The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, February 14, 1917, Image 1
THE sr.MTr.ll WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just nud Fear not?Let all the ends Tboa Alvus't at bo thy Country's, Thy ttoctV ;u?fJ Trath'a" TUJE TBU1 t THRON, EstabU*hari Jons, : . ea
Consolidated Aug. 2,1881.
mm course decided.
WILL ASK CONGRESS FOR PROT
CR DKFUN Si l >l KASC IIKS, AN I>
will ngt uvx'h.xuK
WAR.
I ?siio Will be l.n't to Genttany With
\ui? ri< u Standing on Her 11 * -c' ? -
?ad Prepared for Defensive Action.
Washington. Feb. 9.?The course to
be taken by the United State? If Ger?
many compels the use of force 4r? saio- j
guard American lives and rJ^Mtg- ha
been determined. It was learned nu- j
thorltatlvcly after toda>'s caUtnd
meeting that In the event President
Wilson goes before conferee again it
will not be to ask for a ilCtlWtlow
of war, but to follow literally the .
words of the addrcsc in which he an?
nounced the break of diplomatic rela- '
twna and request authority to dm
aieans deemed necessary to protect j
American seamen and people.
The president. It was stated, is a*'
anxious as ever to avoid war with
Germany hu also Is as determined as
ever that American itixens and ships
shall be free to travel the high sens'
unmolested. His next step If taken
will be to enforce that right und gl ftti
then the Issue of war or peace will he
with Germany. Any hostile action
will have to come In the form of an
Interference with an American right.
Details of the governments plans
are not discussed. It is known, how?
ever, that convoying and arming of
merchant ships are being considered.
No new development enme today to
Indicate that tho overt act by Ge< -
many regarded as inevitable was near- I
er at hand. Fewer reports of ships,
sunk came in and none told officiary
of the loss of an American lifo. Fur
ther information received ab?.it
George Washington, the negro Urem <>
lost on the Turino. indicated that he
probably was a British subjoct.
The csbinet met today with ill
members present except Secretary Mc
Adoo. Just before the meeting the
majority of the members had attend?
ed a session of ths council for national
geefnse, called at the war department
tft titeuss mobilisation of the nation's
HP
the government In tho event
trouble
Practically every member took to
the cabinet Information about t ie u
ttMtlee of hi* department In conn so
tion with the general precautions bo
Ing taken. Questions discussed in
eluded proponed emergency legi.-' ?
?on. steps for protecting proncrtv
mall problems, precipitated by tht
failure of ships to sail from American
ports for Europe, economic is- -
and the g^tty and navy pva|Mfriatlons
After t'\o meeting it was nntlwi
tstlvely stated that nothing hid ytt
happened to change the course pur.
mied by he government Mince the
break in relation* with Germany. The
cumulative effect of reports of ves?
sels sunk by German submarines col*
leeted bp the state department, how
ever, has been It make officials cer?
tain that Germany is indeed pro
eeeding with her proclaimed policy
of ruthlcssuess.
The efVcet of tho tying up of lhl:>*
In Amerlc.in harbor* because of I
that they will be sunk If thev \>
through Um war xone Is one of the
questions hein?' given careful oon?
suleration. 80 far as could be learned
today there havo been no report. I
the government of serious eon
quences to Industries but such re?
ports are oxpected und tbo enfo?, 1
Idleness of the merchant fleet is
subject of growing exasperation.
Some resentment was express.
administration quarters today 01
what wsm construed as an impln .
contained In Germany's request of
Ambassador Oerurd that old treat
between Prussia and the T'n
fltate* be reufllrmed that such M I
was necessary to make certain tt '
the rights of Germans In this 00 ?
try guaranteed under these treat e
made secure. It wai reiterate.I r
the American government fulls I i
tends acting according to the spl
of the treaties While the treat j
tually was abrogated by passage .-t
the seamen's law with a conflict!) R
section, the government here Ion
upon the past as at least (min I.
thi guiding principle under Which
wllll act.
