to 7* Advocates of the measure say the sen* ate is certain to follow the hou.*e action. For 20 years there has been a fight to esiablish a literacy test as a re? strict on upon immigration. Four times such a provision has run the gauntlet of congress and has been vetoed at the White House. PresU dent Cleveland first disapproved a bill on this ground and congress sus* tainec his action. President Taft was the next to reject it. On that occa* s$en the senate voted to override the veto but the house failed by nine votes to give the necssary two-thirds majority. In 1916 President Wilson vetoed ft similar bill with the literacy test* The house lacked only four votes to override his action then and the sen* ate did not consider the veto meo* sage. Tonight the house had 25 votes more nan the necessary two-thirds majority. Republican Leader Mannt and Democratic Leader Kitchln voted together against the president. One hundred and forty-nine Demo* crats and 131 Republicans voted to override the veto, as did four of tho five Progressives who voted, Randall, the Prohibitionist, and Kent, the In-* dependent, making a total of 286? Against overriding the veto were 6$ Democrats, 49 Republicans .one Pro? gresslve and the Ion*-? Socialist in the) house, Meyer London, making a total of 106. Only four of the South Carolina delegation are recorded as voting; Messrs. Aiken, Byrnes, Nicholls and Ragsdale. All voted to override tag veto. ^ CLEARS SPAN NELL OF CHARGB, San Angelo, Texas, Feb. 1.?A vor* diet of not guilty was returned after, less than two hours* deliberation to* day by the jury trying Harry J. Span* nell of Alpine, Texas, in connection with the killing of his wife, Crystal Holland Spanneil, last July. Spannen was granted a change of venue to Coleman county on the In* dictment charging him with having killed Lieut. Col. M. C. Butler and was released late today on $5,000 bond. It was stated Spannen prob? ably will be placed on trial at Cole* man in May for the killing of Butler* When news of his acquittal was taken to Spannell's cell in the county jail he gave vent to his emotion and sobbed his wife's name repeatedly. Spectators who were in the court room cheered when the verdict wag read. POLICE CHIEF HURT. A. P. Welch of Olanta Suffers Gun? shot Wound. Olanta, Feb. 1.?Monday night some one broke into the residence of Eli Lee, about five miles east of Olan* ta. Mr. Lee telephoned Chief A, P< Welch of Olanta to bring his blood* hound. He reached the scene about 11 o'clock and the dog had no trou* ble in following the trail to the house of a negro, Engen Hickson. There were several negroes in the house. They put out all lights and refused the policeman entrance. He went to a window and turned his flashlight into the room, and as he did so, some one shot him with a shotgun, the greater part of the load going through his coat near the right pock, et and only two shots taking effect, and that in his right arm. It la thought that the person doing tho shooting aimed at tho flashlight in. Welch's hand and that this saved the policeman from being killed. It is thought that the negro who did t'ao shooting, and probably some others, escaped from the house be? fore sufficient help could be secured to guard the house. After daylight yesterday A. P. Welch, assisted by a rural policeman, arrested five negroes and placed them in the lockup here. A razor strop, said to belong to Mr. Lee, was found in the pocket of one of the negroes arrested. New York, Feb. 2.?Mrs. Margaret Sanger, birth control advocate, and her associate, Miss Fania Mortdetl, were found guilty today of disseminat? ing information forbidden by law. They will be sentenced February 8. Mrs. Sanger is a sister of Mrs. Ethel Byrne, who went o*n a hunger strike when sent to the workhouse for 30> days after her conviction on a similar charge. Faces Seconc