Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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IKK? ?Ett'S mil LAitonf attended asd kn tbi wiastk heetixg of chamber of commerce. Xunifar of Speakers Vrgc the Im? portance of BtiHtiiess Men Support ins; Chamber of Commerce, us Clearing* Hause of Community Ideas sn# IIa?*? 1\mhI Problems und otber Matters Discussed. A largely attended and very im? portant meeting of the bu?ine9s men of Rutoitfx and the surrounding coun? try stas held last night In the Elks i<ods% rooms, the meeting being a ral? ly In'behalf of the Chamber of Com? merce which Is cslling upon the bus? iness men and farmers to reciprocate. The Chamber of Commerce hax been working hard fcr years to In? crease the business d~ne In tho city of Rumter and to ma e the efforts of the farmers more su<vcsefjl along all Ines. It has been preaching diver? sification to the farmers for years and recently it has organized the city and county for Public Safety, a step rnn-h needed now because of the war with lennnny In which this country Is Involved, as tneie is coming every day a greater and greater need for foodst uffs to supply this section and warring nations of Europe. The com? mercial body now Is calling on the peoptt whom it has helped many times to help It. by becoming mem? bers of the organisation, so that it can f rry on 1*1 work. Mr. A. C. PhelpS, the president of the organisation. In opening the meet? ing a'nd Ulling its object gave some of these reasons for calling tho meeting and asking the support of the peoplo of Sumter and surrounding country, i He praised the secretary of the or- i ganlzatlon, saying that the organisa? tion had the right man in the riant place and that It was due to the man? aging secretary that mueh of the SfH clent work of the body w/is being done. Dr. H. M. Stuckey, one of the mem? bers of the directorstc of the body was called on and also urged the im? portance of the Chamber of Com meree as1 a factor in the community. Mr. I. C. Strauss pointed out that' it was the duty of business men to support public institutions for tV gao<r"of the community. He said that a good living was all that any one should demand of a community, not right to accumulate. He stated that maybe one enterprise secured by the orga'riYfcatlon was'wortr, more to the town than all the money spent for its support. Mr. E. D. Cole, a comparatively new resident of suinter who has been cho? sen l'lhember of the commercial body, urged the fsrmers to work hard, to use more fertilizer and to raise more crops, snd he said that they would corns clear of debt, after three hard years, with plonty left over. He said tbe town needed more fuctorles and th*? business men should subscribe to ?ny of them recommended by the Chamber of Commerce. Ho offered a prize of 12& to the boy in Sumter county who rulsed tho most speckled p?ss. and $2S to the boy who raised tne most corn on ono acre, the Cham? ber of Commerce to decide the win? ner. Mr. Phelps pointed out that the Chamber of Commerce would not endorse a plan, unless It saw that It ?im a good one. The men on the board of directors of the commercial! organization were business men and1 when they recommended an enter? prise, the men of Sumter might sub- I scribe to It as a good proposition. The! directors would not recommend It un? less they were willing to put their own money Into It. letr. E. W. Dabbs was sorry that ths Farmers' t'nlon was not as vtcll organized as the .Chamber of Com? merce. He said that It bad beer, working along the same lines re re itly advocated In such a systematic i campaign by tbe Chamber of Com? merce. The work could not have been done so well, he said, except for the fact that the Chamber was well organized. He said that lots of work w.is being done among the farmers to make them see the situation which e< nfronted them and to act according? ly And the farmers-were doing mu- h work in the direction pointed out. He thought that result* would be seen In the near future and that within nine? ty day? this county would be not only i elf-i'istatn.ng. hut would have a sur? plus of food to send to some mo c unfortunate neighbor. He aald that the Chamber of Com merce should pat Itself on the back at the good work which It had done. He praised the rocretary of the Cham? ber for hl?? persistent sind effective o" forts to better conditions in city and county and thought