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iDatclimnn mfo WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be fad and Fear not?Det all th?> end* Thou Aims't at bo thy Country'*. Thj God'* and Tnta's." THE TH?R SOUTHRON, ?MMMa Jnni, IM, Consolidated Amt. 2,1861. SUMTER, 8. 0., SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1917. VoLXLlV. No. 11. STILL SCHEMING OF OFFER OF MEDIA ?Ulf BY NEUTRAL NATION. Otcttli BeUcve It to Be Another Hnhronaj of German> to BsiHt tonllmiait In Congress and the President, Waahintton, If arch 19.?Admin is iraUon tsBelals heard today that a neu trai Boro pea n nation le contemplating of media t'on to prevent war the United Stxtes and Ger iy. They frankly regard It as another effort, hacked by Oermuny to divido sentiment in confrere and omhartsss the president. They declar del authoritatively that no proposals Of mediation or for discussion will b< oassstdered unless Germany first aban . tone) tho campaign of ruthlessness. rhlle As army and navy are forward every preparation eventualities. erssany reports splritsd fighting hp the sector over which the Germans have been retiring, but mentions nc additional evacuation of territory. Berlin reports that the French at tanking on the north bank of the linn were repulsed. The French era In contact with the main Ger snnn army and what may prove the Initial stags of the great battle of his? tory has opened before La fere. Ber? lin press dispatches say that both sides are using cavalry, and this Is token to Indicate that a real battle hi the open Is In prospect. Germany announces the revival of activity on tho Russian front with the capture of- Russian trenches and prisoners. "The Russisn statemnt also d scribes fighting on that front which iaay prove to be the opening of a new Oerman offensive in Russia. The Rus >tan statement says southeast of ?Una tho Germans gained consider j|Llo ground, but latsr were driven r? Germany speaks of the attack a raid In fores. Germany also an the revival of activity on the front. CANAL SAFE. States Army Officers Do Not no to Panama Situs I Washington. March 11.?Army om ooro fest no uneasiness as to the se entity of the Panama canal In the I crisis, despite many published that the big waterway is ex to raiding parties Intent upon It. It was said authorita? tively at the war department tod>i> that the canal Is regarded as the mn-t secure of the nation's outlying posses? sions. So far as military operations go. control of the sea would be in abso? lute necessity for any power planning to attack the canal. Oerman propaganda In Central and South America has led to reports that raiding parties might attempt to dyna? mite the locks or other working sec? tions of the canal. It was asserted that every Inch of the locks and pow? er plants Is under constant patrol and no opportunity for such damage ex-?| FRENCH MAKE MORE GAINS. Fighting Between Komme Rivers Rrsults in French Vlessey. New York, March 22.?The French war office announces that the Ger? mans mads energetic resistance last night between the Somme and Ahme rivers, but after spirted fighting north of Tergnier the French forced the Oermans out of several strong po? sitions, and the French occupied a number of villages The French hnve already liberated eight hundred and fifty-three square miles of territory. DINNER TO PRIZE WINNERS. sHste Agent Baker of Young People's Agricultural Clubs Arranges for Banquet. Columbia. Mareh/^Kr?Banquet to the prise winners in ii\t boys' corn club nnd pig club conteet of 1*1?; I be held st the Jefferson hotel March le, bestunlnr at 8:30 p. m., aceordb r to an announcement yesterday by L L. Baker, State director of the boys' agricultural club work. Mm Oov. Manning ? other State olfi and agrlcu' .? leaders havr Invited to respond to toasts a* the dinner by Mr. Baker. Now York, Msrch II.?The first n? vsl base hospital of the American l:? Cross stationed In Brooklyn hne re rehretl word to ho ready for act sen-ice. It was rnnotmrrd today. I' ' equipment Is stored ut the New Tori LABOR SOLICITORS SENTENCED WERE FORWARDING NEGRO WORKERS TO PENNSYLVANIA. Burnett Scott and George Smith Fined?Former "Turned up" by One Victim. Columbia, March 22.?Burnett Scott and George Smith, negroes, were given sentences of $40 or 30 days in Jail each yesterday by Recorder Etchison for soliciting labor without license. Both negroes are from Co? lumbia. They had herded together groups of unsuspecting sons of Ham and were dispatching them to Penn? sylvania, which was