Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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She matt ?TOTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be <oai and Fear not?Det an to* ndl Tbon Almat at br thy Country'*, Thy God't aad Trata'a" THB TBUB SOUTHRON, IMMW^ Jem?, Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, 8. C, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1917. Vol. XL1V. No. 32. tfMAN LIFE CHEAP. VON HIN DEN Hl'RG PREPARED TO GO AN k LENGTH TO HOLD POSITIONS. , ?> ? llHf Casasrsaly Counter- Attacklitg ? Mage rdaias of Sanguinary Loose* to Pirat Advance of British ami ?situation In Russin Gmwa si ample evidence that the are prepared to go to eny In the sacrifice of men to hold Western front positions. Along ehe entire French front they are al? most cnassltasty eoun er attacking, although suffering sanguinary re pulses. On Sunday in repeated at? tached on Vauclerc and California Plates? they made a new thruat far? ther west, near Proldmont farm and gained some advanced French po sttloos, Paris announced. The British are not being attacked so much, hut when they aally forth they are met by masses of Germane. Apparently Oen. Hslg la not pressing the attaok near Lena, whi h was cheeked yesterday by violent countor a track a The Russian situation Is extremely sjscisi tain. While better reports are coming from the army at the front the conditions in Petrograd are be? coming still more unsettled. The declaration of independence by the garrison of Kronatadt was followed by throats to eund sailors from the Petrograd garrison for a demonstra? tion against the council of deputies. HOYT GOING TO DETROIT. /_ er of House Accepts Flattering Offer In North. V Columbia.*June 2 ?8outh Carolina Is to loss a mighty good and valuable eltteeo. James A. Hoyt. of Colum? bia, has accepted the position of vice president of the Morris Bank. In De trslt. It is a most flattering offer for m young man. In fact, few euch op? portunities are ever offered. Mr. Hoyt m iure' to make good. He has asso? ciated with him marj of the finan? ciers and business men of the new wonder city of Detroit. Today he said "I have tendered my resignation as president of the People'a National Bank of Columbia, effective July 1, and will tender my realgnation aa vice president of the Homestead Bank at the regular monthly meeting of the board next week. I will remain a stockholdsr In both lnatltutlona. both of which are In aplendld condition. "I have accepted the position, of vice president and general manager I of the Morris Plan Bank of Detroit, and sxpect to go to Detroit about the 1st of July to prepare for the opening of the new Institution, which ia set for the Ith of August. "My resignation as apcaker of the house, snd member from Rlchland county, will be submitted at the prop? er tlms. "It is needless to say that it haa been only with the greatest reluctance and after the most serious delibera? tion that I have made the decision to leavs Columbia and South Carolina." Mr Hoyt will be much missed in the legislature of South CsrMlna. where he has been an active and wide? awake member, besides being speaker MI.SSAOE TO Rl'SSIA. Wilson Has Explained War Alms of United Statt*?. Washington. Juns 4.?Prealdent Wilson's communication to the neu Russian government on the war aim* of the United Htateit has been deliv sred at .Petrograd by Ambasaadot Pranria, hut will not be puhliahe? slther In Rum? la or the 1'nltcd State for a day or two. while the state de partroent Is clearing up what la offi? cially characterised us "mattera of de Ulis." EN Hi U TK TO PETIUM.lt AD. Senstor Root and Commtaaion sie Hastening to Capital of Russia. Russian Port. June 3 ? The Amei icsn rommlaslon which arrived this morning, called on local officlala an left Immediately on a special tfsjn for Petrograd They tire expected |0 arrive there June 11th. HOI'THKHV TOt R POSTPONED Prince tdlno, Head or Italian Mis? sion, Is III. Wsshington. June 4.?The trip of the Italian war m 1**1 on through the ftnutn and Middle West, which w a* t h*g1n today. ha* been postponed be ?fins* of the Mne** <?f Prince of I'din and fihgnor William Marconi. REVOLUTION IN MINI. PRESENT SITUATION IS SERIOUS AND THE PRESIDENT IS VIR? TUALLY POWERLESS. Eleven Provinces Revolt?War Dec? laration Against Germany to be In? troduced In Parliament Today. Peking, June 3.?Eleven provinces of China, including: the province of Chl-Li, i'i which Peking Is situated, no longer recognize the authority of Peking government. The provinces of Kwang-Tung. Kwang-Sl, and Yun Nan arc supporting President LI Yuan Hung. The provisional assembly of Kwang-Tung, In assuring its loyal support to the president and parlia? ment, demands that the military gov? ernors be dismissed and punished. