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.

FHD CHOPS M?ST BE BEB. Secretary Houston Points Out That War's Demands Will Gall For Amount Far Ex? ceeding Any Supply Heretofore Grown In This Country. Duty and Opportunity of Fanners Throughout The Nation to Increase Food Production, Thus Assuring: Themselves of Prosperity and Helping Country in Crisis?Corn, Peas, Beans and Sweet Potatoes Urged for South. Washington, April 11.?Secretary Houston of the department of agri? culture tonight again appealed to the country to make every effort to raise adequate food crops this year not only for the United States' needs but to meet the requirements of the en? tente. "The Importance to the nation of a generous food supply for the coming year can not be overestimated In view of the economic problems which may arise as a result of the entrance of the United States into the war." said the secretary. "Every effort should be made to produce more crops than are needed for our own requirements. Many mil? lions of people across the sea as well ss our own people must rely In large part upon the products of our fields and ranges. "This situation will continue to exist even though hostilities should end unexpectedly soon since Euro? pean production can not be restored Immediately* to Its normal basis. "It la obvious that the greatest and moat Important service that is requir? ed of our agriculture under existing conditions la an enlarged production of the staple food crops. Because of the sa - rre of such crops prac? tically thr? ?out the world there Is no risk In the near future of excess'' e production such as sometimes baa re? sulted in unremuneratlve prices to producers. "This Is particularly true of the cereals and of peas, beans, cowpeas, soy beans and buckwheat. In view of the world scarcity of food there Is hardly a possibility that the produc? tion of those crops by the farmers of the United States an be too great Udo year and there is abundant fonoon to expect generous price re? turns for all available surplus. "The moat effective step thi.t may bit taken to Increase the production of these crops la to enlarge ti e acre? age devoted to them In the regions where they are grown habitually. This expansion of acreage should be to the limit permitted by available good seed, labor and equipment. "The placing of too great eriphasis on production in new regions is in? advisable since the Introduction Into a farm operation of a crop not usually grown frequently Involves practical difficulties not easily foreseen nor quickly surmountable. "Taking the winter wheat territory a'i a whole, winter killing has occur? red to an extent very much greater then usual. This obviously, if not compensated for in some way, will mean a material reduction in the sup? plies of our most important bread cereal. Where winter wheat has been damaged sufficiently to Justify the abandonment of fields it should by al means be replaced by spring planted food crops, preferably small grains or corn. 'If land Intended for spring wheat can not be put into good condition early enough for seeding, oats or barley can be substituted to good ad vantage In the sections where these cidops arc known to do well. "The ease with which barley ma> be substituted directly for wheat in human food and its usefulness to re? place wheat milling by-products as food In the production of the milk supply renders ita abundant produc? tion Important. "Barley, where it succeeds, yields a larger weight of feed per acre than an> other small grain crop. "With an abundance of oats am barley available much closer milling of wheat than at present could be practiced if necessary without endan? gering the ml'k supply which consti? tutes so Important an element in tin dietary of consumers. "The place of rye under present conditions b* an important one. Buck? wheat may be planted later than any similar crop an I rice at present prico.? provides more food value for the money than most of the other coroals Fuller appreciation of Its value should stimulate production to an extent thn> would increase tho total fod supph greatly "Prices of the grain sorghums dur? ing the past season appear to war rant Increase of acreage of thcs*? grains In the regions where they can succeed. "Though flax Is not primarily a food crop, the cake remaining when the oil Is pressed from the seed constitutes an Important element In the dairy food supply. Ita increaeioe' use would re lease other grain products for use as food. "Corn Is the leading food and feed crop of the United S.'atcs in geo? graphic range of production, acreage and quantity of product. The vital importance of a large acreage of this crop properly cured for, therefore la obvious. Conditions warrant the planting of the largest acreage of this crop which it Is possible to handle ef? fectively. 