Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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matt ?tt? mttymn. WATCHMAN, Established Aprfl, 1M0. ud Fear not?Set aO Dm end? Thon Alma't at be thy Country'* Thy God'a aad TiaA'a." THE TRUE SOUTHRON BMaMtafca? # OonaolldftUd Auk. 2,1881. 8UMTER, S. 0., WEDNESDAY, MAY 16. 1917. VoLXLIV. No. 26. iHT HI 1HE FICHT. War means grim business mtb wilson, but people w1ix not palter. Urns* Two* All Philanthropy So Par as Posel to Sc? ot Effcctircnene. >., Washington. Jtfay 12? President Wttsoa said In * public address bere ''* ts4s*I tk^r tbs strtiff 1? against Ger -^fJsasuT "means gr)n. bunlnesa on every ''.*#?? ?* but that America had put "l aW heart Into lbs tssk and would rs '^SSJSSW as a united nation to the call to * a%flHi> las; at tbs dedication of a ortal for the women the War of Secession, the president thai the present struggle only would obliterate the last between ths North and South lUt would wipe out "any linos either latlon cutting athwart of thn nation." President Taft Introduced so "ths nation's loader In srar In history, a war wo can not real If o." Baker formally presented building to the Red society and ths president's ad was raads in accepting It as head of ths society. VulMrag. a aandsome $800, ro built by the govern it, was dedicated to the women the North and Sooth, fr. Wilson, declared that although United Status had gone Into the **wPti no special grievance of our the cost might bo sufferings tcrlilees of such magnitude that of the War of Secession would toSnrtsslmal. To ths end that cat use bo made of aid to ai conditions ho urged that all efforts bo directed organised channels such a* "Chop* resident spoke aa follows: tlfSttt fjNso ssa a very deep gratlflca Uon9l4?? titular head of the Aftnorl ' aasj Red Croa* to accept In the name of Use oasociatlon thai significant and s gift, the gift of the govern* of private Individuals who leave ooneetved their duty In a noble Sdtrtt and upon a groat scale. It Is IssjalSnsnt that It had been dedicated I 4? tfco women who served to alleviate fsjaWtng and comfort those who were fa'.aood daring; our Civil war. because t^atr thoughtful, disinterested self sJpsstScIng devotion Is the spirit which sjjUlM always Illustrate the service fjiae Red Cross. ^VjThe Red Cross needs at this tlms aivra than It over needed before the oaueprshendin* support of 'he Ameri? ca* people. believe that the American people pswaaps hardly yet realise the sacrl Snj?s aad sufferings that arc before ? *b#a?. We lbought ths -?s of our djfttll ?rar was unpreceo. ed. but In a with the struggle into have now entered the Civil sjasjUj slmost inslgnlflcsnt In its rtlons and in its sxpendlture of ro and of blood. And there faro It Is a matter or the greatest lfctaa.li sin that wo siould st the outsat see to It that the American Had Cross Is equipped and prepared tWr Use things that lie before It. Of Causes ths scale upon which ii shall awl will bo greater then the scale of t any other duty that It haa ever at? tempted to perform. "It Is In recognition of that fart that the Amsrlcsn Red Cross has just added to Its organisation a small body of men whom It has chosen to call Its car council Their first duty will be to raise a great fund out of which to draw the resources for the perform snee of their duty, end 1 do r.Jt he? lices that It will be necessary to ap? peal to the American people to re ?Mnd to their call for funds because the heart of this country is In this Sir. , "I say the heart of the country si In this war because It would no* hove sons into It If its heart had no* aeon preparted for It. It would no* kavc gone Into It If It had not first believed thst thsre was an opportunity to cxpreoa the chnractor of the United States. hsvs gone In with no special grlevsnces of our own because we Save always said that ws were *he friends and eervanta of mankind. Wr k*ob for no profit. We look for no advantage. We will accept no tx>\ vaataac out of thin war. We ro he eaaos we believe that the very prin? ciples upon which the Amsrican rc. public was founded nre st stake r*4 stuet he vindicated. In such n ore. we ?hall not fall t##tsjnsmd It Ska calico service that FIRE AND POISON. GERMANS USE DESPERATE MEASURES TO STOP BRITISH. But the Advance on Hindenburg Line Continues Slowly But Surely?Road Almost Clear for British to the Dofiai-Cambrae Line? Russia la in Bad Shape. In the face of biasing oil and poi? sonous gaaee the British are slowly fighting their way to the Drocouct Quenant line, the gateway to Douni and Cambral. the principal link in tho Gorman line of defense in northern Prance. Queant is already virtually pocketed. To the east, west and south the road Is clear to the British, except for the village of