that ho was tJ.e I best man who could be secured 1 the place. Mr. H. O. ?)steen crave a hkNory i the, reason for the formation of in Committee of Public Safety in Sun t. county, saying that without the Chn n? ber of Commerce to put It Into ar'.tV execution the Idea would not l it been successful among ths fariaci lit *</. _' I ' ' ' ' -' He sold that Sumter county now wa? in a worse condition than when Sher? man burned Columbia. At that time wagon trains has been formed here and food carried to the .people of Co? lumbia. Now if Snmter was shut olT from the West foi two weeks, famine would stare the people in the face. He said that Mr Coker, the head of the State committee, had told him that Siimter county was ahead of any oth , er county in the State, and as far aa he knew, ahead of any county in the country. He said this fact was dpo to the effective work of the Chamber of Commerce Mr. Pholps stated that in Atlanta the Sumte ? plan was adopted at the meeting of the Public Safety Commit? tee and telegraphed from there to ev? ery county in the South and its adop? tion urged by the Atlanta meeting. Mr. Davis D. Moise referred to his Interest in the work Ott the Chamber of Commerce, but he had never ex? pected to see it so well organized and doing such effective work as it was doing now. He believed that it was because of the Chamber of Commerce that the community spirit In Sumter was so strong. He said that he had recently been on a trip through parts of the South and he had noticed that where there was diversification with plenty of live stock that there was plenty of signs of prosperty. II was im? possible to make money by raising only Cotton and corn; eiversltlcat on must or, practised, live s".ock must be rais? ed to make money. He urged that each citizen of the community work for his community, as well as for himself, und ho could best aid his community by workng through the Chamber of Commerce which was always ready to accept any good sug? gestion and aid any worthy cause. Mr. R. B. Belser, a former prc.u d nt of Ahe Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the organisation was one representing the community. Ho was therefore glao to see such a rep icsentativc body of men gathered lor the meeting, as it indicated that the work of the organization was being appreciated. He said that the Cham? ber would develope every helpful idea brought to it, but that it could not do work without cooperation, es? pecially financial support. He refer? red to the smull amounts which were being carried over each year by the organization, because the body did not have sufficient funds to pay back dues und to run on throughout the year. He said the work which the body did for the community was certair.lv worth to each business man the small amount he paid towards Its support. He said that sometimes one enterprise we.s worth to the community the whole amount paid to support the Chamber of Commerce. It only need? ed $3,500 a year. On this amount it could and would develop the agri? cultural Interests of the community, which in turn would develop the business Interests of the town. It needed and should have the support of the business men of the com? munity. Mr. Phelps stated that the meeting was a most encouraging one and he hoped that there would be such meetings each month, hereafter, where the men could keep In touch with each other and discuss matters' of public Interest. He thought It worth the while of every man in bus Iness to belong, to the Chamber ot Commerce and hoped that when call ' ed on the men would respond prompt ly and willingly. He thought the slo? gan of the State Preparedness Com? mittee was a good one for the Cham? ber of Commerce "Service for All. ' for there was no place In business to? day for a man who lived only fO! himself. Secretary E. I. Roardnn said that the Chamber of Commerce was kep exceedingly busy these days. He ex plained that he had inherited much u the blame which had been placed upon the body, and that some he hut" come by justly. The deficit spoken o bud been inherited when he came int? office, and was not of his making. H< raid It was chiefly the non-publi. spirited men who laid the blame CO their injuries and the Injuries to bus iness in the community to the Cham ber of Commerce. He said that i was only dead men who nid not sub scribe to and advertise in the IOCS pa pars and belong to the Chamber o Comgicrce. Only live men did thus things. Before adjourning to the luncl room. Mr. e. \v. Dahns offered a res oiution that the body extend list synip atliies to Mrs. It, !