Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

TELLS glitt It US PROOF WlLtON TRANSMITS NOTE FROM IMUCHlfO CONCERNING OER? ^ ^ MAN DOCUMENT. PmseftMlon of Biati In Um* Week, Secretary st Deciieee to Say Hoe Cosnptie* With Senate's He 10? Information. March 1.?President tonight, in response to the sen call, laid before that body oid fction that the United 8tate?< lent k* In possession of evt whlch establishes the authen Of the sensational documont eisolosod how Germany in? to ally Mexico and Japan with ?rar oa this country. 1m inoptinsn to the resolution the it transmitted a report from fanning statine that the evi Into the possession of the United States within the last that the authenticity of Minister Zimmermann s in? to German Minister von la Mexico City is establish? ed ae revealed by the Associated reply to the senate and Secretary Lansing's le? fts* are an follows: -ir% the Senate: ?"Is ronp oust to the resolution evented by the senate on March 1, 1117, requiring* the president to the senate. If not lncor/i wtth the nubile Intercut, information he has concern gaa* the note published in the press of ties date purporting to have been seat January It, 1117, by the German for foreign affairs to the minister to Mexico, I trans herewith a report by the secre of state which has my approval. I) "Woodrow Wilson." White Rouse. Washington. 1. 1117. 1? the President: *^he resolution adopted by the United ftates senate on March V- Itl7. requesting that that be furnished if not lnocmpatl wtth the public Interest, whatever Ion you have concerning the published in the press of this date purporting to have been sent January it, ltl7. by the German sec-1 votary for foreign affaire to the Ger? man minister to Mexico. I have the honor to state that the government Is In possession of evidence which estab? lishes the fact that the note referred to to authentic and that it is In pos? session of the government of the United Mates and that the evidence was procured by,this government dur? ing* the, present week; but that it is ha my opinion Incompatible with the pablto interest to send the senate at the present time any further informa? tion In possession of the govsrnment of the United States relative to the note mentioned In the resolution of the senate mentioned. "Respectfully submitted, (Signed) "Robert Lansing," "Deportment of State, Washington March 1, lilt." The sonnte without comment Or? tho report and letter printed referred to the foreign relations sstmlttee. Adoption of th- resolution asking for the Information cams at the close of a day of solemn debate which reached a climax with Republican souavWrs Joining Democrats In con Idamning) the attitude of Senator Stone, chairman of the foreign rela? tions commute, who declared the story of the plot was given out by the government to affect public opin? ion and insisted upon ssklng the pres? ident whether the Information was received from the representative of any belligerent nation. Senator Pall. Republican, said h< aid not wonder that the president doomed to reach public opinion through tho press in view of the at? titude of members of the senate who ought to be his advisers. Tho sub? ject earns up soon after the senate assembled and engrossed attention nearly all day in spite of the mass of legislation awaiting action. Sena on both sides of the chamber expressed amassment at the story and declared If it wsre true the sen? ate should be Informsd. Senator Swnnson, the fourth Demo? cratic member of the foreign rela oommlttee, announced that he been authorised by the presldsnt to say that ths note from Germar foreign Minister Zimmermann to th*? German minister at Mexico City or? dering and outlining tho plot was "substantially1 correct as published Senator Lodge at once moved that the president be asked to Inform the senate whether the Zimmermann not*? authentic and to furnish any Information about It not In oompettble with the public Interest This was referred to the foreign rela? tions committee, which soon reports*. H favorably with minor amendments Chairman Stone, voted down by his eommltte. carried to tho floor the fight to loam how tho note came lato the government's possession. H ? thnt if any of tho nations at FARM LOIN BANKS SUPPLIED. STOCK SUBSCRIBED IN BEHALC OF GOVERNMENT. Authorities Not Surprised at Lack of Public Action as Federal Land Bank? Are Not Attractive for In Washington, March 1.?Subscrip? tions on behalf of the government to $8,879,905 of the $9,000,000 capital stock of the new federal land bunks was announced tonight by Secretary McAdoo. The small public subscrip? tions to the stock $120,095 for all 12 banks, the secretary said was neither a surprise nor a disappointment. "No special efforts were made to secure public subscriptions," he ex? plained. "The taking of tho full amount of stock was assured by tho government underwriting. The fact that the banks were unlikely to pay dividends on this stock during the first year and that it will ultimately be retired at par naturally made it unattractive to investors." The government's gt?ar? of the $750,000 capital stock of each dis? trict follows: Springfield, Mass. $739,725; Balti? more $740,000; Columbia, S. C. $7<9, 690; Louisville $742,266; New