Bullecourt. All of Bullecourt has been taken ex? cept two isolated points, where the fighting continues. The Germans are barely holding a small portion of the village of Reoux on the north bank of the Scarpe river. The provisional government of Russia under the harassing tactics of the radical elements shows signs of breaking up. The resignation last night of Gsn. Karniloff, the com? mander at Petrograd was followed to? day by the resignation of Gsneral Guchkoff, the war minister. Both re? sented Interference with the army and navy to an extent that Gen. Guchkoff said threatens the "existence of Russia." However, the council of workmen and soldiers, delegates deny that they favor an armistice. They announced to contrary that they are about to appeal to the soldiers on the ground that a separate peace is In? advisable. TEN MILLION LIABLE. Immense Army Can Be Organised Under Draft System. Waahlngton, May 12.?Ten million men will be subject to selective con? scription on July 1st within tho ages ?>f 21 to 30, inclusive,' as agreed upon by the conference committee on the army bill. Director Rogers of the cen? sus bureau announced. This repre? sents nearly 10 per cent, of the total estimated population of between one hundred and three and one hundred and four million on July 1st, 1917. Of conscription eligiblee the bureau estimates South Carolina will have 137,100. ARMY BILL CONFERENCE. Committee Failed to Get a Quorum This Morning. Washington. May 14.?The confer? ees on the war army bill failed to get a quorum this morning and will meet thia afternoon. comes through the instrumentality of this particular organization. "And I think it not inappropriate to 'say this: There will bo many < xprea sions of the spirit of sympathy and mercy unu philanthropy and I think that It is very necessary that we should not disperse our activities in those lines too much; that we mould keep constantly in view the desire to have the utmost concentration and ef? ficiency of effort and I hope tha*. most if not all of tho philanthropic ac? tivities of this war may be exercised, if not through the Red Cross, then through some already constituted and experienced organization. This is no war for amateurs. This ie no war for mere spontaneous impulse. It means grim business on every side of it. "There is another thing that is sig? nificant and delightful to my thought about the fact that this building should be dedicated to the memory of the women both of the North and South. It is a sort of landmark of the unity to which the people have been brought so far as any old ques? tion which tore our hearts in days gone by Is concerned; and I pray God that the outcome of this strug? gle may be that every other element of difference amongst us will he ob? literated and that some day historians will remember these momentous yearn ss the years which made a single peo? ple out of the great body of those who call themselves Americans. "The evidences are already many that this Is happening. The divinions which were predicted have not occur? red and will not occur. The splrd of fhls people is already united and when effort and suffering and sacri? fice have completed the Union men will no longer speak of any lines either of race or association cutting athwart the great body of this na? tion. So that I feel that we are now beginning the processes which will some day require another beautiful memorial erected to those whose hearto unite in united America." CHANCE FOB TEDDY. HOUSE VOTED TO PERMIT OR? GANIZATION OF VOLUNTEER DIVISION. Amendment to Army BUI Is .^serial Legislation for the Benefit of Col. Roosevelt, Who Has Been Clamor? ing for Chance to Fight in France. Washington, May \2.?Tho way was cleared in congress today for Col. Roosevelt if he is given authorization by tho administration to raise a di? vision of volunteers for service in France. Reversing its previous action and overriding the conference committee on the army draft bill, the house voted, 215 to 178, to empower the president to extend authority for re? cruiting such a division. This sent tho army bill back to conference, but the senate already had adopted a similar authorization during original consideration of the measure and its conforees are expected to agree quick? ly to It now. Whether the necessary authority will be given Col. Roosevelt by the administration Is problematical. The army general staff, whose advice Pres? ident Wilson has followed closely in the conduct of the war, Is strongly opposed to such a plan, declaring volunteer units of that character have no place In the great war army. The house passed the authorisation nftor a stormy debate. Representa? tive Anthony led the fight for the colonel, moving to recommit the army bill to conference with Instructions to