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. former Premier Tan Sho Yil, and other, revolutionary leaders are proceeding hurriedly to Canton. It seems probable that should the military governors persist in their revolutionary course that three loyal South China provinces, namely, Kwang-Tung. Kwang-Si and Yun Nan, will rise in support of the presi? dent. At the present the situation is serious and the president virtually powerless. According to official Information President LI Yuan Hung intends to? morrow to Introduce a bill taking in a declaration of war against Germany if there is a quorum present in par? liament. The presence of a quorum, however, seems doubtful. Provisional Government Formed. Shanghai, June 3.?Gen. Chang Hsun, military governor of the province of Anhwei, arrived In Ticn Tsin Saturday evening and after a conference with the military authori? ties a provisional government was termed. Hsu-Shi was appointed dic? tator; 81 Wang Shi-Chen, the acting premier, was made premier; Tuan Chi Kwel, brother of Tuan Chl-Jul, former premier, was named minister of war; Thao-Julio, who Is believed to be strongly pro-Japanese, was given the portfolio of foreign affairs. The chief of the gendarmie at Peking has been requested to watch President LI Yuan-Hung, who presumably is vir? tually a prisoner and who is expected to resign forthwith. The militarists have completely iso? lated Peking. The government has es? tablished a strict censorship on the telegraph lines. DO NOT EXPECT PEACE. Socialists Rave Little Hope of Defi? nite Result from Stockholm Con? ference. Stockholm, June 4.?The German Socialists do not expect peace to re? sult from the Socialists' conference. Herr Molkenbuhr, a veteran member of the party's executive committee told the Associated Press correspond? ent that the "whole world want> peace." He said that it could he stated that if the conference did not succeed in bringing about peace i. would keep tho peace movement alive. He denied that the Germans had any part In bringing about the conference. BEGINNING OF REUNION. Confederate Veterans Gathering In National Capital for Annual Meet? ing. Washington, June 4.?The nation'* capital presented an unique appear? ance today as in faded grey uni? forms the thousands of veterans her leg the confederate reunion, begin? ning tomorrow, mingled with the smartly khai-clad young men in training for service In France. Special trains otday brought in many of the i s<\?nty tho Baa nd rial ton expected. ROOT ARRIVES IN RUSSIA. Relieved Americans Will do Much Toward Strengthening Provisional Government. Washington, June 3.?Safe arrival at ? Russian port of tho American com mission to Russia headed by Ellhu Hoot, ambassador extraordinary, was aa Bounced today in a dee patch to tho navy department. The commission left Washlngto i about May 1*>. charged with greeting to the new democratic government of Russia and authorized to pledge aid from the United States not only lit th? pronecuttoa of war against th ? common enemy, but in the rehabilita? tion ot the demoralized country, V. SrUl preceded by a special mission of n llrand experts, whose arrival already has been announced. TAX ON AUTOMOBILES. FEDERAL LICENSE FEE PRO? POSED BY COMMITTEE. Exemption of Popular Priced Motion Picture Ticket? from Revenue Bill Pitt mied. Washington, June 1.?Exemption of popular price moving picture*|hea tres from amusement taxes anq the levying of a new federal license ta>: on automobile owners ranging from $7.50 to $25 with reductions for cars used a year or more, were agreed upon today by the senate finance com? mittee In continuing revision of th; house war tax bill. With its task virtually completed except for the newspaper and maga? zine section, the committee tonight ad? journed until Monday so that treas? ury experts may spend tomorrou\jput ttng the redrafting into legal emupc. The bill probably will be read? for submission to the senate early next week. Tomorrow Senator Simmons, chair? man, and Senator Penrose, ranking Republican member, will confer ^for? mally with representa tives of 'pub? lishers and postofnee department of? ficials regarding the proposed taxa? tion of publications in heu of the in? creased second mail rates in the house bill. Under the committee's amendment all moving picture theatres charging less than 25 cents admission would escape the tax of 1 cent on each dime paid, imposed by the house mens ure. Senator Penrose championed this change, urging that the moving picture house is the