Or leans $746,480; St Louis $742,725; 8t. Paul $744,640; Omaha $708,260; Wichita, Kan. $743,665; Houston, Tex.. $736,285; Berkeley, Cal., $743,890: Spokane, $744,855. Officers and directors for about half of the banks have been named and the work of setting up the organ? isation of the new system is well under way. war had furnished it tho senate and the country should know it and pro? posed an amendment embodying tho question. During the long debate Senator Hoke Amith made a suggestion the Importance of which was promptly recogirized and which served to over? come the doubts of many senators as to the propriety of questioning th? president in regard to so grave a mat? ter on which he had not seen fit to communicate voluntarily. The Geor? gia senator pointed out that for tho executive on his own initiative to send such a document as the Zimmermann note might be construed us a re? quest for action, whereas ho prob? ably would be gratified to have it in the senate's hands at its own re? quest. The senator offered the fol? lowing as a substitute for the resolu? tion and amendment: "Resolved, That the president be re? quested to furnish to the senate what? ever Information he had concerning the note published In the press of this date purporting to have been sen* January 19, 1917, by the German for? eign secretary to the German ambas? sador to Mexico which In his opinion is not incompatible with the publlr Interest" Senator Hitchcock, speaking for the committee, declared that to ask the president's opinion and then cross ex? amine him as the Stone amendmen proposed would be an affront. He read from the president's last address to congress expressing his de? sire to keep out of the European con? flict to show that he was averse tc any step that will lead the country unnecessarily to war. "This solemn statement of the pres? ident," said Senator Hitchcock, "was made to us only a few days ago and I feel Justified in saying it was made after the note now in controversy came to the attention of the pres? ident." "If it is true that this note came from one of the belligerents, should not that fact be called to the atten? tion of the country?" asked Senator Hardwick. "No," Senator Hitchcock answered. "I simply think we ought to ask the president for a definite statement of his opinion regarding its authenticity.'' "But the material fact to us and this country is whether some one who is Interested in getting us into war has given the note to us," insisted Senator Hardwick. -Not at this stage." replied Sena? tor Hitchcock. "If we were to decide for peace or war it might be but wo are not. To an assertion by Senator Hard? wick that the public mind has become Inflamed by publication of the note, Senator Hitchcock said: "If the president feels that the pub? lic mind Is not to be inflamed he will take the proper st?ps in send? ing the senate his Information to re? duce it." Senator Klrby read a newspaper story that the administration was con? vinced publication of the note would Influence congress to pas* the armed neutrality bill. "This newspaper statement is not verified," said Senator Hltchocic. "There may come a time when v might be desirable to investigate Mill note further, but now the people want to know only if it Is authentic." Senator Williams urged "cool on'' dispassionate" consideration. "If the Zimmermann letter Is authentic," ht said, "It must have come from the Li F0LLE1TE AGAINST WILSON FIGHT CONTINUED TO BLOCK ADMINISTRATION ARMED NEUTRALITY PLAN. Pro-German Senators Succeed in De? laying Passage of Senate Bill, But There le a Big Majority Standing Squarely Back of the President? Vote on Stone Resolution at 4 O'clock This Afternoon. Washington, March 2.?Senator Stone today moved that the senate proceed with the consideration of the armed neutrality bill, as reported from the foreign relations commit? tee. This bill gives the president Ihn right to arm merchant ships and to use "other instrumentalities" for the protection of American rights. Senator La Follette demanded a roll call on the Stone motion and the motion prevailed by a vote of sixty four to fifteen. The parliamentary situation, however, prevented the con? sideration of the bill and Senator Stone gave notice that he would move to take it up at 4 o'clock after a vote has been taken on the naval bill. Senators curious to know when the government got the Zimmermann note realized that the president did not say in his report last night that the government got the document 'ast week. He informed the senate that the "evidence" of its "authenticity" was procured by the government dur? ing the present week. This seems to confirm the belief that the president knew of the document when he sev? ered diplomatic relations. | Members of congress wanting an ex? tra sesion have acknowledged its im? probability until June. Senator La Follette said he expected to discuss the armed neutrality bill, but not tc filbuster. German embassy in some of those de? vious ways governments have of ob? taining information. The question here is that "is the letter authentic?' Instrumentality whereby the Unitec States got possession of the lettei does not bear in the remotest degree on its authenticity or its existence There