>. Jennings and font kty at the illness of Mr. Jennings an convey to her the hope that he wool soon be well again The motion wo passed by a rle! ijj vote. Sandwiches end eofl'ee were BOrv ed In bouffe atyle, a feature whi< ii 1 expected to be carried into exectltio at future Chamber Of Commerce nice' Ings. "A lot of divorces are traced lo 111 frying pan." "In every city there nre many S".,0" and $10,000 a year positions to ? tilled, but the only applicants a ? ..!?? who want Joba ut $15 u week." DR. KNAPP URGES MORE FOOD. TIME FOR EVERYBODY" TO (?ET TOGETHER FOR PUBLIC GOOD, HE SAYS. Says That Furniere Should Not Go Cotton Crazy, for Apparent High Price is Deceiving?Rank Folly to I Mam Large Acreage in Cotton aud, Lou vc oft' Food Crops with Corn and Wheat so High He Says. The following ltder has been re? ceived from Dr. Bradford Knapp, head of the farm extension work in the South, and published by request of the Chamber of Commerc : Mr. E. I. Reardon, Managing Secre? tary, Sumter Chamber of Com-, merce. Dear Mr. Reardon: I am ver> I grateful to you for sending me thi Sumtcr plan, which entirely accords with the general plan of organization for this emergency in the South This is the time for everybody to get together and do a tremendous piece of work for the production o:f food in the South. Unfortunately, it has been impos? sible for me to get dates for a speak? ing tour In South Carolina. I have spoken in practically every other cot ton-producing State; hence, the South Caroina people do not know just how much has been done, even before th* war canto, to awaken the people tc a realization of the present situation Tho one important thing is the fact that cotton, even at 20c a pound, is not high. I have been pointing thi* out since cotton began to go up last fall. The apparent high price of cot ton is deceiving the farmers. With corn at $1.40 to $1.50 a bushel and meal, flour, potatoes and other foods equally high, it is rank folly for ou? people to persist in putting in a large acreage in cotton. Inclosed I send you a number of copies of a recent letter to farmers, bankers and busi? ness men. 1 certainly congratulate Sumte) county on this move and congratulat' you, who are connected with it, oi your efforts. If there is anything w? can do.to further this good work, le us know. Very truly yours, Bradford Knapp, Chief. To Farmern, Bankers and Busines Men in the South: Safety. For nearly three years I have dorn my best to warn you to prepare fo the present emergency. For year.' we have tried to encourage diverslflca tlon in the South as a basis for great cr safety, both agricultural and eco nomic. Since the war began in Eu rope we have urged Safe Farming When prices were low you did wed and made great progress. When cot ton went to eighteen cents and OVO you made large profits because of you progress In Safe Farming, but sum were tempted to go back to cotton In common with many other men, tiava tried to warn you of that danger Cotton has not been high but has onb Increased in somewhat less propor tion IU,in food and feed. Now the crisis is here! This groa nation must arouse herself for I mighty struggle for liberty. Peopb without food and armies without ra tions are conquered before they ca* begin to light. Our greatest safety no\ lies in Food Production and in savin* the waste products. If the South is to be strong sin must have food. If this country is t strong she must be well fed and hav? an abundance to sustain those friend ly people who are even now lighting our battles for liberty and democracy Transportation may be disturbed Your own defense requires you to pro duce and conserve your food supply Don't fail now! It is a national prob lein of defense as important as me and guns, ships and cannon. Business men, if seed is short can? vass the situation like patriots and Kct the seed for farmers. Arrang? the credits. Furnish farmers see< corn, soy beans, cowpeas, velvet beans, peanuts, sorghum, etc., at cost See that all things necessary to hell fanners are done. Of course, we must produce cotton, but with a moderate acreage and a good season there wir l>c enough. Do not sacrifice acres o food to increase your acreage in cot? ton. Look ahead) Get the warehous es, the