Th? sdmlnlstrntlon Ii Nadorstc 1
to be highly gratified by the a ???? >
taken by many of the neutrals in pi
tenting with varvlng degrees of 1.1 1
ness a?ninst Cermanv's new su bin
rlne policy. While none h:n t
followed the lead and suggestloi
the t'nltcd .States by hreaking oft .1
lomatle relations, nevertheless the ?
pression of sentiment was sale! t.?
the chief objpet a* sired by Prashl
Wilson In suggesting action t<> tin
There wero no sensations to di ??
?NIVERSAL_SERVIGl favored.
sK.XATK MILITARY CO.MMHTICE
acts on ?va-coioirrTUK'fl
BILL.
Six Months' Training Olk-nlaitil 1o I i;
Hall Million Voutiis Annually for
Military Service. ?
Washington, Feh. 10.?Tb? eenat<
military committee reported favorably ,
today a bill framed by a sub-commlt?
tee creating a military and naval cit
./on reservt force based uulvert il
;military training and ser\|< o.
While the commitU e report do
not indicate any belief that congr? ?> i
will art on the measure at this MMlon,
the bill offers u ipeclnc plan on which
public sentiment can crystalizo. v
The bill requires months' train?
ing without pay for a!l you t hi durln*
their nineteenth year. Km options art
confined to the members of the regu?
lar army and navy, those physiaaliy
unfit, those who are the sole suppor t
of dependent relativ?..-? and those at
filiated with religious creeds which for
bid them to bear arms. The l&tttf
class are liable, ho* ;Ver, for train in
in the combatanv branches of tho
nrmy.
It is estimated that the bill would
provide for tho training of tOe.OOil
t>oys annually, each of whom would
he furloughed into a reserve for nlno
years after his training period. With
allowances for shrinkage of classes.
Ibis plan would give a total force of
",165,000 men who had had si.\
months' training, at the end of th^
I first nine-year circle, all subject to
call for service only In the event of
a "defensive" war or its imminence.
The bill disagrees with the theory
of the army general staff as to the
umount of training necessary tQiaakc
n soldier fit to go on tho battle )}ffe,
although it contemplates about the to
t il strength proposed by staff officers.
A year of intensive instruction has
boen declared by Major Gen. Scott.
rh\vt of ?taff, to be the minimum of
rafcty for tho ?raining of even de?
fensive soldiers. A universal training
I bill endorsed by virtually the entire
er official has committed himself on
the principle of universal training
[flirt the capital today. Pi eparatious
, went on with quiet thoroughness for
all eventualities. Within a ehort
time, perhaps si few days. officials frar
that (Jorrhany will take tho st"p
which will make these. preparation^
essential. There is no expectation
here that she will modify her plana
or relent sufficiently In her execution
of them to allow even the preceiit
dangerous situation to continue,
In a sense officials U < 1 that 0V<
' submarine commumh i Virtually has
( been entrusted with u declaration t
war against this country.
The open NXIUe es tO Gcn.iam'-?
treatment of Amhnsador Gerard
which has oau*ed much ill fooling
1 here, appears to he cleared up. While
officials have had no word from Mr
Gerard since Febrtnuy when he re
' ported through Copenhagen that hi
departure was being delayed, they
eepted pre? dlspnt '?? i today ftJ to
arrangements for his leaving tomor?
row and sai l that confirmation was?
expected through the slower official
channels.
Officials maintained absolute
lencc on Mr. Qerard i ?' ttentton in
.today, when Secretary Lansing au?
thorized the following statement:
"I very loath to believe that * r
German government Intentionally \*
delaying Ambassador Qerard in Iii :
lin on any excuse whatsoever, i
should be verv miicli surprised if
swh a course had been taken."
The incident will be considered
clewed so far as this country is
eerWOd, if press dispatches are botae
out and the amhassador is allowed io
'leave Germany. Xc ert'neless a dis?
agreeable impression has been created
here.
Final arrangements for the dcpar<
tare of farmer German ofllclnls im
the Seandinavian liner Frederick V '
weie completed t..day by ngents ?>?
the company and the state. il<
ment. Th?< ITnlted States St the HUC
geetlon o| both tin owners of the \
?el and ('ount \ on la rn torff, il il
specifically that the trip be made
Halifax in order to evold tho <:
man war zone on the route vis P
mouth er Kirk wall, end th.^ |trlti.?h
government In granting safe conti *
to the former German olll<
aeeeded to that request out of court ?
sy to this country.