pictured to the brothers In color as the "land of the golden fleece." One batch of the la? borers was already entrained when policemen induced the leaders to re? main In Columbia a few more days for an Introduction to Recorder Etchi? son. Scott also drew $10 or 30 days on the charge of obtaining money under false pretense. As an inducement to move one of the more leary, to ac? cept the proposition to "get rich quick," Scott promised to have ? Pullman car suit made to order for him at a Columbia tailor shop. Tw<> dol ars was collected as a guarantee. Scott did not appear when the meas? urements were to be taken. Appeal to the police department to procure the $2 led to the arrest of Scott and Smith. I ORGANIZE DEMONSTRATION CLUB. Ladles of Rem hert Interested in Work by Miss Lemnion. Rembert, March 21.?The ladies of Rembert community met with Miss Mary Lemmon, our county home demonstrator, on Friday, March 9t.h. for the purpose of organizing a home demonstration unit. The officers elect? ed were Mrs. L. S. Vlnson, as presi? dent; Mlrs Elizabeth Reamcs. vice president; Mrs. W. C. Harlle, sec? retary. A very pleasant hour was spent in discussion of home problems, softer which a most delightful cake was served, which had been baked in the flrehss cooker. Miss Lemmon is ? very enthusiastic worker. We hope through her inspiration to make our work a success. Mrs. W. C. Harllce Secretary Home Demonstration WorK. M'ADOO VISITS GEORGETOWN. Member of l^eshlent's Cabinet ami Mrs. McAdoo Guests of Dr. Isauc Emerson. Georgetown. March 21.?Secretary of the Treasury W. G. McAdoo, ac? companied by Mrs. McAdoo, who is the daughter of President WUson, reached Georgetown this afternoon for a visit to Dr. Isaac E. Emcison at Arcadia. Dr. and Mrs. Emerson were also in the party and went Imme? diately to their home near here. TEAL HEARS SENTENCE. Hartsvllle Teacher Flics Appeal in Greenville. Greenville, March 21.,?W. Archie Teal of Hartsvllle, who was found guilty Tuesday night on the charge of seducing under the promise of mar? riage a young woman of Travelers' Rest, was sentenced today by Judge Mendel L. Smith to three years, with lvS months suspended provided the de? fendant pays to the mother for the support of the child the sum of $100 on the first of each January for six years and then $150 on the 1st of each January until the child is 15 years of age. Immediately after tho Hartsvllle leacher was sentenced his attorneys made a motion for appeal and the case will go to the supreme court. Temporary cash bond in the sum of $1.500 has been arranged until the hond can be fixed. That the course of justice was Interfered with by the presence in the court room of several well known and prominent women <?f Greenville and that other agencies wore vsed to make puhlic sentiment favor the prosecutrlx will, it is under? stood from a reliable source, be one of tho grounds for appeal. N AMED Wl NTH HOP TRUSTEE, Thomas G. McLcod Succeeds the I?nie William L. Glaze. Columbia, March 21.?Gov. Man? ning has appointed the Hon. Thos. tl MeLswd. Of Bishop'ille. trustee f<-: Winthrop College, vice Wllllum L Glase, of Orangeburg, doceasod. EITRA SESSION CALLED. : - \ ? ? ? y | ' r President Wilson Summons Congress to Consider "Grave Question of National Policy." It is Expected That Congress Will Declare That State of War Has Existed Since Germany Began Submarine Warfare On American Commerce?-Congress is Believed to Be Back of The President. Washington, March 21.?President Wilson has called an extra session of congress to meet on April 2nd to take action on the state of war which admittedly exists between the United States and Germany. Congress will probably be asUed to declare that a state of war has ex? isted since the recent date when) Ger? man Bubmarines began a series of warlike operations against American commerce. The president's proclamation ntates I that he calls congress to meet for it to receive a communication from him concerning "grave questions of nat? ional policy." The proclamation does not state that the president considers that a state of war exists, but leaves that question for discussion in hfe ad? dress and for congressional action. The president's decision was made as the result of yesterday's cabinet meeting, at which U practicall.v unanimous opinion was expressed that while preparations are going forware to put the nation in a state of armed neutrality, congress, which alone has the war making power, should ht? ml mmoned. The sentiment in congress, it is un ; dct