'Earllness of maturity, other fac? tors being equal, is advantageous in the case of practically all grain crops. Relatively early maturing varieties should be selected where possible and planting should be done at the earliest suitable date. "The usefulness of cowpeas and soy beans as human food has been rec? ognised only recently in this coun? try. Existing conditions warrant the planting of all the available seed of varieties known to do well in the several sections. 'The soy bean in particular has proved sufficiently resistant to cold in spring and to adverse weather during summer to warrant heavy planting, especially throughout the South. The value of the beans for oil production as well aa for human food has become recognised so quickly and so generally during the past year that the crop has acquired a commercial standing far in excess of its previous status. "The high food value of field beans and the shortage of supply duo to the light yields of 1915 and 1916 render them of great Importance in the re? gions to which they are adapted. . "A deficiency of hay and forage for the next winter would jeopardize the future meat and dairy supplies of the country and result in a shortage o roughage for military draft and sad? dle animals. "Seed potatoes should be con? served by planting on the beat lands available and planning for thorough tillage and protection of the crop against disease and Insect pests. "Potatoes can be grown most ad? vantageously near the centres of pop- j ulatlon in the Northern States where transportation cost may be reduced to a minimum. This crop Is capable of quick and large Increase of pro? duction when conditions are favor? able. There is, however, considerable risk of unprofitable production of po? tatoes when they are grown at long distances from the consuming mar? kets, owing to the disproportionate weight and bulk of the product in comparison with cereals. "Such vegetable crops as carrots, rutabaga turnips, onions and cabbage arc worthy of much more attention tl an they generally receive. All these crops are capable of large production on suitable land under Intensive cul? ture throughout the more densely populated portions of the country. "In the Southern half of the coun? try perhaps no crop has larger possi? bilities for quick Increase of produc? tion of food for man and animal.^ than the sweet potato. The peanut in many sections of the South also is capable of greatly enlarged production. "Only about 20 per cent, of the sup? ply of sugar normally consumed in the United States is produced domes? tically and this amount can not be In? creased appreciably during the cominp season. "The high prices for foodstuffs that hi?vc prevailed during the last few months have stimulated interest in the increase of home supplies of vege? tables, poultry and da.ry products on faints. This Interest has been quick? ened most noticeably In the South where for several years this depart? ment and the State through their extension workers have urged such an Increase as necessary for economic reasons, even under normal condi? tions. Other parts of the country have responded to these appeals but cm phasin on this feature should be con? tinued by all Upendes in position to operate effectively. "Through Increased attention to poultry on farms It Is possible to add quickly and materially lo the food supply. When conditions render it feasible small Rocks of poultry shoul? be kept by families in villages und towna and especially suburbs of Isrge cities. "<'i,nsumeiM living In Villages and in the suburbs of elths do not ap predate Hiitllciently the possibility of adding materially to their food suppl by utilizing suitable Idle soil in yards, vacant lots snd unused outlying tieldc. TO BEGIN WORK ON SHIPS., BOARD SOON TO START BUILDIN (? CAMPAIGN. Plans for Thousand ships to Meet Loss of Tonnage ? First Will be Heady Within Five Months, With Others to Follow?To Call for Money. Washington, April 9.?The shipping board's program of building a fiee*. of 1,000 wooden ships of 3,000 or 3, 600 tons each to meet the loss of ton? nage by submarine warfare and thus help to defeat the German undersea campaign has been formally approved by President Wilson. The first ship will be ready within five months and the board will call upon the treasury for from $10,000,000 to $16,000,000 within the next few days. Fifty million dollars already has been authorized by congress for the work of the board. WKLS If A* CAPITOL. President Goes to House for Confer? ence with Speaker Clark and Other Leaders. Washington, April 11.?President Wilson went to the house today for a conference with Speaker Clark and other leaders on the war program. Chairman Kitchin, introducing and reporting the bill to the house, an? nounced that it would be called up Friday. The bill also will authorize a $63,000,000 bond issue to redeem the thiee per cent, loan of 1908. President Wilson urged that con? gress accept the entire war depart? ment plan. Kitchin was among those with whom he conferred. APPOINTED ASSISTANT SECRE? TARY. Oscar T. Crosby of Virginia