accept the senate's Roosevelt amend? ment. Chairman Dent of the military committee and many other Democrats and Republicans fought against the proposal. When the action of the house was reported to the senate Chairman Chamberlain of the military commit? tee withdrew the conference report for revision and announced that the conferees would meet Monday. - MEANS QUICK ACTION.., So Says Colonel In Ills Delight nt Step. Oyster Ray, N. Y., May 12.?Col. Theodore Roosevelt made no secret tonight of his delight at the action of the house, but he refused to discuss at length his plans for putting a military force in the field until his authorization to do so becomes offi? cial. t "I am deeply grateful at what the house has done," Col. Roosevelt said. "I foci they have taken a step which is eminently wise and pntriotic to? ward enabling us to utilize an ele? ment in the country we would other? wise not use at all. This will enable a mixed force of regulars and volun? teers to be put to the front during the time necessary for training the great army raised during the selective draft.' BRITISH MAKE GAIN. There Is No Is't up In Attack on Hln denburg Line. London, May 12.?Telling blows were struck by the British at the Hin denburg line last night and today near Bullecourt, where the main Hin denburg line was previously pierced. Another successful thrust was made and farther north beyond the Scarpe river and along the Arras-Cambrai road the British artvanced. London says the purpose of the attacks was completely gah.^d and several hun? dred prisoners were taken by the British. Artillery fire continues heavy along the Alsne and on the Champagne French front. Tho Turks have been driven from virtually all the lowlands north of L'agdad, Mesopotamia and they have fallen back to the Jebel-Hamrin mountain range. AGAINST COALITION CABINET. Russian Socialists Block Plans to Form New Government. Petrograd. May 12.?The executive committee! of the council of workmen and soldiers delegates decided by a vote of 2.1 to 22 not to participate In the formation of a coalition govern? ment. The question will he referred to the plenary committee of tho coun? cil. BRITISH NAVAL STAFF Sir .lohn Jelllco Will Head New Ad? ministrative Hoard. London, May 14.?The formation of the naval staff, of which Admiral Sir John R. Jelllco will he the chief, was announced in the house of commons today by Sir Edward Carson, first lord of the admiralty. WILD WHEAT SPECULATION. SCARCITY OF GRAIN CAUSES FITRIOVS CONTEST BETWEEN TRADERS. There is No Prospect of Any Check In Sensational Advance in Price of Wheat and Other Grains?Vrooman Calls for Action. Chicago, May 12.?At the close of a day such as the Chicago Board of I Trade never saw before traders were asking one another what measures would be taken, if any, to check the sensational upward flight of wheat prices. And in other markets?Min? neapolis. Kansas City, St. "Louis and lesser bourses?the same query was: being put. May wheat was legislated out of ex? istence by the board of directors as a "patriotic duty" and because its sky? rocketing course might inspire a run? away market. As a check for ad? vances the move failed signally. At the opening prices for July and Sep? tember options hesitated a few cents below the previous close but in a short time began to boom. When the clos? ing gong sounded at noon July had shown a net rise of 23 3-4 to 25 1-4 cents with final figures ranging from 273 to 275, and S ptembcr an even more striking jump of 26 to 29 cents with last sales varying from 244 to 246. The course of the market was best visualized in the big smoking room ol the board where quotations from the markets of the world as well as those of the home market were posted. There WCfS those watching the blackboards who saw more in the figures than the cold record of the law of supply and demand. To them It told the story of a stricken world's demand for bread, the cry of desper? ation from the ruined cities and the wasted farms in Europe, the plea of emaciated children and the savage hunger of soldiers. The Imperturba? ble marker at the black board wrote: "Two rlfty-flve," the "two fVty-flve? two sixty, two sixty-three half" and presently at the summit of the wave "two seventy-five?or 25 1-4 cents higher than yesterday. In the mnssie trading room with its octagonal pits were the brokers and their clerks clamoring for wheat whloh was not for sale. Higher and still higher went their bids but those with wheat were indisposed to sell it and there were few who would take a chance, even at the top, of selling short. Prices con? tinued their ascent until the shorts had "covered" and taken their losses, probably very heavy in many cases. The opinion was expressed that the day pretty well drove in this interest