poor man's thea? tre. It was decided to retain thr> house plan of taxing other places where admission is charged. Treasury experts estimate that thero are 1,400,000 owners of automobiles subject to the $7.50 tax; 760,000 sub? ject to the $10 levy; 1,219,000 in the $15 class and 231,000 subject to the $20 rate. The license taxes, payabl by motor vehicle owners dircct,*>-Btke the place of the house tax of 5 pea cent, upon manufacturers of such ve? hicles. The committee's section would pro? vide: "That on and after July 1, 1917, special taxes shall be, and hereby are, imposed annually on owners of au tomobiles and motorcycles, the rate of tax to be based on each automobile or motor cycle as follows: "Motorcycles $2.50; automobiles listed retail price at time of purchase not over $500, $7.50; over $500 and not over $1,000, $10; over $1.000 an not over 2,000, $15; over $2,000 and not over $1,000, $20; $3,000 and over $25. "Provided, that the special taxes herein Imposed shall not apply to manufacturers and dealers as to un sold automobiles and motorcycles held for sale, or to owners of automobiles or motorcycles held for sale, or to owners of autombiles or motorcycle used exclusively for business; provid? ed, further, that evidence of payment of the tax shall be by receipt or slam? to he attached to automobile or mo torcycle under such rules and regula? tions as may be prescribed by the commissioner of internal revenue with the approval of the secretary of th' treasury an 1 provided further that the special tax paid within a llscal year shall not be imposed again within that fiscal year if ownership changes." A modification to he drafted late will provide a reduction of 10 pc cent. In the license tuxes for each year's use of automobiles up to !< years or a maximum allowance of 50 per cent. An amendment to the Income tax section written Into the hill today would repeal the provision of the Un? derwood act of 1**1.'! providing for collection of Income taxes at. their source and require those receiving the taxable incomes to make a direct pay? ment of taxes to the treasury. As a substitute for the present requirement of collection at the source, the com* mittee adopted a new principle of "Information at the source"?repair? ing corporations and others under heavy penalties to report to the treas? ury department the names of parsons and amounts of Income subject to taxation. This plan, the committee believes, will prevent much evasion, increase tin- revenues considerably and promote honesty in the law's oper? ation. Reports will be required on all Incomes in excess of liOO annually. The committee will make no change in the Income normal tax. surtax and * semptlons of the house bill, except the elimination previously agreed upon of extra surtaxes on incomes of more Ihn n $ 10,000, On the theory of exempting from ANARCHY IN RUSSIA. RADICALS TAKE CHARGE OF KRONSTADT, RUSSIAN STRONGHOLD. Workmen and Soldiers at Petrograd Gateway Won't Recognize Provis? ional Government. Petrograd (via London), June 1.? The fateful decision of the work? men's and soldiers' delegates to as? sume control of Kronstadt, the great, fortress which defends Petrograd, was carried by a vote of 210 votes against 40. It is announced by the workmen's and soldiers' delegates that hence? forth the relations of Kronstadt with Petrograd and the remainder of Rus sia will be only through the inter? mediary of the Petrograd branch Of the delegates. Tho local workmen'r and soldiers' council at Kronstadt announces it has taken in Its hands the exclusive power of Kronstadt, that it docs not recognize the pro visional government and that it hafl removed all government rcpresenta ties. ' The minister of justice has notified his colleagues of this development, and on their instruction has com? municated with the Kronstadt coun? cil through the Petrograd council with a view to inducing the Kronstadt council to revoke its orders. MINISTER STEPS OUT. Konovaloff Gives up Portfolio or Trade. London. June 2.?A dispatch tc Reuter's Telegram company fro*n Petrograd says A. I. Konovaloff, min? ister of commerce and trade, has re? signed, owing to a complete di? vergence in views with M. Skobeleff. minister of labor, concerning the economic and financial measures nec? essary in the present crisis. STRIKE IN PETROGRAD. Many of Wrar Workers Decide to Quit. London, June 1.?Strikes or othe: measures to paralyze production have been decided upon in more than lit of the largest factories in Petrograd, most of which arc engaged in war work, Reuter's Petrograd correspond? ent telegraphs. After the failure of efforts of the conciliation board to