feed mills, shellers, cleaning stations, creameries, packing plants etc. ready. You must do your share and cooperate with farmers. The> must do their share and tend the crops faithfully. Farmers, in your unions, clubs and othsr organisations, resolve to use the ' est methods now. When the nation faces a crisis we must have the best 'arming in its history. Labor is ?hort, hence the best tools and all la? bor-saving devices must be used t? make it possible for every farm la bnrer to cover as much ground as possible and do the ..tost efficient work. Farm women and girls hav? important work to do in the garden the orchard, In raising poultry, and especially in canning, preserving am' conserving our food supply. Your county agent and home de* <>nstration agent become more im? portant olllcers now than ever before. Your State Extension Division at the agricultural college will have still more important duties. Look to these for counsel and advice In this now burden of extra work. The coun? ty agent will, without doubt, have new duties and responsibilities in the near future. i Farmers and business men, save the breeding stock. Don't sell cows, heif? ers, mares, sows, gilts, ewes or hens. Keep them for breeding. If the breed? ing stock is sold where will you get the means to supply the meat of this country Let us forget all past difficulties and join In a might effort to feed the South. What can you do in the next sixty days? Respectfully yours, Bradford Knapp, Chief. WEDOEFIELD PRIZE MST. School Won a Large Number of Prizes in Athletic and Scholarship Tests. Wedgeticld, April 17.?The report of ? the successful contestants in the Field Day exercises was incomplete as It affected the Wedgefleld school. So will ask you to publish the follow? ing: Scholarship. 1st prize, reading, 2nd grade, Esth? er Ramsey. 1st prize reading, 7th grade, Cor? nelia Price. 1st prize, spelling, 8th grade, Annie Strange. 1st prize, Geometry, 10th grade, Ralph Ramsey. 1st prize, reading, 10th grade, Ralph Ramsey. Declamation contest, High school, boy, Willis Ramsey. Physical geography, 2nd prize, Ida Brlce, 9th grade. Algebra, 2nd prize, Annie Strange. 8th grade. Spelling, 2nd prize, Edison Wright, 8th grade. Spelling, 2nd prize, Donald Brice, 10th grade. Athletic. Standing broad jump, Donaid Brice, l*st prize. Running high jump, Wade Ramsey, i 1st prize. 100 yard dash, Donald Brice, 1st prlao. 75 yard dash. Harry Troublefleld, 2nd prize. ? 76 yard dash, Leroy Coulter, 2nd prize. ? Tug of war, Lamar Parier, Bob Brlce, Harry Troublefleld, Willie Strange. Relay race, Paul Seabolt, Donald Brice, Wade Ramsey, Ralph Ramsey. COUNTY EDUCATION BOARDS. Named by Slate Board of Education at Session Tuesday. Columbia, April 17.?The Star? board of education meeting this week elected members of the county boards of education. The list was announced yesterday by J. E. Swearingen, State superintendent of education, as fol? lows for Sumter an ' adjacent coun? ties: Sumter, H. G. Osteen and H. H. Brunson. Lee, D. A. Quattlebaum and W, P. Baskln. Clarendon, D. R. Riser. Darlington, T. E. Wilson, L. W. Dick. Calhoun, Tdm M. Hamer, J. A. Mer rltt. Florence, C. H. Jones, George Briggs. Kershaw, X. P. Gettys and L. T. Mill). WELCOME FOR PASTOR. Mat Hing Glad to See Rev. Mr. Light? foot. Manning, April 17.?The Bev. E. M. Llghtfoot, the pastor of the Man? ning Baptist church, was welcomed to the church and to the town at a spe? cial union service Sunday night in the Baptist church, After an excel? lent sermon by Mr. Light foot, Dr. A. C. Wilkins as chairman Of the meet? ing introduced Dr. Watson B. Dun? can, pastor of the Methodist church, who spoke in eloquent terms of the unity of the church in fellowship and hfritage. Following Dr. Duncan cam? the Bev. L. B. McCord, pastor of the Presbyterian church, who wel? comed Mr. Llghtfoot warmly. J. K. Broaden spoke for the laymen of the town, and then Dr. Wilkins and Pastor Lightfoot spoke, the former Of his service as acting pastor and the after of the hope of his ministry here. A combined choir from all the local churches sang several beauti? ful special selections. The occasion was a happy one and Mr. Lightfoot begins has pastorate here under the happiest auspices. New York, April 17.?The seven men who were indicted last week on the ? b?rge of Violating the Sherman anti-trust law In connection with the news print paper situation today