will be no trouble because ol this letter alone. The letter is onlj one of a chain of clrcumatances tc demonstrate at least that Germany i: carele*-- about whether she goes t< war with us." 1 Senator Williams said he was op posed to the Stone amendment a: ' was the rest of the committee. Senator txulge. author of the reso? lution, said if the story of the Zim ? mermann note was untrue it ought t< ' be stamped as untrue at once. I ' "The president of the t7nito.J I States," he said, "is the one persor who can give us a decisive answei - on that question. I think we shoulc not inquire into the source of his in 1 formation." Senator O'Gorman inquired whai action the senate would be requested > to take if the president says the not? ' Is authentic and whether the senat< was "to take action solely and alone upon the opinion of the executive." The president's opinion, he said would carry gieat weight, and added "Suppose it would be disclosed thai agents of the British governmenl 1 handed this letter down to olflclals ol our government. It would not b? the first time that one belligerent re? sorted to forgery to line up supporl ? against her enemy." Senator Smith of Michigan, a Re 1 publican member of the committee said he thought the senate should have the Information asked for be? fore acting on the armed neutrality ' bill, "in order that senators may have the whole view of our international complication." Senator Fall, a Republican, bitter? ly denounced the Democrats for their attitude toward the resolution, declaring Democratic senators by suggesting that the letter was given out to influence public opinion were "accusing the president of the veriest trickery and impossible practices." Never since the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, Senator Fall de? clared, had he heard such 'insinua? tions against a president from his own party." You are saying to the president in this resolution," ho went on, "that you want him to declare whether this note Is authentic and in your speeches here you are eaying you will not believe him when he says it is authentic If It comes from a belligerent government." Senator Fall also declared that if the president had at all times felt he could trust those in the senate who should be his advisers, he probably would havo sent this information di? rect to the appropriate committee In view of the attitude of certain Democratic senators, ho added, he did not wonder that the president had decided to appeal to public opinion through the press. "Give the people Information and they will make you here act as you should act. I am grateful to whoever gave this infor? mation to the public." Senator Pomerene, Democratic member of the'committee, reminded senators that the president an 1 th^ secretary of state, as well as they DR. C. S. VEDDER DEAD. VETERAN CHARLESTON MINIS? TER CLOSES LIFE SERVICE. Pastor Emeritus of Huguenot Church Claimed by Death at Ripe Age. Charleston, March 1.-?This whole city mourns today the death of the Rev. Charles S. Vedder. D. D.. who passed away at 3 o'clock this morning, at his residence, No. 116 Church street, in his 9let year, after a linger? ing illness, the outcome of which, for some weeks had been feared. The funeral services will bo held Friday afternoon at 4 o'clock in the Hugue? not church, where he labored as pastor for nearly a half century, and from which ho retired as active min? ister three years ago, the Rev. Florian Vurpillot succeeding him. Dr. Vur pillot, assisted by tho Rev. Melton Clark, of th~. Second Presbyterian church, and the Rev. Donald Mac Queen of Westminster will officiate at the funeral. Illness prevents the Rev. Alexander Sprunt, D. D., from taking part, much to his regret. Clergy of Charleston will serve as honorary pallbearers. Interment will be in the New England society bury? ing ground, at Magnolia cemetery, where the body of Mrs. Vedder lies. Dr. Vedder enjoyed the distinction of being pastor of the only Huguenot (French Presbyterian) church in the United States. He was the oldest minister in the South Carolina synod and in the Charleston Presbytery, f of which he was for a number of years stated clerk. The body will lie in state at the church tomorrow for several hours before the funeral. A nephew, Dr. Ashley Scovel of New York, is here to attend tho services tomorrow. UTTER FRIGHTFULNE.SS < ORDER. 3 German Submarines Will Here- < after Sink All Ships Without < Warning. J Special to The Dally Item. < Berlin, March 2.?The Ger- < man admiralty made the fol- < lowing announcement today: i "On March 1st expired the final i period of grace alloted sailing < ships in the Atlantic. From Jj tliis date no special warning < will be given by any subma- < rlnes." had taken an oath of office. Th< senate he said, was pr posing ti treat them "as If they were witnesses in a police court." He said the hom had struck when any doubt aboul the question should be resolved Ir favor of the president and secretary of state. A vote was about to be taken wher Chairman Stone took the floor agalr to advocate his amendment. "The president," he said, "did no introduce this resolution. It may b( that some senators who have become suddeily indignant may think' th( senator from Massachusetts