reach an agree ment on many points, the staffs of the factories resolved to strike or alter? natively to paralyze work by carry Inj out all regulations to the letter, the time and form of strikes to be decided i in each factory separately. In some cases the strike already has begun while In others the staffs ar? busily enlisting the support of the workers. According to the Novaia Ehlen, Maxim Gorky's paper, the demands o the workers includ? a six hour day and a minimum wage for women or 1 ?0 rubles monthly. MONEY FOR FRANCE. Uncle Sam Advances Another Hun? dred Million. Washington, June 2.?The govern? ment has advanced another hundred million to France, making the total loan3 to that country two hundred millions and the total of all the allies loans eight hundred and forty-five millions. Washington, June 2.?America 'a great industry would surely destroy the German autocracy, Prince Udine, head of the Italian war mission, told tho house of representatives In hits address today. taxation articles used by the poor, the committee, in (banning cigar taxes decided to exempt from any tax in | crease cigars made to sell for less than ! 4 cents each. Increases in taxes o 'cigars agreed upon were as follows: Upon cigars made to sell from 4 to 7 cents each $1 a thousand; those sell? ing between 7 and 12 1-2 cents, $H per thousand; between 12 1-2 cent and 10 cents, $5 per thousand, and over 2<? cents, $7 per thousand. The house rates generally were about th ?ame, but based upon different stand a rds. The committee also decided to re real existing tariff provisions allow in.? "drawbacks" to sugar refiners. Sena? tor Broussard of Louisiana urged tie action. Tho change, it is said, will operate to benefit domestic sugar p;*o ducers, and Incidentally reduce fed? eral revenues about $16,000,000. Th" "drawbacks' are virtually repayments of customa duties to refiners after they refine and export Imported raw sugar. DISSAUS FACTI ON WITH POLITI? CAL RESULTS OF SUBMARINE WARFARE. People are Disappointed That Peace Has Not Been Won and That Allies Show No Signs of Exhaustion? Zimmermann Promised Peace In Two or Three Months. < Copenhagen, June 2.?Private ad? vices from Germany tell of growing dissatisfaction among the people with the political results from the ruthless submarine campaign and the absence of any indications that the campaign will bring the desired peace. Defi? nite promises are said to have been made to the people that "two or three months" would bring Great Britain to her knees and that France would be "bled white." Grumblings have Resulted because neither country is showing signs of weakening. The entry of the United States into the war is now taken seriously and is viewed with gloom. Doctor Alfred ^Zimmermann, the German foreign minister, is quoted as saying a few hours before the United States sever? ed diplomatic relations that "it Ajmerica keeps hands off two or three months will he enough to end the war." MAJ. BARKER DEAD. Distinguished Charleston Citizen Pass? es Away After Long and Useful Life. Charleston, June 1.?News of the death of Maj. T. G. Parker, at his summer residence near Henderscn ville, N. (\, yesterday caused general sorrow in Charleston. Maj. Barker was one of Charleston's foremost citi? zens, a man who in the stirring times following the War Between the Sec? tions and during that great struggle acquitted himself gallantly. His fun? eral was held today at the Church of St. John in the Wilderness, Flat Rock, N. C. Mrs. Parker and many rela? tives survive. Maj. Parker died in his 8 5th year. HUNGARIANS WANT PEACE. Socialists of That Country Would End War. Stockholm, June 1 (via London).? Immediate) peace on the basis of no annexations and no indemnities and complete political restoration of oc? cupied territories arc advocated by the delegation of Hungarian Socialists here to attend the meeting of Social? ists from various belligerent coun? tries. Regarding Belgium, the Hungarian group at today's .conference urge*', that the cost of restoration should be borne by Germany, although if per? sistence in this demand meant pro longation of the war the cost should be shared by all the great belliger? ents. Serviai too. in the opinion of the delegates, should be restored by the great belligerents. The question of Alsace-Lorraine, the Hungarians believe, might be settled between the Socialists of France and Germany. On the other points the views of the delegation conform generally to those of the Austrian and German Socialists as outlined at their group conferences. GRAND DUKE ARRESTED. Nicholas Reported to Have Been Seized at Tillis. London, June 2.?Grand Duke