en? tered tentative pleas/of nol guilty and were released on three thousand dol? lar bonds each. FOOD CAMPAIGN IN CLARENDON. Public Meeting Held at Manning Kc s|M)naive. Manning, April 17.?A public meet? ing was held in the court house here today in the interest of general pre? paredness. A stirring patriotic ad? dress was delivered by Thomas G. McLeod of Bishopville, very much on the line of the address to all the people recently issued by President Wilson. He urged special productive effort associated with frugal economy in the use of all foodstuffs in order that the country's army and navy might be supported as well as the producers of arms and munitions of war, and that all the people at home might have sufficient food and that this country might have sufficient to send supplies to the allies fighting in the fields of Europe to put down tyranny and establish freedom and justice among; the people of the world. He stressed the point that with cotton selling at 20 cents ar. acre will not produce enough to buy the necessary home supplies that could be produced on an acre at the present market prices. The audience was a representative one, being com? posed of farmers, professional men, merchants, bankers, public officials and a goodly number of patriotic housekeepers. At the conclusion of the address, which was heartily applauded, a com? mittee was appointed to traverse the county and urge the farmers to duly j consider the urgent situation and to so arrange their affairs as to cer? tainly raise more food crops and feed stuff than will be needed on their re? spective farms and have some to spare to meet the exigencies of the country at large. County Farm Demonstrator Senn and the zealous club agent, Miss Katherine Richard? son, are taking a deep interest in the matter and will enthusiastically urge general patriotic preparedness wher? ever they may go among the people. AMERICA MUST SEND MEN. I Gen. Wood Declares Volunteer Ser? vice Will Never Raise 500,000. Boston, April 17.?Major Gen. Wood, speaking at a meeting of the American Cotton Waste Exchange here today, said that the United States would not fulfil its duty in this war until it had sent to the front men. The meeting was Called to raise funds to equip a complete ambulance unit for the Red Cross. "If we are to be a part of the war," said Gen. Wood, "our men in our uni? form must be at the front. It is no child's play. We shall send living men and bring them back dead?but never until this is done shall we ful? fil our duty. "There is a long period of prepara? tion ahead of us, and the first step is to back up the plan for universal military service. "A voluntary service, however do lishtful in theory, Is ridiculous :n practice. It would be a noble thing if every man rushed to tho colors, but every man does not. Only six thou? sand men have been enlisted in two week*, and I leave it to you to esti? mate how long it will take to get an army of a million men." MVRPH ON ADVISORY COUNCIL. Washington, April 17.?D. I Murph of St. Matthews, until recent? ly clerk to the house, committee on agriculture but now holding an Im? portant position with the department of agriculture, has received another important assignment. In addition to his regular work In the bureau of markets, he has been placed on the committee from the department to cooperate with tbe national ad? visory council. His special work will be to mobilize food supplies, to know just what stocks there are on hand of each commodity and where it la located. "My work," Mr. Murph said today, "will not be to mobilize men but food supplies. It is important for the reason that without food sup? plies there can certainly be no men for the fighting line." BERNHARDT SERIOUSLY ILL. New York, April 17.?Madame Sarah Bernhardt, the famous French actress, was operated upon at Mount Sinai Hospital late tonight by Dr Leo Buerger. She is dangerously ill with an infection of the kidneys and the operation was deemed the only hope of saving her life. Assisting at the operation was the patient's personal physician, Dr. Felix Ma rot, who accompanied her from France; Dr. Samuel W. Lambert, Dr. Bmantiel Libman. Dr. George Brewer, and Dr. Bmunuel Barucb. After the operation Madame Bern? hardt was said to be resting quietly. The decision to resort to the knife was not reached until 10.30 o'clock. Early in tho day improvement in her condi? tion was apparent, but