repre? sents the president and speaks foi him, but if so the knowledge woul(] be very surprising to many of u> here." Denying that the personality 01 prestige of the president is Involved Senator Stone asserted that Senator Lode Introduced his resolution out of "patriotic curiosity." "And now it is intimated that 1 am at fault," he continued, "for seeking to add a request to that of the senator from Massachusetts who is so anxious to support the presi? dent when it pleases him and always quick to oppose him when it pleases him." Turning to Senator Saulsbury, Sena? tor Stone said: "Senators must be exceedingly sensitive. There must be some nerves running through theii bones that start a brainstorm on very slight provocation. "I shall use such power as I have to prevent this country entering the war until I feel that its vital inter? ests and honor are assailed and that there is no honorable escape. "I have been frank with the presi? dent. When I talk to him I talk as I would to another senator. I do not go to the White House like some other people and Immediately proclaim my admiration and approval of whatever the president suggests. The president knows this. We talk together man to man and I flatter myself he holds me in higher esteem than some of the trucklers who come and bow and say 'what do you wish.* "The president Is a manly man, a ! courageous man, a man of aggres? sive Intellect. Ho can take care of himself anywhere on the earth. I resent and I will continue to resent anything that may be said by any sen? ator that concerns my sincerity of purpose of my sense of duty." Senator Stone said ho would gladly nccopt the substitute offered by Sena? tor Smith. Senator Hughes said ho plso was for the substitute. Senator Underwood urged the senate to weigh STATE TEACHERS' CONVENTION PROGRAMS AM) MEMBERSHIP CARDS MAILED TO MORE THAN 5,000 TEACHERS. Dr. Chas A. McMurray to Make Chief Address of Convention?Other Im? portant Speakers*??Numerous Col? leges to Hold Alumni Meetings During Session oi Association?So? cial Side of Meeting. Rock Hill, March t.?Secretary R C. Burts has mailed out programs and membership cards to more than 5,000 teachers of the State and it is his plan to send to every teacher a. letter and a program. From reports coming in from the various sections of the State it is practically an assur? ed fact that there will be more than two thousand teachers in attendance at the State Teachers* Association in Columbia, March 15th to 17th. Wm. C. Bynum, president of the association, has announced that Dr Chas. A. McMurray of the Peabod> College for Teachers, Nashville, will make the address on Friday evening March 16th, and that he will alsc address the members of the gram mar grades department on Fridaj morning at 10 o'clock and also th< joint meeting of the department oi elementary schools and the schoo improvement association Friday even ing at 3:30. Dr. McMurray has t national reputation as a trainer o public school teachers and the teach ers of South Carolina are indeed for tunate to have this oppc tunity t< hear him. The railroad fares on all trains wil be 3 cents per mile, plus 35c for th round trip. These are exceptional!; low rates. Information as to hotel and boarding- houses may be had bj writing to the Columbia Chamber 0 ^ Commerce. Teachers are urged t. ? make their arrangements beforehand [ so that time will not be lost after ar I riving in Columbia. Headquarters o ? the association will be in the Hig! School building on Washington St. Supt. E. S. Dreher of Columbia ha extended a very cordial invitation t visit the Columbia schools on Th?rs r day morning. This will be of grea ? value to the teachers who expect t attend the association. The following colleges have arrang ed for reunions of their graduate and former students: Winthrop, Fut man, Womans' College of Due Wes Erskine, Columbia College, Chicori University of South Carolina, New berry, Wofford, Limestone and Green ville Woman's College. The annual dues of 50c for ladle and $1 for men should be sent to W E. Black, Lexington and a member ship card will be forwarded. CONDENSED WAR BULLETINS. Turkish Forces on the Run Befor British on Tigris?British Attack in I>aneo Repulsed?Battle i Roumania. New York, March 2.?It was offl cially announced today that th Turkish forces retreating before th British on the Tigris front have pass ed through Aziziyas, fifty-two mile north of Kut-el-Amara. The Britisl claim the capture of seven thousam prisoners on this front since Decem ber. Berlin reports the repulse of Brit ish attacks east and southeast o Souchez on the French front and th' failure of the Rusians to retake po sitons near Valputna, on the norther! Roumanian front, recently captured b; the Teutons. Reports say the Russian stormed the position five times, whil< Petrograd says the battle continue without a decision being reached. Washington, March 2.?In a not? delivered by Swiss Minister Ritter Germany promises tu release all o the Yarrowdale prisoners by Marcl 7th, saying the quarantine will b< ccmplied with then. well every act in this "twilight zon< betwen war and peace." The "Zim mermann letter" at first alarmed him he said, but later he came to regar< it only as a "pebble in the