and that a decrease in trading might be expected Monday. Stops Trade In May. St. Louis, May 12.?Trading in Mav wheat was discontinued at the Mer? chants' exchange here today after the price had been bid up from 3.25, yes? terday's close, to 3.37 1-2. Ceases in Kansas City. Kansas City, May 12.?New trading in May wheat on the Kansas City Hoard of Trade has been discontinued under the terms of a resolution adopt? ed today by the board of directors. TIME TO TAKE ACTION. Vrooman Calls for Prompt Gocrnmcnt Steps. "Washington, May 12.?Today's sharp rise in July and September grain prices on the Chicago exchange drew from the agricultural depart? ment tonight a statement denouncing "food gamblers" and "economic parasites." Carl Vrooman ths as sistant secretary, declared the time had come for the government to take decisive action to check the upward trend. "The people will brook no delay,' said Mr. Vrooman, "in stamping out the activities of these economic par? asites, these disloyal food gamblers who are fattening and battening in every city in this land on the food necessities of the poor. "The issue as to food control is clear. It Is an issue between food control by the government on me hand and food control by specula to ? on the other. Today we have food control by the speculators." The present high .level of wheat prices, many government officials be? lieve, will be maintained even if the Chicago exchange discontinues all futures trading because of the great foreign demand, unless the govern? ment lixes priees. The allies' demands for the coming year are far more than America can supply even If the spring wheat acreage produces a OPPOSE WAR TAXES. 1 MANY INTERESTS ASSAIL NEW REVENUE BILL. Measure Declared by Iis Proponents to Be Necessary to National Safety. Washington, May 12.?The war time tax schedules of the $1,800, 000,000 revenue bill were attacked as threatening the life of many in? dustries by a score of witnesses today before the senate finance committee and were defended by house leaders during debate on the other side of the capitol as absolutely necessary to pre? serve the life of the nation. Manu? facturers, jobbers and retailers in many lines touched by the new levies flocked to the senate committee hcar-^ ings to protest. Among them were high officials of some of the country's leading industrial concerns. Almost without exception they condemned the house bill as unjust, discriminatory and likely to result in the suspension of many of the smaller business houses. Tho third day of debate in the house brought further protests from members and many suggestions that the heavier increases he modified and other levies substituted. Democratic Leader Kitchin said lonight he hoped to close general debate Monday night and bring the bill to a vote not later than Thursday. Representative Rainey of Illinoi.s ranking Democratic member of the ways and means committee, took up most of the time today defending the measure. The increases in second class postage rates were attacked from many quarters and Mr. Rainey said the committee simply was trying to get hack part of the annual loss which the government sustains through car? rying newspapers and periodicals through the mails at 1 cent a pound. "Those of us who drew this bill knew that the life of the nation is in danger," said Mr. Rainey. Representative Wood (Republican) of Indiana declared that there are many inequalities in the bill and sug? gested a tax of $3 a head on all the business men. Under the present pro? visions, he said, 10.000,000 indepen? dent business men would contribute nothing towards the enormous total to be raised. Most of the senate committee wit? nesses expressed a desire to "do their bit" in paying war taxes, but declar? ed the house provisions distinctly un? fair. Those who protested included concerns interested in the taxes pro? posed for public utilities, coffee, tea. advertising, insurance, Automobiles, musical Instruments, the moving pic? ture industry, jewelry and drugs. Taxation of parcel post packages was among the new revenue plans suggested to the committee. Upon drugs a new tax to consumers of 1 cent, upon every 25 cents purchase was recommended by druggists, who said the proposed levy on the indus? try as now drawn could not be pass? ed along. Pill board, poster and street car advertisers protested tot he commit? tee against the exemption of news? paper and magazine advertising from taxation. Prominent automobile manufac? turers declared the industry as a whole could not stand up under a 5 per cent, gross profits tax. Few man? ufacturers, the automobile men said, "are makiny reasonable profits now." Similar conditions in the musical instrument trade were alleged by manufacturers and dealers and the moving