As one explanation for the earn* I
desire to avoid th<* apparently i?o . -
labh breach with Austria-Hungary
WM pointed out today that if tl 1
.v??ie <Iom" all eommumactlon betw<
this country and Bulgaria and Tur
CHINA ISSUES WARNING.
PROTEST AGAINST STAND BY
GERMANY.
If Teutonie Government Persists. An
Stand Diplomatie Delations Will iL*
Severed.
Peking. Feb. 0 (Delayed).?Th<
note handed to the German-ministe,
ny the minister of foreign affaire.,-In
reply to Germany's declaration of'rtiK
resumption of unrestricted suumatl^o
warfare was made public today, SNir
teat of the note follows:
"The new measures of submarh
warfare inaugurated by German;
are Imperiling the lives and property
of Chinese citizens even more than the
measure's previously taken, wh. ?'\
have already cost China many ltvew
and constitute a violation of interna?
tional law. The toleration of tiiei:
application would introduce into In
ternatlonal law arbitrary principles
incompatible with legitimate infer
j course between neutrals and betwOen
I neutrals and belligerents.
"China, therefore, protests ener?
getically to Germany against ihe
measures proclaimed on Februar^ *
and sincerely hope.'; that the, rii&U
of neutral states will be respected $nd
that the said measures will nottbe
carried out. Ti contrary to expecta?
tion, this protest be ineffective China
will bo constrained, to ics profound
regret, to sever diplomatic relations.
! It is unnecessary to add that Chliia's
I action is diet;.ted by a desire for fur
thor pence and the maintenance of
1
international law."
A communication explanatory ol
China's action also was handed to Dr.
Paul s. Reinsch, American minister
to China. It follows:
"China, like the president of the
1'nited States, is reluctant to bellOve
that the German government afill
actually execute measures which Im?
peril the li/es and property of the
citizens of neutral states and jeopard?
ize legitimate commerce and
tend if allowed to be enforced
out opposition, to introduce new}'
clples Into international law.
being in accord with the prim
d States has taken similar action
by protesting energetically to Ger?
many aaainst the new blockade meas?
ures. China also proposes to take
? ROtih other action in the future as
will be deemed necessary for the
maintenance of tho principles of In
1 ernational law."
PRICE OF BREAD.
( Congressman Alleges Cone vted Effort
to Put up Prices.
Washington, Feb. 12.?Charging a
concerted effort to put up the price
of bread Representative Ratney, ol
1 Illinois, has written the federal trade
I commission suggesting that certain
j persons be called to testify In tip
f commission's high cost of living Ih
j vest 'tion. He named John Land, ol
Minneapolis, counsel for the wheat
millers, S. T. McDonald, of Memphis
i and J. M. Bell, of Chicago, preside;,',
j and secretary of the Master Bakers
Association, and Paul BchulUo, Ol
Chicago, baker.
AMERICAN LINER SAFE.
Steamship New York Comes in Fron?
lih erpool.
New York, Feb. 12.?With the ar?
rival of the American liner New Yori
today, the number of American trau?
Atlantic passenger ships in port \vn
increased to four. The New York
, which was the first American ship t<
leave Liverpool after Germany's sui
J marine campaign begun, sighted m
warships In the danger zone. Th
Kroonland docked yesterday. Th
liners St. Louis and St. Paul are sti
here.
BURNED IN HOTEL FIHE.
Thirteen GsjOSts Lost Lives in .Minn..
polls Hotel.
Minneapolis, Feb. 11!.?At least 1
ore believed to have lost their lives
ti?.? flrc which destroyed tho Kenwo<
Hotel, according to the police 08'
mate. The hotel proprietor said lb
eleven otheri are missing, Tho guei
escaped In their night clothes In
temperature ten below zero.
key WOUld be CUt off. This would
very serious for tho American rel
in Syria and Armenia.
There h:is been no development
the situation With Austria since Ai
bnssador Penfleld last Saturday f ?