great in? ternational controversies engaging the attention of the world today." "The only criticism that can come In this case," said Senator Underwood, "is to the press of tho country. Ii this had been an Important state pa? per, senators know it would not have been given to tho press; it would have been given to congress." Senator Borah said that when he first read the newspaper story he was convinced the note was a forgery. "Some of the statements in it," he said, "were to me perfectly incredi? ble. I came to the capital entertain? ing thnt view, but 1 confess that since that time I have somewhat modified it." Senator Tillman said it was bene .kh tho dignity of the senate to inquire about the note and that it was im? possible to believe that Japan would combine with Germany and Mexico. "Japan," he said, "hates Germany worse than the <le\ il hates holy water." RAILWAYS ?T WaTIOHS SERVICE TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS OF! WAR DISCUSSED. - i Heads of Roads to Perfect Coopera* tion Details With Commanders of Country's Military Departments. Washington, March 1.?Heads ot the country's leading railroad systems met here today with the council ot national defense to approve plane for giving the government the fuU cooperation of transportation interests in the event of war. Tonight they were returning home to work out co-* operation details with commanders of the country's four military depart* ments. The more than 20 executives present comprised a special committee of national defense of the American Railway association and with theirt met the committee of national de* fense of the American Electric Rail? way association. After a call on Secretary Baker, the railroad men heard army officers on transportation problems and then dis? cussed the situation among them* selves. Next to the number and size of guns, Secretary Baker told them' the transportation problem in war is the most Important the military will face. Of the country's state of de? fense he said: "We have gone on in this country for a long time in the somewhat com? placent assurance that the Atlantic ocean Is 3,000 miles wide, the Pacific 15,000 or something like that, and that we are separated by nature as well as by traditions and our own desires from any sort of difficulty. But we have grown a lot wiser In the last few years on that general subject, and while I am quite sure that you re? gard the state of peace as most de? sirable, we are, nevertheless, concern? ed as to the means of accomplishing its continuance. "Congress and the president have enacted legislation that createe the council of national defense and its purpose is to survey and coordinate all the material and personnel re? sources of the country so that it will be ready to turn its strength and its forces to anything that may be need* cd for national defense. Referring to tne movement of the guardsmen to the Mexican border, the secretary said: "Our problem there was to get 150,? 000 across this country from various parts of the country and to bring them together on a front 1,800 miles long. If we were suddenly put to the problem of moving an army of 500,000 from one coast to another, or to assemble so large a body of men as that in a relatively smalt place, the question of capacity of tracks, the capacity of sidetracks and terminals, and the capacity of cars and the amount of power necessary, the way in which everything would be assembled and the effect on the country of the sudden mobilization of so large a part of the roltng stock facilities of the rahoads in this un? accustomed use?the jamming that would occur?are all problems of high strategy in an r.rt of which you gen? tlemen are mar I rs and of which we know only as observers or users of these facilities. "I have a feeling that in some parts of the country very much enlarged terminal facilities ought to be car? ried out, larger than the present com? mercial and Industrial neds, with an eye to their future use in an emer? gency, it is possible that a large store of reserve material should be accumulated with a view to its being available for instant use in time of emergency." The army officers outlined problems to be faced In event of a general mobilization and pointed out a need of equipment that could be used for hospital and Red Cross trains. Equivalent Values of Cotton. Clemson College, March 2.?Condi? tions before July, 1914.?In an aver? age year with 12-cent cotton, a $60 bale is equal to: Hay, 4 tons, at . $15.00 Corn, SO bushels, at.75 Oats, 9 2 bushels, at.65 Flour, 12 hbls., at . 5.00 Lard, 600 lbs., at.10 Salt or Mess Pork, 500 lbs, at. .12 Bacon, 400 lbs. at. .15 Ham, III lbs., at .*' .18 RgfS, 250 doz., at . .14 Butter, 200 lbs., at.30 Bweel Potatoes, 92 bu., at ... .65 Irish Potatoes, 66 bu.. at ...,. .90 Present Conditons. f 3f *! m In an exceptional year with 18-cent cotton, a $90 bale is equal to: Hay. 3 3-4 tons, at. $24.00 Corn, 75 bushels, at. 1.20 Oats, 90 bushels, at ?. 1.00 Flour, 9 hbls., at.- 10.60 I*'ird, 500 lbs., at.IS ?all or Mess Pork, 500 lbs., at .18 Bacon, 375 pounds, at .24 Ham, 375 pounds, at. .84 Kggs, 250 doz., at. .36 Butter, 214 lbs.., at ^.^.48 Sweet Potatoes, 9o bu.. A .. 1.00 Irish Potatoes, 40 bu., at .. 2.25