Called to the Treasury Department. Washington, April 11.?Oscar T. Ciosby, of Warrenton, Va., has be^n appointed assistant secretary of the treasury. ? ANNAPOLIS I EXAMINATION. Held Soon for Appointment by Sena W|il tor Tillman. ?Washington, April 8.?Senator Till? man announces that he will make an appointment to the United States Na? val Academy, at Annapolis, as the re? sult of a competitive examination to be1 held at Columbia about May If un? der the auspices of Superintendent of Education J. E. Swearlngen. Senator Tillman asks that South Carolina young men desiring to compete com? municate with Mr. Swearlngen. - LINER STRUCK MINE. / New York Damaged off the Liverpool Bar. t Washington, April 10?The Ameri? can liner New York struck a mine last night off Liverpool bar. No cas? ualties are reported. The vessel proceeded to Liverpool. New York Docked Safely. New York, April 10.?The steamer New York has docked safely at Liv? erpool. The damage sustained was slight, according to a cablegram re? ceived by officials of the line. URUGUAY REMAINS NEUTRAL. South American Republic Will Slav out of War. Montevideo, April 11.?Uruguay to? day issued a decree of neutrality in the war between the United States ana Germany and Cuba and Germany. London, April 11.?The Brazilian minister at Berlin will demind Jhis passports tomorrow, and leave Ger? many via Switzerland, France and Spain, according to a Cologne dispatch forwarded through Amsterdam. Gardening is particularly an industry in which the family and community may share with resultant helpfulness and benefit. "The duty of the individual farmer at this time is to increase his pro? duction particularly of food crops. It' he controls tillable lands not in uh< or money lying idle or labor Unem? ployed, he should extend his opera? tions so as to employ 1 '% resources to the fullest extent. "This does not mean that he shouh rol his land, waste his capital or ex? pend his labor fruitlessly but that by wise planning and earnest effoit he should turn out a greater quantity of food Crops than ever before. He Will not lose by it; and he will perform an Important service in supporting his country In the task that lies before It. "The a? icultural sufficiency of " nation is not attained unless the unit* which compose it are efficient. "Those agricultural workers who prodUOSi conserve and market wisely will help towards the achievement <>f national agricultural sufficiency 'and thus will perform valuable ser\*W% to the nation." ? t BRITISH GAIN VICTORY. BATTLE MONDAY RESULTS IN CAPTRE OP 9,000 PRISONERS. The Big Spring Drive in Northern France Now Under Way?British Force** Break German Linen and Oc? cupy Many Important Positions on Ten Mile Front. London, April 10.?It is officially announced that the British captured more than nine thousand prisoners and more than forty guns yesterday. After heavy fighting the British drove the Germans from the northern end of Vimy Ridge, and also cleared the Eastern slope. The Germans were driven from the high ground near St. Quentin. The fighting continues throughout the whole front. The British have seized the village of Fampoux and neighboring defenses north and south of the Scarpe river. A strong German attack near Ypres was frustrated by a British counter attack. GERMANS ADMIT REVERSE. Berlin War Office Statement Gives Little Information About Battle of Arras. Berlin, April 10.?Regarding the heavy fighting on the western front, the official statement says: "The battle near Arras continues." It adds that the British succeeded in penetrating German positions on the roads radiating frOm Arras, but did not break throug the lines. "In stubbornly resisting the su perior forces of the enemy two of our divisions suffered considerable losses," the German official state? ment says. BRAZIL PRO ALLY. Rio Diplomats Expect Other South American Countries to Break With Germany. Rio Janeiro, April 11.?It is expect? ed in diplomatic circles here that oth? er South American nations will soon follow the example of Brazil and break with Germany. Pro-ally dem? onstrations are growing in volume throughout Rio Janeiro. OFFERS SAFE CONDUCT. Austria to Provide Every Facility to Americans to Leave Country. Washington, April 10.?Austria'* note to the American charge d' affairs which grew out of Vienna severing diplomatic relations because of Unit? ed States' declaration of war with Germany, and offering ever facility for the return home of American of? ficials in Austria has been made pub? lic. FRENCH GAIN GROUND. Battles in France Going; Against the Germans. Paris, April 10.?It is officially an? nounced that the French made addi? tional advance south of the Oise river last night. Artillery, grenade and pa? trol encounters made up the fighting on the remainder of the front. KITCIIIN OFFERS SERVICES. House Leader Will Work for Admin? istration-war Programme. Washington, April 10.?Democratic Leader Kltchin has announced hi readiness to pilot the administratior war program through the house. 