\\;irded from VU nn t an Aus!
note, similar, but not Identical, wi
i h rmnny's, No statement h:^ b?
made ;ito \\diet!i ?. details ??. ?I
by the dcpartmcnl from Vmbnsuad<
Penfleld have been received,
GERARD NOW IH SilZEitlii I
PARTY OF AMERICANS STOP AT J
BERNE FOR THE DAY.
special Escort Meets Former Ambas
sabor of United stales to Germany
at Swiss Border.
Zurich, Switzerland (via Paris).
Feb. 11.?The American ambassador,
James W, Gerard, arrived ; t the Swiss
boundary at Schaffhausen at 4 o'clock
this afternoon. He was met by the
American minister to Switzerland,
Pleasant a. Btovall, and representa?
tives of the Swiss army, Ineltiding t.'"!.
Pruejiger and Capt. Rudolph Iselln.
A Swiss military guard of honOr was
also in waiting and a 1 >idelegation
of citizens greeted the former Ameri?
can ambassador to Germany. The
trip from Berlin was made without
noteworthy incident, although some
curiosity was displayed by those who
gathered along the route through
j Germany.
Mr. Gerard disembarked at Zurh h
with about 120 other Americans, in
! tending at lirst to remain there bul
I when he was asssred of Qccommoda
I
tions at Berne he left immediately tor
I that citv. He will remain in Derm
: for two or three days, arranging foi
i his trip to Paris.
! Berlin, Saturday, Feb. 10 (by Wl e-i
j less to the Associated Press via Sa. - '
|vllle). Feb. 11.?James W. Gerard
the American ambassador, and his
Staff left Berlin at S:10 o'clock tonight
for Switzerland. Besides the embas?
sy staff 110 other Americans accOW
i panied him.
The leave taking was very cordial,
members of the foreign otlice seeing ;
I the ambassador off.
Mr. Gerard will await instruction
in Berne before proceeding.
, The train on which the ambassad
loft Berlin consisted of 10 coaches.
Fully 200 Americans who are re
maining in Berlin were on hand to'
take leave regretfully of their coun- 1
trymen who after a week of tension ,
d6o to strenuous preparation for leftv- j
lag were somewhat distraught.
'Good bye. Judge," some one
on Broadway.** t
The former ambassador':- faeewor??
ia smile as he waited for <he train to
depart and he expressed himself op
j timistically With regard to future d< ;
velopments in the Gcrman-American
situation.
At the station Count ?fontgelas,
head of the American section of th<
foreign oftiee. and Herr von Prittwit/.,
Personal representative, were present
to bid Mr. Geraid farewell. Tho din-!
lomatic corps was represented by!
Polo y Bernabe, the Spanish ainhn*?
rudor, who is to take ovei the intcj i
ests of t^o. United States; Dr. Thei
toky, the Qreek minister: Baron G?
VOrs, the Dutch minister, and the dip*
lomats of the South American repub?
lics. The military authorities and
foreign office assigned special offtcei
to accompany the train t<> the 8wii ?
frontier, where it is due to arrive at s
o'clock tomorrow morning. On th
way to the frontier the train will \ lek
u.> a score or more Americans attach?
ed fo consular offices In South per?
nio ny.
The disposition of ti ? am ha
dorial train after its arrival in Zurh
rests with the Swiss government,
which is awaiting Instructions fron
France. It is considered likely, how?
ever, that the American party will I
stay In Berne for a few days.
GERARD SAFE IN S\YITZTC1U,.YN I>
Washington, Feb. 12.?The ofl -iai
report of the arrival of Form? r .N
bassador Qerard at Zurich rer.eh
the state department today from ihn
American minister to Swltserli I,
Pleasant A. Btovall. Latei the S
legation received a dispatch from
foreign office saying that Mr. Gera '
had arrived at Berne.