stood, will be overwhelmingly in favor of a declaration that as tie re? sult of Germany's act a state of wut already exists. * -> ? In his address to congress, Prest 1 dent Wilson will recite Germany's I overt acts, and will probably discus* I universal military training, j The foremost act which brought J about the president's decision was the unwarned torpedoing of the Ameri? can steamer Vlgilancia. with the loss of fifteen Uvea, tome of whom were Americans. He selected April 2nd for con? gress to meet bet ause it is thought impossible for some of the congress? men to get here earlier. The adoption of a resolution by congress that a state of war exists will not be a declaration of war In the strictly technical sense, although it will practically amount to the same thing. If it is passed the Uidted States take additional steps to pro? tect American interests against Ger? many, and if actual war comes, in the full sense, it will be the result of some future acts of Germany. The cabinet in urging the move by presi? dent, is described as being more thoroughly united than it has been on any other question. At first the suggestion was madt that the result might be to allow Ger? many to use* her submarines against the American coast, but the navy feels able to take care of that. Mean while the navy is rushing prepara? tions, the army has prepared plans, industrial mobilization has been plan? ned, and a hundidd g- .t corpora? tions have offered their services. The president's proclamation asked con I grsai to give the matter immediate i consideration. TO RETURN TO WORK TODAY. - Strike In Aeroplane Factory of Short Duration. Buffalo, March 21.?The men who ; quit work this morning In the Curtins aeroplane factory late today voted to return to work Thursday. The men quit because a popular foreman had been removed. The strike, had it per? sisted, would have held up work on American army and navy contracts. THE 1910 COTTON CROP. Washington, March 10.?The 101G cotton crop of the United Slates amounted to 11,441,138 equivalent 500 pound bales, excluding Unters, according to the census bureau's final ginning figures. The crop in Georgia was 1.S19.S21 bales; South Carolina, 020,717 bales. Berlin, March 22 ?-Tt is Officially announced that an airplane piloted by Pflnci Frederich Karl, 0 cousin of Btnp< ror William has not returned from a raid betwen Arras and Pe runne. ^ WHY WORLD FIGHTS PRUSSIANS STARTLING ANSWER BY SOCIAL? IST LEADER IN REICHSTAG. Schicdcmann Demands That German Empire Also Yield to Liberal In? fluences. Berlin, Monday, March 19 (via London, March 20.)?Philipp Scheide? mann, Socialist leader of the reich stagf, Eays in the Socialist newspaper. Vorwaerts: "It does not require many words to explain why almost the i whole world is arrayed against us. The answer is given quickly. The whole world sees among our enemies more or less developed forms oi democracy and in us it sees only Prussians. "We have always answered by referring to the absolutism of Rus? sia, but now czarism has gone and the emperor's successor is to accept the throne only if the representatives of the people agree. These represnta tives are to be elected on the basis of universal, equal, direct and secret suffrage. "In Asia the empire of the man? darins opposed every reform. They desired an emperor with absolute power as long as he did their will end thereby .undermined the mon? archy and laid the foundation of a republic. In tho European centra! empire similar spirits seek to build similar Chinese walls and hinder every reform. The clock shows five minutes to 12. They imagine they hold up the time when they move back the hands to 11. "Why does the chancellor shrhY back now from unconditional neces ?lty? Always the hesitator. th procrastinator Bethmann-Hollw wants to begin to cure Prussia aft<*i the war. Russia also promised *<1 reforms after the war, but the wni lasted too long for the Russians. Wh: postpon till tomorrow what is ab? solutely nect sary today, what even the king himself declared years a%o was one of the most urgent matter.1 o? the business of the state. Now is the time for decisive action. The difficulties which might arise if the government adopts the reichstag sys tern of election for Prussian elec? tions are as a featherweight as com? pared with the difficulties which Wit1 come if it does not do this. The chancellor should not delay one day Tho Prussian people as well as the other German states will stand as one man at. his side if he acts de cisively." VICTORY