it took a sharp turn for the wor late in the after? noon. THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED .. PRIZES. Men Who Helped to Make Field Day Successful Thanked hy Dr. llayus worth. Editor Daily Item: For prizes contributed to the Field Day, I wish to thank the following merchants and friends of the rural Sumter Clothing Co., Mclnvall * Sumter Clothing Co., McllWsil * Zelgler, Sumter Dry Goods Co., The Battery, Knight Bros., Hearon's Pharmacy, Bradford BrOR., W. H. Shelley & Son. The D. J. Chandler Clothing Company, Booth-Boyle Co.. Levy & Moses, DeLorme's Pharmacy, J. Denemark, L. Alpert, O'Donnell ft Co., Schwartz Bros., Cash Dry Goods Co., Sibert s Drug Store, McLellan 5, 10 & 25c Store, Ducker ft Bultman, Moses Green, Dixie Electric Co., L W. Folsom, B. J. Barnett, W. A. Thomp? son, Zemp's Pharmacy, Stubbs Bros., J. H. Winburn, Moran & Co., Sam E. Miller. (The Rex), W. B: Boyle & Co.. Shaw & McCollum. V. Baula, Boston Candy Kitchen, Geo. H. Hurst, Caro? lina Grocery Co, Geo F Epperson, Mc? Collum Bros., Charlie's Cafe, Wallace & Moses, H. L. Tisdale, W. B. Burns, Williams' Cute Studio, Cobb 5 & 10c. Store, L. E. LeGrand, Mitchell's Drug Store, Watson Drug Co., Wreck Store, Levi Bros., James Bryan, Du Rant Hardware Co. The Field Day, although not as largely attended as in some years, was nevertheless very succesful, es? pecially in that more of the contests went begging for contestants, and that so much interest was shown by those who stood. Without the very generous aid of the city schools of Sumter, it would be impossible to have a Feild Day of the kind Sumter county has always been proud of. I wish therefore, to thank all connected with the city schools, who so kindly labored for the success of this occasion. I desire to express my appreciation of the work done by the various com? mittees in the matter of judging in the different contests; also of the work done by Physical Director Dun? can of the Y. M. C. A. and his com? mittee, for the success of the athletic event. ? ? <| The 1917 Field Day has passed, hut it will be remembered hy scores of children, and by many grown folks as being a very pleasant occasion. J. H. Haynsworth, County Superintendent of Education. FATAL BLOW STRUCK. Negro Killed hy White Man in Clar? endon. Manning, April 17.?Ben Jones, n negro about 45 or 50 years of age, who lived in the western portion of the county, near St. Paul, died Sat? urday night from the effot of a blow on the side of the head indicted Tues? day by a white man named Kagln Mathis. Coroner Tobias held an inquest yesterday and the Jury found a verdict in accordance with the above statement. It is reported that Mr. Mathis had forbidden Jones to plow up or plow into a certain road, and, finding that he had done so, Mr. Mathis went to the negro's house to reporove him for it. The ne? gro did not take very kindly to this reproof and Mr. Mathis started away. As he did so the negro buried an unprinted epithet at him and there? upon Mr. Mathis started back, Jones had been loading manure Into a wagon with a pitchfork, and as Mathis walked toward him, he drew the Pitchfork as if to use it on Mathis, when the latter picked up a rail or pole and struck Jones on the side of the head, knocking him down, and then went away. The negro was as? sisted Into his house, where he sat in a chair for a while. The next day he called in a physician, who advised him to remain quietly in bed. Two days later the physician called again and found no indication that the pa? tient was materially worse, but Sat? urday night he died. A postmortem examination disclosed that the skull had been fractured in such a manner as to cause death. It Is understood that Mr. Mathis will give himself up and furnish bond to stand trial. Free irrten Bulletins. Ivdttor Daily Item. The matter of increasing the food supply of this country in these times Of stress is of vital importance as ev? eryone must recognize. Gardening, both in rural and urban communities, in the South, and espe? cially In South Carolina, can be largely increased. The Department of Agri? culture has just issued two bulletins? numbers 818 and 647?which are In? structive, on home gardening. I shall be glad to send copies of these to persons who may write me. Very truly, A. F. Lever, M. C. "It isn't the things a man knows about a woman which Interests htm: It's the things he thinks he doesn't know."