picture industry was repre? sented as barely holding its own financially. CONGRESS BLOCKS PROGRESS. After Talking for Thirty Days on War Measures Nothing is Accomplished. Washington, May 14.?The United States has been at war with Germany for 39 days and practically all the measures through which the govern? ment expected to do its part in the WOlid war are still in the talking stage In congress. The actual accom? plishments since April 2d have been the passage of the resolution declar? ing n state of war and the seven bil? lion dollars war loan law. The pre? diction that congress would be through by Juna has been changed to the middle of August. WAR MINISTER RESIGNS. Petrograd. May 14.?Gen. Guchkoff, the minister of war. has resigned. bumper yield. The department is looking forward to a big acreage of spring wheat and an enormous yield if the weather Is favorable. This will give some wheat for export. T. P. I CONVENTION ENDS. ELABORATE BANQUET CLOSES STATE GATHERING OF SALESMEN. F. S. Evans of Greenwood Elected President?Order Pledge* Support to President?To Meet In Rock Hill Next. _ Anderson, May 11.?An elaborate banquet served at Hotel Chiquola tonight, which was attended by more than 200, was the closing feature of the State Travelers* Protective asso? ciation convention. After dinner ad? dresses were made by Gov. Manning, Robert A. Cooper and Dr. J. B. White i of this city. Approximately 125 dec? orated automobiles participated in the Traveler's Protective association pre? paredness parade over the principal streets of the city this afternoon. All business having been dispatch? ed, the 1917 convention was adjourn ed at 1 o'clock today. Rock Hill was selected as the next meeting place. Officers were elected as follows: F. S. Evans, Greenwood, president; R. E. Rurris, Anderson, first vice president, and William Schirmer, Charleston, secretary., Ten other vice presidents were named, one for each remaining post. The board of directors is com? posed of 21 members, 11 of whom reside in Charleston, the home of the" State secretary. After Rock Hill's invitation for the pext convention had been accepted, according to custom, Rock Hill's post was asked to designate the State chaplain for next year. The Rev. Alexander Martin, pastor of Oakland Presbyterian church of that city, was designated. Delegates to the national codncll which meets next month n Savannah were elected as follows: E. W. Ken? nedy, J. N. Watkins, Abe Ryttenberg, R. D. Smith. Jr., P. J. Drew, B. B. Gossett, W. C. Miller and Henry Mas sey. The State president and State secretary are also delegates by vir? tue of their offices State Chaplain Frazer framed the following telegram, which was sent to President Wilson: "Travelers* Protective association. South Carolina division, in annual convention assembled in Anderson, would assure you of its hearty In? dorsement of your attitude in the present world crisis and tender you our cooperation and services in any way you may direct." Retiring President Blackburn's rec? ommendation that a State member? ship committee be appointed to en? courage increased membership and that a State membership chairman be elected, whose actual expenses will be paid, was approved by the conven? tion. L. G. Kirby of Spartan burg was elected to this newly created of? fice. B. F. McLeod. president of Drake Innes-Green Shoe company of Char? leston, stated on the floor of the con? vention that his firm expects to send every one of its traveling men at the company's ex^.mse to the national convention in Savannah. This an? nouncement was received amid pro? longed applause and It Is likely other concerns will adopt the plan. A resolution thanking the people of Anderson for their entertainment, the singing of "America," and a prayer by the State chaplain ended the business session. SHARP ADVANCE IN WHEAT. Record of Market History Broken When Net Gains of Thdrty-two Cents Are Reached. Chicago, May 12.?Despite the sum? mary stoppage of trading in May de? livery wheat the startling advance In the price was not checked. The most sensational rise In the present crop, if not in the history of the market trading, came when net gains of 32 cents was scored on July and Septem? ber options. BRITISH DESTROY ZEPPELIN. Fourth Attempt to Raid England ends in Disaster. London. v 14.?The British na? val forces 'stroyed Zeppelin L-22 In the North sea tHs morning, the admi? ralty announced. The destruction of L-22 marks the fourth attempt at Zeppelin raids on England with" l the last >ear. which ended disastrously. P1TTSBVRG BANK ROBBERS. Three Person? Killed in Suburb of City. Plttsburg, May 14.?Three persons In the First National Rank of Castle Rhandon, a Pittsburg suburb, were Killed today in an attempt to rob the hank. The robbers escaped.