Washington, Feb. 12.?-Igttncio
lonillaSi one of the Carranza repi
entatives on the Mexican-American
commission has been appointed am
?assador to the United states. \ ?.
ionillai Is at present it Palm Bea< I?.
ambassador Designate Arredondo w is
?ecently recalled to Mexico,
Sun Antonio, Peb, 12.?Troop V,
outh Carolin;! cavalry J Company x>.
ngineers, and South Carolina Field
^ei.-ii left El Peso yesterday forth r
ionic stations. ' ttfVIWsU
Mew Vork, Feb. 12.?-The frei liter
vego, the fourth American ship
ive port since the German subm
ie campaign started, snlletl \>
non. last night, wll h an \ mei .
ptaln and many Americans In
MUMS ?GC?RSP?8H LITTLE.
passage of insluance meas- :
lHKS only work DOME
15 v GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SO 1 Ali.
u
Liquor Situation Has Received Much
Attention, bui "Bone ihy Hill Is
Doubtful of Pa?sjiR<?Woman Suf?
frage Defeated?Probable That Ap
propriatiou Measure Will be Reads
After Next Week and Legislature
Will Adjourn. i
- (
(By Joe Sparks.) <
Columbia. Fei?. 10.?This lias been i
a very unsatisfactory session of the i
j eneral assembly of South Carolina 1
The members arrived In Columbia I
eeki ago and prac Ically nothing h us 1
been accomplished to date. Thv i
earlier day- were wasted with *
nagging over woman suffrage and i
junketlhg tripe; then old John Barl? y
Corn hit town and no real work has
?eon accomplished. The most im- i
portant work accomplished is tin
clearing of the fire insurance situa
tlon.
The fire insurance situation was
muddled by the last legislature and ii I
has required a greater part of this
session to clear up the matter. It lias
been the same old g. ind in Colombia
Practically everyone has been playh
politics, big and litt,? and for wee
every other man frequenting the leg
lative hails was seeking some kind of
a job. There is every indication that
the legislature will adjourn next Sat?
urday night. The appropriation bill
will be disposed of <efore the end of
the next week and after that nicasure
has hcen passed the legislature \9
sure to go home.
The two bills, one providing for a
listing of all property in the State an 1
the other for a survey of all proper?
ty, have been introduced in both
houses and strenuous effort will v<e
made during the coming week to se?
cure their passage. The State tag
levy at the present writing stands
4 i
around eight mills and is still Climb-1
ing. The leaders realize that some?
thing must be done to raise more'
enping taxation is paced on the I
books, the sky will be the limit I
taxes during the next four years. The
domands on the state government
growing year by year and the vali
f taxable property Is not Incrcasin
I* is going down. Many Improve?
ment Bare needed and the funds must
>o found somewh?
It is estimated that there are about I
5,000,000 acres of land In South Car
olina not on the tax looks. The to
tai amount of untaxed property would
very probably reach $&0,000,000.
The International crisis has served
to hold down the appropriations thhi
year. No new projects are being
undertaken and feu increases in sal
ary to any of the state officials have
been allowed. Hundr< ds of local bill :
have been Introduced and few of
these will see daylight at the pre: I
session.
it Is practically certain that tiio t
seven Are Insurance bills will be
passed. They will be approved by
Gov. Manning. An official of the in?
surance companies, who really knows
has stated that practi oily all of the*
i fire Insurance companies will return
to South Carolina. This disposes ?:
the scare that has been prevalent
'he last year.
N'o prediction en ">o made a* <>
whether a Stat< hii hway departme iti
Will bo created at this session. T .
State can nut share In the federal . ?
propriatiou unless the department
created. Should the law be pm ed
then over $2.000.000 " ill be avails e
for the im] rovement of th^ pu
highways in the Stute within the n
ii\ e years.
Qov. Manning in his inaugural ?
dress made many niportnnt rec< t
mendatlons. The governor rcali> s
that all of the rc< ?mmendatlons c n
not be enacted this year. He will . <k
thai they be passed at the session in
1918.
The National Quard has not fared
well at the hands of the legt sin tu
A mere pittance was allowed the
guard and as o result no effort will ?
made this year to organise the Th d
regiment. There is really not enm fih
money available to support Ihe t 0
regiments already in the service.
what will the legislature do wi'.h
whiskey? This question has been i >
permosf in the minds of the legisla?
tors and public for the last several
weeks, it now seems certain lhai i
bone-dry. air-tight, water-tight bill
ill not be passed. Gov, Manning
\otoed the two-quart act. He I i
;!?!<? no nnuo'incomenl to w t
. e rse he u ill purs ic in the pri ?? I
it tatlon. '1 will not cross
ridge until l gel to it," said Uov,
it BS' SUCCESSFUL YE?ri.