BY RETREAT. German Military Expert Says Retire? ment on Sonimc is a Success. Berlin, March 22.?Major Moraht the military writer in the Lokal An? zeiger, calls the German retreat on tho western front a success. He out? lines the results in shortening line thus saving men and requiring th? entente to bring forward their heavy guns. He says the entente may re? proach the Germans for doing there what the Russians did in Poland, but that France should settle accounts with England for the damage done a: the law of German warfare is that everything necessary and possible will i be done in this defensive war. DISTURBANCE IN PETROGRAD Troubles in City Quickly Suppressed by Military Force. I^ondon. March 22.? Robberies, in? cendiarism and some murders have occurred in Petrograd, according to Router's dispatch from there. The disturbances were quickly suppressed by military force. London, March 22.?All the leaders of the former Russian dynasty have placed themselves at the disposition of the provisional government, according to a Petrograd dispatch. The Grand Duke Cyril has resigned command 0 the naval guards. DECURES IT TU TO ACT. MANNING ANNOUNCES HIMSELF IN FAVOR OF WAR. South Carolinian in Washington Says Tliat People Will Stand Back of Any Action Taken by President. Washington, March 20.?Gov. Man? ning of South Carolina, a White House caller today, said that al? though he had been opposed to war with Germany until recently he now believed the time had come for using the full strength of ti U '.ted States to protect Its rights. He declared ' for an immediate summoning of congress, the calling out of the mili? tia, the summoning of volunteers and the aggressive use of the navy. "The people now ore clamoring for war," said Gov. Manning. "The ex? posure of the German plot to in? volve Mexico and Japan in war against the United States and the re? cent German submarine activities have convinced mo that the time for action has come. "I am not for half way measures. I believe our navy should cooperate with the navies of the allies in exter? minating submarines. I think that congress should he called together just as quickly as possible so that ag? gressive action can bo taken. The people of the nation, I think, will stand solidly behind the president in any forward steps he may take." The governor called at the war de? partment and discussed Columbia's chances for securing the army can? tonment. He told Secretary Baker what Columbia is doing to secure it and of the advantages which that ei;v possesses. Nothing hes yet been de? cided regarding the matter, but Gov. Manning is pleased with the outlook. He also called to see Secretary Dan? iels and told him South Carolina would be on hand when wanted, and left for homo tonight. I RECOGNIZE XKW GOVERNMENT. United States Accords it to Council of Ministers as De Facto Rulers. Washington, March 21.?Recogni? tion of the provisional council of ministers as the do facto government of Russia has been accorded by the United States through conversations carried on by Ambassador Francis at Petrograd. This was stated at the state department today with explana? tion that full recognition of the now government would be delayed pend? ing demonstration of stability. Today's press reports saying the former emperor and empress had been deprived of their liberty and the former ordered back from his retirement to Petrograd caused un? easiness, as possibly indicating con? trol by an extremist, radical group. Officials here think the great danger in the Russian situation lies in the possibility of attempts to destroy the moderates now in power, either by the former ruling party or by the extreme Socialist revolutionary party. The arrest of the former emperor and his wife is being watched with the 1 fear that it may foreshadow a long period of unrest in Russian internal affairs and the crippling of the coun? try's resources for war. For this reason the immediate full recognition of the new government which was desired because of its an? nounced democratic principles will be postponed until affairs have time to settle. Ambassador Francis is calling reg? ularly at the foreign office and trans? acting business as with the duly con? stituted authorities. The first complete official account of the Russian revolution reached the department today in a delayed dis? patch from Ambassador Francis, dated March 17. "The only menace possible." the report said, "is in social istio demon? strations by minority socialistic groups." A dispatch