11c voted against the war resolution and there has been some doubt as to hu position. The belief is general in con gressional circles that all of the so called pacifist factions will support tin war measures. STEEL TRUST ORDERS. Biggest Of All Corporations Has More Business Than It Can Handle. New York, April 10.?The unfilled tonnage of the United States Stee; corporation on March 31st was 11, 711,000 tons, an increase of 134,000 tons over the previous month, and breaking all previous records. NO TERRITORIAL EXPANSION. Russia Renounces ah Idea of Seining Territory by Conquest. London, April 10.? Russia has re nounced all idea of territorial expan? sion, according to a speech of Min? ister of Justice Kerenaky, whic h b quoted in a Petrograd dispatch. ROOSEVELT BEES WILSON. Former President Calls at tho White House Today. Washington, April 10.?Col. Roose? velt, accompanied by his daughter, Mrs. Nicholas LongWOrth, called on President Wilson at the White House today. Col Kosevclt laid before prosiden his plan lor raising a division ol troops for foreign service. He said afterward that he was received with "the utmost courtesy and consider ation." THROWS WEIGHT OP HIS INFLU? ENCE TO REMOVE OPPO? SITION IN CONGRESS. Deems it Only Safe Plan for Americ a to Adopt at This Time for Prosecu? tion of War?Conscription Scheme Has Opposition in Both Houses. Washington, April 9.?President Wilson threw the weight of his per? sonal influence into the scales today in an effort to overcome opposition in congress to the administration army plans based on the draft system. Summoning Chairman Dent of th< house military committee to the White House, the president made it clear that he believed the safety of the nation hangs on the action of congress in this regard. He will make a similar explanation of th? military situation tomorow to Repre? sentative Anthony of Kansas, who has led opposition to the draft plan among Republican members of the military committee. In his action today the president recognized the fact that there may be a strong feeling in congress in favor of adhering to the old volunteer sys? tem and sought to bring home to Mr. Dent, one of those who hold that view, the lesson to be drawn from th great war into which the United States now has been plunged and which all point, military advisers of the government declare, to the abso? lute necessity of facing the issue squarely and summoning men to .the colors by draft. A compromise plan may be offered by the opponents of compulsory ser? vice. A sentiment for such a move was evident in Mr. Dent's committee be? fore which Secretary Baker and the military chiefs of the department as? sembled in full strength during the day to support the administration's policy. There was no indication, however, that a compromise would be accepted by the president. In the senate debate on conscrip? tion occupied much time during dis? cussion of the regular army appro? priation bill. As a result of Chairman Dent's at? titude it is possible that some other member of the house committee will present the administration bill if it is reported substantially in the form in which it was drawn. The chairman agreed to introduce it "by request," which means that he would take no responsibility for it. While refusing to discuss his con? ference with the president for publi? cation, Mr. Dent admitted that no conclusion was reached. He said: "There is no chance on earth of the bill coming out of the committee in any form within a week at least. The main controversy is over tho question of conscription. There is no question, however, on the part of any one as to giving the president all the men and money needed to carry on the war. The only contro? versy is as to the means of doing so."' Before the house committee Sec? retary Baker stood firmly for the gen? eral staff plans. "Would you prefer," Represcntati * Anthony asked, "authority to rais*. volunteer army within 30 days rathe than to raise the 500,00 under a se? lective draft that might take six months?" "1 prefer tho selective draft sys? tem," replied the secretary. Mr. Baker approved a suggestion that instead of authorizing two in? crements of selective draft forces, 500,000 to an increment, the bill au? thorizes the president to call as many such increments from time to time as he may deem necessary. In the senate the 191S appropria? tion bill, designed to carry on the ex? isting military establishment, made rapid progress. It has passed the house already and came from the sen? ate committee carrying a total ol $278,000,000, which is in addition to the $:i,000,000 now asked for the army to meet the war emergency. The bill now contains a section which does away with the grade of brigadier general, substituting a se? nior and junior divison of the grade of major general instead. The new section also proposes tin the chief of staff be given the runs <>f general, senior