Nicholas, former commander-in-chiet of the Russian armies has been ar? rested in consequence of royalist riots at Tiilis, according to an exchange telegraph dispatch, quoting Petrograd advices. AGREE ON WAR BUDGET. House ami Senate Finally Get Togeth? er on Thme Billion Bill. Washington. June 2. An agree? ment has been reached by the Senat? and house conferees on the three billion dollar war budget, Including the provision for seven hundred and fifty, millions for the American mer? chant marine and two millions for u naval base on the old Jamestown ex? position site. Good Crop of Wheat. Oklahoma City, May 31. Okla? homa this year will produce between 25,000,00 and 30,000,000 bushela "f wheat, virtually a normal crop from a production standpoint, according to th?> monthly crop report issued tod.iy i?y the state board of agriculture. KAISER CLAIMS VICTORY. FIELD MARSHAL VON HIN DEN BURG TELLS EMPEROR Al> LIES' DRIVE FAILED. Kaiser Wilhelm Telegraphs Empress That Go?l Aided German Army to Overcome Enemies. Berlin, June 2.?According to a re? port from Field Marshall von Hin dehburg to Emperor William, tho British and French offensive in tho . , western war theatre has come to a i definite conclusion in which the al ' l?<?d drive is pronounced a failure af? ter seven weeks of severe fighting which the emperor characterizes as the mightiest battles of the war. The [emperor telegraphing the empress Jsaid: "God's aid granted our incom ; parable troops. Glory for His help Jadn thanks for such magnificent peo? ple in arms." AS ASSISTING COUNS.L. Messrs. Lyon and Abncy Engaged by ('anal Commission. Columbia, May 30.?The South Car lolina Canal Commission, of which 'Thomas H. Peeples, attorney general, ' is chairman, has engaged as counsel ! to assist Mr. Peeples in representing I the interests of the State J. Fr?ser ; Lyon, former attorney general, and B. L. Abney, both memoers of the Co? lumbia bar. This action was taken I by the commission at the recent meet? ing of the body in Charleston, and was done on suggestion of the attorney general. The commission haa held several meetings in Columbia and has met ; twice in Charleston, the last meeting being held in that city on May 23, when a committee, consisting of J. W. Boyd, chairman of the house Ju? diciary committee and Senator Huger Blatter, chairman of the correspond? ing committee of the senate, was ap? pointed to go to Washington in an ef? fort to enlist the support of the South Carolina congressional delegation in securing federal assistance in deter? mining the cost of extending the canal and otherwise improving it so as to j improve the navigability of the Con? ga ree river. The commission was appointed un , der an act of the general assembly to decide upon a proper course of ac ' tion for the State with reference to ' the canal, it being contended that, through failure of owners of the prop ? erty to develop it according to con tract, that it had reverted to the State. i The property is at present owned j 1 y the Columbia Railway. Gasend j Electric Company. This company has j made one proposition to the commis? sion with reference to a proper adjust* 'mcnt of the matter, but it was reject led by the commission. If no agree I meat is reached by June 10 the com | mission proposes to act on tho hy. i pothesis that the canal Is the prop? erty of the State, and recommend to I the general assembly a course of ac j tion based on that conclusion. ENFORCE CONSCRIPTION LAWS. All Power of De|>artiiieiit of Justice Will be Exerted. Washington, June 4.?The activi? ties of the department of justice will he centered on the enforcement of tho conscription law, Attorney General Gregory said in a statement today. Whenever necessary the assistance ot! State and local officials will be re? quested. Magistrates will he asked to tlx ball high as praeticalde. Ball for those advising eligibles to evade th?i law will he higher than those who ac? tually evade it. the attorney general said. MEXICANS HOB SCHOONER. Attack an American Pishing Boat on the High Seas. Gatveeton, June 4.?The American fishing schooner Areas was boarded by the crew of a Mexican gunhoat off Tehuantepre, Mexico, on the high seas. May Hist and looted of clothing, fish? ing gear and medicine chest, according to the story of Cspt S. A. McDonald, of the schooner. BLUFF BY KRONSTADT. Kc\#"utionary Sailors Fail to Mako Gimhi Their Threat. Petrograd, June t.- -Petrograd early today awaited the reported demon? stration by sailors of the Kronstadt garrison, who proclaimed independ? ence oi the central government. As it did not ittiiterialtac it is believed to bo j merely boastful talk of extremists.