from the ambassador of a later date indicated that there hns been some sort of agreement be? tween tho revolutionary authorities and the Socialists. Officials are following the dlfllcttl ties in Uussia, not only because of the question of American recognition, which is admitted to be largely a formality, but especially because of the vital effect they believe those de? velopment may have on America's own interests. The crippling of Rus? sia's military strength, at ths time, or the possibility of a separate peace, are vital affairs to the United States through the practical state of war now existing between this country and Germany. Mrs. William Oglcr and daughter, of Savannah, are visiting relatives. mW jg MADE BOLD BAKER PRAISES SERVICE OP MILITIA ON BORDER. Citizen Soldiers and Their Friends Show There is Enough Courage Left in America. Washington, March 21.?Secretary Baker, speaking tonight at a mass meeting held to welcome the District of Columbia National Guard home from the border, said the guardsmen on the border expedition "had made good" and that the enthusiastic dem? onstration which had greeted the or? ganization on their return to their home cities "ought to prove to any foreign nation that we have men and spirit enough to defend our nation." "In spite of some creaking of the governmental supply machinery at first," said the secretary, "the mob? ilization and maintenance of the guard at the border was a successful enter? prise. "Best of all, the guard accomplished the purpose for which it was sent and I am proud of it." Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the senate military committee, was ap? plauded enthusiastically by the guardsmen when he advocated univer? sal military service. OVERTON KILLED BY POSSE. In Fight with Pursuers, After His Es? cape from Jail, Former Alabama Official is Shot to Death. ! Birmingham, Ala., March 20.?The final chapter in what is believed to be Alabama's most sensational mur? der case was written, tonight when David D. Ovcrton, former official of Huntersville, under sentence of death for the murder of Judge W. T. Law ler, his political rival last summer, ; was shot and killed by a posse of j deputy sheriffs. Overton met death in a fight in which he and six com pan ions engaged after they had escaped from the Jefferson county jail early i today. Tony Malino, another fugi? tive, also was killed and J. W Lath em, a member of the escaped' band, was mortally wounded. Four of Over ton's companions fled when the fight with the deputies began, and are be? ing pursued by the posse. None of the j deputies was injured. Malino was un ! der a death sentence for the murder of a peddler here several months ago, and Lathem had been indicted on a charge of forgery. ASYLUM REGENTS REAPPOINT ED. Governor Acts Conformably to New Provision?Board to Elect Super? intendent. Columbia, March 22.?The section of the constitution governing the State Hospital for the Insane having been amended by vote in the general elec? tion. Gov. Manning yesterday ap? pointed the board of regents. All members serving under the old law were reappointed. The regents will elect a superintendent. The old law provided that the superintendent be appointed by the governor. The following were appointed: R. B. Scarborough of Conway, for a term of five years; J. E. Sirrine of Green? ville, for a term of four years; B. W. Segars of Oswego, for a term of three years; S. C. Baker, M. D., of Sumter, for a term of two years, and Christie Benet of Columbia, for a term of one year. FIVE AMERICAN VICTIMS. Lost In Sinking of Steamship Vigil ancia. London. March 21.-^-Robert P. Skinner, the American consul gen? eral, has received a list of the fol? lowing live Americans lost from the American steamer Vigilancia, tor? pedoed and sunk last Friday. Niels North, third ofheer, F. Brown, Joseph Fibera, EstapV.an Lo? pez. C. F. .Aderahold. The last nam? ed was fron) Attolla. Ala. The ad? dresses of the others were not given. Among the lost was Alexander Roder Iguez, a Puerto Klean, while the Others represented a number of na? tionalities. Consul General Skinner also receiv? ed today word of the safe arrival at Glasgow of rapt. Forum and the eight DA teeing members of the crew of the steamer City of Memphis who were picked up after having been 18 hours in an open boat. Washington, March 22.?A caucus of the Republican representatives In congress has called for the night of March 31st to discuss the organiza? tion of the house and the legislative program. 4