of all othe r army Officers, while in that position. The parallels changes in navy practice Where the chief of operations has been made ranking admiral of the na\y. Similarly departmental commander.! WOUld become generals and provision is made for the recreation of the grade of lieutenant general. MARTIAL LAW PECIjARDED. Guatemala Takes stci*. to Suppress Disorder on Boeder. Guatemala City, Guatemala, April 9.?Martial law has been declared in Guatemala. This action was taken on information Of disturbance along the Mexican and Salvadorean frontiers, which is supposed to have been cre? ated with German assistance. LADfES CLUBS MEET IN ELKS CLUB FOR INTERESTING EX? ERCISES. State President Urges Planting of Home Gardens?Strong Paper on Citizenship Delivered by Mrs. Wil? liamson?Delightful Music Furnish? ed by Pl?lhannonic Club. The Reciprocity Day program ren? dered yesterday by the ladies of the various clubs in the city was a most delightful one and the hundred or more ladies present found the occa? sion both instructive and enjoyable. This day is observed by the various woman's clubs of Sumter each year I and is always an occasion of inspira- " tion for further work during the en? suing year. The meeting yesterday was more strongly inspirational than any meeting ever held previously. The following clubs were represent? ed in the audience: The Civic League. Winthrop Daughters, Dramatic Club, Progressive Club, Suffrage League, Literary Club, U. D. C, D. A. R., Charity league and the Philharmonic Club. Mrs. Nina M. Solomons, pres? ident of the Civic League, presided during the exercises and presented those on the program. Mrs. J. L. Coker, Jr., state presi? dent of the South Carolina Federa? tion of Woman's Clubs, was an hon? ored guest for the occasion, and was called on for an address. She deliver? ed a vary interesting talk, outlining the work of the State Federation and its members for the ensuing year. She spoke of the establishing of night schools for the education of the illiterate asd the need for establish? ing of homes for the mentally diM cient. She referred to the work of education which the Federation is pushing. In referring to the va? rious duties of the club women, Mrs. Coker emphasized the importance of having home gardens and the culti? vation of every available space for vegetables and other eatables, for which there is a great demand now and will be an even greater demand later on. Mrs. Coker is one of the forty speakers appointed by Gov. Manning to campaign the gti te in the interest of planting food crops. A paper by Mrs. Louis R. William? son, president of the Citizenship Club, on the Position of Woman in the Civic World Today, was a well pre* pared and strong presentation of the i subject. Mrs. Williamson treated fl$T 1 i subject from a practical standpoint : and her audience was given a most j interesting view of female citizenship ' and its opportunities. Mrs. E. W. Dabbs made an inter? esting talk on the history of the Red Cross association and its work in peace and war, giving much informa? tion concerning this organization which is of much value at this time. Between the papers pleasing musi? cal numbers were rendered by the Philharmonic Club, and its member?. A reading by Miss Eudora Kirk of the Dramatic Clu') was much enjoyed. At the conclus on of the exercises a social session was held, In which the members of the various organizations discussed with each other their views of the phases of work they were do? ing and considering taking up. Cakes and punch were served at this time. SURPIUSE GUARD, MAKE ES? CAPE. Five Long Term Nogro Convicts Gee Away from State Farm at (Hagood. Columbia, April 10.?Five negro convicts, all from Charleston, surpris? ed and disarmed a guard early yes? terday and escaped from the DeSaus sure farm at Hagood, owned by the State, according to information re? ceived at the penitentiary in Colum? bia. Fifty dollars' reward will be paid any one who retakes any one of the fugitives and delivers him at the pen? itentiary or at the DeSaussure farm. All of the fugitives are long term prisoners. They are Roy Williams, Sam Jackson, Raymond Hanna, Rich? ard Jackson and Qua Ritter. They were at work in the Wate reo river bottoms. The details of the escape were not known h\st evening at the penitentiary. SOUTH CAROLINA'S SHARE. Would Have to Furnish 8,000 Men in Case of Call for Million. Columbia, April 10.?In the event that President Wilson calls for 500, 000 men for the Brat great army. South Carolina will have to furnish about 4,000 exclusive of the Nation? al Guard, A call for l.ooo.OOO men means B,000 from this State. "Old Glory** on Field in France. Paris, April 8.?The Figaro says the Stars and Stripes are flying over the headquarters of the l*afarate flying corps, composed largely of American aviators The placing of the corps Under the American flag to sjiinhotlSSj the entry of the United States has I'ttn discussed for several days,