SI _
Vt> (\M> GIRLS' AGRICULTURAL
? :,AXlZATK>\s I>0 GOOD
0 WOKK.
(A
k ^ laker, State Supervisor, Aft
'2 Prise Winners Through
< >tatc?Awards to lie MMm at
Annual Banquet in Columbia.
(By Joe Sparks.)
Columbia, Feb. 1<??Cood progress
?vas made last year by the members
>f the boys' and j-'irls" agricultural'
?lubs in South Carolina under the di?
rection of L. L. Baker, State super*
rlsor. The prize winners for the y< ar
have i)e< n announced by Mr. Bak< r.
Prises will be awarded at a banquet to
be tendered the young agriculturalists (
In Columbia at an early date.
The following are the prize winners
In the corn clubs:
1. Ernest Brooks, Prosperity,
Newberry county, S'J bushels of corn
on one acre at an average cost of 17
cents.
2. Enoch Pepper, Anderson county,
102 bushels of corn on one acre at an
average cost of 21 cents.
3. Neal Hodge of Claerndon coun?
ty, 53 bushels of corn on one i re
at an average cost of 2G cents per
bushel.
There were several members of tho
corn clubs who produced ICO basil*
els or more of corn on an acre, but
the prizes were not awarded on a ba?
sis of production.
The following are the prize winners
of the pig contests:
1. Vernon Husky, Cherokee coun?
ty, weight of hog, 5*6 pounds.
2. Miss Montez Henderson, Ar. Ier
son county, weicht of hog 500 pounds.
3. Miss Katie Bele Hagan. Abbe?
ville county, weight of hog 4 40 pounds;
There were 1.04 8 boys and girl." en?
rolled in the pig club work during
the year. Only 351 filed comptef re?
ports on the year's work. The mem*
hers reporting owned, raised an I f it
toned (?14 hogs. The original cost
was $3.763.01. The cost of care
and feeding the hogs was $3,y2S.70.
The value of the hogs at the time
counties and it Is expected that prae*
tteally all counties win have < I -bs
this year. The bankers and hietS
chants of the State have gi\;en hearty
cooperation.
The agricultural club work in
South Carolina is being carried on by
Clemson college In cooperation with
the United States farm demons;ration
Work and marked results have I -on
secured duri^ te last several years.
There were 1'>t;:^ hoys enrolled in 'he
corn clubs of tho State, a tabul ' on
of che reports show that 4 2s boys ro
duced 2i>.707 bushels of corn on ?28
acres at a total cost of $9,215.10. The
average production per rare was 4C
bushels at a cost of 44 cents per bush?
el. The net wealth created bj the
work was over ilO.Oao. Corn clubs
were organised In 4o of the 5 coun?
ties.
The < n club work suffered much
as a result of tlu> heavy storm* last
year. Tho storms cut down the aver?
ages for the members.
"The corn club work is an educa?
tional end economic proposil a,"
said Mr. Baker.
"it seems more evident than ? ver
that all forma of boys' dub work
should J><.. eorreleated In some ay
with the public schools of the State*"
says Mr. Baker in his report on the
work for the year.
WOULD PREVENT ACTUAL WAR.
Reported That Gccnsasuj Has ^nt
Xote to United States Asking for a
Conference.
Washington, Peb. 10.?Germare is
understood to have addressed s note
to the United states suggesting that
the two governments discuss waj. ind
means of preventing actual war be?
tween tiu-m. While the channel
through which the note is coming is
not known, it is probably coining
through the Swiss government.
Manning, when asked about the mat?
ter.
The legislature has made tuple
provision for ? continuance < ? 'he
improvement work at the St; ie hos?
pital for the insane. As a r< Ult of
the Improvements at the institution
during the last two years the .;< .th
rate has been eut about 10 n< < ? at.
An appropriation of $37"'.eon will bo
required for the maihtenan?.r the
asylum this year, due to the in? rcase
In th?> price of foodstuffs.
The legislative manual, pre i by
J. Wilson Olbbes, clerk of th.- house,
has been Issued, H contains all i
ossnry information concerning :ho
members of the legislature.